Directly probing surfactant adsorption on nanoscopic trenches and pillars.

HYPOTHESIS: Confinement causes a change in the amount of surfactant adsorbed and in the adsorption morphology. EXPERIMENTS: Two cationic surfactants, tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) and cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) were adsorbed at the silica-water interface. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) force curves were measured on 50 nm and 80 nm wide trenches. Force curves were also measured on silica pillars, and the results were quantified based on distance from the edge. FINDINGS: Trenches: Adsorbed surfactants films in 50 nm and 80 nm trenches showed the same break-through values. However, compared to unconfined values, TTAB in trenches had decreased break-through and adhesion forces while CPC in trenches had increased break-through and adhesion forces, indicating that surfactant identity varies the confinement effect. Pillars: Near the edge, few surfactants adsorb, and those that do extend in the direction normal to the surface. While the experimental data agree qualitatively with previous coarse-grained molecular dynamic simulations, the length scales at which the phenomena are detected differ by ~ half-order of magnitude. Specifically, experimental data show measurable effects on adsorbed surfactant morphology at a distance from the edge 10-20 times the length of a surfactant molecule after accounting for the ~8 nm size of the probe.

Atomic Force Microscopy Force Mapping Analysis of an Adsorbed Surfactant above and below the Critical Micelle Concentration.

Force curves collected using an atomic force microscope (AFM) in the presence of adsorbed surfactants are often used to draw conclusions about adsorbed film packing, rigidity, and thickness. However, some noteworthy features of such force curve characteristics have yet to be thoroughly investigated and explained. In this work, we collected force curves from tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide films adsorbed on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), silica, and silica that had been hydrophobized by functionalization with dichlorodimethyl silane. Breakthrough events in the force curves from several different trials were compared to show that the breakthrough distance, often reported as the adsorbed film thickness, increased with concentration below the critical micelle concentration (CMC) but was approximately 3.5 nm on all surfaces between 2× and 10× CMC; an unexpected result because of the different surface chemistries for the three surfaces. We employed an AFM probe with a different force constant ( k) value as well as a colloidal probe and the breakthrough distance remained approximately 3.5 nm in all cases. Gradient mapping, a variant of force mapping, was also implemented on the three surfaces and resulted in a new technique for visualizing adsorbed surfactant in situ. The resulting maps showed patches of adsorbed surfactant below the CMC and revealed that with increasing concentration, the size of the patches increased resulting in full coverage near and above the CMC. These results are, to our knowledge, the first time force mapping has been used to spatially track patches of adsorbed surfactant. Finally, layers of surfactants on an AFM tip were investigated by collecting a force map on a single AFM tip using the tip of a separate AFM probe. A breakthrough event was observed between the tips, indicating that a layer of surfactant was present on at least one, if not both tips.

Rational design of aromatic surfactants for graphene/natural rubber latex nanocomposites with enhanced electrical conductivity.

HYPOTHESIS: Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) can be dispersed in natural rubber matrices using surfactants. The stability and properties of these composites can be optimized by the choice of surfactants employed as stabilizers. Surfactants can be designed and synthesized to have enhanced compatibility with GNPs as compared to commercially available common surfactants. Including aromatic groups in the hydrophobic chain termini improves graphene compatibility of surfactants, which is expected to increase with the number of aromatic moieties per surfactant molecule. Hence, it is of interest to study the relationship between molecular structure, dispersion stability and electrical conductivity enhancement for single-, double-, and triple-chain anionic graphene-compatible surfactants. EXPERIMENTS: Graphene-philic surfactants, bearing two and three chains phenylated at their chain termini, were synthesized and characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy. These were used to formulate and stabilize dispersion of GNPs in natural rubber latex matrices, and the properties of systems comprising the new phenyl-surfactants were compared with commercially available surfactants, sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS). Raman spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) were used to study structural properties of the materials. Electrical conductivity measurements and Zeta potential measurements were used to assess the relationships between surfactant architecture and nanocomposite properties. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) was used to study self-assembly structure of surfactants. FINDINGS: Of these different surfactants, the tri-chain aromatic surfactant TC3Ph3 (sodium 1,5-dioxo-1,5-bis(3-phenylpropoxy)-3-((3phenylpropoxy)carbonyl) pentane-2-sulfonate) was shown to be highly graphene-compatible (nanocomposite electrical conductivity = 2.22 × 10-5 S cm-1), demonstrating enhanced electrical conductivity over nine orders of magnitude higher than neat natural rubber-latex matrix (1.51 × 10-14 S cm-1). Varying the number of aromatic moieties in the surfactants appears to cause significant differences to the final properties of the nanocomposites.

