Predicting Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) from the Systemizing Quotient-Revised (SQ-R) and Empathy Quotient (EQ).

BACKGROUND: Empathizing is a specific component of social cognition. Empathizing is also specifically impaired in autism spectrum condition (ASC). These are two dimensions, measurable using the Empathy Quotient (EQ) and the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ). ASC also involves strong systemizing, a dimension measured using the Systemizing Quotient (SQ). The present study examined the relationship between the EQ, AQ and SQ. The EQ and SQ have been used previously to test for sex differences in 5 'brain types' (Types S, E, B and extremes of Type S or E). Finally, people with ASC have been conceptualized as an extreme of the male brain. METHOD: We revised the SQ to avoid a traditionalist bias, thus producing the SQ-Revised (SQ-R). AQ and EQ were not modified. All 3 were administered online. SAMPLE: Students (723 males, 1038 females) were compared to a group of adults with ASC group (69 males, 56 females). AIMS: (1) To report scores from the SQ-R. (2) To test for SQ-R differences among students in the sciences vs. humanities. (3) To test if AQ can be predicted from EQ and SQ-R scores. (4) To test for sex differences on each of these in a typical sample, and for the absence of a sex difference in a sample with ASC if both males and females with ASC are hyper-masculinized. (5) To report percentages of males, females and people with an ASC who show each brain type. RESULTS: AQ score was successfully predicted from EQ and SQ-R scores. In the typical group, males scored significantly higher than females on the AQ and SQ-R, and lower on the EQ. The ASC group scored higher than sex-matched controls on the SQ-R, and showed no sex differences on any of the 3 measures. More than twice as many typical males as females were Type S, and more than twice as many typical females as males were Type E. The majority of adults with ASC were Extreme Type S, compared to 5% of typical males and 0.9% of typical females. The EQ had a weak negative correlation with the SQ-R. DISCUSSION: Empathizing is largely but not completely independent of systemizing. The weak but significant negative correlation may indicate a trade-off between them. ASC involves impaired empathizing alongside intact or superior systemizing. Future work should investigate the biological basis of these dimensions, and the small trade-off between them.

Induction of immunological tolerance by oral, but not intravenous and intraportal, administration of ovalbumin and the difference between young and old mice.

BACKGROUND: Induction of immunological tolerance is dependent on the route of antigenic administration, the dose of an antigen and the age of animals. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effect of age on the tolerance induction in mice by administration of antigen through different routes and at different doses. DESIGN: Young and old BDF1 mice were orally, intraportally or intravenously administrated with a low or a high dose of ovalbumin (OVA). Then, delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses and serum anti-OVA antibody levels were assessed after systemic immunization of OVA with alum after appropriate intervals. RESULTS: In the young mice, oral administration of OVA suppressed DTH response and anti-OVA IgG1, IgG2b, IgM and IgE level in a dose-dependent manner. In the old mice, however, the suppression of IgG1 and IgE levels was induced by oral administration of a low dose of OVA, but no suppression by a high dose. On the other hand, intraportal or intravenous injection of OVA did not suppress DTH response and enhanced anti-OVA antibody levels in a dose-dependent manner in both young and old mice. Production of anti-OVA IgG2a antibody after systemic injection of OVA was detected in the mice, which had been treated with intraportal or intravenous injection of OVA, but not detected in the mice, which had been treated with oral administration of OVA. On the contrary, suppression of anti-OVA IgE antibody was observed only in the mice, which had been treated with oral administration of OVA. CONCLUSION: The oral administration of OVA, neither intravenous nor intraportal, induced immunological tolerance to OVA. An adequate dose of OVA for the tolerance induction and the suppression of antibody production are different between young and old mice. The suppression of IgE antibody was observed only by oral administration of OVA, much obviously in young mice than in the old. The results also indicated that the antigen processing in the liver did not play a major role in the induction of oral tolerance to OVA.

Analysis of asynchronous wall motion by regional pressure-length loops in patients with coronary artery disease.

