Psychosocial precursors and correlates of migraine headache.

Tested the interactions of migraine headache cycles and sufferers' daily experiences of stressful events, emotional arousal, and physical activity. Hypotheses were that patterns of these variables would be associated with the episodic onset of migraine headache and that frequency of attacks could be predicted by combinations of personality and behavioral variables. 33 23–63 yr old migraine sufferers were interviewed; administered the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI); and given a 4-wk diary for recording daily headache activity, physical activity, stressful events, and emotional states. Repeated-measures analyses found significant elevations of stressful events over the 4 days leading up to and including a migraine day. Physical activity declined over the same period. Emotional arousal tended to significance. Regression analyses identified sets of personality and behavioral predictors accounting for substantial variance in the reported numbers of migraine and headache-free days. Results support a model of migraine characterized by parallel physiological and psychosocial instability during a 4-day cycle and by an interaction of personality and behavioral (self-reported stress) functions. (31 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Serotonergic ergoline derivatives

Novel classes of 13- and 14-tertbutyl-ergoline derivatives were prepared, and characterised in vitro for their affinity for adrenergic, dopaminergic and serotonergic binding sites. This study particularly examines the importance of the presence and the position of the tert-butyl group in conferring either significant 5-HT1A or 5-HT2 affinity and selectivity respectively.     

The application of model based reasoning within a decision supportsystem for protection engineers

This paper discusses model-based reasoning applied to power network protection system performance analysis. Appropriate modelling and reasoning methodologies are indicated, and their advantages considered. The necessity of incorporating protection system performance analysis within a decision support system (DSS), designed for electric utility protection engineers, is presented. Alarm processing and fault diagnosis are demonstrated as further requirements of the DSS for protection engineers, within which knowledge-based reasoning and model-based reasoning are combined to provide the overall functionality required     

Diagnosis of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy by stereotactic brain biopsy utilizing immunohistochemistry and the polymerase chain reaction

This report describes the diagnosis of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in nine patients using cytopathologic and histopathologic examination of computed tomographically guided stereotactic brain biopsies in combination with immunostaining for SV-40-related antigen and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the JC virus. In four patients the diagnosis of PML was based on the microscopic appearance of the biopsies and immunostaining for SV-40-related antigen. In one of these patients the diagnosis was also supported by PCR for the JC virus. In two patients whose biopsies were only suggestive of PML, a definitive diagnosis was possible utilizing immunohistochemistry and PCR. In another case the histopathologic features were atypical of PML, and the diagnosis was established with immunostaining and PCR. The diagnosis of PML was established by PCR alone in two patients whose biopsies showed only suggestive or nonspecific findings. We conclude that the accuracy of stereotactic biopsy in the diagnosis of PML is enhanced by using a combination of light microscopy, immunohistochemistry and PCR.     

Effectiveness of anthracycline against experimental prion disease in Syrian hamsters

Prion diseases are transmissible neurodegenerative conditions characterized by the accumulation of protease-resistant forms of the prion protein (PrP), termed PrPres, in the brain. Insoluble PrPres tends to aggregate into amyloid fibrils. The anthracycline 4'-iodo-4'-deoxy-doxorubicin (IDX) binds to amyloid fibrils and induces amyloid resorption in patients with systemic amyloidosis. To test IDX in an experimental model of prion disease, Syrian hamsters were inoculated intracerebrally either with scrapie-infected brain homogenate or with infected homogenate coincubated with IDX. In IDX-treated hamsters, clinical signs of disease were delayed and survival time was prolonged. Neuropathological examination showed a parallel delay in the appearance of brain changes and in the accumulation of PrPres and PrP amyloid.     

Laparotomy and proximal gastric vagotomy in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome: results of a 16-year prospective study

OBJECTIVE: Pharmacological control of gastric acid hypersecretion in the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome has steadily improved, but medical treatment does not address the underlying tumor. The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of a surgical approach to both tumor and acid hypersecretion in 22 patients with the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. METHODS: Patients underwent laparotomy to resect tumors, combined with vagotomy to reduce acid secretion, followed by postoperative antisecretory therapy, if necessary. RESULTS: No surgical mortality or serious morbidity occurred. Tumor was found at laparotomy in nine patients (41%) and during long-term follow-up in an additional two patients (9%). Ten-year survival is 81%, with a long-term cure rate of at least 14%. Most patients (86%) have had long-term inhibition of acid secretion. Eight patients have discontinued regular use of acid-inhibiting medications. Patients requiring medication need less of it, and they have an improved acid inhibitory response to medication for up to 16 yr after surgery. CONCLUSION: Cure of the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is possible in a minority of patients. Acid secretion can be safely reduced in almost all patients with laparotomy/vagotomy, usually allowing discontinuation, or reduced dose, of acid-inhibiting drugs. Long-term survival and quality of life are generally excellent.     

The psychology of the withdrawal process: a cross-validational test of Mobley's intermediate linkages model of turnover in two samples.

A study investigating the validity of Mobley's (1977) model of the intermediate linkages in the turnover decision process among employees working in two diverse settings yielded a pattern of results generally consistent with the model. However, except for commitment to the organization, regression analyses failed to double cross-validate either within or between samples.     

Biomarkers of neurological status in HIV infection: a 3-year study

Purpose : To evaluate circulating cytokines and chemokines as correlates of the degree of brain injury in individuals with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Experimental design : Study participants included ten well‐characterized subjects in advanced stage HIV infection. High‐throughput multiplexed analysis was used to quantify markers of interest at baseline and 3 years later in the clinical course. Objective measurements of the brain were derived in vivo with quantitative magnetic resonance segmentation algorithms and with diffusion tensor imaging. Results : Of the markers examined, monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1 or CCL‐2) was the most prominent correlate of brain injury. Elevated MCP‐1 levels correlated with brain white matter alterations at the initial assessment. The relationship to injury was more extensive 3 years later; elevated MCP‐1 was significantly correlated with measures of brain microstructural alterations and of abject atrophy. Conclusions and clinical relevance : The findings build on our prior observations that elevated MCP‐1 levels may be a useful predictive marker for HIV‐associated neurocognitive disorder. As a potent chemoattractant, MCP‐1 may mediate injury through participation in self‐reinforcing cycles of chronic immune activation and cytokine/chemokine‐mediated neurotoxicity.     

Impact of salient vocal qualities on causal attribution for a speaker's behavior.

Two determinants of auditory salience were manipulated—the intensity and sex of a speaker's voice. 98 college students served as listeners. As predicted, Ss attended more to a 75-db than to a 70-db voice on a binaural listening test, and Ss attributed more causality to an actor in a 2-person conversation when his voice was 75 db in intensity than when it was 70 db. Contrary to expectation, Ss listened more to the actor with the male voice. Consistent with this tendency for the male voice to be more salient, Ss attributed more causality to an actor when the voice was male than when it had been electronically converted to a female voice of the same intensity and intonation. Vocal salience also influenced Ss' impressions of the actors, but it had no impact on recall of the actors' verbalizations. (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The impact of monetary costs on commuting flows*

In Western Norway, fjords cause disconnections in the road network, necessitating the use of ferries. In several cases, ferries have been replaced by roads, often part‐financed by tolls. We use data on commuting from a region with a high number of ferries, tunnels and bridges. Using a doubly‐constrained gravity‐based model specification, we focus on how commuting responds to varying tolls and ferry prices. Focus is placed on the role played by tolls on infrastructure in inhibiting spatial interaction. We show there is considerable latent demand, and suggest that these tolls contradict the aim of greater territorial cohesion.