Using family history forms in pediatric oncology to identify patients for genetic assessment.

OBJECTIVE: We set out to identify and offer genetic testing to the 5%-10% of pediatric cancer patients who have been estimated to carry germline mutations in inherited cancer predisposition syndromes. Clinical genetic testing has become widely available, and thus in busy oncology clinics, tools are needed to identify patients who could benefit from a referral to genetics. METHODS: We studied the clinical utility of administering a family history form in the pediatric oncology long-term follow-up clinic to identify patients who might have an inherited cancer predisposition syndrome. Genetic testing involved primarily Sanger sequencing in clia (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments)-certified laboratories. RESULTS: Of 57 patients who completed forms, 19 (33.3%) met criteria for referral to genetics. A significant family history of cancer was present for 4 patients, and 12 patients underwent genetic testing. Of 18 genetic tests ordered, none identified a pathogenic mutation, likely because of a small sample size and a candidate-gene approach to testing. Three families were also identified for further assessment based on a family history of breast cancer, with two of families having members eligible for BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic testing in pediatric oncology patients is important to guide the management of patients who have an inherited cancer predisposition syndrome and to identify other family members at risk when mutations are identified. When no mutations are identified, that information is often reassuring to families who are worried about siblings. However, in the absence of an identified genetic cause in a patient, some uncertainty remains.

Fostering interest in research: evaluation of an introductory research seminar at hospitals in rural Rwanda.

SETTINGS: Partners In Health Rwanda, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, leads a multipronged approach to develop research capacity among health workers, particularly in rural areas. OBJECTIVES: To describe the characteristics of participants and to assess the impact of an introductory research seminar series in three district hospitals in rural Rwanda. DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of seminar participants. Data were sourced from personnel records, assessment sheets and feedback forms. RESULTS: A total of 126 participants, including 70 (56%) clinical and 56 (44%) non-clinical staff, attended the research seminar series; 61 (48%) received certification. Among those certified, the median assessment score on assignments was 79%. Participants read significantly more articles at 6 and 12 months (median 2 and 4 respectively, compared to 1 at baseline, P < 0.01). There was also a significant increase (P ⩽ 0.05) in self-reported involvement in research studies (28%, baseline; 59%, 12 months) and attendance at other research training (36%, baseline; 65%, 12 months). CONCLUSION: The introductory research seminar series provided an important opportunity for engagement in research among clinical and non-clinical staff. Such an activity is a key component of a comprehensive research capacity building programme at rural sites, and serves as an entry point for more advanced research training.

Contexte : Partners In Health Rwanda, en collaboration avec le Ministère de la Santé, mène une approche multiple afin de développer les capacités de recherche du personnel de santé, surtout dans les zones rurales.Objectifs : Décrire les caractéristiques des participants et évaluer l'impact d'une série de séminaires d'introduction à la recherche dans trois hôpitaux de district ruraux du Rwanda.Schéma : Etude rétrospective de cohorte des participants au séminaire. Les données ont été recueillies à partir de dossiers personnels, de formulaires d'évaluation et de rétroaction.Résultats : Des 126 participants qui ont assisté à la série de séminaires de recherche, 70 (56%) étaient cliniciens et 56 (44%) personnel non-clinicien. Soixante et un (48%) ont obtenu leur certificat. Parmi ces derniers, le score médian d'évaluation des travaux était de 79%. Les participants lisaient beaucoup plus d'articles à 6 et 12 mois (médiane = 2 et 4 respectivement, comparé à 1 au départ, P < 0,01). On notait également une augmentation significative (P ⩽ 0,05) de l'implication dans des travaux de recherche rapportée par les intéressés eux-mêmes (28% au départ contre 59% à 12 mois) ainsi que de la participation à d'autres formations relatives à la recherche (36% au départ contre 65% à 12 mois).Conclusion : La série de séminaires d'introduction à la recherche a fourni une opportunité majeure d'engagement dans la recherche du personnel clinicien et non clinicien. Une telle activité est un élément clé d'un programme complet de renforcement des capacités de recherche dans les zones rurales et sert de point d'entrée pour des formations à la recherche plus avancées.

