Defensive responding on the MMPI-2 in family custody and access evaluations.

The objective of this study was to examine defensive underreporting on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) with a sample of parents involved in custody dispute litigation. With a composite score derived from 2 nontraditional validity indicators—the Wiggins Social Desirability scale (WSD) and the Superlative scale (S), which had previously been identified as the best predictors of fake-good responding, 74% of litigants were identified as underreporting compared with 52% identified using traditional Lie (L) and Correction (K) scale criterion. Litigants identified as underreporters whether using either the WSD-S criterion or the L-K criterion, had clinical scale profiles that were similar to those identified as nonunderreporters. The outcome of this study suggests that the WSD and S scales are perhaps more useful in the identification of defensive underreporting than the L and K scales. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Role of ATP in the mechanism of serotonin absorption by lung tissue

Tests set up on the isolated perfused lungs of albino rats and on intact dogs demonstrated that the serotonin absorption by the pulmonary tissue is attended by a drop of the ATP amount in the lungs. The exogenous ATP has no essential effect on the serotonin absorption by the pulmonary tissue, its considerable quantities being metabolized in the pulmonary capillaries.     

Calmodulin is essential for estrogen receptor interaction with its motif and activation of responsive promoter

Calmodulin (CaM) has been reported to have affinity for the estrogen receptor (ER). Observations reported here reveal a direct physical interaction between purified CaM and ER. This direct ER-CaM interaction may be an initial event preceding the assembly of ER plus auxiliary proteins into the active ER complex with its DNA motif, the estrogen response element. We demonstrate that CaM is an integral component of this complex by using a system reconstituted from purified ER and nuclear extract from ER-negative breast cancer cells and also with ER-depleted nuclear extract of an ER-positive breast cancer cell line. Although CaM is essential for formation of this complex, it is not sufficient, suggesting roles also of auxiliary proteins. CaM also is functionally required for activation of an ER-responsive promoter, in the 17beta-estradiol-ER pathway of hormone action and regulation of 17beta-estradiol-responsive gene expression that is associated with proliferation of mammary epithelial cells.     

Hippocampal and Reticulo-Thalamic Parvalbumin Interneurons and Synaptic Re-Organization during Sleep Disorders in the Rat Models of Parkinson’s Disease Neuropathology

We investigated the alterations of hippocampal and reticulo-thalamic (RT) GABAergic parvalbumin (PV) interneurons and their synaptic re-organizations underlying the prodromal local sleep disorders in the distinct rat models of Parkinson’s disease (PD). We demonstrated for the first time that REM sleep is a predisposing state for the high-voltage sleep spindles (HVS) induction in all experimental models of PD, particularly during hippocampal REM sleep in the hemiparkinsonian models. There were the opposite underlying alterations of the hippocampal and RT GABAergic PV+ interneurons along with the distinct MAP2 and PSD-95 expressions. Whereas the PD cholinopathy enhanced the number of PV+ interneurons and suppressed the MAP2/PSD-95 expression, the hemiparkinsonism with PD cholinopathy reduced the number of PV+ interneurons and enhanced the MAP2/PSD-95 expression in the hippocampus. Whereas the PD cholinopathy did not alter PV+ interneurons but partially enhanced MAP2 and suppressed PSD-95 expression remotely in the RT, the hemiparkinsonism with PD cholinopathy reduced the PV+ interneurons, enhanced MAP2, and did not change PSD-95 expression remotely in the RT. Our study demonstrates for the first time an important regulatory role of the hippocampal and RT GABAergic PV+ interneurons and the synaptic protein dynamic alterations in the distinct rat models of PD neuropathology.     

