Disability: how successful are we in determining disability?

In this report, we describe the cloning and characterization of Boo, a novel anti-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family. The expression of Boo was highly restricted to the ovary and epididymis implicating it in the control of ovarian atresia and sperm maturation. Boo contains the conserved BH1 and BH2 domains, but lacks the BH3 motif. Like Bcl-2, Boo possesses a hydrophobic C-terminus and localizes to intracellular membranes. Boo also has an N-terminal region with strong homology to the BH4 domain found to be important for the function of some anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 homologues. Chromosomal localization analysis assigned Boo to murine chromosome 9 at band d9. Boo inhibits apoptosis, homodimerizes or heterodimerizes with some death-promoting and -suppressing Bcl-2 family members. More importantly, Boo interacts with Apaf-1 and forms a multimeric protein complex with Apaf-1 and caspase-9. Bak and Bik, two pro-apoptotic homologues disrupt the association of Boo and Apaf-1. Furthermore, Boo binds to three distinct regions of Apaf-1. These results demonstrate the evolutionarily conserved nature of the mechanisms of apoptosis. Like Ced-9, the mammalian homologues Boo and Bcl-xL interact with the human counterpart of Ced-4, Apaf-1, and thereby regulate apoptosis.     

How are we doing in soft psychology?

Comments on research in "soft psychology" involving more ephemeral and unreplicable areas of study, focusing on the question of how large an effect must be to be considered important. The binomial effect size display (R. Rosenthal and D. B. Rubin; see record 1982-22591-001) is viewed as a useful way to display the practical magnitude of an effect size, regardless of whether the dependent variable is dichotomous or continuous. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Adolescent abstinence and condom use: are we sure we are really teaching what is safe?

Previous anatomical studies demonstrated vagal innervation to the ovary and distal colon and suggested the vagus nerve has uterine inputs. Recent behavioral and physiological evidence indicated that the vagus nerves conduct sensory information from the uterus to the brainstem. The present study was undertaken to identify vagal sensory connections to the uterus. Retrograde tracers, Fluorogold and pseudorabies virus were injected into the uterus and cervix. DiI, an anterograde tracer, was injected into the nodose ganglia. Neurectomies involving the pelvic, hypogastric, ovarian and abdominal vagus nerves were performed, and then uterine whole-mounts examined for sensory nerves containing calcitonin gene-related peptide. Nodose ganglia and caudal brainstem sections were examined for the presence of estrogen receptor-containing neurons in "vagal locales." Labeling of uterine-related neurons in the nodose ganglia (Fluorogold and pseudorabies virus) and in the brainstem nuclei (pseudorabies virus) was obtained. DiI-labeled nerve fibers occurred near uterine horn and uterine cervical blood vessels, in the myometrium, and in paracervical ganglia. Rats with vagal, pelvic, hypogastric and ovarian neurectomies exhibited a marked decrease in calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive nerves in the uterus relative to rats with pelvic, hypogastric, and ovarian neurectomies with intact vagus nerves. Neurons in the nodose ganglia and nucleus tractus solitarius were immunoreactive for estrogen receptors. These results demonstrated: (1) the vagus nerves serve as connections between the uterus and CNS, (2) the nodose ganglia contain uterine-related vagal afferent neuron cell bodies, and (3) neurons in vagal locales contain estrogen receptors.     

Radiation therapy: are we getting value for money?

Intra-osseous ganglia are among the more frequent causes of cystic lesions of the carpus and may be responsible for diffuse pain, possibly be related to biological activity of the lesions, or when the ganglia opens into the adjacent joint. A CT-scan is useful to determine their exact location and the presence of a cortical defect. Although not this feature is completely established, they seem to arise de "novo" from the bone although their fluid content is reminiscent of those of soft-tissue ganglia. Surgical curettage with bone grafting is only indicated when pain persists despite a period of rest.     

Is decision making really impaired in eating disorders?

