Emotional and cognitive empathy in patients with non-epileptic seizures.

OBJECTIVE: Evidence suggests that impairments in social cognition are associated with the occurrence of NES. Our aim was to investigate impairments in social cognition in the form of emotional and cognitive empathy in patients with NES compared to healthy controls. METHODS: For this purpose, we recruited 41 patients with video-EEG secured NES and compared them to 41 healthy controls matched by age, gender and educational level. Emotional and cognitive empathy were assessed using the Multifaceted Empathy Task (MET) and the Read the Mind in the Eye Test (RMET). Self-assessment questionnaires were used to record psychopathology in both groups. RESULTS: Patients with NES showed no differences in cognitive empathy compared to the healthy controls. Additionall, they seem to have less emotional empathy specifically towards positive emotions, compared to healthy controls. DISCUSSION: Our results are an indication of possible emotional empathy abnormalities in patients with NES. Those deviations, if replicated in large sample sizes, could implicate, that interventions for patients with NES should focus on improving empathy skills.

Association between cortisol awakening response and memory function in major depression.

BACKGROUND: While impaired memory and altered cortisol secretion are characteristic features of major depression, much less is known regarding the impact of antidepressant medication. We examined whether the cortisol awakening response (CAR) is increased in depressed patients with and without medication compared with healthy controls (HC) and whether CAR is associated with memory function in each group. METHOD: We examined 21 patients with major depression without medication, 20 depressed patients on antidepressant treatment, and 41 age-, sex- and education-matched healthy subjects. We tested verbal (Auditory Verbal Learning Task) and visuospatial (Rey figure) memory and measured CAR on two consecutive days. RESULTS: Patient groups did not differ in severity of depression. We found a significant effect of group (p = 0.03) for CAR. Unmedicated patients exhibited a greater CAR compared with medicated patients (p = 0.04) with no differences between patient groups and HC. We found a significant effect of group for verbal (p = 0.03) and non-verbal memory (p = 0.04). Unmedicated patients performed worse compared with medicated patients and HC in both memory domains. Medicated patients and HC did not differ. Regression analyses revealed a negative association between CAR and memory function in depressed patients, but not in HC. CONCLUSIONS: While in unmedicated depressed patients the magnitude of CAR is associated with impaired memory, medicated patients showed a smaller CAR and unimpaired cognitive function compared with HC. Our findings are compatible with the idea that antidepressants reduce CAR and partially restore memory function even if depressive psychopathology is still present.

[Depression and neurological diseases]. / Depression und neurologische Erkrankungen.

In many neurological diseases a depressive syndrome is a characteristic sign of the primary disease or is an important comorbidity. Post-stroke depression, for example, is a common and relevant complication following ischemic brain infarction. Approximately 4 out of every 10 stroke patients develop depressive disorders in the course of the disease which have a disadvantageous effect on the course and the prognosis. On the other hand depression is also a risk factor for certain neurological diseases as was recently demonstrated in a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies which revealed a much higher stroke risk for depressive patients. Furthermore, depression plays an important role in other neurological diseases with respect to the course and quality of life, such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy. This article gives a review of the most important epidemiological, pathophysiological and therapeutic aspects of depressive disorders as a comorbidity of neurological diseases and as a risk factor for neurological diseases.

Abnormal excitability of premotor-motor connections in de novo Parkinson's disease.

The dorsal premotor cortex (PMd) is abnormally active in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. This has been interpreted as a functional correlate of adaptive plasticity within the motor system to compensate for deficient activation of striato-mesial-frontal projections in these patients. Whether abnormal PMd activity influences excitability in the primary motor cortex (M1) in untreated Parkinson's disease patients and how this premotor-motor interaction might be altered by l-dopa is unclear. To this end, we studied the effects of 1 Hz premotor repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on M1 excitability in 10 previously untreated non-tremulous Parkinson's disease patients before (day 1) and after (day 8) their first ever l-dopa treatment and compared the results with those of a group of nine age- and sex-matched healthy controls. In each rTMS session, 1200 pulses of 1 Hz rTMS were applied at an intensity of 80% active motor threshold (AMT) to the PMd contralateral to the clinically more affected side in Parkinson's disease patients and to the left PMd in healthy controls. Intracortical paired pulse excitability of ipsilateral M1 was probed using a TMS paired pulse paradigm where subthreshold conditioning pulses (80% of AMT) were given 2-15 ms prior to a suprathreshold test pulse. In Parkinson's disease patients, abnormal baseline intracortical excitability at an interstimulus interval (ISI) of 5 ms was normalized by premotor rTMS. In contrast, rTMS led to an increased excitability at an ISI of 5 ms in healthy controls. Premotor rTMS effects lasted longer (for at least a week) in patients. These results show that the modifiability of premotor-motor connections is abnormal in untreated Parkinson's disease. A single dose of l-dopa reversed, i.e. normalized, the direction of excitability changes in M1 following premotor rTMS in Parkinson's disease patients, suggesting that dopamine depletion directly or indirectly influences premotor-motor interactions in Parkinson's disease. The rTMS conditioning approach described here provides a promising tool to delineate further the excitability changes in frontal motor areas in response to progressive degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons and also to chronic l-dopa treatment in Parkinson's disease.

