Search

Das Ritual der Aštu (CTH 490): Rekonstruktion und Tradition eines hurritisch-hethitischen Rituals aus Boğazköy/Ḫattuša. By Susanne Görke. Culture and History of the Ancient Near East, vol. 40. Leiden: Brill, 2010. Pp. xvii + 365. $179.

The senses of hearing and sight are well represented in the Hurrian corpus from the Late Bronze Age. It is argued here that Hurrian had both broader and more focused verbs for these senses. The root ḫaž- is used for general sense of “to hear,” while salġ- is more focused and is used for “to listen, heed.” Included is an examination of the various types of patients used with transitive ḫaž-, from general words to those who speak. Among the recognised verbs of sight, fōr- is typically used more broadly as “to see,” while am- is “to gaze.” In this chapter it is proposed for the first time that the root si-, which has been translated as “to amaze, be amazed,” is actually a verb of sight and means “to witness.” Examples from Hurrian rituals, mythological texts (including the Song of Release), and the Mitanni Letter are examined.

The lipophilic electron-transport cofactor rhodoquinone (RQ) facilitates anaerobic metabolism in a variety of bacteria and selected eukaryotic organisms in hypoxic environments. We have shown that an intact rquA gene in Rhodospirillum rubrum is required for RQ production and efficient growth of the bacterium under anoxic conditions. While the explicit details of RQ biosynthesis have yet to be fully delineated, ubiquinone (Q) is a required precursor to RQ in R. rubrum, and the RquA gene product is homologous to a class I methyltransferase. In order to identify any additional requirements for RQ biosynthesis or factors influencing RQ production in R. rubrum, we performed transcriptome analysis to identify differentially expressed genes in anoxic, illuminated R. rubrum cultures, compared with those aerobically grown in the dark. To further select target genes, we employed a bioinformatics approach to assess the likelihood that a given differentially expressed gene under anoxic conditions may also have a direct role in RQ production or regulation of its levels in vivo. Having thus compiled a list of candidate genes, nine were chosen for further study by generation of knockout strains. RQ and Q levels were quantified using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and rquA gene expression was measured using the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In one case, Q and RQ levels were decreased relative to wild type; in another case, the opposite effect was observed. These results comport with the crucial roles of rquA and Q in RQ biosynthesis, and reveal the existence of potential modulators of RQ levels in R. rubrum.

Context. This is the second of a series of papers presenting VLBI observations of the 293 Caltech-Jodrell Bank Flat-Spectrum (hereafter CJF) sources and their analysis. Aims. To obtain a consistent motion dataset large enough to allow the systematic properties of the population to be studied. Methods. We present the detailed kinematic analysis of the complete fl ux-density limited CJF survey. We computed 2-D kinematic models based on the optimal model-fitting parameters of mult i-epoch VLBA observations. This allows us to calculate not only radial, but also orthogonal motions, and thus to study curvature and acceleration. Statistical tests of the motions measured an d their reliability have been performed. A correlation analysis between the derived apparent motions, luminosities, spectral indices, an d core dominance and the resulting consequences is described. Results. With at least one velocity in each of 237 sources, this sample is much larger than any available before and allows a meaningful statistical investigation of apparent motions and any poss ible correlations with other parameters in AGN jets. The main results to emerge are as follows: - In general motions are not consistent with a single uniform velocity applicable to all components along a jet. - We find a slight trend towards a positive outward accele ration and also adduce some evidence for greater acceleration in the inner-most regions. - We find a lack of fast components at phys ical distances less than a few pc from the reference feature. - Only ∼4% of the components from galaxies and

A study was made relative to the dry pressing of wall tile having a thickness of 3/16 in. Three bodies, a high talc, a high pyrophyllite, and a regular body were studied. The water content was kept constant and the forming pressures were varied from 1000 to 3000 lb. per sq. in. The bodies were fired to cones 4, 6, and 8. The bisque tile were tested for thermal expansion, warpage, absorption, shrinkage, impact strength, transverse strength, and moisture expansion. The glazed tile were tested for warpage, impact resistance, and moisture expansion. The results showed that satisfactory thin wall tile could be made from all bodies, the high-pyrophyllite body indicating the greatest promise. It was found that pressing pressures had definite effects on impact strength, warpage, shrinkage, and thermal expansion.

I briefly review the means by which VLBI observations can determine the position, proper motion, and parallax of a pulsar, consider a subset of the applications of such results, and highlight recent developments in pulsar gating at JIVE.

