Emotional availability in the mother-infant dyad as related to the quality of infant-mother attachment relationship

Dyadic emotional availability and infant-mother attachment relationship were examined in 687 Israeli dyads. Concurrent assessments used the Strange Situation procedure (Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 1978) for evaluating infants' attachment relationship, and the Emotional Availability Scales (Biringen, Robinson, & Emde, 1993) for evaluating the quality of mother-child interaction. It was found that higher scores on the Emotional Availability Scales were associated with infant attachment security. In addition, it was found that the Emotional Availability Scales discriminated between insecure-ambivalent and secure attachment classification, but were not informative about unique characteristics of emotional availability in dyads with avoidant and disorganized infants. Our findings contribute to the cross-cultural validation of Emotional Availability Scales against infants' attachment security.

Emotional availability and attachment representations in kibbutz infants and their mothers

Three components of the attachment transmission model were examined in 48 kibbutz dyads from 2 kibbutz sleeping arrangements: communal and home-based. Concurrent assessments used the Strange Situation procedure (M. D. Ainsworth, M. C. Blehar, E. Waters, & S. Wall, 1978) for infants' attachment relations, the Adult Attachment Interview (C. George, N. Kaplan, & M. Main, 1985) for mothers' attachment representations, and the Emotional Availability Scales (Z. Biringen, J. L. Robinson, & R. N. Emde, 1993) for emotional availability in the dyads. Security of infants' attachment relations as well as autonomy of mothers' attachment representations were associated with higher emotional availability scores. In addition, significantly poorer emotional availability was found in dyads in which infants were insecurely attached and mothers were nonautonomous. Results also indicate that in the ecology of collective sleeping, the associations between the experience of emotional availability in the dyads and infants' and mothers' attachment may have been disrupted.

Early outcome and complications of the extended subcranial approach to the anterior skull base

OBJECTIVES

To present the technique of the extended subcranial approach to the anterior skull base and to review the results in 55 patients who underwent the procedure.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective review of the records of 55 patients who underwent the extended subcranial approach to the anterior skull base between 1994 and 1998 for the treatment of various neoplasms originating in the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, paranasal sinuses, orbit, or meninges, as well as for the repair of complex craniofacial trauma and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. Preoperative patient evaluation and the surgical technique are also reviewed.

METHODS

Patient records were retrospectively reviewed and tabulated for age, sex, and indications for procedure, with special focus on early outcome and complications.

RESULTS

Twenty-six patients underwent oncologic resections, 22 patients had reduction of complex fronto-naso-orbital and skull base fractures, and seven patients had repair of CSF leak. Significant complications in the oncologic group consisted of one hematoma requiring needle aspiration and two cases of temporary nontension pneumocephalus. In the fracture group, one patient died because of extensive intracerebral damage and multiorgan failure, and one patient had nontension pneumocephalus coupled with CSF leakage and one patient had temporary nontension pneumocephalus. The most common late complication in all three groups was anosmia.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on their review, the authors conclude that the extended subcranial approach to the anterior skull base is a safe, versatile, and effective procedure for the surgical treatment of various pathological conditions involving the anterior skull base.

Cloning of an insulin-like androgenic gland factor (IAG) from the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus: implications for eyestalk regulation of IAG expression

In malacostracan crustaceans, sex differentiation is uniquely regulated by a hormone secreted by the male-specific androgenic gland (AG). An isopod AG hormone was the first to be structurally elucidated and was found to belong to the insulin superfamily of proteins. Recently, it has been found that the AGs of several decapod crustaceans express insulin-like androgenic gland factors (IAGs), whose function is believed to be similar to that of the isopod AG hormone. Here we report the isolation from the blue crab Callinectes sapidus of the full-length cDNA encoding a candidate insulin-like AG hormone, termed Cas-IAG. The predicted protein Cas-IAG was encoded as a precursor consisting of a signal peptide, the B chain, the C peptide, and the A chain in that order. While the AG was the main source of Cas-IAG expression, as found in other decapod species, the hepatopancreas of male Callinectes sapidus crabs displayed minor Cas-IAG expression. Eyestalk ablation confirmed the presence of a possible endocrine axis between the eyestalk ganglia and the AG, implying that Cas-IAG expression is negatively regulated by (a) substance(s) present in the eyestalk ganglia.

