Spontaneous narrative-discourse performance of parents of autistic individuals.

The spontaneous narrative-discourse performance of parents of autistic individuals was compared to controls. The narratives of autism parents were similar in length to controls' narratives but were less complex and less coherent. A subgroup of autism parents produced either skeletal or rambling narratives that were not characterized by the type of simplifications that are reported to facilitate comprehension in very young or language-impaired children.

Calves chronically implanted with a total artificial heart as a pharmacological model.

Pharmacological therapy for congestive heart failure includes drugs that have both inotropic and vasoactive effects, although it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between the two effects. An animal with an implanted total artificial heart (TAH) allows the investigation of the vascular effect of these drugs in the absence of the effect on the myocardium. An advantage of the TAH model is its sensitivity to changes in right and left ventricular preload and afterload.

In vitro effect of thyroxine on cholinergic neurotransmission in rat sympathetic superior cervical ganglion.

This study aimed at examining the effect of thyroid hormones on cholinergic transmission in isolated rat superior cervical ganglia (SCG). In SCG explants incubated with 3H-choline, thyroxine (T4) and 3,3',5-triiodothyronine (T3) added to the medium before a second depolarization stimulus of 60 mM K+ resulted in a dose-dependent increase of S2/S1 ratio for 3H release. The concentration of hormone that produced 50% of maximal increase in K(+)-induced radioactivity release was 8 x 10(-9) M for T4 and 1.

The prevalence of fragile X in a sample of autistic individuals diagnosed using a standardized interview.

The study examined 75 autistic individuals who met DSM-III-R criteria for autistic disorder at 5 years of age. Diagnosis was based on information elicited using a standardized interview for autism. Two of 75 (2.

Psychiatric disorders in the parents of autistic individuals.

Eighty-one parents of 42 autistic probands and 34 parents of 18 Down syndrome probands were examined using a semistructured, investigator-based version of the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia Lifetime Version to estimate the lifetime risk of psychiatric disorder. The lifetime prevalence rate of anxiety disorder was significantly greater in parents of autistic probands than in parents of Down syndrome probands. The lifetime prevalence rate of major depressive disorder, while not significantly different in cases and controls, may be high in the parents of autistic probands (27%) in comparison with populations rates.

Paramyosin is the Schistosoma mansoni (Trematoda) homologue of antigen B from Taenia solium (Cestoda).

Antigen B, a major antigen of the cestode parasite Taenia solium, has been purified and a portion of amino acid sequence obtained. Paramyosin of the trematode parasite Schistosoma mansoni, an immunogenic protein that has shown promise as a vaccine candidate, has several biochemical and immunological properties in common with antigen B. A full-length cDNA clone of S.

B cells in autoimmune (NZB x NZW)F1 mice show altered IgG isotype switching upon T cell-dependent antigenic stimulation in vitro.

Humoral immune responses of (NZB x NZW)F1 (BWF1) autoimmune mice to T cell-dependent antigens often exhibit a predominance of IgG2 antibodies, while normal mice produce IgG1 antibodies. In order to determine whether this results from differences in properties of the B cells or the T cells involved, the responses of both primary and secondary BWF1 B cells to the antigen DNP-hemocyanin (Hy) were measured in limiting dilution splenic fragment cultures in the presence of normal T cell help. Furthermore, the capacity of Hy-primed lymph node T cells from BWF1 mice to provide help to BALB/c nu/nu B cells was determined in modified splenic fragment cultures.

GD3 ganglioside is prevalent in fully differentiated neurons from rat retina.

Adult mammalian retinas contain unusually high amounts of GD3, a ganglioside of the lactosylceramide series. In this respect, they differ from adult avian retina and other regions of the adult avian and mammalian brain, where GD3 is a minor ganglioside and gangliosides of the gangliotetraosylceramide series (GM1, GD1a, GD1b, GT1b) are the predominant ones. We compare here the ganglioside patterns of rat, human, horse, and guinea pig retinas, which are known to differ in the degree of vascularization and astrocytic cell content.

Cloning and sequencing of two actin genes from Taenia solium (Cestoda).

Genomic and cDNA actin clones were isolated from Taenia solium gene libraries. The actin genes are interrupted by intervening sequences. Protein coding regions of both genes predict the same amino acid sequence.

A family history study of neuropsychiatric disorders in the adult siblings of autistic individuals.

The family history method was used to obtain developmental, social, and psychiatric histories on the 67 adult siblings of 37 autistic probands. Two of 67 siblings (3.0%) were autistic, three siblings (4.

Coexpression of lactosyl and gangliotetraosyl gangliosides in rat cerebellar radial glial cells in culture.

The expression of gangliosides of the lactosylceramide (LC) and of the gangliotetraosylceramide (GTC) series on the surface of cells from rat embryonic cerebellar tissue was investigated by double-color indirect immunofluorescence. GD3 was assumed to be representative of LC and was detected using a specific monoclonal antibody. GM1 was assumed to be representative of GTC and was detected using the binding of cholera toxin followed by the binding of cholera toxin antibodies.

Ganglioside-enhanced neurite growth: evidence for a selective induction of high-molecular-weight MAP-2.

