Psychology in the year 2000.

States that attention must be focused on the predictably rapid development of psychophysiology leading to new studies of: (1) internal scanning, with increasing resultant voluntary control of the inner world; (2) the expansion of parapsychology; and (3) a rapidly developing rapprochement between psychology, and the biological and the social sciences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Intervertebral disc prosthesis. Results and prospects for the year 2000

Presently, the kinematic disc prosthesis model (SB Charité) is the best disc replacement compromise, and is the basis of the evolution of the prosthetic concept at the dawning of the year 2000. Clinical results of a homogeneous series of 105 cases with a mean followup of 51 months show 79% of the patients had an excellent result and 87% returned to work, radiologically, these results correlated with restoration of a well balanced lordosis and with segmental mobility. Factors leading to failure are posterior facet arthritis, osteoporosis, structural deformities, and secondary facet pain. Two- and 3-dimensional numeric modeling enables one to study the total facet joint loading and the maximal local loading on the facet. Dissociation of the stiffness in pure rotation and stiffness in translation of the disc are the bases of the technologic improvement.     

Health promotion and schizophrenia: the year 2000 and beyond

The health promotion needs of persons with schizophrenia have not been emphasized as a result of historical stigma, the effort required to stabilize symptoms, the relapsing nature of the disease, and the helplessness felt by caregivers. Family members and individuals with schizophrenia experience shame, grief, guilt, fear, and isolation, all of which render them less able to be proactive. Health promotion strategies that change attitudes, build self-esteem, increase insight into the illness, modify behavior, provide sources of income and access to medical care, and support companionship are necessary while research efforts seek a cure for this historically misunderstood illness.     

Training system issues in the year 2000.

This article discusses the influence of future changes in the demographics of working populations and the characteristics of the workplace on research, development, and policy for training systems. Analyses of these changes indicate that there will be more expectations that training programs will serve as a positive hope to maximize the potential of each person. This will result in increased emphasis on research to identify abilities required to perform more cognitively complex jobs. Also, research on basic skill and support programs to permit unskilled youth to enter the world of work will be required. In addition, there will be a need for research on training necessary to help future managers and leaders work with members of a more diverse work force. Finally, the implications of these changes suggest that we need policies that consider research and development on retraining as a national need to help all individuals maximize their individual talents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Tomorrow''s world: atherosclerosis in the year 2000

Sheep were immunized with a protective recombinant antigen (45W) from the cestode parasite Taenia ovis using three different vaccine delivery systems, either alone or in different combinations. The DNA encoding 45W was cloned into the expression plasmid pcDNA 3 and an ovine adenovirus to create nucleic acid and recombinant viral vector vaccines, respectively. Sheep received two vaccinations with various combinations of these two delivery systems and/or purified recombinant 45W protein in a conventional vaccine formulation containing Quil A as adjuvant (protein/Quil A vaccine). Sheep receiving two inoculations of either the nucleic acid or the recombinant adenovirus alone, demonstrated only low levels of 45W-specific antibody. However, immunization with either nucleic acid or recombinant adenovirus primed animals to mount an enhanced immune response after a subsequent vaccination with the protein/ Quil A vaccine. The most striking result was that sheep initially immunized with the nucleic acid vaccine and boosted with the recombinant adenovirus, mounted IgG1 responses > 65 fold higher than those of sheep receiving either vaccine alone. The level of antibody in these sheep was commensurate with that observed in animals vaccinated twice with the protein/Quil A adjuvanted vaccine. In both cases, host-protection from experimental challenge infection with T. ovis was obtained.     

Approaching diversity training in the year 2000.

Managing diversity effectively is the most complex human resource challenge of the next century, permeating every aspect of an organization's internal functioning and external marketplace. As organizations continue to contract for diversity consultation and training, expectations for what these programs can offer increase. This article explores the areas that diversity consultation training can successfully address as an intention to meet the organizational challenges to be faced in the next century. A comprehensive model for diversity consultation is proposed to address the multifaceted aspects necessary to build inclusive organizations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Three-dimensional US and volumetric assessment of the prostate

The authors demonstrate a method for constructing three-dimensional (3D) images of the prostate based on standard two-dimensional ultrasonic (US) images. Transverse US images of the prostate in six patients (aged 61-83 years) and 10 water-filled balloon phantoms were recorded at video rates by manually withdrawing a biplane transrectal probe at a constant speed. Data acquisition time of the images was less than a minute. Typically, 50-70 scans of 0.2-0.5-mm-thick cross sections were acquired. Postprocessing of these data enabled lifelike 3D visualization of the gland and accurate measurement of its volume.     

