Characterization of acylfulvene histiospecific toxicity in human tumor cell lines.

Purpose: Acylfulvene derivatives demonstrate marked efficacy in xenograft carcinoma models as compared with the parent illudin compounds. To elucidate the increased therapeutic efficacy of acylfulvene analogs, we compared them with the illudin compounds in terms of their in vitro cytotoxicity, cellular accumulation and DNA incorporation.

Methods: The cytotoxicity of various acylfulvene analogs was tested in vitro against a variety of tumor cell lines.

The use of case vignettes for Addiction Severity Index training.

In an attempt to enhance the reliability of Addiction Severity Index (ASI) interviewer severity ratings (ISRs), we developed a set of eight ASI vignettes, fictionalized narrative case summaries that reproduced the quantitative ASI information in case report format. Each vignette has an ISR answer key, a consensus ISR of two expert ASI trainers for each problem area. Additionally, for four of the vignettes the rationale for the correct ISRs was operationalized.

Group counseling versus individualized relapse prevention aftercare following intensive outpatient treatment for cocaine dependence: initial results.

Ninety-eight male cocaine-dependent patients who completed an intensive outpatient program (IOP) were randomly assigned to either standard group counseling (STND) or individualized relapse prevention (RP) aftercare. Heavier cocaine and alcohol use during IOP and low self-efficacy predicted more cocaine use during the treatment phase of the study, whereas lifetime diagnoses of alcohol dependence, major depression, and any anxiety disorder predicted less cocaine use. Rates of complete abstinence during the 6-month study period were higher in STND than RP, whereas RP was more effective in limiting the extent of cocaine use in those who used during Months 1-3.

Validity of three measures of antisociality in predicting HIV risk behaviors in methadone-maintenance patients.

Most opiate users are injection drug users (IDUs). A significant percentage of IDUs have antisocial personality disorder (APD). APD has been found by some researchers to be an additional risk factor for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in IDUs.

Linkage assignment of eleven genes to the porcine genome.

We report comparative linkage mapping of eleven genes in the swine genome by RFLP analysis. These genes include: Acid phosphatase type 5 (ACP5), Cholecystokinin Type B Receptor (CCKBR), Antibiotic Peptide (FALL39), Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 Receptor (IGF1R), Integrin Alpha M (ITGAM), Integrin Beta 2 (ITGbeta2), Opioid Receptor Mu-1 (OPRM1), Pro-hormone Converter (PC1/3), Retinol Binding Protein 3 (RBP3), Ribosomal DNA (RNR1), and Zona Pellucida Glycoprotein 1 (ZP1). The CCKBR and ITGbeta2 loci define the ends of the linkage groups on Chromosomes (Chro) (SSC) 9p and 13qter, respectively.

A cocaine-positive baseline urine predicts outpatient treatment attrition and failure to attain initial abstinence.

The primary study objective was to ascertain whether a prior finding that the baseline cocaine urine toxicology predicted treatment dropout for cocaine dependent outpatients could be extended to three additional cocaine dependent outpatient treatment samples and whether the urine toxicology also predicted attainment of initial abstinence for the four samples. A secondary objective was to ascertain the extent to which other baseline variables accounted for additional outcome variance over and above that afforded by urine toxicology. To evaluate the first objective, the relationships between the baseline cocaine urine and each of two measures of within treatment response--the completion of treatment or the attainment of initial abstinence--were determined for each of the treatment samples.

Visual function in full-term infants with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy.

Thirty-one full term infants with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) were studied with a battery of tests designed to evaluate visual function in infancy and with serial MRI. Their age ranged between 5 and 31 months. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether the degree of HIE or the site and size of lesions on MRI could predict visual outcome.

Social competence in opiate-addicted individuals: gender differences, relationship to psychiatric diagnoses, and treatment response.

Only one prior study has examined social competence (SC) in drug addicted individuals. That study of cocaine-addicted individuals found gender differences in SC as well as differences based on the type of comorbid psychiatric diagnoses given. This study attempts to replicate findings from that cocaine study in a sample of opiate-addicted individuals and explores the relationship of SC to short-term treatment response.

Detection of subtle changes in the brains of infants and children via subvoxel registration and subtraction of serial MR images.

Purpose: To compare conventional two-dimensional multisection images with registered three-dimensional volume and subtraction images for detecting subtle changes in the brains of infants and children.

Methods: Twenty-six patients (24 with hemorrhagic/ischemic lesions) and one each with perinatal infection and Sturge-Weber disease were examined on two or more occasions with conventional multisection T1- and T2-weighted sequences as well as with 3-D T1-weighted volume sequences. A registration program was used to match the volume images to subvoxel dimensions, and subtracted images (second volume set minus the first) were obtained.

Validity of the psychopathy checklist-revised in male methadone patients.

The psychopathy checklist-revised (PCL-R) has been shown to be reliable when used with male methadone patients, but validity has not been established in this population. This paper examines the PCL-R's validity in 251 male methadone patients. Correlations between the PCL-R and background variables, Axis I and Axis II disorders, and several self report measures of related constructs are evaluated.

Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita and bilateral mid-brain infarction following maternal overdose of co-proxamol.

We report a case of arthrogryposis multiplex congenita secondary to fetal hypokinesia in a 41-week gestation infant following antenatal central nervous system injury. The mother's pregnancy was complicated by an episode of attempted self harm, with an overdose of co-proxamol at 22 weeks of gestational age, and by the use of cocaine in combination with excess alcohol intake. Magnetic resonance imaging showed bilateral mid-brain cysts and marked atrophy of the basal ganglia and thalami.

