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Biomedical subjects

S Vernon

Publications and source records attributed to S Vernon.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Teaching social skills to students with autism to increase peer interactions in an integrated first-grade classroom.

We investigated the use of social skills groups to facilitate increased social interactions for students with autism and their nonhandicapped peers in an integrated first-grade classroom. Social skills groups consisted of training students and peers in initiating, responding, and keeping interactions going; greeting others and conversing on a variety of topics; giving and accepting compliments; taking turns and sharing; asking for help and helping others; and including others in activities. Training occurred during the first 10 min of 20-min play groups, four times per week. Using a multiple baseline across subjects design, results demonstrated increases in the frequency of, time engaged in, and duration of social interactions, as well as the responsivity of students and peers to each other. Results were maintained when students were monitored and given feedback on social performance in play groups and during follow-up.

Autistic Disorder

Serological monitoring of vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus in enzootic regions of Costa Rica.

The activity of vesicular stomatitis viruses was monitored on 3 dairy farms in Costa Rica. Antibody levels were measured and clinical disease monitored in 165 cattle during a 20 month period (1986-1988). Vesicular stomatitis New Jersey (VS NJ) virus was shown to be enzootic on these farms by a 94.2% prevalence of neutralizing antibody; this did not vary significantly between herds. The mean prevalence of antibody to vesicular stomatitis Indiana (VS IN) virus was 15.2%, but was significantly higher in 1 herd. A total of 25 cases (annual incidence rate of 9%) of clinical vesicular stomatitis (VS) was reported. VS NJ virus was identified as the causal agent by detection of VS NJ virus antigens by the complement fixation test. VS NJ virus was isolated in 11 cases. All episodes of disease occurred between November and January, the beginning of the dry season. Most animals maintained stable neutralizing antibody titers throughout the study, and all diseased animals were previously seropositive to VS NJ virus. A total of 31 animals with neutralizing antibodies to VS NJ virus had a VS NJ virus-specific IgM response, and 6 animals had IgM responses that persisted for as long as 6 months. There was no relation between IgM responses and clinical disease occurrence. VS NJ virus persisted predominantly as a subclinical infection in cattle throughout the year in enzootic areas of Costa Rica. The humoral response did not prevent reinfection with VS NJ virus.

Animals

Assessment of colorectal cancer screening outcomes among workers involved in polypropylene manufacture.

To follow up on a previous finding of an elevated colorectal cancer incidence rate among Exxon employees on a unit devoted to the manufacture of polypropylene (the polyolefin unit [POU]), a company-sponsored screening program was offered to all former and present POU workers. Overall participation was 52.5%, with lower participation among older workers and workers who had retired or were no longer employed by the company. Evaluation of polyp prevalence rates for POU workers v rates for non-Exxon employees screened at the same clinic showed a general pattern of elevated rates for POU employees, especially for mechanical and process workers. This pattern was most marked for polyps at least 0.5 cm in diameter, but findings were less clear for adenomatous polyps. The effect of factors that might bias evaluation of colorectal polyp prevalence rates (eg, selection bias, observation bias, genetic susceptibility) is discussed, but none of these factors seemed a likely explanation for the findings observed in this study.

Adult

An open study evaluating the reactogenicity and immunogenicity of a DTP vaccine containing an acellular pertussis component in four to six year old children.

Acellular pertussis vaccines have been used for mass immunization of children in Japan since the fall of 1981, but until recently they have not been evaluated in the United States. We report a trial with a DTP vaccine containing an acellular pertussis component in 36 four to six year old children who had previously received four doses of United States DTP licensed vaccine with a whole cell pertussis vaccine component. The study vaccine contained diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and 300 HA units of Takeda acellular pertussis component. The principle immunizing antigens in the pertussis component of the vaccine were lymphocytosis promoting factor (LPF) and filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA). Local and systemic reactions were monitored during the first 48 hours after vaccination, and pre-immunization and one month post-immunization serum specimens were obtained for antibody assay. The following reaction rates were noted: redness 50%, tenderness 50%, swelling 41%, fever (greater than or equal to 38 degrees C) 3%, drowsiness 17%, fretfulness 14%, anorexia 11%, and vomiting 6%. Pertussis antibody values (preimmunization/postimmunization) were as follows: agglutinin GMT, 1:21/1:100; FHA mean ELISA u, 28 +/- 6/greater than or equal to 229 +/- 47; LPF mean ELISA u, 176 +/- 59/1732 +/- 280. The pertussis component of the study vaccine would appear to be less reactogenic than United States whole cell pertussis vaccines but still immunogenic when given as a booster immunization to four to six year old children. Further studies are needed to assess reactions and immunogenicity in younger and previously unimmunized children.

