Streptococcus iniae, a human and animal pathogen: specific identification by the chaperonin 60 gene identification method

It was recently reported that Streptococcus iniae, a bacterial pathogen of aquatic animals, can cause serious disease in humans. Using the chaperonin 60 (Cpn60) gene identification method with reverse checkerboard hybridization and chemiluminescent detection, we identified correctly each of 12 S. iniae samples among 34 aerobic gram-positive isolates from animal and clinical human sources.     

Reactions to merit pay increases: A longitudinal test of a signal sensitivity perspective.

The relationships among merit pay raises, trait positive affectivity (PA), and reactions to merit pay increases (pay attitudes and behavioral intentions) were explored in a longitudinal study of hospital employees. Drawing on signal sensitivity theory, the authors expected that PA would moderate the relationship between merit pay raise size and reactions to the increase such that pay raise size would be more strongly related to pay attitudes and behavioral intentions among those low in PA. Results strongly supported the predictions in the case of reactions to the raise amount (happiness and effort intentions) but not for pay level satisfaction. Implications of the results and directions for future research are identified. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The genetics of Parkinson''s disease and parkinsonian syndromes

General anaesthesia with 80% CO2/20% O2 and 5% halothane in O2 (mask induction) was compared for castration of 3-4 week-old piglets. One group was castrated without anaesthesia. Of the noncastrated control groups one had CO2- and one halothane anaesthesia, one breathed room air through the induction system, and one was held in castration position. The behaviour to induction and castration was assessed, and the cortisol-, ACTH- and beta-endorphin plasma concentrations were determined to quantify the stress elicited by anaesthesia, castration and handling. Violent struggling and vocalization were elicited by CO2 and positioning into the mask induction system while breathing room air; halothane induction was quiet. CO2 induced profound surgical anaesthesia; whereas under halothane anaesthesia some animals exhibited still a slight reaction to castration. Recovery was fast, smooth and quite. Permanent violent struggling and vocalization were elicited by castration without anaesthesia. Plasma cortisol was not a sensitive tool to judge castration stress. The high ACTH and beta-endorphin plasma concentrations elicited by CO2 anaesthesia confirm our clinical experience. General anaesthesia is fast and safely induced with CO2 in piglets and castration can be performed without any reaction, but with CO2 anaesthesia the stress is not reduced.     

Improvement of signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios in dual-screen computed radiography

A dual-screen computed radiography (CR) technique has been developed to improve and optimize the overall image signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). With this technique, two CR screens are exposed together and separately scanned to form a front and a back image. These two images are then superimposed to form an image of improved SNR and CNR. A mathematical model has been derived to describe the improvement and optimization of the SNR and CNR. Based on this model, the front and back images should be weighted in proportion to their SNR squared to optimize the SNR of the composite image. Imaging experiments have been conducted to verify the theoretical model under mammographic and chest imaging conditions. The results largely agree with the theoretical predictions. It has also been found that optimization of the SNR results in nearly optimal CNR and vice versa. For mammographic imaging, a 14%-22% improvement in the SNR and a 13%-19% improvement in the CNR have been demonstrated. For chest imaging, a 31%-36% improvement in the SNR and a 28%-30% improvement in the CNR has been demonstrated.     

Psychological morbidity associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm screening

The case of a 46 years old man presenting a chronic history of right upper lobe pneumonia is reported. The clinical presentation associated with nodular pulmonary computed tomographic scan lesions, highly suggested a malignant bronchopulmonary process. A lobectomy was performed. Histological analysis revealed an inflammatory pseudotumor. This inflammatory process may be a particular end stage disease of pulmonary infectious disease.     

