bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Variability and Instability in Perceptual and Reading Functions of Brain-Injured Children
Authors: Aviezer Ya'ara , Simpson Seymour 
Published: December 2008

Thirty-four children diagnosed as brain-injured and enrolled in a school for brain-injured children and 40 children in regular classes took part in a study of variability and instability in perceptual and reading functions. The children were divided into an older group (10 to 11 years old) and a younger group (6 to 7 years old) and were matched for age, IQ, and socioeconomic background. Three perceptual functions were tested — auditory sequence, spatial relationships, and visual-motor coordination. Reading was tested by means of a four-part examination composed of single consonants, nonsense syllables, words, and sentences. All children were individually examined three times over an interval of two months two weeks. The three major hypotheses investigated were (1) brain-injured children would display more instability in repeated task performance over time than normal children; (2) brain-injured children would display more variability in level of performance from task to task; and (3) instability in perceptual functioning is not developmentally related, whereas instability in reading level is developmentally related. The results indicate that both older and younger brain-injured children display instability in various perceptual areas. Young brain-injured children appear not to differ significantly in this respectfrom their normal peers. Only in the case of older brain-injured children is such instability of diagnostic significance.
The Direct Assessment: An Alternative to Psychometric Testing
Authors: Dickinson Donald J. 
Published: December 2008

There is currently a need for school psychologists to write remedial recommendations for the same educational problems identified by teachers and parents. Such fundamental problems as reading, writing, and arithmetic need to be assessed on the basis that a child simply has not learned the necessary subtasks within these skills or that certain immediate environmental conditions prevent the child from acquiring the skills. Previous assessment procedures ignore the task and the immediate environment and assess only the child's inability to learn. The child, the task, and the immediate environment need to be included in an assessment. A direct assessment anaylzes the task to be learned in such a way that the steps required to learn the skills are specified, and the child's level within the task is determined. This assessment takes into consideration that the child's immediate environment can make a difference in performance. Factors within the environment are assessed to determine whether they set the occasion for inappropriate responses. In addition, the environment in which the child must learn is systematically evaluated to determine those factors that can be modified so that learning will occur, while the unique learning characteristics of the child are also considered.
Blueprint for the Diagnosis of Difficulties with Cardinality
Authors: Dunlap William P. , Brennen Alison H. 
Published: December 2008

Children frequently have difficulties solving exercises involving missing addends. In most cases these children lack mental images for the cardinal numbers. This manuscript describes a diagnostic procedure for assessing children's mental images and knowledge of cardinal numbers, 0 through 9. The diagnostic procedure includes the assessment of a child's visual memory, visual perception, symbol recognition, oral naming of numerals, and symbol-set linkage. These skills must be possessed by a child in order for him/her to be successful with cardinal numbers and missing addend exercises.
Empirically Derived Learning Disability Subtypes: A Replication Attempt and Longitudinal Patterns Over 15 Years
Authors: Spreen Otfried , Haaf Robert G. 
Published: December 2008

Test scores of two groups of learning disabled children with a mean age of 10 years (N=63 and N=96) were submitted to cluster analysis in an attempt to replicate previously described subtypes. Part of these subjects and a matched control group (N = 170) followed up into adulthood and tested at a mean age of 24 years were cluster analyzed to investigate the persistence of subtypes into adulthood. The clusters found in both childhood and adult samples did resemble subtypes reported in the literature, although at adult age the ‘linguistic’ subtype was no longer present. The results of several validation procedures indicated that the derived subtypes were somewhat less stable than desired. Tests for age differences across clusters shawed significant effects only with unstandardized variables in the adult sample but not in children. Tests for differences between derived clusters in neurological impairment as assessed in childhood proved significant only between control and LD clusters; a similar analysis with adult neurological categories showed signifcant trends related to severity. Tracing individual subjects from childhood to adult clusters showed only a moderate degree of persistence. A subsidiary analysis with two of the samples investigated the presence and outcome of the ACID subtype. One clear example of this type was found at both ages, but tracing subjects showed only little persistence of this type into adult years. A second example of the ACID type was also found at adult age which consisted mainly of subjects who were average learners in school. The paper stresses the need for reexamination of the notion of “specific” disabilities and further study of the replicability and long-term outcome of LD subtypes
Definition and Treatment of Dyslexia
Authors: Gersons-Wolfensberger D. C. M. , Ruijssenaars Wied A. J. J. M. 
Published: December 2008

