Freezing of human embryos. A review of and a suggestion to unified guidelines for treatment at public fertility clinics in Denmark

In Denmark, legislation has made cryopreservation of human oocytes and embryos possible since October 1992. The legislation is reviewed. Cryopreservation of embryos constitutes a significant improvement of infertility treatment. The number of oocyte pick-ups and the number of embryos transferred can be reduced without compromising the total likelihood of success of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. According to Danish law, frozen embryos can only be stored for one year. This limit will interfere with patient expectations in numerous cases, and the time limit should be expanded. Moreover, freezing of embryos should be allowed in connection with oocyte donation programmes.     

Splenectomy in children. A correlative review of indications and complications in fifty patients

We have reported our experience with splenectomy in fifty patients less than fourteen years old. The indications, results, and complications were enumerated. These data were then correlated with the recent literature regarding pediatric splenctomy. Of special note is the problem of immunologic incompetency associated with splenectomy in the patients less than five years old.     

Spirituality and religion in group counseling: A literature review with practice guidelines.

There has been increased discussion of the need to attend to clients' spirituality and religion as a part of the counseling process, but much of the literature to date has focused on individual counseling. How do the research and resulting practice implications apply to group counseling? This article provides a rationale for attending to spirituality and religion in counseling, explores the opportunities and barriers in attending to spirituality and religion in group counseling, and reviews the literature on the growing number of group interventions with a spiritual or religious focus. The article ends with specific guidelines for when and how to incorporate spirituality and religion into group counseling. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cardiac risk in surgery. A review and guidelines for risk evaluation and reduction of cardiac risk in general surgery

We report herein the phenotypic and functional analysis of human bone marrow and thymus derived early T cells. Commitment to T cell lineage is acquired during CD7 antigen expression by CD34+ precursors in human bone marrow and before thymus colonization. Early thymocytes show similar phenotypic characteristics as bone marrow T cells. They rapidly acquire CD4 before the dual expression of CD4 and CD8. Their expansion and differentiation is regulated by two major factors: thymic stroma and cytokines produced by these stroma cells or by thymocytes themselves. Among cytokines, IL1 and sCD23 produced by thymic epithelial cells support in vitro early T cell development.     

Cues and concerns by patients in medical consultations: A literature review.

The aim of the current article is to review the peer-reviewed research literature on cues and concerns published between 1975 and 2006. To be included, articles had to report observational studies based on patient-physician consultations and report findings on patient expressions of cues and/or concerns. Quantitative and qualitative studies from different medical settings were considered. Fifty-eight original articles based on the analysis of audio- or videotaped medical consultations were tracked down. Definition of cues and concerns and methodological approaches differed widely. Physicians missed most cues and concerns and adopted behaviors that discouraged disclosure. Communication training improved the detection of cues and concerns. Future research progress would require different methodological approaches more appropriate for studying verbal interactions and the complexity of the various levels that influence interactions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Myocardial infarction in an intensive care unit for blacks. A review over 6 years

Ischaemic heart disease seems to be on the increase in South African Blacks, and medical staff should be more conscious of this. Fifty-four Black patients with acute myocardial infarction are presented and their complications and management while in an intensive care unit reviewed. Epidemiological aspects of ischaemic heart disease in South Africa are discussed.     

A primer for advancing psychology in the public sector.

Psychologists working in the public sector should, in addition to providing direct services, advocate for systems change. Although many consumers treated in the public sector face a constellation of severe life problems, working to improve the system of care is more difficult than providing treatment. Improving the quality of life of consumers of publicly funded mental health services requires that psychologists become advocates. Four prerequisites to systems change, plus coalition building, legislative advocacy, the work of state psychological associations, and forming alliances between psychologists and nonpsychological community organizations such as Rotary International, are described. In conclusion, 12 orienting ideas are listed for psychologists who want to advocate for social, institutional, and political change. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Awards for distinguished contribution to psychology in the public interest.

The Board for the Advancement of Psychology in the Public Interest presents two awards annually to persons who have advanced psychology as a science and/or profession by a single extraordinary achievement or a lifetime of outstanding contributions in the public interest. The 1991 winners are Susan T. Fiske and Evelyn Hooker. For each recipient a citation, biography, and selected bibliography of their works are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Awards for distinguished contributions to psychology in the public interest.

The American Psychological Association 2010 Awards for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest recognize persons who have advanced psychology as a science and/or profession by a single extraordinary achievement or a lifetime of outstanding contributions in the public interest. Two awards are given: one to a psychologist who has made a significant contribution to the public interest in the early stages of his or her career, and the second to a senior psychologist. The winners for 2010 are Perry Halkitis and Norman Abeles. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A study of guidelines for the conduct and analysis of simultaneous clinical replications.

Examined the development, implementation, and evaluation of guidelines for the simultaneous application of clinical replications. The 15 authors served as Ss. Success of the guidelines was evaluated by their ability to yield (1) information concerning the probability of the treatment's success, and (2) hypotheses concerning uncontrolled variables that may limit generalization of the treatment. Results support the validity of the guidelines in accomplishing these purposes. The use of such guidelines may serve as a vehicle for the integration of the roles of researcher and practitioner. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A review of methods used for medical quality assurance in hospitals: advantages and disadvantages

This paper reviews the advantages and disadvantages of medical quality assurance methods commonly used in hospitals. A computer-based literature search up to April 1993 was done using the terms quality assurance, quality control, audit, utilization review, accreditation, occurrence screening and total quality management. In addition, a manual search was undertaken of references of papers obtained by the computer search and of the contents of the following journals: Quality Review Bulletin, Australian Clinical Review and the British Medical Journal. An assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of 15 quality assurance methods used in hospitals was made. Many quality assurance methods used in hospitals have significant disadvantages. A systematic method that provides meaningful and useful information to clinicians and improves patient care is urgently required. New methods such as occurrence screening and total quality management are slowly emerging and have much potential.     

System to monitor a portion of the total testing process in medical clinics and laboratories: evaluation of a split-specimen design

Only scant information is available in the scientific literature on the parathyroids and ultimobranchial bodies in the primitive mammals, the echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) and platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus). The major aim of this paper is to describe the morphology of the monotreme parathyroid gland and to compare it with parathyroids in mammals and reptiles. The gross anatomy and light microscopic structure of the ultimobranchial body, thymus, and thyroid are also given. Animals were dissected and routine light and electron microscopic techniques used to examine the microscopic morphology. The locations of parathyroid hormone, calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide in tissue sections were identified by immunostaining. Monotremes have one pair of parathyroid glands located in the thorax and they are often associated with thymic tissue but never with the thyroid which is also present in the mediastinum. Ultimobranchial bodies are ventrolateral to the commencement of the trachea. Thymic lobules with Hassall's corpuscles are scattered in the fibrofatty tissue of the mediastinum and the ventral surface of the pericardium. Histologically, principal cells, water-clear cells, and non-secretory cells were identified in the parathyroid glands. Principal cells showed polarity and had microlamellar projections that formed intercellular canaliculi. Non-secretory cells had features similar to those of thymic epithelial reticular cells. Immunostaining of parathyroid hormone showed a diffuse distribution in parathyroid principal cells and none in ultimobranchial bodies. Identification of the ultimobranchial bodies was confirmed by immunostaining. The monotreme parathyroid gland, ultimobranchial bodies and thyroid show reptilian as well as mammalian features.