PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

I Matus

Publications and source records attributed to I Matus.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Development and characterization of recombinant chromosome substitution lines (RCSLs) using Hordeum vulgare subsp. spontaneum as a source of donor alleles in a Hordeum vulgare subsp. vulgare background.

The ancestor of barley (Hordeum vulgare subsp. spontaneum) may be a source of novel alleles for crop improvement. We developed a set of recombinant chromosome substitution lines (RCSLs) using an accession of H. vulgare subsp. spontaneum (Caesarea 26-24, from Israel) as the donor and Hordeum vulgare subsp. vulgare 'Harrington' (the North American malting quality standard) as the recurrent parent via two backcrosses to the recurrent parent, followed by six generations of selfing. Here we report (i) the genomic architecture of the RCSLs, as inferred by simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, and (ii) the effects of H. vulgare subsp. spontaneum genome segment introgressions in terms of three classes of phenotypes: inflorescence yield components, malting quality traits, and domestication traits. Significant differences among the RCSLs were detected for all phenotypes measured. The phenotypic effects of the introgressions were assessed using association analysis, and these were referenced to quantitative trait loci (QTL) reported in the literature. Hordeum vulgare subsp. spontaneum, despite its overall inferior phenotype, contributed some favorable alleles for agronomic and malting quality traits. In most cases, the introgression of the ancestral genome resulted in a loss of desirable phenotypes in the cultivated parent. Although disappointing from a plant breeding perspective, this finding may prove to be a useful tool for gene discovery.

Alleles↗

Autism and the fragile X syndrome.

Ten patients with the fragile X syndrome were diagnosed at the Child Development Unit in 1982. Six of these patients are autistic and demonstrate similar profiles on three evaluations designed to measure the severity of autism. The similarities of these six autistic patients are described in depth.

Adolescent↗

Relaxation and subjective estimates of muscle tension: implications for a central efferent theory of muscle control.

The relationship of "awareness of muscle tension" to depth of relaxation was explored. In one experiment, accuracy of forearm flexor control was assessed using the psychophysical method of magnitude production, and depth of flexor relaxation was measured using the integrated EMG before and after EMG biofeedback training. No consistent relationship between motor-control accuracy and depth of relaxation was found. A second, similar experiment with frontalis showed increased accuracy of frontalis control with deeper relaxation. Accuracy of passive, verbal judgments of spontaneous frontalis tension fluctuation exhibited no clear relationship with depth of relaxation. It was concluded that forearm flexor and frontalis may be under the control of distinct mechanisms, and that afferent information probably contributes to the control of neither muscle. Three structural theories of the control mechanisms were considered, and one depending on the central monitoring of efferent outflow (rather than afferent inflow) seemed most compatible with the frontalis data. Both flexor and frontalis data could be accounted for by a two-phase scheme combining central outflow monitoring with the monitoring of mental contents for arousal value at very low muscle tension levels.

Adult↗

Asthma attack frequency in a pediatric population.

The joint occurrence of asthmatic symptomatology and psychological maladjustment does not necessarily imply a functional relationship between these two sets of phenomena. To test the contribution of psychological adjustment to the prediction of asthma symptomatology, a stepwise multiple regression was applied. Pulmonary and psychological adjustment variables were included in the regression analysis. The single best predictor of attack frequency was the pulmonary factor MMEF. Predictability was significantly increased with the family adjustment rating, the pulmonary factor FEV1, and the Child Adjustment Rating entered into the equation. The results were interpreted to be consistent with psychosomatic theory.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Patient variables supporting chronic illness. A scale for measuring attitudes toward respiratory illness and hospitalization.

To enable the study of attitudes as one basis for the maintenance of chronic illness, a scale of patient attitudes toward chronic respiratory illness and hospitalization was developed. Key cluster analysis was performed on a large set of statements which had been rated by patients hospitalized for chronic asthma in a residential treatment setting. The analyses identified six attitudinal clusters: Optimism, Negative Staff Regard, Specific Internal Awareness, External Control, Psychological Stigma, and Authoritarian Attitudes toward Illness and Hospitalization. The clusters showed good internal consistency, reliability, and generality. The low to moderate inter-relationships among clusters suggest the existence of identifiable patterns of attitudes which may be related to differences in coping styles to chronic illness.

Adolescent↗

Oral folic acid versus placebo in the treatment of males with the fragile X syndrome.

A double-blind, crossover study of a 10 mg folic acid per day (vs. placebo) treatment was carried out in 25 fra(X) males (ages 1-31 years). Each treatment period lasted 6 months. Before, during and after the study, the patients were assessed blindly with psychological, language and behavioral evaluations, and parent or caretaker reports were collected. Standardized testing did not show statistically significant changes in the group as a whole; psychological testing demonstrated a statistically significant improvement on folic acid in the prepubertal males. After uncoding, caretaker or parent reports also demonstrated behavioral improvements in the prepubertal males while being treated with folic acid.

Administration, Oral↗