Responses to repeated frustrations of young children differentiated according to need area.

"Preschool children, placed in an eight-trial frustration task, showed significant increases in aggressive-dominant (Ag) behavior scores from the first four to the last four trials, and showed decreases in submissive-complaisant (Su) behavior scores." Children high in power-dominance needs (PD/n) showed higher total Ag scores during frustration than did children low in these needs. Also, children high in love-affection needs (LA/n) showed smaller total Ag scores than those low in these needs. High PD/n children showed lower Su scores than low PD/n children. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Developmental increases and decreases in solutions of conditional syllogism problems.

281 students (Grades 8, 10, and 12 and college sophomores) were given a 16-item conditional reasoning test which contained 1 each of the arguments generated by the orthogonal arrangement of (a) stating the major premise in each of the 4 combinations of positive and negative instances of the antecedent or consequent, and (b) stating the 2nd premise in each of the 4 cases of affirming or denying the antecedent or consequent. Analysis of results indicated little development after Grade 8 for the easy affirm-antecedent problems, substantial increase on the deny-antecedent and affirm-consequent problems from below chance at the 8th grade to mediocre performance levels for college sophomores and a surprising monotonic decrease in performance on the deny-consequent problems from Grade 8 to the college sophomore year. An error analysis was performed which revealed that the poor performance of younger Ss and even adults may be partially an artifact of students misinterpreting the "if, then" conditional statements as biconditional ("if and only if, then") propositions. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Responses of IGF-I to endogenous increases in growth hormone after heavy-resistance exercise

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a heavy-resistance exercise protocol known to dramatically elevate immunoreactive growth hormone (GH) on circulating insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) after the exercise stimulus. Seven men (23.1 +/- 2.4 yr) volunteered to participate in this study. Each subject was asked to perform an eight-station heavy-resistance exercise protocol consisting of 3 sets of 10 repetition maximum resistances with 1-min rest between sets and exercises followed by a recovery day. In addition, a control day followed a nonexercise day to provide baseline data. Pre- and postexercise (0, 15, and 30 min) blood samples were obtained and analyzed for lactate, creatinine kinase, GH, and IGF-I. Postexercise values for lactate and GH were significantly (P < 0.05) elevated above preexercise and resting baseline values. The highest mean GH concentration after the heavy-resistance exercise protocol was 23.8 +/- 11.8 micrograms/l, observed at the immediate postexercise time point. Significant increases in creatine kinase were observed after the exercise protocol and during the recovery day. No significant relationships were observed between creatine kinase and IGF-I concentrations. No significant changes in serum IGF-I concentrations were observed with acute exercise or between the recovery and control days. Thus, these data demonstrate that a high-intensity bout of heavy-resistance exercise that increases circulating GH did not appear to affect IGF-I concentrations over a 24-h recovery period in recreationally strength-trained and healthy young men.     

Sequential increases and decreases in blood flow stimulates progressive intimal thickening

Exfoliative toxins of approximately 30 kDa produced by Staphylococcus hyicus strains NCTC 10350, 1289D-88 and 842A-88 were purified and specific polyclonal antisera were raised against each of the toxins. It was shown by immunoblot analysis and ELISA that three exfoliative toxins from S. hyicus were antigenically distinct. The three toxins were designated ExhA, ExhB and ExhC. From 60 diseased pigs, each representing an outbreak of exudative epidermitis, a total of 584 isolates of S. hyicus were phage typed and tested for production of exfoliative toxin. ExhA-, ExhB- and ExhC-producing S. hyicus isolates were found in 12 (20%), 20 (33%) and 11 (18%), respectively, of the 60 pig herds investigated. Production of the different types of exfoliative toxin was predominantly associated with certain phage groups. However, toxin production was found in all of the six phage groups defined by the phage typing system. Some changes in the distribution of isolates between phage groups were observed when the results of this study were compared to previous investigations. In this study two new antigenically distinct exfoliative toxins were isolated and tools for in vitro detection of toxin producing S. hyicus isolates and for further studies on the exfoliative toxins from S. hyicus have been provided.     

Paraventricular hypothalamic clonidine increases rather than decreases susceptibility to activity-based anorexia in the rat.

