P300 differences exist between Tourette's syndrome with and without attention deficiency and hyperactivity disorder in children.

OBJECTIVE: To study the characteristics of P300 in Tourette's syndrome (TS) with and without attention deficiency and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHOD: Auditory evoked P300 were recorded in 19 TS only (TS-ADHD) children, 15 TS with ADHD (TS + ADHD) children and 20 unaffected control subjects, and their waveforms, amplitudes, latencies and topographies were compared at Fz, Cz, C3, C4 and Pz. RESULTS: The TS + ADHD group showed shorter latencies than control subjects at all electrode sites (P<0.05 or 0.01), and the TS-ADHD group at CZ and PZ (P<0.05); however, there was no significant difference between control subjects and the TS-ADHD group. The TS-ADHD group showed smaller amplitudes than the control group at all electrode sites (P<0.05), and the TS + ADHD group at Cz (P<0.05); however, there were no significant differences between control subjects and the TS + ADHD group. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of abnormal waveforms between the control, TS, TS-ADHD and TS + ADHD groups, but there were significant differences in the variability of localization of P300 between the control and the TS group (P=0.003), control and TS + ADHD groups (P=0.000), and the TS-ADHD and TS + ADHD groups (P=0.039). P300 in the TS + ADHD group tended to spread out to the left and that of the TS-ADHD group tended to spread out to the right. CONCLUSIONS: P300 differences exist between TS-ADHD and TS + ADHD in children. These suggested that establishment different development defects or delay of communications between different structures rather than a delay in maturation of the structures themselves may be involved in TS + ADHD and TS-ADHD children and ADHD symptoms in TS patients are likely a trait rather than adventitious or acquired within the TS syndrome.

A malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumor with osteoclast-like giant cells.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are a heterogeneous group of mesenchymal tumors with a wide spectrum of histologic features and consistent expression of c-Kit. We describe an 85-year-old woman who presented with left lower quadrant abdominal pain and was subsequently diagnosed as having a malignant GIST. The tumor was composed of short fascicles of spindle cells. In addition to the presence of tumor giant cells, the tumor also demonstrated many osteoclast-like giant cells, a feature that has not been previously described in the literature. These giant cells expressed histiocytic markers CD68 and alpha(1)-antitrypsin but not c-Kit, a marker for GISTs. Electron microscopy showed no features of smooth muscle differentiation in the giant cells. The possible origin of the osteoclast-like giant cells is discussed in the context of immunohistochemical and ultrastructural characteristics.

Detection of human papillomavirus in sanitary napkins: a new paradigm in cervical cancer screening.

Human papillomavirus was successfully detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in menstrual blood or vaginal discharge collected in sanitary napkins in 100% of 17 women having koilocytosis, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, or squamous carcinoma. We advocate this form of cervical cancer screening because of its high sensitivity and acceptance by patients.

Comorbid behavioural problems in Tourette's syndrome are positively correlated with the severity of tic symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: We studied the comorbid behavioural and mood problems in children with non-psychiatric Tourette's syndrome (TS) and their relationship with severity of tic disorder. METHOD: Sixty-nine TS children and 69 healthy controls were assessed by Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS). The relationships between behavioural problems and severity of tic symptoms were analysed statistically by comparison, correlation and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Tourette's syndrome patients scored significantly lower (p<0.01) on the CBCL competency subscales and total score, and higher on all behavioural problem subscales and total score (p<0.01). Expectedly, the TS children had lower social competence than normal children. Among the TS children, the severity of tic symptoms is positively correlated with the severity of overall impairment in school and social competence. When the behavioural and mood problems commonly associated with TS were studied in detail, we found that delinquent behaviour, thought problems, attention problems, aggressive behaviour and externalizing are positively correlated with severity of tic symptoms. CONCLUSION: The findings indicated that children with TS-only also had a broad range of behavioural problems, and some of these were related to the severity of tic symptoms.