Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus infection in Yellow perch, Perca flavescens, in Lake Erie

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) infects wild and hatchery fish in Europe, Japan, and the Great Lakes and Pacific regions of North America. The virus was associated with a large die-off of yellow perch, Perca flavescens, in Lake Erie in 2006. To determine the infection pattern of VHSV, we sampled yellow perch during the spring, summer, and fall of 2007 and 2008 in the central basin of Lake Erie during routine sampling by the Ohio Division of Wildlife with bottom trawls in nearshore, mid-depth, and offshore locations near the Chagrin River. The Ohio Department of Agriculture's Diagnostic Laboratories and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's La Crosse Fish Health Center tested for VHSV from homogenized samples obtained from yellow perch kidney, spleen, and brain. At each lake sample location, we also measured temperature, dissolved oxygen, and conductivity. In both years, we found yellow perch infected with VHSV during a three-week period starting in the last week of spawning to early June. A high proportion of adult male and female yellow perch tested positive for VHSV during the infection period in our sample population. Infection appeared to be associated with temperatures between 12 and 18 °C and with significantly higher yellow perch densities during spawning. No large mortalities of yellow perch were observed during the VHSV infection period in 2007 and 2008.     

The duties of patients: a distant mirror

We studied nine patients with cerebral ptosis and gaze deviation following an acute stroke. The brains of all nine showed an extensive lesion in the fronto-parieto-temporal regions. In five the stroke was left hemispheric. The assumption is that cerebral ptosis may have a bihemispheric representation and results from damage to the connections rather than to a specific area.     

Human papillomavirus type 11 (HPV-11) neutralizing antibodies in the serum and genital mucosal secretions of African green monkeys immunized with HPV-11 virus-like particles expressed in yeast

It has been shown previously that immunization of animals with recombinant virus-like particles (VLPs) consisting of the viral capsid proteins L1 or L1 plus L2 protected animals against experimental viral challenge. However, none of these experimental models addresses the issue of whether systemic immunization with VLPs elicits a neutralizing antibody response in the genital mucosa. Such a response may be necessary to protect the uterine cervix against infection with genital human papillomavirus (HPV) types. African green monkeys systemically immunized with HPV-11 VLPs expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and formulated on aluminum adjuvant elicited high-titered HPV-11 VLP-specific serum antibody responses. Sera from these immunized monkeys neutralized HPV-11 in the athymic mouse xenograft system. Significant levels of HPV-11-neutralizing antibodies also were observed in cervicovaginal secretions. These findings suggest that protection against HPV infection of the uterine cervix may be possible through systemic immunization with HPV VLPs.     

Predictors and indicators of academic outcome in children 2 years following traumatic brain injury

Within the context of a longitudinal study investigating outcome for children following traumatic brain injury, this paper reports on the utility of neuropsychological testing in predicting academic outcome in children 2 years following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Twenty-nine school-age children who were admitted to hospital after TBI were assessed with a battery of neuropsychological and academic measures at 3 and 24 months postinjury. The neuropsychological battery included measures of memory, learning, and speed of information processing. Academic outcome was assessed in terms of post-TBI change in school placement. According to logistic regression analysis, change in placement from regular to special education at 2 years post-TBI was predicted by injury severity and by neuropsychological performance at 3 months post-TBI. Findings suggest that neuropsychological testing is useful in identifying children with special educational needs subsequent to TBI.     

The DRD4 VNTR polymorphism influences reactivity to smoking cues.

Recent research has indicated that craving for tobacco can be reliably elicited by exposure to smoking cues, suggesting that cue-elicited craving for tobacco may be a useful phenotype for research on genetic factors related to nicotine dependence. Given the potential role of dopamine in cue-elicited craving, the authors examined whether the DRD4 VNTR polymorphism is associated with cue-elicited craving for tobacco. Participants who were homozygous or heterozygous for the 7 repeat (or longer) allele were classified as DRD4 L and all other participants were classified as DRD4 S. Participants were exposed to smoking cues before smoking either high-nicotine cigarettes or control cigarettes. Analyses suggested that participants in the L group demonstrated significantly greater craving, more arousal, less positive affect, and more attention to the smoking cues than did the participants in the S group. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Readability level of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act notices of privacy practices used by psychologists in clinical practice.

Obtaining informed consent from a client to participate in psychotherapy includes providing an understanding of what treatment or evaluation is going to take place with the psychologist, as well as what the psychologist may or may not do with the client's records. Psychologists have an obligation to communicate clearly with their clients regarding informed consent. In this investigation, 1 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Notice of Privacy Practices was solicited from a practicing psychologist in each state plus the District of Columbia. The authors then analyzed these forms using 2 measures of readability. A large majority (82%) of these forms were written at the ceiling reading level (12th grade), and almost the entire sample (94%) fell into the difficult range of reading ease. On the basis of the data obtained in this investigation, it is recommended that psychologists move to improve the readability of these documents and should do so to improve clinical practice, reduce liability, and follow ethical standards. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Spouses of workaholics: Clinical implications for psychotherapy.

This article examines the impact of work addiction on the family system, particularly spouses of workaholics—an area that has been neglected by social scientists and mental health clinicians. An argument is made for researchers and psychotherapists to pay more attention to this essential area of mental health. Recommendations for how to address this issue in clinical settings are presented along with research considerations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Young people with spina bifida: transfer from paediatric to adult health care

INTRODUCTION: The method used to terminate pregnancy on medical grounds during the second trimester must be safe, rapid, psychologically feasible and associated with a minimal risk of long-term sequelae. The objective of the present work was a critical analysis of the author's standard protocol of termination of pregnancy during the second trimester. MATERIAL AND METHODS: For induction of abortion during the second trimester the authors used a synthetic prostaglandin analogue (PG) F2 alpha-Dinoprost which was administered in a single dose of 30 mg by the intraamniotic route. At the time of onset of uterine contractions the authors administered peridural anaesthesia. The authors investigated indications, mean period of induction, correlation between the period of induction of abortion and the indications for termination of pregnancy, the week of pregnancy and parity of the mother. They recorded also the type and number of complications. RESULTS: From January 1991 till June 1997 179 pregnancies were terminated by intraamniotic PG administration. After a single intraamniotic PG administration 72% women aborted within 24 hours. In 26% women the intraamniotic administration was repeated twice and in 2% women three times. The mean induction period, i.e. the interval between the administration and abortion of the foetus was 22.6 hours. The interval was significantly longer (28 hours) in foetuses where pregnancy was terminated because of a neural tube defect (p < 0.01). The authors did not detect a correlation between the period of induction and the indication, week of gestation and parity of the mother. COMPLICATIONS: once a general reaction to intraamniotic administration, in three patients a major blood loss replaced by transfusion of erythrocyte mass, no uterine rupture. CONCLUSION: In all instances the therapeutic effect was achieved and there was no need to perform section minor. The disadvantage of the method is the high price of the preparation and need of repeated intraamniotic administration of PG in 29% of the patients.