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We report two children with molecularly confirmed mitochondrial disease mimicking Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD). The first patient presented at the age of 15 months with acute deterioration following a pyrexial illness with clinical features localising to the brainstem and spinal cord. The second patient presented at 5 years with acute bilateral visual loss. In both cases, MOG and AQP4 antibodies were negative. Both patients died within a year of symptoms onset from respiratory failure. Arriving at an early genetic diagnosis is important for redirection of care and avoiding potentially harmful immunosuppressant therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When subjected to blast loading, brittle building components such as glass and masonry tend to break into fragments that are propelled at hazardous high velocities. There has been copious research on defining the design resistance of structures subjected to extreme dynamic loading, but research that relates the loading characteristics to fragmentation velocity and lethality is lacking in some areas. A review of research concerning fragmentation of brittle materials in dynamic loading scenarios, concentrating on far-field blast loading, was conducted. Fragmentation principles and their application in, analytical, statistical, numerical, and other varied modeling approaches were examined. Special attention was given to research evaluating fragment generation and velocity calculation above the level required for design of structural members and suitable for occupant hazard calculation. By surveying fragmentation research key factors that affect fragmentation behavior, velocity, and hazard across modeling efforts are developed and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the independent, relative, and additive associations between both parent and peer role models and longitudinal patterns of smoking across adolescence and early adulthood. An analysis of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (N = 10,166) reveals at least four distinct trajectories of smoking across ages 13 to 35 years: (a) nonsmokers, (b) late peak (almost 10 cigarettes per day around age 30), (c) an early peak group that reached roughly 10 cigarettes per day around age 20 and declined, and (d) a high group that increased during adolescence and early adulthood and then remained high. Parent and peer smoking behaviors were associated with trajectory group membership net of controls for sociodemographic characteristics, parental socioeconomic status (SES), parent–child relations, and the availability of cigarettes in the family home. Parents and peers appear to have at least some independent associations net of each other, but their combined effects are powerful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hyperkalemia is a common complication in patients with heart failure or chronic kidney disease, particularly those who are taking inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. RDX7675, the calcium salt of a reengineered polystyrene sulfonate-based resin, is a potassium binder that is being investigated as a novel treatment for hyperkalemia. This study evaluated the pharmacodynamic effects of RDX7675 in mice, compared to 2 current treatments, sodium polystyrene sulfonate (SPS) and patiromer.Methods: Seven groups of 8 male CD-1 mice were given either standard chow (controls) or standard chow containing 4.0% or 6.6% active moiety of RDX7675, patiromer, or SPS for 72 hours. Stool and urine were collected over the final 24 hours of treatment for ion excretion analyses.Results: RDX7675 increased stool potassium (mean 24-hour excretion: 4.0%, 9.19 mg; 6.6%, 18.11 mg; both P < .0001) compared with controls (4.47 mg) and decreased urinary potassium (mean 24-hour excretion: 4.0%, 12.05 mg, P < .001; 6.6%, 6.68 mg, P < .0001; vs controls, 20.38 mg). The potassium-binding capacity of RDX7675 (stool potassium/gram of resin: 4.0%, 1.14 mEq/g; 6.6%, 1.32 mEq/g) was greater (all P < .0001) than for patiromer (4.0%, 0.63 mEq/g; 6.6%, 0.48 mEq/g) or SPS (4.0%, 0.73 mEq/g; 6.6% 0.55 mEq/g). RDX7675 and patiromer decreased urinary sodium (mean 24-hour excretion: 0.07-1.38 mg; all P < .001) compared to controls (5.01 mg). In contrast, SPS increased urinary sodium excretion (4.0%, 13.31 mg; 6.6%, 17.60 mg; both P < .0001) compared to controls.Conclusions: RDX7675 reduced intestinal potassium absorption and had a greater potassium-binding capacity than patiromer or SPS in mice. The calcium-based resins RDX7675 and patiromer reduced intestinal sodium absorption, unlike sodium-based SPS. These results support further studies in humans to confirm the potential of RDX7675 for the treatment of patients with hyperkalemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Urinary dopamine, homovanillic acid and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymandelic acid are established tests for diagnosis and monitoring of neuroblastic disease. We compared the diagnostic performance of total urinary 3-methoxytyramine, the O-methylated product of dopamine, to these three established tumour markers. Methods Urinary 3-methoxytyramine, dopamine, homovanillic acid and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymandelic acid were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection on consecutive urine samples from histologically proven neuroblastic patients and controls. Patients with neuroblastic disease were further classified as untreated, advancing, residual or absent disease based on clinical and radiological criteria. