Scanning and form-contingent color aftereffects

G. K. Humphrey, A. M. Herbert, L. A. Symons, and S. Kara (1994) and J. Broerse and P. Grimbeek (1994) suggested that the form-contingent color aftereffect reported by S. Siegel, L. G. Allan, and T. Eissenberg (1992) would not be obtained if Ss were instructed to scan the induction and assessment forms. The authors present data from Ss who were instructed to scan the forms. These scanning Ss displayed aftereffects that were no different from those described earlier by Siegel et al. Scanning Ss do display spatiotopic contingent color aftereffects.

Subcutaneous sumatriptan in a clinical setting: the first 100 consecutive patients with acute migraine in a tertiary care center

The first 100 consecutive patients at our center receiving subcutaneous sumatriptan (6 mg) were evaluated over a total of 455 migraine attacks. Parameters included overall efficacy, average time to relief, recurrence rate, average time to recurrence, adverse events, comparison to previous abortive agents, and subjective global ratings. Overall efficacy (defined as headache severity reduction from severe or moderate to mild or none) was 84%. Average time to relief was 40 minutes. Nine percent failed to respond at all. Recurrence rate was 46.5% with 36% of patients having no recurrence. Fourteen percent of patients reported 100% recurrence (minimum 3 attacks; average 5.4 attacks). Time to recurrence varied widely, but averaged 9.1 hours. Eighty-one percent rated the drug better or much better than previous abortive medications in terms of sumatriptan's ability to abort the attack. Seventy-seven percent reported some adverse event (generally mild and transient) with 23% reporting no adverse events. Sixty-nine percent reported a global rating of Good to Excellent and 31% rated Poor or Fair. The rate of recurrence and average time to recurrence were the most significant factors affecting the global ratings. These parameters were further evaluated with respect to a variety of subgroups: 1) migraine alone 2) migraine with co-existent tension-type headache 3) drug-induced headache (analgesic rebound headache) 4) posttraumatic headache 5) preventive versus no preventive medication 6) presence or absence of adverse events 7) presence or absence of recurrence and 8) average duration of migraine with no medication.

Regional, cellular, and ultrastructural distribution of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit 1 in monkey hippocampus

The regional, cellular, and subcellular distributions of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit 1, NMDAR-1, were investigated in monkey hippocampus by using a monoclonal antibody directed against a fusion protein corresponding to aa 660-811 of NMDAR-1. The data indicate that many neurons in each subfield of the hippocampus contain NMDAR-1 protein, although the intensity and distribution of immunoreactivity varied across regions, strata, and cellular compartments. In stratum lucidum of CA3, mossy fiber axons were immunoreactive for NMDAR-1, which may correspond to previously hypothesized presynaptic receptors. NMDAR-1-labeled postsynaptic profiles were present in stratum radiatum of CA3 but were largely absent from stratum lucidum. Such intraneuronal segregation of glutamate receptor subunits or classes may be spatially correlated with afferent systems that exhibit laminar segregation and terminate in different portions of the postsynaptic dendritic tree. For example, in CA3 pyramidal cells, NMDA receptors are postsynaptic in distal apical dendrites (stratum radiatum) where NMDA-dependent long-term potentiation in rats is mediated by associational/commissural afferents, and are absent from proximal apical dendrites (stratum lucidum), where NMDA-independent long-term potentiation is mediated by the mossy fiber input.

Intraoperative beta probe: a device for detecting tissue labeled with positron or electron emitting isotopes during surgery

An intraoperative beta probe was designed, built, and tested for detection of radio-labeled malignant tissues that has the advantage of being selectively sensitive to beta while insensitive to gamma radiation. Since beta radiation (electrons or positrons) has a short range in tissue, this probe is ideal for detecting tracers in tumors at the surface of the surgical field. This probe contains a plastic scintillation detector sensitive to beta rays and to a lesser degree some background gamma rays. A second detector counts spurious gamma rays and allows for their subtraction from the activity measured by the first detector. Sensitivity of the dual probe for I-131 and F-18 was measured to be 108 counts/s/kBq (4000 counts/s/microCi). The dual-detector probe faithfully measured the 10:1 "tumor" to background ratio of radioactivity concentrations in a simulated environment of a tumor in the presence of intense background 511 keV photons. In another phantom experiment, simulating abdominal tumor deposits with various realistic I-131 radioactive concentrations, the probe was able to accurately identify tumors of approximately 50 mg with a tumor/normal radioactivity concentration of 3/1 in 10 s.

