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Humans have four IgG antibody subclasses that selectively or differentially engage immune effector molecules to protect against infections. Although IgG1 has been studied in detail and is the subclass of most approved antibody therapeutics, increasing evidence indicates that IgG3 is associated with enhanced protection against pathogens. Here, we report that IgG3 has superior capacity to mediate intracellular antiviral immunity compared with the other subclasses due to its uniquely extended and flexible hinge region, which facilitates improved recruitment of the cytosolic Fc receptor TRIM21, independently of Fc binding affinity. TRIM21 may also synergize with complement C1/C4-mediated lysosomal degradation via capsid inactivation. We demonstrate that this process is potentiated by IgG3 in a hinge-dependent manner. Our findings reveal differences in how the four IgG subclasses mediate intracellular immunity, knowledge that may guide IgG subclass selection and engineering of antiviral antibodies for prophylaxis and therapy.

CASE SECTION Zoe is a 25-month-old girl who presented to developmental-behavioral pediatrics with her parents for follow-up after receiving a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder with global developmental delay and language impairment 3 months ago. Zoe was born by spontaneous vaginal delivery at term after an uncomplicated pregnancy, labor, and delivery. She had a routine newborn course and was discharged home with her parents 2 days after her birth.At 7 months, Zoe was not able to sit independently, had poor weight gain, and had hypertonia on physical examination. Her parents described her to tense her arms and have hand tremors when she held her bottle during feedings and reported that she had resisted their attempts to introduce pureed or other age-appropriate table foods into her diet. The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Screening Test was administered and found a cognitive composite score of 70, language composite score of 65, and motor composite score of 67. Chromosomal microarray analysis, testing for fragile X syndrome, laboratory studies for metabolic disorders, magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, and an audiologic examination were normal. Zoe was referred to and received early intervention services including physical therapy, feeding therapy, and infant stimulation services. By 16 months, Zoe was walking independently and was gaining weight well but continued to have sensory aversions to some foods.At 22 months, Zoe was evaluated by a multidisciplinary team because of ongoing developmental concerns and concerning results on standardized screening for autism spectrum disorder completed at her 18-month preventive care visit. Her parents also reported concern about the possibility of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) because they both were diagnosed with ASD as young children. Both parents completed college and were employed full-time. Zoe's mother seemed to be somewhat anxious during the visit and provided fleeting eye contact throughout the evaluation. Zoe's father was assertive, but polite, and was the primary historian regarding parental concerns during the evaluation.Zoe was noted to have occasional hand flapping and squealing vocalizations while she roamed the examination area grabbing various objects and casting them to the floor while watching the trajectory of their movements. She did not use a single-finger point to indicate her wants or needs and did not initiate or follow joint attention. She met criteria for ASD. In discussing the diagnosis with Zoe's parents, they shared that they were not surprised by the diagnosis. They expressed feeling that Zoe was social and playful, although delayed in her language. Hence, they were more concerned about her disinterest in eating. They were not keen on behavioral intervention because they did not want Zoe to be "trained to be neurotypical." Although the mother did not receive applied behavior analysis (ABA), the father had received ABA for 3 years beginning at age 5 years. He believed that ABA negatively changed his personality, and he did not want the same for Zoe.How would you assist Zoe's parents in identification of priorities for her developmental care while ensuring respect for their perspective of neurodiversity?

Currently, there are no published studies that have used the concurrent operant preference assessment procedure to identify functions of challenging behaviors displayed by individuals with comorbid diagnoses. Four participants (aged 11–16 years) with comorbid diagnoses who displayed multiple challenging behaviors were referred to this study. We modified the standard concurrent operant preference assessment and used the new modified version, the pictorial concurrent operant preference assessment, to identify the functions of the challenging behaviors. Utilizing the triangulation mixed-methods design, we compared the indirect functional behavioral assessment (FBA) and the direct FBA with the pictorial concurrent operant preference assessment. The results obtained successfully demonstrated the concordance among these assessments in identifying the behavioral function for each participant. The results further showed that (1) the preferences served the same functional effects on both the challenging behaviors and the adaptive behaviors and (2) the pictorial concurrent operant preference assessment can be used independently to identify potential behavioral function and to specify the reinforcing potency of each behavioral function. The significance of the study results, limitations of this study, and directions for future research and clinical practice are discussed.

