The Cyclandelate Reference Standard (Control 931) of the National Institute of Health Sciences

Raw thiamine hydrochloride material was tested for preparation of the "Thiamine Hydrochloride Reference Standard (Control 931)". Analytical data obtained were as follows: melting point, 242.7 degrees C (decomposition); infrared spectrum, the same as that of the JP Thiamine Hydrochloride Reference Standard; thin-layer chromatography, one impurity was detected; high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), a trace amount of one impurity was detected; assay results, 100.4% by UV spectrophotometry and 100.0% by HPLC, respectively. Based on the above findings, the raw material was authorized as the JP Thiamine Hydrochloride Reference Standard (Control 931).     

Riboflavin Reference Standard (Control 921) of National Institute of Health Sciences

The raw material for riboflavin was tested for preparation of the "Riboflavin Reference Standard (Control 921)". Analytical data obtained were as follows: melting point, 283.8 degrees C (decomposition); specific absorbance, E1%1 cm = 852 (267 nm), 275 (373 nm), 325 (446 nm); infrared spectrum, the same as that of JP Riboflavin Reference Standard; optical rotation [alpha]20D = 138.5 degrees; thin-layer chromatography, no impurities were detected up to 6 micrograms; high-performance liquid chromatography, a small amount of 9 impurities were detected; loss on drying, 0.16%; assay, 100.3% by spectrophotometry. Based on the above results, the raw material was authorized as the Japanese Pharmacopoeia Reference Standard (Control 921).     

Hydrocortisone Acetate Reference Standard (Control 961) of National Institute of Health Sciences

The raw material of hydrocortisone acetate was tested for the preparation of the "Hydrocortisone Acetate Reference Standard (Control 961)". Analytical data obtained were as follows: IR spectrum, specific absorption wave numbers at 3428, 1748, 1723, 1631, and 1375 cm-1; specific absorbance, E1cm1% (242 nm) = 406; thin-layer chromatography, no impurities were detected until 0.05 microgram; high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), 2-3 impurities were detected and the amount of the total impurities was estimated to be about 0.2%; assay by HPLC, 100.7%. Based on the above results, the raw material was authorized as the Japanese Pharmacopoeia Reference Standard (Control 961).     

Tocopherol Acetate Reference Standard (Control 941) of the National Institute of Health Sciences

The raw material of betamethasone was tested for preparation of the "Betamethasone Reference Standard (Control 951)". Analytical data obtained were as follows: loss on drying, 0.0%; infrared spectrum, the same as that of the JP Betamethasone Reference Standard (Control 845); thin-layer chromatography, no impurity was detected; high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), two kinds of impurities were detected and the total amount was estimated to be 0.16 +/- 0.01% (n = 3); assay, 100.0% by HPLC. Based on the above results, the raw material was authorized as the JP Betamethasone Reference Standard (Control 951).     

National research agenda for prevention research: The National Institute of Mental Health report.

This article reports some of the most promising ideas to emerge from a review conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health of the achievements and prospects for research on the prevention of mental disorders. These ideas are organized around 3 conceptual hubs: the development and transformation of biological and social risk and protective factors across the life span, classifying and relating various approaches to preventive interventions in a single logical system, and concepts about community contexts in which prevention trials are executed. These conceptual hubs clarify the relationship between 3 forms of research in prevention: longitudinal studies of risk, randomized preventive intervention trials, and the implementation of successful interventions as part of routine community practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Health manpower policy: A perspective from the National Institute of Mental Health.

Provides a brief history of the US National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and its role in mental health manpower development. It is concluded that the mental health clinical training programs of NIMH have been essential to the academic mental health community and to the growth of the professions. Presently in psychology and social work, the shortage of funds to support students is the primary concern. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On preserving the National Institute of Mental Health Career Scientist Award

