Towards Understanding the Genetic Nature of Vasovagal Syncope

Syncope, defined as a transient loss of consciousness caused by transient global cerebral hypoperfusion, affects 30–40% of humans during their lifetime. Vasovagal syncope (VVS) is the most common cause of syncope, the etiology of which is still unclear. This review summarizes data on the genetics of VVS, describing the inheritance pattern of the disorder, candidate gene association studies and genome-wide studies. According to this evidence, VVS is a complex disorder, which can be caused by the interplay between genetic factors, whose contribution varies from monogenic Mendelian inheritance to polygenic inherited predisposition, and external factors affecting the monogenic (resulting in incomplete penetrance) and polygenic syncope types.     

Reliability of a flip-chip package thermally loaded between −55°C and 125°C

Low-temperature reliability of flip-chip plastic ball-grid array packages is a concern for manufacturers. Packages that perform well when thermally cycled from 20 to 120°C fail at an unacceptable rate when the temperature is extended down to −55°C. Electron-beam moiré was used to study local deformations in a flip-chip package and the interactions among the various materials found within the package. The specimen was subjected to a total of ten complete thermal cycles from −55 to 125°C over several nonconsecutive days. Debonding initiated between the solderball and the solder mask where that interface meets the printed circuit board. Deformation was also induced within the solderball, becoming more pronounced with more thermal cycles. Out-of-plane strains appear to be the dominant mechanism for deformation at this location.     

Mexican Americans' bilingual ability, counselor bilingualism cues, counselor ethnicity, and perceived counselor credibility.

In a completely crossed, factorial design, 186 Mexican American college students were exposed to a counselor introduction that identified her as either Mexican American or Canadian American, followed by an audiotape-recorded bogus counseling session in which the counselor either spoke English only or English combined with cues of Spanish-speaking ability. After listening to the tape-recorded counseling session, participants rated the counselor's credibility and cross-cultural competence. No effect was found on ratings for counselor language or counselor ethnicity. However, ratings of both counselor credibility and cross-cultural competence were found to be a function of participants' bilingual ability. Combined with evidence of a similar relationship between generation since immigration and ratings of the counselor, these findings suggest that, as Mexican Americans acculturate, their perceptions of counselor credibility and cross-cultural competence diminish. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Low-Coverage Whole Genome Sequencing Using Laser Capture Microscopy with Combined Digital Droplet PCR: An Effective Tool to Study Copy Number and Kras Mutations in Early Lung Adenocarcinoma Development

Defining detailed genomic characterization of early tumor progression is critical to identifying key regulators and pathways in carcinogenesis as potentially druggable targets. In human lung cancer, work to characterize early cancer development has mainly focused on squamous cancer, as the earliest lesions are more proximal in the airways and often accessible by repeated bronchoscopy. Adenocarcinomas are typically located distally in the lung, limiting accessibility for biopsy of pre-malignant and early stages. Mouse lung cancer models recapitulate many human genomic features and provide a model for tumorigenesis with pre-malignant atypical adenomatous hyperplasia and in situ adenocarcinomas often developing contemporaneously within the same animal. Here, we combined tissue characterization and collection by laser capture microscopy (LCM) with digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) and low-coverage whole genome sequencing (LC-WGS). ddPCR can be used to identify specific missense mutations in Kras (Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog, here focused on Kras Q61) and estimate the percentage of mutation predominance. LC-WGS is a cost-effective method to infer localized copy number alterations (CNAs) across the genome using low-input DNA. Combining these methods, the histological stage of lung cancer can be correlated with appearance of Kras mutations and CNAs. The utility of this approach is adaptable to other mouse models of human cancer.     

Putting self psychology to good use: When social and clinical psychologists unite.