The progression of regional dysfunction during angina pectoris was studied in eight patients with coronary artery disease. Single plane left ventriculograms were obtained using a high fidelity micromanometer-tipped catheter both at rest and immediately after rapid cardiac pacing. Each image of the left ventriculogram was digitized and transferred to a computer. The boundary of the ventricular cavity was automatically determined and sequentially superimposed. Regional shortening was quantified by a radial coordinate system originating at the center of gravity of the end-diastolic silhouette. Thirty-two radial grids were drawn around the center of gravity, and the length of each radial grid was measured to characterize the centripetal motion of a given surface point. Each radial length was then plotted simultaneously and continuously against left ventricular pressure to generate a pressure-length loop. The area of the pressure-length loop provided an index of regional myocardial work. In the ischemic ventricle, the loops exhibited a striking deformity in configuration. Prolonged relaxation of ischemic segments was associated with outward motion of the normal segments. Shortening of the normal segment occurred earlier than that of the ischemic segment associated with its stretch. Thus, the loops of the two areas inclined in opposite directions. Pacing stress increased the magnitude of hypofunction in the potentially ischemic area, the average extent of shortening being reduced by 30% and the segmental work by 25% (p less than 0.005). In the normal area, contrary to the significant increase in segmental shortening (20% above control values [p less than 0.005]), the average segmental work remained at 7% below control values because of an augmented deformation of the loop.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Three-dimensional analysis of regional myocardial function in response to nitroglycerin in patients with coronary artery disease.

Biplane cineventriculography was performed at rest and after sublingual nitroglycerin in 13 patients with coronary artery disease. In six patients (responders), there was a significant increase in ejection fraction [40 +/- 5 to 52 +/- 4% (p less than 0.001)], while in the other seven (nonresponders), there was no alteration in ejection fraction. To evaluate the extent of regional myocardial response to nitroglycerin, the contractile pattern of the regional myocardium over the entire ventricular surface was analyzed using a computer-generated three-dimensional model. The spatial coordinates that define the elliptic ventricular surface on a given horizontal plane cross section of the chamber were determined by four counter values in the two orthogonal silhouettes. Then, 32 points at equal angles around the center of gravity of the end-diastolic cavity were generated to form the border image. Repetition of this process for 16 successive cross sections allowed for reconstruction of the ventricular surface by the sequence of 32 X 16 (512) points. The regional wall motion was expressed as the percent change of the radial length, drawn from the center of gravity to each surface point. There was significant heterogeneity in regional response to nitroglycerin. In the responders, the normally contracting area was significantly increased (from 16.5 +/- 16.0 to 36.2 +/- 14.9% of the total surface area, p less than 0.001), largely mediated by the greater improvement in segmental shortening of each graded contractile pattern relative to its deterioration. In the nonresponders, a lessening of the severe dysfunction of the given area was associated with significant deterioration of segmental shortening of the other normally contracting area (49.1 +/- 19.7% of the area with a contractile pattern of grade 5 had deteriorated, p less than 0.05). Thus, the ratio of the area with respective graded segmental shortening was virtually unchanged. These differences in response of the ischemic ventricle to nitroglycerin appeared to be related to the development of adequate coronary collateral vessels as well as to an interaction of changes in preload and afterload.

Differential age effect of oral administration of an antigen on antibody response: an induction of tolerance in young mice but enhancement of immune response in old mice.

Sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were orally administered to young (4 months old) and old (22 months old) mice, and its effect on the antibody production after systemic immunization was compared between young and old mice. The results showed that the dose-dependent suppression of antibody response (oral tolerance) was observed in young mice which had been previously treated with oral administration of SRBC. On the contrary, the enhancement of antibody production was observed in old mice which had been treated in the same way. The enhanced level of IgG antibody in old mice was higher than that of young mice. The critical age determining either suppression or enhancement of antibody response after the oral administration of the antigen was present between 6.5 and 10.5 months of age. When the oral administration of the antigen was performed in young (3 months old) and middle-aged mice (12 months old), the oral tolerance for young and the enhanced antibody response for middle-aged mice were observed even at 6 months after the treatment. The analysis by in vitro antibody response using T and B cells prepared from young and old mice showed that age-related alteration of T and B cells is responsible for the suppression and the enhancement of antibody response after oral administration of SRBC, respectively.

Reappearance of beriberi heart disease in Japan. A study of 23 cases.

Twenty-three Japanese patients with beriberi heart disease, 17 of them teenagers, were studied. The recent tendency for teenagers to take excessive sweet carbonated soft drinks, instant noodles and powermill-polished rice readily induces relative thiamine deficiency. A sudden increase in thiamine requirements due to strenuous exercise can result in overt beriberi heart disease. Alcohol had nothing to do with the development of the disease. Characteristic features commonly seen in teenage patients include peripheral edema, low peripheral vascular resistance, increased venous pressure enlarged heart, T wave abnormalities, hyperkinetic circulatory state and increased circulating blood volume. Thiamine deficiency was confirmed by a decrease in blood thiamine concentration, a decrease in erythrocyte transketolase activity and an increase in thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) effect. Improvement was rapidly achieved with thiamine administration, balanced nutrition and rest, especially in the teenage patients. Increased circulating blood volume was useful in differentiating beriberi heart disease from hyperthyroidism.

