Persistent effects of incubation temperature on muscle development in larval haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus L.).

Muscle development and growth were investigated in haddock larvae (Melanogrammus aeglefinus L.) incubated under controlled temperatures (4, 6, 8 degrees C) and reared post-hatch through yolk-dependent and exogenous-feeding stages in a 6 degrees C post-hatch environment. Changes in cell number and size in superficial and deep myotomes within the epaxial muscle were investigated for 28 days following hatch. Distinct and significant differences in muscle cellularity following separate developmental strategies were observed in superficial and deep myotomes. The number of superficial myofibres increased with time and, although not in a manner proportional to temperature during the first 21 days post hatch (d.p.h.), there was observed a trend during the final 7 days of greater mean cell size that was strongly associated with increased temperature. In addition, there was an apparent correspondence between increased temperature and increased size between 21 and 28 d.p.h. Among all temperature groups the superficial myotome not only demonstrated a consistent unimodal myofibre-size distribution but one that increased in range proportional to temperature. In the deep muscle, myotomes from higher incubation temperatures had a broader range of fibre sizes and greater numbers of myofibres. The onset of a proliferative event, characterized by a significant recruitment of new smaller myofibres and a bimodal distribution of cell sizes, was directly proportional to incubation temperature such that it occurred at 14 d.p.h. at 8 degrees C but not until 28 d.p.h. at 4 degrees C. The magnitude of that recruitment was also directly proportional to temperature. Following hatch, those embryos from the greatest temperature groups had the largest mean deep muscle size but, as a result of the proliferative event, had the smallest-sized cells 28 days later. The muscle developmental and growth strategy as indicated by sequential changes in cellularity and cell-size distributions between myotomes in response to temperature are also discussed in light of whole animal growth and development.

A cell line (HEW) from embryos of haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinius) and its capacity to tolerate environmental extremes.

Cell lines can be useful experimental tools for studying marine fish, which are often difficult to routinely obtain and maintain in the laboratory. As few cell lines are available from coldwater marine fish, cultures were initiated from late gastrula embryos of haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) in Leibovitz's L-15 with fetal bovine serum (FBS). From one culture, a cell line (HEW) emerged that has been grown for close to 100 population doublings, was heteroploid, and expressed telomerase activity, all of which suggest HEW is immortal. Growth occurred only if FBS was present and was optimal at 12 to 18 degrees C. Usually most cells had an epithelial-like morphology, but under some conditions, cells drew up into round central bodies from which radiated cytoplasmic extensions with multiple branches. These neural-like cells appeared within a few hours of cultures being placed at 28 degrees C or being switch to a simple salt solution (SSS). At 28 degrees C, cells died within 24 h. In SSS, HEW cells survived as a monolayer for at least 7 days. The sensitivity of HEW cells to morphological change and their capacity to withstand starvation should make them useful for investigating cellular responses to environmental stresses.

Ceratomyxa drepanopsettae in the gallbladder of Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus, from the northwest Atlantic Ocean.

Trophozoites of Ceratomyxa drepanopsettae Averintsev, 1907 (Myxosporea: Ceratomyxidae) containing prominent refractile granules were found in the gallbladders of all but one of eight halibut, the exception being a single juvenile. They ranged in shape and size from globular forms 5-10 micron in diameter, to rounded structures with pseudopodia and one or more processes that were up to 500 micron in length and packed with refractile granules. Some trophozoites were free in the bile, while others were attached to the epithelium of the gallbladder wall by pseudopodia which extended between the microvilli. Many free trophozoites were attached to each other by septate junctions between their pseudopodia. There were small cylindrical papillae on the surface of the trophozoites, and the rounded portions contained two vegetative nuclei, generative cells (some attached by junctions) and, in many cases, feeding vacuoles. During sporogony, a binucleate sporoplasmic cell and the capsulogenic cells of some sporoblasts were engulfed by valvogenic cells before they began to differentiate; whereas other sporoblasts consisted of six cells attached to each other, two being capsulogenic cells containing external tubes, two sporoplasmic cells and two valvogenic cells. There was a septate junction around the opening of the rounded polar capsule of the spore, between the capsulogenic and valvogenic cell. Sporoplasmosomes appeared to form in smooth membraned vesicles, possibly part of the Golgi apparatus. Spores had thin, delicate membrane, and elongate shell-valves, most of which were asymmetric, and bent or folded. A sporoplasm extended on either side of the distinct, straight suture line, but did not penetrate into the valves.

