The Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (CAST): test-retest reliability and concordance validity

The effects of tautomycin and its derivatives on protein phosphatases PP1 and PP2A and their apoptosis-inducing activity toward human leukemia Jurkat cells were examined, and the relationship between chemical structure and function was discussed. Among the compounds we examined, tautomycin was the most potent inhibitor and the most effective inducer of apoptosis. It inhibited PP1 and PP2A enzymatic activity concentration-dependently with IC50 values of 20 and 75 pM, respectively, in the presence of 0.01% Brij-35, and an LC50 value of 1 microM. Esterification of the anhydride moiety of tautomycin markedly increased the IC50 for the protein phosphatases. The C1'-C7' fragment of tautomycin had no inhibitory effect, but the fragment containing the C22-C26 moiety was inhibitory. These results suggest that the C22-C26 moiety is essential for inhibition of protein phosphatase activity and that the anhydride moiety enhances the inhibition. However, the esterification of the anhydride did not decrease, nor did the inclusion of the C22-C26 moiety increase the apoptosis-inducing activity. On the other hand, the C1-C18 moiety of tautomycin was essential for induction of apoptosis, and the conformation and the arrangement of functionalities of the C18-C26 carbon chain affected the apoptosis activity. However, modification of C1-C18, C1-C21, or C1-C26 compounds had little effect on phosphatase inhibitory activity. Our results strongly suggest that different moieties of tautomycin are involved in protein phosphatase inhibition and induction of apoptosis.     

Response patterns of pre-school-age children to the Northwestern Syntax Screening Test

This study was undertaken to describe the response patterns of 216 boys and girls between the ages of five-and-one-half and six-and-one-half years of age on grammatically matched receptive and expressive items of the NSST. The results showed no significant differences among the mean scores for three age levels or between the two sexes. However, the obtained means were substantially below those obtained on the NSST standardization sample. Item analysis suggested several inconsistencies between the ages of five-and-one-half and six-and-one-half years of age on gram-correct expressively but incorrect receptively.     

Alcoholics Anonymous Involvement (AAI) scale: Reliability and norms.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) participation often is of interest in alcoholism treatment research, but few measures of this variable have been developed with known psychometric properties. It is common for measures of AA participation to blur the important distinction between frequency of AA attendance and AA involvement. This study provides psychometric findings for the Alcoholics Anonymous Involvement (AAI) scale, a 13-item self-report inventory that measures lifetime and recent attendance and involvement in AA. Normative data are provided based on a national sample of alcoholic participants in treatment (N?=?1,625), and AAI response stability is reported by using a test-retest sample (N?=?76). Findings indicate that the AAI can serve as a reliable and useful instrument for assessing AA attendance and involvement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Screening for problem drinking: comparison of CAGE and AUDIT. Ambulatory Care Quality Improvement Project (ACQUIP). Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test

OBJECTIVE: To compare self-administered versions of three questionnaires for detecting heavy and problem drinking: the CAGE, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), and an augmented version of the CAGE. DESIGN: Cross-sectional surveys. SETTING: Three Department of Veterans Affairs general medical clinics. PATIENTS: Random sample of consenting male outpatients who consumed at least 5 drinks over the past year ("drinkers"). Heavy drinkers were oversampled. MEASUREMENTS: An augmented version of the CAGE was included in a questionnaire mailed to all patients. The AUDIT was subsequently mailed to "drinkers." Comparison standards, based on the tri-level World Health Organization alcohol consumption interview and the Diagnostic Interview Schedule, included heavy drinking (> 14 drinks per week typically or > or = 5 drinks per day at least monthly) and active DSM-IIIR alcohol abuse or dependence (positive diagnosis and at least one alcohol-related symptom in the past year). Areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) were used to compare screening questionnaires. MAIN RESULTS: Of 393 eligible patients, 261 (66%) returned the AUDIT and completed interviews. For detection of active alcohol abuse or dependence, the CAGE augmented with three more questions (AUROC 0.871) performed better than either the CAGE alone or AUDIT (AUROCs 0.820 and 0.777, respectively). For identification of heavy-drinking patients, however, the AUDIT performed best (AUROC 0.870). To identify both heavy drinking and active alcohol abuse or dependence, the augmented CAGE and AUDIT both performed well, but the AUDIT was superior (AUROC 0.861). CONCLUSIONS: For identification of patients with heavy drinking or active alcohol abuse or dependence, the self-administered AUDIT was superior to the CAGE in this population.     