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The paper, by translating the concept and the two models of endophenotype (EP), strengthens the hypothesis that there exists a linkage between anorexia nervosa (AN) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Specifically, the paper synthesizes empirical research that supported the idea that individuals with AN and individuals with ASD share similarities with respect to their neurocognitive EPs and temperament EPs. The paper then introduces an innovative structure to emphasize the subtle difference between neurocognitive EPs and temperament EPs in relation to AN and ASD. This structure constitutes the categorization of the shared neurocognitive EPs to the liability-index model of EP and the shared temperament EPs to the mediational model of EP. The paper argues that the shared neurocognitive EPs under the liability index model of EP are trait markers signaling the effects of genes on the phenotypes of AN and ASD; whereas, the shared temperament EPs under the mediational model of EP are state markers describing the symptomatic status of AN and ASD. The proposition of the paper suggests clinicians and researchers should target the atypical state markers (i.e., temperament EPs) shared between AN and ASD when tailoring environment-based treatments for individuals with AN who exhibit autistic behaviors and individuals with ASD who display disordered eating behaviors or anorexic symptoms.

This case study describes the successful implementation of a behavioral intervention for the mealtime problem behaviors of a 16-year-old girl with Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified attending a private school for students with developmental disabilities. Initially, an analogue-functional analysis using a pairwise single-case experimental design was conducted, and based on the results of this assessment, a multicomponent function-based intervention was developed. The results obtained demonstrated that interventions for problem behaviors developed in hospital-based clinics can be implemented in community-based educational settings successfully. The results also demonstrated that behavioral intervention strategies shown to be effective with young children with developmental disabilities also work for a teenager with an autism spectrum disorder, illustrating the generality of a behavioral approach to feeding difficulties. Methodological limitations of the case study, advantages of a community-based treatment approach, and recommendations for clinicians are provided.

Pica is an eating disorder characterized by the ingestion of inappropriate items. The items may range from relatively harmless materials (e.g., food from the floor, grass) to other substances (e.g., glass) with risk for serious health problems or even death. Previous studies have shown that behavioral techniques are effective for decreasing pica, but few studies have assessed this in naturalistic settings. The current paper describes a study conducted in a classroom setting in which functional communication was taught to a 6-year-old boy with autism to replace pica. Differential reinforcement of functional communication behavior was used to teach the boy to request food rather than to engage in pica. This procedure decreased the boy's frequency of pica and of attempted pica. Keywords: pica, autism; differential reinforcement; functional communication training; manding. Introduction Pica is an eating disorder often displayed by persons with developmental disabilities (Singh, 1983). It is typically defined as either the consumption of non-food items or the compulsive consumption of both food and non-food items (Albin, 1977; Paisey & Whitney, 1989). Many individuals with pica ingest items that are relatively harmless, such as food from the floor, grass, or bugs (Johnson et al., 1994; Fisher et al., 1994). However, some individuals with pica ingest items (e.g., glass) that can lead to serious digestive problems, health issues, and possibly death (Rojahn et al., 1987). Several literature reviews describe interventions for persons who present with pica (e.g., McAdam, Sherman, Sheldon, & Napolitano, 2004). In one recent review McAdam et al. (2004) summarized the various behavioral interventions that have been demonstrated to produce a clinically significant reduction in pica, including differential reinforcement, overcorrection, contingent aversive presentations, and discrimination training. However, this review also found that the majority of published studies used intervention packages that included a punishment component. Moreover, few of the studies were conducted in natural settings (e.g., public schools, community-based agencies for adults with developmental disabilities). Three published studies have demonstrated that differential reinforcement as the primary independent variable was successful in decreasing the pica of 6 persons with developmental disabilities. In one of these studies, Goh, Iwata, & Kahng, (1999), used naturalistic observations to assess the function of cigarette pica performed by three adult males and one female with developmental disabilities in a state residential facility. The function of pica for all participants was determined to be automatic reinforcement. That is, each participant's pica was maintained by non-socially mediated variables. Next, a series of preference assessments were conducted to identify the specific reinforcing aspect of the cigarette (e.g., the unsmoked filter) and to identify high preference items that could function as competing reinforcers. Initially, for three of the participants, the authors assessed the affect of satiation by providing preferred edible items every 10 seconds, for 5 minutes, prior to the start of a session. Next, the participants were taught to hand a cigarette to their therapist and all attempts to engage in pica were blocked. For the fourth participant, a punishment procedure was used in addition to non-contingent reinforcement to reduce the participant's pica. In another study, Donnelly and Olczak (1990) used differential reinforcement of an alternative behavior (DRA) to compete with the cigarette pica of two adult males. Both participants were differentially reinforced for chewing sugarless mint gum. The results demonstrated that gum chewing successfully competed with the participant's pica. Smith (1987) used verbal prompting ("don't touch") and differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior (DRI) to reduce the pica of an adult male participating in community-based supportive employment. …

