Genetic relatedness reveals total population size of white sharks in eastern Australia and New Zealand.

Conservation concerns exist for many sharks but robust estimates of abundance are often lacking. Improving population status is a performance measure for species under conservation or recovery plans, yet the lack of data permitting estimation of population size means the efficacy of management actions can be difficult to assess, and achieving the goal of removing species from conservation listing challenging. For potentially dangerous species, like the white shark, balancing conservation and public safety demands is politically and socially complex, often leading to vigorous debate about their population status. This increases the need for robust information to inform policy decisions. We developed a novel method for estimating the total abundance of white sharks in eastern Australia and New Zealand using the genetic-relatedness of juveniles and applying a close-kin mark-recapture framework and demographic model. Estimated numbers of adults are small (ca. 280-650), as is total population size (ca. 2,500-6,750). However, estimates of survival probability are high for adults (over 90%), and fairly high for juveniles (around 73%). This represents the first direct estimate of total white shark abundance and survival calculated from data across both the spatial and temporal life-history of the animal and provides a pathway to estimate population trend.

A case of genetic polyandry in the shortfin mako Isurus oxyrinchus.

This article documents a case of genetic polyandry in the oceanic and pelagic shortfin mako Isurus oxyrinchus and briefly comments on the implications of this finding.

The contribution of image cytometry to the characterization of clinical subgroups of lipomas.

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether biological features determined through image cytometry are able to characterize clinical subpopulations of lipomas. Forty lipomas excised from 36 patients were studied. On the one hand, the tumors were clinically characterized by means of patient-related and pre- and post-operative features. On the other, the tumors were analyzed by means of the computer-assisted microscopy analysis of Feulgen-stained nuclei. This analysis generated 3 groups of biological quantitative variables describing morphonuclear aspects (i.e. the chromatin pattern of the cell nuclei), the nuclear DNA content (DNA ploidy level), and architectural features (such as the cell density and the topographical cell nuclei organization). Possible relations between the clinical and the biological features of the lipomas were investigated by means of univariate and multivariate statistical analyses. The results show the existence of such relations, in particular between the morphonuclear and architectural features of lipomas, on the one hand, and their consistency, volume and weight, on the other. Furthermore, multivariate analysis made it possible to distinguish two subpopulations of lipomas exhibiting different biological characteristics in terms of morphonuclear patterns.

Other child and adolescent psychiatric disorders: medication aspects.

Childhood/adolescent onset not covered elsewhere, in supplement 9:I of the European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, where there is some indication that pharmacotherapy might have a role, are reviewed. These include conduct, oppositional, mood, schizophrenia spectrum and anxiety disorders other than obsessive compulsive disorders. Generally speaking, there is a paucity of good studies in young persons. Most of these disorders or their equivalents have some pharmacotherapeutic indications in adults. This supplements the scant data in young persons and supports the cautious use of medication in some of these disorders, especially where the disorder is severe and disabling (such as schizophrenia or bipolar mood disorder). Much more study of pharmacotherapy of these disorders is indicated.

Characterization of biological features and chemosensitivity of a new experimental lung metastasis model originating from the MXT mouse mammary adenocarcinoma.

The present study shows how an original mouse metastatic lung model was established from the MXT mammary adenocarcinoma. This metastatic model was obtained by injecting the C/MET clone into the tail veins of B6D2F1 mice. The C/MET clone corresponds to one of eleven cell clones that were isolated in vitro from the MXT model. Of these 11 clones, only the C/MET leads to lung metastatic tumor development when injected i.v. into mice. Furthermore, the C/MET clone colonizes the lung only. The present data show that the C/MET metastatic model and the MXT parental line are weakly (if reference is made to the P388 leukemia model) sensitive to adriamycin, clyclophosphamide and etoposide. However, under specific experimental conditions, the chemosensitivity of the C/MET model can be significantly increased. The C/MET model therefore appears to be an interesting pharmacological tool to test new investigational agents with anti-tumor potentialities to lung metastases.

Severe conduct disorder--some key issues.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the state of knowledge about clinically severe conduct disorder and identify key issues. METHOD: This paper surveys the literature on conduct disorder and delineates and discusses the critical issues. RESULTS: Conduct disorder is the subject of a vast and growing amount of research on taxonomy, correlates, etiology, outcome, management, and prevention. There are 2 distinctive types: childhood and adolescent onset. Comorbidity with other disorders is common. It remains a costly disorder, however, with a generally poor prognosis for the childhood-onset type. The validity of the separation of conduct and antisocial personality disorder is questionable. CONCLUSIONS: In view of its huge cost, chronicity, and generally poor outcome, childhood-onset or severe conduct disorder should be considered one of if not the major public health problems of our time, and resources for its study and management should reflect this. The disorder is poorly defined and inadequately studied in females.

