Automatic detection of sleep stages in neonatal EEG using the structural time profiles.

The new method for automatic sleep stages detection in neonatal EEG was developed. The procedure is based on processing of time profiles computed by adaptive segmentation and subsequent classification of signal graphoelements. The time profiles, functions of the class membership in the course of time, reflect the dynamic EEG structure and may be used for indication of changes in the neonatal sleep stages.

Reduction of plasma homocysteine and serum methylmalonate concentrations in apparently healthy elderly subjects after treatment with folic acid, vitamin B12 and vitamin B6: a randomised trial.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate, in an elderly population: (1) the effects of oral B-vitamin therapy on P-tHcys, S-MMA and Hb/MCV, (2) the appropriate decision limit for 'high' metabolite concentrations and (3) the estimated prevalence of vitamin B(12)/folate deficiency on the basis of different decision limits. DESIGN: Double-blind placebo-controlled intervention study. SETTING: Outpatient clinic. SUBJECTS: A total of 209 community-dwelling subjects, median age 76 y (range 70-93) y. INTERVENTION: Four months of oral daily supplementation with 0.5 mg cyanocobalamin, 0.8 mg folic acid and 3 mg vitamin B(6). RESULTS: High P- tHcys was found in 64% of men and 45% of women, high S-MMA in 11% of both. Vitamin B(12) deficiency was observed in 7.2% and folate deficiency in 11% of all subjects. Health-related upper reference limits for the metabolites at the start were higher than the laboratory's upper reference limits. The latter were, however, similar to those of the vitamin replete group. There was a significant decrease in P-tHcys (P<0.001) and S-MMA (P=0.009) after 4 months of vitamin treatment. In a multivariate analysis, the P-Hcys change correlated positively with baseline P-tHcys and inversely with baseline P-folate and transferrin saturation (Fe/TIBC ratio). The S-MMA change correlated with baseline S-MMA and inversely with baseline vitamin B(12) and age. CONCLUSIONS: Suboptimal vitamin status is an important cause of elevated P-tHcys and S-MMA in apparently healthy elderly subjects. Oral B-vitamin therapy is an effective and convenient way to normalise P-tHcys and S-MMA.

Role of the angiotensin II system in regulation of ovulation and blood flow in the rat ovary.

The aim of the present study was to examine the roles of the angiotensin II receptor subtypes, AT(1) and AT(2), in ovulation, and to evaluate the contribution of angiotensin II-mediated pathways in regulation of ovarian blood flow. The AT(1)-specific antagonist, losartan, was administered alone or in combination with the AT(2)-specific antagonist, PD123319, to preovulatory rat ovaries perfused in vitro. Losartan (100 micromol l(-1)) did not affect the number of ovulations, whereas the combination of losartan (100 micromol l(-1)) and PD123319 (10 micromol l(-1)) inhibited ovulation. The angiotensin II antagonists did not affect the ovarian production of oestradiol, progesterone, prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), PGF(2 alpha) or plasminogen activator activity. Ovarian nitric oxide production was inhibited by losartan. Ovarian blood flow was measured by laser Doppler flowmetry in vivo in preovulatory rat ovaries. Intrabursal injection of angiotensin II reduced ovarian blood flow of gonadotrophin-stimulated rats. Losartan had no effect on basal ovarian blood flow but completely blocked the angiotensin II-induced reduction. In contrast, treatment with PD123319 increased basal ovarian blood flow and failed to reverse the effect of exogenously administered angiotensin II, indicating that under physiological conditions, ovarian blood flow of the rat is negatively regulated by angiotensin II mainly through the action of AT(2). Taken together, these results indicate that two different types of angiotensin II receptor facilitate ovulation by cooperative mechanisms and that they regulate ovarian blood flow in a different manner.

A population-based study on brain atrophy and motor performance in elderly women.

