Yes, but how do we know it''s true? Knowledge claims in massage and aromatherapy

The knowledge of the partition coefficients between the air and arterial blood and between the blood and the different physiological compartments of the body are essential to the mathematical modelling of the respiratory uptake and elimination of toxic vapours. Partition coefficients of methyl tertbutyl ether (MTBE) in saline, olive oil, urine and human blood, and various rat tissues were calculated after gas-chromatographic quantification of MTBE in the air phase. The blood/air, urine/air saline/air, fat/air and oil/air partition coefficients (lambda) are respectively: 20.0, 15.6, 15.3, 142.0 and 138.     

Sexual misconduct in psychotherapy: Reactions to a consumer-oriented brochure.

Assessed reactions of Ss to a brochure addressing the topic of sexual intimacy in psychotherapy. 54 psychotherapy clients and 52 licensed psychologists responded favorably to the brochure, with the majority indicating that the brochure should be made available before therapy begins or during the 1st session. Potential clients (120 college students) read either the brochure on sexual misconduct or a control brochure containing general information about psychology. Ss who read the sexual misconduct brochure showed increased ability to understand what is appropriate and inappropriate therapist behavior, see unwanted touch as nontherapeutic, regard a therapist talking a lot about his or her own sex life as inappropriate, view sex in the therapeutic relationship as inappropriate, and intend to behave assertively within the session if their therapist's behavior should make them feel uncomfortable. Ss who read the control brochure showed no such changes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Not only inner cell mass cell nuclei but also trophectoderm nuclei of mouse blastocysts have a developmental totipotency

The authors present the case of a 16 year old female with 3rd degree burn sequelae. They describe the surgical steps during the three years of treatment with serial and multiple tissue expansion. From the 9 tissue expanders used with reference capacities of 3350cc, 10350 were achieved. The conclusions point out the utility of this technique, using re-expansion and supraexpansion as one, should be associated with careful surgical planning and constant rapport with the patient.     

Sucrose: is it not only sweet, but also an analgesic?

Case reports about vasopressin-induced cutaneous necrosis are not frequent. Here we report a further case, of which skin manifestations included not only mottling, cyanosis, ecchymosis, bullae and gangrene, but also amber-like change in focal areas. Besides, intermittent paling of the skin with or without deep pain sensation of the limbs over non-injection sites was observed that might be a warning sign of impending skin necrosis. Based on the literature about vasopressin-induced skin necrosis we discuss the possible role of coagulation enhancement of this molecule.     

Schedule induction conditions not only exaggerate intake but also enhance drug solution choice

In previous research, rats exposed to daily, 3 h sessions of schedule-induced polydipsia (SIP) self-administered high doses of cocaine orally. However, a strong and durable preference for cocaine solution to water requires training in addition to mere oral self-administration exposure. If cocaine is dissolved in a preferred vehicle solution, and the vehicle is subsequently faded to water, then a strong preference for cocaine remains. A similar preference can be instituted for lidocaine solution. Such preferences may develop because the gustatory property of a drug becomes associated with the preferred vehicle and remains to function as a durable conditioned reinforcer after vehicle fading. To determine if drug preference is solely a function of this posited conditioning mechanism, or whether it also depends upon the SIP condition, rats were exposed to daily, 3 h sessions of single-ration feeding, rather than the SIP condition. A preferred vehicle (glucose/saccharin solution) was slowly faded from a 0.19 mg/ml lidocaine solution, which was presented concurrently with a choice for water. Although a preference for lidocaine solution to water could be generated, it occurred for only 5 out of 9 rats, and the preference was relatively unstable. By contrast, in two previous studies using SIP, 26 out of 27 rats maintained a preference for lidocaine solution. Thus, SIP not only exaggerates the amount of drug solution ingested but also contributes to the fixation of the associative drug solution choice.     

There is only one psychology, no specialties, but many applications.