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to compare the diagnostic performance of the four tumour markers. Results Urinary 3-methoxytyramine was well correlated with established tumour markers and its concentration correlated with disease activity. It was the most commonly elevated tumour marker in neuroblastic disease and showed similar sensitivity to dopamine and homovanillic acid. The diagnostic utility of urinary 3-methoxytyramine as measured by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was similar to dopamine and homovanillic acid. Conclusion Our results support the use of urinary 3-methoxytyramine as a tumour marker in the diagnosis and the monitoring of neuroblastoma disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although America's dominant ideology stresses individual achievement, a sizable number of students are admitted to the nation's colleges and universities largely on the basis of lineage. These "legacy" admissions are ascription-oriented policies that seem to be at odds with our society's achievement-oriented ideology. This conundrum led us to explore the conditions under which legacy admissions were first introduced. Using a conflict perspective and historical data, we testfour hypotheses to show that legacy admission policies were just one of many mechanisms that social and religious elites used to perpetuate Anglo-Protestant dominance in the 1920s. We find that legacy admissions arose under the conditions predicted by all four of our hypotheses. Thus, we argue that legacy admissions have been an important element in the persistence of stratification in general and religious stratification in particular We conclude with several implications forfurther research on the consequences and perpetuation of legacy admission policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the Freedman's Cemetery Project of the 1990s, evidence of lethal gun violence was recovered archaeologically from several early twentieth century burials. Although lying in unmarked graves, those who died violently still have the chance of being identified through the very bullets that robbed them of their lives. Forensic identification of the bullets and other archaeological criteria are compared to descriptions of gunshot victims in newspaper accounts and other archival records, and individual as well as group identity is examined in the process. These moments of violence also provide a unique window into exploring the extent and underlying causes of violence perpetrated within and against the African American community of Dallas, Texas, in the first decade of the twentieth century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The landmark Notre Dame Study of Parish Life study was conducted in the 1980s. Since then, several other studies have provided additional information about Catholic parishes. We use these studies to create an overall profile of Catholic parishes. We also summarize the results of four studies indicating the similarities and differences between Protestant congregations and Catholic parishes. Finally, we examine the strengths and limitations of both the studies of Catholic parishes and studies that include both Catholics and Protestants. We conclude with some suggestions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sirolimus is an immunosuppressive agent used after organ transplantation. Monitoring its concentration is clinically relevant, but current methods of measurement using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) are demanding. An immunoassay that uses readily available equipment offers a more convenient alternative. Methods: Blood specimens from transplant patients were assayed for sirolimus by an existing HPLC method with ultraviolet (UV) detection and by the Abbott microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA). Within-run and between-day precision was assessed with duplicate analyses. Accuracy was assessed by comparison of results from the MEIA and HPLC assays, and from recovery experiments. Specificity was tested in specimens from patients taking alternative immunosuppressants. Results: Using specimens with sirolimus concentrations between 3.3 and 39.3 μg/L, within-batch and between-batch coefficients of variation (CVs) were 6.8% and 6.3%, respectively. Using control specimens with mean concentrations of 4.1, 12.1 and 25.4 μg/L, the respective CVs were 8.6%, 3.1% and 3.8 %. Using a Passing–Bablok regression technique, the regression equation was MEIA = 14; 1.26 × HPLC-1.97; the mean bias was 0.96 μg/L. Specimens from patients on cyclosporin and tacrolimus as the sole immunosuppressant had apparent sirolimus concentrations of <1 μg/L. Conclusion: The MEIA assay for sirolimus provides clinically useful information within an accessible format. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to test Eugene Kennedy's hypothesis that Catholics in the U.S. are divided into two cultures and that these cultures are closely linked to the pre-Vatican II and post-Vatican II generations. The fundamental difference of the two cultures is the locus of religious authority. For pre- Vatican II Culture One Catholics, religious authority is external and fixed in the hierarchy of the institutional church. For post Vatican II Culture Two Catholics, religious authority is internal; faith is embedded in one's own experience. A 1995 national survey of American Catholics is used to examine Kennedy's cultures, and their generational linkages. A multiple item index of the locus of religious authority is constructed from survey items. Findings indicate that American Catholics are not polarized into two cultures in their approach to religious authority. While generation is significant in explaining differences in the beliefs and behavior of American Catholics, there also are important variations within cohorts regarding the locus of religious