Vitamin E enhances the immune functions of young but not old mice under restraint stress.

Young and old C57BL/6 male mice were given a diet containing a high dose of vitamin E (VE treatment) and its effect on the immune system was examined before and after the exposure to restraint stress. The VE treatment per se gave rise to a slight increase of splenic T cells in percentage and a significant enhancement of Con A response of spleen cells in young, but not in old mice. The VE treatment also resulted in the enhancement of production of IL-2 and IFNgamma in young, but not in old mice. Restraint stress led to thymic involution in both young and old mice. This thymic involution was not ameliorated by the VE treatment. Percentage of splenic T cells and their mitogenic response decreased just after the stress, but soon rebounded over the control level. The VE treatment further enhanced the recovery after the stress in young mice, but on the contrary suppressed the recovery in old mice. The results in the present study suggested that the VE treatment was effective in the prevention of immunological decline of young mice before and after the exposure to the stress. On the other hand, such a preventive effect was not observed in old mice that were already in the depressed state of immunological functions.

Age-related alteration of cytokine production profile by T cell subsets in mice: a flow cytometric study.

Spleen cells from young and old C57BL/6 mice were stimulated with a combination of anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies, and the profile of cytokine production was examined by two different methods; the concentrations of cytokines as measured by ELISA, and identification of cytokine-positive cells by flow cytometry. The ELISA method revealed that IL-2 production by spleen cells after stimulation was significantly lower in the old mice compared to the young mice. while IFN-gamma production was the reverse. The flow cytometric analysis showed that the percentage of IL-2 positive cells in spleen cells after the stimulation was significantly lower in the older mice than in the young mice, and vice versa for the percentage of IFN-gamma-positive cells. Regarding the T cell subsets, CD4+ T cells were a major source of IL-2 in both the young and old mice. IL-2-positive cells in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells showed a significant decrease with age. On the contrary, CDX T cells were the major source of IFN-gamma. An age-related increase of IFN-gamma positive cells was observed in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. CD4 T cells were the major source of IL-4, and the percentage of IL-4-positive CD4+ T cells also increased with age, although the level of IL-4 production was modest in C57BL/6 mice compared with IL-2 and IFN-gamma. Such age-related changes of cytokine production are presumed to play an important role in the alteration of immunological capacity with age.

Expanded applications of diagnostic and therapeutic thoracoscopy.

From 1971 to 1990, 315 thoracoscopies were performed. Recent advances in optic/video systems and endoscopic operating instruments have made thoracoscopy easier and more accurate than 20 years ago. The operative mortality rate was low (1%) and the diagnostic accuracy high (99%). Thoracoscopy has been performed at an increasing frequency in recent years because of its expanded applications, especially in the areas of therapeutic or operative procedures such as carbon dioxide laser treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax or diffuse bullous emphysema, neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser vaporization of pleural malignant tumors, and thoracoscope/laser-aided pleurectomy, pericardiectomy, or lung resection. Further technologic advancement in thoracoscopy will have a considerable impact on the future of thoracic surgery.

Anatomic lobectomy of the lung by means of thoracoscopy. An experimental study.

We conducted this study in an attempt to investigate whether anatomic lobectomy can be performed through a thoracoscope. Twelve lower (seven left and five right) and six left upper lobectomies were done in 17 pigs weighing 60 to 90 kg. With the use of general anesthesia and one-lung ventilation, a thoracoscope and operating instruments were inserted through four or five trocars. First, the incomplete fissure was bluntly dissected with specially designed cotton-tipped dissectors and divided by an electrocautery spatula or sapphire contact-tip neodymium: yttrium aluminum garnet laser probe. The pulmonary artery and its branches were similarly dissected. Two ligatures were passed around the vessels by endoscopic right-angle clamps and tied by means of an extracorporeal tying technique. The vessels were clipped and divided. In two animals, a hidden branch of the pulmonary artery was inadvertently cut. Bleeding was readily controlled with the dissector until metal clips could be applied. The bronchus was similarly dissected and divided and the proximal stump was closed with sutures. The pulmonary vein was dissected bluntly by the same technique and divided. The excised lobe was placed in a plastic bag and pulled out through one of the trocar holes after the hole had been enlarged to 3 cm. Blood loss was minimal. In conclusion, anatomic lobectomy of the lung by means of thoracoscopy was feasible in the pig.

Experimental evaluation of magnesium cardioplegia.

