Overnight consolidation of speech sounds predicts decoding ability in skilled adult readers.

PURPOSE: Phonological representations are important for reading. In the current work, we examine the relationship between speech-perceptual memory encoding and consolidation to reading ability in skilled adult readers. METHOD: Seventy-three young adults (age 18-24) were first tested in their word and nonword reading ability, and then trained in the late evening to identify an unfamiliar speech sound contrast (Hindi retroflex-dental). Participants were assessed in their ability to perceive the target contrast immediately before training, after training, and 12 hours later. RESULTS: While perceptual performance on the target at any time point was unassociated with reading ability, overnight changes to the post-training perceptual ability over the 12-hour delay was significantly associated with nonword reading (i.e. decoding) ability, but not real-word reading. CONCLUSION: These results provide preliminary support for the hypothesis that individual differences in memory processes that update phonological representations following acoustic-phonetic exposure relate to decoding performance, including in adulthood.

Clinical effectiveness of late maxillary protraction in cleft lip and palate: A methods paper.

OBJECTIVES: A prospective parallel cohort trial was conducted to compare outcomes of patients treated with maxillary protraction vs LeFort 1 maxillary advancement surgery. SETTING AND SAMPLE POPULATION: The primary site for the clinical trial is Children's Hospital Los Angeles; the satellite test site is Seattle Children's Hospital. All patients have isolated cleft lip and palate and a skeletal Class III malocclusion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 50 patients, ages 11-14, will be recruited for the maxillary protraction cohort. The maxillary surgery cohort consists of 50 patients, ages 16-21, who will undergo LeFort 1 maxillary advancement surgery. Patients with additional medical or cognitive handicaps were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Current recruitment of patients is on track to complete the study within the proposed recruitment period. CONCLUSION: This observational trial is collecting information that will examine dental, skeletal, financial and quality-of-life issues from both research cohorts.

Vesicle dynamics in uniform electric fields: squaring and breathing.

We computationally investigate the dynamics of a vesicle exposed to uniform DC or AC electric fields. We employ the two-dimensional boundary integral method in order to simulate vesicle deformation under experimental conditions where peculiar drum-like ("squared") shapes have been observed. The vesicle membrane is modeled as an infinitely thin, capacitive, area-incompressible interface, with the surrounding fluids acting as leaky dielectrics. Our simulations capture the "squaring" phenomenon, in which vesicles deform into rectangular profiles with corner-like regions of high curvature, as vesicles undergo dynamic transitions between oblate and prolate ellipsoidal shapes.

Retention behavior of isomeric polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles in gas chromatography on stationary phases of different selectivity.

Retention indices for 48 polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles (PASHs) were determined using gas chromatography with three different stationary phases: a 50% phenyl phase, a 50% liquid crystalline dimethylpolysiloxane (LC-DMPS) phase, and an ionic liquid (IL) phase. Correlations between the retention behavior on the three stationary phases and PASH geometry (L/B and T, i.e., length-to-breadth ratio and thickness, respectively) were investigated for the following four isomer sets: (1) 4 three-ring molecular mass (MM) 184Da PASHs, (2) 13 four-ring MM 234Da PASHs, (3) 10 five-ring MM 258Da PASHs, and (4) 20 five-ring MM 284Da PASHs. Correlation coefficients for retention on the 50% LC-DMPS vs L/B ranged from r=0.50 (MM 284Da) to r=0.77 (MM 234Da). Correlation coefficients for retention on the IL phase vs L/B ranged from r=0.31 (MM 234Da) to r=0.54 (MM 284Da). Correlation coefficients for retention on the 50% phenyl vs L/B ranged from r=0.14 (MM 258Da) to r=0.59 (MM 284Da). Several correlation trends are discussed in detail for the retention behavior of PASH on the three stationary phases.

Retention behavior of alkyl-substituted polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycle isomers in gas chromatography on stationary phases of different selectivity.