Asserts that students who today receive a PhD degree via matriculation in a university department of psychology study the same principles, processes, and core content of the discipline regardless of the specific area of application they are pursuing. The broad content, processes, and principles that are the essence and core that differentiate psychology from physics, economics, history, and other cognate disciplines have remained the same since psychology first became a university discipline 100 years ago. It is also asserted that although many psychologists believe there currently exist bona fide specialties in psychology, neither the American Psychological Association nor most other societally relevant institutions have accorded such specialties de jure recognition. Although informal de facto recognition of specialties already exists, several other stages in the evolution of a specialty must (and very likely will) occur during the next decade before society accords specialties in psychology more formal, quasi-legal, de jure recognition. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Distribution of a novel hypothalamic neuropeptide Y receptor gene and it''s absence in rat

The alteration in calcium transport in the liver of rats with streptozocin(STZ)-diabetic state was investigated. STZ (6 mg/100 g body weight) was subcutaneously administered in rats, and 1 or 2 weeks later they were sacrificed by bleeding. STZ administration caused a remarkable elevation of serum glucose concentration. Liver calcium content was significantly increased by STZ administration. Hepatic plasma membrane (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase activity was markedly elevated by STZ administration. This increase was completely abolished by the presence of staurosporine (10(-7)-10(-5) M), an inhibitor of protein kinase C, in the enzyme reaction mixture, suggesting an involvement of protein kinase C signalling. Moreover, the STZ-induced increase in liver plasma membrane (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase activity was significantly raised by the presence of okadaic acid (10(-5) and 10(-4) M). Meanwhile, the STZ-increased (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase activity was not appreciably altered by the presence of anti-regucalcin IgG in the reaction mixture, indicating that the activatory protein regucalcin does not participate in the elevation of the enzyme activity. The present study demonstrates that STZ-induced diabetes causes the increase in hepatic plasma membrane (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase activity of rats.     

Seeing only the right half of the forest but cutting down all the trees?

Unilateral neglect following damage to the right hemisphere of the brain can be characterized by failure of the global attentional mechanisms of the right hemisphere to direct the local detail processors of the left hemisphere towards the contralesional left hemispace. This is suggested by patients who recognize the global form of the left side of shapes (the forest) but fail to cancel out its local details (the trees). Here we report the opposite behavioural dissociation in a patient (Q.M.) with damage to the right hemisphere of the brain. Q.M. detected local details (such as the tail of a dog) on the left or right side of visual shapes, regardless of whether these details belonged to predefined target shapes (a dog in this case) or to distractor shapes differing on the opposite side (a dog with a swan's neck and head, for example). Psychological testing showed an abnormal tendency of this patient to respond to local features, but perfect accuracy in interpreting global features when the local features could not interfere in global processing. The results indicate that the left hemisphere can integrate multiple local features simultaneously but loses global awareness as soon as local features individually compete for response selection. However, awareness of the whole is not necessary for the sequential processing of the parts.     

Mutations in DPC4 (SMAD4) cause juvenile polyposis syndrome, but only account for a minority of cases

Juvenile polyps are present in a number of Mendelian disorders, sometimes in association only with gastrointestinal cancer [juvenile polyposis syndrome (JPS)] and sometimes as part of known syndromes (Cowden, Gorlin and Banayan-Zonana) in association with developmental abnormalities, dysmorphic features or extra-intestinal tumours. Recently, a gene for JPS was mapped to 18q21.1 and the candidate gene DPC4 (SMAD4) was shown to carry frameshift mutations in some JPS families. We have analysed eight JPS families for linkage to DPC4. Overall, there was no evidence for linkage to DPC4; linkage could be excluded in two of the eight pedigrees and was unlikely in two others. We then tested these eight families and a further 13 familial and sporadic JPS cases for germline mutations in DPC4. Just one germline DPC4 mutation was found (in a familial JPS patient from a pedigree unsuitable for linkage analysis). Like all three previously reported germline mutations, this variant occurred towards the C-terminus of the DPC4 protein. However, our patient's mutation is a missense change (R361C); somatic missense mutations in DPC4 have been reported previously in tumours. We therefore confirm DPC4 as a cause of JPS, but show that there is considerable remaining, uncharacterized genetic heterogeneity in this disease.     

