Michael A. Fauman

Base composition and sedimentation properties of mitochondrial RNA of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract Mitochondrial ribosomal RNA (rRNA) of a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae differs from cytoplasmic rRNA in sedimentation properties and base composition. Mitochondrial rRNA sediments at 22 S and 15 S, while cytoplasmic rRNA sediments at 26 S and 17 S. Escherichia coli rRNA (23 S, 16 S) was used as the standard of reference. Both components of mitochondrial rRNA have a low guanylic+cytidylic acid content (25–27%). Cytoplasmic rRNA has a considerably higher guanylic+cytidylic acid content (45–48%). The base compositions of mitochondrial and cytoplasmic rRNAs parallel the different base compositions of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA.

Quality assurance monitoring in psychiatry.

The implementation of quality assurance monitoring is an important response to public demands for accountability in medicine as well as a requirement for institutional accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). The author examines the somewhat elusive definition of quality as it is applied to medical care. He reviews the history, terminology, and reasons for quality assurance monitoring and presents the JCAHO-defined concepts of indicators and thresholds. Several common problems associated with the implementation of quality assurance monitoring are discussed along with guidelines for the development of quality assurance indicators in psychiatry.

A DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM FOR ORGANIC BRAIN DISORDERS: CRITIQUE AND SUGGESTION

Organic brain disorders (OBD) are among the most complex psychiatric diagnostic problems. A critique of the American Psychiatric AssociationsDiagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM II) and the proposed DSM III suggests that the diagnostic outline for organic brain disorders contained in these publications (Organic Brain Syndromes in the DSM II; Organic Mental Syndromes in the proposed DSM III) is inadequate to describe the potential range of organic-based behavioral disorders and their possible organic etiologies. A new diagnostic system is proposed, with examples of its use, which should fit in with the DSM II and the proposed DSM III and be flexible enough to overcome the problems of the present diagnostic system.Organic brain disorders (OBD) are among the most complex psychiatric diagnostic problems. A critique of the American Psychiatric AssociationsDiagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM II) and the proposed DSM III suggests that the diagnostic outline for organic brain disorders contained in these publications (Organic Brain Syndromes in the DSM II; Organic Mental Syndromes in the proposed DSM III) is inadequate to describe the potential range of organic-based behavioral disorders and their possible organic etiologies. A new diagnostic system is proposed, with examples of its use, which should fit in with the DSM II and the proposed DSM III and be flexible enough to overcome the problems of the present diagnostic system.