Construction and initial characterization of a mouse-human chimeric anti-TNF antibody

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of human diseases including septic shock, cachexia, graft-versus-host disease and several autoimmune diseases. Monoclonal antibodies directed against TNF provide an attractive mode of therapeutic intervention in these diseases. We have generated a murine monoclonal antibody (A2) with high affinity and specificity for recombinant and natural human TNF. To increase its therapeutic usefulness, we used genetic engineering techniques to replace the murine constant regions with human counterparts while retaining the murine antigen binding regions. The resulting mouse-human chimeric antibody should have reduced immunogenicity and improved pharmacokinetics in humans. Molecular analysis of light chain genomic clones derived from the murine hybridoma suggests that two different alleles of the same variable region gene have rearranged independently and coexist in the same hybridoma cell. The chimeric A2 antibody (cA2) exhibits better binding and neutralizing characteristics than the murine A2 which was shown to contain a mixture of two kappa light chains. The properties of cA2 suggest that it will have advantages over existing murine anti-TNF antibodies for clinical use.

Establishment and characterization of a human mixed-lineage, T-lymphoid/myeloid cell line (USP-91)

We report the establishment of a novel cell line from a pediatric patient with recurrent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This cell line, termed USP-91, showed both T-lymphoid cell as well as myeloid (ie, nonlymphoid) cell characteristics using a comprehensive multiparameter approach. The initial growth of this cell line was dependent on the presence of the murine stromal cell line, 14F1.1. Subsequently, a phenotypically stable, stroma-independent cell line was established. Although the recurrent biopsy material and the derivative cell line, USP-91, were clonally-derived from T-lineage lymphoid cells, as evidenced by the same rearrangement of the T-cell receptor-beta locus, USP-91 coexpressed both the T-cell antigens CD7, CD3, and CD4, and the myeloid antigens CD13, CD33, CD11b, and CD34. The myeloid features of USP-91 were most consistent with monocytic differentiation as these cells expressed alpha-napthol acetate esterase, lysozyme, alpha-1-antitrypsin, alpha-1-antichymotrypsin, as well as the cell surface receptor for macrophage colony-stimulating factor. In addition, incubation in the presence of phorbol esters induced USP-91 to exhibit morphologic and functional properties of mature mononuclear phagocytes. The expression of this bilineage phenotype suggests that USP-91 represents the malignant transformation of a progenitor cell capable of either myelomonocytic or T-lymphoid differentiation.

Effects of social deprivation in prepubescent rhesus monkeys: immunohistochemical analysis of the neurofilament protein triplet in the hippocampal formation

Social deprivation during early postnatal life has profound and long-lasting effects on the behavior of primates, including prolonged and exaggerated responses to stress as well as impaired performance on a variety of learning tasks. Although the cellular changes that underlie such alterations in behavior are unknown, environmentally induced psychopathology may involve morphologic or biochemical changes in select neuronal populations. The hippocampal formation of both socially deprived and socially reared prepubescent rhesus monkeys was selected for immunocytochemical investigation because of its association with the behavioral stress response and learning. Immunocytochemical analysis using antibodies specific for the neurofilament protein triplet was performed since these proteins are modified within degenerating neurons in a variety of neurodegenerative disorders. Results from optical density measurements indicate an increase in the intensity of non-phosphorylated neurofilament protein immunoreactivity in the dentate gyrus granule cell layer of socially deprived monkeys in comparison with that of socially reared animals, suggesting that early social deprivation may result in an increase in the amount of non-phosphorylated neurofilament protein in these cells. This phenotypic difference in dentate granule cells between differentially reared monkeys supports the notion that specific subpopulations of neurons in brain regions that subserve complex behaviors may undergo long-term modifications induced by environmental conditions. Furthermore, the data suggest that constitutive chemical components related to structural integrity may be as susceptible to early environmental manipulations as the more traditionally viewed measures of cellular perturbations, such as neurotransmitter dynamics, cell density and the establishment of connectivity. The observed modifications may serve as an anatomical substrate for behavioral abnormalities that persist in later life.