A recombinant single chain antibody neutralizes coronavirus infectivity but only slightly delays lethal infection of mice

The variable region genes of a murine anti-coronavirus monoclonal antibody (mAb) were joined by assembly polymerase chain reaction and expressed in Escherichia coli in a single chain variable fragment (scFv) configuration. After induction of expression, the expected 32-kDa protein was identified by Western immunoblotting with specific rabbit anti-idiotype antibodies. The scFv fragments were purified from soluble cytoplasmic preparations by affinity chromatography on nickel agarose, which was possible with an N-terminal but not with a C-terminal histidine tag. Purified scFv fragments retained the antigen-binding properties of the parental antibody, could inhibit its binding to viral antigens with apparently higher efficiency than monovalent antigen-binding (Fab) fragments, but neutralized viral infectivity with lower efficiency (about sevenfold at a molar level). To evaluate the usefulness of these smaller and less immunogenic molecules in the treatment of viral diseases, mice were treated with purified recombinant scFv fragments and challenged with a lethal viral dose. A small delay in mortality was observed for the scFv-treated animals. Therefore, even though the scFv could neutralize viral infectivity in vitro, the same quantity of fragments that partially protected mice in the form of Fab only slightly delayed virus-induced lethality when injected as scFv fragments, probably because of a much faster in vivo clearance: the biologic half-life was estimated to be about 6 min. Since a scFv derived from a highly neutralizing and protective mAb is only marginally effective in the passive protection of mice from lethal viral infection, the use of such reagents for viral immunotherapy will require strategies to overcome stability limitations.     

Phytanoyl-CoA hydroxylase is not only deficient in classical Refsum disease but also in rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata

A boy had neonatal seizure, lethargy, and metabolic acidosis at presentation. He recovered completely, but the recurrence of a similar episode with associated cardiomyopathy and dicarboxylic aciduria at 10 months of age led to the recognition of a fatty acid oxidation defect. A diagnosis of very long chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency was later made by enzyme assay in culture fibroblasts from this child, as well as in cultured amniotic cells from a sibling fetus. This prenatal diagnosis forestalled neonatal injury by close clinical and metabolic monitoring of the second infant. Early diagnosis and management should potentially improve the generally poor prognosis for patients with very long chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency.     

The type II transforming growth factor-beta receptor autophosphorylates not only on serine and threonine but also on tyrosine residues

The type I and type II receptors for transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) are structurally related transmembrane serine/threonine kinases, which are able to physically interact with each other at the cell surface. To help define the initial events in TGF-beta signaling, we characterized the kinase activity of the type II TGF-beta receptor. A recombinant cytoplasmic domain of the receptor was purified from Escherichia coli and baculovirus-infected insect cells. Anti-phosphotyrosine Western blotting demonstrated that the type II receptor kinase can autophosphorylate on tyrosine. Following an in vitro kinase reaction, the autophosphorylation of the cytoplasmic domain and phosphorylation of exogenous substrate was shown by phosphoamino acid analysis to occur not only on serine and threonine but also on tyrosine. The dual kinase specificity of the receptor was also demonstrated using immunoprecipitated receptors expressed in mammalian cells and in vivo 32P labeling showed phosphorylation of the receptor on serine and tyrosine. In addition, the kinase activity of the cytoplasmic domain was inhibited by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor tyrphostin. Tryptic mapping and amino acid sequencing of in vitro autophosphorylated type II receptor cytoplasmic domain allowed the localization of the sites of tyrosine phosphorylation to positions 259, 336, and 424. Replacement of all three tyrosines with phenylalanines strongly inhibited the kinase activity of the receptor, suggesting that tyrosine autophosphorylation may play an autoregulatory role for the kinase activity of this receptor. These results demonstrate that the type II TGF-beta receptor can function as a dual specificity kinase and suggest a role for tyrosine autophosphorylation in TGF-beta receptor signaling.     

Clock-spiking cells not only in the eye of the fly, but also in the antenna!

Progressive pseudorheumatoid dysplasia (spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda with progressive arthropathy (SEDTPA) or progressive pseudorheumatoid arthropathy of childhood (PPAC) (MIM 208.230)) is an autosomal recessively inherited skeletal dysplasia with changes in the spine similar to spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda. The disease begins mostly between the ages of 2 to 8 years with progressive joint stiffness and pain, soft tissue swelling and deformities of multiple joints including the proximal interphalangeal joints of the hands. We describe a patient where a symmetric rhizomelic shortening of the extremities and a bilateral severe pes equinovarus was present at birth.