A questionnaire for parents on school difficulties of their children (author''s transl)

The association of a secundum atrial septal defect and mitral insufficiency is not uncommon. Five patients with this combination of lesions are presented and the pathological anatomy of the mitral valve is discussed. All 5 patients demonstrated a similar cleft mitral valve; 2 had cleft valves when only mitral valve prolapse was suspected preoperatively. The surgical implication of these lesions is discussed.     

The drinking partnership and marital satisfaction: The longitudinal influence of discrepant drinking.

The objective was to determine whether discrepancies between husbands' and wives' past-year heavy drinking predicted decreased marital satisfaction over time. Participants (N = 634) were recruited at the time they applied for their marriage licenses. Couples completed questionnaires about their alcohol use and marital satisfaction at the time of marriage and again at their 1st and 2nd anniversaries. Generalized estimating equation models were used to evaluate the association between discrepancies in husbands' and wives' heavy drinking in the year prior to marriage and marital satisfaction at the 1st wedding anniversary and the association between discrepancies in heavy alcohol use in the 1st year of marriage and marital satisfaction at the 2nd wedding anniversary. In these prospective time-lagged analyses, discrepancies in husbands' and wives' heavy drinking predicted decreased marital satisfaction over time while controlling for heavy drinking. Over time, these couples may be at greater risk for decreased marital functioning that may lead to relationship dissolution. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The influence of growth hormone (rhGH) therapy on tooth formation in idiopathic short statured children

The purpose of this preliminary study was to evaluate tooth formation in children with idiopathic short stature, before and during treatment with recombinant growth hormone (rhGH). Twenty-nine short-statured children ages 6 to 13 years were assigned into two treatment groups, an "experimental" group (n = 18), which received rhGH, and a "control" group (n = 11), which was observed for 1 year before commencing rhGH treatment. Clinical and radiographic records were obtained at the initial, year 1, and year 2 visits. Tooth formation and stature were assessed by calculating Z-scores, appropriate for the age and gender of each child. Delta-Z scores, which measure the change in Z-score over time, were also calculated between annual visits. Height was measured and recorded every 3 months, and Z-score statural norms for age and gender were derived from the 1977 National Center for Health Services national probability sampling. Tooth formation standards were derived from Moorrees et al. A matched control sample for tooth development was derived from untreated children. Tooth formation was initially delayed although the degree of reduction in stature exceeded the initial degree of delay in tooth formation. During this 2-year study, rhGH therapy had a significant influence on acceleration or gain in stature, but did not have a significant influence on tooth formation.     

The self-fulfilling influence of mother expectations on children's underage drinking.

This research examined whether mothers' expectations about their children's drinking behavior influenced their children's future alcohol use through self-fulfilling prophecies. It also investigated whether children's self-esteem, family social class, or the valence of mother expectations moderated this process. Analyses of longitudinal data from 505 mother-child dyads yielded results consistent with a self-fulfilling prophecy. The inaccurate portion of mother expectations predicted children's future alcohol use after accounting for relevant control variables. Moderation analyses indicated that this effect was stronger among higher self-esteem children and when mother expectations were positively valenced (i.e., when mothers underestimated their children's future alcohol use). The findings are discussed in terms of parent-child relationship quality, peer influences, self theories, and out-group stereotypes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Viral hepatitis A, E and their mix (A+E) in children

Atypical ("pseudosarcomatous"), cutaneous, fibrous histiocytoma is a rare connective tissue tumor arising on the trunk and limbs in young adults. Its histological diagnosis is difficult. We report the case of a 25-year-old woman who presented a nodule on her left leg. Two years after an incomplete excision, she developed a large local recurrence. Additional radiotherapy, after total reexcision was performed. This treatment was successful and no further recurrence occurred. Clinicopathological features of atypical ("pseudosarcomatous"), cutaneous, fibrous histiocytoma are reviewed. Differential diagnoses, including atypical fibroxanthoma, angiomatoid fibrous malignant histiocytoma and aneurysmal fibrous histiocytoma are discussed.     