I briefly review the means by which VLBI observations can determine the position, proper motion, and parallax of a pulsar, and consider a small subset of the applications of such results.

While it is recognized that a variety of educational opportunities exist for junior hospital doctors, this study was designed to assess the incidence and ensuing benefit of cooperative learning. Postal questionnaires were sent to senior house officers (n = 60) working in Paediatric Medicine in nine Northern Ireland hospitals and additional data were collected from focus group interviews held in four of these hospitals. With a response rate of 80%, the questionnaire indicated that the SHOs were positive about working and learning as members of a team and that communication and cooperation were necessary skills. In addition to the different learning situations that occur in hospital, the focus groups highlighted the facts that team working and group learning improve patient care and knowledge acquisition. Findings show that not only do professional networking and group-assisted learning occur in hospital training, but that these were considered to be of great benefit to the SHOs.

We describe a method for removing ionospheric effects from single-frequency radio data a posteriori. This method is based on a theoretical climatological model developed by the USAF, which returns electron density as a function of position and time along the line of sight to the source. Together with a model of the earth's magnetic field, ionospheric delays and Faraday rotation values ensue. If contemoraneous ionospheric data -- GPS TEC observations or ionosonde profiles -- exist, they can be incorporated to update the modeled electron densities., 6 pages, 2 fiugres; LaTeX2e (96/12/01); uses elsart.cls (2.15, 98/07/15); to appear in New Astronomy Reviews

Active immunization against GRF at 6 months of age delays puberty in beef heifers. The objectives of the present study were to determine whether active immunization against GRF at an earlier age would affect normal onset of puberty and follicular growth and to determine whether these changes were related to alterations in ovarian insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) or IGF binding protein (IG-FBP) messenger RNA (mRNA) levels. Heifers were immunized against human serum albumin (HSAi; n = 15) or against GRF conjugated to HSA (GRFi; n = 18) at 3 months of age. A third group of heifers was not immunized (CON; n = 16). Immunization against GRF delayed puberty beyond 13 months of age in 75% of treated heifers. Unilateral ovariectomy at 191 days of age revealed that the delay in puberty was associated with a reduction in the number of large (or = 7 mm in diameter) follicles. Large follicles were present in only 22% of GRFi heifers compared to 77% of HSAi heifers. The number of small (or = 3 mm in diameter) and medium (4 to 6 mm in diameter) follicles was not affected by GRFi. The percentage of 1- to 3-mm follicles that were atretic was not different between HSAi (65%) and GRFi (62%) heifers. Unilateral ovariectomy had no effect on age at puberty. Immunization against GRF decreased (P0.01) concentrations of IGF-I in serum (23 +/- 2 ng/ml) compared to HSAi heifers (109 +/- 11 ng/ml). IGF-I levels in follicular fluid (FFL) of medium and small follicles were also decreased by GRFi from 82 +/- 3 ng/ml in HSAi heifers to 48 +/- 6 ng/ml (P0.01). Levels of IGFBP-3 (determined by ligand blot analysis) in serum and FFL of small follicles were decreased by GRFi (P0.01). In contrast, IGFBP-2 serum levels were increased from 422 +/- 32 ng/ml in HSAi heifers to 657 +/- 6 ng/ml in GRFi heifers (P0.05). Likewise, IGFBP-2 levels in FFL from small and medium follicles were increased from 785 +/- 44 ng/ml to 926 +/- 44 ng/ml (P0.05). Ligand blot analysis indicated that IGFBP levels were lower in FFL from large vs. small follicles. The band intensities of IGFBP-4 and -5 were drastically reduced (80%) while the decreases in IGFBP-2 and -3 were less marked (50%). The decreased levels of IGFBP-5 in FFL from large follicles was not associated with an increase in proteolytic fragments detectable by immunoblot analysis. While mRNA transcripts for IGF-I, GH receptor, and IGFBP-2, -3, -4, and -5 were readily detectable in ovarian tissue, GRFi had no effect on ovarian levels of mRNA for each of these proteins. This suggests that the decrease in follicular development associated with GRFi may be related to changes in circulating IGF-I and/or IGFBPs.