Diallel Analysis of Diplodia Ear Rot Resistance in Maize.

A diallel cross of seven inbreds and one synthetic line of maize were analyzed in 1994 and 1995 for their reaction to Diplodia ear rot. An additional inbred line was included in the 1995 analysis. Plants were inoculated by placing a pycnidiospore suspension (5 × 103 spores per ml) of Stenocarpella maydis in the whorl at the V14 to V15 growth stage. Crosses were evaluated for disease incidence of Diplodia ear rot at harvest, and the percentage of plants with Diplodia ear rot in a plot was used for analysis. In both years, general combining ability (GCA) effects were significant. In 1995, specific combining ability effects were also significant. There were no reciprocal effects. There was no significant interaction between year and genotypes, indicating that crosses reacted the same in both years. Inbred lines B37, H111, B68, and MS had negative GCA effects that contributed toward resistance in both years. VA26, with intermediate resistance to Diplodia ear rot, contributed toward susceptibility. Only inbred lines with a high degree of resistance should be used as parents.

Investigation of the influences of puberty, genetics, and environment on the composition of subgingival periodontal floras.

The classical twin model was utilized in this study in an attempt to determine the importance of host genetics to the composition of the subgingival flora. Simultaneously, the effect of puberty on the flora composition was assessed. The compositions of the floras were significantly different at ages 11 and 14 in the same people, indicating that transition to an adult flora composition may be initiated during puberty. However, the numbers of subjects who had prepubertal and postpubertal testosterone levels in this study were too small to demonstrate significant differences based solely on testosterone level (P = 0.053 and 0.11 for tests of unrelated members, i.e., all twins "a," the first twin of each pair, and all twins "b," the second twin of each pair). Sixteen unrelated 11-year-old subjects had prepubertal levels of less than 30 ng of testosterone per dl of serum, and only six of these unrelated subjects had levels above 300 ng/dl by age 14. Of their twin siblings, who formed the second group of unrelated individuals, 15 had prepubertal levels and only 5 reached postpubertal levels. Unpaired t tests indicated that Veillonella atypica, Prevotella denticola, and Prevotella melaninogenica were among the species that contributed most to changes in flora composition during puberty. The compositions of subgingival floras of 11-year-old monozygous and dizygous male twins were significantly more similar than those of unrelated subjects in the study (P = 0.004 and 0.009, respectively). At 12.5 years of age, the floras of monozygous twins remained more similar than those of unrelated subjects (P = 0.001), but the dizygous-twin floras were not significantly more similar than those of unrelated people. This difference corresponded with moderate and varied testosterone levels within dizygous-twin pairs at age 12.5. By age 14 both monozygous and dizygous twins again had floras with compositions more similar than those of unrelated people (P = 0.008 and 0.002, respectively). Estimates of the genetic contributions to the increased similarity of the floras of twins as compared with floras of unrelated people indicated that the concentrations of several species in the flora may be influenced by host genetic factors. The prevalence of certain other species appeared to be controlled primarily by environment.

[Do strong static magnetic fields in NMR tomography modify tissue perfusion?]. / Beeinflussen starke statische Magnetfelder in der NMR-Tomographie die Gewebedurchblutung?

Findings obtained in humans and test animals raised the question whether strong static magnetic fields as used in NMR-tomography may affect tissue perfusion. In two test series including 20 subjects, each skin blood flow at the thumb was determined by heat clearance, and forearm blood flow was measured by venous occlusion plethysmography. For comparative purposes, measurements were carried out bilaterally at both extremities. The experiments consisted of three sections that lasted 10 min each. During the second section the thumb or the forearm were unilaterally exposed to magnetic fields of 0.9 to 1 T and 0.4 to 0.5 T, respectively. The results of this section were compared with the values obtained during the experimental sections prior to and after the exposure to the magnetic field. The results were also compared with the blood flow measured at the contralateral extremity. Neither at the skin of the thumb nor at the forearm were there changes in local blood flow attributable to the magnetic fields applied.

