Serum thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies, thyroid volume, and outcome in breast carcinoma

The prevalence of thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies (TPO.Ab) was assessed in patients with either breast carcinoma or benign breast disease, and its association with disease outcome in breast carcinoma was studied. TPO.Ab were detected by direct RIA in serum from 121/356 (34.0%) of patients with breast carcinoma, compared with 36/194 (18.5%) of controls (P < 0.001); and in 31/108 (28.7%) with benign breast disease, compared with 12/88 (13.6%) of controls (P < 0.05). Survival analysis in a group of 142 women with breast carcinoma demonstrated that TPO.Ab titres > or = 0.3 U/mL were associated with a significantly better disease-free [relative risk (RR) = 1.84, P < 0.05] and overall survival (RR = 3.46, P < 0.02), compared with those who were TPO.Ab-negative. Better outcome associated with higher TPO.Ab titres was confined to those who had thyroid volumes within the intermediate range (10.1-18.8 mL) and did not further enhance the good outcome recorded when volumes were < or = 10.0 mL or > 18.8 mL. Multivariate survival analysis showed that both TPO.Ab and thyroid volume were independently associated with prognosis in breast carcinoma and that RRs for disease-free survival were of a similar order of magnitude to well-established prognostic indices such as axillary nodal status or tumor size. These findings supply evidence that manifestations of thyroid autoimmunity are associated with a beneficial effect on disease outcome in breast carcinoma and provide the strongest evidence to date of a biological link between breast carcinoma and thyroid disease.     

A Real-Time Microprocessor-Based ECG Contour Analysis System Utilizing Decision Tables

This paper describes the research effort to develop programs for a microprocessor-based unit to provide contour analysis of a standard patient ECG. The specific ECG analysis program developed by this task will determine ventricular conduction defects, preexcitation, ventricular enlargement, and A-V conduction disorders. Decision tables are used to establish a set of decision rules that can be logically linked together for ECG analysis. These tables provide the means to implement minimum size microcomputer software programs. The microcomputer, with these programs and the already developed data acquisition and compression programs, can be attached to a standard three (3)-channel ECG cart and provides immediate on-site ECG interpretation.     

Microbial reactor design for synthetic protein production

The physical factors that may affect the performance of a microbial reactor for producing syntlietic protein are reviewed in ternis of chemical engineering principles. In particular, it is shown that an appreciation of these principles can be used to maximize the productivity of synthetic protein from liquid-hydrocarbon and cellulose fermentations.     

Proximity of food, sex, and access to running wheels: Effects on food intake in rats.

To test the hypothesis that the addition and withdrawal of a running wheel affects food intake because of a manipulation of the proximity of the rat to the food dish, a 2nd source of food was made available to the rat when in the running wheel. Ss were 24 male and 24 female ARS/Sprague-Dawley albino rats. Results fail to support the hypothesis. Additional findings were that both sexes showed the reduction in food intake when given access to running wheels, but only the males showed an increase in food intake when deprived of access to running wheels. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Instigation to aggression as a function of self-disclosure and threat to self-esteem.

Examined whether self-disclosure would make a person more vulnerable to personal threat and thus increase instigation to angry aggression. 72 female undergraduates exchanged communications with 4 female confederates showing low or high self-disclosure or a control communication. Ss then commented on the communications, the confederates giving commentaries of neutral, critical, or derogatory tone. Subsequently, Ss had the opportunity to punish the confederate with what they thought were varying degrees of shock. As predicted, after high self-disclosure, Ss used significantly greater levels of shock than Ss in the control and low-self-disclosure groups. Criticism was more clearly effective than derogation in producing aggression. Findings indicate that high self-disclosure, followed by personal threat, is a potent antecedent of angry aggression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

LSD flashbacks and ego functioning.

Among 235 male LSD users (mean age 21.2 yrs), Ss experiencing flashbacks (a) were more likely to employ repression and regression, (b) were less likely to use intellectualization, (c) had less coping capacity and less tolerance of ambiguity, (d) had a more external locus of control, (e) evidenced more thought disorder, (f) were more maladjusted, (g) differed in motives for drug use, (h) used LSD more often, and (i) were more likely to have experienced acute adverse reactions while taking LSD than those Ss who did not have flashbacks. A large battery of tests, including measures of flashbacks; extent of, and motives for, drug use; acute adverse reactions to LSD use; schizophrenia; and regression, denial, coping capacity, and tolerance of ambiguity, was administered to all Ss. Multivariate analysis indicated that, with the exception of repression, differences in ego functioning did not make independent contributions to the variance in flashbacks when shared variance with acute adverse reactions was considered. Several alternative causal interpretations focusing on the significance of acute adverse reactions in the etiology of later flashbacks are discussed. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)