Proinsulin levels in newborn siblings of type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic children and their mothers

Elevated proinsulin levels have been observed in healthy first degree relatives of Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients. This elevation could reflect a sequele after a previous attack on the beta-cells not necessarily leading to diabetes, or represent a family trait related to the development of diabetes. When cord plasma levels of proinsulin, insulin and C-peptide from 14 newborn siblings of Type 1 diabetic patients were compared with 21 newborn control siblings unrelated to diabetic subjects, no differences were observed. Neither were any differences observed between their mothers at delivery when comparing the same parameters. In cord plasma the proinsulin levels (median and range) were higher than those in plasma from 35 adult fasting women unrelated to diabetic subjects (10, 5-83 pmol/l vs 4, 2-33 pmol/l; p < 0.001) whereas the C-peptide levels (median and range) were lower (0.20, 0.11-0.56 nmol/l vs 0.37, 0.21-0.69 nmol/l; p < 0.001). No differences in insulin levels using a highly specific insulin assay were observed. The results suggest that newborn children have high proinsulin and low C-peptide levels unrelated to heredity of diabetes and that the previously described elevated proinsulin level observed in older first degree relatives of diabetic subjects occurs later in life.     

Mothers' influence on the drug use of their children: Confirmatory tests of direct modeling and mediational theories.

Using confirmatory methods, a direct modeling theory was contrasted with a cognitive mediational position in regard to the influence of mothers on their children's use of alcohol, marihuana, and pills. Mothers completed questionnaires assessing their personality and drug use, and their daughters (n?=?481) and sons (n?=?244) independently responded to self-report questionnaires measuring their own drug use and perceived adult drug use. Data support a cognitive mediational linkage between mother and child for alcohol and pill use. A direct modeling explanation seemed to account most accurately for marihuana use. In all analyses, sex of the child was retained as an independent variable, and for all substances there was no differential effect by sex. (32 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Validation of the Chick Embryotoxicity Screening Test (CHEST). A comparative study

The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of Gjessing's canine retraction arch with a sectional arch including a reverse closing loop, which are both used for canine retraction in extraction cases. Our study involved both the maxilla and the mandible independently. After upper first premolar extractions and levelling of the teeth with 0.018-inch slot standard Edgewise appliances on 12 subjects, with a mean age of 15 years, the right maxillary canines were retracted by 0.016 x 0.022-inch sectional arches including a reverse closing loop, for a mean period of 7.75 months whereas the left maxillary canines were retracted by 0.016 x 0.022-inch Gjessing retraction arches for a mean period of 6.25 months. Following lower first premolar extractions and levelling of the teeth in eight subjects with a mean age of 13 years 7 months, the right mandibular canines were retracted by 0.016 x 0.022-inch sectional arches with reverse closing loop for a mean period of 7.75 months and the left mandibular canines were retracted by 0.016 x 0.022-inch Gjessing arches for a mean period of 6 months. The present study was carried out on 40 lateral cephalometric films of 20 subjects taken prior to and at the end of canine retraction. The differences between the mean changes of the sectional arch including reverse closing loop and Gjessing retraction arch groups were found to be statistically significant for the amount of upper canine crown retraction, mesial movement of upper first molar crown and duration and rate of upper canine distal movement.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A videofluoroscopic comparison of straw and cup drinking: the potential influence on dental erosion