Objective: Decision making has been reported to be reduced in eating disorders. However, studies are sparse and have been carried out in various selected populations. In the current study we arranged to confirm previous observations and to assess the relationship between decision making and dimensions relevant to eating disorders. Method: Patients suffering from anorexia nervosa (n = 49), bulimia nervosa (n = 38), and healthy controls (n = 83) were assessed using the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). All patients were euthymic and free of psychotropic medication. Self-questionnaires (Eating Disorder Inventory–2; Gardner, 1991; and Eating Attitude Test; Garner & Garfinkel, 1979) were used to assess clinical dimensions relevant to eating disorders. Results: No significant differences in IGT performance were observed between patients and healthy controls or between restrictive and purging types of anorexia nervosa. No correlations were found between IGT performance and eating disorder questionnaires. Conclusion: These results do not support reduced decision making in patients with eating disorders, and suggest that previously reported alterations could be related to other clinical characteristics. This should stimulate new topic-related studies designed to reach a firm conclusion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

What happens if we compare chopsticks with forks? The impact of making inappropriate comparisons in cross-cultural research.

It is a common practice to export instruments developed in one culture to another. Little is known about the consequences of making inappropriate comparisons in cross-cultural research. Several studies were conducted to fill in this gap. Study 1 examined the impact of lacking factor loading invariance on regression slope comparisons. When factor loadings of a predictor are higher in the reference group (e.g., United States), for which the scale was developed, than in the focal group (e.g., China), into which the scale was imported, the predictive relationship (e.g., self-esteem predicting life satisfaction) is artificially stronger in the reference group but weaker in the focal group, creating a bogus interaction effect of predictor by group (e.g., self-esteem by culture); the opposite pattern is found when the reference group has higher loadings in an outcome variable. Studies 2 and 3 examined the impact of lacking loading and intercept (i.e., point of origin) invariance on factor means, respectively. When the reference group has higher loadings or intercepts, the mean is overestimated in that group but underestimated in the focal group, resulting in a pseudo group difference. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Examining careers in sport psychology: Who is working and who is making money?

Can psychologists earn a living working in sport psychology? The authors surveyed all professional members of American Psychological Association Division 47 and the Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology regarding their income and work in sport psychology. Four hundred and thirty-three individuals responded. Sport scientists were more likely to be working in academic settings and had incomes consistent with psychologists in academia. Sport scientists in applied settings were less successful financially. Clinical and counseling psychologists in applied settings were supplementing their income through applied sport psychology work. Part-time, supplemental involvement in sport psychology appears more practical today than full-time employment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Neutrophilia of infection/inflammation: are we really dealing with "inflamed" leukocytes?

We adopted whole blood flow cytometry and direct labeling of the CD11b/CD18 and CD62L antigens to study the relationship between their expression and leukocytosis in patients with infection/inflammation, acute stress and healthy volunteers. Mean +/- S.D. channel fluorescence intensity of CD11b/CD18 antigen on peripheral blood polymorphonuclears did not differ between patients with infection/ inflammation (173+/-78) and controls (167+/-72), but was significantly (p = 0.04) reduced in stress (135+/-60). No correlation was found between CD11b/CD18 antigen level and either polymorphonuclears absolute number or serum C-reactive protein. A significant negative correlation was noted between CD62L antigen expression on polymorphonuclears and their absolute number. We assume that cells with increased CD11b/CD18 surface concentrations are retained in the capillaries and that part of the leukocytes in the peripheral blood are stressed leukocytes with reduced CD11b/CD18. Thus, leukocytes detected in peripheral blood are not necessarily the most "inflamed" ones.     

Cranial growth in Homo erectus: how credible are the Ngandong juveniles?

