The method of calculating the numeric value of the KT/V index in the evaluation of effectiveness of peritoneal dialysis

BACKGROUND: For evaluation of the adequacy of peritoneal and haemodialyzation treatment the BP/V index is used. In the literature there is so far no uniform view on the procedure of calculation. The objective was to test whether and to what extent the results of different procedures differ. METHODS AND RESULTS: The authors demonstrated that the method of calculation of this index has a marked impact on the result. The greatest discrepancy was due to differences in the distribution volume of urea (or total body water) where the mean difference was 10% of the absolute value. Also the procedure used to assess the residual renal function can influence the result. Differences due to the method of collection of the dialysate for assessment of the urea concentration are insignificant. The mean difference between the maximal and minimal BP/V index, when different methods of calculation are used, was in the same patient 0.45, which is cca 25% of the total value. CONCLUSIONS: The BP/V index must be assessed always by the same method with maximum accuracy. When presenting results or comparing results of different departments, the method of calculation must be stated.     

Three approaches to the investigation of subgroup bias in performance measurement: Review, results, and conclusions.

Three methods of assessing subgroup bias in performance measurement commonly found in the literature are identified. After a review of these approaches, findings are reported from analyses of data collected in the US Army's Project A (J. P. Campbell, 1987). Correlations between nonrating performance measures and supervisor ratings were generally not moderated by race, but correlations between nonrating indicators of negative performance and ratings assigned by peers were. In addition, significant interactions between rater and ratee race on performance ratings were not eliminated when variance in the nonrating measures was removed from the ratings provided by Black and White raters. Conclusions about the magnitude and nature of bias in supervisor and peer ratings are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The protein translocation apparatus contributes to determining the topology of an integral membrane protein in Escherichia coli

The assembly of integral membrane proteins is determined by features of these proteins and the protein translocation apparatus. We used alkaline phosphatase fusions to the membrane protein MalF to investigate the role of the protein translocation machinery in the arrangement of proteins in the cytoplasmic membrane of Escherichia coli. In particular, we studied the effects of prlA mutations on membrane protein topology. These mutations lie in the secY gene, which encodes a core component of the protein translocation apparatus. We find that the topology of some of the fusion proteins is changed and, in one case, is completely inverted in prlA mutants. We discuss the mechanism of prlA-mediated export and the role of the protein translocation apparatus in contributing to membrane protein topology.     

The importance of the back-signal from T cells into antigen-presenting cells in determining susceptibility to parasites

It has long been known that certain MHC class II genes can dominantly suppress immune responses and so increase susceptibility to parasite infections, but the mechanism has been unclear. Recent work has revealed one way in which this form of suppression may operate, through gating by MHC class II molecules of the back-signal from activated T cells into macrophages. The two known suppressive genes of the mouse are expressed in macrophages more extensively than are other class II genes. This is associated with suppression of IL-4 production resulting, we infer, from overproduction in the macrophages of IL-12, the counter-cytokine to IL-4. The lack of IL-4 may itself be immunosuppressive, even for Th2 responses, and excess IL-12 can overinduce the antiproliferative cytokine IFN-gamma. Although this mechanism requires further substantiation, we believe that it offers a reasonable answer to an old conundrum.     

The expulsion from Disneyland: The social psychological impact of 9/11.

People expressed many different reactions to the events of September 11th, 2001. Some of these reactions were clearly negative, such as political intolerance, discrimination, and hate crimes directed toward targets that some, if not many, people associated with the attackers. Other reactions were more positive. For example, people responded by donating blood, increasing contributions of time and money to charity, and flying the American flag. The goal of this article is to review some of Americans' negative and positive reactions to 9/11. We also describe two frameworks, value protection and terror management theory, that provide insights into Americans' various reactions to the tragedy of 9/11. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Psychoanalytic approaches to addiction.

