Recent developments in instrumentation for psychochemistry.

Considers "biochemical instrumentation appropriate to psychochemistry," stressing recent developments since V. J. Polidora and R. E. Bowman's study. Instrumentation is examined concerning "(a) administration of drugs or other compounds, (b) sampling and biophysical separations of biological tissue, and (c) biochemical identification and quantification of compounds in biological samples." (47 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Recent advances in the treatment of Hodgkin's disease

Most patients who present with Hodgkin's disease today can be cured of their disease. Current treatments strive to maintain a high level of efficacy while reducing side effects that limit the quality and length of survival. Sophisticated molecular techniques continue to aid our understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of this disease. However, the heterogeneity and paucity of "malignant" cells in Hodgkin's disease continue to limit our ability to articulate a coherent and encompassing model.     

Recent developments in the management of retinoblastoma

The management of retinoblastoma has gradually changed over the past few decades. There is a trend away from enucleation and external beam radiotherapy toward focal conservative treatments. This is primarily because of earlier detection of the disease and more focused treatment modalities. Enucleation is still employed for retinoblastoma that fills most of the eye, especially when there is a concern for tumor invasion into the optic nerve or choroid. After enucleation, an integrated orbital implant, provides improved motility and appearance of the prosthesis. External beam radiotherapy continues to be an important method of treating less advanced retinoblastoma, especially when there is diffuse vitreous or subretinal seeding. Plaque radiotherapy is useful for controlling small- to medium-sized retinoblastomas, even those with focal vitreous seeds. Tumors that recur after failure of other methods are often suitable for plaque treatment. When plaque radiotherapy is employed in a child receiving chemotherapy, eventual radiation retinopathy can occur. Cryotherapy and photocoagulation provide excellent control of selected small tumors. Advanced laser delivery systems, particularly those that have been adapted to the indirect ophthalmoscope, have facilitated the visualization for treatment of tumors. Thermotherapy is the newest focal method for retinoblastoma. When combined with chemotherapy, thermotherapy provides satisfactory tumor control, leaving the child with a reasonably small scar, thus preserving more vision. Chemoreduction, using intravenous or subconjunctival routes, is often employed to reduce initial tumor volume and thus allow for focal treatment to eradicate the residual smaller tumor. Many children with advanced retinoblastoma can be spared external beam radiotherapy and enucleation mostly as a result of chemoreduction and focal methods. Chemoreduction combined with cryotherapy, thermotherapy, and plaque radiotherapy plays an important role in the current management of many children with retinoblastoma.     

Chronic insomnia: Recent advances and innovations in treatment developments and dissemination.

Insomnia is a prevalent public health problem that carries an important psychosocial and economic burden for those affected, their families, employers, and for society at large. Despite its negative impacts, insomnia often remains untreated and, when treatment is initiated, it is predominantly with medication, an option that is not always acceptable to people with insomnia. There is extensive evidence that psychological approaches, primarily cognitive behavioural therapy, are effective, produce durable and generalizable outcomes, and should be the first line therapy for chronic insomnia. Nonetheless, these approaches remain under utilised in clinical (medical) practise. Several innovative and cost-effective treatment delivery models (e.g., telephone consultations, Internet-based treatment) have yielded promising results but despite these advances, there remains a problem of supply. A significant challenge for the future will be to disseminate more efficiently validated therapies and practise guidelines and increase their use in clinical practise. Additional training opportunities are also needed for psychologists to develop expertise in a new emerging behavioural sleep medicine subspecialty. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Recent developments in osmotic agents for peritoneal dialysis

Although glucose is still the most widely used osmotic agent for peritoneal dialysis, it has several disadvantages that challenge its long-term use. During the past years several nonglucose molecules have been tested as osmotic agents for peritoneal dialysis. Most of these molecules have some advantages over glucose, but they also have drawbacks. Every new agent should be carefully tested for performance and long-term safety. In the following review, alternative osmotic agents are discussed, including their potential indications and drawbacks. Major issues include the improvement of biocompatibility and preservation of peritoneal membrane integrity by using dialysate with more physiologic pH, the effect on nutritional status by using dialysate with amino acids, and maintenance of peritoneal ultrafiltration in the long-term by using dialysate with polyglucose. It is believed that in the near future, mixtures of osmotic agents will become most appropriate to obtain the best performance.     