Effects of implantation of hypertrophied androgenic glands on sexual characters and physiology of the reproductive system in the female red claw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus

The role of the androgenic gland (AG), an organ unique to male Crustacea, in the development of sex characters and physiology of the reproductive system has not been fully documented in the red claw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus. To investigate the role of the AG in this species, the effect of implanting hypertrophied AGs into immature female animals was followed. Of the female animals with AG implants, 91.6% developed male-like propodi, including the red patch characteristic of males of this species. The development of female secondary sex characteristics such as a wider abdomen, a wider endopod, and simple setation was inhibited. At the end of the experiment, the ovaries of the AG-implanted females contained mostly lipid-stage oocytes, with a small number of oocytes at the early yolk stage. The gonadosomatic index of the AG-implanted females was significantly lower than that of the control (sperm duct-implanted or sham-operated) females, which had mature oocytes with a well-defined perinuclear zone and yolk globules. An immunohistochemical test using an antibody developed against a 106-kDa secondary vitellogenic polypeptide showed only slight immunoreactivity in the oocytes of AG-implanted females compared with abundant immunoreactivity in control ovaries. In the polypeptide profile of the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) from the hemolymph of AG-implanted females, the 206- and 79-kDa secondary vitellogenesis-specific polypeptides were not found, whereas they were present in the profile of control females. In contrast, the female-specific 177-kDa polypeptide was present in the polypeptide profile of hemolymph HDL of both AG-implanted females and control females. It seems therefore that while secondary sex characters were masculinized under the influence of the implanted AG, the process of vitellogenesis was suppressed but not fully eliminated in the AG-implanted females.

Effect of androgenic gland ablation on morphotypic differentiation and sexual characteristics of male freshwater prawns, Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Mature males of the freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man), may change from one to another morphotype, according to a set sequence. Small males may develop into orange-claw males and orange-claw males into dominant blue-claw males. Each of the three morphotypes demonstrates distinctive reproductive behavior and secondary sexual characteristics. The role of the androgenic gland in this morphotypic transformation was examined experimentally by bilateral androgenic gland ablation (andrectomy) of small males and orange-claw males. For andrectomy initiated in the small male morphotype, transformation to the next morphotype was permitted (orange-claw), but subsequent transformation to the blue-claw morphotype was blocked. Andrectomy of orange-claw males did not prevent transformation into the blue-claw. Andrectomy on both small and orange-claw males caused disappearance of the genital papillae and atrophy of the sperm ducts and testes. The growth rates of the andrectomized small and orange-claw males were significantly lower than those of the unoperated and sham-operated controls. We conclude that androgenic gland factors control not only the differentiation of male secondary sexual characteristics but also morphotypic differentiation. Bioassays based on the results of this study will be instrumental in the characterization of such a factor(s).

Improved survival of island flaps after prolonged ischemia by perfusion with superoxide dismutase

Perfusion of rat groin flaps after 10 and 11 hours of complete ischemia with superoxide dismutase, an oxygen free-radical scavenger, significantly improved the survival of these flaps. This finding provides further evidence for the important role that oxygen-derived free radicals play in ischemic injury. The study also demonstrates that while restoration of blood supply alone is not enough to ensure tissue survival after prolonged ischemia, chemical agents can be utilized to achieve viable flaps beyond what was believed to be "a point of no return".