Confusion exists regarding the developmental ages of numerous Asian and southeast Asian Homo erectus fossils because of Weidenreich's contention that Pithecanthropus fused its sutures prematurely relative to H. sapiens. I reevaluate the cranial developmental ages of the Ngandong "juveniles" (2, 5, 8, 9) based on a series of indicators of youth (superstructure development, suture development/fusion, and cranial thickness) and cranial contours. The Ngandong juveniles are compared with H. sapiens adults (n = 281) and subadults (n = 81) and with Ngandong and other H. erectus adults (n = 20) and subadults (n = 4). Cranial contours are assessed using bivariate plots of arc vs. chord measurements. All indicators suggest that Ngandong 5 and 9 are adults, whereas Ngandong 8 is an older juvenile or young adult and Ngandong 2 is a juvenile with a developmental age range of greater than 6 and less than 11 years. In addition, adult cranial contours and the pattern of contour development are similar between Ngandong adults and other H. erectus adults. There is nothing in the cranial contour data to suggest that Ngandong is, despite a relatively large brain, transitional in vault shape between H. erectus and H. sapiens.     

Bias in binge eating disorder: How representative are recruited clinic samples?

The aim of this study was to investigate sampling bias as it affects recruited clinic samples of binge eating disorder (BED). Demographic and clinical characteristics of a recruited clinic sample were compared with a community sample. The 2 groups met the same operational definition of BED and were assessed using the same primarily interview-based methods. Ethnicity, severity of binge eating, and social maladjustment were found to increase treatment seeking among participants with BED rather than levels of psychiatric distress or comorbidity. These findings suggest that previous studies using recruited clinic samples have not biased estimates of psychiatric comorbidity in BED. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Intravenous contrast media: are they being administered safely in radiology departments?

A recent Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) publication is entitled Advice on The Management of Reactions to Intravenous Contrast Media. This study aims to determine whether radiology departments are adhering to the essential points, covered in the guidelines, regarding prevention, early recognition and prompt treatment of adverse reactions, and whether they are adequately equipped for the proposed contrast media reaction management protocols. A questionnaire was formulated and sent to the superintendent radiographers of 295 radiology departments in the United Kingdom of whom 233 (79%) replied. This was specifically directed at the use of intravenous contrast media in intravenous urography. In almost all departments there was provision for basic life support training, regular checking of equipment and drugs, and prompt access to emergency medical help. Certain "first line" drugs and monitoring equipment were not instantly accessible in the majority of institutions. Most departments did not adequately supervise post-injection patients and did not conform to the guidelines referring to the administration of intravenous contrast to children. Certain areas of the guidelines are being neglected by many radiology departments and there is still much to be done to improve the safety of intravenous contrast medium injection.     

Measurement artifacts in the assessment of counterproductive work behavior and organizational citizenship behavior: Do we know what we think we know?

An experiment investigated whether measurement features affected observed relationships between counterproductive work behavior (CWB) and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and their relationships with other variables. As expected, correlations between CWB and OCB were significantly higher with ratings of agreement rather than frequency of behavior, when OCB scale content overlapped with CWB than when it did not, and with supervisor rather than self-ratings. Relationships with job satisfaction and job stressors were inconsistent across conditions. We concluded that CWB and OCB are likely unrelated and not necessarily oppositely related to other variables. Researchers should avoid overlapping content in CWB and OCB scales and should use frequency formats to assess how often individuals engage in each form of behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Does growth rate in oral reading fluency matter in predicting reading comprehension achievement?

In this study, we examined the relationship of growth trajectories of oral reading fluency, vocabulary, phonological awareness, letter-naming fluency, and nonsense word reading fluency from 1st grade to 3rd grade with reading comprehension in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades. Data from 12,536 children who were followed from kindergarten to 3rd grade longitudinally were used. These children were administered Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills subtests, Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test—Third Edition, and reading comprehension (Stanford Achievement Test, 10th ed.) tasks multiple times in each year. Students' initial status and rate of growth in each predictor within each grade were estimated using individual growth modeling. These estimates were then used as predictors in dominance regression analyses to examine relative contributions that the predictors made to the outcome: reading comprehension. Among the 1st-grade predictors, individual differences in growth rate in oral reading fluency in 1st grade, followed by vocabulary skills and the autoregressive effect of reading comprehension, made the most contribution to reading comprehension in 3rd grade. Among the 2nd- and 3rd-grade predictors, children's initial status in oral reading fluency had the strongest relationships with their reading comprehension skills in 3rd grade. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

History in the making: What will become of William James’s house and legacy?

