A comparison of the psychosocial characteristics of alcoholics responsible for impaired and nonimpaired collisions

In this study, the psychosocial characteristics of male alcoholics with different collision records were examined. Male hospitalized alcoholics were divided into three groups: (1) collision-free drivers, (2) those responsible for collision(s) in which they were impaired by alcohol, and (3) those responsible for collision(s) in which they were not impaired by alcohol. People in each of the three groups were compared. People responsible for impaired collisions were significantly lower in socioeconomic status, drove while impaired with more dangerous styles of driving, and had more disrespect for authorities than the noncollision group. By contrast, those responsible for nonimpaired collisions possessed a variety of personality characteristics that distinguished them from people with no collisons. Specifically, those with nonimpaired collisions were significantly less responsible, more impulsive, more depressed, more aggressive, and experienced more undesirable life events than people without collisions. The results are suggestive that male alcoholics with impaired collisions might have differences from those people with nonimpaired collisions that enhance their driving risk.     

基于SOA的Web服务在“图书馆2.0”的应用

为实现无时无处的图书馆2.0,首先对SOA进行了概述,包括其基本概念以及架构,同时介绍了SOA的主流实现技术WebService的概念及其相关协议,结合国内外图书馆2.0应用研究,重点介绍了基于SOA的Web服务实现Library 2.0的核心技术。     

Preliminary analyses of SIR-B radar data for recent Hawaii lava flows

The Shuttle Imaging Radar (SIR-B) experiment acquired two L-band (23 cm wavelength) radar images (at about 28° and 48° incidence angles) over the Kilauea Volcano area of southeastern Hawaii. Geologic analysis of these data indicates that, although as lava flows and pyroclastic deposits can be discriminated, pahoehoe lava flows are not readily distinguished from surrounding low return materials. Preliminary analysis of data extracted from isolated flows indicates that flow type (i.e., as or pahoehoe) and relative age can be determined from their basic statistics and illumination angle.     

Inhibition of prolactin secretion delays extinction of circadian LH surges in ovariectomized rats bearing estradiol implants

Ovariectomized rats bearing Silastic capsules containing estradiol exhibit a daily afternoon surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) which decreases with time until it is undetectable by Day 10 after implantation of estradiol. Increases in basal prolactin levels as well as afternoon surges are also observed. To determine if increased prolactin secretion contributed to the extinction of the circadian LH surges, we examined the patterns of LH and prolactin secretion in rats in which prolactin was suppressed by bromocriptine treatment. In vehicle-treated control rats, the magnitude of the LH surges decreased with time. Large LH surges were observed on Days 2 and 4. A significant decrease in the surge occurred on Day 6, and it disappeared by Day 10. Animals treated with bromocriptine also exhibited large LH surges on Days 2 and 4, and in addition, secreted a greater amount of LH than the control group on Days 6, 8, and 10. In ovariectomized rats bearing estradiol implants, large afternoon surges in prolactin were observed and by Day 6, basal prolactin levels were also elevated. Bromocriptine treatment completely suppressed prolactin secretion through Day 6, but a small afternoon rise was observed on Days 8 and 10. These findings suggest that elevated prolactin secretion may be one factor contributing to the extinction of circadian LH surges in the estrogen-treated rat.     

How does tele-mental health affect group therapy process? Secondary analysis of a noninferiority trial.

Objective: Video teleconferencing (VTC) is used for mental health treatment delivery to geographically remote, underserved populations. However, few studies have examined how VTC affects individual or group psychotherapy processes. This study compares process variables such as therapeutic alliance and attrition among participants receiving anger management group therapy either through traditional face-to-face delivery or by VTC. Method: The current study represents secondary analyses of a randomized noninferiority trial (Morland et al., in press) in which clinical effectiveness of VTC delivery proved noninferior to in-person delivery. Participants were male veterans (N = 112) with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and moderate to severe anger problems. The present study examined potential differences in process variables, including therapeutic alliance, satisfaction, treatment credibility, attendance, homework completion, and attrition. Results: No significant differences were found between the two modalities on most process variables. However, individuals in the VTC condition exhibited lower alliance with the group leader than those in the in-person condition. Mean self–leader alliance scores were 4.2 (SD = 0.8) and 4.5 (SD = 0.4), respectively, where 5 represents strongly agree and 4 represents agree with positive statements about the relationship, suggesting that participants in both conditions felt reasonably strong alliance in absolute terms. Individuals who had stronger alliance tended to have better anger outcomes, yet the effect was not strong enough to result in the VTC condition producing inferior aggregate outcomes. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that even if group psychotherapy via VTC differs in subtle ways from in-person delivery, VTC is a viable and effective means of delivering psychotherapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Refractory effect and alloimmunization after transfusion of thrombocytes]

