Toxicological evaluation of brominated vegetable oil in Sprague Dawley rats.

Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration on an interim basis as a food additive. Past studies have raised concerns about potential toxicities from consuming BVO. To investigate further these toxicities, we conducted a 90-day dietary exposure study in Sprague Dawley rats and analyzed tissue distribution of the main metabolites. Six-week-old male and female rats were fed diets containing 0 (control), 0.002%, 0.02%, 0.1%, or 0.5% BVO by weight. Statistically significant increases were observed in the serum bromide in the high-dose group of both sexes and in the incidence of thyroid follicular cell hypertrophy in the two highest dose groups of males and the high-dose group of females. An increase in serum TSH was observed in the high-dose group for both sexes, as well as a decrease in serum T4 in the high-dose males. A clear dose-response was observed in di- and tetra-bromostearic acid levels in the heart, liver, and inguinal fat. These data expand upon previous observations in rats and pigs that oral exposure to BVO is associated with increased tissue levels of inorganic and organic bromine, and that the thyroid is a potential target organ of toxicity.

A two-year toxicology study of bisphenol A (BPA) in Sprague-Dawley rats: CLARITY-BPA core study results.

We report the data from the guideline-compliant two-year toxicology study conducted as part of the Consortium Linking Academic and Regulatory Insights on Bisphenol A Toxicity (CLARITY-BPA). BPA (0, 2.5, 25, 250, 2,500, and 25,000 µg/kg body weight (bw)/day) was administered daily by gavage in 0.3% carboxymethylcellulose vehicle to NCTR Sprague-Dawley rats from gestation day 6 through the start of parturition and then directly to pups from the day after birth until postnatal day 21 (stop-dose arm) or continuously until termination at one or two years. The stop-dose arm was included to assess the potential for any BPA effects that were due to developmental exposure. No BPA-related effects were evident in the in-life and non-histopathology data. Neoplastic and nonneoplastic lesions diagnosed in both females and males were common age-associated lesions that were variable across control and BPA-treated groups. The lack of consistent responses within the continuous- and stop-dose arms within and across tissues brought into question the plausible relationship of most of these lesions to BPA treatment. There was a possible relationship between the increased incidences of lesions in the female reproductive tract and the male pituitary and exposure to the 25,000 µg BPA/kg bw/day dose level.

Invited Article: A novel calibration method for the JET real-time far infrared polarimeter and integration of polarimetry-based line-integrated density measurements for machine protection of a fusion plant.

In this paper, we present the work in the implementation of a new calibration for the JET real-time polarimeter based on the complex amplitude ratio technique and a new self-validation mechanism of data. This allowed easy integration of the polarimetry measurements into the JET plasma density control (gas feedback control) and as well as machine protection systems (neutral beam injection heating safety interlocks). The new addition was used successfully during 2014 JET Campaign and is envisaged that will operate routinely from 2015 campaign onwards in any plasma condition (including ITER relevant scenarios). This mode of operation elevated the importance of the polarimetry as a diagnostic tool in the view of future fusion experiments.

A protection system for the JET ITER-like wall based on imaging diagnostics.

The new JET ITER-like wall (made of beryllium and tungsten) is more fragile than the former carbon fiber composite wall and requires active protection to prevent excessive heat loads on the plasma facing components (PFC). Analog CCD cameras operating in the near infrared wavelength are used to measure surface temperature of the PFCs. Region of interest (ROI) analysis is performed in real time and the maximum temperature measured in each ROI is sent to the vessel thermal map. The protection of the ITER-like wall system started in October 2011 and has already successfully led to a safe landing of the plasma when hot spots were observed on the Be main chamber PFCs. Divertor protection is more of a challenge due to dust deposits that often generate false hot spots. In this contribution we describe the camera, data capture and real time processing systems. We discuss the calibration strategy for the temperature measurements with cross validation with thermal IR cameras and bi-color pyrometers. Most importantly, we demonstrate that a protection system based on CCD cameras can work and show examples of hot spot detections that stop the plasma pulse. The limits of such a design and the associated constraints on the operations are also presented.