Tracheostoma valves are often required in the rehabilitation process of speech after total laryngectomy. Patients are thus able to speak without using their hands to close the tracheostoma. The improved Groningen tracheostoma valve consists of a "cough" valve with an integrated ("speech") valve, which closes for phonation. The cough valve opens as the result of pressure produced by the lungs during a cough. The speech valve closes by the airflow produced by the lungs, thus directing air from the lungs into the esophagus at a deliberately chosen moment. An experimental setup with a computer-based acquisition program was developed to measure the pressure at which the cough valve opened and the flow at which the speech valve closed. In addition, the airflow resistance coefficient of the tracheostoma valve was defined and measured with an open speech valve. Both dry air from a cylinder and humid expired air were used. Results showed a pressure range of 1-7 kPa to open the cough valve and a flow range of 1.2-2.7 l/s to close the speech valve. These values were readily attained during speech, while the flow range occurred above values reached in quiet breathing. The device appeared to function well in physiological ranges and was optimally adjustable to an individual setting. No significant differences were measured between air from a cylinder and humid expired air. Findings showed that methods used to obtain results could be employed as a reference method for comparing aerodynamic characteristics of tracheostoma valves.     

Brass-type shear bands and their influence on texture formation

The issues of brass-type shear band formation and the evolution of band microtexture components are addressed. The analysis is based on bands developed by plane strain compression in twinned {112}〈111〉 oriented copper single crystals deformed at 77 K. Substantial progress in understanding the formation of the bands was possible thanks to systematic local orientation measurements using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The TEM orientation maps allowed investigation of the way in which unstable behavior of twin-matrix layers leads to the brass-type shear bands. It has been found that several important transitions of the deformation textures are correlated with shear banding. Early stages of shear band formation are the result of the equally effective operation of two coplanar slip systems on the {111} slip planes. This process leads to the lattice rotation about the 〈110〉 axis and to the rise of Goss orientation. For well-developed shear bands, a second rotation about the 〈112〉 direction is observed. It is accompanied by activation of new slip systems. The observed disappearance of matrix components from the shear band microtexture is the result of twinning within reoriented matrix lamellae. In the twin-oriented areas, the dominance of one of two coplanar slip systems ultimately leads to the formation of the brass texture component.     

Screening for anxiety disorders. Sensitivity and specificity of the Anxiety Screening Questionnaire (ASQ-15)

BACKGROUND: The paper describes the rationale, sensitivity and specificity of the Anxiety Screening Questionnaire (ASQ), a disorder-specific screening instrument for use in primary care. METHOD: Two hundred and fifty subjects sampled from psychiatric, primary care settings and the community, participated in a test-retest reliability as well as a procedural validity study, using the M-CIDI with DSM-IV algorithms as a diagnostic yardstick. RESULTS: The ASQ was found to be easy to administer and acceptable and efficient in terms of sensitivity and specificity for generalised anxiety syndromes. The test-retest item reliability was good to excellent with kappa values of 0.6 or above. As compared with the validity standard, the DSM-IV/CIDI diagnoses caseness sensitivity was generally high (above 82%) for all diagnostic domains covered, whereas the specificity was only high for DSM-IV threshold and subthreshold generalised anxiety disorder. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings demonstrate the usefulness of this anxiety screening questionnaire, constructed closely following the guidelines of specific diagnostic criteria.     

Interrater agreement and stability of the Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM): use in children with developmental disabilities

OBJECTIVE: Examination of the interrater agreement and stability of ratings obtained using the Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM) in a sample of children with developmental disabilities. DESIGN: A relational design was used in which two sets of WeeFIM scores were collected under four conditions: same rater-short interval; same rater-long interval; different rater-short interval; and different rater-long interval. SETTING: WeeFIM scores were collected in outpatient developmental rehabilitation centers, school programs, and the children's homes. PARTICIPANTS: Data were collected for 205 children ranging in age from 11 to 87 months. All children had a medical diagnosis of disability and were receiving habilitative-educational intervention or follow-along services including neurodevelopmental surveillance. INSTRUMENT: The WeeFIM instrument examines basic daily living and functional skills in children from birth to 7 years of age. The WeeFIM is modeled after the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) for adults and includes 18 items in the following subscales: self-care, sphincter control, transfers, locomotion, communication, and social cognition. RESULTS: Kappa values for items ranged from .44 to .82. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for the six subscales ranged from .73 to .98. Total WeeFIM ICC values were greater than .95 for all analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The WeeFIM ratings for the 205 children with developmental disabilities participating in this investigation were consistent across raters and time.