Adverse effects of mouthwash use. A review

Many persons use mouthrinses as a part of their routine oral hygiene. Although rinses impart some benefits to users, improper use of mouthrinses may result in various side effects. This paper reviews the adverse effects of mouthwash use as reported in the English-language literature.     

Synthetic validity: A conceptual and comparative review.

Describes synthetic validity as the logical process of inferring test-battery validity from predetermined validities of the tests for basic work components. Two programmatic approaches to synthetic validity are discussed: the J-coefficient and the job component model. The J-coefficient is a mathematical index of the test and job-performance relationships that has been shown to yield results comparable to intertest and criterion correlation methods of assembling test batteries. The job component model associates mean test-scores with job components and is related to criterion-related validation while the J-coefficient approach is more related to content validation. Other approaches have used ratings as criteria for component validities, but they must be free of the usual rater biases to be useful. It is suggested that the most important aspect of synthetic validity is in making selection decisions. (55 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Adverse effects of cannabis

Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in many developed societies. Its health and psychological effects are not well understood and remain the subject of much debate, with opinions on its risks polarised along the lines of proponents' views on what its legal status should be. An unfortunate consequence of this polarisation of opinion has been the absence of any consensus on what health information the medical profession should give to patients who are users or potential users of cannabis. There is conflicting evidence about many of the effects of cannabis use, so we summarise the evidence on the most probable adverse health and psychological consequences of acute and chronic use. This uncertainty, however, should not prevent medical practitioners from advising patients about the most likely ill-effects of their cannabis use. Here we make some suggestions about the advice doctors can give to patients who use, or are contemplating the use, of this drug.     

Experimental effects of amphetamine: A review.

Evidence is presented for the depressant effect of amphetamine on food consumption and food-motivated behavior, as well as for the facilitating effect of the drug on intellectual and motor performance, personality and social behavior, bodily activity, peripheral systems, avoidance conditioning, and escape behavior. Since reversal or inconsistent effects are also noted with large dosages of amphetamine and with differences in experimental procedure, guidelines for future investigation are suggested in terms of (a) an increased attention to the relation of dosage and effect, and (b) the need for considering the specific experimental conditions under which the drug is employed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Nonclinical model for assessing gastric effects of bisphosphonates

Mechanisms by which ketones potentiate manganese-bilirubin (Mn-BR)-induced cholestasis are unknown. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of methyl isobutyl ketone (MiBK), a widely used ketonic solvent, at the level of the bile canalicular membrane (BCM) and to verify if altered membrane lipid dynamics could be involved in MiBK-potentiated Mn-BR cholestasis. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed 4 hr/day for 3 days to MiBK vapors (200 or 600 ppm). Eighteen hours after the last exposure, manganese (Mn, 4.5 mg/kg) was given i.v. followed 15 min later by bilirubin (BR, 25 mg/kg). Rats were killed 30 min after BR; liver cell plasma membranes (bile canalicular and sinusoidal), microsomes, mitochondria, and cytosol were isolated by differential centrifugation. Lipids were extracted and cholesterol was measured in each fraction. After Mn-BR and MiBK exposure (600 ppm), results indicated a marked increase in BCM cholesterol content compared to rats exposed to air only. This increase was greater than that due to Mn-BR or MiBK given alone. Also, results indicated that cholesterol increased in a dose-related fashion in BCM after MiBK exposure, whereas PM cholesterol remained unaltered. To identify the source of the increased BCM cholesterol and to permit distinction between de novo cholesterol synthesis and subcellular shifts, the hepatic lipid pool was labeled in vivo with [3H]-cholesterol and [2-14C]-mevalonic acid, a cholesterol synthesis precursor. Results showed that after 600 ppm MiBK exposure, 14C-labeled cholesterol was greater than 3H-labeled cholesterol, indicating that the contribution of de novo cholesterol synthesis to the total cholesterol content of the various isolated hepatocellular fractions was more important than the contribution of intracellular pools. Therefore, increased BCM cholesterol content and enhanced accumulation of newly synthesized cholesterol appear to be involved in MiBK potentiation of Mn-BR-induced cholestasis.     