This study describes an assessment of the influence of idiosyncratic antecedent variables on the problem behavior of a 9-year-old boy with pervasive developmental disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The results of these analyses suggested that the boy displayed problem behavior during situations in which demands were provided and idiosyncratic variables were present. The efficacy of a treatment package consisting of a visual cue and differential reinforcement to treat the boy’s problem behaviors is described. Finally, the importance of assessing the influence of antecedent variables on the problem behavior of persons with developmental disabilities and limitations of the current research are discussed.

In the present investigation, a functional analysis of the disruptive behavior of a 18-year-old man who had been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and moderate mental retardation was conducted, both when he was taking methylphenidate and when he was not taking the medication. The results of this functional analysis demonstrated that the participant's disruptive behaviors were reinforced by access to attention only when he was not taking methylphenidate.

Researchers have demonstrated that both deprivation and satiation can affect the outcome of preference assessments for food. In the current study, paired-stimulus preference assessments for tangible items were conducted under three conditions: control, deprivation, and satiation. Three persons with developmental disabilities and 3 typically developing preschool children served as participants. The results demonstrated that deprivation and satiation influenced the outcome of preference assessments of leisure items or toys.

Recently, researchers have demonstrated that certain antecedent variables can affect the results of a functional analysis. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effects of family members versus a direct-care staff member on the occurrence of problem behaviors during three concurrently conducted functional analyses. The results of the functional analyses demonstrated that the participant's problem behaviors were maintained by positive reinforcement (i.e. access to tangible items) and negative reinforcement (i.e. escape from demands) when either his mother or stepfather was the therapist in the functional analysis; however, no problem behaviors were displayed when a direct-care staff member was the therapist in the functional analysis. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Treatment for aberrant behavior in persons diagnosed with developmental disabilities typically involves either behavioral interventions or medication. Often, the treatment is a combination of the two. Schroeder and coworkers (Schroeder et al. [1983] Adv Learn Behav Disabil 2:179–225) outlined criteria for the evaluation of the combination of behavioral and drug interventions in persons with developmental disabilities. A review of the research that examined the combination of drug and behavior interactions since 1983, using the Schroeder et al. criteria, is provided. An evaluation of research since 1983 that examined medication effects on multiple dependent measures and between multiple medications, using the criteria for medication research by Sprague and Werry (Sprague and Werry [1971] Int Rev Res Ment Retard vol. 5) is also provided. Additionally, the final section provides a list of recommendations and criteria for practitioners and researchers when conducting or evaluating research designed to examine medication effects on multiple variables in persons with developmental disabilities. MRDD Research Reviews 1999;5:322–334. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Bruxism is defined as the clenching and grinding of teeth. This study used a functional analysis to examine whether the bruxism of a 16-year-old girl with autism was maintained by automatic reinforcement or social consequences. A subsequent component analysis of the intervention package described by Barnoy, Najdowski, Tarbox, Wilke, and Nollet (2009) showed that a vocal reprimand (e.g., "stop grinding") effectively reduced the participant's bruxism. Results were maintained across time, and effects extended to novel staff members.