To estimate the potential of GH response to administration of growth hormone (GH)-releasing factor (GRF) as a predictor of genetic merit, two experiments, utilizing proven AI dairy sires of differing genetic merit for milk production, were conducted. In a first experiment, bulls of superior genetic merit [S; n=4; genetic merit for economic value of product (MFP$)=$227] or inferior genetic merit (I; n=4; MFPS=$94) were administered, three dosages of GRF (0, 5.5 and 11 μg GRF · 100 kg BW −1 ). Each bull received one dosage of Ro23-7863, an hGRF (1–29) analog, on each of three consecutive days. Area under the GH response curve (AUC) from S bulls following 5.5 or 11 μg GRF were greater (P −1 ) was administered to sires of superior (S; n=8; MFPS=$204), average (A; n=8; MFP$=$149) or inferior (I; n=8; MFPS=$74) genetic merit. There was no effect (P>0.05) of genetic group on preinjection AUC, however, AUCs following GRF were greater (P −1 , respectively). Therefore, GH response to exogenous GRF administration may be a useful tool in identifying dairy bulls with superior transmitting ability for milk production traits.

Thermal analysis (TA) of complex samples has been greatly assisted by the coupling of Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis to the TA experiment. Evolved gas analysis has been very successful in combined TGA/FT-IR experiments, whereas during a combined differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)/FT-IR experiment, the FT-IR analysis has generally been directed at the sample itself. By combining a simultaneous TGA/DSC instrument with FT-IR evolved gas analysis (STA/IR), we are now able to obtain three sets of complementary information on the same sample in one experiment. An STA/IR study of a sample of zinc stearate was made to demonstrate the operation of the instrument. This demonstrated that the sensitivity of the FT-IR analysis was greater than that of the TG analysis, as a small amount of water vapour was released during the sample melt, even though no weight loss was measured at the same time. Practical applications of this instrument combination include the detailed examination of various formulations of solder paste and an epoxy-based encapsulant. Solder pastes from three vendors were shown to contain different organic species, and to lose these organics at different rates under different atmospheric conditions, to give varying residual levels of organics. The encapsulant samples were shown to contain different, albeit very low, levels of an ester species, which may explain their different physical behaviour.

A growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) analog was administered at 11, 22 and 33 μg 100 kg−1 to proven dairy sires of varying genetic merit for production traits. Administration of GRF increased mean GH concentrations, but the area under the response curve was not different among the three dosages, nor were there differences between genetic groups overall. However, the maximum GH concentration following the administration of 11 μg 100 kg−1 was greater among superior sires. None of semen motility, sperm concentration or total sperm were affected through an entire spermatogonic cycle. Key words: GRF, growth hormone, semen, dairy bulls

A shared feature among ergative languages is that none are completely ergative in both morphology and syntax. In some facet of the language there is a split where the language no longer functions along ergative lines but follows a different system, often times nominative-accusative. Hurrian is no exception to the rule. While some theories have attempted to locate this split in ergativity, through a reexamination of the modal system clear evidence for it has now been identified.

The application of Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF) to biological cells induces trans-membrane potentials that can give rise to significant biological effects, predominantly electroporation. Recently, the effects of sub-microsecond intense electrical pulses (sm-PEF) on cellular organelles have been reported. In such applications, instantaneous power is high (~MW) but, due to the short pulse duration, energy delivered to cells and tissues is low (~nJ per cell). Electroporation is used mainly for transfections of exogenous materials, but many other interventions are possible, including microbial deactivation, whereas sm-PEF has shown particular promise in medical fields, including oncology. In this paper, the response of cells to PEF and sm-PEF is examined using an equivalent circuit model (ECM) where a network of electrical components is used to represent the cell and its environment. The model is validated through comparison with independent analytical and numerical studies. It is shown that the ECM, which is not computationally demanding, may be usefully adopted to examine how a cell and organelle respond to a wide range of cell parameters and pulse types. It is considered that such mathematical models, which can help to establish a quantitative link between the application of a time-varying electromagnetic pulse and the subsequent cell response, may allow the possible correlation between such responses and microbiological measurements to be investigated. It is anticipated that the development of these modeling approaches will aid in the analysis of those experimental measurements that are presently considered to be unattainable through real stochastic studies.

Cell response to sub-microsecond pulsed electric fields (sm-PEF) is examined using an equivalent circuit model (ECM) where a network of electrical components is used to represent the cell environment and the cell with its internal structures. The model is evaluated by comparing results with published data from other numerical studies. It is shown that the model, which is not computationally demanding, may be usefully adopted to examine cell and organelle response in vitro, and where the applied pulse shape and frequency spectrum may be of significance.