Base-rate estimates of criminal behavior by homeless mentally ill persons in New York City.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of homelessness among mentally disordered offenders entering the criminal justice and forensic mental health systems, to compare base rates of arrest for violent and nonviolent criminal charges among homeless and domiciled persons with mental illness, and to examine patterns in the categories of victims chosen by these two groups. METHODS: The authors analyzed data from structured psychiatric interviews and criminal and psychiatric records of 77 homeless defendants and 107 domiciled defendants referred for psychiatric examination by the criminal and supreme courts in Manhattan over a six-month period. RESULTS: Mentally disordered defendants had 40 times the rate of homelessness found in the general population, and 21 times the rate in the population of mentally ill persons in the city. The overall rate of criminal offenses was 35 times higher in the homeless mentally ill population than in the domiciled mentally ill population. The rate of violent crimes was 40 times higher and the rate of nonviolent crimes 27 times higher in the homeless population. Homeless defendants were significantly more likely to have been charged with victimizing strangers. CONCLUSIONS: Homeless mentally ill persons appear to be grossly overrepresented among mentally disordered defendants entering the criminal justice and forensic mental health systems and to have a higher base rate of arrest for both violent and nonviolent crimes than domiciled mentally ill persons.

Homeless mentally disordered defendants: competency to stand trial and mental status findings.

This study examines relationships between homelessness and findings of incompetency to stand trial in a sample of mentally disordered offenders. All 263 defendants referred for competency evaluation over a six-month period by the Criminal and Supreme Courts in Manhattan were studied. Each defendant was evaluated by two forensic psychiatrists using a structured interview protocol. After removing "false-positive" referrals, 42 percent of the mentally disordered defendants referred to this setting were found to have been homeless at the time of their instant offense, making them more than 40 times more likely to be homeless than the general population and 21 times more likely to be homeless than the rest of the city's mentally ill population. Homeless mentally disordered defendants were significantly more likely to be found incompetent to stand trial than domiciled defendants (p < .007) but also presented with significantly higher levels of psychopathology. Examination of mental status findings revealed that homeless defendants were more likely to be psychotic, including a higher incidence of formal thought disorder and ideas of reference. The relationship between homelessness and incompetency seems to be mediated by psychotic symptoms, suggesting that these defendants are not being found incompetent because they are homeless, but that homeless defendants are more likely to be psychotic and to exhibit a greater degree of psychopathology. The clinical and public policy implications of these findings are discussed.

Mentally disordered offenders who push or attempt to push victims onto subway tracks in New York City.

Violent offenders who pushed or attempted to push victims onto the subway tracks in New York City during the 17-year period from 1975 through 1991 were studied. Forty-nine incidents involving 52 victims were identified during this period. Of 36 perpetrators who acted alone, 25 (69%) were referred for psychiatric evaluation and treatment, as was one member of an offending gang. Data concerning 20 of these 26 offenders and their crimes were collected. At the time of the offense, 19 (95%) of these offenders were psychotic, and 13 (65%) were homeless. Most of these offenders had extensive histories of psychiatric hospitalization and several prior arrests and convictions, often for violent crimes. The offenders had extensive mental health and criminal histories. The victims of these crimes were always strangers. Half of the offenders killed or seriously injured victims. Since 1986, the incidence of this offense has increased, and offenders accounting for the increase are mostly psychotic and homeless.

