Blunted inhibition of return in schizophrenia-evidence from a longitudinal study.

Previous cross-sectional studies on covert orienting of visual attention in schizophrenia have been inconsistent. In the present longitudinal study, we examined 40 medicated acutely ill inpatients with a covert orienting of attention task (COVAT) shortly after admission, and again 12-16 weeks after the initial examination, while most patients were in (partial) remission. We administered a COVAT with nonpredictive peripheral cues and two stimulus-onset asynchronies (SOA; 100 and 800 ms).

Semantic hyperpriming in thought-disordered patients with schizophrenia: state or trait?--a longitudinal investigation.

Enhanced semantic priming (SP) has been reported in individuals with schizophrenia who exhibit positive formal thought disorder (TD) and it has been linked to heightened automatic spreading activation in semantic networks of these patients. However, the state or trait nature of semantic hyperpriming in schizophrenia and its relation to clinical features (e.g.

IgG, IgA and IgE autoantibodies against the ectodomain of desmoglein 3 in active pemphigus vulgaris.

Background: IgG autoantibodies against desmoglein (Dsg) 3 play a key part in the pathogenesis of pemphigus vulgaris (PV), the most severe autoimmune bullous disorder.

Objectives: To determine whether immunoglobulin isotypes other than IgG are detectable in the sera of patients with PV and whether a particular immunoglobulin subtype is associated with a distinct clinical phenotype of PV.

Methods: Sera from 41 patients with acute-onset, chronic active, and remittent PV disease with mucosal and cutaneous lesions were assayed against a baculovirus-expressed Dsg3 protein by immunoblot analysis.

Solitary peripapillary hemangioblastoma. A histopathological case report.

Purpose: Hemangioblastomas are highly vascularized tumors of not well-defined histological origin. They are the most frequent manifestation of the von-Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease, but also occur as sporadic non-hereditary tumors. Much has been learned in the recent past about the genetic background, however, the cellular origin of the tumor is still not resolved.

Corynebacterium macginleyi: a conjunctiva specific pathogen.

Background: Although non-diphtherial corynebacteria are ubiquitous in nature and commonly colonise the skin and mucous membranes of humans, they rarely account for clinical infection.

Methods And Results: 10 patients with unilateral conjunctivitis are described in which Corynebacterium macginleyi was isolated. This species has only recently been reported to be exclusively isolated form ocular surfaces.

Treatment of corneal neovascularization with dietary isoflavonoids and flavonoids.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of dietary isoflavonoids and flavonoids for the treatment of ocular neovascularization. Corneal blood vessels were induced by intrastromal implantation of pellets containing bFGF. Isoflavonoids and flavonoids (Genistein, Fisetin and Luteolin) were dissolved in a microemulsion to increase bioavailability and applied topically in concentrations between 0.

Modified pendulum appliance including distal screw and uprighting activation for non-compliance therapy of Class-II malocclusion in children and adolescents.

In present-day orthodontics there is an increasing call for therapeutic procedures and appliances allowing those delivering the treatment maximum independence from patient cooperation. This requires both the development of new therapeutic appliances and the optimization of existing ones (via modification). The present study aims to analyze the therapeutic outcomes obtained by using a pendulum appliance (distal screw and integrated molar uprighting activation), modified and independent of patient cooperation.

Effect of thalidomide and structurally related compounds on corneal angiogenesis is comparable to their teratological potency.

Neovascular diseases are the leading causes of blindness in humans. Although several promising compounds have been isolated, pharmacological treatment remains difficult. Thalidomide has inhibitory effects on angiogenesis in the corneal micropocket assay.

Antithrombin treatment of severe hepatic veno-occlusive disease in children with cancer.

Unlabelled: Hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) is a well-known complication of chemotherapy in Wilms tumor patients, particularly young children. Although this complication resolves uneventfully in most patients, fatal cases have been reported. Severe VOD after transplantation has a high mortality rate ranging from 45% to 98%.

Fixed lingual arch appliance for compliance-free unilateral molar distalization in the mandible. Three case studies.

An asymmetrically activated lingual arch appliance enables rapid, unilateral molar distalization in the mandible without active patient compliance. Using the segmented arch technique, the biomechanics involve only the tooth moved, in accordance with the 2-tooth concept, with a large, multi-rooted tooth segment acting as an anchoring unit. The anchorage system requires no maxillary involvement.

Topical application of methotrexate for inhibition of corneal angiogenesis.