Retention indices for 10 sets of alkyl-substituted polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles (PASHs) isomers (total of 80 PASHs) were determined using gas chromatography with three different stationary phases: a 50% phenyl phase, a 50% liquid crystalline dimethylpolysiloxane (LC-DMPS) phase, and an ionic liquid (IL) phase. Correlations between the retention behavior on the three stationary phases and PASH geometry [length-to-breadth (L/B) and thickness (T)] were investigated for the following PASHs: 4 methyl-substituted dibenzothiophenes (DBTs), 3 ethyl-substituted DBTs, 15 dimethyl-substituted DBTs, 8 trimethyl-substituted DBTs, 15 methyl-substituted naphthothiophenes, 30 methyl-substituted benzonaphthothiophenes, and 5 methyl-substituted tetrapheno[1,12-bcd]thiophene. Correlation coefficients for retention on the 50% phenyl phase vs L/B ranged from r=-0.28 (MeBbN23Ts) to r=0.92 (EtDBTs). Correlation coefficients for retention on the IL phase vs L/B ranged from r=0.13 (MeN12Ts) to r=0.83 (EtDBTs). Correlation coefficients for retention on the 50% LC-DMPS phase vs L/B ranged from r=0.22 (MeDBTs) to r=0.84 (TriMeDBTs).

Synthesis and characterization of C13 to C18 stationary phases by monomeric, solution polymerized, and surface polymerized approaches.

A series of bonded phases were synthesized from consecutive length alkylsilanes ranging from C13 through C18, with three different bonding chemistries (monomeric, solution polymerized, and surface polymerized) at each phase length. The phases were characterized in terms of methylene selectivity, shape selectivity, and band broadening. No significant chromatographic differences were found to result from the synthetic routes, except that the different bonding chemistries provide a different range of bonding densities. For bonding densities ranging from 2 to 8 micromol/m2, a linear increase in methylene selectivity was observed with increasing bonding density. Over the narrow range of bonded phase lengths investigated, shape selectivity is more dependent on density than phase length.

Evaluating a superabsorbent hydropolymer dressing for exuding venous leg ulcers.

A new hydropolymer dressing was compared with an alginate dressing in a multicentre, prospective, controlled, randomised, stratified, open label trial of 113 patients with exuding venous leg ulcers. The study aimed to evaluate the performance of the dressings in terms of their ability to handle exudate, patient and user acceptability and cost-effectiveness. Patients were stratified according to volume of wound exudate (moderate/heavy) and randomised to the hydropolymer dressing or the alginate plus a secondary dressing. A statistically significant difference between treatment groups was observed in mean wear time, with a longer wear time observed in the hydropolymer group (3.91 days) compared with the alginate group (3.09 days, p = 0.001). In terms of patient and user acceptability, all 10 overall evaluations made by both patient and investigator were markedly in favour of the hydropolymer dressing (p < 0.001 to p = 0.020). The use of the hydropolymer dressing for patients with moderate to heavily exuding venous leg ulcers has statistically significant advantages over the alginate dressing in terms of wear time and investigator and patient acceptability. It is anticipated that this reduction in dressing frequency will translate into a cost-effective wound treatment.

Surgical treatment for osteoarthritis at the base of the thumb.

Osteoarthritis of the trapeziometacarpal joint can cause pain and disability. Surgical procedures for this problem include extra-articular ligamentous reconstruction, arthrodesis of the trapeziometacarpal joint, osteotomy of the thumb metacarpal, total joint arthroplasty, silicone interposition arthroplasty, and partial or complete resection of the trapezium. None of the operations results in a painless, stable thumb with good strength and motion in all cases. Disorders of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint and the scaphotrapezio-trapezoid joints may accompany osteoarthritis of the trapeziometacarpal joint.

Long-term efficacy of 2-0 Prolene brow suspensions for congenital ptosis.

AIMS: To highlight the long-lasting benefit of 2-0 Prolene brow suspension for congenital ptosis. METHODS: Retrospective case review of 38 paediatric cases at two centres in the United Kingdom. RESULTS: Six cases continue to have a successful functional and cosmetic result ranging from 6 to 10 years. CONCLUSIONS: Brow suspension with 2-0 Prolene can be long-lasting in some patients.

Interventional radiological removal of a foreign body from a peripheral bronchus.

We describe the extraction of an impacted tooth from a bronchiole of a ventilated, critically ill patient. Following failed attempts using flexible and rigid bronchoscopy a radiological approach was explored. The successful method described below used guiding catheters, an extraction basket and an occlusion balloon, deployed under fluoroscopic guidance.

Selectivity of long chain stationary phases in reversed phase liquid chromatography.