The authors discuss possible ways for prevention of alloimmunization with HLA-antigen in acute leukemia patients after platelet transfusions. Prevention or delay of HLA-alloimmunization is possible when platelets of single random donor are used instead of pooled random donor platelets for transfusions. The effect of leucocyte removal from platelet concentrates and ultraviolet irradiation of platelet concentrates under conditions of blood bank on alloimmunization and refractoriness incidence has been considered.     

Role of tyrosine kinase and phosphotyrosine phosphatase in growth of the intestinal crypt cell (IEC-6) line

Antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) were measured in 1,580 Ethiopian subjects representing urban and rural populations. Sera found positive by a repeated second generation enzyme immunoassay (EIA) were subjected to three additional confirmatory tests. The overall confirmed seroprevalence was 2.0%. Less than 1% were confirmed to be seropositive in rural communities, with 1.4% positive among blood donors, 1.6% positive among patients with dermatologic disorders, 3.6% among leprosy patients, and 6.0% among patients attending a University Hospital clinic for neurologic disorders. The patients in the groups with leprosy and neurologic disorders have most likely been in ill health for many years and have sought relief by traditional healers or treatment at poorly equipped clinics. This group of patients demonstrated a high prevalence of antibodies to HCV. In Ethiopia, especially in small clinics, there is a shortage of syringes and needles and they have to be reused many times often with inadequate sterilization. Therefore, these syringes and needles may be contaminated, thus being a risk factor for HCV and HIV infection.     

Expression of the antisense cDNA for protein kinase C alpha attenuates resistance in doxorubicin-resistant MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells

Multidrug resistance is functionally associated with the expression of a plasma membrane energy-dependent drug efflux pump termed P-glycoprotein, the product of the mdr1 gene. Transfection of P-glycoprotein-expressing doxorubicin-resistant MCF-7 cells with an expression vector containing the cDNA for protein kinase C alpha in the antisense orientation reduces protein kinase C alpha levels and decreases total protein kinase C activity by 75%. This is accompanied by reduced phosphorylation of P-glycoprotein, a 2-fold increase in drug retention, and a 3-fold increase in doxorubicin cytotoxicity. These results provide further evidence that protein kinase C alpha can positively regulate multidrug resistance in MCF-7 cells through posttranslational phosphorylation of P-glycoprotein.     

The effects of a converting enzyme inhibitor (captopril) and angiotensin II on fetal renal function

1. Renal function was studied in chronically catheterized fetal sheep (119-128 days gestation), before and during treatment of the ewe with the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, captopril, which crosses the placenta and blocks the fetal renin angiotensin system. 2. An i.v. dose of 15 mg (about 319 micrograms kg-1) of captopril to salt-replete ewes followed by an infusion to the ewe of 6 mg h-1 (about 128 micrograms kg-1 h-1) caused a fall in fetal arterial pressure (P < 0.01), and a rise in fetal renal blood flow (RBF) from 67.9 +/- 5.6 to 84.9 +/- 8.3 ml min-1 (mean +/- s.e. mean) (P < 0.05). Renal vascular resistance and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) fell (P < 0.01); fetal urine flow (P < 0.01); fetal urine flow (P < 0.01) and sodium excretion declined (P < 0.05). 3. Ewes were treated for the next 2 days with 15 mg captopril twice daily. On the 4th day, 15 mg was given to the ewe and fetal renal function studied for 2 h during the infusion of captopril (6 mg h-1) to the ewe. Of the 9 surviving fetuses, 3 were anuric and 3 had low urine flow rates. When 6 micrograms kg-1 h-1 of angiotensin II was infused directly into the fetus RBF fell from 69 +/- 10.1 ml min-1 to 31 +/- 13.9 ml min-1, GFR rose (P < 0.05) and urine flow (P < 0.01) and sodium excretion increased in all fetuses. 4. It is concluded that the small fall in fetal arterial pressure partly contributed to the fall in fetal GFR but in addition, efferent arteriolar tone fell so that the filtration pressure fell further. Thus maintenance of fetal renal function depends on the integrity of the fetal renin angiotensin system. These findings explain why use of ACE inhibitors in human pregnancy is associated with neonatal anuria.