Practice parameters for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with bipolar disorder. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

These practice parameters describe the assessment and treatment of early-onset bipolar disorder based on scientific evidence regarding diagnosis and effective treatment and on the current state of clinical practice. Given the paucity of research on bipolar disorder in children and adolescents, many of the treatment recommendations are drawn from the adult literature. Although the same diagnostic criteria are used as for adults, youth may differ with regard to the developmental presentation of symptoms and comorbid psychiatric disorders. Treatment involves the combination of pharmacotherapy and adjunctive psychosocial interventions. Antimanic agents (primarily lithium or valproic acid) are the mainstays of pharmacotherapy. The treatment focuses on (1) amelioration of acute symptoms; (2) the prevention of relapse; (3) the reduction of long-term morbidity; and (4) the promotion of long-term growth and development. These parameters were approved by Council of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry on June 5, 1996, and were previously published in J. Am. Acad. Chil Adolesc. Psychiatry, 1997, 36:138-157.

Practice parameters for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with schizophrenia. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

These practice parameters review the literature on children and adolescents with schizophrenia. Because this literature is sparse, information is also drawn from research with adults. Clinical features in youth with schizophrenia include predominance in males, high rate of premorbid abnormalities, increased family history of schizophrenia, and often poor outcome. Diagnostic issues include the overlap, and therefore potential for misdiagnosis, between the first presenting symptoms of schizophrenia and those of psychotic mood disorders, developmental disorders, organic conditions, and other nonpsychotic emotional/behavioral disorders. Treatment should include using antipsychotic medications in conjunction with psychoeducational, psychotherapeutic, and social and educational support programs. These parameters were previously published in J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry, 1994, 33:616-635.

Practice parameters for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with schizophrenia. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

These practice parameters review the literature on children and adolescents with schizophrenia. Because this literature is sparse, information is also drawn from research with adults. Clinical features in youth with schizophrenia include predominance in males, high rate of premorbid abnormalities, increased family history of schizophrenia, and often poor outcome. Diagnostic issues include the overlap, and therefore potential for misdiagnosis, between the first presenting symptoms of schizophrenia and those of psychotic mood disorders, developmental disorders, organic conditions, and other nonpsychotic emotional/behavioral disorders. Treatment should include using antipsychotic medications in conjunction with psychoeducational, psychotherapeutic, and social and educational support programs.

Postnatal depression in a community cohort.

A community cohort of 206 European and Maori women completed a questionnaire screening for postnatal depression at 4 weeks postpartum. The prevalence of major depressive disorder amongst the women was 7.8% with a further 13.6% of women experiencing more minor depressive symptoms. Postnatal depression was more likely to occur in women who were single, were less than 20 years old at the birth of their first child, were unhappy with their relationship with their partner, had a history of previous psychiatric hospitalisation, and were Maori. Women who were depressed were more likely to show a lack of enjoyment of and less positive attitude towards their infant. The study highlights the value of screening for postnatal depression with a simple questionnaire, as few depressed women would have been otherwise recognised.

Clinical features and outcome of child and adolescent schizophrenia.

Subjects admitted 12 months or more previously to two child and adolescent psychiatric units in New Zealand and the United States with a diagnosis of non-organic, nonautistic psychosis, were contacted and those who received a DSM-III-R diagnosis of schizophrenia were studied (n = 33 [New Zealand] and n = 24 [United States]). Premorbid and first-episode data were obtained from the admission record using global clinical measures of moderate reliability, outcome diagnosis and status by interviews, and professional and family reports. Mean ages at onset were 13.9 (New Zealand) and 15.6 (United States). Premorbid and clinical features resembled those in adult schizophrenia, though there were probable quantitative differences. At outcome (mean interval = 4 years) few subjects were symptom-free or independent, and mean global assessment of functioning had fallen from 55 to 40. Outcome was much worse in schizophrenia than bipolar disorder. Despite a 59 percent attrition rate and higher rates of initial misdiagnosis in the United States, and some demographic differences, New Zealand and United States samples resembled each other clinically and in outcome. Initial misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder as schizophrenia was not due to minimizing mood symptoms, which were common in both disorders. Within this age range (mostly 11-17), age at onset had only minor effects. Outcome was best predicted by premorbid personality.

Effects of phenytoin on cognitive-motor performance in children as a function of drug concentration, seizure type, and time of medication.

Fifty children with well-controlled seizures who were receiving phenytoin (PHT) monotherapy were tested three times at weekly intervals on a cognitive-motor test battery. The first assessment served as a practice session, and PHT was given either before or withheld until after testing to create peak and trough concentrations, respectively, in the second and third sessions. On average, PHT levels as measured in saliva were in the low therapeutic range. The experimental condition (PHT before or after test sessions) was randomized and balanced across subjects, and assessments were made with examiners blind to diagnosis and timing of PHT ingestion. A variety of statistical models was used to analyze for the effect of age, diagnosis (partial vs. generalized epilepsy), PHT order, PHT concentration (as measured in saliva), and trough/peak concentration effects. Greater age was consistently associated with better performance, but diagnosis, PHT concentration levels, and transition from trough to peak concentration days had few discernible effects on psychomotor performance. Thus, fluctuations in PHT, of the order of 50%, appear to have no or immeasurably small effects in children with well-controlled seizures receiving monotherapy in low therapeutic dosages.