A committee of the Health Council of the Netherlands prepared a report on the definition and treatment of dyslexia at the request of the Minister of Health, Welfare, and Sport (see Note). The Health Council, as charged by the Health Act, is to inform the government on the state of science with respect to public health issues. The Council is entirely funded by the government but otherwise completely independent (an independence guaranteed by law). The committee was formed to answer questions regarding the provisions and funds needed for the treatment of persons with dyslexia, neuropsychological treatment modalities, in particular, and the role of speech and language therapists. Definitive decision making about reimbursement by the Dutch National Health Service for treatment by speech and language therapists in cases of dyslexia was on hold, pending the committee's report. Specific attention was requested for the following aspects: the definition of dyslexia (the characteristic symptoms of this category of developmental language disabilities); the consequences of the proposed definition for indication and treatment; the appropriate methods of treatment; the involvement of several possible professionals (e.g., neuropsychologist, remedial teacher, speech and language therapist), as well as the role of the neurologist during and in relation to the treatment process; and those situations in which treatment should be the responsibility of the health care system. This article summarizes the committee's considerations and conclusions on these different aspects.
Isolated Lissencephaly: Report of Four Patients From Two Unrelated Families
Authors: Pavone Lorenzo , Gullotta Filippo , Incorpora Gemma , Grasso Sebastiano , Dobyns William B. 
Published: December 2008

Lissencephaly is a brain malformation manifested by a smooth cerebral surface and caused by incomplete neuronal migration. Clinical sequellae include minor craniofacial changes (bitemporal hollowing, small jaw), severe mental retardation, and other neurological abnormalities. Patients with classical or type I lissencephaly and its sequellae but no other significant anomalies are classified as having isolated lissencephaly sequence. Possible causes of isolated lissencephaly sequence include ischemia or viral infection during the time of neuronal migration, microdeletion within the Miller-Dieker syndrome critical region in chromosome band 17p13.3, and Mendelian inheritance. The last is based on a report of a single family with three affected children in 1933. We report four patients with isolated lissencephaly sequence from two unrelated families who provide further support for autosomal (or possibly X-linked) recessive inheritance. In the first family, three brothers were affected. In the second, the parents are first cousins. ( J Child Neurol 1990;5:52-50).
Alterations of Urinary Acetylcarnitine in Valproate-Treated Rats: The Effect of L-Carnitine Supplementation
Authors: Murakami Kiyotaka , Sugimoto Tateo , Nishida Naoki , Woo Man , Araki Atsushi , Kobayashi Yohnosuke 
Published: December 2008

Urinary excretion of acetylcarnitine was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography in two experimental groups of valproate-treated rats. In the urine of mature rats weighing 180 to 200 g treated with valproate (500 mg/kg/day), acetylcarnitine levels were higher than those in controls on days 4 and 7, while L-carnitine-supplemented rats showed lower levels than the valproate group. The valproate-treated rats showed an increased acetylcarnitine/acylcarnitine ratio on and after day 4, while the L-carnitine-supplemented rats showed no significant change compared to the controls on any days. In the urine of immature rats weighing 80 to 90 g treated with valproate (50 mg/kg/day), acetylcarnitine levels were increased after the 14th day of treatment. These results suggest that an increase in urinary acetylcarnitine occurs when small doses of valproate are administered for a longer time. We speculate that increased acetylcarnitine is not a product of β-oxidation in mitochondria, because L-carnitine supplementation decreases the acetylcarnitine levels. Although the mechanism of acetylcarnitine excretion during valproate administration is not clear, L-carnitine supplementation is effective in decreasing the level of urinary acetylcarnitine and keeping the acetylcarnitine/acylcarnitine ratio normal. (J Child Neurol 1992;7:404-407).
Neurofibromatosis Type 1: Review of the First 200 Patients in an Australian Clinic
Authors: North Kathryn 
Published: December 2008