Anorexia has been related to reduced activity of the paraventricular hypothalamic (PVN) noradrenergic-feeding system. This study attempted to determine whether clonidine (an α2-adrenergic agonist) infused into the PVN reduced susceptibility to activity-based anorexia (ABA) in the rat. In Exp 1, clonidine (6 doses) was chronically infused into the PVN of male Sprague-Dawley rats. All animals were exposed to ABA (1.5 hrs/day food access; 22.5 hrs/day running wheel access) until a 25% body weight loss was reached. Dose-related increases in susceptibility to ABA and decreases in food intake were observed. In Exp 2, for which heavier animals and 3 doses of clonidine were used, no difference was found in food intake and wheel activity, but there was increased susceptibility to ABA. Chronic clonidine infused into the PVN does not produce hyperphagia and exacerbates rather than attenuates susceptibility to ABA. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Intraventricular neuropeptide Y decreases need-induced sodium appetite and increases pica in rats.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a potent endogenous stimulator of food intake. In addition to stimulating increased food intake, when paired with a novel-flavored solution, NPY produces an aversion to that flavor. Hence, exogenous NPY elicits 2 seemingly opposing behaviors, increased feeding and the formation of a conditioned taste aversion. One interpretation of these data is that NPY produces some form of malaise or visceral illness. NPY's orexigenic and malaise-inducing properties were tested in rats with 2 measures sensitive to malaise, increased kaolin consumption (pica behavior) and failure to express need-induced sodium intake. Administration of NPY resulted in increased food intake, increased kaolin consumption, and decreased need-induced sodium intake. These data support the hypothesis that exogenous NPY has both orexigenic and malaise-inducing properties. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Troglitazone decreases the proportion of small, dense LDL and increases the resistance of LDL to oxidation in obese subjects

OBJECTIVE: Insulin resistance is associated with a predominance of small, atherogenic LDL particles that are more prone to oxidative modification. Treatment with the insulin-sensitizer troglitazone may improve LDL composition and resistance to oxidation. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In a randomized double-blind crossover design, 15 obese subjects were treated with either 400 mg troglitazone daily or placebo for 8 weeks. Insulin sensitivity (clamp), (apo)lipoproteins, LDL subclass pattern, plasma TBARS, and ex vivo LDL oxidation were determined. RESULTS: Troglitazone treatment improved insulin sensitivity. LDL cholesterol increased from 2.58 +/- 0.18 to 2.77 +/- 0.20 mmol/l (P = 0.03) because of an increase in large (buoyant) LDL1 (from 0.45 +/- 0.04 to 0.62 +/- 0.09 mmol/l, P = 0.008). Because small (dense) LDL3 decreased, LDL1:LDL3 ratio increased (P = 0.02). Plasma TBARS concentration declined significantly, and the lag time of ex vivo LDL oxidation showed a small but significant increase. CONCLUSIONS: In obese subjects, treatment with troglitazone improves insulin sensitivity, increases the ratio of large buoyant to small dense LDL, and appears to enhance the resistance of the LDL particle to oxidation. These qualitative changes in lipoproteins may have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk profile and compensate for a small increase in LDL cholesterol.     

Low dialysate [K+] decreases efficiency of hemodialysis and increases urea rebound

In a previous study, it was reported that hemodialysis with dialysate [K+] (KD) of 1.0 or 2.0 mmol/L caused an increase in BP shortly after completion of treatment due to arteriolar constriction. With this background, it was hypothesized that a low KD might decrease dialysis efficiency by a similar mechanism. To evaluate this hypothesis, paired observations of two consecutive 3-h treatments, with KD of 1.0 or 3.0 mmol/L, were performed in 14 stable end-stage renal disease patients. A KD of 1.0 mmol/L resulted in lower values for both urea reduction ratio and Kt/V evaluated at completion of dialysis and 1 h thereafter. Values at equilibrium were urea reduction ratio 42+/-1% versus 47+/-2% (P < 0.02), Kt/V 0.65+/-0.03 versus 0.73+/-0.03 (P < 0.02) for KD 1.0 or 3.0 mmol/L, respectively. The mechanisms responsible for the observed differences in dialysis efficiency were examined using a urea kinetics model that predicts urea sequestration caused by impaired blood flow to urea-rich tissues. For this purpose, urea rebound and its effect on Kt/V (by means of deltaKt/V, calculated as equilibrated minus single pool value) with KD 1.0 and 3.0 mmol/L were assessed. Greater urea rebound, 12.8+/-1.6% versus 8.6+/-1.4% (P < 0.001), and larger deltaKt/V, 0.12+/-0.01 versus 0.10+/-0.02 (P < 0.02), were observed with KD 1.0 mmol/L compared with 3.0 mmol/L. The theoretical model accurately predicted the deltaKt/V observed with KD 1.0 mmol/L. It is concluded that a low KD decreases dialysis efficiency. This effect is likely caused by reduced blood perfusion to nonvisceral organs, largely skeletal muscle. Conversely, hemodialysis with KD 3.0 mmol/L facilitates tissue perfusion, minimizes urea trapping in poorly perfused areas, and improves the efficiency of this treatment modality.     