Marco de referencia: La organización Partners In Health de Rwanda, en colaboración con el Ministerio de Salud, dirige un proyecto multidimensional de creación de capacidad de investigación, dirigida a los profesionales que se ocupan de la salud, especialmente en las zonas rurales.Objetivos: Describir las características de los participantes y evaluar el efecto de la realización de una serie de seminarios introductorios a la investigación, en tres hospitales distritales de zonas rurales en Rwanda.Método: Fue este un estudio retrospectivo de cohortes de los participantes a los seminarios. Se obtuvieron datos a partir de los registros personales, las hojas de evaluación y los formularios de retroalimentación.Resultados: Participaron a la serie de seminarios 126 personas, de las cuales 70 pertenecían al personal asistencial (56%) y 56 a personal de otras esferas (44%). Sesenta y un participantes recibieron la certificación (48%). De las personas certificadas, la mediana de puntuación de la evaluación fue 79%. Los participantes leyeron más artículos a los seis y a los doce meses de la intervención (mediana = 1 y 4 respectivamente; P < 0,01) que al comienzo de la misma (mediana = 1; P ⩽ 0,05). Se observó además un aumento significativo de la intervención autorreferida en estudios de investigación (28% al comienzo y 59% a los 12 meses) y de la participación en otras capacitaciones científicas (36% al comienzo y 65% a los 12 meses).Conclusión: La serie de seminarios introductorios a la investigación ofreció al personal asistencial y a otros miembros del personal una importante oportunidad de participar en las actividades científicas. Este tipo de intervención constituye un componente primordial del programa integral de creación de capacidad de investigación en los centros rurales y representa una puerta de entrada a las capacitaciones científicas más avanzadas.

Theoretical, thermodynamic, spectroscopic, and structural studies of the consequences of one-electron oxidation on the Fe-X bonds in 17- and 18-electron Cp*Fe(dppe)X complexes (X = F, Cl, Br, I, H, CH3).

The compounds Cp*Fe(dppe)X ([Fe]X) and the corresponding cation radicals [Fe*]X*+ are available for the series X = F, Cl, Br, I, H, CH3. This has allowed for a detailed investigation of the dependence of the nature of Fe-X bonding on the identity of X and the oxidation state (charge) of the complex. Cyclic voltammetry demonstrates that the electrode potentials for the [Fe]X0/+ couples decrease in the order I > Br > Cl > H > F > CH3. An "inverse halide order" is seen, in which the most electronegative X leads to the most easily oxidized complex. This suggests that F is the best donor among the halides. The halide trend is also reflected in NMR spectroscopic data. Mössbauer spectroscopy data also suggest that the F ligand is a strong donor (relative to H and CH3) in [Fe*]X*+. DFT calculations on CpFe(dpe)X ([Fe]X) model complexes nicely reproduce the trend in the electrode potentials for the [Fe*]X0/+ couples. Analysis of the theoretical data within the halogen series indicates that the energy of the [Fe]X HOMO does not correlate with the extent of its Fe(d(pi))-X(p(pi)) antibonding character, which varies in the order I > Br > Cl > F, but rather depends on the destabilizing electrostatic effect caused by X. This effect varies in the order F > Cl > Br > I. A thermochemical cycle that incorporates the [Fe*]X0/+ and [Fe*]0/+ electrode potentials was used to investigate the effect of the oxidation state of the complex on the homolytic bond dissociation energy (BDEhom), defined for the processes Fe-X --> Fe* + X* and Fe-X*+ --> Fe*+ + X*. For all X, it was found that a one-electron oxidation leads to a weakening of the Fe-X bond. This trend was reproduced by the DFT calculations. On the other hand, IR nu(Fe-X) spectroscopy data showed an increase in the stretching frequencies for X = H and Cl upon oxidation. X-ray crystallographic data showed a shortening of the Fe-Cl bond upon oxidation. The trends in IR and Fe-Cl bond distances were reproduced in the DFT calculations. The combined data therefore suggest that oxidation leads to weaker, but shorter, Fe-X bonds. A second thermochemical cycle was applied to investigate the effect of the one-electron oxidation on the heterolytic bond dissociation energies (BDEhet), defined for the processes Fe-X --> Fe+ + X- and Fe-X*+ --> Fe2+ + X-. In this case, the oxidation led to bond strengthening in all cases. The computed BDE values have been analyzed within Ziegler's transition state methodology and decomposed into two components, one electrostatic and one covalent, describing the interaction between the unrelaxed fragments. In all the computed BDEhom and BDEhet values of the [Fe]X models the electrostatic component is important. This helps to understand their respective variations upon oxidation.