Validity and reproducibility of multi-test skin test device

Thirty patients were skin tested by Multi-Test and Morrow Brown needle using antigens, histamine, glycerosaline, and blank controls to examine reproducibility and influence of positive reactions on adjacent negative controls. There was no evidence that histamine or strongly positive antigen reactions affected adjacent negative controls. Multi-Test was more reproducible, and preferred by patients over Morrow Brown.

Long-term follow-up of patients treated with COMP or LSA2L2 therapy for childhood non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a report of CCG-551 from the Childrens Cancer Group

PURPOSE

We analyzed the long-term results of a Childrens Cancer Group (CCG) randomized study comparing cyclophosphamide, vincristine, methotrexate, and prednisone (COMP) versus LSA2L2 as treatment for childhood non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The initial results were previously reported (N Engl J Med 308:559, 1983).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 429 patients are reported here, 68 with localized disease and 361 with disseminated disease. The distribution of disseminated-disease patients by histologic type was 164 lymphoblastic, 60 large-cell, and 137 undifferentiated lymphomas. Median follow-up duration of surviving patients is 8 years.

RESULTS

Event-free survival (EFS) of patients with localized disease was 84% at 5 years. No differences were seen between the two treatment regimens. Results for patients with disseminated disease was dependent on histologic subtype: patients with lymphoblastic lymphoma did better when treated with LSA2L2 (5-year EFS of 64% v 35% for COMP); COMP produced better results for patients with undifferentiated lymphoma (5-year EFS of 50% v 29% for LSA2L2). Results for large-cell lymphoma patients were similar (5-year EFS of 52% for COMP v 43% for LSA2L2). Five percent of patients died of treatment-related complications while on therapy (primarily infections). Only four deaths without progression have been observed off-therapy (two from restrictive lung disease, one from an acute asthma attack, one from colon cancer). Patient survival rates after recurrence were poor.

CONCLUSION

Treatment success can be expected in 84% of pediatric patients with localized non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. For patients with disseminated disease, treatment success can be expected in 64% of those with lymphoblastic and 50% of those with undifferentiated or large-cell disease. To date, late adverse events are rare.

McCollough effects as conditioned responses: reply to Dodwell and Humphrey

P. C. Dodwell and G. K. Humphrey (1990) criticized the Pavlovian conditioning analysis of the McCollough effect, claiming that it was conceptually flawed and that it did not assign the McCollough effect any useful function. In this article, it is suggested that the error-correction interpretation that Dodwell and Humphrey proposed as an ostensible alternative to the conditioning interpretation can be subsumed by the conditioning interpretation. Furthermore, the conditioning interpretation does ascribe a useful function to the McCollough effect.

Immediate and delayed type hypersensitivity to malathion

Between December 1989 and June 1990, 1,874 reports of alleged malathion application related illness from repeated spraying of a mixture of malathion corn syrup bait to eradicate a Mediterranean fruit fly infestation in Southern California were received by the Toxics Epidemiology Program of Los Angeles County. Among these complaints were 47 reports of urticaria, 38 reports of angioedema and 213 reports of a nonspecific skin rash. In order to determine whether these alleged skin reactions were the result of an immediate or delayed type of hypersensitivity reaction to malathion or to the corn syrup bait we studied ten subjects referred for testing by the local health department. All ten subjects had no reaction on patch testing. One child exhibited a positive reaction to the bait and one child had irritant reactions to malathion and to the bait. This study documented one case of a possible immediate IgE reaction to malathion bait. Due to the low participation rates in this study, no specific conclusions concerning the rate of sensitivity in the population can be drawn, although it appears that such reactions are uncommon.

Effect of terfenadine in asthmatic patients

The bronchodilator effect of terfenadine, 60-mg or 120-mg single dose, and 1 week twice daily dosing, was evaluated in 12 allergic asthmatic patients. When compared with baseline, FEV1 rose significantly for single dose 120 mg terfenadine at one, one and one-half, three, five and one-half, and six hours and for 60 mg terfenadine at three, five and one-half, six, and eight hours postdose. Variations in patient response were observed. At steady state, 120 mg terfenadine b.i.d. showed consistent improvement over placebo from three to 12 hours postdosing but no improvement in FEV1 was noted for terfenadine, 60 mg b.i.d. There no longer was a statistically significant difference in mean FEV1 or percent change from baseline. Thus, terfenadine proved to be a safe and a mild bronchodilator; however, tachyphylaxis might develop to the bronchodilator effect after 1 week of continuous b.i.d. dosing.