Estimating the prevalence of organic brain dysfunction in maximum-security forensic psychiatric patients.

This is a descriptive study of 50 randomly selected male patients retained in a maximum-security state hospital for mentally disordered offenders. Data regarding the prevalence of several indicators of potential organic brain dysfunction are presented, including: (1) a diagnosis of any organic brain disorder, (2) a history of severe head injury with loss of consciousness, (3) a history of seizure activity, (4) evidence of cognitive impairment, (5) abnormal neurological findings, and (6) other relevant neurodiagnostic or historical findings. Results show that multiple indicators of potential brain dysfunction were present in 64% of the cases. At least one indicator of potential brain dysfunction was present for 84% of the subjects. Subjects with a diagnosis or history suggesting brain dysfunction were significantly more likely to have been indicted for violent criminal charges (p = 0.01). Implications of these findings for clinical treatment and forensic science decision-making are discussed.

Homelessness and the mentally ill offender.

This paper presents the results of a retrospective analysis of the discharge summaries of 69 mentally ill offenders. The subjects were patients in a New York State Psychiatric Hospital for a two-year period between January 1988 and December 1989 who were referred by the courts under New York State Criminal Procedure Law (CPL). The subjects were further compared as to homelessness at the time of the instant offense to study the association of this variable and criminal behavior among the mentally ill. Statistical analyses demonstrated significant relationships between variables of homelessness, prior offense history, and substance abuse.

Psychobiology of the violent offender.

The antecedents of violent crime may include childhood victimization, head injuries, and alcohol and drug abuse. Neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric findings suggest temporal and frontal lobe dysfunctions in violent offenders; these dysfunctions appear to be more pronounced in the dominant hemisphere. Recent studies implicate disturbances of central serotonergic functions in impulsive homicide and arson. These results provide an adequate rationale for larger interdisciplinary studies using neurochemical, neuropsychiatric/neuropsychological, and psychosocial methods on the same subjects.

Threatening and otherwise inappropriate letters to members of the United States Congress.

The authors examine the characteristics of threatening and otherwise inappropriate communications sent to members of the U.S. Congress by a sample of 86 subjects, 20 of whom threatened assassination. We quote excerpts from these letters and provide quantitative data on such variables as the volume, duration, form, and appearance of such communications; the enclosures; the subjects' perceived relationships to the recipients; the thematic content of the communications; and the messages and threats communicated. Comparisons between 43 subjects who pursued encounters with members of Congress and 43 who did not revealed 17 factors associated with such pursuit. In this population, threateners were significantly less likely to pursue an encounter than inappropriate letter writers who did not threaten, regardless of the type of threat or the harm threatened. Inappropriate letters to members of Congress are compared with those directed to Hollywood celebrities. Mentally disordered persons writing to public figures often mention and sometimes threaten public figures other than those to whom the letters are addressed, which raises important issues regarding notification of endangered third parties and the sharing of information among protective agencies.

Beta-blockers in the severely and profoundly mentally retarded.

The authors present data from four different institutions from open clinical trials of propranolol in 19 mentally retarded patients with IQs less than 50. When customary forms of treatment had failed, propranolol was initiated. A table showing changes in the patients' behavior is included. Twelve patients demonstrated a pronounced improvement in self-abusive and aggressive behavior, four made moderate gains, and three were considered unchanged. The authors postulate that at least some aspects of the behavioral improvement were due to the peripheral anxiolytic action of the beta-blockers. Contrary to other reports of using higher doses (greater than 520 mg/day range), the authors used a mean dose of 120 mg/day and consider the duration of time spent on the medication as a crucial factor in its effectiveness.

Level I field placement at a federal correctional institution.

Two senior occupational therapy students at Eastern Michigan University were assigned during consecutive semesters to a Level I field placement at a Federal correctional institution and were supervised by a faculty member. Each student led a group of men in a life planning and work readjustment program. The program development, implementation, and evaluation of the experience are discussed here.