authority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Churches cannot favor or oppose particular candidates for political office. The ban on electioneering has nothing to do with the First Amendment or Jeffersonian principles of separation of church and state. instead, the ban is based on a provision in the 1954 tax reform act prohibiting all tax-exempt organizations from supporting or opposing political candidates. I show that the provision grew out of the anti-communist frenzy of the 1950s and was directed at right-wing organizations such as Facts Forum and the Committee for Constitutional Government. It was introduced by Lyndon Johnson as part of his effort to end McCarthyism, protect the loyalist wing of the Texas Democratic Party, and win reelection to the Senate in 1954. I also discuss the implications these findings have for contemporary church policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though the prevailing image of affluent churches is that they are not highly involved in social concerns, there is considerable variation in the extent of their involvement in social ministry. We use an open system, power framework to derive a number of hypotheses explaining why some affluent churches are more involved in social ministry than others. We use data from 31 affluent churches to test these hypotheses. The data suggest that affluent churches are most involved in social ministry when they are affiliated with theologically liberal denominations; women are in leader- ship roles; lay leaders embrace social justice beliefs; pastors have liberal theologies; and pastors attempt to link faith and social ministry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses exchange theory and symbolic interactionism to explain why some members of affluent churches give more money to their churches than others do. The two theories produced four independent variables: one stressing exchange theory (benefit orientation), one stressing symbolic interabtionism (belief orientation), and two combining elements of both (intrinsic religiosity and participation). Data from 30 affluent congregations indicate that the most important sources of giving are income, intrinsic religiosity, and participation. Exogenous variables, belief orientation, and benefit orientation have smaller effects. We conclude by stressing the value of linking the two theories in future research, rather than stressing one over the other. Appeals and activities which combine the inherent value of faith with the benefits members derive from religious commitment are more likely to inspire giving than ones which stress faith and ignore benefits or ones which appeal to self interests and ignore faith. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the nature and sources of religious involvement. Several theories are reviewed and six propositions are examined using data from four Protestant churches. Meaning system and social relationships are important sources of religious involvement. Socio-demographic characteristics do effect religious involvement but mostly in an indirect way. Religious beliefs are seen as the weakest source of religious involvement. The theoretical and policy implications of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the determinants of individuals `involvement in ecumenical activity. It focuses on the relationships between the factors that influence ecumenical behavior Four propositions are examined using data from mainline Protestant congregations. A combination of correlation, regression, and path analysis is used. Religious commitment and a tendency to attach high priority to ecumenical activity are important sources of ecumenism. There also is some indication that willingness to deviate from prevailing church norms makes some contribution, though the evidence on this factor is mixed. Time and resources do not seem to affect people's ecumenical activity. The findings are representative of a larger sample of mainline Protestant congregations. The theoretical and policy implications of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper identifies several conditions in society and in the churches which limit church involvement in social concerns. It, then, briefly describes the origins of a group attempting to address these conditions: the Lafayette Urban Ministry (LUM). Finally, on the basis of their experience with LUM, the authors propose a general model for urban ministries which they feel also might assist in increasing church involvement in other communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents discussion on theological and sociological uses of the concept "Orthodoxy." Theological meanings of orthodoxy vary considerably between and even within religious traditions. As the following brief review indicates, orthodoxy is largely liturgical in Eastern orthodoxy; oriented toward institutional authority in Roman Catholicism; refers to conformity to Luther and to the Confessions in Lutheranism and to "The Fundamentals in fundamentalism." The word "orthodox" etymologically has the double meaning of "right opinion" or "right belief' on the one hand and "right glory" or "right worship" on the other. Historically, western Christianity has tended to stress the former aspect, whereas eastern Christianity has given particular emphasis to the latter. The eastern approach to religion is fundamentally liturgical, with doctrinal belief understood in the context of worship. Orthodox Christians hold Scripture and Tradition as the two fonts of revelation. These sources are presented to the faithful mainly in liturgy, which expresses the meaning and essence of doctrine. Where liturgy and theology are not united properly, orthodoxy is incomplete and in some cases seriously threatened.

