Rats exposed chronically (5-9 weeks) to a variety of mild unpredictable stressors showed a reduced consumption of and preference for saccharin or sucrose solutions. Preference deficits took at least 2 weeks to develop and were maintained for more than 2 weeks after termination of the stress regime. Sucrose preference was unaffected by 1 week of treatment with the tricyclic antidepressant DMI but returned to normal after 2-4 weeks of DMI treatment. DMI did not alter sucrose preference in unstressed animals. No significant changes were seen in saline preference either during stress or following drug treatment. DMI reduced blood corticosterone and glucose levels, but stress did not significantly alter either measure. The results are discussed in terms of an animal model of endogenous depression.

The aim of this study was to describe the functional consequences of childhood stroke in terms of activity limitation and to explore the relationship between extent of brain damage, impairment, and functional sequelae. A further aim was to describe the health of the parents of these children. Seventeen children and adolescents with cerebral infarction in the territory of the middle cerebral artery were enrolled in the study. A new activity limitation measure with a 4-point Likert scale (the Paediatric Stroke Activity Limitation Measure) was designed to examine the degree of difficulty experienced by the children in daily activities. The relationship between activity limitation scores, standardized health-related quality of life assessment (Child Health Questionnaire), extent of brain damage, and results of a comprehensive neurologic examination (Pediatric Stroke Outcome Measure) were investigated. Parent health was assessed using the Short-Form 36 General Health Survey. Activity limitation was evident in the domains of education, self-care, and motor skills. There was very good interobserver agreement using the new activity limitation scale between the occupational therapist and pediatric neurologist (Cohen's kappa = 0.88). In comparison with population norms, the subjects scored below average in both physical and psychologic health. There was a clear relationship between radiologically apparent extent of brain damage, degree of impairment, and functional outcome. Parental health also rated generally lower than expected. This exploratory study suggests that both children who have had a stroke and their parents have significant and wide-ranging health needs.

These results indicate that MMN can be used to assess the functional status of the auditory cortex in terms of auditory memory and discrimination in young children with cochlear implants and may provide an objective mechanism for differentiating good from poor performers.