Exercise and protein intake effects on urinary 3-methylhistidine excretion.

A 28-day study was conducted with 13 adult men to determine the effect of weight lifting exercise and protein intake level on urinary 3-methylhistidine (3MH) excretion. Subjects were fed the RDA for protein [0.8 g/(kg BW X d)] or 3 X RDA; there were no-exercise and exercise groups at each intake. Comparisons of last 14-day, least-squares means among groups did not reveal differences in data treated by lean body weight [3MH/(kg LBW X d)] or by urinary creatinine excretion [3MH/(kg UCE X d)], but 3MH/(kg LBW X d) excretions were higher for exercise than no-exercise subjects. Regression analyses revealed linear, increasing trends in the 3MH/(kg LBW X d) data for RDA-exercise (p less than 0.03), 3 X RDA-exercise (p less than 0.01), and 3 X RDA-no-exercise (p less than 0.01) groups; 3MH/(g UCE X d) group data plots overlapped. Our findings for 3MH/(kg LBW X d) indicate that a weight lifting program was associated with increased 3MH excretions from adult males. As an index of skeletal muscle catabolism, an increase in 3HM excretion represents an increase in tissue catabolism. No significant effect of 3 X RDA protein intake on last 14-day 3MH excretions was observed; however, linear increases in 3MH/(kg LBW X d) for 3 X RDA-no-exercise subjects suggests a relationship. Trends of exercise- or protein intake-enhanced 3MH excretion could be masked by data as 3MH/(g UCE X d) if exercise or 3 X RDA protein intake can expand the body creatine pool independent of skeletal muscle mass.

Log-linear-model analysis of the association between disease and genotype.

In this paper, log-linear-model analysis is employed to provide further insight into the disease-genotype association problem, as discussed by Norwood and Hinkelmann (1978, Biometrics 34, 593-602). It is shown how this approach can take account of the structure of the data when testing hypotheses about the type of association, by specifying the form of recurrence risks and allowing estimation of such recurrence risks by maximum likelihood. The notation of conditional recurrence risk is introduced and its usefulness is illustrated.

Growth impact of O3, NO 2 and/or SO 2 on pinus taeda.

Seedlings of two full-sib families of loblolly pine expressing different degrees of sensitivity to O3 were exposed to 0.05 ppm O3, 0.10 ppm NO2, and/or 0.14 ppm SO2 for 6 hr/day for 28 consecutive days. The treatments were O3, NO2, SO2 (each used alone), O3+SO2, O3+NO2, and O3+NO2+SO2. Significant growth suppressions were noted with the relatively sensitive family in all but the the NO2 alone treatments. The O3+SO2 treatment had a more significant effect than O3 alone, but adding NO2 had an inconsistent effect. Significant growth suppressions were noted for the relatively non-sensitive family only in the O3+SO2 and O3+SO2+NO2 combination treatments. Adding NO2 to O3+SO2 had a slightly stimulatory effect. The relatively sensitive pine family suffered a 30% height growth suppression versus a 14% height growth suppression for the relatively insensitive family when exposed to the 3 pollutant combination. Symptoms were noted on less than 4% of the foliage in the most severe treatments. The pollutant concentrations used in this study were below the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for each pollutant.

Measures of association between disease and genotype.

This paper is concerned with the statistical aspects of the phenomenon of disease occurring more frequently in individuals with some genotypes than in individuals with others. A correlation coefficient is defined to quantify association between disease and genotype. A distinction is made between the concepts of independence of allele and disease and independence of genotype and disease. This distinction is used to define two components of association which describe separate aspects of association of disease with genotype. One component is a measure of the association of disease with allele; the other a measure of the effect of allele interaction on association of disease and genotype. One aspect of the usefulness of the partition into components which is discussed is in expressing the recurrence risk of disease for a relative of an affected individual. A chi-squared analysis is provided to test hypotheses about the components of association and other hypotheses of genetic interest. This analysis is illustrated using a study done to determine the effect of the sex-linked dwarfing gene in male chickens on resistance to E. coli infection. This analysis shows a significant allele interaction effect on resistance to disease but no association of disease with alleles. In conclusion, some extensions and limitations of the proposed concepts and procedures are discussed.