Recent developments in antipsychotic medication

The development of new neuroleptics aims to reduce unwanted extrapyramidal motor side effects as well as the non-response rate, and to achieve a greater effect on negative symptoms. Preferential binding of neuroleptics to D2-receptors in the limbic system, as well as the combination of dopamine D2- and serotonin S2-antagonism proved to be effective. A potent D2-S2-antagonism as was realized with positive results in risperidone serves as a model for a whole class of new neuroleptics.     

Recent developments in peroxisome biology

Membrane molecules such as CD36 (OKM5), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1, CD54), gamma interferon-induced protein 10 (gamma-IP10) and IL-1 are induced and/or upregulated in psoriatic epidermis. These molecules have important accessory, trafficking or signalling functions in the immune system and also play a role in the pathophysiology of psoriasis. The relevance of adhesion molecules, CD36 and epidermal IL-1 in psoriasis was studied in vitro in the autologous mixed epidermal cell - T lymphocyte reaction (MECLR). Their level of expression was quantitated in epidermal cell suspensions (ECS) from patients with psoriasis and their function was assessed by blocking with specific mAbs and antisera or by depleting CD36+ cells from the ECS prior to the MECLR. ECS from psoriatic lesions contained increased numbers of CD36+ (23 +/- 12%), ICAM-1(+) (31 +/- 14%) and IL-1(+) (57 +/- 21%) cells. The autologous MECLR was inhibited in samples from all patients by mAb to CD2 (LFA-2), CD11a (LFA-1alpha), CD18 (LFA-1beta), ICAM-1, CD58 (LFA-3) and an antiserum to IL-1beta. Thus, adhesion molecules facilitate inflammation in psoriasis not only via adhesion and recruitment of T lymphocyte in psoriatic lesions, but also via activation of T cells. Furthermore CD36 molecules on psoriatic epidermal cells do not costimulate autologous T lymphocytes in psoriasis. The observed costimulatory function of IL-1beta in the MECLR emphasizes its relevance in psoriasis.     

Recent developments in working memory

A technique is described that allows the concurrent synthesis of homologous regions of separate oligonucleotides. The technique utilizes synthesis columns that are readily interconverted between single-chambered and dual-chambered. The regions of the oligonucleotides that differ are synthesized separately with single-chamber columns, and with the single molecules joined, the homologous regions synthesized simultaneously. After synthesis, the chambers are opened separately, the solid-phase-bound oligonucleotides are placed in deprotection vials and treated as normal. Compared with standard syntheses, no decrease in yield or oligonucleotide quality was observed. This technique can result in significant savings in time and reagent costs when synthesizing a series of homologous oligonucleotides. This technique could be extended to the simultaneous synthesis of more than two oligonucleotides, possibly up to four or five oligonucleotides in an appropriate multichambered column.     

Recent developments in the hammerhead ribozyme field

Developments in the hammerhead ribozyme field during the last two years are reviewed here. New results on the specificity of this ribozyme, the mechanism of its action and on the question of metal ion involvement in the cleavage reaction are discussed. To demonstrate the potential of ribozyme technology examples of the application of this ribozyme for the inhibition of gene expression in cell culture, in animals, as well as in plant models are presented. Particular emphasis is given to critical steps in the approach, including RNA site selection, delivery, vector development and cassette construction.     