Testosterone increases and estradiol decreases middle cerebral artery occlusion lesion size in male rats

This study was undertaken to determine the effects of estrogen and testosterone on cerebral ischemic lesion size induced by middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion in male rats. Rats were gonadectomized and treated with testosterone, estrogen, or testosterone plus estrogen filled Silastic pellets. The animals were divided into 6 groups: intact, intact + estrogen (E2), castrate, castrate + testosterone (T), castrate + E2, and castrate + T + E2. One week after treatment, cerebral ischemia was induced by MCA occlusion for 40 min, followed by reperfusion. After 24 h, rats were sacrificed and slices were then stained to assess lesion size. The presence of testosterone increased and the removal of testosterone decreased lesion size. A strong positive correlation (r2 = 0.922) between plasma testosterone concentrations and ischemic lesion size was observed. Estradiol treatment reduced ischemic area. In summary, the present study provides evidence that testosterone exacerbates and estrogens ameliorate ischemic brain damage in an animal model of cerebral ischemia.     

Moderate folate depletion increases plasma homocysteine and decreases lymphocyte DNA methylation in postmenopausal women

To determine the human folate requirement on the basis of changes in biochemical pathways, we studied the effect of controlled folate intakes on plasma homocysteine and lymphocyte DNA methylation and deoxynucleotide content in healthy postmenopausal women. Eight women (49-63 y of age) were housed in a metabolic unit and fed a low folate diet containing 56 microg/d of folate for 91 d. Folate intake was varied by supplementing 55-460 microg/d of folic acid (pteroylglutamic acid) to the diet to provide total folate intake periods of 5 wk at 56 microg/d, 4 wk at 111 microg/d and 3 wk at 286-516 microg/d. A subclinical folate deficiency with decreased plasma folate was created during the first two periods. This resulted in significantly elevated plasma homocysteine and urinary malondialdehyde, and lymphocyte DNA hypomethylation. The folate depletion also resulted in an increased ratio of dUTP/dTTP in mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte DNA and decreased lymphocyte NAD, changes suggesting misincorporation of uracil into DNA and increased DNA repair activity. The DNA hypomethylation was reversed with 286-516 microg/d of folate repletion, whereas the elevated homocysteine decreased with 516 but not 286 microg/d of folate. The results indicate that marginal folate deficiency may alter DNA composition and that the current RDA of 180 microg/d may not be sufficient to maintain low plasma homocysteine concentrations of some postmenopausal women.     

Extracellular glutamate increases in the lateral hypothalamus and decreases in the nucleus accumbens during feeding

Glutamate release was monitored in the lateral hypothalamus and the nucleus accumbens during a meal using 30 s resolution microdialysis and capillary zone electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence. A significant increase in hypothalamic glutamate and a decrease in accumbens glutamate were observed. These results, added to previous pharmacological studies, suggest that glutamatergic synapses in the lateral hypothalamus and the nucleus accumbens might be involved in the control of feeding behavior.     

Sexual maturation of boars and growth of swine exposed to extended photoperiod during decreasing natural photoperiod

Littermate pairs of crossbred boars, barrows and gilts were used to study the effects of an artificially extended photoperiod during decreasing daylength on puberty in boars and on weight gain and feed efficiency. Libido scores of the boars exposed to the extended photoperiod were higher (P < .01) than those of controls at 24 and 26 weeks of age. At 26 weeks of age, semen had been collected from 74% of the boars on supplemental light but from only 26% of the controls. Lighting treatment did not affect semen quality. The number of ejaculates previously collected did affect semen quality. Motility and total sperm per ejaculate increased with increasing ejaculate number, while the percentage of abnormalities appeared to decrease. A second group of boars was delayed in the development of mating behavior, perhaps because of inadvertent consumption of Gibberella zeae-infected corn. The extended photoperiod did not exert a beneficial effect on weight gain or feed efficiency of boars, barrows or gilts.     

