Lessons learned from the DIASTAT vascular access graft

In male Syrian hamsters, short days induce regression of the reproductive system, but eventually spontaneous recrudescence occurs ensuing from refractoriness to the inhibitory photoperiod. Although the photoperiod of 12 L:12 D (12 h light:12 h dark) may act like a short day by inducing the testicular cycle outlined above, it may fail to evoke the increase of circulating concentrations of prolactin that accompanies testicular recrudescence. This photoperiod may fail to induce photorefractoriness, as indicated by the prolonged low concentrations of prolactin in the blood. Herein, hamsters were exposed to either 8 L:16 D or 12 L:12 D from weaning and by 28 weeks exposure to either photoperiod, the hamsters had large testes following recrudescence from a photoperiod induced-regression). Transfer to 8 L:16 D from 12 L:12 D at 28 weeks resulted in a second testicular regression and recrudescence. In a second experiment, the testes of hamsters moved to 8 L:16 D from 12 L:12 D after 29 weeks exposure to the latter photoperiod similarly regressed and then regrew. Serum concentrations of prolactin decreased in these males after transfer to the shorter daylength but also decreased in hamsters kept under 12 L:12 D both groups were usually below those of hamsters moved to 14 L:10 D. These results show that exposure for 28 or 29 weeks to 12 L:12 D was insufficient to induce photorefractoriness, despite the recrudescence of the testes following involution.     

Lessons learned from clinical nurse specialist longevity

This paper provides insight into issues related to longevity and retention of experienced clinical nurse specialists (CNS). To date, this phenomenon has received little attention in both clinical and administrative literature. To prepare for a national presentation on this component of advanced practice, the author questioned 12 professional colleagues who had practised in their role for over 10 years in the same setting. The CNS responses are described and critiqued and suggestions for support of veteran CNS are provided by the author.     

Formal mentoring: Lessons learned from past practice.

Formal mentoring programs are often implemented to help early career professionals; however, research on these programs has found mixed support. The general literature on formal mentoring programs has shifted from early studies comparing informal and formal mentoring to studies of the program characteristics related to success. A pilot program for formal mentoring of early career psychologists is presented for case study. Although the program was small and matching mentors and mentees proved difficult, reactions from some participants indicated successful mentoring. Drawing on lessons learned from the program and the general literature on formal mentoring, the author focuses on the matching process, training and program resources, and program administration. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Lessons to be learned from large behavioral research organizations.

Discusses the development, functions, and research contributions of 3 psychological research organizations: the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan, the American Institutes for Research in the Behavioral Sciences, and the Human Resources Research Organization. Advantages of the organizational research approach involve on-site research capabilities, the willingness to deal with real problems in a real time frame, and the apportionment of more resources and personnel to a particular research issue. Staff problems, such as the lack of security associated with tenure, morale maintenance, and nontraditional relationships with client sponsors, are noted. (1 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Revising psychological tests: Lessons learned from the revision of the MMPI.

Some types of psychological tests become dated and require more frequent and more extensive revision than others. Because of the formidable effort that is required in a test revision, the goals and scope of the revision need to be carefully staked out before a revision is undertaken. The revision team needs to develop a generally agreed-upon guiding philosophy for the test revision in the beginning of the project and incorporate broad input into the changes that are likely to be required. Factors important to consider in a test revision are discussed, and the parameters of personality test revision illustrated from the extensive program to revise the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) are included. Recommendations for gauging acceptance of the revision are suggested along with steps that revisers and publishers might take to make a test revision both more research based and more acceptable to test users. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Preventing adolescent smoking: What have we learned about treatment construct validity?