Reviews the book, Psychoanalytic approaches to addiction edited by Angela Smaldino (see record 1991-98128-000). Contrary to what one might read into its title, the book is only partially about alcohol and other drugs AOD addiction. Three of its seven chapters address other types of addiction: destructive relationships, love, and food. The implication is that similarities among the various addictions will serve to illustrate a common unconscious motivation of "the addictive personality" revealed by psychoanalysis. Nowhere in the book, however, is this explicitly stated. The chapters are as the beads of an unlinked chain. They are as a series of associations in a patient's stream of consciousness, each one rich in detail, captivating, and insightful, but as yet without the analyst's interpretation as to how they are linked. The daunting task of that interpretation is left to the reader. This book is a valiant effort to move the psychoanalytic field in the direction of accommodating to the needs of an important patient population. It is not a primer to be taken as a directive, but a useful tool that the more sophisticated reader may employ as an impetus to stimulate further thinking. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A realistic approach to drawing conclusions from the scientific literature: Response to Bonanno and Lilienfeld (2008).

Replies to comments made by G. A. Bonanno and S. O. Lilienfeld (see record 2008-07318-017), which commented on the original article by D. Larson and W. Hoyt (see record #200711559-003) for what Bonanno and Lilienfeld believe are inaccurate conclusions regarding the empirical literature on grief counseling. In the brief space allotted for this response, the authors correct several mischaracterizations of our conclusions and note points of agreement between their actual conclusions, including those partially quoted by Bonanno and Lilienfeld, and their own stated views about grief counseling. The authors elaborate on their earlier discussion about how researchers and practitioners can draw valid conclusions from the empirical literature and what factors add to their confidence about these conclusions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social resilience: The value of social fitness with an application to the military.

Resilience has been regarded narrowly as a quintessential individual property by most investigators. Social resilience, however, is inherently a multilevel construct, revealed by capacities of individuals, but also groups, to foster, engage in, and sustain positive social relationships and to endure and recover from stressors and social isolation. Emergent levels of organization, ranging from dyads, families, and groups to cities, civilizations, and international alliances have long been apparent in human existence, but identifying the features of individuals, relationships, and group structures and norms that promote social resilience—and determining effective interventions to build social resilience—represent some of the most important challenges facing the military as well as contemporary behavioral science. We identify nine personal resources that foster social resilience, and we describe an educational, computer-based program that builds on these resources in an effort to improve the social resilience among troops in the U.S. Army. Data from this program should provide valuable evidence regarding the challenge of building social resilience. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The marriage moments program for couples transitioning to parenthood: Divergent conclusions from formative and outcome evaluation data.

This article presents the results of a pilot study of the Marriage Moments program, designed to prevent relationship deterioration during the 1st year of parenthood. The self-guided, low-intensity program emphasizes strengthening marital virtues and partnership during this time of significant personal and family transition. One hundred fifty-five married couples participated in a randomized clinical trial with 2 psychoeducational treatment groups (a self-guided group and an instructor-encouraged group) and a comparable control group. Despite positive formative evaluation results from program participants, hierarchical linear modeling analyses failed to find significant Group × Time differences on spouses' reports of marital virtues and a set of relational outcome measures. This failure reinforces the need for psychoeducators to invest in outcome evaluation research before claiming program success. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Pediatric cardiology from its beginnings to the century that approaches]

Activation of the T-cell receptor (TCR) results in recruitment of tyrosine kinases and changes of tyrosine phosphorylation levels. We quantitatively analyzed protein phosphorylation of resting and TCR stimulated T cells for healthy donors and immunocompromised patients using two-colour flow cytometry. Stimulation of T cells of healthy persons by OKT3 antibody led to a biphasic increase of phosphotyrosine levels with the first peak after 15 s and the absolute maximum occurring after 3-5 min. Levels remained high up to 30 min and returned to baseline levels afterwards. Compared to healthy blood donors, the phosphotyrosine baseline levels were 20-30% increased in patients after bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Using OKT3 to stimulate T cells of BMT patients led to strong increases in phosphotyrosine levels comparable to those of controls. In contrast, the response of T cells of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome was severely impaired (P = 0.01). In conclusion, this flow cytometric methodology enables analyses of changes in cellular phosphotyrosine levels following TCR stimulation. The increased baseline levels in BMT patients and the observed unresponsiveness of T cells in AIDS patients could be of interest for the study of predictors of graft-versus-host reactivity and the clinical analysis of immune functions in AIDS patients, respectively.     