A series of commercial monomeric and polymeric C(18), C(27), and C(30) stationary phases were compared with immobilized poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) stationary phases synthesized in-house. The columns were characterized on the basis of methylene selectivity, silanol activity, metal activity, pore size, shape selectivity, and the ability to separate tocopherol isomers and carotenoid isomers. Monomeric and polymeric C(30) phases were shown to yield excellent separations of the tocopherol isomers while the polymeric C(30) and polyethylene phases were more appropriate to the separation of carotenoids.

Long-term follow-up of metacarpal phalangeal arthroplasty with silicone Dacron prostheses.

Sixteen patients who had eighty-nine metacarpal phalangeal arthroplasties with silicone Dacron prostheses (Niebauer type), were followed for an average of 11 1/2 years. Evaluation for palmar subluxation, ulnar drift, range of motion (ROM), pain relief, and stability showed it was satisfactory for relief of pain and correction of ulnar drift but it was eventually poor for range of motion and stability. If the arthritis was not controlled, the function of the hand decreased progressively, in spite of prosthetic replacements of the joints.

Morphine-morphine glucuronide pools in the rat liver: effects of Triton X-100.

The purpose was to determine the effect on the morphine-morphine glucuronide systems of Triton X-100 instilled into the area of the hepatic canalicular membrane by segmented retrograde intrabiliary injection (40 microliters of 0.4% Triton + 31 microliters of saline) in the isolated in situ perfused livers of male Sprague-Dawley rats. In all experiments, [14C]morphine was given by segmented retrograde intrabiliary injection (40 microliters of [14C]morphine + 110 microliters of saline). The control single pass perfusate contained 15.8% [14C]morphine glucuronide (MG) and 6.2% [14C]morphine. With Triton, the major changes observed were an unusual plateau-like pattern of egress of the [14C]MG into the perfusate and a profound decrease in the [14C]MG excretion into bile. In controls, 45 mg of unlabeled morphine sulfate intraportally 5 min before the [14C]morphine reduced the perfusate [14C]MG and increased [14C]morphine as expected by isotope dilution. Also, [14C]MG recovery in bile was accordingly decreased (intact pentobarbital-anesthetized rat); however, the [14C]morphine in bile did not change even though intracellular availability of [14C]morphine must have been increased. In pulse chase experiments, [14C] morphine was followed in 2 min with 45 mg of morphine sulfate intraportally. The perfusate [14C]MG declined and [14C]morphine increased. However, on the canalicular side (intact pentobarbital-anesthetized rat) no isotope dilution was evident: [14C]MG and [14C]morphine content in bile was similar to controls given no morphine sulfate. Triton treatment decreased the amount of [14C] morphine which could be chased into the perfusate. Several different pools of morphine and MG exist in the liver; the canalicular and sinusoidal sites respond very differently to manipulation of these pools.

Variation in the vitreous phenotype of Stickler syndrome can be caused by different amino acid substitutions in the X position of the type II collagen Gly-X-Y triple helix.

Stickler syndrome is a dominantly inherited disorder characterized by arthropathy, midline clefting, hearing loss, midfacial hypoplasia, myopia, and retinal detachment. These features are highly variable both between and within families. Mutations causing the disorder have been found in the COL2A1 and COL11A1 genes. Premature termination codons in COL2A1 that result in haploinsufficiency of type II collagen are a common finding. These produce a characteristic congenital "membranous" anomaly of the vitreous of all affected individuals. Experience has shown that vitreous slit-lamp biomicroscopy can distinguish between patients with COL2A1 mutations and those with dominant negative mutations in COL11A1, who produce a different "beaded" vitreous phenotype. Here we characterize novel dominant negative mutations in COL2A1 that result in Stickler syndrome. Both alter amino acids in the X position of the Gly-X-Y triple-helical region. A recurrent R365C mutation occurred in two unrelated sporadic cases and resulted in the membranous vitreous anomaly associated with haploinsufficiency. In a large family with linkage to COL2A1, with a LOD score of 2.8, a unique L467F mutation produced a novel "afibrillar" vitreous gel devoid of all normal lamella structure. These data extend the mutation spectrum of the COL2A1 gene and help explain the basis for the different vitreous phenotypes seen in Stickler syndrome.