Neurofibromatosis type 1 is a common multisystem disorder, best managed in a multidisciplinary clinic. In 1991, the first Australian neurofibromatosis clinic was established at the Children's Hospital, Camperdown, and the clinical characteristics of the first 150 families are reviewed. Two hundred individuals were assessed; there was an equal sex distribution, and 55% of cases were sporadic. Advanced paternal age appeared to predispose to new mutations in the neurofibromatosis gene. Café-au-lait spots and axillary freckling were important to the diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type 1 during childhood, and neurofibromas and Lisch nodules, although often not appearing until after puberty, were present in almost all patients over 30 years of age. Short stature (27%), macrocephaly (43%), scoliosis (20.5%), and learning disabilities (45%) were common associated features. The prevalence of disease complications was similar to the major US and European studies. (J Child Neurol 1993;8:395-402).
A Large-Scale Mitochondrial DNA Deletion Causing Progressive Ataxia
Authors: Saitoh Shigeko , Momoi Mariko Y. , Ohki Takehiro , Yamagata Takanori , Tsuru Tomohiko , Mizuguchi Masashi , Arima Kunimasa 
Published: December 2008

Mitochondrial diseases are characterized by heteroplasmic mitochondrial DNA mutations and multisystemic dysfunction. Base substitutions of mitochondrial DNA have been reported in mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS), 1,2 myoclonus epilepsy with ragged red fibers (MERRF), 3 and other neuromuscular disorders.4 Heteroplasmic mitochondrial DNA deletions are usually detected in chronic external ophthalmoplegia, including Kearns-Sayre syndrome, 5 and on rare occasions in Pearson marrow-pancreas syndrome.6 A few unusual clinical complexes associated with single mitochondrial DNA deletions have been reported, such as maternally transmitted diabetes and deafness,7 diffuse leukodystrophy,8 MELAS, Fanconi's syndrome,9 pure myopathy and neuropathy,10 myopathy with lipomatosis, 11 and Leigh-type neuropathology.12 We report here a patient with a large-scale mitochondrial DNA deletion, which was located at a novel site and produced an atypical Kearns-Sayre syndrome phenotype. The major clinical sign at the early stage was not ophthalmoplegia, but cerebellar ataxia.
Respiratory Tract Reactions to Western Red Cedar
Authors: Blainey A.D. , Graham V.A.L. , Phillips M.J. , Davies R.J. 
Published: December 2008

1 Asthma due to western red cedar (Thuja plicata) is well recognized, but has not been described frequently in the UK. Two patients who developed asthma and rhinitis due to occupational contact with western red cedar were studied. Both patients developed late asthmatic responses following bronchial challenge with western red cedar. 2 The challenge technique and the results of comparison between different wood dusts and dust extract are described. 3 The technique of anterior rhinometry was used to follow the nasal response to challenge in one patient, and demonstrated a late nasal reaction which followed a similar time course to the bronchial response.
Assessment of Lead Intakes and Dose-response for a Population in Ayr Exposed to a Plumbosolvent Water Supply
Authors: Sherlock J. , Smart G. , Forbes G.I. , Moore M.R. , Patterson W.J. , Richards W.N. , Wilson T.S. 
Published: December 2008

1 Dietary lead intakes, blood lead concentrations and water lead concentrations were measured and their relationships investigated for 31 adults and 11 infants living in dwellings in Ayr with lead plumbing. 2 For adults, some lead intakes were found to be higher than the provisional tolerable weekly intake for lead, and for infants most of the intakes were high. 3 A cube root relationship fitted the data on blood lead versus water lead better than a linear relationship. Similarly, blood lead varied with the cube root of weekly dietary lead intake. 4 These cube root equations provided a means of estimating the impact on blood lead concentrations of exposure to lead from food and water. If cube root relationships correctly describe the association between these parameters, then the curve fitted to the results for adults indicates that the contribution to the blood lead concentrations from sources other than the diet and water was relatively small.
Induction of Hamster Hepatic Peroxisomal β-oxidation and Peroxisome Proliferation-associated 80000 mol. wt. Polypeptide by Hypolipidemic Drugs
Authors: Reddy M.K. , Lalwani N.D. , Qureshi S.A. , Reddy J.K. 
Published: December 2008