BACKGROUND: Brain atrophy is a common neuroimaging finding in healthy elderly individuals as well as in patients with movement-related disorders. The relationship between brain atrophy and motor changes has not been frequently reported. This study investigates this relationship. METHODS: A population-based sample of women (N = 238), aged 70, 74, and 78 years, living in Göteborg, Sweden, participated in this study. Motor performance was measured by a laboratory test, the Postural-Locomotion-Manual test, which precisely measures the subject's mobility of lower and upper extremities using an optoelectronic technique. Cortical and central atrophy were rated on computerized tomographic (CT) scans of the brain. RESULTS: In bivariate analysis, temporal lobe atrophy, high sylvian fissure ratio, and high bicaudate ratio were correlated with impaired mobility. The association between temporal lobe atrophy and high sylvian fissure ratio and poor mobility remained after controlling for age, smoking, coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and white matter lesions on CT scans. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that temporal lobe atrophy, which is often seen on brain imaging in elderly persons, might be an important brain abnormality related to motor impairments in elderly women. Further studies to investigate this relationship and its underlying mechanisms are needed.

Changes in intrafollicular pressure in the rat ovary by nitric oxide and by alteration of systemic blood pressure.

BACKGROUND: ovulation is associated with degradation of the follicular apex vasodilatation and increased permeability of ovarian vessels. These changes may maintain or increase intrafollicular pressure (IFP) at ovulation to cause rupture of the follicular wall. OBJECTIVE: to investigate the possible regulation of IFP during the ovulatory process. STUDY DESIGN: immature Sprague-Dawley rats were primed with pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG; 10IU) and given hCG (10IU) 48h later. The ovary was exposed 48-60h after PMSG, micropipette inserted into the Graafian follicle and the IFP measured at three time periods: preovulatory (PO) 48h after PMSG; midovulatory (MO) 4-7h after hCG; late ovulatory (LO) 9-12h after hCG. The offset of the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), the alpha(1)-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine and the beta-adrenoceptor agonist isoprenaline were tested. RESULTS: phenylephrine given i.v. increased the systemic blood pressure, and significantly decreased the IFP in the LO phase (78% of pre-treatment value). Local administration of phenylephrine or isoprenaline (1ml of 1.5-15 microM) by superfusion over the ovary did not change the IFP. Local administration of L-NAME (1ml of 2 microM) significantly lowered (P<0.05) the IFP in the MO and LO phases, but was without effect in the PO phase. CONCLUSION: this study reveals that IFP regulation may be related to changes of the systemic blood pressure and that NO may be one local ovarian mediator in IFP regulation.

EEG abnormalities in dementia reflect the parietal lobe syndrome.

The aim of this study was to investigate to what extent the examination of regional syndromes can improve EEG diagnostics in dementia. The study was based on 77 patients, aged between 47 and 83 years, with a dementia disease in accordance with the DSM-III-R criteria. The clinical examination was refined using a so-called stepwise clinical status analysis to estimate the occurrence and intensity of the parietal lobe syndrome, the frontal lobe syndrome, the subcortical syndrome and the less-regionalised global syndrome. In the same time period, the patients were examined electroencephalographically and the recordings were assessed both visually and by means of spectrum analysis. It was found that the intensity of the parietal lobe syndrome was correlated more strongly to the EEG slow activity as compared to the other regional syndromes. Thus, it can be expected that the EEG will be most valuable in the early-onset type of Alzheimer's disease, in which the parietal syndrome is dominant, giving information regarding the degree of dementia and suggesting a possible interference with depression. The results of the study can probably explain some discrepancies between the EEG findings and the results of clinical examination in other forms of dementia.

Effects of genistein on the periovulatory expression of messenger ribonucleic acid for matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases in the rat ovary.

The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play critical roles in the ovulatory process. Their expression and activity, together with those of the endogenous tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), are stimulated by LH. The LH surge initiates a cascade of events resulting in ovulation and formation of the corpus luteum via activation of protein kinases A and C, as well as tyrosine kinases. In vitro perfused rat ovaries were untreated, or treated with LH (0.2 microg ml(-1)) plus 0.2 mmol 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine l(-1) with 0, 10 or 100 micromol genistein l(-1) (an inhibitor of tyrosine kinases) to assess whether tyrosine kinases are mediators of the LH-stimulated increase in ovarian expression of the MMPs and TIMPs. After 10 h of perfusion, ovaries were collected and frozen until RNA isolation. Northern and RNase protection analyses were used to measure mRNA encoding collagenase 3, gelatinases A and B, and TIMPs-1, -2 and -3. Treatment with LH plus 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine resulted in a two- and fivefold increase in mRNA encoding collagenase 3 and TIMP-1, respectively (P < 0.05). Treatment with 100 micromol genistein l(-1) blocked the LH-stimulated increase in collagenase 3 (0.012 +/- 0.002 versus 0.028 +/- 0.005 relative units for 100 micromol genistein l(-1) versus LH; P < 0.05), whereas neither dose of genistein affected LH-induced TIMP-1 expression. LH alone or with genistein did not alter the expression of mRNA encoding TIMP-2 and TIMP-3, or mRNA encoding gelatinases A and B. These data indicate that tyrosine kinases play a role in the LH-induced tissue remodelling required for ovulation by mediating the LH-stimulated expression of collagenase 3.