Ten components of religious commitment were derived by superimposing a liberalconservative distinction on Glock's five dimensions. Data concerning the ten components were obtained from Baptist and Methodist church members. The relationships among the components permit a reassessment of some conflicting assumptions and findings in the two major types of research which have flowed from Glock's model. Some suggestions for further research also are offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data on interracial behavior and opinion change were obtained from large samples of black and white students in all the public high schools of Indianapolis. Results indicate that negative behaviors (avoidance and unfriendly interaction) are affected most by factors such as personal aggressiveness, initial racial attitudes, and racial attitudes of family and peers which have little to do with the amount and conditions of interracial contact. Friendly interactions, on the other hand, are affected by opportunities for interracial contact within, and prior to the high school. Equal status between students of different race is not important in determining positive or negative outcomes of interracial contact. The determinants of interracial behavior may differ in important ways from determinants of opinion change about members of another race. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the homogeneity and heterogeneity of church members' beliefs at the denominational and congregational levels. Homogeneity is defined as the extent to which one pattern of belief tends to dominate all others. Heterogeneity is defined as the extent to which more than one pattern of belief exists within a group. Data were obtained from Baptist and Methodist members of two middle class and two working class congregations. The data indicated that heterogeneity prevailed in both denominations and in three of the four congregations. A discussion of these findings focuses on some of the functional implications of heterogeneity and the role of heterogeneity in some of the crises religious groups are facing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A failure of urine ammonium to increase during acidosis indicates impaired renal acidification, and the urinary ammonium concentration is therefore a useful investigation in determining the cause of a metabolic acidosis. However, urine ammonium measurements are not widely available in routine diagnostic laboratories. This has led to the use of urine anion or osmolar gaps, which are unsatisfactory as surrogates for urine ammonium measurement. Methods: We evaluated the adaptation of two widely available automated plasma ammonium assays for measurement of urinary ammonium. Results: Both assays showed good recovery and linearity in urine samples spiked with ammonium chloride, and acceptable precision. Urine ammonium concentrations estimated from urinary anion and osmolar gaps showed poor agreement with measured urine ammonium concentrations. Conclusions: Direct urine ammonium measurements are easily performed with modern autoanalysers by simple adaptation of routine plasma ammonium assays. The use of urine anion and osmolar gaps should be abandoned where direct measurement is available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated a patient with suspected hypopituitarism who showed subnormal cortisol responses to stimulation tests with adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and hypoglycaemia, but normal ACTH and 11-deoxycortisol responses in the metyrapone test. Cortisol-binding globulin (CBG) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and was used to calculate plasma free cortisol and free cortisol index. The patient had a low plasma CBG concentration. Reinterpreted in terms of free cortisol and free cortisol index, his responses to ACTH were normal. We conclude that despite subnormal total cortisol responses to ACTH and hypoglycaemia, the patient had a normal hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. Measurement of CBG concentration and calculation of free cortisol or free cortisol index can help avoid false interpretations of dynamic tests of the HPA axis based on plasma total cortisol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article the author reports on research conducted into the content of this journal during the 1970s. The articles of that era that analyzed religious organizations and movements concerned themselves with a number of specific aspects including the beliefs of mainstream religious organizations, social structure within such groups, the leadership roles of clergy and other religious personnel and issues relating to sizes of church denominations and congregations. Topics connected to the study of the sociology of religion in the 1970s are also examined.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article about the cross-reactivity of Actrapid in various insulin assays that was published in the previous issue.

The article discusses the appropriate cyroglobulin laboratory evaluation. It comments on the review of cryoglobulin investigation's recommendations which include detailed characteristic and typing of the cryoprecipitate of the cryoglobulin should always be performed, and that quantitation of the cryoglobulin needs to be done on all specimens. It also suggests that these recommendations must be supported by evidence that these procedure will affect patient management and benefit patients.

Presents an introduction to the June 1979 issue of the journal "Review of Religious Research."

Focuses on diagnostic imaging services for athletes participating in the XIII Pan American Games in Manitoba in summer 1999. Provision of medical assistance for participants at polyclinics at a number of locations across the province; Number of radiographs performed; Protocols for the reporting and processing of imaging studies.