Ischemic stroke in young women: risk of recurrence during subsequent pregnancies. French Study Group on Stroke in Pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether subsequent pregnancies increase the risk of recurrent stroke and whether the occurrence of an ischemic stroke affects reproductive history. METHODS: The authors identified 489 consecutive women aged 15 to 40 years with a first-ever arterial ischemic stroke or cerebral venous thrombosis from the record system of nine French neurologic centers. Information on stroke recurrence and reproductive history was obtained by means of chart review, written questionnaire, and telephone interview. RESULTS: Data were analyzed from 441 women (373 with arterial ischemic stroke and 68 with cerebral venous thrombosis). During a mean follow-up of 5 years, 13 arterial recurrent ischemic strokes occurred. There were no cases of recurrent cerebral venous thrombosis. The overall risk of recurrence was 1% within 1 year and 2.3% within 5 years. The risk of recurrence was significantly higher in patients with stroke of definite cause. Eleven recurrent strokes occurred outside pregnancy (absolute risk of recurrence = 0.5%; 95% CI 0.3, 0.95) and two during pregnancy or the puerperium (absolute risk of recurrence = 1. 8%; 95% CI 0.5, 7.5). The relative risk of recurrence was significantly higher during the postpartum period (risk ratio = 9.7; 95% CI 1.2, 78.9) than during pregnancy (risk ratio = 2.2; 95% CI 0. 3, 17.5) itself. The outcome of the 187 subsequent pregnancies was similar to that expected from the general population. Thirty-four percent of women indicated that they would have desired more pregnancies after their initial stroke. The main reasons for not considering pregnancy were concern of a recurrent stroke, medical advice against pregnancy, and residual handicap. CONCLUSION: Young women with a history of ischemic stroke have a low risk of recurrence during subsequent pregnancies. The postpartum period, not the pregnancy itself, is associated with an increased risk of recurrent stroke. The outcome of pregnancies in these women appears to be similar to that expected in the general population. A previous ischemic stroke is not a contraindication to a subsequent pregnancy.

The low affinity PCP sites in the rat cerebellum not only bind TCP-like but also BTCP-like structures.

Congeners of the potent dopamine (DA) re-uptake inhibitor 1-[1-(2-benzo[b]thiophenyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine (BTCP) are unexpectedly able to bind in the rat cerebellum, although this structure is devoid of dopaminergic nerve endings. In line with previous studies the hypothesis that they bind to low affinity PCP sites labelled with [3H]TCP in the rat cerebellum, even though they do not bind to the high affinity PCP sites in the forebrain, was considered. Analogues of 1-[1-(2-thiophenyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine (TCP) and BTCP with a modified aromatic moiety and with O or S atoms substituted in the cyclohexyl ring were prepared and tested in competition experiments both in rat forebrain and cerebellum membranes labelled with [3H]TCP, and in rat striatum membranes labelled with [3H]BTCP. Results indicated that BTCP and congeners could bind to low affinity PCP sites labelled with [3H]TCP in the rat cerebellum with a decrease of the selectivity for the DA transporter. On the contrary, some TCP analogues displayed a very high selectivity for these low affinity sites; they might be important pharmacological tools to elucidate the nature and function at yet unknown of these sites.

Pharmacological properties of trimebutine and N-monodesmethyltrimebutine.