Novel method for intrafollicular pressure measurements in the rat ovary: increased intrafollicular pressure after hCG stimulation.

The ovulatory process in the rat comprises a period of about 12-15 h, from the time of the preovulatory LH surge to follicular rupture and extrusion of the oocyte. Follicular rupture is most likely caused, at least in part, by decreased tensile strength at the follicular apex due to degradation of collagen fibres of the extracellular matrix. It has been debated whether changes in intrafollicular pressure occur during the ovulatory process and whether such changes facilitate rupture of the follicle. In the present study, rats were primed with equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG, 10 iu) followed by hCG (10 iu) 48 h later. The intrafollicular pressure in the preovulatory follicle was recorded during 1 h at distinct time phases of the ovulatory process by use of an active servo-null pressure system based on the proportionality between electrical resistance and pressure within the tip of an inserted micropipette. The basal intrafollicular pressure was 16.6 +/- 1.0 mm Hg at the preovulatory phase (48 h after eCG) and increased gradually throughout the ovulatory process to 21.4 +/- 2.4 mm Hg at 4-7 h after hCG (mid-ovulatory phase) and 23.9 +/- 1.9 mm Hg at 8-12 h after hCG (late ovulatory phase; significantly higher (P < 0.01) than the preovulatory phase). Short-term peaks of increased pressure, possibly representing contractility, were not detected in follicles of the preovulatory phase, but were seen in most follicles of the mid- and late ovulatory phases. The mean amplitude of the short-term pressure increases was 12.3 +/- 3.2 mm Hg and the increases occurred at intervals of 24.7 +/- 3.6 s. These short-term increments in intrafollicular pressure were still present after hysterectomy had been performed. The wall tension index was calculated by measuring the follicular size and estimating the thickness of the follicle wall. The index increased from 93.9 +/- 13.3 at the preovulatory phase to 207.3 +/- 47.7 (mid-ovulatory phase) and to significantly higher values at the late ovulatory phase (320.9 +/- 33.5). In conclusion, this study shows that there is an increase in intrafollicular pressure in the ovulating follicle of the rat ovary during the late stages of the ovulatory process, and that short-term increases in intrafollicular pressure occur during the late phase of the ovulatory process. These changes in pressure may be essential for follicular rupture to proceed normally.

Inhibition of ovulation in the rat by a leukotriene B(4) receptor antagonist.

The involvement of leukotriene (LT) B(4) in the ovulatory process of the rat was investigated by the use of a LTB(4)-receptor antagonist (ZK158252 = L-ANT) administered either intrabursally in vivo or to the in-vitro perfused ovary. The in-vivo experiments revealed inhibition of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG)-induced ovulation by 500 micromol/l L-ANT (median 5.5, 25-75% range 1.0-6.0) compared with controls (median 9.0, range 6.25-13.5). In vitro, ovulation was induced by LH (0.2 microg/ml) + 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX; 0.2 mmol/l). The ovary was perfused either for 20 h, to study ovulation rate, or for 10 h to examine ovarian concentrations of the ovulatory mediators matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9, plasminogen activator (PA), prostaglandin (PG)E(2) and PGF(2 alpha). Addition of LH+IBMX resulted in a marked stimulation of steroid release and ovulations occurred in all ovaries (median 11.0, range 10.0-14.0). The L-ANT inhibited ovulation in a dose-dependent way (median 10.0, range 8.0-13.0 at 1 micromol/l; median 6.0, range 3.5-10.0 at 10 micromol/l; median 2.0, range 0.75-5.75 at 100 micromol/l). The intra-ovarian activity of PA was increased 1.5-fold by L-ANT (100 micromol/l), but the concentrations of PGE(2) and PGF(2 alpha) remained unaltered. While no changes in MMP-9 were observed, conversion from pro-MMP-2 to active MMP-2 was inhibited by L-ANT. These results suggest that activation of the LTB(4)-receptor within the ovary is involved in the ovulatory process and that the effects of LTB(4)-receptor activation are partly mediated via MMP-2.

