Detecting the onset of hyper-reflexive bladder contractions from the electrical activity of the pudendal nerve.

Individuals with a spinal cord injury or neurological disorders may develop involuntary bladder contractions at low volumes (bladder hyper-reflexia), which can lead to significant health problems. Present devices can inhibit unwanted contractions through continuous stimulation, but do not enable conditional stimulation only at the onset of bladder contractions. The objectives of this study were to determine the relationship between the electrical activity of the pudendal nerve trunk (PNT) and bladder pressure during hyper-reflexive bladder contractions and to determine whether PNT activity could be used to detect the contractions. Bladder pressure and PNT electroneurogram (ENG) were recorded in eight adult male cats. The PNT ENG activity increased at the onset of a bladder contraction and the activity during bladder contractions was greater than during the intercontraction interval (p < 0.001). Three algorithms were developed to detect the onset of a bladder contraction from the PNT ENG activity. A cumulative sum (CUSUM) algorithm performed better than either a constant threshold or a dynamic threshold algorithm, and enabled detection of reflex bladder contractions from the PNT ENG an average of 1.2 s after the contraction started with an average increase in pressure 7.1 cm H2 x O when evaluated on data not used to set detection parameters. These data demonstrated that recordings from the PNT could be used to detect hyper-reflexive bladder contractions and provide a signal to control closed-loop inhibitory stimulation.     

Predictors of Online Health Information Seeking Among Women with Breast Cancer: The Role of Social Support Perception and Emotional Well‐Being

This study attempts to examine the role of social support perception and emotional well‐being on online information seeking among cancer patients within the context of CHESS, a well‐established Interactive Cancer Communication System (ICCS). Factor and regression analyses conducted among 231 breast cancer patients revealed that social support perception and emotional well‐being interacted with each other to influence online health information seeking. Patients with low social support perception and high emotional well‐being were most likely to seek health information, whereas patients with high social support perception and high emotional well‐being sought out the same information least. Practical implications of the study findings are further discussed.     

The Swedish Centenarian Study: a multidisciplinary study of five consecutive cohorts at the age of 100

Centenarians born 1887-91, who lived in southern Sweden were asked to participate in this multidisciplinary study (N = 164). Of the survivors (N = 143), 70 percent agreed (N = 100). The purpose was to describe the population from physical, social, and psychological points of view; to characterize centenarians with various health conditions and diverse degrees of autonomy and life satisfaction; and to identify factors at 100 years that predict future survival. Results: Eighty-two percent were women, 25 percent lived in their own home, 37 percent in old age homes, and 38 percent in nursing homes. Socioeconomic status showed a similar distribution compared to nationally representative data. Fifty-two percent managed activities of daily living with or without minor assistance. The incidence of severe diseases was low. In 39 percent a disorder of the circulatory system was found. Thirty-nine percent (women) and 11 percent (men) had had at least one hip fracture. Twenty percent had good hearing and good vision. Twenty-seven percent were demented according to DSM III-R criteria. Means on cognitive tests (word-list, digit-span, learning, and memory) were lower compared to seventy to eighty year old groups. The variation in performance was extremely widespread. Personality profiles (MMPI) indicated that the centenarians were more responsible, capable, easygoing and less prone to anxiety than the population in general. Extensive neuropathological investigation revealed no major diseases or large lesions but mild through multiple changes. Results suggest that centenarians are a special group genetically. A causal structure model emphasized body constitution, marital status, cognition and blood pressure as particularly important determinants for survival after 100 years.     

The Epstein-Barr virus thymidine kinase does not phosphorylate ganciclovir or acyclovir and demonstrates a narrow substrate specificity compared to the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) thymidine kinase (TK) was expressed in mammalian 143B TK- cells to investigate its substrate specificity. The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) TK was similarly expressed for comparison. Both viral TKs conferred a TK+ phenotype on 143B TK- cells. The nucleoside analog ganciclovir (GCV) did not affect the growth of 143B EBV TK or 143B TK- cells but effectively killed 143B HSV-1 TK cells. Furthermore, lysates of 143B EBV TK cells could not phosphorylate GCV, which was confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography. EBV TK, HSV-1 TK, and EBV TK N-, a truncated EBV TK missing 243 N-terminal amino acids, were purified as fusion proteins expressed in bacteria, and all had TK activity. In addition, EBV TK was observed to have a thymidylate kinase activity but could not phosphorylate GCV, acyclovir, or 2'-deoxycytidine. In competition assays, only nucleoside analogs of thymidine significantly inhibited thymidine phosphorylation by EBV TK, with the following rank order: 5-bromodeoxyuridine > zidovudine > stavudine > sorivudine. These results demonstrate that EBV TK substrate specificity is narrower than those of alphaherpesvirus TKs and that thymidine analogs may be the most suitable nucleoside antivirals to target the enzyme. Clinical implications for gammaherpesviruses are discussed.     