Trimebutine [2-dimethylamino-2-phenylbutyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate hydrogen maleate (TMB)] has been demonstrated to be active for relieving abdominal pain in humans. To better understand its mechanism of action, we have tested TMB; nor-TMB, its main metabolite in humans; and their respective stereoisomers for their affinity toward sodium channels labeled by [3H]batrachotoxin, their effect on sodium, potassium, and calcium currents in rat dorsal root ganglia neurons, and their effect on veratridine-induced glutamate release from rat spinal cord slices. TMB has also been tested in an animal model of local anesthesia. TMB (Ki = 2.66 +/- 0.15 microM) and nor-TMB (Ki = 0.73 +/- 0.02 microM) displaced [3H]batrachotoxin from its binding site with affinities similar to that of bupivacaine (Ki = 7.1 +/- 0.9 microM). nor-TMB was found to block veratridine-induced glutamate release with an IC50 value of 8.5 microM, which is very similar to that of bupivacaine (IC50 = 8.2 microM); the effect of TMB was limited to 50% inhibition at 100 microM. TMB and nor-TMB blocked sodium currents in sensory neurons from rat dorsal root ganglia (IC50 = 0.83 +/- 0.09 and 1.23 +/- 0.19 microM, respectively), whereas no effect was observed on calcium currents at the same concentrations. A limited effect was observed on potassium currents (IC50 = 23 +/- 6 at 10 microM) for TMB. In vivo, when tested in the rabbit corneal reflex, TMB displayed a local anesthetic activity 17-fold more potent than that of lidocaine.

[Comparison of long-term course of perforating and non-perforating Crohn disease]. / Comparaison de l'évolution à long terme des maladies de Crohn perforantes et non perforantes.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the influence of the indication of the first surgical procedure on the prognosis of Crohn's disease. METHODS: We compared retrospectively the long-term course of 179 patients operated on for a perforating disease and 322 patients operated on for a nonperforating disease. Mean follow-up was 11 years and 2 months in the two groups. RESULTS: Forty of 179 (25%) and 106 of 322 (33%) patients with perforating and nonperforating diseases underwent a second intestinal resection, respectively. The patients who had been operated on for a perforating disease were significantly more often reoperated on for the same indication, and conversely. Patients with perforating diseases experienced less second resections (actuarial rates: 37 +/- 11% vs 51 +/- 8% at ten years respectively), less post-surgical handicaps (mean index 24.9 vs 27.9), and fewer patients required immunosuppressive drugs (25 vs 35%). CONCLUSION: Long-term prognosis of perforating Crohn's disease does not appear to be more severe than that of nonperforating disease.

[Care patterns and resumption of social and occupational activities after exeresis surgery in Crohn's disease. Study of 58 patients]. / Modalités de soins et de réinsertion socio-professionnelle après chirurgie d'exérèse pour maladie de Crohn. Une étude chez 58 patients.

The aim of this retrospective study was to describe care patterns and conditions surrounding the resumption of social and work activities after intestinal resection for Crohn's disease. Fifty-eight patients were evaluated regarding their stay in the department of surgery, use of care and resumption of social and work activities within the first year after intestinal resection. Data were obtained from medical records and answers to a medical questionnaire. Forty patients replied to the questionnaire. Mean length of stay in the department of surgery was 16 +/- 9 days. Length of stay was positively correlated to non-elective surgery, colonic resection, presence of fistulae or abscesses, and to the creation of a stoma. Main interval between surgery and resumption of work was 11 +/- 8 weeks. Only one patient was unable to return to work because of the disease. Seventy per cent of the patients who went back to work said that their quality of life was improved after surgery in comparison with their preoperative status. In conclusion, this study suggests that most of the patients undergoing intestinal resection for Crohn's disease can go back to work without particular difficulties, and consider that their quality of life has been improved by surgery.

[Trypanosomiasis: determination of groups of patients from clinical and electroencephalographic data]. / Trypanosomiase: détermination de groupes de patients à partir de données cliniques et électroencéphalographiques.

Data constituted from clinical and waking electroencephalographic signs in 104 patients at meningoencephalitis stage of trypanosomiasis were treated by way of a correspondence analysis in order to determine clinical profiles. Three profiles were identified. The first one, encountered in patients with minor clinical disturbances and slightly modified waking electroencephalographic patterns is suggestive of a cerebral involvement stage onset. The second one, observed in patients with vigilance disturbances, behavioral and motor impairment, and highly abnormal EEG tracing is indicative of a more severe encephalitis stage. The third one, obvious in patients with EEG sharp waves organized in a more or less recurring fashion and accompanied by epileptic seizures is consistent with an acute cerebromeningitis.