Self-reported and performance-based mobility related to instrumental activities of daily living in women aged 62 years and older. A population study.

This study investigated the association between self-reported and performance-based mobility and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) in 854 women aged 62 years and older from population-based studies in Göteborg, Sweden. Self-reported mobility was assessed by asking the subjects if they experienced difficulties when walking outdoors, walking indoors and mounting stairs. Performance-based mobility was evaluated by a Postural-Locomotion-Manual (PLM) test, which objectively and precisely measured the subjects' mobility of lower and upper limbs and movement co-ordination using an optoelectronic technique. Independence/dependence in IADL was evaluated according to 4 activities, namely cleaning, shopping, transportation and cooking. IADL dependence associated with both self-reported difficulties in mobility and poor performance in the PLM test. A logistic regression analysis showed that self-reported mobility and the locomotion phase in the PLM test were two independent explanatory factors of IADL dependence. This study indicates that self-reported mobility and the PLM test can be used to evaluate the mobility components of daily life activities. The combination of these two methods improves the assessment of an individual's mobility, and defines a risk group of functional decline. Given the limitations of a cross-sectional design, further longitudinal studies are needed.

A population-based study on motor performance and white matter lesions in older women.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between motor performance and white matter lesions (WMLs) on computed tomography (CT) of the brain in older women. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Population-based study in Göteborg, Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 248 women aged 70, 74, and 78 years. MEASUREMENTS: Motor performance was measured by a Postural-Locomotion-Manual (PLM) test using an optoelectronic technique. WMLs on CT scans were rated as no, mild, moderate, or severe. RESULTS: White matter lesions were associated with impaired mobility of the lower extremities, that is, prolonged locomotion phase in the PLM test. This association was also present after controlling for age, hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes mellitus, chronic bronchitis, intermittent claudication, and smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Cerebral white matter lesions may contribute to motor impairments in older adults.

Effects of a nitric oxide donor and nitric oxide synthase inhibitors on luteinizing hormone-induced ovulation in the ex-vivo perfused rat ovary.

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of nitric oxide (NO) in ovulation and ovarian steroidogenesis by the use of NO synthase (NOS) inhibitors and an NO donor administrated to the luteinizing hormone (LH)-stimulated ex-vivo perfused pre-ovulatory rat ovary. The ovaries were stimulated with LH (0.2 microgram/ml) alone or in combination with the phosphodiesterase inhibitor IBMX (200 micromol/l). The presence of both endothelial NOS (eNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS) in the perfused rat ovary were detected by immunoblotting and a clear increase in amount of iNOS protein was seen after LH+IBMX stimulation. The addition of a non-selective NOS inhibitor, N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA; 300 micromol/l), to the perfusate significantly decreased ovulation numbers (median = 4. 0, range = 1-14) as compared with LH + IBMX stimulated control (12.0, 6-17). In contrast, an inhibitor with relative selectivity towards iNOS, aminoguanidine bicarbonate (AG, 300 micromol/l and 1 mmol/l), did not change the ovulation rate (11.5, 6-18 and 11.0, 7-15 respectively). In perfusions with only LH, a lower ovulation rate was seen but with similar effects (0.0, 0-8 for L-NMMA; 7.5, 3-12 for control and 7.0, 1-15 for AG 300 micromol/l). The administration of an NO donor, spermine NONOate, resulted in similar ovulation numbers as in LH-stimulated controls. The NO inhibitors did not affect steroid concentrations in the perfusion media, while 100 micromol/l NONOate increased progesterone production.

[An incorrect diagnosis of an arterial injury]. / Mylná diagnostika tepenného poranení.

