Assessment of lower urinary tract functional deficit in rats with contusive spinal cord injury

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) produces lower urinary tract (LUT) dysfunction that has been studied in surgical transection models. Our aim was to assess LUT functional deficit in a clinically relevant model of incomplete SCI to investigate how partial preservation of supraspinal connections might affect LUT dysfunction. Standardized weight-drop contusion (10 g x 2.5 cm) or complete transection, was produced at T8 in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Behavioral tests were used to assess hind limb sensorimotor function at Day 1 after surgery and weekly thereafter. The urometric experiments were conducted on groups (n = 7) of uninjured rats and on injured rats during Weeks 1 and 2 after SCI (before and after spontaneous voiding was established) as well as Week 2 after a complete transection (n = 3). Under anesthesia, the bladder was continuously perfused with saline. Changes in bladder pressure and external urethral sphincter (EUS) electrical activity were monitored. The bladder was then dissected and weighed and both the bladder and spinal cord were fixed for pathoanatomical analyses. Our results indicate that several aspects of LUT dysfunction after contusive SCI were similar to transection, e.g., reduction of voiding efficiency (approximately 5% of normal value), decrease in inter-contraction interval (47%), increase in bladder capacity (8-fold), and weight (4.6-fold). One aspect appeared different from transection--partial recovery from acute bladder/sphincter dyssynergia. Because the coordination of bladder and EUS function is mediated by brainstem pathways, partial recovery of synergy after SCI was likely due to sparing of some relevant bulbospinal projections as was confirmed by retrograde transneuronal viral tracing.     

A current mode detector array for -ray asymmetry measurements

We have built a CsI(Tl) γ-ray detector array for the NPDGamma experiment to search for a small parity-violating directional asymmetry in the angular distribution of 2.2 MeV γ-rays from the capture of polarized cold neutrons by protons with a sensitivity of several ppb. The weak pion–nucleon coupling constant can be determined from this asymmetry. The small size of the asymmetry requires a high cold neutron flux, control of systematic errors at the ppb level, and the use of current mode γ-ray detection with vacuum photodiodes and low-noise solid-state preamplifiers. The average detector photoelectron yield was determined to be 1300 photoelectrons per MeV. The RMS width seen in the measurement is therefore dominated by the fluctuations in the number of γ-rays absorbed in the detector (counting statistics) rather than the intrinsic detector noise. The detectors were tested for noise performance, sensitivity to magnetic fields, pedestal stability and cosmic background. False asymmetries due to gain changes and electronic pickup in the detector system were measured to be consistent with zero to an accuracy of 10^-9 in a few hours. We report on the design, operating criteria, and the results of measurements performed to test the detector array.     

Equation of state and ideals-gas heat capacity of a gaseous mixture of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, pentafluoroethane, and difluoromethane

We present the gas-phase equation of state and ideal-gas heat capacity of a ternary mixture (nominal molar concentration) of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (35%), pentafluoroethane (30%), and difluoromethane (35%) for temperatures between 260 and 453 K and pressures between 0.05 and 7.7 MPa. These results were based on two very different measurement techniques. The first technique measured the gas density of the mixture in a Burnett apparatus from 313 to 453 K and from 0.2 to 7.7 MPa. The second technique deduced the gas density and ideal-gas heat capacity from high-accuracy speed-of-sound measurements in the mixture at temperatures between 260 and 400 K and at pressures between 0.05 and 1.0 MPa. The data from the two techniques were analyzed together to obtain an equation of state that reproduced the densities from the Burnett technique with a fractional RMS deviation of 0.038%, and it also reproduced the sound speeds with a fractional RMS deviation of 0.003%. Finally, the results are compared to a predictive model based on the properties of the pure fluids.     

Measuring quality of life in oncology: is it worthwhile? II. Experiences from the treatment of cancer

This is the second part of the paper on quality of life in cancer patients which appeared in this journal (Montazeri et al., 1996a). In this part experiences from the treatment of cancer are given and relevant literature is reviewed. Several topics have been covered, including new directions and methods in assessing quality of life. It is argued that in a chronic condition, adding life to years instead of years to life is an important task. Adding years to life may prolong survival, but whether this is to the benefit of patients is debatable. Considering patients' views, their values and preferences may improve the quality of care and at the same time, reduce the psychological distress and physical discomfort in patients with cancer. It is concluded that quality of life measures have considerable potential in this challenging issue.     

