Therapeutic evaluation of compounds in the SCID-RA papillomavirus model

A previous study by Kreider (Kreider et al., 1979) indicated that rabbit skin, which had been transplanted to immunodeficient nude mice, could be successfully infected with cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV). We have extended this observation in developing a rodent model for evaluation of compounds for activity against the papillomaviruses. In this model (called the SCID-Ra model), rabbit ear skin is transplanted to the dorsum of SCID mice and allowed to heal for 3 weeks. Infection with CRPV by scarification leads to the growth of warty lesions within 2 3 weeks in >95% of the animals. Topical and/or systemic therapy can be initiated at various times post infection (PI). Weekly lesion scores are recorded and compounds are evaluated for their ability to suppress wart growth when compared to untreated control mice. Ribavirin, which has had a suppressive effect both in the clinic for the treatment of respiratory papillomatosis and on the growth of warts in the rabbit back model, was evaluated and showed significant anti-proliferative activity with oral dosing. Both antiviral and antiproliferative compounds including podophyllin and 5-fluorouracil, which have been used clinically for the treatment of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections, were evaluated in this model. The anti-mitotic compound, Navelbine (vinorelbine tartrate), which is used for the treatment of non-small cell lung carcinoma was evaluated in this system and showed significant inhibition of wart growth with somewhat less topical cytotoxicity when compared to podophyllotoxin.     

The relationship between preparation convergence and retention of extracoronal retainers

PURPOSE: Although traditional ideal convergence (the sum of taper of the opposite sides) for crown preparation has been arbitrarily set at 4 degrees to 10 degrees, some believe absolute parallelism yields the highest retention. This study examined the relationship between the degree of convergence of a machined metal die and the retention of its casting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The method used was that of cementing cast metal crowns onto full crown preparations on brass dies with varying convergence angles, and then recording the force required to remove the crowns from the dies in a vertical direction using a Tate-Emery Testing Machine and Load Indicator. RESULTS: It was found that retention (i.e., the force needed to remove the cemented castings from the die in their common long axis) increases from 0 degree convergence to peak between 6 degrees to 12 degrees convergence. It also seems that a critical film thickness does exist for optimum retention, and that film thicknesses smaller than the critical thickness may be responsible for the phenomenon that we have observed and directly related to the convergence angle itself. CONCLUSIONS: There seems to be experimental data supporting the use of traditionally taught convergence. Our study found that convergence angles between 6 degrees and 12 degrees seem to be optimum for tooth crown preparation when one plans to use zinc phosphate cement. Convergence angles of less than 6 degrees may not be desirable even if they can be clinically achieved. The results of our study indicate that a relationship exists between the convergence angle and the critical cement thickness that is necessary to realize the maximum strength properties of zinc phosphate cement.     

Use of Mono Mac 6 human monocytic cell line and J774 murine macrophage cell line in parallel antimycobacterial drug studies

The Mono Mac 6 (MM6) human monocytic cell line was evaluated with the established J774 murine macrophage cell line to ascertain its effectiveness in determining the intracellular activities of antimycobacterial drugs. Cells were infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra and treated with drug concentrations corresponding to the MICs, as well as to threefold higher than and threefold less than the MICs. Changes in CFU were compared after 7 days to determine significant differences between treated and nontreated groups. The results suggest that MM6 will make a useful model for testing the intracellular activities of antituberculosis drugs.     

Multifactorial assessment of bulimia nervosa.

Investigated a multifactorial approach to the assessment of bulimia nervosa by means of hierarchical factor analysis. 245 bulimia nervosa patients and 68 patients with either anorexia nervosa or eating disorders not otherwise specified were administered a self-report battery that was organized into 21 dimensions relevant to eating disorder patients. When dimensions from this battery were subjected to hierarchical factor analysis, support for bulimia nervosa as a unique diagnostic category was obtained. However, the emergence of 3 secondary factors and 6 primary factors suggests that bulimia nervosa can also be described more complexly. The emergence of a multifactorial model of bulimia nervosa that incorporates several existing unidimensional models suggests the potential for both divergent and complicated clinical presentation in bulimia nervosa patients. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Recognizing, assessing, and intervening with problems of professional competence.