Children with congenital thoracic scoliosis associated with fused ribs and unilateral unsegmented bars adjacent to convex hemivertebrae will inevitably develop thoracic insufficiency syndrome and curve progression with hemithorax compression without treatment. It is assumed that the concave side of such curves and their unilateral unsegmented bars do not grow. In the past early spinal fusion was performed with consecutive short thoracic spines and loss of lung volume. Little attention has been paid to lung function. These patients often suffered from lung failure and early death due to a small thorax.A new surgical technique is based on an indirect deformity correction and enlargement of the thorax due to a longitudinal implant, the vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib (VEPTR). The spine is not fused, thus promoting growth of the spine, the thorax and the lungs. Elongation of the implant is done every six months. Since 2002 this method has been performed on fifteen children in Basel as the first European center.Patients (mean age 6 years; 11 months to 12 years) were suffering from thoracic insufficiency syndrome due to unilateral unsegmented bars with fused ribs (n = 4), absent ribs (n = 2), bilaterally fused ribs (n = 2), hemivertebrae (n = 3) or neuromuscular scoliosis (n = 6). Doing fifteen primarily implantations and thirteen elongations there were three complications (two hook dislocations, one skin breakage). All patients improved cosmetically, functionally and radiologically which was shown on X-rays as a reduction of the Cobb angle from an average of 76 degrees (40-110 degrees ) to 55 degrees (30-67 degrees ).Expansion thoracoplasty and VEPTR implantation is a new treatment concept for children with thoracic insufficiency syndrome due to spinal deformities, which is based on distraction and expansion of the thorax thus allowing growth of the spine, the thorax and probably lungs. Presently it seems to be superior to any other method for the treatment of small children with progressive scoliosis and thoracic insufficiency syndrome.

Children with congenital thoracic scoliosis associated with fused ribs and unilateral unsegmented bars adjacent to convex hemivertebrae will invariably have curve progression without treatment. It is assumed that the unilateral unsegmented bars do not grow and therefore early spinal fusion has been performed in the past with consecutive short thoracic spines and loss of lung volume. A new surgical technique is based on an indirect deformity correction and enlargement of the thorax via a longitudinal implant, the vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib (VEPTR). The length of the thoracic spine after VEPTR implantation was analyzed in 21 children with an average follow-up of 4.2 years. Eighteen children did not have any prior surgery while three had already undergone spinal fusion. Using a 3-D analysis of computed tomography, a significant growth of the concave (7.9 mm/7.1% increase per year) and convex (8.3 mm/6.4%) side of the thoracic spine was found with no significant difference between sides. Unilateral unsegmented bars showed significant growth as well. Contrary to common knowledge, we were able to demonstrate the growth of the concave side of the thoracic spine and of the unilateral unsegmented bars after expansion thoracoplasty and VEPTR implantation.

Radiofrequency ablation has become frontline therapy for many pediatric patients with common supraventricular tachycardia (SVTs). Rather than long-term treatment with medications, radiofrequency ablation offers the possibility of "cure" for certain SVT substrates. The decision to perform radiofrequency ablation should be made after full disclosure with the patient and parents about radiofrequency ablation (RFA) benefits and risk, alternative therapies, and the natural history of the SVT. This paper presents a discussion about the current status of RFA and common pediatric SVTs, as well as, discussing evolving RFA issues and indications.

The authors examined the associations between parental variables and child syncope (fainting). Children ages 7 to 18 years undergoing tilt-table testing for neurocardiogenic syncope (NCS) at a pediatric cardiac center served as participants (N = 56). Results revealed that fathers' shortness of breath and overall psychological distress were significantly related to syncope frequency and emergency room (ER) visits for girls. Mothers' overall psychological distress, depressive symptoms, and shortness of breath were associated with boys' frequency of syncope and ER visits. Fathers' psychological factors were highly correlated with syncope for the children diagnosed negative for NCS. The frequency of children's syncope was higher in stepfamilies than in homes with both biological parents, and the correlations between children's syncope and the stepfathers' psychological symptoms were greater than for the children and their biological fathers in intact families. The role of parental psychological factors on child syncope is supported.

The authors examined the association of psychological adjustment, styles of coping, and disease severity for children with recurrent syncope. Participants were 44 children and adolescents with a history of recurrent syncope and 40 healthy comparison control children. Dependent variables were measures of internalizing adjustment (e.g., anxiety, depression, withdrawal) reported by children and their parents and styles of coping reported by children. Parents reported higher frequencies of the internalizing of behavioral symptoms (i.e., anxiety, withdrawal) for children with recurrent syncope compared with their healthy counterparts. Children's self-reports did not reveal significant differences between the syncope and comparison groups in psychological adjustment and styles of coping. The authors conclude from these findings that adjustment difficulties, including symptoms of anxiety and social withdrawal, may occur with recurrent syncope. Implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed.