Epidemiology and treatment of post-stroke depression

Depression is a common and serious complication after stroke. According to epidemiological studies, at least 30% of stroke patients experience depression, both early and late after stroke. However, in clinical practice only a minority of the patients are diagnosed and even fewer are treated. There are several studies confirming the magnitude of the problem but the main conclusion which can be drawn from the few treatment studies published is that tricyclic antidepressants cannot be recommended for the treatment of post-stroke depression, mainly because of the high frequency of contraindications and adverse effects. Until now there has only been 1 double-blind, placebo-controlled treatment study from which some general conclusions can be drawn. The study evaluated a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (citalopram) and concluded that the drug was well tolerated and effective for the treatment of post-stroke depression. However, when treatment was initiated very early, both the treatment group and the placebo group improved equally during the first 7 weeks after stroke. This finding could indicate diagnosis difficulties during the first few weeks after stroke. A recent study, although small, comparing the combination of drugs with either noradrenergic (desipramine plus mianserin) or noradrenergic and serotonergic effects (imipramine plus mianserin) for post-stroke depression, indicated that drugs with the dual effect may be more effective. Many more double-blind placebo-controlled treatment studies and studies comparing the efficacy and adverse effects of various antidepressants in patients with post-stroke depression need to be conducted. According to 3 small studies, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) seems to be quite well tolerated and therefore ECT may also be considered in the treatment of post-stroke depression. Future studies should also address the long term efficacy of treatment for post-stroke depression.     

Stability and change in the psychological adjustment of mothers of children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease

Found moderate stability in the classification of maternal adjustment in two longitudinal studies of mothers of children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease. In terms of the transactional stress and coping model, stable poor maternal adjustment was associated with higher levels of appraisal of daily stress and palliative coping and low levels of family supportiveness. With initial levels of maternal adjustment, demographic parameters, and follow-up interval controlled, concurrent levels of daily stress accounted for significant portions of variance in maternal adjustment at follow-up for both illness groups. In addition, illness severity, child psychological adjustment, and family conflict added significant increments to maternal adjustment at follow-up in the cystic fibrosis group. Findings are discussed in terms of a basis for subsequent intervention studies to enhance the adjustment of mothers of children with chronic illness.     

Purification and characterization of the sex hormone-binding globulin in serum from Djungarian hamsters

A high-affinity sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) was purified from the serum of prepubertal Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus). A purification of more than 2000-fold with an overall yield of 23% was achieved without the use of androgen affinity chromatography. Two predominant variants (51 and 55 kDa) were resolved by denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Both variants participated in the binding of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and had identical amino-terminal sequences. The sequences obtained for Djungarian hamster SHBG (dhSHBG) showed a high degree of identity with those of other mammals. The affinity of purified dhSHBG for DHT (2.5 x 10(9) M(-1) was similar to that measured in unfractionated serum. This protein was isolated as a dimer with a single calcium-dependent steroid-binding site and a major pI of 4.7. The described purification procedure yielded active dhSHBG from small volumes of prepubertal serum. These studies also provide the first direct structural evidence that a SHBG-like protein, not of testicular origin, is expressed by a rodent during prepubertal development.     

Robustness considerations in Bayesian analysis

All statistical analyses demand uncertain inputs or assumptions. This is especially true of Bayesian analyses. In addition to the usual concerns about the agreement of the data and model, a Bayesian must contemplate the effect of an uncertain prior specification. The degree to which inferences are robust to changes in the prior is of primary interest. This article discusses some robust techniques that have been suggested in the literature. One goal is to make apparent the relevance of some of these techniques to biostatistical work.     

The BARN system: Use and impact of adolescent health promotion via computer

This paper reports the results of a study of the acceptance and impact of BARN (Body Awareness Resource Network), a computer-based health promotion/behavior change system for use by adolescents. BARN provided students, grades 6–12, with information and skill-building activities on the following topics: AIDS, alcohol, and other drugs, body management, human sexuality, smoking, and stress management.During the 2 years that BARN use was studied, it was used heavily by both middle school and high school students, and particularly attracted adolescents who had already experimented with risk-taking behaviors. Those teens at higher risk for escalating problems selected the relevant BARN topics.Overall, users of BARN were more likely to remain free of risk-taking behaviors than nonusers of BARN. BARN use was also associated with improvements in risk-relevant behaviors such as contraceptive use, stress reduction, cessation of smoking by light smokers, reduction of alcohol use, and reduction of problems associated with alcohol use. No relationship was found between BARN use and initiation of sexual activity, stress prevention, or onset of either alcohol use or smoking. Results suggest that a computer-based system may be a powerful tool for the reduction of risk-taking behavior in adolescents.     

Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory-Research, development and demonstration for deep disposal of spent nuclear fuel

The Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory (Äspö HRL) provides an important scientific and technical basis for the programme o f implementation and operation of a future deep repository for spent nuclear fuel in Sweden. A major milestone has now been reached with the completion of the pre-investigation and construction phases. The comprehensive research conducted has permitted valuable development and verification of site characterization methods applied from the ground surface, boreholes and underground excavations. The present database of the crystalline rock at the Äspö area is one of the most comprehensive databases in the world, containing data from a large number of investigation methods from the surface down to 1700 m below ground level.Site characterization in conjunction with construction work at Äspö has basically confirmed the pre-construction models. The work at Äsp has shown that such pre-construction models can be obtained for the studied key issues through the application of “standard methodology of good quality” for measurements, data analyses, modelling and evaluation The site characterization at Aspö has been a realistic “adress-rehearsal” that will be invaluable for planning and executing surface and underground site characterization for the deep repository for spent fuel in Sweden.