Hypertension and pregnancy-related hypertension

Transient cerebral ischemia (5 min) releases unesterified fatty acids from membrane phospholipids, increasing brain concentrations of fatty acids for up to 1 h following reperfusion. To understand the reported anti-ischemic effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761), we monitored its effect on brain fatty acid reincorporation in a gerbil-stroke model. Both common carotid arteries in awake gerbils were occluded for 5 min, followed by 5 min of reperfusion. Animals were infused intravenously with labeled arachidonic (AA) or palmitic acid (Pam), and rates of incorporation of unlabeled fatty acid from the brian acyl-CoA pool were calculated by the model of Robinson et al. (1992), using quantitative autoradiography and biochemical analysis of brain acyl-CoA. Animals were treated for 14 d with 50 or 150 mg/kg/d EGb 761 or vehicle. Ischemia-reperfusion had no effect on the rate of unlabeled Pam incorporation into brain phospholipids from palmitoyl-CoA; this rate also was unaffected by EGb 761. In contrast, ischemia-reperfusion increased the rate of incorporation of unlabeled AA from brain arachidonoyl-CoA by a factor of 2.3-3.3 compared with the control rate; this factor was further augmented to 3.6-5.0 by pretreatment with EGb 761. There is selective reincorporation of AA compared with Pam into brain phospholipids following ischemia. EGb 761 further accelerates AA reincorporation, potentially reducing neurotoxic effects of prolonged exposure of brain to high concentrations of AA and its metabolites.     

Biases resulting from the use of indexes: An application to attributional style and depression.

The use of arbitrary indexes, including the commonly used equal-weight index, leads to biases in many studies. The appropriate index depends on the research question (dependent variable) and the population, so no single index is correct for all studies. If an incorrect index is used, tests of the relation between the construct measured by the index and a dependent variable are biased. We present three tests for bias and show how an unbiased index can be calculated by using a multiple regression. Using data from a study of attributional style and depression in psychiatric inpatients, we found that the widely used equal-weight indexes of attributional style produce large (up to 112%) biases in the estimated coefficients. Similarly, the use of equal-weight indexes biases the hypothesis tests. Finally, contrary to Wainer's (1976) contention that the inappropriate use of equal-weight indexes does not greatly reduce the explanatory power of the estimating equation, we found that the use of an index lowers the R–2 33%. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Membership opinions about APA: A recent snapshot.

A 1986 survey of 2,100 American Psychological Association (APA) members, to which 78% responded, showed that members belonged to APA for varied reasons and that scientists, scientist-practitioners, and practitioners shared few common rationales for maintaining their membership. Most members belonged to other organizations in addition to APA, and less than 50% of those chose APA as their most important organizational membership. Whereas the APA Monitor and APA journals received a strong endorsement from respondents, the publication of Psychology Today was clearly controversial. The cost and size of the convention also were sources of dissatisfaction. Recommended changes in convention format included scheduling more keynote addresses and establishing area-specific conventions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The manpower issue revisited.

Responds to general comments on the special manpower issue of the American Psychologist (May, 1972), which included articles by J. Cates and T. Cummings and R. B. Freeman, W. W. Sorensen, J. C. Speisman, and R. W. Wildman et al (see PA, Vol 49:889, 914, 915, and 2556, respectively). Some readers expressed lament over the failure of the issue to address the problems of nonacademic psychologists, while others provided constructive employment suggestions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Academia and the training of human service delivery program evaluators.

Many think the demand for high-quality evaluation personnel has reached the point where universities should consider the development of program evaluation curricula. Although much of this article focuses on the training of evaluators for the mental health service delivery system, the suggestions made are applicable to the training of evaluation specialists who will function in a variety of public and private human service settings. Among the several issues considered are the body of knowledge to be taught in program evaluation curricula, the specific concepts and skills needed by the evaluator to function effectively, and whether training should be structured as an interdepartmental or intradepartmental specialty. (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A Compartment Description for Cortisol Secretion, Distribution, Binding, and Metabolism in Man

This new multi-compartment model for secretion, distribution, binding, and metabolism of cortisol is capable of simulating the rapid fluctuations in plasma cortisol concentration observed in normal people during the early morning hours. In addition to the well- established principles of cortisol secretion, binding to plasma proteins, distribution, and metabolic clearance, the proposed model defines the presence of different cortisol binding sites in cells, as well as the complex adrenal response to changing blood levels of the pituitary hormone, ACTH. By incorporating these physiological principles into the model, a more detailed and accurate simulation of cortisol dynamics has been achieved.     

Report of the Treasurer: 1977. Revenues, expenses, and all that jazz.

Presents a report from the American Psychological Association's treasurer for the year 1977. Because APA's activities and materials are largely in publications, and since these constitute over half of our annual revenues, the first part of this year's Treasurer's Report is devoted to a selective overview of our publication programs and operations. The financial portion of the report includes (a) a report of the 1976 audited results from operations; (b) a look at APA's financial condition as of December 31, 1976; (c) a prediction for 1977; (d) a review of the 1978 approved budget; and (e) a projection for 1979. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)