Screening for PTSD in a substance abuse sample: psychometric properties of a modified version of the PTSD Symptom Scale Self-Report. Posttraumatic stress disorder

The high rate of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among substance use disorder (SUD) patients has been documented in research protocols, but there is evidence that it is markedly under-diagnosed in clinical settings. To address the need for a brief self-report measure to identify SUD patients who may benefit from further assessment and/or treatment for PTSD, the psychometric properties of a modified version of the PTSD Symptom Scale Self-Report (PSS-SR) were examined in a treatment-seeking SUD sample (N = 118). The modified version of the PSS-SR, which measures both frequency and severity of PTSD symptoms, demonstrated good internal consistency reliability and was correlated with other self-report measures of trauma-related symptomatology. Comparisons between a structured PTSD diagnostic interview and the modified PSS-SR indicated that 89% of the PTSD positive patients were correctly classified by the modified PSS-SR. The clinical relevance of these findings was discussed.     

Closed rupture of the anterior tibial tendon. A case report

Closed subcutaneous rupture of the anterior tibial tendon is a relatively uncommon injury that requires a thorough clinical examination to diagnose correctly. The authors report a case of this disorder and provide a review of the relevant literature. A method of surgical repair not previously described in the literature is also presented.     

Involvement of calcium in interactions between gingival epithelial cells and Porphyromonas gingivalis

Porphyromonas gingivalis, a periodontal pathogen can invade primary cultures of gingival epithelial cells. This invasion was significantly inhibited (74-81%) by thapsigargin and 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N1,N1-tetraacetic acid, acetoxymethyl ester (BAPTA/AM), but not by EDTA or amiloride. Release of Ca2+ from an intracellular store and the subsequent increase in cytosolic [Ca2+] may, therefore, be involved in the invasion process, while Ca2+ influx is not. Moreover, cytosolic [Ca2+] was found to increase transiently in about 30% of gingival epithelial cells acutely exposed to P. gingivalis, but not in unexposed cells, or in cells exposed to noninvasive Escherichia coli. These findings indicate that P. gingivalis invasion of epithelial cells is correlated with activation of [Ca2+]-dependent host cell signaling systems.     

Effect of sweetener types on chemical and sensory quality of frozen kiwifruit concentrates

Fresh, mature kiwifruits, not suitable for the fresh market, were used to prepare frozen kiwifruit concentrate. Sucrose, 62 DE corn syrup and high-fructose Cornsweet₅₅ were used either alone or in various combinations on the same dry basis to prepare six sweetener types.The acidity, soluble solids, and ascorbic acid content of the fresh kiwifruit pulp and concentrates are presented. The high performance liquid chromatography method (HPLC) was used to quantitatively analyse the oligosaccharides present in the concentrates. Colour measurements made with a Hunter colour difference meter indicated that the kiwifruit concentrates differed in colour attributes, depending on the holding temperature. Objective measurements with a Brookfield viscometer indicated that the consistency of the concentrates varied with the sweetener types. The concentrate made with 62 DE corn syrup and sucrose (1:2) was thickest in consistency.Kiwifruit nectars prepared from frozen concentrates sweetened with either sucrose alone or Cornsweet₅₅ alone were preferred by the taste panel to the others.     

Hibernoma in the parotid region

Hibernoma is a benign tumour, arising from vestigial remnants of brown adipose cells, which have persisted from embryonic life. Although it is a well recognized entity, it is an extremely rare tumour. Recent reports estimate 81 cases in the world literature, only seven being in the neck. To our knowledge, it has never been reported in the parotid region. We report such a case and discuss the historical background of a hibernoma, along with its pathological and clinical behaviour.     

The yeast SIS1 protein, a DnaJ homolog, is required for the initiation of translation

The S. cerevisiae SIS1 gene is essential and encodes a heat shock protein with similarity to the bacterial DnaJ protein. At the nonpermissive temperature, temperature-sensitive sis1 strains rapidly accumulate 80S ribosomes and have decreased amounts of polysomes. Certain alterations in 60S ribosomal subunits can suppress the temperature-sensitive phenotype of sis1 strains and prevent the accumulation of 80S ribosomes and the loss of polysomes normally seen under conditions of reduced SIS1 function. Analysis of sucrose gradients for SIS1 protein shows that a large fraction of SIS1 is associated with 40S ribosomal subunits and the smaller polysomes. These and other results indicate that SIS1 is required for the normal initiation of translation. Because DnaJ has been shown to mediate the dissociation of several protein complexes, the requirement of SIS1 in the initiation of translation might be for mediating the dissociation of a specific protein complex of the translation machinery.     

Predictors of long-term smoking cessation in head and neck cancer patients

Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for head and neck cancer, and individuals who continue to smoke past diagnosis and treatment are at elevated risk for further disease. In a randomized controlled trial, a state of the art provider-delivered smoking cessation intervention was compared to a usual care advice control condition. The intervention consisted of surgeon- or dentist-delivered advice to stop smoking, a contracted quit date, tailored written materials, and booster advice sessions. Subjects were 186 patients with newly diagnosed first primary squamous cell carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract who had smoked cigarettes within the past year. At randomization, 88.2% of subjects were current smokers. At 12-month follow-up, 70.2% of subjects completing the trial (n = 114) were continuous abstainers; among baseline smokers alone the continuous abstinence (CA) rate was 64.6%. The cotinine validation rate at 12 months was 89.6%. Modeling techniques were utilized in order to derive expected CA rates, which included noncompleter subjects (n = 72). The CA rate expected at 1 year for the entire patient population was 64.2%, and for smokers alone the expected CA rate was 59.4%. Logistic regression analysis carried out on baseline smokers identified predictors of 12-month CA status. These included medical treatment, stage of change, age, nicotine dependence, and race. The intervention effect was not significant, although the sign of the effect was positive. Based on these findings, we recommend systematic brief advice to stop smoking for head and neck cancer patients, with a stepped care approach for patients less able to quit.     

The effect of hole diameter on the torsional mechanical properties of the equine third metacarpal bone

The torsional monotonic structural material properties of equine metacarpi with or without, either a 5/16 inch or 3/8 inch diameter bicortical lateromedial middiaphyseal hole were assessed to determine the effect of a hole on metacarpal strength. Torsional stiffness was not significantly effected by the presence of a bicortical hole, whereas yield and failure angles, torques and energies of metacarpi with a hole were 51% to 97% of those of intact bones. Significant differences were not apparent for yield and failure mechanical properties between metacarpi with a 5/16 inch diameter hole and metacarpi with a 3/8 inch diameter hole; however, postyield mechanical properties were lower for metacarpi with a 3/8 inch hole. Whereas some metacarpi with a 5/16 inch hole were capable of plastic deformation before failure, metacarpi with a 3/8 inch diameter hole appeared to have sufficient stress concentration to propagate complete fracture on structural yield.