Pica is a dangerous form of self-injurious behavior that occurs in people with developmental disabilities who are institutionalized. Studies also indicate that pica has led to the death of people with developmental disabilities. While a number of published studies have demonstrated that pica behavior can be decreased substantially with behavioral treatment, few of these studies incorporated strategies for generalization and maintenance outside of brief sessions. A second limitation of current research is that some studies reduced pica substantially, but pica responses still occurred at rates that are problematic in terms of prevention of adverse consequences, which leaves practitioners with the task of further decreasing pica to protect people exhibiting pica from harm. We make recommendations for assessment, treatment, and prevention of pica for practitioners. These recommendations are based on two extensive reviews of the literature and our extensive experience as practitioners in the treatment of pica. Our hope is that administrators, professionals and practitioners will consider our guidelines and recommendations as they attempt to protect people with pica and developmental disabilities from harm by developing standards for assessment, treatment and prevention for this difficult-to-treat population. Our hope is that children with pica will receive early intervention to prevent pica from developing into life-threatening behavior.

Treatment planning to reduce challenging behavior (e.g., aggression and property destruction) can be complex and requires a prescriptive interprofessional team-based approach. As with other problems that interfere with an individual’s quality of life, such as health issues, the best course of treatment is one that accurately assesses the problem, leads to effective treatment for the issue of concern, and is empirically supported. This is especially important when treating individuals who display problem behavior which frequently interfere with their opportunities to learn and to live and be educated in less-restrictive settings (Matson, Mayville, & Laud, 2003). The utility of functional behavior assessments (FBAs) and functional analyses (FAs) in the identification of the specific function or purpose of challenging behavior has been embraced commonly by persons charged with supporting individuals who display challenging behavior (e.g., behavior analysts and educators). This is demonstrated by the laws requiring FBAs be conducted when individuals are struggling in educational environments (Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, 2004) and the belief that the assessments conducted should result in the development of interventions that help preserve the child’s placement in the least restrictive appropriate educational setting. The utility of these assessments has been repeatedly demonstrated in the published literature (e.g., Derby et al., 1992; Iwata, Dorsey, Slifer, Bauman, & Richman, 1994; Kennedy & Souza, 1995; Kern, Childs, Dunlap, Clarke & Falk, 1994; McCord, Thompson, & Iwata, 2001; Ellingson, Miltenberger, Stricker, Galensky, & Garlinghouse, 2000). Several excellent reviews of this extensive literature have been conducted and have independently identified functional analysis and assessment as best practice (e.g., Carr, 1994; Hanley, Iwata, & McCord, 2003).

The Cosmology Distinction Course is a new one-year course to be introduced for Year 12 candidates in the 1994 Higher School Certificate examinations in NSW. It is one of three challenging courses of study that will enrich the HSC for talented students who accelerate and complete part of the HSC one year early. The courses will be taught through distance learning and will include residential seminars. They will be implemented on behalf of the Board of Studies by Charles Sturt University and the University of New England.The Cosmology Course is organised into nine modules of course work covering historical and social aspects of cosmology, observational techniques, key observations and the various models developed—Newtonian, de Sitter, Friedmann, Lemaitre, steady-state, quasi-steady-state and big bang. Assessment will be through assignments, exams and a major project.As the first Distinction Course in a scientific area, the Cosmology Course represents an exciting and important educational initiative that needs the cooperation of NSW astronomers and, in return, promises to benefit the astronomical and general scientific community in Australia.

Providing learners written task analyses to be used as textual prompts was examined as a self-management strategy for persons with mild disabilities. Initially, modeling, corrective verbal feedback, and contingent descriptive praise were employed to train participants to use the written task analysis to perforn one home maintenance task. Subsequently, participants were tested on their use of different task analyses combined with general feedback to perform two novel home maintenance tasks. No training was provided on how to use these new task analyses. Either a multiple baseline or a multiple probe across settings experimental design was used to control extraneous variables. Results indicated that the written task analyses served as self-administered textual prompts and, along with general feedback, provided stimulus control for the second and third tasks. When the self-management task analyses and general feedback were withdrawn, transfer of stimulus control occurred to the natural discriminative stimuli for the majority of tasks. The research suggests that written task analyses, as presented in the present study, may have utility for the self-management of instruction by persons with mild disabilities.

The Southern Hemisphere VLBI Experiment (SHEVE) program is aimed at producing high-resolution images of southern radio sources. The radio telescopes of the present SHEVE array are described below and some recent results presented.