The authors give an account of the interesting clinical development of a primarily erroneously diagnosed and inadequately treated arterial injury caused by a splint. They emphasize the necessity of angiographic examination and truthful recording in the surgical protocol.

Inhibition of ovulation by tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the in vitro perfused rat ovary.

Protein tyrosine kinase activity, leading to tyrosine phosphorylation of the intracellular domains of receptors or non-receptor proteins, is an important feature of downstream signalling after receptor binding of a variety factors, such as growth factors and cytokines. Since several members of these classes of paracrine-autocrine mediator may be involved in the intraovarian events of ovulation, the present study was designed to evaluate the effect of protein tyrosine kinase inhibition on the in vitro perfused rat ovary. Immature rats were primed with 20 iu pregnant mares' serum gonadotrophin 48 h before surgical isolation of the right ovary with connecting vasculature. The ovary was placed in a perfusion system for either 10 h, to examine ovarian concentrations of the established ovulatory mediators plasminogen activator, prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha, or for 20 h, enabling a complete ovulatory process to occur in vitro. Ovulation was induced by ovine LH (0.2 microgram ml-1) in the presence of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (0.2 mmol l-1) and the effects of two different protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors, genistein and tyrphostin A25, were studied. Unstimulated control ovaries did not ovulate and showed low secretion of progesterone and oestradiol. Addition of LH + 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine resulted in a marked stimulation of steroid release, and ovulations occurred in all ovaries (9.0 +/- 0.9; mean +/- SEM). The protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors, genistein and tyrphostin A25, significantly inhibited ovulation at the higher concentrations tested (3.0 +/- 0.3 at 100 mumol genistein l-1; 5.8 +/- 1.0 at 500 mumol tyrphostin A25 l-1) but no effect was seen at lower concentrations. The presence of genistein and tyrphostin A25 at any concentration used did not significantly decrease the LH + 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine-induced progesterone or oestradiol concentrations. The intraovarian concentrations of plasminogen activator activity, and prostaglandin E2 and F2 alpha were not altered by the presence genistein (100 mumol l-1). In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that protein tyrosine kinase signalling pathways are integral parts of the mammalian ovulatory process but do not involve actions on the synthesis of steroids, plasminogen activator or prostaglandins.

Longitudinal EEG findings in dementia related to the parietal brain syndrome and the degree of dementia.

EEG slow-wave activity was correlated with the regional brain syndrome profile in 74 patients with dementia. The EEGs were visually assessed using a semiquantitative rating scale. The intensities of four regional brain syndromes (parietal, frontal, subcortical, global) and the degree of dementia were rated. The patients were examined twice with a 1-year interval. A significant relationship was found between the increase in EEG slow-wave activity and the increase in intensity of the parietal brain syndrome. A somewhat lower significance was found for the relation between increase in slow-wave activity and increase in dementia degree. The results suggest that the EEG deterioration in dementia mainly reflects the gradual decline of parietal brain function.

Inhibition of class II major histocompatibility complex antigen processing by Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin requires an enzymatically active A subunit.

Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) and cholera toxin (CT) were found to inhibit intracellular antigen processing. Processing was not inhibited by mutant LT with attenuated ADP-ribosyltransferase activity, CT B or LT B subunit, which enhanced presentation of preexisting cell surface peptide-class II major histocompatibility complex complexes. Inhibition of antigen processing correlated with A subunit ADP-ribosyltransferase activity.

From the 'EEG age' to a rational scale of brain electric maturation.

The aim of the present study was to propose an improved method of quantitative assessment of EEG age-related changes. 40 EEG recordings of healthy subjects (aged 0.7-78 years) were analysed. Multidimensional scaling of EEG spectral data indicated a presence of an 'age factor' related non-linearly to the chronological age. Relative integrals of FFT spectra in 6 frequency bands were utilized as predictors of age or, alternatively, logarithmized age. Three regression models based on EEG spectral indicators were examined. Regression from logarithmic predictors to logarithm of age performed best in terms of linearity and residual errors. As a result, the Brain Electric Maturation Scale was proposed, being defined by the logarithm of ratio of the age predicted from the EEG data and chronological age. The scale could serve as an objective measure of brain maturation in children, or as an age-independent indicator of slow EEG abnormalities.