The effectiveness of magnesium solution in protecting ischemic myocardium was evaluated in a blood-perfused, isolated rabbit papillary muscle preparation. Anoxic cardioplegia was induced by either a control solution containing no magnesium or a test solution containing a magnesium concentration of 160 mEq/L. The magnesium solution induced a very rapid cardiac arrest, less than 1 minute, in contrast to more than 10 minutes with the control solution. Restarting time was not affected by magnesium cardioplegia. Following 30 minutes of anoxic cardioplegia, the magnesium group showed significantly (p less than 0.01) better recovery of myocardial contractility, 91.3% +/- 8.3% (n = 6), than the control group, 77.7% +/- 4.1% (n = 6). These protective effects of magnesium were lost when the ischemic time was longer than 45 minutes.

Successful prolonged heparinless venoarterial bypass in sheep.

In order to investigate the safety of prolonged heparinless venoarterial bypass (HL-VAB), we subjected 18 sheep to prolonged HL-VAB for up to 6 days. Three animals died of granulomatous lung abscess and one died from intra-abdominal abscess. One animal died of generalized thromboembolism secondary to mechanical damage of the nonthrombogenic coating occurring at the time of cannulation. HL-VAB was successfully carried out in 13 sheep. Although clots were found at all tubing connections where blood turbulence occurred, only the previously mentioned animal showed evidence of thromboembolism. Damage to the nonthrombogenic tubing exposed to the roller pump head was seen in all animals, and its severity appeared to be related to the duration of bypass. Scanning electron microscopic examination revealed scattered platelet aggregates on the nonthrombogenic coated surfaces without clinical evidence of embolization. Hematocrit values, leukocyte counts, platelet counts, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (PTT), thrombin time (TT), plasma fibrinogen levels, and factor V and VIII levels remained unchanged, whereas free plasma hemoglobin levels rose slightly during 6 days of HL-VAB. HL-VAB for up to 6 days appears to have little adverse effect on blood cells and blood coagulation factors. For current clinical use, the nonthrombogenic coated tubing circuit should be changed every 48 hours because of time-related trauma to the coated tubing from the roller pump.

Thoracoscopic en bloc total esophagectomy with radical mediastinal lymphadenectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Total esophagectomy with en bloc mediastinal lymphadenectomy for cancer carries a substantial morbidity and mortality rate. To investigate the feasibility of thoracoscopic technique, we carried out an extensive laboratory study. Encouraged by our excellent results, we conducted a clinical trial. METHODS: From September 1994 to September 1995, 39 patients thoracic esophageal cancer lesions not invading surrounding organs underwent total esophagectomy with mediastinal lymphadenectomy by means of thoracoscopy. Ages ranged from 47 to 86 years. The procedures were conventional except for the thoracic portion, which was performed as a thoracoscopic procedure with six trocar holes instead of thoracotomy. All harvested lymph nodes were counted for each station. Spirometric data and plethysmographically determined vital capacity were measured before and after operation for all patients. RESULTS: All procedures were accomplished as scheduled, and none was converted to open thoracotomy. The operating time was 200 +/- 41 minutes (mean +/- standard deviation). Estimated blood loss was 270 +/- 157 ml. The harvested lymph nodes numbered 19.7 +/- 11.1 per patient. Seventeen patients (45%) had positive lymph nodes. There were no in-hospital deaths within 30 days. Twenty-two patients did not require postoperative ventilatory support. Vital capacity decreased to 85% +/- 11% of the preoperative values, and forced expiratory volume in 1 second decreased to 82% +/- 16%. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracoscopic mediastinal lymphadenectomy is technically feasible, and its completeness is comparable to that of the open technique. The decline in pulmonary function is significantly less than that seen in our previous experience with the open technique.

Oxygen consumption of the normal and failing heart during left heart bypass.

In order to determine whether myocardial oxygen consumption (MOC) is decreased during left heart bypass (LHB), two groups of 6 dogs each were subjected to 2 hours of heparinless LHB. Group 2 differed from Group 1 in that cardiogenic shock was induced by temporary coronary artery occlusion prior to LHB. In Group 1 animals (normal dogs), MOC decreased significantly during the surgical preparation but did not change appreciably during subsequent LHB. Upon completion of LHB, MOC increased slightly in all animals. This increase in MOC was insignificant, however, when adjusted to changes in mean aortic blood pressure (MAP). A highly positive linear correlation between MOC and MAP was noted regardless of whether the animals were on or off bypass. In Group 2 animals, MOC was markedly decreased after the iduction of cardiogenic shock but gradually increased during the 2 hours of LHB. Upon completion of bypass, MOC of the damaged heart increased to a remarkable degree, but not to initial control levels. However, the linear correlation between MOC and MAP, noted before the induction of cardiogenic shock, disappeared after shock and was not restored after 2 hours of apparently successful bypass. We have concluded that MOC is decreased surgical stress and is further decreased by temporary coronary artery occlusion. MOC is not, however, reduced by nearly total or total LHB in normal hearts. MOC is markedly decreased by cardiac damage but gradually increases in damaged hearts by the use of LHB.