Congenital epulis

Epulis is a rare tumor of the newborn, also known as granular cell tumor of the newborn or Neumann's tumor. This tumor arises from the mucosa of the gingiva, most commonly from the anterior part of the maxillary alveolar ridge, and is typically seen as a mass protruding out of the newborn child's mouth, which may interfere with respiration or feeding. Epulis is seen only in the newborn and is a different entity from other granular cell tumors. The tumor has a marked female preponderance of 8:1. The recommended treatment is prompt surgical resection. Recurrences of the tumor and damage to future dentition have not been reported, suggesting that radical excision is not warranted. A newborn female with such a mass is described. The tumor was resected using a carbon dioxide laser; the postoperative course was uneventful. On histologic examination, it was composed of diffuse sheets and clusters of polygonal cells containing small round to oval nuclei and abundant coarsely granular cytoplasm. The tumor cells stained positive for vimentin, and negative for S100-protein, actin, desmin, laminin, keratin, estrogen, and progesterone receptors. Electron microscopic examination showed granular cells containing heterogeneous electron-dense granules, lysosomes, and cytoplasmic lipid droplets. The clinical and microscopic features of such tumors are reviewed.

Identification and Characterization of an Insulin-Like Receptor Involved in Crustacean Reproduction

Sexual differentiation and maintenance of masculinity in crustaceans has been suggested as being regulated by a single androgenic gland (AG) insulin-like peptide (IAG). However, downstream elements involved in the signaling cascade remain unknown. Here we identified and characterized a gene encoding an insulin-like receptor in the prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (Mr-IR), the first such gene detected in a decapod crustacean. In mining for IRs and other insulin signaling-related genes, we constructed a comprehensive M. rosenbergii transcriptomic library from multiple sources. In parallel we sequenced the complete Mr-IR cDNA, confirmed in the wide transcriptomic library. Mr-IR expression was detected in most tissues in both males and females, including the AG and gonads. To study Mr-IR function, we performed long-term RNA interference (RNAi) silencing in young male prawns. Although having no effect on growth, Mr-IR silencing advanced the appearance of a male-specific secondary trait. The most noted effects of Mr-IR silencing were hypertrophy of the AG and the associated increased production of Mr-IAG, with an unusual abundance of immature sperm cells being seen in the distal sperm duct. A ligand blot assay using de novo recombinant Mr-IAG confirmed the existence of a ligand-receptor interaction. Whereas these results suggest a role for Mr-IR in the regulation of the AG, we did not see any sexual shift after silencing of Mr-IR, as occurred when the ligand-encoding Mr-IAG gene was silenced. This suggests that sexual differentiation in crustaceans involve more than a single Mr-IAG receptor, emphasizing the complexity of sexual differentiation and maintenance.

Suicide attempts by self-immolation--our experience

Of 5934 patients admitted to our Burns' Unit at the Soroka University Hospital, Beer-Sheva, Israel between the years 1965 and 1986, 22 had attempted suicide by fire (0.37 per cent). Seventeen of them (77 per cent) died from their burns. The use of flammable liquids was the most common method of immolation. Fifty per cent of the victims were known to have previous mental disorders.

Effect of Methyl Farnesoate on Late Larval Development and Metamorphosis in the Prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (Decapoda, Palaemonidae): A Juvenoid-like Effect?

Methyl farnesoate (MF), the unepoxidated form of insect juvenile hormone III, was detected in larvae of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii, which metamorphose to post-larvae following 11 larval stages. The possible role of MF as a morphogen was studied by administering the compound to M. rosenbergii larvae via an Artemia vector. Higher MF levels caused earlier retardation of late larval growth, and the highest dose retarded larval development. Furthermore, MF significantly affected the patterns of metamorphosis and the appearance of intermediate individuals exhibiting both larval and post-larval morphology and behavior. Three intermediate types were defined, two of which were found only at the MF-treated groups and one that was exclusive to the higher dose treatments. The relative abundance of intermediate specimens increased from 2% in the control to 32% in the high MF concentration, which suggests that MF has a juvenoid-like effect in this decapod crustacean.

Sex determination in crayfish: are intersex Cherax quadricarinatus (Decapoda, Parastacidae) genetically females?