Differential decreases in c-fos and aldolase C mRNA expression in the rat cerebellum after repeated administration of methamphetamine

The current studies were carried out to examine the basis for the differences in the antigenic peptides generated from exogenous and endogenous forms of hen egg white lysozyme (HEL). The role of different intracellular compartments in the generation and binding of HEL peptides derived from two endogenous forms of HEL, either secreted (sHEL) or retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER, KDELHEL), presented by MHC class II molecules was examined and compared to exogenous HEL. Initially it was found that antigen-presenting cells bearing both intracellular forms of HEL generated and presented a number of IAk-restricted HEL epitopes to T cell hybridomas, although sHEL was processed more efficiently than KDEL-HEL. There were differences, however, for some determinants between endogenous and exogenous HEL. At equivalent antigen-presenting efficiencies, endogenous HEL-bearing cells displayed a lower surface density of IAk-bound HEL-52-61-related peptides than cells pulsed with exogenous HEL, as detected by a specific monoclonal antibody. Neither endogenous HEL degradation nor peptide binding to MHC class II molecules occurred in the ER. Processing of sHEL and KDELHEL appears to take place either in a post-trans-Golgi network acidic compartment or in the cytosol, whereas peptide binding to MHC class II molecules occurs in endocytic compartments. Furthermore, the peptides generated were derived from an endogenous source rather than from secreted and re-endocytosed HEL. Thus, processing of endogenous HEL is from a different pool than exogenous HEL and occurs in different compartments.     

Triacetyluridine (TAU) decreases depressive symptoms and increases brain pH in bipolar patients.

Eleven patients with bipolar depression were given doses of up to 18 g per day of triacetyluridine (TAU) over 6 weeks to test the effect of uridine on symptoms of depression via Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS; Asberg, Montgomery, Perris, Schalling, & Sedvall, 1978) scores and on cellular bioenergetics using phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (31P-MRSI). All patients and comparison participants (n = 9) completed baseline 31P-MRSI scans, and 9 patients completed posttherapy scans. The percentage changes for MADRS scores (Week 2, -23.8; Week 3, -34.9; Week 4, -42.5) and the time effects of TAU on MADRS scores (Week 2, z = -2.07, p = .039; Week 3, z = -4.28, p     

Neuroleptic treatment increases soluble IL-2 receptors and decreases soluble IL-6 receptors in schizophrenia

The cytokines interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) increase during immune activation, they are released from activated astrocytes and microglial cells in the central nervous system (CNS), and they are able to enhance the catecholaminergic neurotransmission. This study focused on the soluble receptors of IL-2 and IL-6 (sIL-2R, sIL-6R) as a part of the regulation system of IL-2 and IL-6. We studied serum levels of sIL-2R in 30 schizophrenic patients not under neuroleptic medication during an acute exacerbation of the disease and reexamined these patients under neuroleptic treatment after clinical improvement. The sIL-6R levels of 39 schizophrenic patients were estimated under the same conditions. The results were compared with the levels of sIL-2R and sIL-6R in 42 healthy controls. No difference was found between the schizophrenic patients before neuroleptic treatment and the healthy controls. During neuroleptic treatment, however, there was a significant increase of sIL-2R levels and a significant decrease of the sIL-6R levels between the pre- and post-conditions. In comparison with healthy controls, the treatment group also showed increased sIL-2R levels and decreased sIL-6R levels. These results suggest that treatment with neuroleptics is associated with increased sIL-2R and decreased sIL-6R. Since sIL-2R bind and inactivate IL-2, whereas sIL-6R form an active complex with IL-6, the increase of sIL-2R and the decrease of sIL-6R together may reflect a functional down regulation of these activating cytokines. This suggests that neuroleptic therapy has a differentiated immunomodulatory effect.     

Responses to a postal survey on women''s health after birth: importance of repeated mailings and characteristics of non-respondents

The simulation of breast fields using an isocentric set-up technique can be a lengthy process involving the placement of the isocentre, the determination of the gantry angles, and the selection of the lung shields, which in our center is one of six standard blocks. We show that with a body contour taken through central axis, five measurements and a calculator program, it is possible to significantly decrease the amount of time required to simulate a breast patient. We have developed a program for an HP48GX handheld calculator to determine the gantry angles, the isocentre, the field width, the standard angled block, and the couch and collimator rotation. The calculations are based on measurements of the field length, the horizontal distance between midline and mid axillary line, and the vertical distances from the mid axillary line to the inferior and superior beam border and central axis at midline. We use spherical geometry to perform the calculations to reflect the true environment and do not make any assumptions about the average patient's shape. For the simulation process a jig was developed that is inserted into the tray holder of the simulator to show the optical and radiological shadow of the calculated shielding along the patient's midline for clinical assessment during simulation and on the simulation film. The jig also has a holder for an aluminum wedge to improve the image quality of the simulation film. We admit that the lung shield increases the dose to the contralateral breast because of increased scatter and transmission through the shield; however, the block decreases the volume of irradiated lung while keeping the beam edge along the midline of the patient. The technique has been in use for two years and has resulted in time savings of up to 30% per patient. It has proven to be an easy and accurate way of setting up isocentric treatments to the breast.     