Working collaboratively, psychologist educators and trainers at the doctoral, internship, and postdoctoral levels; credentialers; practitioners; and students offer 8 proposals for psychologists to consider in recognizing, assessing, and intervening with problems of professional competence in students and practicing professionals. In the proposals, the authors address the following topics: definitions and categories; preparing the system; self-assessment; remediation; diversity; communication across various levels of the system; confidentiality; and ethical, regulatory, and legal underpinnings. They also propose future directions for the assessment of problems in professional competence in both students and practicing psychologists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Computer aided kinetic modeling with KMT and KME

The complexity of many chemical and refining reaction systems and the thus-derived tedious and time-consuming process of building the associated kinetic models have been major obstacles in the use of fundamental kinetics in the solution of chemical engineering problems. This review summarizes work aimed at removing theses obstacles. Our recent work that has led to the enhancement of the Kinetic Modeler's Toolbox (KMT) and the development of the Kinetic Model Editor (KME) presents an end-to-end solution to the kinetic modeling process, including automated feedstock modeling, reaction network construction, kinetic rate estimation, model programming, process system configurations, model customizations, compilations, model execution and results analysis.     

Serotonin-4 receptor antagonists reverse cocaine-induced cardiac arrhythmia

CONTEXT: Adolescent smoking prevalence is tracked annually and has increased since 1991. In contrast, little is known about trends in smoking among college students, a group that has previously been more resistant to tobacco use than other young adults. OBJECTIVE: To examine changes in cigarette smoking among college students between 1993 and 1997 and among different types of students and colleges. DESIGN: Self-administered survey (Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study). SETTING: One hundred sixteen nationally representative 4-year colleges. SUBJECTS: A total of 15103 randomly selected students in 1993 (70% response rate) and 14251 students in 1997 (60% response rate). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reports of cigarette smoking in the past 30 days and in the past year, age at smoking first cigarette, and number of attempts to quit. RESULTS: Over 4 years, the prevalence of current (30-day) cigarette smoking rose by 27.8%, from 22.3% to 28.5% (P<.001). The increase was observed in 99 of 116 colleges and was statistically significant (P<.05) in 27 (23%) of them. Current smoking increased across all student subgroups (defined by sex, race/ethnicity, and year in school) and in all types of colleges. Smoking is rising faster in public schools (from 22.0% to 29.3%) than in private schools (from 22.9% to 26.8%). Eleven percent of college smokers had their first cigarette and 28% began to smoke regularly at or after age 19 years, by which time most were already in college. Half of current smokers tried to quit in the previous year; 18% had made 5 or more attempts to quit. CONCLUSIONS: Cigarette use is increasing on campuses nationwide in all subgroups and types of colleges. Substantial numbers of college students are both starting to smoke regularly and trying to stop. National efforts to reduce smoking should be extended to college students.     

Assessing declarative memory in schizophrenia using Wisconsin Card Sorting Test stimuli: the Paired Associate Recognition Test

The Paired Associate Recognition Test (PART) was developed to measure declarative memory using Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) stimuli, so that both tasks could be administered during functional neuroimaging to differentiate memory and executive function, and associated frontal and temporal lobe activation in schizophrenia. The current study was designed to compare PART and WCST performance in schizophrenic patients and to examine effects of medication and symptomatology. The PART, WCST, and standard declarative memory tasks were administered to 30 chronic schizophrenic patients and 30 matched healthy control subjects. Supporting task validity was the finding that patients were equally impaired on the PART and the WCST. Neuroleptics did not appear to affect performance. The effect of anticholinergic medication correlated negatively with WCST performance in a small subsample. Severity of schizophrenia-specific symptoms measured at intake on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale correlated negatively with performance on the WCST. These results support the application of the PART and WCST in future functional neuroimaging studies.