E-rosette formation using heteropolymeric monoclonal antibodies.

We have used bispecific, cross-linked monoclonal antibodies (heteropolymers, HP) to facilitate rosette formation between human erythrocytes (EH) and dinitrophenylated sheep erythrocytes (DNP-ES) in the absence of complement. The HP contain monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific for both the EH C3b receptor (CR1), and the DNP group, and control experiments with homologous competing non-cross-linked mAbs and naive EH and ES confirm the specificity of the rosetting reaction. These results extend our previous studies, of HP-mediated binding of simple protein antigens to EH CR1, to complex particulate antigens and may eventually allow for the targeting and clearance from the circulation of a variety of pathogens associated with infectious disease.

Long-term usefulness of thioridazine for institutionalized mentally retarded patients.

Thioridazine (Mellaril) medication was discontinued for 4 to 5 weeks for 106 institutionalized mentally retarded patients after an extended period of previous drug treatment. Time-sampling of behavior while patients were receiving medication and while receiving placebo showed a significant increase in self-stimulation and active negative behavior and decreased work and life skills while receiving placebo. Although most patients' behavior was better while on active medication, some showed significant improvement when medication was temporarily discontinued. Favorable long-term progress among those who had medication restored was greater for patients whose behavior had worsened to the greatest degree during the placebo trial.

A double blind investigation of piracetam (Nootropil) vs placebo in geriatric memory.

Fifty-six hospitalized geriatric patients between the ages of 65 and 80 were given piracetam (Nootropil) 2400 mg/day or placebo on a double blind basis over a two month period. Every patient submitted to a battery of psychological tests before and after the two month trial. These tests included the Similarities, Vocabulary, Digit Symbol, and Block Design subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale; Graham Kendall Memory for Design; Benton Visual Retention; Hooper Visual Organization; Raven Colored Progressive Matrices A, AB, and B; Wechsler Memory Scale A and B; Porteus Maze and Finger Tapping. Patients who were unable to complete this battery were not included in this investigation. In addition, at pretreatment, 4 and 8 weeks, the patient completed a Profiles of Mood States, a Clinical Global Evaluation was done by the investigator, and laboratory determinations were performed. Fifty Patients completed the investigation (25 piracetam, 25 placebo). There were no significant statistical differences between the two groups of patients on all measures utilized except for the Clinical Global Evaluation, where 52% of the patients on piracetam showed minimal improvement versus 25% of the placebo group (P less than 0.05).

Control of fingertip temperature increases via biofeedback in learning-disabled and normal children.

Although considerable research has been done with biofeedback in adults, little is known of its effect in children of different ages or those with learning disabilities. This study assessed the effects of thermal biofeedback in 60 children (40 boys, 20 girls) aged 7 to 9 yr. (Mage 8-6) half of whom were learning-disabled and half, normal children matched for age, sex, grade, race, socioeconomic status, and IQ. Training consisted on one 15-min. period daily for five days with three trials per period. Children (16 learning-disabled, 16 normals) received consistent reinforcement for digital temperature increases while 28 children (14 learning-disabled, 14 normals) received mixed reinforcement after Day 1, on which all children were consistently reinforced to yield a performance baseline. Feedback was provided by a variable intensity light and toy electric train. Learning was demonstrated only for the consistently reinforced group, which performed almost twice as well as those receiving mixed reinforcement. Learning-disabled children learned thermal control even better than normals, explained in terms of biofeedback reinforcing an internal steady state conducive to learning. Younger children did better than older children, and girls did somewhat better than boys. Post-training improvement in figure-ground discrimination and intersensory-integration was linked with performance and learning, respectively.

A three year double blind investigation of the effects of lithium carbonate on serum protein-bound iodine in manic depressive patients.

In a controlled investigation of the long-term effect of lithium on protein-bound iodine (PBI), 17 manic-depressive patients were placed on lithium for 6 months then shifted on a double blind basis to lithium (8 patients) and placebo (9 patients), and followed for a maximum of 3 years. Serum PBIs and lithium levels were evaluated initially and every 3 months thereafter. The placebo group showed no significant change in PBI during the first 6 months while still on lithium. At 9- and 12-month evaluations, a rise in serum PBI was noted. Seven placebo patients with data available displayed a mean 6-month PBI of 6.26 +/- 0.67 mug% and at 9 months 7.07 +/- 0.63 mug% (p less than 0.02). Available data for 7 placebo patients at 6 and 12 months show means of 6.30 +/- 0.66 and 7.06 +/- 0.56 mug%, respectively (p less than 0.10). Patients on lithium during the entire study had a PBI of 6.95 +/- 0.81 mug% at 6 months, which dropped to 5.76 +/- 0.36 mug% (p less than 0.05) after an average of 810 days of treatment. The placebo group showed no statistically significant change in PBI.