In this article, we report the case of 2 boys with Pallister-Killian syndrome having late-onset, drug-resistant epileptic spasms. Seizures

have been reported in 40% of patients with Pallister-Killian syndrome but are poorly described. Epileptic spasms are not unusual in patients with brain malformations, chromosomal aberrations, and genetic syndromes, but epileptic spasms could be easily mistaken for behavioral manifestations. A better electroclinical characterization of epileptic seizures in Pallister-Killian syndrome using appropriate polygraphic tests (video-electroencephalography, electromyography) may lead to an early diagnosis and specific treatment for this form of epileptic spasms caused by this rare syndrome.”
“Background: To determine whether the long and short versions

of the Cigarette Dependence Scale (CDS), Cell Cycle inhibitor the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), the Heaviness of Smoking Index (HSI) and the Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale (NDSS) predicted smoking abstinence.

Method: We collected data via Internet in 2004-2007 in 2343 current smokers. Follow-up surveys were conducted after 8 days (N=456) and 31 days (N=486). We assessed the ability of dependence ratings to predict smoking abstinence, controlling for confidence and intention to quit smoking.

Results: All dependence scales were significant predictors of smoking abstinence at the 8-day follow-up, with the click here CDS being the best predictor (OR: 3.98 per SD unit, 15% of variance explained). Results were similar but stronger among respondents https://www.selleckchem.com/products/mek162.html intending to quit (OR: 6.68, 26% of variance explained). At the 31-day follow-up, only the FTND, HSI and NDSS Continuity subscale were

still significant, albeit weak, predictors of abstinence (OR: 1.56, 2% of variance explained).

Conclusion: Among the scales under scrutiny, the CDS had the best predictive validity after 8 days. None of the scales explained more than 2% of the variance in abstinence after 31 days. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“In most plants, sucrose is exported from source leaves to carbon-importing sink tissues to sustain their growth and metabolism. Apoplastic phloem-loading species require sucrose transporters (SUTs) to transport sucrose into the phloem. In many dicot plants, genetic and biochemical evidence has established that SUT1-type proteins function in phloem loading. However, the role of SUT1 in phloem loading in monocot plants is not clear since the rice (Oryza sativa) and sugarcane (Saccharum hybrid) SUT1 orthologues do not appear to function in phloem loading of sucrose. A SUT1 gene was previously cloned from maize (Zea mays) and shown to have expression and biochemical activity consistent with a hypothesized role in phloem loading. To determine the biological function of SUT1 in maize, a sut1 mutant was isolated and characterized.