Chiari I malformation in asymptomatic young children with Williams syndrome: clinical and MRI study.

We report clinical and magnetic resonance imaging findings in two young children, aged 2 years 4 months and 3 years, with Williams syndrome. Both showed a mild global delay, although their neurological examination was completely normal. Their magnetic resonance imaging, however, showed Chiari I malformation and some non-specific changes in the centrum semiovale and in the white matter posterior to the lateral ventricles.

Does the brain regenerate after perinatal infarction?

We have used registered serial magnetic resonance scans to assess the growth of the brain after perinatal infarction in six infants. The initial scans were performed at ages of 4 days to 8 weeks and follow-up studies were performed from 4 days to 21 weeks later. A three-dimensional volume acquisition was performed on each occasion.

Heterologous expression of carbonyl reductase: demonstration of prostaglandin 9-ketoreductase activity and paraquat resistance.

Transfection of murine NIH3T3 fibroblasts with a pSV2-derived eukaryotic expression vector for human cytosolic carbonyl reductase (E.C. 1.

Symptomatic improvement following emergency department management of asthma: a pilot study of intramuscular dexamethasone versus oral prednisone.

Systemic corticosteroid therapy is an established adjunct to beta-adrenergic medications in acute exacerbations of asthma. To date, no study has defined the role of long-acting intramuscular preparations of corticosteroids in pediatric patients with asthma. A pilot study was conducted to prospectively compare symptomatic improvement following a single injection of intramuscular dexamethasone (IMD) to a 3-day regimen of oral prednisone (OP) for children with mild to moderate wheezing episodes that are responsive to nebulized medications in the Pediatric Emergency Department (PED).

Characterization of cellular accumulation and toxicity of illudin S in sensitive and nonsensitive tumor cells.

Illudins are novel low molecular weight natural products cytotoxic to human tumor cells in vitro. Illudin-derived analogs are effective against experimental human cancers nonresponsive to conventional anticancer agents. It is not known why some illudin analogs are more efficacious in vitro and in vivo than other analogs.

Specific binding of the ETS-domain protein to the interferon-stimulated response element.

Interferon (IFN) activation of genes bearing an IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE) is regulated through binding of IFN-stimulated gene factors (ISGF) to the ISRE found in many IFN-stimulated genes. Using a multimerized human 2-5A synthetase ISRE as probe, we screened lambda gt11 expression libraries for cDNA encoding ISRE-binding activity and isolated a clone for murine proto-oncogene ets-1. The Ets-1 protein binds to the 2-5A synthetase ISRE at a site that also binds ISGF3, a multicomponent factor whose ISRE binding correlates with IFN-induced activation of transcription from ISRE-containing promoters.

Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy: early and late magnetic resonance imaging findings in relation to outcome.

Sixteen infants with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) were studied using serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) up to the age of 2 years. The infants had regular neurological and developmental assessments. An nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) score was devised to quantify the early and late MRI findings and a neurological optimality score was used to quantify abnormal neurological signs at the time of the final examination.

Response to methadone maintenance and counseling in antisocial patients with and without major depression.

This study compared the treatment response of four groups of psychiatrically diverse opiate-dependent, methadone maintenance patients receiving drug counseling. The four groups were patients with no other nonsubstance abuse axis I psychiatric diagnoses (OP only; N = 65), patients with lifetime major depression (DEP; N = 60), patients with both antisocial personality disorder and lifetime major depression (APD + DEP; N = 35), and patients with only APD (APD only; N = 24). Patients were assessed at intake, during treatment, and 7 months after treatment admission.

Gender differences in the relapse experiences of cocaine patients.

This study investigated potential gender differences in the onset, course, and termination of cocaine relapse episodes. The subjects were 98 cocaine dependent men and women who were participating in several treatment outcome studies. The Cocaine Relapse Interview was used to obtain data on specific relapse episodes that had occurred in a 6-month period before the interview.

Visual function and perinatal focal cerebral infarction.

Aims: To evaluate the visual function of infants with perinatal cerebral infarction in whom the site and size of the lesion has been determined using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: Twelve infants with cerebral infarction on MRI were studied with a battery of tests specifically designed to evaluate visual function in infancy. This included tests: for visual attention (fixation shifts); of cerebral asymmetry (optokinetic nystagmus, visual fields); for assessment of acuity (forced choice preferential looking); and neurophysiological measures of vision (phase reversal and orientation reversal visual evoked potential).

The relationship of object relations and reality testing deficits to outcome status of methadone maintenance patients.

Impairments in the ability to form and maintain meaningful interpersonal relationships and in the ability to distinguish between internal and external stimuli are related to an individual's psychological health. The Bell Object Relations and Reality Testing Inventory (BORRTI) scores of 146 methadone patients were used to evaluate whether transitory (TI) or chronic impairments (CIs) in object relations and reality testing were related to more severe drug use, family and social problems, psychological distress, as well as more time in treatment, seeking additional treatments, or taking psychiatric medication. The results showed no significant relationship between BORRTI scores and family or social problems, time in treatment, or the months of heroin use between follow-up evaluations.

Assessment of object relations and reality testing in methadone patients.

Objective: The authors studied methadone maintenance patients to determine the degree of their impairment in object relations and reality testing and the relationship of such impairment to comorbid axis I and axis II disorders. It was expected that deficits in object relations and, to a lesser degree, reality testing would be exhibited by the group as a whole and that they would be related to the presence of comorbid disorders.

Method: The self-report Bell Object Relations Reality Testing Inventory was administered to 240 methadone maintenance patients.