Factor analysis of the domain of client expectancies about counseling.

446 college students completed a questionnaire measuring 20 expectancies regarding counseling. After item analysis, the instrument was reduced to 135 items comprising 17 expectancy scales. Scale scores were calculated for each S, and data analyzed using principal-components analysis with varimax rotation. Evidence of 4 expectancy factors was obtained: Personal Commitment, Facilitative Conditions, Counselor Expertise, and Nurturance. To clarify interpretation, scores on the 4 factors were correlated with Ss' responses to 13 items measuring how realistic respondents' expectancies were. (48 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hypocomplementemic ear effusion in relapsing polychondritis

In a case of relapsing polychondritis it was possible to aspirate a collection of subcutaneous fluid from the patient's involved ear. A determination of total hemolytic complement activity of this fluid was low, suggesting that activation of the complement system may have occurred in the course of the patient's disease and might be related to the pathogenesis of this disorder.     

Identification of amino acid residues of abrin-a A chain is essential for catalysis and reassociation with abrin-a B chain by site-directed mutagenesis

Abrin is a toxic protein consisting of two subunits, an enzymatic A chain (ABRaA) and a lectin-active B chain (ABRaB), linked by a disulfide bond. Site-directed mutagenesis was performed using PCR to study how the conserved amino acid residues, Tyr74, Tyr113, Glu164 and Trp198, around the active site of ABRaA are involved in enzyme catalysis, enzyme-substrate recognition and reassociation of ABRaA with ABRaB. The protein biosynthesis inhibitory activities of Y74F, Y113F and W198F were decreased moderately to that of wild type reABRaA, while that of E164Q decreased dramatically. Kinetic analysis showed that the kat of Y74F, Y113F and W198F resembled that of wild type, while the Km increased significantly. W198F did not reassociate with ABRaB to form heterodimers, while Y74F, Y113F and E164Q did. SDS-PAGE analysis of ABRaA treated with trypsin showed that reABRaA, Y74F, Y113F and E164Q survived digestion, whereas W198F was not protected from digestion. CD spectra revealed that W198F showed significant conformational changes. These observations suggest that E164 is directly involved in catalysis, and Tyr74, Tyr113 and Trp198 in substrate binding, while Trp198 also plays an important role in maintaining the conformation of ABRaA required for its reassociation with ABRaB.      

Effect of low-dose γ-radiation on individual phospholipids in aqueous suspension

A series of individual phospholipids (phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidylserines and phosphatidylglycerols) containing either saturated or unsaturated fatty acid chains was irradiated at 9.66 kGy and 0–4°C in aqueous suspension. The phospholipids were analyzed by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on a silica column with an evaporative light scattering detector. Phospholipid disappearance and production of two radiolytic products, phosphatidic acid and the lysophospholipid, after irradiation were quantitated from calibration curves of synthetic standards. Dipalmitoylphosphatidic acid and monopalmitoylphosphatidylcholine from irradiated dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine were identified by liquid secondary-ion mass spectrometry.     

Long-term electrocardiography. Detection of low-grade myocardial infarction: sensitivity of 9 bipolar leads

The sensitivity of ambulatory electrocardiography (Holter ECG) for detecting ischaemia is relatively low. A case report of an inferior infarction missed by three-lead Holter monitoring that included a modified lead aVF especially places its sensitivity for detecting inferior ischaemia and infarction in question. Therefore, the present study evaluated the sensitivity of nine bipolar Holter leads for detecting isolated inferior Q-wave infarctions, and compared the sensitivity of the modified leads II, III, and aVF of the Holter ECG with the sensitivity of the "corresponding" leads of the standard ECG. METHODS: Sixteen patients, each of whom had a pathological Q-wave (> 0.04 s and > 0.1 mV) in at least two of the three standard ECG leads II, III, and aVF but in none of the other standard leads, were studied for the presence of a pathological Q-wave on the modified Holter leads II, III, aVF, CM2, CM5, CR4, Frank Z, Nehb D, and inverse Nehb J. RESULTS: Of the nine Holter leads, modified lead III provided the highest sensitivity for detecting inferior Q-wave infarctions, followed by lead Frank Z; leads CR 4 and inverse Nehb J were only slightly less sensitive. In contrast, modified leads II and aVF were significantly less sensitive than modified lead III. Modified bipolar lead aVF of the Holter ECG was significantly less sensitive than the "corresponding" lead aVF of the standard ECG, whereas modified leads II and III provided similar sensitivities for detecting inferior Q-wave infarctions as the "corresponding" leads of the standard ECG. CONCLUSIONS: The significantly lower sensitivity of modified lead aVF for detecting inferior Q-wave infarctions compared with standard lead aVF shows that the sensitivity of a Holter ECG lead cannot be deduced from that of the "corresponding" standard ECG lead. Moreover, the significantly higher sensitivity of modified lead III compared with modified leads II and aVF shows that lead selection is important for Holter monitoring.     