The Role of TP53 in Cisplatin Resistance in Mediastinal and Testicular Germ Cell Tumors

Germ cell tumors (GCTs) are considered to be highly curable; however, there are major differences in the outcomes related to histology and anatomical localization. GCTs originating from the testis are, overall, sensitive to platinum-based chemotherapy, whereas GCTs originating from the mediastinum show a worse response, which remains largely unexplained. Here, we address the differences among GCTs from two different anatomical locations (testicular versus mediastinal/extragonadal), with a specific focus on the role of the P53 pathway. It was recently shown that GCTs with TP53 mutations most often localize to the mediastinum. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, TP53 knock-out lines were generated in cisplatin-sensitive and -resistant clones of the representative 2102Ep cell line (wild-type TP53 testicular GCT) and NCCIT cell line (hemizygously mutated TP53, mutant TP53 mediastinal GCT). The full knock-out of TP53 in 2102Ep and resistant NCCIT resulted in an increase in cisplatin resistance, suggesting a contributing role for P53, even in NCCIT, in which P53 had been reported to be non-functional. In conclusion, these results suggest that TP53 mutations contribute to the cisplatin-resistant phenotype of mediastinal GCTs and, therefore, are a potential candidate for targeted treatment. This knowledge provides a novel model system to elucidate the underlying mechanism of clinical behavior and possible alternative treatment of the TP53 mutant and mediastinal GCTs.     

Cognitive therapy of anxiety disorders.

A review of studies of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder with and without agoraphobia, and social phobia indicates that CBT is consistently more effective than waiting-list and placebo control groups. In general, CBT has proved more beneficial than supportive therapy as well. Comparisons with active behavioral treatments provide more variable results. Converging evidence suggests that cognitive change may be a strong predictor of treatment outcome, but that such change may be produced by a number of therapeutic approaches. Pretest–posttest change with CBT is depicted in meta-analytic summary form for each disorder. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dynamic fatigue experiments on optical fibers

Optical fibers should have a minimum life of 25 years. Proof testing is usually done in order to have only high-strength fibers and to evaluate their lifetimes. The behavior of the fibers is studied in terms of the mechanism of slow growth of microcracks. A maximum stress that will be allowed in the subsequent usage of the fiber is then calculated, performing extrapolations from measurements which last a few months to times which last more than 25 years. As might be expected, papers have been published that indicate this procedure leads to inaccurate predictions. Work reported here involves fibers with a broad distribution of strengths. These were used for the purpose of reducing test times. Dynamic fatigue tests were done under atmospheric and inert environments. Results were used to obtain portions of the universal fatigue curve in order to assess the potential accuracy of long-term extrapolation from high-strength fiber tests.     

Validation of a screening instrument for young children with teacher assessment of school performance.

Attempted to identify a screening instrument that would agree with teacher judgments of high- and low-performing students to increase the relevance of educational programs for young children. A group of children was observed and tested, and the results were compared with teacher judgments from kindergarten through 3rd grade. During the 1st yr of the study, 32 high-performing and 32 low-performing students were identified by 11 kindergarten teachers. The 1st-yr results were validated with a 2nd group of 208 kindergarten children. The initial group of 64 Ss was subsequently evaluated by their 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-grade teachers without knowing the results of the previous year's screening. It was found that the Basic School Skills Inventory-Screen can be used by the teacher to quickly gather behavior samples before he/she has had sufficient exposure to the child to make more informed decisions. Results were predictive of subsequent school performance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Void formation in OFE copper

This paper reports results from the study of dynamic plastic deformation produced in OFE copper specimens by symmetric rod impact (rod-on-rod) tests. The study was performed by post-test sectioning of the specimens and examination of their microstructure using relatively low magnification optical microscopy. Particular emphasis was placed on porosity as a microstructural feature that relates directly to damage theories of constitutive behavior.