Learned changes in the rate of respiratory pumping in Aplysia fasciata in response to increases and decreases in seawater concentration.

In Aplysia fasciata, the sea hare, shock paired with moderate increases or decreases in the seawater concentration leads to pairing-specific increases in the respiratory pump rate in response to the same solutions an hour later. A common neural circuit underlies learned changes to increased and decreased seawater concentration, as shown by complete generalization of learning between these stimuli. Different neural circuitry controls learning after pairing a shock with pH 7 seawater, as shown by a lack of generalization of learning to this stimulus. Preexposure to strong changes in the seawater leads to sensitization of respiratory pumping. The hypothesis was tested that associative learning and sensitization arise from activation of common pathways. However, patterns of generalization of sensitization elicited by preexposure to altered seawaters differ from those produced by associative learning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cognitive–behavioral stress management increases free testosterone and decreases psychological distress in HIV-seropositive men.

The effects of a 10-week group-based cognitive–behavioral stress management (CBSM) intervention on psychological distress and plasma free testosterone in symptomatic, HIV-seropositive men were examined. Participants were randomized to either CBSM (n?=?42) or a wait-list control group (n?=?23). Men in the CBSM intervention showed significant increases in testosterone, whereas control participants showed significant decreases. Those participating in CBSM had significant distress reductions, whereas controls showed no such change. Alterations in free testosterone were inversely related to changes in distress states over time, independent of any changes in cortisol. These findings demonstrate that a short-term CBSM intervention increases free testosterone levels among symptomatic, HIV-seropositive men, and alterations in free testosterone are associated with changes in psychological distress observed during CBSM. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Antisense inhibition of striatal GABAA receptor proteins decreases GABA-stimulated chloride uptake and increases cocaine sensitivity in rats

The functional status of striatal GABAA receptors appears to be inversely related to the magnitude of cocaine-induced behaviors. Exposure of striatum to antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ASODNs) targeted to the mRNAs for the alpha 2 and the beta 3 subunits of the GABAA receptor should decrease expression of receptor proteins and therefore might be expected to increase cocaine sensitivity. ASODNs, scrambled ODNs or saline were injected into right lateral ventricle of rats and behavioral responses to cocaine were tested 18-20 h after treatment. Animals injected separately with alpha 2 or beta 3 ASODNs exhibited increased behavioral sensitivity to cocaine compared to rats injected with saline or scrambled ODNs including performing more 360 degrees turns to the left than to the right. There was significantly less GABA-stimulated Cl uptake in right striatum compared to left striatum of ASODN-treated rats with no significant difference between sides in control animals. Specific binding to benzodiazepine and convulsant sites on the GABAA receptor was not selectively altered by ASODN treatment. Combined alpha 2 beta 3 ASODN treatment did not affect either cocaine sensitivity or GABAA receptor function. There was no difference between the density of Nissl stained cells in the left and right edges of striatum in control or ASODN-treated rats indicating the absence of significant neurotoxic effects of the ASODN treatment. Injection of fluorescein-conjugated ASODNs indicated that ASODN is present in striatum at times during which behavioral and neurochemical indices of GABA receptor function are decreased. Thus, the functional status of GABAA receptors in striatum may be involved in determining cocaine sensitivity.     

Greater concentration of dietary sucrose decreases dentin formation and increases the area of dentinal caries in growing rats

The effect of increasing dietary sucrose concentration on dentin formation and dentinal caries progression was studied. Weanling Wistar rats received 15, 30 or 43 g/100 g sucrose in a diet; for reference, another group was fed a nonpurified diet. At the onset, tetracycline was injected to mark the dentin formed during the experiment. After 6 wk, lower molars were sectioned sagittally; the areas and thicknesses of the dentin formation during the experiment and dentinal caries lesions were quantified separately in the first and second molars. Feeding the 43% sucrose diet resulted in a significantly lower dentin formation than in other diet groups (P < 0.05). The differences obtained from the area measurements were supported by thickness measurements. In the first molar, the 43% sucrose diet resulted in a significantly greater area of dentinal caries than in the other sucrose groups. The number and severity of caries lesions clearly increased as the concentration of sucrose in the diet increased (r = 0.5, P < 0.05 and r = 0.6, P < 0.05, respectively). This study suggests that the increase in the concentration of sucrose in the diet reduces dentin formation and increases the area of dentinal caries as well as the number and severity of caries lesions; the critical sucrose concentration appears to be between 30 and 43 g/100 g.