Neuroblastoma cells maintained in serum-free medium exhibit a significant induction of MAP-1a and Tau proteins, but not MAP-2; the time course of these inductions is highly correlated with an increase in microtubule mass which parallels neurite growth. Bovine brain gangliosides (BBG) enhance the neurite outgrowth response of these cells. We report here that one effect of gangliosides is the selective and dramatic induction of MAP-2 expression.

Relation of serum molindone levels to serum prolactin levels and antipsychotic response.

The antipsychotic drug molindone is considered to be atypical in its mode of action and to have mild side effects. Currently no data are available on the range of serum levels of this drug during treatment. By means of a high performance liquid chromatographic technique, serum molindone levels were measured in 14 psychotic patients receiving a wide range of doses of this drug.

Hominoid triosephosphate isomerase: regulation of expression of the proliferation specific isozyme.

Three primary isoforms of the dimeric glycolytic enzyme, triosephosphate isomerase (TPI; EC 5.3.1.

Self-administered alcoholism screening test (SAAST): comparison of classificatory accuracy in two cultures.

Results of stepwise discriminant analyses of the Self-Administered Alcoholism Screening Test (SAAST) administered to 181 alcoholics and 123 nonalcoholics in Mexico City were compared with results of a similar analysis of a sample in the United States (Rochester, MN). With sensitivities of 90% and 95%, specificities were 91.1% to 99.

In vivo and in vitro expression of gangliosides in chick retina Müeller cells.

The expression of gangliosides of the lactosylceramide (LC) and of the gangliotetraosylceramide (GTC) series on the surface of cells from the chick neural retina was investigated by double-color indirect immunofluorescence. GD3 was assumed to be representative of LC and was detected using a specific monoclonal antibody. GM1 was assumed to be representative of GTC and was detected using the binding of cholera toxin followed by the binding of cholera toxin antibodies.

Cytoplasts from two-cell embryos for nuclear transplantation in the mouse.

Cytoplasts for nuclear transplantation were prepared by microsurgical enucleation of one or both blastomeres of C57BL/6J and 129/Sv-ter 2-cell embryos. The survival of cytoplasts was high (85 to 97%) in both inbred strains. When cytoplasts with a "doubled" amount of cytoplasm were prepared by electrofusion of enucleated blastomeres in individual embryos, the fusion rate in C57BL/6J embryos was 93% while in 129/Sv-ter only 2%.

The coexistence of Taenia solium cysticerci and the pig: role of the antigen B.

A review of data on the antigen B of Taenia solium (AgB) is presented. The biochemical, immunological and physiological properties of AgB are discussed in the context of the host-parasite relationship. It is proposed that AgB facilitates survival of cysticerci by impairing augmentation of the host inflammatory response through the inhibition of the classical pathway of the complement cascade.

Factors influencing performance of chronically ill children on a developmental screening test.

The Metro-Manila Developmental Screening Test (MMDST) is a Philippine version of the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) for which norms were developed in 1980 on 6006 Filipino children. The MMDST was administered in homes and out-patient clinics to children with chronic illness such as cardiac, neurologic, metabolic and others (n = 405). A discriminant analysis using 16 variables was carried out to compare the characteristics of chronically ill children with abnormal scores of the MMDST (n = 130) and those with normal scores (n = 183).

Methylphenidate and growth in hyperactive children. A controlled withdrawal study.

The effect of stimulants on growth has been controversial. Among hyperactive children receiving long-term methylphenidate hydrochloride treatment, we examined the effects of methylphenidate withdrawal on the growth of hyperactive children randomly assigned to be taken off, or remain on, the medication regimen over two consecutive summers. After one summer, no group difference in height was found, but weight was higher in the group that had been taken off methylphenidate therapy.

Characterization of binding properties of the myelin-associated glycoprotein to extracellular matrix constituents.

The myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) can be obtained from adult mouse brain from detergent-lysates of a crude membrane fraction as a 96-100 kd form (detergent solubilized MAG), and from 100,000 g supernatants of homogenates as a 90-96 kd form (soluble MAG). The soluble form distributes into the Triton X-114-poor aqueous phase, while detergent-solubilized MAG predominantly enters the Triton X-114-rich phase. Both molecular forms bind to heparin in hypo- and isotonic buffers.

Myelin-associated glycoprotein, a member of the L2/HNK-1 family of neural cell adhesion molecules, is involved in neuron-oligodendrocyte and oligodendrocyte-oligodendrocyte interaction.

A monoclonal antibody to the myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) was prepared and characterized to probe for the involvement of MAG in cell surface interactions among neural cells in vitro. The antibody reacts specifically with oligodendrocyte cell surface and myelin-rich brain regions as expected from previous investigations. Not all O4 antigen-positive oligodendrocytes express MAG in vitro.

Blockade of pro-oestrus LH surge and ovulation by GABA increase in the rat locus coeruleus.

The effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) increase at the nucleus locus coeruleus (LC) on pro-oestrus LH release and ovulation were evaluated in rats. Local microinjection of the GABA-transaminase inhibitor gamma-vinyl-GABA (GVG) produced 6 h later a marked increase in GABA in the LC. Such action caused a significant decrease of plasma LH levels and prevented the pro-oestrus LH surge.