1 The effects of hypolipidemic drugs fenofibrate (isopropyl[4-( p-chlorobenzoyl)-2-phenoxy-2-methyl]propionate), pyrinixil (BR-931; [4-chloro-6-(2,3-xylidino)-2-pyrimidinylthio( N-β-hydroxyethyl) acetamide]), methyl clofenapate (2-methyl-2[4-( p-chlorophenyl)phenoxy]2-methyl-propionate), and clofibrate (ethyl α- p-chloro-phenoxyisobutyrate) on plasma triglyceride levels, hepatic peroxisome proliferation and peroxisome-associated enzymes in hamsters were investigated. 2 Fenofibrate, pyrinixil and methyl clofenapate were administered in the diet at 0.2% level (w/w) for 6 weeks. Clofibrate was fed at 0.5% level. 3 Fenofibrate, pyrinixil and methyl clofenapate induced a marked proliferation of peroxisomes in hamster liver cells which was comparable to that observed in the rat and mouse liver, whereas the peroxisome proliferative effect of clofibrate was less pronounced. Peroxisomal fatty acid β-oxidation system was found in the hamster liver and its activity was enhanced significantly by hypolipidemic drugs. The magnitude of induction of [1-14C]palmitoyl CoA oxidation, heat-labile enoyl-CoA hydratase and peroxisome proliferation-associated 80000 mol. wt. polypeptide in the hamster appeared to parallel the extent of peroxisome proliferation. 4 All four hypolipidemic compounds increased hepatic catalase and carnitine acetyltransferase activities and decreased plasma triglyceride levels in the hamster. The observed hepatic effects of hypolipidemic drugs in hamster are identical to those induced by peroxisome proliferators in the rat and mouse. 5 These observations suggest that hypolipidemic agents identified as peroxisome proliferators in rats, mice and now hamsters would very likely enhance the peroxisomal enzyme system in other species. Additional information on the interspecies responses to peroxisome proliferators, however, is necessary to assess the role of peroxisome proliferation in carcinogenesis.
Comparison of the Inhibitory Action of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and Petroleum Spirit Extract of Herbal Cannabis on Human Sperm Motility
Authors: Hong C.Y. , Chaput de Saintonge D.M. , Turner P. , Fairbairn J.W. 
Published: December 2008

1 Using the trans-membrane migration method to measure drug effects on human sperm motility, it is found that Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol is the major constituent of cannabis which inhibits sperm motility and unlike the cataleptic effect, other constituents in the petroleum spirit extract do not potentiate this effect significantly.2 It is suggested that the mechanisms for sperm immobilization and cataleptic effects are different.
Effect of Pesticide Exposure on Human Microsomal Enzyme Induction
Authors: Uppal R. , Sharma P.R. , Chaudhury R.R. 
Published: December 2008

1 The antipyrine half-life, metabolic clearance rate and the apparent volume of distribution were measured in six subjects handling malathion. These results were compared with six appropriate controls.2 Occupational exposure of malathion in subjects reduced the antipyrine half-life from 9.18 ± 2.16 h in controls to 4.73 ± 1.65 h.3 It is concluded that malathion exposure increases the rate of antipyrine elimination, possibly by inducing the hepatic microsomal enzymes.
Oxalic Acid, Epsom Salt and the Poison Bottle
Authors: Campbell W.A. 
Published: December 2008

1 During the 19th century inadequate control of the sale of poisons, widespread illiteracy, and the English addiction to self-medication contributed to the high incidence of accidental poisoning by oxalic acid mistaken for Epsom salt. 2 Chemical methods for identifying oxalic acid failed when the product was adulterated. 3 Many mechanical devices were proposed to prevent careless dispensing; designs for poison bottles of distinctive shape, colour and texture appeared regularly for 40 years.
Solvent Abuse: Presentation and Clinical Diagnosis
Authors: Watson Joyce M. 
Published: December 2008

1 Solvent abuse is not a new phenomenon-it has been practised by children and adolescents in America and elsewhere since the 1950s. 2 It was in November 1970 that police in the west of Scotland first identified the problem in a local industrial area. Since then there appears to have been an enormous increase in the size of the problem throughout Britain. 3 This paper deals with a review of 400 cases of solvent abuse referred to the investigator between 1975 and 1981. The substance used, the methods employed and the many and varied clinical effects resulting from solvent misuse in these cases are reviewed and discussed.
Solvent Abuse: An Educational Perspective
Authors: Ramsay Alistair W. 
Published: December 2008