Selective predictive value of rapid automatized naming in poor readers.

This study considers the differential predictive value of rapid naming tests for various aspects of later reading, where the differential is between nondisabled and poor readers. Two large-N longitudinal samples of students who have been evaluated from third through eighth grades are studied: (a) a randomly accessed, normally distributed group including students with varying degrees of reading ability (N = 154), and (b) a group of poor readers whose single-word reading in third grade is at or below the population 10th percentile (N = 64). Outcomes in fifth and eighth grade were measured in both groups. Single-word reading in both grades was strongly predicted from third-grade rapid naming only within the poor readers, even when IQ, socioeconomic status, and third-grade single-word reading were statistically controlled. Although rapid naming had predictive value within the large, normally distributed group, its predictive power was entirely absent in the average-reading nondisabled students who were between the 10th and 90th percentiles (n = 122). The fact that rapid naming has predictive power only for poor readers but not for average readers is interpreted as suggesting that impaired readers are qualitatively different from the normal-reading population and are not simply the "tail" of a normal distribution of reading ability. It also seems that it is the automaticity of retrieval, not the knowledge of names itself (as in confrontational naming tasks), that gives the predictive power in rapid naming. These data are considered in light of the one- and two-factor theories of the underlying processes involved in reading disability or dyslexia.

Microorganism presence in desquamative gingivitis.

Histologic tissue analysis was retrospectively performed on 19 cases which met the diagnostic criteria of desquamative gingivitis (DG) or benign mucous membrane pemphigoid (BMMP) to determine whether microorganisms were present. Original paraffin blocks were resectioned and tissue specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and with Brown and Brenn solutions. The presence of microorganisms at specific sites was recorded and identification of gram type and histomorphology was made. Bacteria were seen in hematoxylin and eosin and Brown and Brenn stained specimens on the epithelial surface in 31.6% and 68.4% of cases, within the epithelium in 0% and 57.9% of cases, within the subbasilar cleft in 52.6% and 94.7% of cases, and within the submucosa in 5.3% and 57.9% of cases respectively. The epithelial surface was colonized primarily by gram positive cocci (47.4%) and gram negative bacilli (42.1%), which also were the most common types of bacteria seen within the epithelium (26.3% each). 94.7% of specimens examined demonstrated gram negative bacilli within the subepithelial cleft. The predominate form of bacteria found in the submucosa was gram negative cocci (42.1%). Results of this study show that colonization of desquamative gingivitis/benign mucous membrane pemphigoid tissue samples occurs.

A wheelchair cushion designed to redistribute sites of sitting pressure.

OBJECTIVES: Despite the diversity of wheelchair cushions currently in clinical use, pressure on bony prominences continues to be a major problem for wheelchair-bound patients, and the incidence of pressure ulcers remains high. No static surface has been reported to reduce resting pressure under the ischial tuberosities to below that of capillary pressure, which may well be the threshold for inducing tissue damage. An entirely new form of seating was designed to decrease absolute pressure using a prosthetic fitting technique analogous to a below-the-knee prosthesis. DESIGN: A repeated measures randomized design was used to test differences between the experimental (TCS) and three other standard cushions. SETTING: A Veterans Medical Center outpatient service. PATIENTS: Wheelchair-bound volunteer subjects, n = 47, were selected who weighed more than 60kg. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pressures were measured by a standard air pressure pad and also by a computer-linked array of pressure transducers. The grid was standardized and used to generate topographic maps for each site over time. These data were used to measure the seating interface pressures. RESULTS: There was a significant main effect of cushion over site, F = 131 for left ischial tuberosity. Pressure were lowest while patients sat on the experimental seat and differences were significant at all time points. Using 1psi as presumed capillary pressure, frequency of success at achieving this pressure threshold was greatest for the experimental seat, p < .001. This difference persisted throughout the 30 minutes of testing. CONCLUSIONS: A computerized pressure grid was developed that allowed evaluation of anatomically localized pressures. The prosthetically designed TCS displays lower seating pressures than any other cushion tested. Consistent and sustained pressures were below the postulated threshold for tissue damage.