The subareas of psychology often fail to share with one another their research and theorizing. This article attempts to redress this lack of communication as it pertains to social psychological theorizing and research on self-motives. The article starts with a review of the social psychological literature surrounding people's needs for positivity and verification, followed by a discussion of how to integrate these seemingly incompatible literatures. The article then highlights how these self-motives likely play a role in the psychotherapy enterprise and suggests ways in which therapists might use this information. By bridging the gap between the social and clinical literatures in this way, the authors anticipate that both fields will progress more productively toward their respective goals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Caregiver-Therapist Ethnic Similarity Predicts Youth Outcomes From an Empirically Based Treatment.

The effects of caregiver-therapist ethnic similarity on youth outcomes from multisystemic therapy (MST), as implemented in dissemination sites, were examined. Consistent with hypotheses, findings confirmed that youths whose caregivers were ethnically matched with their therapists demonstrated greater decreases in symptoms, longer times in treatment, and increased likelihood of discharge for meeting treatment goals relative to youths whose caregivers and therapists were not ethnically matched. In addition, for youths whose caregivers were of mixed ethnic heritage, caregiver-therapist ethnic match was associated with greater improvements in psychosocial functioning. Ethnic match effects on both treatment length and discharge success were partially mediated by therapist adherence to MST. This study shows the importance of examining the effects of both client and therapist ethnicity on outcomes from empirically based treatments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social adjustment in victims of sexual assault.

93 rape victims (aged 15–71 yrs) were seen approximately 2 wks after the assault and at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 mo postrape. A matched control group of nonvictims was seen at the same intervals. To control for the effects of repeated testing, 3 additional groups with 72 victims were assessed only once at either 2, 4, or 8 mo postrape. All Ss completed the Social Adjustment Scale–Self Report, which yielded a total adjustment score as well as subscale scores for 5 areas of adjustment: Work; Economic; Social and Leisure; Marital, Parental, and Family Unit; and Extended Family. Ss exhibited disruption in overall social adjustment and most of the subscale roles for the first few months following their assaults. By 4 mo postrape, most of the subscales had stabilized at levels similar to the nonvictims'. Work adjustment continued to be affected through 8 mo postrape. Single-testing control victims appeared to have more problems in social adjustment, particularly with regard to relationships with relatives. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The relation between spirituality and quality of life among individuals with spinal cord injury.

Objective: To determine how spiritual-based coping relates to quality of life in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Design, Setting, & Participants: A telephone interview of 75 participants, primarily Caucasian single men aged 19 to 71 (enrolled in the Northern New Jersey Spinal Cord Injury Model System). Measures: Ellison's Spiritual Well-Being Scale, Duke Health Profile, Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique, Diener's Satisfaction With Life Survey. Results: Virtually all participants (98.7%) reported using some form of spiritual-based coping. Quality of life was highest among participants who use existential spiritual as opposed to religious spiritual coping. In particular, existential spirituality shared 27% variance with overall perceived life quality. Conclusions: Spiritual-based coping might be encouraged as a possible strategy to improve life quality. Clinicians should be cognizant of ongoing spiritual practices among persons with SCI. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Therapist's use of nonerotic physical contact: Ethical concerns.

We explore the need for therapists' careful examination of their needs and motives before they use physical contact in treatment. We chronicle the historical use of and the attitude toward physical contact in therapy. Ethical concerns surrounding differential touching of the opposite sex are considered, both as a sexist practice and as a prelude to sexual intimacies. Included is consideration of touch in same-sex dyads. We conclude that identification and recognition of touching as an ethical and clinical issue needs to be addressed in training programs, in clinical supervision, in ethics seminars, and formally by ethics committees. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Schedule-induced polydipsia: An artifact.

Conducted 6 experiments with 4 female rats in which they were allowed access to Noyes pellets for 1 hr/day with water freely available at all times. The food was presented either ad lib or in a lever-pressing situation on various interval schedules of reinforcement. The size of the individual reinforcements ("bites") was varied between experiments. Schedule-induced polydipsia was obtained when the S's meal consisted of a large number of very small bites. When the meal consisted of a smaller number of larger bites, polydipsia did not occur. The experiments collectively indicate that the amount of water consumed while eating is a function of the number of bites taken and independent of bite size or total food consumption. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)