The author discussed his efforts to preserve William James's house in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which was in danger of being developed into condominiums. Given the importance of William James to American psychology and philosophy, as well as broader intellectual history, this division and reconstruction of the house seemed like a serious cultural mistake. Also involved were neighbors, the Cambridge Historical Commission, newspaper reporters, and Harvard University faculty. Anyone with ideas or resources was asked to step forward. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Can we facilitate posttraumatic growth in combat veterans?

The Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program, currently under development for the U.S. Army, will include a component designed to increase the possibilities for posttraumatic growth in the aftermath of combat. In this article, we briefly review studies that provide evidence for this phenomenon in combat veterans, and we suggest elements that such a program might include to facilitate posttraumatic growth. We urge the Army to conduct randomized controlled trials testing the efficacy of the program prior to its implementation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The other-race effect in eyewitness identification: What do we do about it?

The greater difficulty of other-race relative to own-race facial recognition is one of the most researched issues in eyewitness identification. The authors discuss articles in the March 2001 issue of Psychology, Public Policy, and Law as well as some methodological and interpretational problems regarding demonstrations of the other-race identification effect. In spite of some problems with the literature, they conclude that the other-race identification effect is real and that it is relevant to the criminal justice system. The authors propose a system-variable approach in which other-race identification cases receive special preventive treatment at the time of the identification test rather than after-the-fact attempts to assist triers of fact. These preventive procedures include using same-race lineup constructors, larger numbers of fillers in other-race cases, dual lineup techniques in other-race cases, or a combination of these procedures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Arterial graft patency in coronary artery bypass grafting: what do we really know?

BACKGROUND: With increasing use of beating heart techniques for bypass of the left anterior descending coronary artery with the left internal mammary artery (LIMA), appropriate concerns have been raised of whether graft patency by these techniques compares favorably with conventional, arrested heart techniques. METHODS: All published articles that examine outcome efficacy of the LIMA graft to the left anterior descending coronary artery were reviewed. Because angiography has been considered the "gold standard," only those studies that included angiographic follow-up were analyzed. RESULTS: From 1972 through 1998, there have been 37 peer-reviewed publications that examined outcomes of LIMA grafting in conventional coronary bypass grafting, of which 27 contained angiographic follow-up data. The completeness of angiographic follow-up was variable, but early graft patency (< or =1 month) in studied patients ranged between 94% and 99%. Late graft patency (up to 15 years) ranged from 51% to 98%. Five recent series of minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting that contained LIMA graft patency data show early graft patency rates between 91% and 99%. CONCLUSIONS: Meaningful comparison of LIMA graft patency between arrested heart, conventional coronary artery bypass grafting, and minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting is difficult; however, early graft patency by both techniques can confidently be stated as being 90% or greater.     

Animal models of anxiety: are they suitable for predicting drug action in humans?

5-HT is currently indicated to play a role in migraine (M). Previously evidenced 5-HT supersensitivity which characterizes M is insufficient to compensate for a possible deficit in 5-HT bioavailability. Inducing a further up-regulation of 5-HT receptor can yield improvement of M syndrome. Chronic treatments of methysergide and propranolol, drugs exerting antagonist action at 5-HT receptors, induced a significant amelioration in 256M sufferers. On the contrary, chronic treatments of ergotamine and sumatriptan, both provided with a 5-HT1 agonist activity, induced a worsening of M in 134 M sufferers. The M worsening was paralleled by an increase in consumption of analgesic drugs. Discussion concerns the effects of the chronically given 5-HT agonists and antagonists as well as the possible receptor mechanism underlying "craving for serotonin" in severe M. The increase of 5-HT supersensitivity evidenced at the end of M attacks is also discussed and its role in determining the interruption of the attack is here suggested.     

The psychology of making ethical decisions: What affects the decision?

Individuals engage in an ethical decision-making process to solve ethical dilemmas. This empirical study of Navy chaplains explored the process of ethical decision making and the extent to which the characteristics of the moral situation influence the decision-making process. The results of the study are visually displayed in a model that pictures the steps in ethical decision making, which could be used as a teaching and training tool for professionals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)