Midline structures, such as the notochord and floor plate, are crucial to the developing central nervous system (CNS). Previously, we demonstrated that annexin IV is an excellent marker of midline structures. In the present study, we explore the possible role of annexin IV in development of the CNS midline. Using immunocytochemistry with an antibody to annexin IV, we have elucidated the temporal and spatial expression of this molecule. Annexin IV is present in the notochord at embryonic day (E) 8.5, prior to its expression in any structures within the neural tube. Subsequently, annexin IV is expressed by floor plate cells at E9.5. Annexin IV is also expressed in the roof plate, but not until E10.5. To determine if normal morphogenesis of these midline structures is essential for annexin IV expression, we analyzed two strains of mutant mice that have defective formation of either the floor or the roof plate. In Danforth's short-tail mice, the floor plate is absent from the caudal spinal cord, and annexin IV immunopositivity disappears at the level where the floor plate is missing. In curly tail mutant mice, there can be a failure of the neural tube to close, and in these regions there is no annexin IV expression in presumptive roof plate cells. Finally, annexin IV immunolabeling is present from the caudal spinal cord, through the brainstem up to the diencephalon and lamina terminalis. Thus, annexin IV is an excellent marker for differentiated midline cells, is temporally and spatially correlated with development of the floor and roof plates, and is expressed in a rostral-caudal manner that supports the hypothesis that the floor plate extends the full length of the original neural tube.

We present the first results from a long-term program to measure the trigonometric parallaxes and proper motions of a set of pulsars using VLBI. We obtained these results for PSR B2021+51 from four sessions of S-band observations of the pulsar and associated reference sources. We estimate a parallax of 0.95 ± 0.37 mas, a proper motion of μα = -8.11 ± 0.24 mas yr-1 and μδ = +13.41 ± 0.25 mas yr-1, and a position at epoch 1992.723 of α = 20h22m4987031 ± 000004 and δ = 51°54'502913 ± 00003 (all J2000). Our parallax estimate implies an average electron density of 0.021 ± 0.008 cm-3 along the line of sight to the pulsar. We also effectively rule out a physical association with the supernova remnant HB 21.

Conditions have been developed for the site-specific pegylation (NH2-terminus, side-chain and carboxy-terminus) of a potent analog of growth hormone-releasing factor, [Ala15]-hGRF(1-29)-NH2. These pegylated peptides were prepared by solid-phase peptide synthesis using the Fmoc/tBu strategy, and were fully characterized by analytical HPLC, amino-acid analysis, 1H-NMR spectroscopy and laser desorption mass spectrometry. Biological activities of hGRF analogs were determined in vitro utilizing stimulation of growth hormone release by cultured rat pituitary cells as an index. GH-releasing potencies of the pegylated hGRF analogs were compared to a series of model analogs of [Ala15]-hGRF(1-29)-NH2 that were acetylated or protected as the ethylamides at the pegylation sites. It was found that acetylation at the NH2-terminus resulted in reduced potency, which was not further affected when the NH2-terminus was pegylated, regardless of the size of poly(ethyleneglycol) (PEG) employed (e.g. PEG2000 or PEG5000). Pegylation at Asp8 or Lys12 decreased biological potency, a situation which was exacerbated by increasing the molecular weight of PEG. Pegylation at Lys21 or Asp25 did not significantly affect biological activity. The C-terminal model peptide, [Ala15,Orn(Ac)30]-hGRF(1-29)-NH2, was the most potent analog identified in this series (ca. 4-5-fold that of hGRF(1-44)-NH2. The COOH-terminal pegylated analogs retained this increased level of biological activity independent of PEG molecular weight. These studies demonstrate that a biologically active peptide can be pegylated and retain the full in vitro potency of the peptide. However, the biological activity is highly dependent on the site of pegylation and, in some cases, the molecular weight of PEG (degree of pegylation) moiety used.

