Sex of the Speaker, Sex of the Listener, and Listening Comprehension

One hundred thirty-seven male and two hundred twenty-five female undergraduates at the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee heard recordings of 14 short, informative messages. Each message had been recorded by one of seven male or seven female upper level communication students. Following each message subjects responded to six multiple choice items about the content of the message. Analysis of variance showed no significant difference in listening scores for male and female subjects. A significant interaction between sex of listener and sex of speaker was found, but this interaction accounted for so little of the total variance that it was deemed of little practical importance. It was concluded that neither the sex of the listener nor the interaction of sex of listeners and sex of speakers were of much consequence in determining the listening scores of the subjects of this experiment.     

Caring for the hypochondriac

The patient's manner and the content of his complaints offer early diagnostic leads. The hypochondriac clings to his symptoms. Rather than relief, his goal is forming a relationship with the doctor that provides care and understanding. The physician's goal must be the provision of this care in such manner as to reassure, treat sparingly and convert this potentially fatal illness to a chronic disorder with which the patient can function to the limits of his capabilities.     

Azithromycin and genital infections

The lower genital tract infections due to Chlamydia trachomatis are frequent, essentially occurring in young patients, with possible complications and severe sequela, particularly in women where the sterility risk is one of the major consequences. If an effective treatment could be systematically proposed, a good compliance (easy administration and good toleration) is one of the key factor to success. In this context, the azithromycin displays numerous advantages. The azithromycin in vitro activity on Chl. trachomatis strains is permanent with MIC comprised between 0.06 and 0.125 micrograms/ml, with an activity equivalent to those of other macrolides, to tetracyclines and quinolones. Different animal models allow to demonstrate the curative activity of the azithromycin administered as a single dose, at dosage regimen equivalent to those used in man, and a prophylactic activity on the salpingitis onset in provoked Chl. trachomatis infections. Several comparative clinical studies with azithromycin administered as a 1 g single dose displayed very satisfactory results with 98% of bacterial eradication, identical to those obtained with reference treatment. On the other hand, restrictions to the product use are a less constant activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae and a lack of efficacy on Mycoplasma hominis. The efficacy on Treponema pallidum remains to be clinically tested.     

Morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G) potentiates noxious stimulus-evoked Fos protein-like immunoreactivity in the rat spinal cord

The effect of morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G) on noxious stimulus-evoked Fos protein-like immunoreactivity in the rat spinal cord were assessed by ABC method. It was found that a dose-dependent increase of Fos-like immunoreactive neurons could be induced by M3G intrathecal injection followed by formaline injection into hindpaw. With high dosage M3G (1.1 x 10(-7) mole), dense Fos-like labelling was found in the superficial and the deep dorsal horn bilaterally, While with low dosage M3G (5.4 x 10(-8) and 1.1 x 10(-8) mole), most of the positively labelled neurons were only found in laminae I and II of the ipsilateral dorsal horn to the injured paw. The above results revealed that M3G exerts a potentiating effect on the noxious stimulus-evoked Fos protein-like immunoreactivity in the rat spinal cord.     

Characterization of vestibular potentials evoked by linear acceleration pulses in the chinchilla

The objective of this study was to improve vestibular evoked potentials as a qualitative parameter for vestibular function in small laboratory animals. Linear upward acceleration pulses (up to 8 g within 1 ms) were applied to the head of anesthetized chinchillas. Electrophysiologic responses recorded by a chronically implanted electrode within the facial nerve canal consisted of an initial negative potential, labeled N1, within the first millisecond following the onset of acceleration. This potential was followed by a series of positive and negative potentials found to be highly labile to acoustic masking. The initial negative potential was only minimally sensitive to acoustic masking and persisted following surgical cochlear ablation, but completely disappeared following administration of potassium chloride into the inner ear. Recorded from the contralateral ear, N1 was unaffected by these procedures. Amplitudes of N1 decreased with attenuating stimulus intensity (1.45 microV/dB), whereby N1 latencies slightly increased (-0.015 ms/dB). These data, when coupled with the ability to completely abolish N1 with potassium intoxication while the contralateral ear remained intact, indicate that this potential represents electrophysiologic activity resulting from activation of the ipsilateral vestibular labyrinth.     

No detectable alterations in immunogenicity following terminal severe dry-heat treatment of high-purity factor VIII (Liberate) and factor IX (HP9) concentrates

We used monoclonal antibody ELISAs, antigen molecular size distribution, competition ELISA and neonatal mouse immune tolerance methods to detect potential neoantigen formation and increased immunogenicity following severe dry-heat treatment of high-purity factor VIII (Liberate) and factor IX concentrates. To provide positive controls, concentrates were heated in solution (70 degrees C for 2 h) to produce denaturation on purpose. The competition ELISA applied to factor IX proved particularly useful for quantifying differences between the positive control and the dry-heated/unheated concentrates. None of the test systems employed by us indicated any detectable neoantigen formation or any alteration in immunogenicity following terminal severe dry-heat treatment of the high-purity concentrates, and this finding is supported by clinical experience so far.     

Correlation of total-body bone mineral content determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry with bone mineral density determined by peripheral quantitative computed tomography

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the value of peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) in measuring bone mineral density. METHODS: In 50 healthy, eugonodal premenopausal women, we correlated measurements of total bone mineral content (BMCTB), made with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and bone mineral density, determined by pQCT. RESULTS: The partial correlations, adjusted for weight and age, between BMCTB and cortical bone density, total bone density, and trabecular bone density were .71 (p < .0001), .63 (p < .0001), and .32 (p < .05), respectively. CONCLUSION: These results and the advantages of pQCT--providing precise bone density determinations for trabecular and compact bone separately, having a high spatial resolution that allows a "compartmental" analysis of bone structure, having a low coefficient of variation, and having a minimal radiation dose (< 5 mrem)--confirm the adequacy of using this method for bone mass studies.     

Mechanical assistance in cardiogenic shock after cardiac surgery

With [14C]oleate-labeled phosphatidylcholine as a substrate for phospholipase D the hydrolytic activity was measured by phosphatidic acid formation and the transphosphatidylation activity was measured by the phosphatidylethanol formed in the presence of ethanol. The pH optimum was 6.5 with dimethylglutarate as the buffer. EGTA inhibited the transphosphatidylation activity to a greater extent than the hydrolytic activity. In contrast CaCl2, BaCl2, MgCl2 and SrCl2 stimulated the hydrolytic activity without effecting the transphosphatidylation activity. BeCl2 another member of the group IIa transition metals was a very potent inhibitor of both the hydrolytic and transphophatidylation activity. GTP gamma S, an activator of G protein-mediated events, was an inhibitor of both activities.