Traditional remedies and food supplements. A 5-year toxicological study (1991-1995)

Since 1991, the Medical Toxicology Unit (MTU) at Guys' Hospital, London, has been assessing the toxicological problems associated with the use of traditional and herbal remedies and dietary supplements. This assessment was carried out by evaluating reports to the National Poisons Information Service (London) [NPIS(L)] which provides emergency information to medical professionals. Relevant telephone enquiries to NPIS(L) were identified. Further case details were obtained by follow-up questionnaire, clinical consultation, toxicological analysis of samples from patients and/or products and botanical identification of plant material. Of 1297 symptomatic enquiries evaluated there was a possible/confirmed association in 785 cases. Case series have been identified which substantiate previous reports, including liver problems following the use of Chinese herbal medicine for skin disorders, allergic reactions to royal jelly and propolis and heavy metal poisoning caused by remedies from the Indian subcontinent. Although the overall risk to public health appears to be low, certain groups of traditional remedies have been associated with a number of potentially serious adverse effects. Considering the extent of use of herbal remedies and food supplements a comprehensive surveillance system for monitoring the adverse health effects of these products is essential. Surveillance of a large population is needed for the complex task of identifying the uncommon and unpredictable adverse effects which are potentially serious. In the UK, the Medicines Control Agency responded to the MTU report by recognising the need for vigilance and by incorporating adverse reactions reporting on unlicensed herbal remedies into their drug reaction monitoring function. As a further step to safeguard the patients/consumers an effective single regulatory system is required which would ensure the safety and quality of all herbal remedies and food supplements available in the UK.     

A closer look at the MWD-viscosity transform

While there is abundant evidence that the molecular weight distribution (MWD) of a linear polymer has an influence on the shape of the viscosity function, the ability to convert the viscosity function to an MWD has been questioned. Using strictly numerical techniques, we have shown that the viscosity function can be transformed to the MWD, but always with some distortion. However, distinct bimodality can be qualitatively preserved through both the MWD-viscosity and viscocity-MWD transforms.     

Sex differences in lean and adipose tissue distribution by magnetic resonance imaging: anthropometric relationships

This study compared total and regional adipose tissue (AT) and lean tissue (LT) distribution measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in obese, android women (n = 40) and mean (n = 17). Women had significantly (P < 0.01) greater subcutaneous AT (39.6 +/- 11.6 vs 30.7 +/- 7.5 L) but significantly (P < 0.01) less visceral AT (2.5 +/- 1.1 vs 4.8 +/- 2.1 L) and LT (42.8 +/- 4.7 vs 58.2 +/- 6.2 L) compared with men. Segmentation of the visceral AT volume demonstrated that women had significantly (P < 0.01) less intraperitoneal (1.98 +/- 0.84 vs 3.74 +/- 1.61 L) and extraperitoneal AT (0.51 +/- 0.23 vs 1.04 +/- 0.47 L). When the legs, hip and pelvic region, and abdomen and torso regions were compared, women had significantly greater absolute quantities of subcutaneous AT and significantly less LT in all regions (P < 0.01); however, in all regions the relative distribution of both was similar. Anthropometric prediction of MRI-measured total AT gave SEs of 7.7% for women and 7.5% for men, for visceral AT 30% for women and 19% for men. Anthropometric prediction of LT gave SEs of 6.5% for women and 3.6% for men.     

Specificity and stability of self-referent encoding in clinical depression.

The self-referent encoding task was to investigate the specificity and stability of the self-schema in depression. Results of a comparison between depressed psychiatric (n?=?24), nondepressed psychiatric control (n?=?15), and nonpsychiatric control (n?=?14) patients revealed that the self-referent encoding task is specific to depression and that the use of content-specific adjectives in the task is important for the results obtained. A subset of the depressed group (n?=?9) who completed the task at a second occasion while still depressed showed results very similar to those obtained at the first testing occasion. A subset of depressed subjects (n?=?14) who completed the task on remission of their depression, however, evidenced a pattern of results quite dissimilar to those obtained while they were depressed. The pattern of results showed considerable shift in these subjects' self-referent encoding, and their results approximated those obtained by the two control groups. These results are discussed with reference to (a) the concept of the self-schema and its relevance for depression and (b) the self-referent encoding task as a means of assessing the self-schema. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)