Release of BSA from porous matrices constituted of alginate–Ca and PNIPAAm-interpenetrated networks

The synthesis of thermosensitive Interpenetrating Polymer Network (IPN) hydrogels and the release of Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) from the hydrogels were reported. The hydrogels, constituted of poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) PNIPAAm network interpenetrated in alginate–Ca²⁺ network, were synthesized in a two-stepped process. In the first step, PNIPAAm network was synthesized from an aqueous solution containing N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAAm) monomers and N,N′-methylene-bis-acrylamide (MBAAm) co-monomers, and sodium alginate (SA) (1 or 2% w/v). The concentration of NIPAAm monomers in the hydrogel-forming solution was always 2.5, 5.0 or 10.0% (w/v). In the second step, alginate–Ca²⁺ networks were formed by immersion of the membrane, obtained on the first step, in a 1.0% (w/v) aqueous calcium chloride. The IPN hydrogels were characterized as a function of temperature (from 25 to 45 °C) through the following measurements: drop water contact angle (DWCA), compression elastic modulus (E) and cross-linking density (ν_e). The morphology was investigated using scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). In vitro release of BSA from the hydrogels was monitored by UV–Vis spectroscopy at 22 °C and 37 °C. DWCA results showed a decrease in the hydrogel hydrophilicity when the temperature and/or the PNIPAAm amount on hydrogels were increased. PNIPAAm-loader hydrogels are more compacted and presented elevated rigidity, mainly above 35 °C. This trend was attributed to the collapsing of PNIPAAm chains as the hydrogels were warmed above its Lower Critical Solution Temperature (LCST), which in aqueous solution is ca. 32–33 °C. The amount of BSA released from the alginate–Ca²⁺/PNIPAAm hydrogels changes inversely to both amount of PNIPAAm and temperature. The transport of BSA from the hydrogels was evaluated through a conventional model. In the lesser-compacted hydrogels the release occurs mostly by diffusion. In the more compacted ones the chain relaxation contributes to the BSA release. Thus, the alginate–Ca²⁺/PNIPAAm IPN-typed matrixes may be considered as smart hydrogels for the release of BSA, because the amount and rate of BSA released may be tailored by both the NIPAAm concentration in the hydrogel-forming solution and the control of temperature of hydrogel.     

Sparing of striatal neurons coexpressing calretinin and substance P (NK1) receptor in Huntington's disease

Immunohistochemical studies of the striatum in normal human subjects with a double-antigen localization method have revealed the presence of large and medium-sized aspiny neurons displaying immunoreactivity for both the calcium-binding protein calretinin and substance P (neurokinin-1) receptor. These large and medium-sized cells from two distinct classes of striatal interneurons, which together represent less than 3% of the total neuronal population of the human striatum. Observations made in four cases of Huntington's disease revealed that such doubly labeled interneurons are still present in the striatum of these patients, despite the marked atrophy of the structure. This study provides the first evidence for the existence of interneurons containing calretinin and expressing tachykinin receptors in the human striatum. It also demonstrates the selective sparing of these chemospecific striatal neurons in Huntington's disease.     

The orthostatic resistance of the cerebral and peripheral circulations in patients with contusive brain lesions

Rat pancreatic islets were immunoisolated within alginate capsules with additional polyethyleneimine-protamine-heparin highly biocompatible membrane. Perifusion study in vitro demonstrated satisfactory similarities between the insulin release profiles of encapsulated and free islets. Concordant xenotransplantation of microencapsulated rat islets significantly prolonged mean time of restored normoglycemia (46 +/- 15 days) in streptozotocin-diabetic BALB/c mice recipients comparing to uncoated grafts (7 +/- 2 days).     

Ocular perforation during retrobulbar and peribulbar injections

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To determine the ocular perforations during retrobulbar and peribulbar injections. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-five ocular perforations between 1976 and 1993 occurred after 13 retrobulbar and 12 peribulbar injections. Eighteen patients (72%) were women. Eighteen eyes were myopic (72%). Risk factors included high myopia in 11 cases (44%), use of Atkinson gaze in 21 cases (84%) and a sharp injection needle. RESULTS: Deep position of the posterior pole was common. Perforation signs comprised vitreous hemorrhage in 25 eyes (100%), subretinal hemorrhage in 19 eyes (76%), retinal breaks along the inferior vascular arcade in 19 eyes (76%), and retinal detachment in 14 eyes (56%). Proliferative vitreoretinopathy developed in 11 eyes (44%). CONCLUSION: Retinal detachment strongly correlated to poor visual outcome.