Married couples' experiences at a human reproduction center

The present study was intended to understand the feeling demonstrated by married couples seeking a Human Reproduction Center for infertility evaluation. Intending to understand the way Assisted Reproduction is experienced from the couple's perspective, a phenomenological approach was adopted and the directing question was: "How do you feel using the Assisted Reproduction as a treatment?"     

A multicenter trial of ropinirole as adjunct treatment for Parkinson's disease. Ropinirole Study Group

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the nonergot dopamine agonist ropinirole as an adjunct to L-dopa in a randomized, double-blind trial in PD patients with motor fluctuations. BACKGROUND: L-dopa in the treatment of PD is associated with motor fluctuations, dyskinesia, and other adverse effects. The use of dopamine agonists in the treatment of PD delays recourse to L-dopa and thus delays the possibility of adverse effect onset. METHODS: Ropinirole (n = 95) or placebo (n = 54) was added to L-dopa, and L-dopa was then reduced in a planned manner during the 6-month trial. RESULTS: A significantly greater number of ropinirole patients were able to achieve a 20% or greater reduction in both L-dopa dose and in percent time spent "off" compared with placebo (35.0% versus 13.0%; p = 0.003). The mean daily L-dopa dose was reduced significantly with ropinirole treatment (242 mg versus 51 mg; p < 0.001) as was the percent awake time spent "off" (11.7% versus 5.1%; p = 0.039). There was no difference in the percent of patients who withdrew because of adverse effects (15.8% on ropinirole versus 16.7% on placebo). CONCLUSIONS: Ropinirole permits a reduction in L-dopa dose with enhanced clinical benefit for PD patients with motor fluctuations.     

Variability of the midfacial muscles: analysis of 50 hemifacial cadaver dissections

The region of the midface represents a challenging area to both reconstructive and aesthetic surgeons. An anatomic study was performed that attempted to identify patterns and variations of the muscular anatomy. The goals of this study were twofold: to identify patterns and variability of the midfacial muscles that might impact on reconstructive efforts and to attempt to correlate this anatomy with features of the overlying soft tissues, specifically the nasolabial crease. Fifty hemifacial cadaver dissections were performed. The information collected was assembled into a large data base, and statistical significance was analyzed using Fisher's exact probability test. Results demonstrated that, although a great degree of variability exists with respect to the midfacial muscles, seven distinct patterns of these muscles did emerge. The most common pattern was the presence of a levator alae nasi, levator labii superioris, and zygomaticus major, which occurred in 44 percent of specimens. Specimens that possessed a risorius, zygomaticus minor, or both, were relatively uncommon. The consistent presence of the levators suggests adding a superior vector to recreate a smile in facial reanimation surgery. Two important anatomic variations were noted. A bifid zygomaticus major was found to be present in 34 percent of individuals. Because the inferior bundle had a dermocutaneous insertion, this anomaly may represent the anatomic correlate of a cheek "dimple." A second anomaly noted was the lateral cheek crease, which appeared to be associated with a cutaneous attachment from the underlying platysma muscle. However, no correlation could be found for facial muscle pattern and the overlying nasolabial crease structure. This lack of correlation may indicate that the facial muscles alone do not dictate the structure of the nasolabial crease and that other dynamic factors are involved in determining this feature of the aging face.