Genetic analysis of behaviors related to the solution of a detour learning task.

A diallel cross involving five noninbred (purebred) lines of Japanese quail indicated that additive and nonadditive genetic effects had important influences on behaviors involved in a detour learning task. Social isolation for 3 hr was used to provide additional motivation which enabled detection of differences among strains. The percentage of quail, within purebred lines, that solved a 4-min detour task three or more consecutive times ranged from 52 to 72. Differences among purebreds were significant for most of the components of the learning task. Further, the data suggested strain differences associated with the successful attainment of the desired goal when there was a similar level of general activity.

Volumes and cellularity in populations of hematopoietic clones.

Volumes of hematopoietic spleen colonies were estimated by measuring parameters of superimposed triaxial ellipsoids. Observations were made on groups of colonies that contained only undifferentiated cells or had differentiated to varying degrees into purely erythropoietic, purely granulocytic or purely megakaryocytic colonies. The average volume occupied by one cell and surrounding matrix, the so-called single cell space, was determined for each type of colony. The estimated colony cellularity was then computed from the measured colony volume and the tabulated single cell space. The techniques of measurement are described. Formulas are provided to estimate mean and variance of volumes and their cell contents. Data on the distribution of spleen colony size and cellularity after seven days of growth are given.

Diallel analysis of growth traits in mice.

Two replications of a complete diallel cross experiment were performed among four partially inbred lines of mice. These inbred lines originated from a random-bred ICR strain and were produced by 12 generations of full sibbing (F congruent to 92%). Individual body weight was recorded for each animal at 12, 21, 42 and 56 days of age. Body weight gain traits were examined for intervals 12-21, 21-42 and 42-56 days. Simultaneous least squares analyses of inbred and linecrossed groups were used. Sex differences were highly significant for all traits. Replicate differences were significant but made a small contribution to the total variation. Inbred lines differed greatly. Crosses showed growth trends similar to their contemporary maternal and paternal inbreds. Heterosis was highly significant for all traits except 21-day weight. Inbreds were heavier at 12 days of age, but linecrossed progeny were superior to inbreds for all postweaning weights. General combining ability was highly significant for 12- and 56-day weights and 21-42-day gain. Specific combining ability was highly significant for 21-day weight, 12-21- and 42-56-day gain. Significant maternal effects were found for all individual weights but not for 12-21- and 21-42-day gain. Residual reciprocal effects were significant for all traits. Estimated variances among linecrossed groups contained a large maternal component, a fluctuating additive genetic component and consistent non-additive genetic influence on all growth parameters measured.

Coefficients of inbreeding and homozygosity in recurrent selection: The case of m linked loci.

Methods of calculating the coefficients of inbreeding and homozygosity in a finite population undergoing recurrent selection (self-select-intercross in succeeding generations) are investigated for the case of m linked loci and effective directional selection. These coefficients are derived in terms of vectors whose components reflect the various possible patterns of genes being identical at a given stage of the recurrent selection breeding program.For the case of two linked loci the progress of the panmictic index and/or the index of total heterozygosity through twenty-five cycles of recurrent selection is traced by means of computer-simulated populations ranging in sizes from ten through one hundred, assuming varying recombination probabilities, and assuming both minimum and maximum inbreeding selection patterns.Results indicate that the coefficient of relationship in the source population is extremely important in tracing the progress of the degree of inbreeding and/or total homozygosity, that linkage plays a major role in promoting heterozygosity in a recurrent selection system, and that careful intercrossing rather than random mating in alternate generations of the recurrent selection cycle is important in promoting maximum heterozygosity in the selected population. In the simulated populations the effect of small population sizes is observed and, in general, indications are that unless more than five complete recurrent cycles are contemplated, increasing the population size results in only relatively minor increases in panmixia, especially when linked loci are involved in the selected trait and when care is taken to avoid a maximum inbreeding selection pattern.

Coefficients of inbreeding and homozygosity in recurrent selection: the one-locus case.

For selection programs which can be represented by successive self-select-intercross cycles (such as recurrent selection or reciprocal recurrent selection) general recurrence formulae are developed for obtaining the coefficients of inbreeding and homozygosity in each cycle. The formula for the coefficient of inbreeding is a generalization of a result given by Sprague, et al. (1952). It is shown that the coefficient of parentage in the source population has a major effect on the coefficient of inbreeding in the following cycles as does the population size. The relationship of both types of coefficients and their importance in practical work are discussed.