In the Australian red-claw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus (von Martens) (Decapoda, Parastacidae), a gonochoristic species, seven different combinations of intersex individuals (with both male and female genital openings) have been described. However, to date, the genetic basis for this phenomenon has not been investigated. This study was designed to test a simple chromosome-based sex-determination model for C. quadricarinatus that assumes the male to be the homogametic (ZZ) sex. According to our model, intersex individuals that are functionally males are genetically females (WZ). Individual crosses were performed between intersex and female crayfish, with control crosses being performed between normal males and females. The control crosses yielded, in most cases, the expected 1:1 sex ratio in the F1 progeny. Crosses between intersex individuals and females yielded a 1:3 (male:female) sex ratio in most crosses. According to our hypothesis, one-third of the females produced in a cross of a female with an intersex animal should be WW females. The hypothesis was tested by crossing normal males with F1 females, which were progeny of intersex fathers. These crosses yielded almost 100% females, a finding that conforms to the above-suggested sex determination model for C. quadricarinatus and the female WZ genotype of intersex individuals.

Methyl farnesoate levels in male spider crabs exhibiting active reproductive behavior

The concentration of methyl farnesoate (MF) in the hemolymph and its synthesis by the mandibular organs (MOs) were investigated to determine whether this compound is related to the differences in the size of the reproductive system and the mating behavior among male morphotypes of the spider crab, Libinia emarginata. Large-claw abraded males displayed mating behavior under competitive conditions. They have the largest reproductive systems, their MOs synthesize large amounts of MF in vitro, and the concentration of MF in their hemolymph is high. Small-claw abraded males displayed mating behavior with receptive females only when isolated. These smaller crabs have intermediate-sized reproductive systems, their MOs synthesize the most MF, and they have the highest circulating level of MF relative to their body size. The unabraded males did not display mating behavior; their reproductive systems are smaller; their MO activity is low, as is their circulating level of MF. The strong relationship between MF levels and the intensity of reproductive behavior suggests that MF may be one of the driving forces behind mating behavior in Crustacea.

A newly established ELISA showing the effect of the androgenic gland on secondary-vitellogenic-specific protein in the hemolymph of the crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus

A quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to monitor the onset of secondary vitellogenesis in Cherax quadricarinatus females and in intersex individuals (having both male and female reproductive systems) after removal of the androgenic gland (AG). As a prerequisite for the assay, the 106-kDa polypeptide was separated from newly laid C. quadricarinatus eggs by SDS-PAGE, and anti-106-kDa antibody was raised in rabbit. The specificity of the anti-106-kDa polypeptide for proteins specific for the hemolymph of secondary-vitellogenic females was confirmed by double immunodiffusion and immunoblot cross-reactivity tests. A characteristic standard ELISA curve, using egg high-density lipoprotein (HDL), showed linearity between 16 and 500 ng (r = 0. 953) and was sensitive for amounts as low as 8 ng. The inter- and intraassay coefficients of variance were 14.8 and 7.2%, respectively. Only traces of egg HDL equivalents were detected in the hemolymph of male and primary-vitellogenic females (11 to 110 microg/ml), confirming the specificity of the assay, whereas high levels of such a protein (8-35 mg/ml) were detected in the hemolymph of secondary-vitellogenic females. Removal of the AG from intersex individuals leads to a significant increase in the concentration of vitellogenic-specific protein in the hemolymph (up to 2 mg/ml). Moreover, a significantly lower concentration was found in females subjected to AG transplant (79.3 microg/ml). The ELISA thus provided an accurate and sensitive tool to investigate the influence of the AG on the expression of a vitellogenic-specific protein in female and intersex C. quadricarinatus, confirming the central role of this gland in tuning sexual plasticity in this species.

An analysis of mortality in patients with burns covering 40 per cent BSA or more: a retrospective review covering 24 years (1964-88)

The charts of patients with burns covering more than 40 per cent of the body surface area (BSA) who were admitted to the Burn Unit of the Soroka Medical Center, Beersheva, Israel, between the years 1964 and 1988 were reviewed for mortality rate and causes of deaths. The factors affecting survival are reviewed and analysed.