C-reactive protein adds to the predictive value of total and HDL cholesterol in determining risk of first myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND: C-reactive protein (CRP) is a sensitive marker of inflammation, and elevated levels have been associated with future risk of myocardial infarction (MI). However, whether measurement of CRP adds to the predictive value of total cholesterol (TC) and HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) in determining risk is uncertain. METHODS AND RESULTS: Among 14916 apparently healthy men participating in the Physicians' Health Study, baseline levels of CRP, TC, and HDL-C were measured among 245 study subjects who subsequently developed a first MI (cases) and among 372 subjects who remained free of cardiovascular disease during an average follow-up period of 9 years (controls). In univariate analyses, high baseline levels of CRP, TC, and TC:HDL-C ratio were each associated with significantly increased risks of future MI (all P values <0.001). In multivariate analyses, models incorporating CRP and lipid parameters provided a significantly better method to predict risk than did models using lipids alone (all likelihood ratio test P values <0.003). For example, relative risks of future MI among those with high levels of both CRP and TC (RR=5.0, P=0.0001) were greater than the product of the individual risks associated with isolated elevations of either CRP (RR=1.5) or TC (RR=2.3). In stratified analyses, baseline CRP level was predictive of risk for those with low as well as high levels of TC and the TC:HDL-C ratio. These findings were virtually identical in analyses limited to nonsmokers and after control for other cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: In prospective data from a large cohort of apparently healthy men, baseline CRP level added to the predictive value of lipid parameters in determining risk of first MI.     

The development of category-based induction: Reexamining conclusions from the induction then recognition (ITR) paradigm.

Three studies examined the development of category-based induction using an induction then recognition (ITR) procedure in which participants make category-based predictions about study items and are then given a surprise recognition test that requires discrimination between old and new category members. Exposure duration for study items was either self-paced (Experiment 1) or fixed for 5-year-olds and adults (Experiments 2a-b). Adults always showed a decrement in recognition performance following induction. Children showed the same decrement when exposure duration was equated across age groups. These results show that both young children and adults spontaneously access category-level information during induction. When study exposure time is self-paced, however, children may process additional, noncategorical aspects of study stimuli. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Behavioral approaches to cardiovascular disease.

Reviews the book, Behavioral approaches to cardiovascular disease by Richard S. Surwit, Redford B. Williams Jr., and David Shapiro (1982). The authors' stated purpose in this book is to provide a complete and critical review of the state of knowledge in cardiovascular behavioral medicine (as of 1982). The organization of this volume includes four introductory chapters on the conceptual bases of behavioral medicine, summaries of cardiovascular regulation and psychophysiology, and principles of conditioning as they pertain to modifying cardiovascular functions. The core of the book consists of the next four chapters on specific disorders: coronary heart disease, hypertension, Raynaud's phenomenon, and migraine/vascular headache. A final chapter deals with selected clinical issues in the application of behavioral medicine technology. This book is generally clear and well-written, with a consistent style maintained throughout. The authors' message is presented in a manner that is likely to be accepted by physicians as well as psychologists. Unfortunately, the text occasionally presupposes a degree of knowledge of physiology and anatomy that some psychologists may lack (e.g., "attenuation of the baroreceptor-mediated inhibition of sympathetic outflow" —p. 27). This volume is likely to prove most useful to cardiovascular researchers and practitioners in cardiovascular rehabilitation programs or general medical hospitals who employ biofeedback, relaxation techniques, and life style modification procedures. Although it is no longer the "timely review" it was when first published, this book will remain a valuable reference work. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)