Response of negative symptoms of schizophrenia to neuroleptic treatment

BACKGROUND

In view of the inconclusive reports in the literature about the response to neuroleptics of chronic schizophrenics with negative symptoms, the authors further evaluated this issue.

METHOD

A sample of 30 ambulatory chronic schizophrenics meeting DSM-III-R criteria who had to a marked degree at least two negative symptoms of the five on the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) received various therapeutic dosages of thiothixene for 3 months. The average dose was 26.75 mg/day. Subjects were periodically evaluated with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Negative Symptoms Rating Scale (a modified version of the SANS), and the Randt Memory Test. The time effect on treatment was calculated by repeated measures of analysis of variance. The relationship between the positive and negative symptoms was tested by an analysis of covariance.

RESULTS

Both negative and positive symptoms improved with treatment. The negative symptoms tended to respond to treatment predominantly independently of the positive ones. At the end of the study, 63% (N = 19) of patients had improved moderately, 16% (N = 5) had improved slightly, and 20% (N = 6) had not improved.

CONCLUSION

The data require further support from a long-term follow-up study that may show the extent to which these gains are maintained over time.

Ophthalmologic manifestations of genitourinary diseases

There are several urologic disorders which also involve the eye and orbit. We have compiled examples of these and reviewed the literature. Metastasis from genitourinary malignancy (including neuroblastoma), Wilms tumor, Reiter syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, von Hippel-Lindau disease, and oxalosis may all have ophthalmologic manifestations. Urologists need to be aware of these and obtain appropriate consultation in order to fully care for patients with these diseases.

The associative basis of contingent color aftereffects

According to a conditioning analysis of the orientation-contingent color aftereffect (McCollough effect, ME), orientation stimulus (grids) become associated with color. Contrary to this interpretation are reports that simple forms cannot be used to elicit illusory color and that the ME is not degraded by decreasing the grid-color correlation. The present results indicate: (a) Form stimuli can contingently elicit color aftereffects; (b) even a non-patterned stimulus--the lightness of a frame surrounding a colored area--can contingently elicit color aftereffects; (c) this frame lightness-contingent aftereffect, like the ME, persists for at least 24 hr; and (d) the frame lightness-contingent aftereffect can be used to demonstrate that correlational manipulations affect the ME, as they affect other types of conditional responses.

The role of surgery in abdominal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: experience from the Childrens Cancer Study Group

To determine the appropriate role of surgical intervention in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma primary to the abdomen, we analyzed the effect of multiple prognostic determinants on event-free survival for patients entered into the CCG-551 study. Eighty-four patients were identified with abdominal lymphoma and of these adequate data for analysis was available on 68 (81%). Variables of interest included: extent of disease at diagnosis, completeness of resection, use of bowel resection, radiation to the primary site, and sex/age/race. The median age on study was 8 years; 79% of patients were white and 85% were male. Thirty-three patients (49%) presented with localized disease. Laparotomy was performed in 67 children (99%) with complete gross resection in 28 (42%). Of the 10 reported surgical complications, 8 occurred in those with extensive disease who were incompletely resected. Radiation to the primary site was given in 60% of patients with median dose of 2,000 cGy. Analysis was performed both for the overall group and for the subgroup receiving optimal chemotherapy for histopathology. Variables with significant predictive effect on event-free survival in univariate analysis included extent of disease (P less than or equal to .001), complete resection (P less than or equal to .002), and use of bowel resection (P less than or equal to .004). However, in multivariate analysis, only extent of disease was an independent predictor of outcome. The data support a role for complete operative excision of localized lymphomas especially when accomplished with bowel resection. Aggressive attempts at debulking extensive retroperitoneal or mesenteric lymphomas are contraindicated.

Left ventricular mural bacterial endocarditis: diagnosis by transesophageal echocardiography

An unusual case of staphylococcal endocarditis with a vegetation attached to the left ventricular myocardium is described. No valvular vegetations are present. The diagnosis was made by transesophageal echocardiography. The patient had no chronic debilitating disease, nor was she immunosuppressed.