Lactate dehydrogenase (LD) levels rose consistently during MACOP-B chemotherapy for intermediate and high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Levels peaked at week nine and fell to normal within six weeks of completion of therapy. Isoenzyme patterns, studied prospectively in seven patients, showed a parallel rise in LD1 and LD2 suggesting a source other than tumour tissue for the rise in total LD. In the absence of evidence of myocardial or renal damage, haematopoietic tissue was the most likely source. With no evidence of haemolysis, normal serum levels of vitamin B12 and folate and normal red cell folate, dyserythropoiesis was considered to be the underlying mechanism. A rising mean corpuscular volume further reinforced this suggestion. Intensive use of methotrexate along with co-trimoxazole as prophylaxis against pneumoycystis carinii is considered the most likely cause of marrow dysfunction. Failure to recognise that rising LD levels during such therapy is treatment-related, rather than of tumour origin, may lead to inappropriate change or abandonment of therapy.

Repetitive and invariant behavior is a diagnostic feature of autism. We implemented a lag reinforcement schedule to increase response diversity for 6 participants with autism aged 6 to 10 years, 4 of whom also received prompting plus additional training. These procedures appeared to increase the variety of building-block structures, demonstrating that an intervention that includes differential reinforcement can increase response diversity for children with an autism spectrum disorder.

IMPORTANCE: Disruptive behavior is common in children with autism spectrum disorder. Behavioral interventions are used to treat disruptive behavior but have not been evaluated in large-scale randomized trials. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of parent training for children with autism spectrum disorder and disruptive behavior. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This 24-week randomized trial compared parent training (n = 89) to parent education (n = 91) at 6 centers (Emory University, Indiana University, Ohio State University, University of Pittsburgh, University of Rochester, Yale University). We screened 267 children; 180 children (aged 3–7 years) with autism spectrum disorder and disruptive behaviors were randomly assigned (86% white, 88% male) between September 2010 and February 2014. INTERVENTIONS: Parent training (11 core, 2 optional sessions; 2 telephone boosters; 2 home visits) provided specific strategies to manage disruptive behavior. Parent education (12 core sessions, 1 home visit) provided information about autism but no behavior management strategies. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Parents rated disruptive behavior and noncompliance on co-primary outcomes: the Aberrant Behavior Checklist–Irritability subscale (range, 0–45) and the Home Situations Questionnaire–Autism Spectrum Disorder (range, 0–9). On both measures, higher scores indicate greater severity and a 25% reduction indicates clinical improvement.A clinician blind to treatment assignment rated the Improvement scale of the Clinical Global Impression (range, 1–7), a secondary outcome, with a positive response less than 3. RESULTS: At week 24, the Aberrant Behavior Checklist–Irritability subscale declined 47.7% in parent training (from 23.7 to 12.4) compared with 31.8% for parent education (23.9 to 16.3) (treatment effect, −3.9; 95% CI, −6.2 to −1.7; P < .001, standardized effect size = 0.62). The Home Situations Questionnaire–Autism Spectrum Disorder declined 55% (from 4.0 to 1.8) compared with 34.2% in parent education (3.8 to 2.5) (treatment effect, −0.7; 95% CI, −1.1 to −0.3; P < .001, standardized effect size = 0.45). Neither measure met the prespecified minimal clinically important difference. The proportions with a positive response on the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement scale were 68.5% for parent training vs 39.6% for parent education (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: For children with autism spectrum disorder, a 24-week parent training program was superior to parent education for reducing disruptive behavior on parent-reported outcomes, although the clinical significance of the improvement is unclear. The rate of positive response judged by a blinded clinician was greater for parent training vs parent education. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01233414

Two variations of a vocal paired-stimulus preference assessment were evaluated to determine whether the verbal reports of preference, given by individuals with developmental disabilities when no access to the activity was given, matched their verbal reports when access to the activity was given contingent on their choice. The results indicated different outcomes between the two methods for 6 of the 7 participants. Subsequent reinforcer assessments, conducted for 2 participants, showed that activities identified in the preference assessments that provided access contingent on selection resulted in more responding than did activities identified in the preference assessment that did not include access to items following their selection.