Adverse effects of fertility drugs

Ovulation-induction agents are commonly used in the treatment of infertility in patients with or without ovulatory disturbances. These agents include clomifene, bromocriptine, gonadotrophin preparations and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and its analogues. Each agent is associated with its own specific adverse effects. Although many of these adverse effects are benign and self-limited, some, in particular those effects associated with gonadotrophins, may be life-threatening. Commonly noted adverse effects encountered with the use of pharmacological agents to treat infertility include the following. Clomifene has been associated with hot flushes, multiple gestation, visual disturbances, cervical mucus abnormalities and luteal phase deficiency. Similarly, most of the adverse symptoms associated with bromocriptine are short-lived, such as nausea and postural hypotension. On the other hand, gonadotrophin therapy, even when used appropriately, may lead to the ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (which is occasionally life-threatening) and a high incidence of multiple gestation. Pulsatile GnRH therapy maybe accompanied by similar adverse effects to those of gonadotrophins, but with a far lower incidence. With regards to the long term safety of these medications, the relationship between fertility drugs and epithelial ovarian cancer is controversial, and causality has yet to be proven. Indeed, a working knowledge of the many adverse effects associated with these medications is essential to any physician prescribing ovulation induction agents, in order to ensure maximum patient safety, compliance and understanding.     

Adverse effects of dental local anaesthesia

This paper considers the adverse effects that a patient may suffer as a result of anticipating an injection of dental local anaesthetic. Although most of these are extremely rare (a testimony to good technique), the dental practitioner should be aware of the possibility of their occurrence and of ways to deal with them.     

Serial position effects in comparative judgments.

Three studies examined the ubiquity of the bowed serial position effect in comparative judgments: the tendency for pairs of extreme magnitude to be discriminated more readily than pairs of intermediate magnitude. Although prior research has demonstrated that this effect occurs quite regularly in finite set experiments that repeatedly present a small number of items, there has been some ambiguity about the robustness of the bowed serial position effect in infinite set experiments, in which items are never repeated. Based on the extensive norms collected in Experiment 1, Experiment 2 demonstrated that a bowed serial position effect does in fact occur in a large infinite set experiment. The results of Experiment 3 indicate that this bowed serial position effect is not an artifact of our norms. The results are consistent with models that emphasize categorization of magnitudes and inconsistent with models that emphasize positional discriminability. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A comparative review of family rating scales: Guidelines for clinicians and researchers.

Evaluates 8 rating procedures used in the assessment of family functioning, using 7 criteria of properties of scales, 2 of rater competence and training, and 3 of psychometric validity and reliability. The following scales are included: Beavers-Timberlawn Family Evaluation Scale and Centripetal/Centrifugal Family Style Scale, McMaster Clinical Rating Scale, Family Assessment Measure Clinical Rating Scale, Global Family Interaction Scales, Clinical Rating Scale for the Circumplex Model of Marital and Family Systems, Global Coding Scheme, and Family Interaction Q-Sort. Psychometric concerns and methodological dilemmas are addressed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A review of the neurobiological effects of psychotherapy for depression.

Although randomized, controlled clinical trials have shown that different forms of psychotherapy may be efficacious for depression, psychotherapy has not been widely reported to have effects upon the neurobiological concomitants of depression in similar ways as medication. Neuroendocrinal changes that occur during depression (principally hypercortisolaemia) produce structural and functional alterations to the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala, plus the connectivity between these regions of the brain. This article reviews the evidence to date regarding the neurobiological effects of psychotherapy for depression and suggests a hypothetical pathway linking the nurturing effects of the therapist–patient “bond” and restoration of neuroendocrinal “balance.” This pathway may provide a neurobiological causal link between psychotherapy and alleviation of depression in the same way as that which exists for pharmacological treatments, and argues for a model of depression that includes both biological and psychological effects of psychotherapy when considering treatment choice and application. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Long-term effects of bisphosphonates on the growing skeleton. Studies of young patients with severe osteoporosis