Chemical burns: our 10-year experience

A review of 173 patients with chemical burns admitted to our burn unit was carried out during the years 1976-85. Most burns were work related (83 per cent). The majority of patients were men aged 21-50 years (mean age = 29.6 years). The mean total body surface area involved was 3.6 per cent (range = 1-30 per cent). The mean length of stay in hospital was 6.3 days (range = 1-52 days). The extremities were involved in 68 per cent of the patients. The more common aetiological agents were bromine and its compounds (36 per cent), then acids (21 per cent), alkalis and organic substances (14.5 per cent each). The severest burns were caused by the inorganic substances. Delayed admission was most characteristic of the bromine and alkali burns. Complications included local infection (19 cases), systemic infection (two cases), inhalation injury (two cases), tissue necrosis (one case) and corneal erosion (one case). There were no deaths. Increased awareness of the hazardous potential of chemicals should help reduce the incidence of chemical burns.

Intersex Red Claw Crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus (von Martens): Functional Males with Pre-vitellogenic Ovaries

Intersex individuals, possessing both male and female genital openings, were assessed in two groups-7 and 19 months old-of Australian red claw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus). All intersex individuals investigated were functional males, as suggested by their malelike morphology and the presence of testes, sperm ducts, androgenic glands, and viable spermatozoa. When an ovary was present in an intersex individual from either group, the gonadosomatic index, the diameter of the oocytes, and the ovarian cytosolic polypeptide profile were similar to those of immature, pre-vitellogenic females. We conclude that intersexuality in C. quadricarinatus does not indicate a case of protandric sequential hermaphroditism, as previously suggested. The case of intersexuality described here presents a unique model for the study of the role of the androgenic gland in the regulation of sex differentiation in crustaceans.

The Hebrew Communicative Development Inventory: language specific properties and cross-linguistic generalizations

Cultural, linguistic, and developmental evidence was taken into consideration in constructing the HCDI, a Hebrew adaptation of the MCDI. The HCDI was then administered to a stratified sample of Israeli mothers of 253 toddlers aged 1;6 to 2;0 (M = 1;8.18). Hebrew results are presented and compared with scores from the original MCDI sample (Fenson, Dale, Reznick, Bates, Thal & Pethick, 1994). The HCDI is a reliable and sensitive measure of lexical development and emergent grammar, capturing wide variability among Israeli toddlers. In comparison with English, the relation between vocabulary size and age, as well as the shape of the growth curves for nouns, predicate terms, and closed class words relative to size of lexicon, were strikingly similar. These results indicate that conclusions concerning cross-linguistic similarities can be best documented by using parallel methods of measurement. The HCDI results support the claim that early lexical development in Hebrew and in English follow remarkably similar development patterns, despite the typological differences between the two target languages.

Isolation and characterization of a female-specific DNA marker in the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii

In this study, a female-specific DNA marker in the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii was identified through amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). The AFLP-derived sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker was tested in over 200 individuals, giving reproducible sex identification. Further molecular characterization of the sex-marker's genomic region (∼ 3 kb long) revealed the presence of tandem and inverted repeats. The ∼ 3-kb sequence was identified both in male and female prawns, but with subtle differences: a deletion of 3 bp (present in female prawn but absent in male prawn) identified upstream of the SCAR marker sequence and two female-specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms, both indicating that male prawns are homozygous, whereas female prawns are heterozygous in this locus. Fluorescent in situ hybridization showed the ∼ 3-kb sequence to be unique: to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a unique sex-specific sequence observed in situ in crustaceans. The sex-specific marker identified in M. rosenbergii may have considerable applied merit for crustacean culture in that it will enable the determination of genetic sex at early developmental stages when phenotypic differences are not identifiable.