1 A survey of the extent and frequency of solvent abuse was carried out among 898 male pupils in a comprehensive school in Glasgow in September 1976 by means of a structured questionnaire. 2 The ages of the pupils who completed this questionnaire ranged from 11-16 years and the most vulnerable group was found to be aged 13-15 years. The overall involvement was 10% although the extent of use among 'the sniffers' varied widely from once only (50%) to regular use (21.5%). 3 It was concluded that schools should attempt to determine the existence and extent of pupils' involvement in solvent abuse so that appropriate strategies might then be introduced to define the nature of the problem, reduce the number of sniffers and assess the effectiveness of the strategy. 4 By educating young people in the dangers of solvent abuse, schools can in a positive way help to diminish this problem but they must not see this role as separate from that of other agencies.
The Use of Suggestion Techniques with Adolescents in the Treatment of Glue Sniffing and Solvent Abuse
Authors: O'Connor Denis 
Published: December 2008

1 Various approaches to the treatment of adolescents who have developed long-term chronic dependency on the inhalation of solvent fumes are briefly outlined with regard to their effectiveness. 2 The importance of suggestion in the counselling relationship is emphasized as a feature which underlies the work of therapists from a wide range of systems of psychotherapy. 3 A method of treatment incorporating hypnosis is described and evaluated with reference to case reports. 4 The indications are that hypnotherapy has distinct advantages over other methods of treatment in the economy of time and effort needed to treat patients effectively in comparison with other methods; in reducing the observable and reported stress levels for patients undergoing treatment; and in improving the overall effectiveness of the therapy as measured by improvements in the patient's condition, e.g. severely reducing or ceasing the inhalation of solvent vapours.
A Review of Solvent Abusers and their Management by a Child Psychiatric Out-patient Service
Authors: Skuse David , Burrell Su 
Published: December 2008

1 This study reviews 45 solvent abusers referred, over a 3-year period, to the Departments of Child Psychiatry attached to a large postgraduate teaching hospital. 2 Abusers are considered in 3 defined groups: chronic, periodic, experimental. 3 Boys predominate mainly in the group of chronic abusers, where a strong association is seen with delinquent behaviour and disrupted family backgrounds. 4 Many chronic users report transient symptoms of a toxic psychosis. A marked affective component may be evident, often depressive in character. 5 Systemic physical symptoms are common, especially amongst chronic users. Weight loss, nausea and vomiting, acute bronchospasm, cardiac arrhythmias have all been reported. 6 Other illicit drug use is widespread through the whole sample, but of little significance. Most children report alcohol and cigarette consumption, use of which can be very heavy. 7 Treatment was offered to most children, and comprised mainly family and individual work. A favourable outcome was correlated with high motivation, at least 6 months' duration of out-patient attendance, or with residential care and therapy. Approximately half the children who were chronic or periodic users had improved at follow-up. 8 Recommendations for more systematic recording of solvent abuse have been made as a result of these findings. All cases in the future will be separately registered, and their progress followed prospectively.
Treatment of Antidepressant Poisoning with Resin Hemoperfusion
Authors: Heath Andrew , Wickström Ingemar , MÅrtensson Erik , Ahlmén Jarl 
Published: December 2008

1 The object of this study was to evaluate hemoperfusion in tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) poisoning. 2 Eight patients with severe TCA-poisoning and one patient with maprotiline poisoning were treated with resin hemoperfusion (HP). All patients were in Grade III or Grade IV coma with a QRS interval of 100 ms or greater. Hemoperfusion was started and continued until a satisfactory clinical response was obtained or for up to a maximum of 4 h. 3 Clearance values and extraction ratios were calculated during HP. The extraction ratio for all drugs was high (0.91-0.98) showing an effective clearance of these drugs from the blood compartment. After termination of HP a rebound effect of blood concentrations was seen in five cases. The total amount of the drug recovered was in no case greater than 3.1% of the estimated amount ingested. 4 It is therefore difficult to ascribe the clinical improvement seen in these patients during HP to the removal of significant amounts of the drug taken.