Reviews the treatment construct validity of programs to prevent adolescent smoking to determine how and why programs reduce adolescent smoking. The issue of why beneficial effects are obtained is explored in terms of whether a treatment affects outcome; whether each variable in a proposed causal chain affects the variable that follows it after controlling for all prior variables, including treatment; and whether treatment has an effect on outcome when the mediating variables are controlled. Studies investigating the mediational effects of subjective norms such as social consequences and peer vs adult leaders, social competence, and intervention are reviewed. It is concluded that little is presently known about the construct validity of successful programs, a problem that results primarily from the neglect of process assessment and analyses. The advantages and disadvantages of several future research approaches are discussed, including utilization of process measures within large-scale treatment/no-treatment designs, small-scale studies to test the effects of prevention components on process measures (e.g., attitudes, intentions to smoke), and combinations of these approaches. (4 p ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Lessons learned from a complicated case of cephalic obstructive chronic pancreatitis

The authors report the complex case of a 51 year-old man admitted to his local hospital for gallbladder and common bile duct lithiasis, 1 year before admission to our hospital. There, he was treated by cholecystectomy and transduodenal biliary sphincteroplasty. He was readmitted after 3 months because of a painful episode and was discharged with the diagnosis of "relapsing acute pancreatitis in chronic pancreatitis." At our hospital, he underwent laparotomy and revision of the previous transduodenal biliary sphincteroplasty. Pancreatic sphincteroplasty and septectomy were also performed. The night after surgery, the patient suffered from acute post-operative pancreatitis complicated by severe hemorrhage due to erosion of the superior pancreaticoduodenal arteries, treated with gastroduodenal artery embolization by tungsten coils. Three months later, the patient suffered from another acute episode. An endoscopic retrograde colangio pancreatography (ERCP) showed the complete patency of the sphincteroplasties but clearly identified the persistence of a severe cephalic stricture. Therefore, the patient was readmitted to our hospital and underwent another laparotomy. A pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPD) was performed. The post-operative course was uneventful and at 14 months follow-up the patient was in good health. The discussion focuses on the surgical treatment of chronic pancreatitis with cephalic Wirsung duct stenosis, stressing the increasing role of PPPD as a first-choice option.     

Management practices for on-site consultants: Lessons learned from the expatriate experience.

Over the past decade, research on two specific types of nontraditional work arrangements, expatriate employees and consultants, has increased. However, despite the plethora of research exploring the key factors associated with effective expatriation, few links have been made between the similarities in job attributes and experiences of consultants and expatriates. This article reviews the similarities between consultants and expatriates, including issues related to selection, socialization, learning orientation, role definition, family adjustment, career development, and repatriation. An examination of the management practices related to each of the key dimensions of expatriate assignments is made and lessons for consultants are offered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Lessons learned from six years of international administrations of the ECFMG''s SP-based clinical skills assessment

Thapsigargin (TG), a plant-derived sesquiterpene lactone, inhibits several isoforms of both the sarcoplasmic and endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPases. Thus, intracellular Ca2+ stores found in the endoplasmic reticulum can be released by this compound. The mammalian sperm acrosome reaction (AR) depends on influx of extracellular Ca2+. However, few reports have presented evidence for the involvement of putative Ca2+ stores and intracellular Ca2+ mobilization in the AR. Thus, we designed experiments to evaluate the effect of TG on the hamster sperm AR. Thapsigargin stimulated-in a dose-dependent manner-the AR of spermatozoa previously capacitated for at least 3 hr, not affecting sperm motility. A maximal stimulatory effect was apparent 3 min after addition of TG to spermatozoa previously capacitated for 4 hr and was dependent on external Ca2+ since ethyleneglycol-bis-(b-amino-ethyl ether) N,N'-tetra-acetic acid added 1 min before TG completely inhibited AR stimulation. The Ca2+ channel blockers diltiazem and nifedipine also abolished the TG-stimulatory effect when added to capacitated spermatozoa 10 min before the inhibitor. In addition, the trypsin inhibitors p-nitrophenyl-p'-guanidine-benzoate hydrochloride and benzamidine added to the sperm suspensions 10 min before TG inhibited by 70-80% the TG-induced AR. These results indicate that putative Ca2+ stores release may be involved in stimulation of extracellular Ca2+ influx required for the occurrence of the AR. In addition, a sperm trypsin-like protease may be part of the mechanism by which TG induces the hamster sperm AR.     