OBJECTIVES: The pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver in non-obese persons is poorly understood. We aimed to elucidate whether hyperinsulinemia and glucose intolerance are associated with development of fatty liver in patients with normal body weight. METHODS: Forty-seven patients with fatty liver were divided into non-obese (n = 25) and obese groups (n = 22) according to age adjusted body mass index. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) elevated transaminase levels during more than 3 months of follow up period, (2) no detectable HBsAg or anti-HCV in the serum, (3) alcohol consumption less than 40 gm/week, (4) no use of potential hepatotoxic drugs within 3 months and (4) sonographic evidence of fatty liver(moderate to severe degree). Baseline insulin levels and oral glucose tolerance test using 75gm of glucose were performed and the results were compared in each group of patients. RESULTS: Mean baseline insulin levels were elevated in both groups above the reference value, 9.3 +/- 3.5 microU/L in non-obese group and 9.9 +/- 3.5 microU/L in obese group (p = 0.26). Seventeen of non-obese patients (68%) had elevated basal insulin level and 16 of obese patients (73%) had elevated basal insulin level (p = 0.39). In oral glucose tolerance test, there was no difference in glucose level between non-obese and obese groups from O minute to 180 minutes (p > 0.05). Eleven patients from the non-obese group (44%) and 8 patients from the obese group (36%) had either impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes (p = 0.29). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that hyperinsulinemia and glucose intolerance may play a role in the pathogenesis of fatty liver in patients with normal body weight as well as in patients with obesity.     

National Institute of Mental Health goals for behavioral science.

Because all health conditions for which the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is responsible manifest at the level of behavior, and all interventions must have an impact at the behavioral level, NIMH is firmly committed to the support of behavioral science. In an era in which research in areas that some view as reductionist—for example, genomics, genetics, functional genomics and proteomics, and molecular science—is especially promising, NIMH is striving to maintain a balance in its portfolio with studies that explore integrative aspects of biology, including behavior. Without this perspective, new information about fundamental processes will prove ultimately to be shallow. This commentary discusses how understanding of brain and behavior in mental illness and health calls for integrating bottom-up research that studies brain and behavior through genes and molecules, with top-down research that examines the impact of environment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Neurotechnology: expanding opportunities for funding at the National Institute of Mental Health

The National Institute of Mental Health recognizes the importance that creative development of technology and methodology play in brain and behavioral science research. This institute is making major efforts to support such development through specific initiatives, like the Human Brain Project. In addition, this Institute is actively building bridges between business and academic research communities to make optical use of funds for the research and development of commercially viable technologies relevant to all aspects of the Institute's mission through the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs. Together, these efforts will culminate in a more vigorous scientific enterprise, and ultimately benefit the entire mental health community and society.     

Work organization research at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

For 25 years, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has conducted and sponsored laboratory, field, and epidemiological studies that have helped define the role of work organization factors in occupational safety and health. Research has focused on the health effects of specific job conditions, occupational stressors in specific occupations, occupational differences in the incidence of stressors and stress-related disorders, and intervention strategies. NIOSH and the American Psychological Association have formalized the concept of occupational health psychology and developed a postdoctoral training program. The National Occupational Research Agenda recognizes organization of work as one of 21 national occupational safety and health research priority areas. Future research should focus on industries, occupations, and populations at special risk; the impact of work organization on overall health; the identification of healthy organization characteristics; and the development of intervention strategies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The training program of the National Institute of Mental Health: Its implications for mental health programs.

The year 1956 marked the tenth anniversary of the Training Grants Program of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). From very meager beginnings in 1948 they had advanced to the very substantial position which they now occupy in fiscal year 1957. This article looks backward briefly to when the National Mental Health Act was passed with the goal of improving the mental health of our nation. It describes the objectives and growth of the NIMH mental health program, which was established to help attain this goal. The article also describes several ongoing public mental health programs that reflect NIMH training grant support and problems in program implementation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Students'' perceptions of problem-based learning at the B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Nepal

Serological diagnosis of filariasis is generally known to be more reliable than detection of microfilariae. The recently developed Og4C3 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detecting Wuchereria bancrofti circulating antigen has been shown to be very sensitive in diagnosing filiariasis using serum samples. The commercially available form of this ELISA, using whole blood collected on filter paper, has not been validated independently. We evaluated the sensitivity of this new method against standard 20 microL night blood films in 1808 paired samples from 18 communities in different endemic areas of Ghana. The diagnostic performance of the method was consistently low in all but 2 communities (sensitivity = 50.3%). This method of diagnosing filariasis is not suitable for field use in its present form.