Antifungal resistance trends towards the year 2000. Implications for therapy and new approaches

Medical advances have led to increased numbers of immunocompromised patients living longer. Coinciding with this increase in the immunocompromised patient population is an increase in the number of clinically significant fungal infections. Unfortunately, widespread use of the limited numbers of antifungal agents to treat these infections has led to the development of drug resistance. Thus, in an attempt to sort out the mechanisms of resistance for each of the systemically useful antifungal agents, a comprehensive review of the literature has been carried out. The most common mechanisms for the development of resistance involve changes in the enzymatic pathways which serve as the drug targets. For instance, changes in enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of ergosterol, the target of azole activity, lead to azole resistance. Another common mechanism used by fungi to avoid drug toxicity includes reduced intracellular accumulation of the drug through both decreased permeability and energy-dependent efflux pumps. Using our current understanding of the mechanisms of drug resistance as a template, several strategies to overcome resistance have been identified. These include improvement of host immune function, the use of adjuvant surgery, the development of new drug delivery systems for currently available drugs and the development of new classes of antifungal agents. Also, clinical trials to establish appropriate drug doses and duration of therapy are needed, as well as the benefits of antifungal prophylaxis explored and the use of combination therapies entertained. The war against drug resistant fungi has been identified as we approach the year 2000. With careful and cogent investigations, we do have the tools to fight back against these opportunists. Of all the strategies reviewed, however, in our opinion, the development of new antifungal drugs is likely to have the most significant future impact on our management of drug resistance in fungal infections.     

Psychology in the year 2000: Going structural?

Discusses the possible progress of psychology in the next few decades toward integrating different domains of study, e.g., behavioral and psychophysiological. Substantial progress will require a shift from the current focus on isolated variables to organized wholes. Investigations relating single variables from different domains assume 1:1 mapping between systems. A given physiological function, however, is involved in many behaviors while each behavior is a product of various physiological functions. Thus, the structure of each domain should be identified before an attempt to relate various systems is made. Current structural work offers a promising approach toward theoretical integration of clinical, developmental, experimental, and social psychology into a unified discipline. (30 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

How to combat tuberculosis in the year 2000?

Serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels are growth hormone (GH) dependent and reflect the endogenous GH secretion. Two hundred and forty-four healthy children were evaluated for serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels and then the age-defined normal values for Thai children were constructed. The results showed that the serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels were age dependent, gradually increased from birth and reached the peak values around the age of 14-16 years. In addition, we studied the IGF-I and IGFBP-3 values in 28 GH deficient children and 26 normal variant short stature (NVSS) by using our normal constructed values as the reference. To minimize the influence of age, both IGF-I and IGFBP-3 values were transformed to standard deviation score (SDS). In clinical practice, we recommend using the IGF-I SDS and IGFBP-3 SDS of -1 and -1.3 respectively as a cut-off point to discriminate between GH deficiency and NVSS to avoid risky GH provocative tests and unnecessary GH replacement with the sensitivity of 71 per cent and the specificity of 92 per cent.     

Immediate antecedents of cigarette smoking: An analysis from ecological momentary assessment.

The authors assessed the association between smoking and situational cues, including affect, in realworld contexts. Using ecological momentary assessment, 304 smokers monitored ad-lib smoking for 1 week, recording each cigarette on palm-top computers. Generalized estimating equations contrasted 10,084 smoking and 11,155 nonsmoking situations. After controlling for smoking restrictions, smoking was strongly related to smoking urges and modestly related to consumption of coffee and food, the presence of other smokers, and several activities. Smoking was unrelated to negative or positive affect or to arousal, although it was associated with restlessness. Thus, in daily life, affect appears to exert little influence over ad-lib smoking in heavy smoking adults. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)