Students with word finding disorders: three case studies.

Case studies of three students of different ages with different types and degrees of word finding disorders are presented. One student is at the beginning of his school career, one has been in school for 7 years, and the third individual is a young adult who left school after completing only 11 grades. Each student's word finding profile and characteristics are presented as well as the impact of the disorder upon school performance particularly in the area of reading. Recommendations are made for intervention involving collaboration between speech-language pathologists and educators.

Effects of instruction on the decoding skills of children with phonological-processing problems.

This article reviews research carried out by the Bowman Gray Learning Disabilities Project concerning the role of instruction in the acquisition of word-identification (decoding) skills in children at risk for reading disabilities. A group of 81 kindergarten children were identified as at risk for reading disabilities based on teacher assessment and weak or deficient phonological-processing skills. These children were classified as to type of phonological-processing problem (i.e., phonological awareness or retrieval of phonological information) and were randomly assigned to either a Code or Context instructional method for first and second grades. Children who received Code instruction scored higher than children receiving context instruction on a variety of reading and spelling measures at the end of first and second grades. The elements of the Code instructional program considered critical to the success of a beginning reading instruction program for children with phonological processing problems are discussed.

A reading level match study of nonword reading skills in poor readers with varying IQ.

This study evaluated the hypothesis that poor readers are characterized by poor nonword reading skills, but that a specific deficit, as opposed to a developmental lag, in nonword reading will be found only in subjects whose reading is discrepant from intellectual ability. To test this hypothesis, we measured nonword reading skills in 93 (64 male, 29 female) third-grade poor readers and 54 (37 male, 17 female) fifth-grade poor readers (with and without reading/IQ discrepancies) who were matched to 147 (81 male, 66 female) nondisabled first graders on word identification skills. Results showed third- and fifth-grade poor readers to be significantly more impaired than word-identification level match first graders on all measures on nonword reading. These findings were not related to the verbal IQ level within the poor reader groups and, thus, provide strong evidence for a deficit in nonword reading skills that is not explained by verbal intelligence.

Six-year follow-up of a case of radiation injury following treatment for medulloblastoma.

Recent reports in the literature have documented long-term sequelae of radiation treatment in children, the most notable of which are diminished endocrine functioning and decline in intellectual ability. A case is presented in which both these long-term effects were seen 7 years after radiation treatment for medulloblastoma. Growth hormone and thyroid hormone deficiencies were identified and treated. Full-Scale IQ dropped from the 79th percentile to the 3rd percentile, and neuropsychological functioning ranged from normal to impaired. However, magnetic resonance imaging reveals few direct imaging correlates of J.M.'s neuropsychological deficits. If identified, hormone deficiencies in such patients can be successfully treated; intellectual deficits may present more of a management problem. In this case, cognitive deficits have contributed to considerable difficulty in school; however, with special classes and modifications, the patient is making progress. Our findings indicate that the long-term outcome for children with radiation injury may be improved significantly with hormone therapy and appropriate academic intervention, and argue strongly for systematic, sequential follow-up of such children so that appropriate intervention can be implemented and continued as necessary.

Two-stage and Weibull models for carcinogenesis applied to the ED01 discontinued dosing data.

The two-stage clonal expansion model for a single, less-than-lifetime period of dosing is formulated and applied to the liver and bladder tumor data from the ED01 study. The model successfully predicts liver tumor incidence for time points beyond termination of dosing with 2-acetylaminofluorene, but it is unsuccessful for bladder tumor incidence. A discontinued dosing version of the Weibull model is proposed and is shown to predict successfully both liver and bladder tumor incidences for time points after termination of dosing.

Neuropsychological profile of adult dyslexics.