Prostaglandin E2 in previtellogenic ovaries of the prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii: synthesis and effect on the level of cAMP

Eicosanoids are thought to play a role in the regulation of invertebrate reproduction, as they do in vertebrate systems. This was investigated using the previtellogenic ovary of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii as a biological model. Concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), assessed by means of radioimmunoassay, in the previtellogenic ovary (oocyte diameter 20-40 microns) were 32.4 +/- 14.1 pg/mg ovary. Preincubation of the ovary with indomethacin (10 microM) inhibited PGE2 synthesis by 43%. In addition, if indomethacin was added to the culture medium, cAMP levels decreased by 48%. When previtellogenic ovaries were incubated in vitro with PGE2 (0.05 micrograms/ml medium and up), cAMP levels in the tissue homogenate sharply increased. The levels of cAMP rose most significantly (up to 10-fold) when 1-10 micrograms PGE2/ml medium was applied. These results suggest that PGE2, and possibly other prostaglandins, may play a role in the endocrine regulation of crustacean reproduction.

Garlic burns

A patient with a second-degree burn of the forehead, induced by topical application of crushed garlic is reported. The literature on garlic burns is reviewed.

A simple, rapid, reproducible tie-over dressing

A simple and quickly performed technique for the construction of tie-over dressings is described. After adjustment of the graft to the skin defect, skin staples are used to tack simultaneously the graft and looped silk threads circumferentially. Securing the threads is achieved by using a shortened disposable syringe cylinder through which the threads are passed and held in place by the adjusted piston. A stable fixation is easily achieved in all cases using one or more of these devices depending on the size of the defect. This technique enables the subsequent application of the dressing if needed.

High-density lipoprotein associated with secondary vitellogenesis in the hemolymph of the crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus

The high-density lipoproteins LPI and LPII were isolated from the hemolymph of the crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus by gradient ultracentrifugation and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Both lipoproteins contained a carotenoid moiety. LPI is comprised of a single polypeptide with an approximate molecular mass of 96 kDa. LPII was composed of two similar native components, LPIIa and LPIIb, both having polypeptides of 80 and 177 kDa. Both under natural conditions and after endocrine manipulations, LPI was present in males and in females, regardless of the female reproductive stage. LPII was present only in secondary-vitellogenic females, but not during the winter reproductive arrest period. LPII was also absent from young females that had received androgenic gland implants. LPII also appeared in the hemolymph of intersex individuals from which the androgenic gland had been removed. It is therefore suggested that LPII serves as a marker indicating the onset of secondary vitellogenesis in C. quad'iariicarintus females.

Gigantic lipomas

Two cases of unusually giant lipomas--weighting 5070 and 4000 gm--are described. Tumors were present for 5 years on the back in a 55-year-old man and for 20 years at the anterior compartment of the thigh in an 80-year-old woman. Difficulty in fitting clothes was the first patient's sole complaint, and social pressure was actually the reason that brought him to his doctor. The second patient suffered from pain during the last 2 years. The weight of the bigger tumor was calculated preoperatively from the uptake of technetium-99m DTPA during scanning. Dissection of the tumors from the surrounding tissues was extremely easy in both cases. At 5 years and 1 year following surgery, there is no evidence of recurrence.

Hepatopancreatic multi-transcript expression patterns in the crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus during the moult cycle

Alterations of hepatopancreatic multi-transcript expression patterns, related to induced moult cycle, were identified in male Cherax quadricarinatus through cDNA microarray hybridizations of hepatopancreatic transcript populations. Moult was induced by X-organ sinus gland extirpation or by repeated injections of 20-hydroxyecdysone. Manipulated males were sacrificed at premoult or early postmoult, and a reference population was sacrificed at intermoult. Differentially expressed genes among the four combinations of two induction methods and two moult stages were identified. Biologically interesting clusters revealing concurrently changing transcript expressions across treatments were selected, characterized by a general shift of expression throughout premoult and early postmoult vs. intermoult, or by different premoult vs. postmoult expressions. A number of genes were differentially expressed in 20-hydroxyecdysone-injected crayfish vs. X-organ sinus gland extirpated males.