Primary chylopericardium.

In a 23-year-old man with massive chylous pericardial effusion, oral administration of Sudan III and radio-active 131iodine-labelled triolein revealed an abnormal communication between the lymphatic system and the pericardial sac. Despite partial pericardiectomy and resection of the thoracic duct, the fluid reaccumulated, and a postoperative lymphangiogram showed an obstructed left thoracic duct. Resection of this left thoracic duct resulted in full recovery. This is the first reported case of this disease with a duplicate thoracic duct. Careful attention must be paid to the possibility of this variation before and during surgery.

Experimental evaluation of hypothermic intermittent coronary perfusion.

The recovery of the myocardial contractility of blood-perfused papillary muscle from the rabbit hearts was used to determine if hypothermia would minimize the myocardial injury associated with intermittent aortic cross-clamping (IACC). Continuous normothermic coronary perfusion for 2 hours with either cross circulation or a membrane oxygenator had only minimal adverse effects on contractility. None of the hearts tolerated normothermic IACC (45 minutes of anoxia and 10 minutes of reperfusion, repeated twice), When the myocardial temperature was reduced to 32 degrees C., the recovery following IACC was 41.25 +/- 11.21 percent (n=8). With hypothermia of 28 degrees C., it was 70.43 +/- 13.03 percent (cross circulation group, n=7) or 68.36 +/- 13.11 percent (membrane oxygenator group, n=7). If the hearts were cooled to 24 degrees C., the recovery of the myocardial contractility following IACC was 90.95 +/- 5.42 percent (n=11). The improvement of the degree of recovery by hypothermia was statistically highly significant (p less than 0.005). Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and isoenzymes (CPK-MB) were also measured in some groups, but the results warrrant further studies before they can be correlated with the myocardial function.

Functional evaluation of normothermic intermittent coronary perfusion.

The myocardial contractility of papillary muscle from rabbit hearts was used to evaluate various techniques of normothermic intermittent coronary perfusion. A progressive decline of the myocardial contractility was noted as aortic cross-clamping and coronary reperfusion were repeated. After a net anoxic period of 90 minutes, the contractility fell to 58.67, 60.2, and 40 percent of the base line when single aortic cross-clamping time was 5, 10, and 15 minutes, respectively, interrupted by 5 minutes of reperfusion. Repeated application of single cross-clamping of 20 minutes or longer was not tolerated by the rabbit hearts. When the heart was reperfused for 10 minutes, between 15 minute periods of anoxia, the final recovery of contractility was 62 percent. Normothermic intermittent coronary perfusion has a significant adverse effect on the myocardial contractility. If this technique is to be used, single anoxic times should not be longer than 15 minutes and the heart must be reperfused for at least 10 minutes.

Thoracoscopic partial lung resection in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A preliminary report.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can tolerate thoracoscopic partial lung resection. DESIGN: Patients with non-small-cell lung cancers were selected from 583 cases undergoing laser treatment. The parameters studied included sex, age, tumor size, spirometry (forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second), operating time, operative mortality rate, postoperative ventilatory time, and length of hospital stay. The follow-up period varied from 4 to 30 months. SETTING: A private community hospital with nationwide referrals. PATIENTS: Nine consecutive patients (five men, four women) were found to have lung cancer before (four patients) or at (five patients) surgery. Their mean (+/- SD) age was 71.2 +/- 3.8 years; tumor size, 3.3 +/- 1.6 cm; forced vital capacity, 2.04 +/- 0.50 L (49.7% +/- 10.2%); and forced expiratory volume in 1 second, 0.66 +/- 0.11 L (22.2% +/- 5.5%). INTERVENTIONS: With patients under general anesthesia with one-lung ventilation, the tumor was resected and coexisting diffuse bullae were treated by a contact neodymium:YAG laser. Four patients received adjuvant therapies: chemotherapy, one; radiation and chemotherapy, one; radiation, one; and brachytherapy, one. MAIN OUTCOMES: All patients tolerated surgery; there were no deaths. Mean (+/- SD) operating time was 4.9 +/- 1.4 hours; postoperative ventilatory time, 10.3 +/- 6.8 hours; and length of hospital stay, 15.2 +/- 13.2 days. RESULTS: One patient died of disease progression 4 months after surgery. There was one local recurrence and one distant metastasis. Four patients remained free of tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can tolerate thoracoscopic partial lung resection but an effort should be made to reduce local recurrence.