We present hybrid maps of the A and B images of 0957+561 from each of four sessions of 6 cm VLBI observations that span the six-year interval 1987-1993. The inner- and outer-jets are clearly detected, and confirm the structures reported previously. There is no evidence of change in the separation between the core and inner-jet components, so the prospect of measuring the time delay using differential proper motions is not promising. The flux density in the core of each image peaked between 1989 and 1992. From the variation in these flux densities, we obtain a time-delay estimate of $\sim$1 yr., Comment: 11 pages, 3 PostScript figures, uses AAS LaTex style aaspp.sty, To appear in AJ (1995.12), Submitted 1995.07.06, Accepted 1995.08.17

We recently described a two-step enzymatic semisynthesis of the superpotent analog of human growth hormone releasing factor, [desNH2Tyr1,D-Ala2,Ala15]-GRF(1-29)-NH2 (4), from the precursor, [Ala15,29]-GRF(4-29)-OH (1). C-Terminal amidation of 1 to form [Ala15]-GRF(4-29)-NH2 (2) was achieved by carboxypeptidase-Y-catalyzed exchange of Ala29-OH for Arg-NH2. The target analog 4 was then obtained by acylation of segment 2 with desNH2Tyr-D-Ala-Asp(OH)-OR (3) (R = CH3CH2- or 4-NO2C6H4CH2-) catalyzed by the V8 protease. In this paper we report on the use of the recently isolated Glu/Asp-specific endopeptidase (GSE) from Bacillus licheniformis, which is shown to be an efficient catalyst for the segment condensation of 2 and 3. GSE is more stable than the V8 protease under the conditions employed (20% DMF, pH 8.2, 37 degrees C). The extent of conversion of 2 into 4 is limited by proteolyses at Asp3-Ala4 and Asp25-Ile26. However, this proteolysis is virtually eliminated by use of the appropriate ester leaving group, R. A systematic study of the kinetics of the GSE-catalyzed segment condensations of 2 and a series of tripeptide esters, desNH2Tyr-D-Ala-Asp(OH)-OR (3) [R = CH3CH2- (3a), CH3- (3b), ClCH2CH2- (3c), C6H5CH2- (3d), 4-NO2C6H4CH2- (3e)] revealed that rate of aminolysis versus proteolysis, and hence the conversion of 2 into 4, increase with increasing specificity (Vmax/Km) of GSE for the tripeptide ester.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

To determine the current practice and effectiveness of evaluating recurrent syncope in pediatric patients, and to establish the role of tilt table testing in the evaluation.Retrospective analysis of 54 pediatric patients with the history of syncope referred to cardiologists. Group I consisted of 27 patients examined without tilt table testing; group II consisted of 27 patients whose examination included tilt table testing.Group I had an average of 5.4 studies and group II, 6.6 studies performed per patient. Studies included chest radiograph (16 vs 13), electrocardiogram (24 vs 27), echocardiography (21 vs 27), 24-hour electrocardiogram (14 vs 16), transtelephonic monitor (7 vs 8), electrophysiology study (1 vs 3), complete blood cell counts (11 vs 12), chemistries (10 vs 11), thyroid function test (3 vs 3), neurology consult (12 vs 6), electroencephalogram (12 vs 5), and head computed tomographic scan (5 vs 3). Of the 298 non-tilt studies, the results of only 5 (1.6%) were abnormal. Diagnoses were made in 5 (18.5%) of 27 group I patients (Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, 1; conversion reaction, 2; hyperventilation, 1; migraines, 1), whereas diagnosis was made in 27 (100%) of 27 group II patients (neurocardiogenic syncope, 25; conversion reaction, 2).An extensive workup is not routinely indicated in syncopal patients with a history consistent with neurocardiogenic syncope. Tilt table testing performed early in the evaluation will increase the probability of a diagnosis, and will often prevent the need for further extensive, expensive anxiety-producing tests.

We review evidence that Xenopus Wnts (Xwnts) have activities consistent with their hypothesized roles as secreted signalling factors involved in multiple developmental processes. Transient misexpression of different Xwnts has distinct effects upon early development, and upon the formation of tissues in UV-irradiated embryos. Misexpression of Xwnts also has distinct effects on the in vitro differentiation of blastula cap explants. Cellular responses to Xwnt signals include changes in gap junctional permeability, altered responsiveness to growth factors, and possibly changes in cell adhesion. Current data suggest that a maternal Xwnt- or noggin-like activity is involved in the Nieuwkoop center activity during mesoderm induction, that Xwnt-8 participates in a pathway of differentiation as ventral mesoderm, and that Xwnt-5A is a potential modulator of morphogenetic movements.