Integration of newly learned L2 words into the mental lexicon is modulated by vocabulary learning method.

The aim of the study was to investigate both L2 word integration and the effect of learning method on it. For this purpose, an L2 word-learning paradigm was designed with two learning methods: L2 words were paired with videos in the first one and their translation-equivalent L1 words in the second. To test L2 word integration, a lexical decision task associated with form priming was administered before and after the learning phase. The L2 words to be learned were used as primes. Forty-eight participants participated in the study. Before learning, a facilitation effect was obtained with pseudowords (not already learned L2 words) as primes and L1 words as targets. After learning, L2 words no longer facilitated L1 word recognition when learned with the video method, while they still had this effect when learned with the L1 words - L2 words method. In accordance with the prime lexicality effect (PLE), this absence of a facilitation effect indicates that L1 words and L2 words are involved in a lexical competition process common to the two languages. This result highlights swift lexicalisation and demonstrates the effect of learning method in lexicalisation.

Effects of potassium citrate supplementation on bone metabolism.

Western diets rich in animal protein result in long-term acid loading that, despite corresponding increases in net renal acid excretion, may induce a chronic state of acidemia. This may have deleterious effects on both the kidney and bone, by increasing the risk of calcium stone in the former and leading to chemical dissolution of mineral alkaline salts in the latter. Whereas supplementation with alkaline citrate has been shown to reduce stone recurrences, its effect on bone turnover has received less attention. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether potassium citrate favorably affects bone turnover markers in postmenopausal females with low bone density. Thirty women, aged 58 +/- 8.1 years, were enrolled and studied on basal conditions and after a 3-month course of potassium citrate supplementation (0.08-0.1 g/kg b.w. daily). Twenty-two women concluded the study while 8 withdrew. Twenty-four age-matched healthy women were taken as control cases. All were evaluated for electrolyte and acid-base balance-related parameters, bone turnover, markers and renal function. A significant decrease in net acid excretion was observed upon citrate supplementation, and this was paralleled by a significant decrease of urinary deoxypyridinolines, hydroxyproline-to-creatinine ratios, and, to a lesser extent, serum osteocalcin. Percent variations of urine citrate were inversely related to those of deoxypyridinolines and hydroxyproline. No change in these chemistries occurred in the control group. Our results suggest that treatment with an alkaline salt, such as potassium citrate, can reduce bone resorption thereby contrasting the potential adverse effects caused by chronic acidemia of protein-rich diets.

[A study of 100 consecutive children presenting with learning disabilities]. / Analyse d'une population de 100 enfants adressés pour troubles d'apprentissage scolaire.

DESIGN: To determine the impact of a neuropediatrician view on diagnosis and management of learning disabilities. METHOD: Retrospective review of the medical records of the last 100 children attending for learning disabilities from 1st June 2000 through 31st May 2001. Assessment concerned school curriculum, type of management before consultation, diagnosis procedure and type of management following consultation. Differential diagnosis was made in 100% of cases following evaluation. RESULTS: The three main diagnoses were attentionnal deficit disorder with hyperactivity (39%), mental retardation (17%) and dyslexia (7%). Mental retardation and cerebral palsy diagnoses had not been made before consultation. Conversely, 70% of the diagnoses of dyslexia made before consultation were incorrect. Medical treatment was proposed in 38% of cases and modification in the management in 59% of cases. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the interest of a rigorous diagnosis procedure for learning disabilities, based on a neuropediatrics examination, a cognitive evaluation and phonological and lexical evaluation. It only may lead to an appropriate management.

Hypoparathyroidism and co-existing celiac disease.

A 62-yr-old woman with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism was admitted to our hospital for severe anemia (Hb 5.6 gr/dl) and hypoalbuminemia (3.2 gr/dl). Hypoparathyroidism was diagnosed when she was 33 yr old, because of repeated hypocalcemic tetanic crises, low calcium and high phosphate levels. Since then she has been treated with oral calcium gluconate and calcitriol, with satisfactory clinical balance and normalization of calcium serum levels. After menopause, despite this therapy, the patient still had frequent hypocalcemic tetanic crises, resolving with iv administration, in high doses, of calcium gluconate. The anemia, for which the patient came to our attention, was hypochromic microcytic and in the past she had been treated with iron and transfusion therapy. The patient's recent history also revealed recurrent long lasting episodes of diarrhea, hyporexia and weight loss. The clinical presentation seemed related to a malabsorption syndrome: a celiac disease (CD) diagnosis was confirmed, based upon the finding, at duodenal biopsy, of a severe villous atrophy. A bone mineral density (BMD) evaluation showed a limited reduction of femoral values classified as osteopenia according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Thereafter, the patient was instructed to follow a gluten-free diet which rapidly led to an improvement of the nutritional parameters and to a reduction of calcium and vitamin D requirements. Difficult clinical and metabolic control in hypoparathyroidism patients may suggest the possible co-existence of both endocrine and extra-endocrine autoimmune diseases, such as CD. Moreover, bone density, normally reduced in celiac patients, seems to be preserved (maintained) by the lack of parathyroid secretion.

[Clinical manifestation and molecular identification of patients with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy in a national reference center for neuro-ophthalmology in Cuba]. / Manifestaciones clínicas e identificación molecular de pacientes con neuropatía óptica hereditaria de Leber en un centro de referencia nacional para la neuroftalmología en Cuba.

INTRODUCTION: Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a mitochondrial disorder, confirmed at a molecular level 10 years ago. This had permitted better understanding of the condition. Since 1998, the Instituto de Neurología y Neurocirugía has used these techniques for the study of mutations which are considered to be the origin of the disorder. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We describe the characteristics of 14 cases from 10 families with LHON and the molecular confirmation found between 1994 and 1998 in the Instituto de Neurología Neurocirugía de Cuba. We also review the few cases seen in the previous 18 years. These were from only two families. They were diagnosed on clinical grounds and in view of maternal inheritance. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In 80% of the families in which the presence of primary mutations was investigated there was A117789, and in 20% A3460G. The average age of appearance was 28 years. The ages of onset were within the limits of 11 years and 48 years. There were 43% women. Two cases were considered to be sporadic. The clinical features corresponded to those described in such cases, with severe visual defects, central scotomas, very reduced colour vision and severely altered visual evoked potentials, with normal diffuse light and pattern electroretinograms. An improvement in visual acuity of 0.2 was seen in two cases. Microangiopathy, described as characteristic of the early stages of this disorder was detected in five cases, in at least one eye. The others had different degrees of optic atrophy. Two generations of one complete family, all with mutation 3460, were studied. In several families with this mutation alterations were found in the colour vision test of Farnsworth Munsell Hue 100 and also microangiospathy of the retina.