The consumption of nonfood items (i. e., pica) frequently occurs in persons with developmental disabilities. Pica may result in the puncture or blockage of the digestive tract, infestation by gastrointestinal parasites, and can interfere with an individual’s daily learning, occupational performance, and quality of life. Twenty-six published studies have examined the efficacy of behavioral-intervention packages (e. g., differential reinforcement of other behavior, noncontingent attention, or overcorrection) on the pica of persons with developmental disabilities. This article reviews those studies and discusses the effectiveness, generality, and acceptability of the various intervention packages used to reduce pica. Additionally, this article highlights the recent clinical advancements that have been made in the treatment of the pica of persons with developmental disabilities.

Consumer satisfaction and social validity were measured during a double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of the atypical neuroleptic risperidone in treating severe aberrant behavior of persons with developmental disabilities. First, a satisfaction survey was completed after a medication trial by each participant's caregiver. Results showed that 100% of the caregivers felt that participation was a positive experience for themselves and participants. Second, 52 community members viewed videotapes of 5 participants during a clinical interview when they were taking either placebo or risperidone. Raters also indicated that when on the medication, participants displayed fewer aberrant behaviors, were less irritable, in a better mood, and were more responsive to their environment.

THE Energetic Gamma Ray Experiment Telescope (EGRET) on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory satellite recently detected1 pulsed -radiation from the radio pulsar PSR1706–44; this is only the fourth radio pulsar to be identified as a -ray source. The other three (Vela, the Crab and PSR1509–58) are all associated with supernova remnants (SNRs), whereas very few—perhaps four—of the remaining 500 or so galactic radio pulsars have convincing associations with SNRs2. We have mapped the field around PSR1706 – 44 at 843 MHz with a resolution of 44 arcsec using the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope, and have identified a shell-type SNR at a distance of about 3 kpc—consistent with the distance deduced for the pulsar. The pulsar is seen as a slightly variable point source, located in an enhanced knot on the arc of the SNR shell.

Conventional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit both cyclooxygenase (Cox) isoforms (Cox-1 and Cox-2) and may be associated with nephrotoxicity. The present study was undertaken to assess the renal effects of the specific Cox-2 inhibitor, MK-966. Healthy older adults (n = 36) were admitted to a clinical research unit, placed on a fixed sodium intake, and randomized under double-blind conditions to receive the specific Cox-2 inhibitor, MK-966 (50 mg every day), a nonspecific Cox-1/Cox-2 inhibitor, indomethacin (50 mg t.i.d.), or placebo for 2 weeks. All treatments were well tolerated. Both active regimens were associated with a transient but significant decline in urinary sodium excretion during the first 72 h of treatment. Blood pressure and body weight did not change significantly in any group. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was decreased by indomethacin but was not changed significantly by MK-966 treatment. Thromboxane biosynthesis by platelets was inhibited by indomethacin only. The urinary excretion of the prostacyclin metabolite 2,3-dinor-6-keto prostaglandin F1alpha was decreased by both MK-966 and indomethacin and was unchanged by placebo. Cox-2 may play a role in the systemic biosynthesis of prostacyclin in healthy humans. Selective inhibition of Cox-2 by MK-966 caused a clinically insignificant and transient retention of sodium, but no depression of GFR. Inhibition of both Cox isoforms by indomethacin caused transient sodium retention and a decline in GFR. Our data suggest that acute sodium retention by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in healthy elderly subjects is mediated by the inhibition of Cox-2, whereas depression of GFR is due to inhibition of Cox-1.

The electrocardiogram in patients with acute inferior myocardial infarction frequently displays ST depression in non-infarct leads. The significance of this finding is uncertain. The relationship between ST depression, ST elevation and arteriographic severity of coronary artery disease was explored. 22 patients with acute inferior myocardial infarction, receiving thrombolysis and undergoing acute (within seven hours of the onset of chest pain) coronary angiography were studied prospectively. The electrocardiographic ST segment elevation in the inferior leads and ST segment depression in the lateral and in the anterior precordial leads were measured. In each group of leads, the maximum value of ST deviation in any lead as well as the sum of the values for ST deviation in the individual leads was determined. Gensini scores of total coronary artery disease and component scores for the major coronary arteries were determined from the coronary arteriogram. There was a strong correlation of maximum inferior ST elevation with both maximum lateral ST depression (r = 0.96, p0.001) and with maximum anterior precordial ST depression (r = 0.78, p0.001). The corresponding correlations for sum of ST deviations were r = 0.91, p0.001 and r = 0.79, p0.001 respectively. There was no relationship between Gensini scores of coronary artery disease and measures of electrocardiographic ST segment depression or elevation. Electrocardiographic ST depression in non-infarct leads in patients with inferior myocardial infarction, does not provide information regarding the degree of coronary artery disease. The ST depression in both lateral and anterior precordial leads correlates with and is a reflection of inferior ST elevation.