Lessons to be learned at the end of the day.

M. Grenot-Scheyer, M. Fisher, and D. Staub (see record 2001-18916-000) provide a personal and pragmatic look at inclusive classrooms and schools. This book is not about model programs or exceptional teachers or families. It is a collection of stories of children with and without disabilities, presented through well-documented case studies, describing the ups and downs that the children experience as their teachers and families try to include them more fully in the daily lives of schools. Not all of the stories have happy endings and not all of the outcomes are optimal but, at the end of the day, they contain lessons for educators and school psychologists to learn about the unique environment that is an inclusive classroom. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Lessons learned from a life in psychological science: Implications for young scientists.

Many research-focused graduate students are concerned about what seems to be a lack of opportunities in academia, as well as about how to actually begin and develop a career in psychological science. Recognizing this, the American Psychological Association (APA) Science Student Council organized a distinguished scientist discussion hour at APA's 105th Annual Convention in Chicago. Three distinguished scientists, Martin Seligman, Robert Sternberg, and Shelley Taylor, agreed to contribute as panelists. In a dialogue with the audience, they discussed a variety of career-related issues, ranging from how to pursue a career in psychological science to how the panelists' own careers had developed. This article summarizes this exchange, offering insight for all those embarking on a career in science. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Postdisaster supervisor strategies for promoting supervisee self-care: Lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina.

The purpose of this article is to provide supervisors with postdisaster strategies for promoting supervisee self-care. These recommendations are based on relevant disaster mental health and supervision research along with the authors' experiences of supervising and teaching in a university setting following Hurricane Katrina in South Mississippi. Supervisory examples from the authors' hurricane experiences are also provided to highlight each recommendation. A supervisee self-care tool is offered to aid supervisors in their efforts to help supervisees develop positive coping responses in the event of a disaster. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Circumventing mental health stigma by embracing the warrior culture: Lessons learned from the Defender's Edge program.

Despite considerable efforts on the part of the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, and the wider mental health community, mental health stigma continues to be a significant barrier to seeking help by service members, highlighting the need for newer modes of thought. A significant factor contributing to this stigma is the fundamental difference between traditional mental health approaches and the warrior culture. As a mental health prevention initiative, the Defender's Edge (DEFED) program was specifically developed to fit within the United States Air Force Security Forces (SF) charged with ground combat operations while deployed to Iraq. DEFED adopted a strengths-based philosophy and integrated a psychologist into the SF culture. Evaluative feedback from 192 program participants is presented, demonstrating high programmatic acceptability and feasibility suggestive of success in circumventing mental health stigma. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Are minichromosomes valid model systems for DNA replication control? Lessons learned from Escherichia coli

Conventional chemotherapy produces varying degrees of response in patients with many advanced cancers and has significant side effects. Receptors for luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) are present in a high percentage of human ovarian, prostatic, breast and endometrial tumors and targeted chemotherapy based on cytotoxic analogs of LH-RH might yield better results. The present study was undertaken to determine whether human cancer cell lines express mRNA for LH-RH receptors and epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors. Using radioligand binding studies, we showed the presence of high-affinity binding sites for LH-RH and EGF in the membranes of human ovarian, prostatic, breast and endometrial cancer cell lines as well as in the JAR choriocarcinoma cell line. The expression of the mRNA for LH-RH receptors and EGF receptors in these cell lines was demonstrated by RT-PCR using specific primers and by subsequent Southern blot analysis. The PCR products obtained were of the expected size, 319 bp for LH-RH receptors and 400 bp for EGF receptors. These findings support the view that cytotoxic analogs of LH-RH could be used for targeted chemotherapy of these cancers. Moreover, the results suggest that these human cancer cell lines might have local regulatory systems for their proliferation based on LH-RH and EGF. Further investigations are required to elucidate the signal transduction pathways involved in the effects of cytotoxic LH-RH analogs on human tumors.