Evaluation de la part des boissons alcooliques autochtones dans la consommation d'alcool en Cote d'Ivoire : resultats preliminaires

Une etude epidemiologique et preliminaire de la consommation d'alcool a ete effectuee chez 314 humains adultes en Cote d'Ivoire. Les resultats montrent que l'alcool de palme; un alcool local de fabrication clandestine appele koutoukou et les bieres industrielles sont les alcools les plus consommes. Les donnees obtenues sur l'echantillon; indiquent que les alcools de fabrication locale; comme le vin de palme et le dolo (une biere de mil ou de sorgho); sont aussi tres apprecies

Effects of an acute dose of palm alcohol on normal brain functioning: an auditory, event-related-potential study.

The effects of an acute and high dose of palm alcohol (900 mg/kg bodyweight) on brain functioning were investigated in 10 healthy, non-alcoholic men. Each was given randomly-interspaced, paired, frequent standard (80%) and rare target auditory stimuli and asked to detect and signal the target tone by pressing a push button. These brain function tests were carried out before (control) and 1 and 4 h after the subjects began drinking the alcohol. During each experimental session, late, event-related-potential (ERP) components were recorded at the central midline scalp location (Cz). At both times after alcoholization, contingent negative variations and late auditory ERP were lower than those recorded during the control session. Maximal amplitude reduction for N1 and P3 waves was seen 240 min after ingesting alcohol. Reaction times were not significantly longer than those recorded pre-alcoholization but performances were lower at both times post-alcoholization. The results are consistent with the ERP changes reported in subjects under acute ethanol intoxication but they are more pronounced and probably reflect a momentary disruption of central processes rather than sensory impairment at the peripheral level.

[Delusions of negation: 4 case reports]. / Délire des négations: à propos de quatre observations.

After explaining Cotard's syndrome and its different developments from 1880 to 1992 by recelling the relations of nihilistic delusions with melancholia and pointing out the topicality of the research (more particularly in the last ten years), we'll give an account of four clinical cases: two cases involving two women aged 69 and 82, undergoing a plain melancholic episode; a case of post-melancholia paraphrenia, and a case of systemized nihilistic delusions during a post-partum melancholia. In the four cases, recovery was achieved thanks to electroconvulsive therapy. The third stage of this work considers the phenomenological and descriptive, as well as physiological and psychoanalytical assumptions adopted by the authors. Lastly, a psychopathological explanation is suggested both from a nosographical point of view, in which nihilism is both a mechanism and a delirious theme, and from a "modelization" point of view distinguishing two stages in Cotard's syndrome: nihilism, and delirious reconstruction strictly speaking. Here will use the concept of negative hallucination which we think underlies this delirium, and from this idea, we'll eventually try to demonstrate how relevant the Freudian theory is in this field.

[Uniform processing of sensory-motor information and match/mismatch process impairment in man caused by chronic palm alcohol consumption]. / Traitement uniforme de l'information sensorimotrice et perturbation des processus d'appariement non appariement chez l'homme sous imprégnation chronique à l'alcool de palme.

The late components of the event-related potential (ERP) were recorded during a Go/No-Go task from 21 alcoholics (with chronic palm alcohol intoxication) divided in 3 groups of seven (abstinent alcoholics men, abstinent alcoholic women, and alcoholic men) and 14 normal adult volunteers divided into 2 groups (control men, and control women). The subjects were submitted to paired auditory stimuli and were assigned to detect and respond by pressing a push button to a rarely occurring imperative stimulus (20%). Latency of the late components of the ERP elicited both by target and standard imperative stimuli was significantly delayed in three alcoholic groups compared to the controls. The amplitude of P200 and P300 components was also decreased in alcoholics, which displayed the same middle line scalp distribution of P300 amplitudes regardless of the imperative stimulus class: target or standard. These findings agree with the supposition that match/mismatch processes are impaired in subjects with chronic palm alcohol intoxication, and that they have difficulties in evaluating the significance of stimuli.