Anorexia

Susceptibility to varicella virus of certain adults in the southeastern United States.

The serologic status of 76 adults was determined to evaluate their immunity to the varicella virus. Previous reports indicate that 92% to 98% of the adult population develop this immunity. Our experience with nosocomial varicella infection in two hospital employees suggested that more adults in this subtropical region may be susceptible to varicella infection. Three (7.1%) adults with a definite history of varicella had a positive indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test. Twenty-eight (72%) of 39 employees without a history had a positive serology, a rate lower than previously reported (p less than 0.002). Twenty-nine (85%) of 34 other adults and 60 (79%) of the 76 adults tested had positive tests; these rates are also lower than reported (p = 0.003 and less than 0.001, respectively). These data indicate that some adult groups may be more susceptible to varicella infection and suggest that knowledge of immunity should be an important health concern in some hospitals.

Adult

Resection of pulmonary metastases from nonseminomatous testicular tumors. Correlation of clinical and histological features with treatment outcome.

Clinical and histological correlates of survival in patients undergoing complete resection of pulmonary metastases from nonseminomatous testicular carcinoma were determined in 25 Stage C patients aged 17-38 years treated from 1969-1978. All patients had orchiectomy and retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy. Nineteen patients received combination chemotherapy before resection, and all received chemotherapy after resection. Three patients had four additional thoracotomies for pulmonary recurrence. Survival was measured from time of first thoracotomy to time of last followup or death. Actuarial survival for the entire group at one, two, and five years was 80, 63, and 59%, respectively. Median follow-up of the survivors was 3.5 years. Patients in low tumor burden groups such as those with no tumor in retroperitoneal nodes, with unilateral metastases, or with single metastases had better prognosis, as did patients whose primary tumors were moderately well differentiated. Characteristics of pulmonary metastases that favorably influenced the prognosis were the presence of mature teratoma, presence of few mitoses, lack of mononuclear infiltrate, and lack of desmoplastic response. These findings confirm the effectiveness of multimodality therapy which includes the resection of pulmonary metastases for Stage C nonseminomatous carcinoma of the testes. In addition, they suggest that consideration should be given to the stratification of prospective clinical trials on the basis of tumor burden and histologic characteristics of the primary and metastatic lesions.

Adolescent

Nodular lymphoma with intracellular immunoglobulin.

A case of malignant lymphoma with vacuolated cells is presented and, as with two other recent reports, is of the nodular poorly differentiated lymphocytic type. This form of malignant lymphoma presumably is composed of neoplastic B lymphocytes, which produce intracellular immunoglobulins or fractions thereof, corresponding to various cellular vacuoles and inclusions. The vacuolated appearance of the neoplastic cells simulates mucinous or "signet ring" adenocarcinoma, which may be excluded by clinical, routine microscopic, histochemical, immunologic, and electron microscopic observations.

Adenocarcinoma

Rectal paracetamol in small children with fever.

37 febrile children aged between 3 months and 6 years were treated with paracetamol in a dose of 15--20 mg/kg by either oral elixir or rectal suppository. The rectal route was found to have an equal antipyretic effect and offers a practical alternative in those children for whom the oral route is not possible.20

Acetaminophen

Marijuana effects on long-term memory assessment and retrieval.

The ability of 16 college-educated male subjects to recall from long-term memory a series of common facts was tested during intoxication with marijuana extract calibrated to 0.3 mg/kg delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and during placebo conditions. The subjects' ability to assess their memory capabilities was then determined by measuring how certain they were about the accuracy of their recall performance and by having them predict their performance on a subsequent recognition test involving the same recall items. Marijuana had no effect on recall or recognition performance. These results do not support the view that marijuana provides access to facts in long-term storage which are inaccessible during non-intoxication. During both marijuana and placebo conditions, subjects could accurately predict their recognition memory performance. Hence, marijuana did not alter the subjects' ability to accurately assess what information resides in long-term memory even though they did not have complete access to that information.

Adolescent