Osteoporosis in children and adolescents is relatively uncommon and usually secondary to identifiable causal factors. There are no generally accepted therapies for patients with no treatable underlying cause of disease. Any treatment of young patients with bone-acting compounds should be not only effective but also devoid of adverse effects on bone growth and remodeling. For many years we have been studying the effects of bisphosphonates-an effective treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis-on the growing skeleton. We review here our experience in the treatment of young patients with osteoporosis with special emphasis on issues of skeletal safety and effectiveness, and we discuss the available literature data. We studied 12 patients aged between 10.7 and 17.2 years with symptomatic osteoporosis and multiple fractures treated with the bisphosphonates pamidronate or olpadronate for periods between 2 and 8 years continuously. Linear growth continued normally on treatment; there was even a catch-up growth in prepubertal patients, and there was no excessive suppression of bone remodeling, assessed biochemically. Bone biopsies obtained at various stages during treatment showed bone of normal lamellar structure without mineralization defects. There was an increase in calcium balance, already evident within 10 days, the level of which was maintained for at least 3 years of treatment. This was associated with progressive increases in bone mineral density along a different slope from that of healthy peers as well as correction of vertebral deformities on X-rays in patients given bisphosphonates before puberty. Treatment was well tolerated and clinical improvement was remarkable. Our studies, supported by literature data, strongly suggest that bisphosphonate therapy can be beneficial to young patients with osteoporosis for whom no other options are currently available, and justify planning controlled studies in more common conditions for which no treatment is currently available, such as osteogenesis imperfecta.     

Neurosyphilis. A comparative study of the effects of infection with human immunodeficiency virus

BACKGROUND: The course of neurosyphilis has been reported to be altered by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Prior reports of neurosyphilis occurring in association with HIV infection have been largely anecdotal and have failed to compare neurosyphilis in patients with HIV infection with an uninfected control group. This study was performed to determine if the clinical presentation encountered is different in the presence of HIV infection. DESIGN: A retrospective, hospital-based, case series study based on chart review encompassing a 64-month period. SETTING: The study was performed in a large, university-affiliated, public health trust hospital in south Florida. PATIENTS: Forty-six hospitalized patients with neurosyphilis were identified; 13 patients fulfilled Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, Ga) criteria for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), 11 were HIV seropositive only, and 22 were HIV uninfected. Neurosyphilis was determined by a reactive cerebrospinal fluid VDRL slide test. RESULTS: The HIV-infected patients (both AIDS and HIV-seropositive groups) were younger and more frequently had features of secondary syphilis, such as rash, fever, adenopathy, headache, or meningismus. Significant differences were observed in cerebrospinal fluid measurements when the HIV-infected group was compared with the HIV-uninfected group, including a higher mean white blood cell count in patients with AIDS and a higher mean protein level and a lower mean glucose level in the HIV-infected group. Syphilitic meningitis was more common in HIV-seropositive patients, although the HIV-uninfected patients presented with a greater variety of types of neurosyphilis. Ophthalmic syphilis was observed more frequently in the HIV-infected group. CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences exist between neurosyphilis occurring in the presence and absence of HIV infection.     

中美在城市水源地供水过程中生态补偿的差异性

饮用水源保护是确保饮用水安全的重要保障.为了深入探讨不同国家生态补偿的经验教训,以城市供水系统为案例,分析美国纽约州与中国北京密云水库在城市供水过程中生态服务付费的差异性.结果表明:虽然美国和中国之间的生态补偿制度具有一定的独特性,但美国在市郊水库为纽约市政供水过程中的补偿效应值得中国借鉴.中国的生态补偿中的关键步骤必须包括生态效益评价的数量化和货币化.此外,现有研究结果认为,美国在公众参与生态补偿全过程的做法值得中国效法,而中国的退耕还林工程的生态效率和效益值得美国借鉴.     

Adverse effects of sunlight on the skin

Many people consider a summer's day pleasant: warm and bright. The sun's ultraviolet rays do not contribute to the pleasure, and are biologically mainly harmful. As UV radiation does not penetrate any deeper than our skin, this organ has to be particularly well adapted to the UV exposure. The skin exploits the UV radiation for the synthesis of vitamin D3. Our day-to-day exposure suffices for this beneficial UV effect. Excessive exposure, as in sunbathing, only contributes to the adverse effects, like sunburn and suppression of cellular immunity in the short term, and 'photoaging' and skin cancer in the long term. The UVB radiation in sunlight is mainly responsible for these harmful effects, the UVA radiation to a far lesser extent (10-20% contribution). The UVA radiation from modern tanning equipment does not differ from that in sunlight, but UVA radiation does not lead to vitamin D3 production; it rather degrades vitamin D3 and a tan offers insufficient protection against the UVB radiation in full sunlight.     