Recent developments in the pharmacotherapy of mood disorders

This article reviews recent developments in the pharmacotherapy of mood disorders. Pharmacotherapy is the best studied and most widely validated approach for acute phase treatment and prevention of relapse-recurrence for patients with major depression, dysthymia, and bipolar affective disorder. Antidepressants are also the mainstay of inpatient treatment and, when considered together with electroconvulsive therapy, represent the first line of treatment for the most severe and incapacitating forms of depression. Similarly, pharmacotherapy with mood stabilizers is the first line of treatment for bipolar depression and mania. Despite such efficacy, problems associated with pharmacotherapy include acceptability, tolerability, adherence, incomplete remission, and high rates of recurrence after drug discontinuation. Moreover, a small subset of patients do not respond to multiple medication trials.     

Recent developments in luminescent nanoparticles for plant imaging and photosynthesis

Luminescent nanoparticles(upconversion nanoparticles, carbon dots, silicon nanoparticles and nanophosphors) have the advantages of tunable photoluminescence, good biocompatibility, low cytotoxicity and chemical/physical stability. Recently, the luminescent nanoparticles have been involved in the plant research for imaging plant phenotype and improving the photosynthesis efficiency. Luminescent nanoparticles are applied for the plant imaging in vivo and in vitro, while the plant photosynthesis is dependent on the specific light wavelength, providing the luminescent nanoparticles an opportunity to optimize the agriculture light. This review presents the recent developments of luminescent nanoparticles applied on the plant imaging and photosynthesis and discusses the trend for future research.     

Recent developments in the understanding of antinuclear autoantibodies

Cytological identification of soybean mitotic metaphase chromosomes (2n = 40) has been severely limited by their small size and uniform karyomorphology. We have developed fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), PCR-primed in situ labelling (PCR-PRINS) procedures, and molecular probes for routine cytological identification and for the physical mapping of soybean somatic chromosomes. Chromosome preparation has been achieved by modifications of previous protocols and through the preparation of root-tip protoplasts prior to chromosome spreading. Initially our probe selection focused on highly repeated DNAs that provide very intense localized hybridization signals. Repetitive gene probes that have proven valuable include the rDNA loci (5S and 45S) which are chromosome specific. We have also developed satellite DNA probes for two different sequence families: the SB92 and the STR120 satellites. Both of these are tandemly arranged at multiple chromosomal loci. By using different cloned examples of each family, we have been able to selectively label unique subsets of soybean chromosomes. Double hybridization with biotin and digoxigenin labeled probes has allowed us to determine the chromosomal overlap between different probes. In addition, we have joined portions of the metaphase chromosome painting patterns with the genetic map by single-copy FISH and PCR-PRINS detection of the RFLP loci G8.15, G17.3, and A199a and A199b. Total genomic DNA in situ hybridization (GISH) patterns were also used to characterize the soybean chromosomes.     

Recent developments in the pharmacotherapy of substance abuse

Modern concepts of addictive disorders emphasize the compulsive and relapsing drug-taking behaviors rather than tolerance and physical dependence. As with any chronic disorder, long-term treatment is necessary and medications may aid in the rehabilitative process. Specific medications have been demonstrated to be helpful for psychiatric disorders coexisting with addiction. Medications have also been demonstrated in controlled studies to aid in the rehabilitation of patients dependent on nicotine, alcohol, or opiates. Thus far, no medication has been clearly demonstrated to benefit patients suffering from abuse or dependence on cocaine, cannabinoids, nonalcohol sedatives, or hallucinogens.     

Psychological assessment and treatment of headache: Recent developments and emerging issues.

Describes the development of research on the assessment and treatment of migraine and tension headache. Discussed under assessment are the importance of identifying alternative ways to classify headache that will have more utility in treatment planning; in developing more comprehensive, interactive models for explaining headache; and in exploring alternative ways to measure and evaluate headache pain. To aid understanding of treatment, researchers need to identify mechanisms underlying treatment, explore ways to make treatment gains more durable, develop treatments for certain groups (e.g., adults with combined headache and cluster headache and children with all forms of headache), examine the interplay of behavioral and pharmacological treatments, determine predictors of successful outcome, and evaluate the utility of self-administered treatments. (126 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)