Comparison of components of the Good Behavior Game in a preschool classroom

The Good Behavior Game (GBG) is an effective intervention package for decreasing disruptive behavior in various populations and environments. There is, however, limited research evaluating the GBG with preschoolers. Furthermore, few studies have evaluated the effects of components of the GBG, and of those that have, most have done so only after exposure to the GBG package. We evaluated the effects (a) of the GBG on disruptive behavior of preschoolers during group instruction and (b) the major components of the GBG before and after implementation of the GBG package (c) at both the group and individual level. Results suggest that the GBG package was necessary for decreasing disruptive behavior. However, after exposure to the GBG, a response-independent contingency was effective for maintaining low levels of disruptive behavior at both the group and individual level.

Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), a progressive fungal allergic lung disease, is a common complication of asthma or cystic fibrosis. Although ABPA has been recognized since the 1950s, recent research has underscored the importance of Th2 immune deviation and granulocyte activation in its pathogenesis. There is also strong evidence of widespread under-diagnosis due to the complexity and lack of standardization of diagnostic criteria. Treatment has long focused on downregulation of the inflammatory response with prolonged courses of oral glucocorticosteroids, but more recently concerns with steroid toxicity and availability of new treatment modalities has led to trials of oral azoles, inhaled amphotericin, pulse intravenous steroids, and subcutaneously-injected anti-IgE monoclonal antibody omalizumab, all of which show evidence of efficacy and reduced toxicity.

Fungal sensitization in childhood persistent asthma is associated with disease severity

RATIONALE

Recent observations, especially in adults, suggest that asthma severity may be associated with fungal sensitization. Other studies suggest that some patients with severe asthma and fungal sensitization may benefit from anti-fungal therapy. Currently, the prevalence of fungal sensitization among children with severe asthma is not well characterized.

METHODS

We determined prevalence of fungal sensitization among children with moderate to severe persistent asthma and compared clinical characteristics between sensitized and non-sensitized children, including asthma severity, serum immunoglobulin E, and pulmonary function.

RESULTS

Of the 64 children enrolled, 25 (39%) had evidence of sensitization to one or more fungi. Nineteen of 25 (76%) children with fungal sensitization were categorized as severe persistent compared to 13 of 39 (33%) children without evidence of fungal sensitization (odds ratio = 6.33, 95% confidence interval 2.04-19.68, P = 0.0014). Of 32 severe persistent asthmatics, 19 (59%) demonstrated evidence of fungal sensitization. Serum immunoglobulin E was significantly higher (P < 0.001), and pulmonary function (including FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and FEF25-75%) significantly lower in the fungal-sensitized patients (P = 0.016, 0.0004, and 0.002, respectively). Bronchial biopsy of sensitized children revealed basement membrane thickening and eosinophil infiltration.

CONCLUSIONS

Fungal sensitization in children with persistent asthma is associated with disease severity. Almost 60% of our severe persistent asthma patients had evidence of fungal sensitization and, based on our previous studies, may be potential candidates for anti-fungal therapy.

Monofluoride bridged, binuclear metallacycles of first row transition metals supported by third generation bis(1-pyrazolyl)methane ligands: unusual magnetic properties

The reaction of M(BF(4))(2).xH(2)O, where M is Fe, Co, Cu, and Zn, and the ditopic, bis(pyrazolyl)methane ligand m-[CH(pz)(2)](2)C(6)H(4), L(m), where pz is a pyrazolyl ring, yields the monofluoride bridged, binuclear [M(2)(mu-F)(mu-L(m))(2)](BF(4))(3) complexes. In contrast, a similar reaction of L(m) with Ni(BF(4))(2).6H(2)O yields dibridged [Ni(2)(mu-F)(2)(mu-L(m))(2)](BF(4))(2). The solid state structures of seven [M(2)(mu-F)(mu-L(m))(2)](BF(4))(3) complexes show that the divalent metal ion is in a five-coordinate, trigonal bipyramidal, coordination environment with either a linear or nearly linear M-F-M bridging arrangement. NMR results indicate that [Zn(2)(mu-F)(mu-L(m))(2)](BF(4))(3) retains its dimeric structure in solution. The [Ni(2)(mu-F)(2)(mu-L(m))(2)](BF(4))(2) complex has a dibridging fluoride structure that has a six-coordination environment about each nickel(II) ion. In the solid state, the [Fe(2)(mu-F)(mu-L(m))(2)](BF(4))(3) and [Co(2)(mu-F)(mu-L(m))(2)](BF(4))(3) complexes show weak intramolecular antiferromagnetic exchange coupling between the two metal(II) ions with J values of -10.4 and -0.67 cm(-1), respectively; there is no observed long-range magnetic order. Three different solvates of [Cu(2)(mu-F)(mu-L(m))(2)](BF(4))(3) are diamagnetic between 5 and 400 K, thus showing strong antiferromagnetic exchange interactions of -600 cm(-1) or more negative. Mossbauer spectra indicate that [Fe(2)(mu-F)(mu-L(m))(2)](BF(4))(3) exhibits no long-range magnetic order between 4.2 and 295 K and isomer shifts that are consistent with the presence of five-coordinate, high-spin iron(II).

Cytokine-purine interactions in behavioral depression in rats

This paper reviews recent findings from our laboratories concerning metabolic and immune mediators of behavioral depression in rats. Specifically, a single injection of 6 mg/kg of reserpine substantially increases behavioral depression, as evidenced by an increase in the amount of time spent floating by independent groups of rats tested for swim performance at various times during the next week. The behavioral impairment consists of two components. An early component emerges one hour after reserpine treatment and persists for about 24 hours. The deficit is not reversed by intracranial ventricular infusion of the receptor antagonist for interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta). A second, late-component deficit appears approximately 48 hours after reserpine treatment and recovers within a week. Late-component depression is reversed by central infusion of the IL-1beta receptor antagonist, and is mimicked by central infusion of the proinflammatory cytokine. Importantly, both early and late components of reserpine-induced depression and IL-1beta induced depression are reversed by a systemic injection of the highly selective A2A adenosine receptor antagonist 8-(3-Chlorostyryl) caffeine. These data are discussed in terms of the overlap in the conservation-withdrawal reaction during sickness, traumatic stress, and major depression and the regional contribution of purines and cytokines to the organization of this reaction in the brain.

Holeboard performance of rats after hippocampal lesions and treatment with nimodipine

Rats were taught to select eight holes in a 4 x 4 holeboard for food reinforcements. Upon reaching criterion, they were given subtotal lesions of the anterior hippocampus or sham operations. They then received either the calcium channel blocker, nimodipine, or vehicle alone. Retention testing revealed a significant main effect of lesion and evidence for nimodipine reducing this effect. These data are consistent with previous findings from this laboratory in which it was demonstrated that nimodipine can enhance performance on higher cognitive tasks after hippocampal damage.

Medial frontal cortex lesions: deficits and treatment with nimodipine

Rats with bilateral lesions of the medial frontal cortex were tested in a T-maze for the ability to learn a position habit and to make four reversals of it. Rats with medial frontal cortical lesions showed deficits in reversal learning. In addition, they were found to be hyperactive in an open field. Treatment with the dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist, nimodipine, did not reduce these behavioral deficits.