Purpose: Methotrexate (MTX) is a folic acid antagonist used in chemotherapy regimens. Additional therapeutic applications have been suggested based on effect as an immuno-modulating drug in systemic rheumatoid disease and associated uveitis. Since chronic inflammatory disease is often associated with a neovascular response, we investigated the use of MTX for treatment of corneal angiogenesis.

Transformation of tobacco and potato with cDNA encoding the full-length genome of potato leafroll virus: evidence for a novel virus distribution and host effects on virus multiplication.

A full-length cDNA copy of the genome of Potato leafroll virus (PLRV) was introduced into the genome of tobacco and potato plants by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Transgenic lines were obtained in which the transgene was readily detected by PCR with DNA extracted from T(1) tobacco seedlings and clonally multiplied potato plants. PLRV-specific genomic and sub- genomic RNAs, coat protein antigen and virus particles were detected in transgenic plants.

Emil Kraepelin and forensic psychiatry.

Kraepelin's main positions in forensic psychiatry, that are understandable only in the context of his underlying psychiatric and, especially, nosological theory, are the following: (1) Criminal behavior, especially if repeatedly shown by the same individual, should be regarded as (or, in the strongest version possible, is) mental illness; (2) above all, this viewpoint is due to Kraepelin's broad acceptance of degeneration theory in general, whereas he rejected simplifying concepts like Lombroso's early hypothesis of clinically observable "stigmata degenerations"; (3) Kraepelin voted for the acceptance of diminished responsibility to provide a more differentiated spectrum for the psychiatric expert and the judge; (4) because delinquency, in his view, was closely linked with mental illness, which should be treated instead of (only) being punished, he strictly objected to the death penalty; and (5) he suggested significantly increasing psychiatry's influence on decisions regarding the kind and length of imprisonment.

Initial experience with a multiplane transoesophageal echo-transducer: assessment of diagnostic potential.

Background: the prototype of a transoesophageal echocardiographic transducer with a rotatable cross-sectional scanning plane underwent initial evaluation.

Methods: the 5 MHz, phased array, 64 element transducer is incorporated into a 16 by 11 by 40 mm echoscope tip. The instrument also has pulsed wave and colour flow Doppler capabilities.

Anatomic nature and surgical significance of anal sinus and anal intramuscular glands.

The nature of anal sinus and anal intramuscular glands is well known, but their origin is still discussed. In the past years a surprising new theory about the invagination of the proctodeum into the hindgut was put forward. Evidence supporting this theory would be the existence of an "anorectal band" and "epithelial debris" in the subanoderm formed during total or partial obliteration of the anal sinuses.

Adhesion and spreading of corneal endothelial cells on collagens type I and IV in vitro: a model to study mechanisms of endothelial repair.

In vitro assays using endothelial cells (EC, bovine corneal) were performed to study adhesion and spreading on collagen types I and IV. Adhesion was quantitatively analyzed by counting the EC under a light microscope. Spreading was determined by measuring cell area using a scanning electron microscope (SEM).

In vitro studies on the expansion of endothelial cell monolayers on components of the basement membrane.

The purpose of the present study was to observe the expansion of a monolayer of endothelial cells over specific components of the basement membrane. This was performed in vitro in a monolayer expansion assay over 5 days. The control surface was uncoated glass in the form of coverslips.

Interaction between endothelial cells and basement membrane components. In vitro studies on endothelial cell adhesion to collagen types I, III, IV and high molecular weight fragments of IV.

Understanding the mechanisms involved in maintaining the integrity of the vascular endothelium is fundamental to studies on atherosclerosis, thrombosis, inflammation and tumor invasion. One of the essential aspects is the relationship between the endothelial cell (EC) layer and the underlying components of the basement membrane (BM). The importance of the biological role of the individual components of the BM in the promotion of EC adhesion is investigated.

Light- and electron-microscopic studies on multinucleated giant cells in sarcoid granuloma: new aspects of asteroid and Schaumann bodies.

Ultrastructural studies using transmission, analytical, electron, and light microscopy were performed on epithelioid granulomata in 4 lymph nodes from a case of sarcoidosis, emphasizing the organization of asteroid and Schaumann bodies in multinucleated giant cells and the deposition of chemical elements. Serial sectioning at semithin level showed a single multinucleated giant cell can contain up to 4 asteroid and 1 Schaumann body. Microtubules and centrioles were not found in asteroid bodies, although a centriolar field was present in 1 giant cell close to the plasma membrane, completely unrelated to the asteroid body.