Quantitative EEG analysis as a supplement to the clinical coma scale RLS85.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between EEG indicators and clinical scores based on the RLS85 (Reaction Level Scale 85) in comatose patients. The results of a simple visual assessment of the EEG, using an arbitrary scale with typical EEG patterns, were compared with those obtained by quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG). METHOD: The RLS85 scores were examined in 34 patients with impaired consciousness due to brain tumours, vascular lesions or head injuries. The EEG was recorded shortly before or after the clinical examination. The semiquantitative assessment was made by visual inspection of the tracings, using an arbitrary scale where 12 EEG patterns with increasing proportion of slow activity were displayed. Parallel to the visual analysis, the EEGs were processed by means of EEG spectrum analysis and the power/amplitude in slow frequency bands was used as an indicator. The results were based on correlation between various types of EEG variables and the RLS scores which were obtained in the same patients. RESULTS: The correlation between the visual EEG indicators and coma scores ranged between 0.53 and 0.57 (P < 0.01). As regards the computerised EEG analysis, the correlation between the clinical scores and various EEG spectrum values did not exceed 0.45 (P < 0.01). A higher correlation could be obtained by combining eight EEG variables; the multiple correlation coefficient was then 0.68. CONCLUSIONS: The amount of EEG slow activity is significantly correlated to the RLS85 score. This means that the EEG also provides information on the level and not only on the changes of the coma degree. Surprisingly, the indicators based on quantitative EEG, as used in commercially available instruments, did not give better results than the visual assessment. However, the results of the computerised analysis could be improved using multivariate statistical methods. The study also showed a way to improve communication between the neurophysiologist and clinician by presenting the EEG findings in terms similar to those used in the clinical scales. However, the clinician should be aware of the fact that the "EEG score" and the clinical score is not the same: the intention is to supplement rather than to simulate the clinical observation.

Distinct effects of recombinant cholera toxin B subunit and holotoxin on different stages of class II MHC antigen processing and presentation by macrophages.

Cholera toxin (CT) is a potent mucosal adjuvant with enhancing effects on Ag presentation, although the mechanisms of its adjuvanticity remain poorly understood. Using an in vitro Ag presentation assay, we found CT and recombinant B subunit (rCTB) to have distinct effects on different stages of processing and class II MHC (MHC-II)-restricted presentation of hen egg lysozyme (HEL). CT treatment of macrophages resulted in enhanced presentation of soluble HEL(48-61) peptide to3A9 hybridoma cells. However, CT had inhibitory effects on intracellular processing of soluble native Ag. Thus, CT inhibited presentation when added prior to HEL, whereas presentation was enhanced when CT was added after HEL exposure and the generation of peptide-MHC-II complexes. Pretreatment of macrophages with CT also markedly inhibited phagocytic processing of a Crl-HEL fusion protein (containing the HEL(48-61) epitope) expressed in intact bacteria (Escherichia coli HB101.Crl-HEL or Salmonella typhimurium 14028s.Crl-HEL), whereas addition of CT to macrophages after a 2-h incubation with the bacteria again enhanced presentation. CT produced little effect on overall uptake and catabolism of radiolabeled HEL or HB101.Crl-HEL. In contrast to the holotoxin, purified rCTB subunit did not inhibit intracellular processing of soluble or bacterial Ag, although it similarly enhanced the presentation of surface HEL-(48-61)-I-Ak complexes to 3A9 cells. These data suggest that the inhibitory effects of CT on Ag processing are mediated by the A subunit.

EEG findings in dementia are related to the parietal lobe syndrome.

EEG indicators were correlated with clinical items in 174 patients with dementia diagnoses based on the DSM-III-R criteria. The patients' clinical symptomatologies were presented as regional brain syndromes, i.e. parietal lobe, frontal lobe, subcortical and global (nonregional) syndromes. The EEGs were abnormal in 87% of the cases. The typical abnormalities consisted of diffusely distributed slow wave activity. A significant correlation was found between the degree of slow wave abnormality and the degree of dementia. The results of the statistical analysis also suggest that EEG slow wave activity in dementia primarily reflects parietal lobe dysfunction. No association seems to exist between EEG slow wave activity and frontal lobe dysfunction.