Adverse effects of vigabatrin in Angelman syndrome

New antiepileptic drugs designed for enhancing GABAergic inhibition, such as vigabatrin (VGB) may be effective in Angelman syndrome (AS), because associated convulsions could be related to a reduced GABA-receptor density or receptor abnormality. From our preliminary experiences in four children with AS treated with VGB, we conclude that it may induce and increase seizures in patients with AS.     

Adverse neonatal effects of maternal labetalol treatment

Two infants with features of severe beta adrenergic blockade, pericardial effusions, and myocardial hypertrophy were born to mothers receiving long term treatment with oral labetalol for hypertension in pregnancy. Labetalol was implicated in the aetiology of these problems. Pericardial effusion and myocardial hypertrophy have not been associated with labetalol toxicity in neonates.     

Adverse effects of transfusions caused by leukocytes

The tremendous complexity of blood products gives rise to a range of adverse reactions. Transfusion reactions caused by leukocytes range from subtle and discomforting to dramatic and fatal. Although leukocyte-mediated events usually are harmful, some effects are beneficial. Leukoreduction can prevent most, but not all, adverse reactions. Awareness of the array of leukocyte-mediated transfusion complications and the appropriate preventive and therapeutic measures to be taken is a critical component of sound clinical transfusion practice.     

5-Methoxypsoralen. A review of its effects in psoriasis and vitiligo

5-Methoxypsoralen, a naturally occurring linear furocoumarin, has been successfully used in combination with ultraviolet (UV) A irradiation [psoralen plus UV (PUVA)] to manage psoriasis and vitiligo. In patients and volunteers, PUVA 5-methoxypsoralen causes a dose-related increase in cutaneous photosensitivity. However, mean minimum phototoxic doses (MPD) were 30 to 50% greater with 5-methoxypsoralen than with 8-methoxypsoralen within individuals; this suggests lower photoactivity with 5-methoxypsoralen. In comparative clinical trials of parallel design, psoriasis clearance rates of > 90% or > 97% were observed in similar numbers of patients (60 to 77%) receiving oral PUVA 5-methoxypsoralen (typically 1.2 mg/kg) or oral PUVA 8-methoxypsoralen (0.6 mg/kg) treatment. Generally, 5-methoxypsoralen recipients required a greater total UVA exposure than 8-methoxypsoralen recipients to achieve end-point. However, study end-point was achieved sooner with oral or topical PUVA 5-methoxypsoralen in a small number of patients with psoriasis who received both treatments simultaneously and contralaterally. Up to 56% of patients with vitiligo achieved > 75% repigmentation with 5-methoxypsoralen (oral or topical) combined with UV irradiation (lamp or sun); the face and trunk were the most responsive areas. Lack of response to PUVA 5-methoxypsoralen treatment was observed in up to 16% of patients with psoriasis and, in 1 trial, in 22% of those with vitiligo. Lesion spreading during treatment of vitiligo was also observed in 7 (19%) patients in 1 study. The incidence and severity of adverse events was generally lower in PUVA 5-methoxypsoralen 1.2 mg/kg than in PUVA 8-methoxypsoralen 0.6 mg/kg recipients. Nausea and/or vomiting, pruritus and erythema were the most commonly reported adverse events in the short term; they occurred about 2 to 11 times more frequently in 8-methoxypsoralen than 5-methoxypsoralen recipients within clinical trials. Adverse hepatic events after oral administration of the drug were uncommon. Long term tolerability data for PUVA 5-methoxypsoralen are scarce; however, carcinogenicity was not reported during a 14-year observation period of 413 patients with psoriasis. CONCLUSION: Similar lesion clearance rates were observed with oral 5- or 8-methoxypsoralen plus UVA exposure in patients with vitiligo or psoriasis, although patients given 5-methoxypsoralen often required a greater total UV exposure than 8-methoxypsoralen recipients. The incidence of short term cutaneous and gastrointestinal adverse effects is markedly less with 5-methoxypsoralen than with 8-methoxypsoralen, which is an advantage, although the long term tolerability of 5-methoxypsoralen has yet to be fully established. Nevertheless, in appropriately selected patients, PUVA 5-methoxypsoralen therapy may be recommended as an alternative first-line systemic treatment option for the management of vitiligo or psoriasis.