Aspirin inhibits platelet cyclooxygenase and prevents thromboxane A2 (TXA2) production. Although it is an effective antithrombotic, even at a low doses aspirin may induce gastrointestinal toxicity. We examined the feasibility of delivering aspirin transdermally using two patch systems, one without (type A) and one with (type B) the permeation enhancer limonene. Daily application of two type A patches that had a total surface area of 100 cm2 and contained 84 mg/patch resulted in 85% +/- 6% reduction in serum TXB2 in six male subjects by day 14. Suppression of serum TXB2 was less marked in females (32% +/- 16%). Analysis of the residual drug in the patch showed that each patch delivered 18 +/- 3 mg on day 1 and 17 +/- 4 mg on day 14, with no difference between males and females. Daily application of a single patch B that had a surface area of 50 cm2 and contained 120 mg aspirin resulted in 60% +/- 11% suppression of serum TXB2 by day 14 in nine male subjects and 84% +/- 9% suppression by day 21. Analysis of the applied patches showed that patch B delivered 33 +/- 3 mg of aspirin daily. Plasma aspirin and salicylate were determined by gas chromatography, mass spectrometry. No aspirin was detected, whereas plasma salicylate was 157 +/- 38 ng/ml and 133 +/- 20 ng/ml by day 14 with patch A and patch B, respectively. Analysis of aspirin applied by patch to the skin in three subjects showed marked hydrolysis to the inactive product, salicylic acid. Aspirin can be delivered transdermally by patch in a dose that suppresses platelet cyclooxygenase. The delivery rate is low reflecting hydrolysis of the drug in the skin. Delivery is improved by the permeation enhancer limonene. This novel route of delivery may be applicable to other antithrombotics and may limit the risk of gastrointestinal toxicity.

The Southern Hemisphere VLBI Experiment (SHEVE) program is aimed at producing high-resolution images of southern radio sources. The radio telescopes of the present SHEVE array are described below and some recent results presented.

A high-resolution image of the strong extragalactic source 1343–601 has been made with the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope (MOST) at 843 MHz. The source is identified with a 10 mag galaxy (Mv = −24) which is heavily obscured through our Galaxy. A recent redshift (z = 0.01215) gives a distance of 73 Mpc and a corresponding radio luminosity of log P843 = 24.9.The MOST image shows a core linked by a double jet to asymmetric lobes which are surrounded by a confined balloon (400 × 200 kpc2) of low-brightness plasma. This has a complex network of ridges or flows which lead out into the wider cluster medium. If similar balloons exist around other double sources, they could provide the depolarising medium required by the Laing-Garrington effect.Separate observations show the core is compact with strong X-ray emission.

The structure of extragalactic radio sources south of declination -30° that have been imaged with the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope (MOST) at 843 MHz with a resolution of 44″ are reported. This sample includes those sources noted in the Molonglo Reference Catalogue (MRC) as extended (larger than ∼1'), as well as those noted as multiple, that is, within 8'of a neighbor and possibly related. The sample is representative of the strong extended extragalactic radio sources of the southern sky, but is not statistically complete

Moins de 45 arcmin separent les 3 radiosources 0211-479, 0214-480 et 0215-483; de plus, leur structure radio presente des axes paralleles entre eux. La probabilite d'observer trois sources differentes ayant ces caracteristiques est tres faible, pourtant les redshifts de ces 3 sources sont tres differents (0,22, 0,064 et 0,072 respectivement) et suggerent que les sources sont bien separees physiquement les unes des autres