One hundred and fifteen adults with well-documented childhood reading status underwent a series of neuropsychological tests including tests of memory, attention, phonological processing, and visual perceptual skills in an attempt to define the neuropsychological profile of dyslexia in adulthood. Compared to a normal nonreading disabled sample, subjects with a history of reading disability performed consistently poorer on most neuropsychological tests. However, after covarying for intelligence and socioeconomic status, only tests of rapid naming, phonological awareness, and nonword reading were significant discriminating measures. The hypothesis that deficits in phonological processing comprise the core cognitive deficits in adults with a history of reading disability was supported. Independent of current adult reading ability, measures of nonword reading, phonological awareness, and rapid naming serve as indicators of a childhood history of reading disability.

Diabetogenic response to streptozotocin varies among obese yellow and among lean agouti (BALB/c x VY)F1 hybrid mice.

To test the hypothesis that the elevated insulin levels in obese neoplasia-susceptible yellow Avy/- mice might be a major factor stimulating tumor formation, it is necessary to use normoinsulinemic yellow mice. Although our attempt to obtain normoinsulinemic, euglycemic mice by streptozotocin treatment was unsuccessful, we did observe significant differences in the responsiveness to this treatment among mice of identical genotype. These differences were observed among female yellow Avy/A and agouti A/a (BALB/c x VY)F1 hybrid mice in the responses of body weight gain, plasma glucose, and plasma insulin levels to a single intraperitoneal injection of either 150 or 200 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ) at 4 weeks of age followed by a 22-week observation period. Among animals treated with the high streptozotocin dose, 80% of the yellow mice gained almost no weight and became grossly hyperglycemic and hypoinsulinemic; however, only 55% of the agouti mice exhibited such a strong response. In the low dose group, 25% of the yellow mice responded with reduced body weight gain, decreased insulin, and elevated glucose levels whereas none of the agouti mice exhibited such responses. More pancreatic islet tissue mass was present in the untreated yellow control mice than among the comparable agouti mice by the end of the study. In both streptozotocin dose groups and in both genotypes, islet tissue mass was reduced to a much greater extent in the more responsive mice than in the less responsive mice. There appeared to be no correlation between islet tissue mass and insulin level. The phenotypic variation in responsiveness to an exogenous agent among test animals of a single inbred or F1 hybrid genotype reported here is not unique to this F1 hybrid since it is seen in most chronic bioassays when relatively low levels of agent are used.

Long-term follow-up of a childhood amnesic syndrome.

In attempting to explain observed dissociations between impaired and preserved memory functioning in amnesia, various dichotomous memory systems (e.g., procedural versus declarative, episodic versus semantic, working versus reference memory) have often been employed. In such cases, the assumption has been that memory subserved by one system is preserved, while that of the other system is impaired. Cohen and Squire have suggested that in amnesia, declarative memory is impaired, although procedural memory is preserved. Long-term follow-up of a densely amnesic patient refutes this view by demonstrating significant anterograde learning of school subjects including reading, vocabulary, spelling, and arithmetic, all of which include some component of declarative memory. It appears that the procedural/declarative dichotomy is not adequate to explain preserved memory in amnesia.

Multistrain experiments for screening toxic substances.

The advantages of using homogeneous experimental groups (inbred animal strains) and of using multiple groups within an experiment, based on the power of the Mantel-Haenszel test, were investigated. A simulation experiment was performed to empirically calculate the power of a one-sided Mantel-Haenszel test for multistrain experiments. In each case, the power of the multistrain experiment was compared to the (empirical) expected value, over strains, of the power where each strain is tested individually. In the simulation, use of subgroups, each having different response rates, resulted in an increase in power where a chemical exposure caused an average increase of effects in 10% or more of the animals across strains.

Cognitive deficits in reading disability and attention deficit disorder.

This paper presents data from three studies (a cross-sectional study of school-referred children, a test-retest study of subtypes of reading disabilities, and a study of a large, random sample of first graders) that focus on specifying the cognitive deficits associated with reading difficulties and separating them from those associated with attentional deficits. The cognitive deficits associated with difficulty in reading were consistent across samples, developmental levels, definitions, and subtypes of reading disabilities. With IQ, age, and sex controlled for, poor readers were significantly impaired on measures of naming and phonological awareness. The effects of attentional deficits were more variable and complex but were clearly separate from the reading disability effects.