Primary traits of Eysenck's P-E-N system: three- and five-factor solutions

The Eysenck Personality Profiler (EPP), a set of 21 scales measuring primary traits hypothesized to be definers of Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Psychoticism factors, was administered to 229 adults together with the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire--Revised (H. J. Eysenck & S. B. G. Eysenck, 1991) and the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R; P. T. Costa & R. R. McCrae, 1992b). Correlations of EPP scales with NEO-PI-R facet scales provided preliminary evidence supporting the convergent and discriminant validity of the EPP scales. However, varimax and targeted validimax factor analyses suggested that some EPP scales were misclassified and that EPP scales could better be understood in terms of the 5-factor model than the intended 3-factor model.     

Item bias in cognitive screening measures: comparisons of elderly white, Afro-American, Hispanic and high and low education subgroups

A study of item bias in standard cognitive screening measures was conducted in a sample of Afro-American, Hispanic and non-Hispanic white elderly respondents who were part of a dementia case registry study. The methods of item-response theory were applied to identify biased items. Both cross-cultural and high and low education groups were examined to determine which items were biased. Out of 50 cognitive items examined from six widely used cognitive screening measures, 16 were identified as biased for either high and low education groups or ethnic/racial group membership.     

Participation as a complicating mechanism: the effect of clinical professional and middle manager participation on hospital performance

One way hospitals complicate themselves is by increasing the participation of clinical professionals and middle managers in making strategic decisions. Using a survey methodology this article investigates the relationships between the participation of clinical professionals (MDs and RNs) and middle managers with hospital costs, as well as the possible moderating effect of strategic complexity.     

Thrombolytic therapy in Missouri hospital emergency departments: compliance with the National Heart Attack Alert Program guidelines

Adhesive interactions between leukocytes and endothelium are required for subsequent leukocyte extravasation toward inflammatory sites. Understanding the possible kinetic expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in the middle ear cavity during an inflammatory cascade in vivo may be important for clarifying local immunological responses in otitis media. Two inflammatory models were produced in the rat and involved acute middle ear mucosal and cutaneous inflammation induced after inoculation or intradermal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). After intravenous injection of both 125I-labeled anti-VCAM-1 and 131I-labeled control monoclonal antibody (mAb), the kinetic expression of VCAM-1 in the middle ear and skin was assessed by local radionuclide uptake. The biodistribution of an 125I-labeled anti-VCAM-1 mAb as a potential detector of focal inflammation was examined in normal rats. Both inflammatory lesions were characterized by early and sustained (up to 24 h) expression of VCAM-1, with maximal expression at 4 h after LPS stimulation. The kinetics of VCAM-1 expression was similar among the middle ear mucosa or skin specimens studied and different stimulation methods. A similar biodistribution and clearance of radioactivity between 125I-labeled anti-VCAM-1 mAb and 131I- or 99mTc-labeled control mAb were observed. The present result suggest that functional VCAM-1 induced by LPS is expressed in both middle ear tissue and skin lesions and may play a role in the initial stage of inflammatory response produced. Although VCAM-1 upregulation is a very early event in the inflammatory cascade, 125I-labeled anti-VCAM-1 mAb may be useful for the early detection of focal inflammation in the middle ear.     

Saturation intensity and time response of InGaAs-InGaP MQW opticalmodulators

We report modulation saturation and time response measurements on InGaAs-InGaP MQW modulators. The measurements yield a saturation intensity of (3.7±0.1) kW/cm² for a 0-10 V swing and switching times between 10 and 90 ns, depending on the bias voltage and incident light intensity. The observed dependence indicates that field screening due to carrier build-up is the dominant physical mechanism determining both the speed and the saturation intensity. This conclusion is supported by results of theoretical calculations     

Zolpidem is differentiated from triazolam in humans using a three-response drug discrimination procedure

The discriminative stimulus effects of the imidazopyridine hypnotic zolpidem and the classic benzodiazepine hypnotic triazolam were examined in seven healthy volunteers using a three-response drug discrimination procedure and a within-subject design. During an initial sampling phase, the training drug conditions (placebo, 20 mg/70 kg zolpidem, and 0.5 mg/70 kg triazolam) were identified to subjects by letter codes before oral drug administration. During a subsequent training phase, subjects earned money for correct drug identifications made 3.75 h after drug administration. Five out of seven subjects acquired the three-response discrimination. Analyses of standardized and unstructured self-report questionnaires revealed that zolpidem and triazolam produced different profiles of effects; zolpidem was associated with a number of negative somatic symptoms including nausea, blurred vision, visual images/hallucinations, and heavy limbs, whereas triazolam was associated with greater sedative effects. These results demonstrate a distinct profile of discriminative stimulus and subjective effects for zolpidem, relative to triazolam, which is consistent with its somewhat distinct pharmacological profile, and provide evidence for the sensitivity of the three-response drug discrimination procedure for detecting between-drug differences.     

Ethanol, immunomodulation and cancer

Several major physiological changes or disease states occur more frequently in alcohol abusers or prolonged high users. These include: cancer, immunosuppression, and nutritional deficiencies. They interact with potential enhancement of cancer growth or survival. Clearly alcohol abuse yielding cirrhosis is associated with immunosuppression of cellular immune functions. Severe, prolonged ethanol consumption frequently is associated with one or more nutrient deficiency. Such deficiencies are more common when there are other major problems such as liver or pancreas damage and in prolonged alcohol abusers should influence the host defenses against pathogens and tumors. The amount and frequency of nutritional and immunological deficiencies with "binge" or less severe alcohol abuse is less clear, but animal studies suggest they are frequently present. Clearly, nutrient deficiencies are common in alcohol abusers and could play significant roles in ethanol associated problems including immunosuppression. Data summarized suggest that immunosuppression caused by nutritional deficiencies and/or direct effects of ethanol and its' metabolites on lymphoid cells is a potential component of cancer in alcohol abusers. However the frequent occurrence of nutritional deficiencies, immunosuppression, and certain cancers in severe, prolonged ethanol abusers is an association, not proven cause and effect.     

Mutant p53 Mediates Sensitivity to Cancer Treatment Agents in Oesophageal Adenocarcinoma Associated with MicroRNA and SLC7A11 Expression

TP53 gene mutations occur in 70% of oesophageal adenocarcinomas (OACs). Given the central role of p53 in controlling cellular response to therapy we investigated the role of mutant (mut-) p53 and SLC7A11 in a CRISPR-mediated JH-EsoAd1 TP53 knockout model. Response to 2 Gy irradiation, cisplatin, 5-FU, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, and endoxifen was assessed, followed by a TaqMan OpenArray qPCR screening for differences in miRNA expression. Knockout of mut-p53 resulted in increased chemo- and radioresistance (2 Gy survival fraction: 38% vs. 56%, p < 0.0001) and in altered miRNA expression levels. Target mRNA pathways analyses indicated several potential mechanisms of treatment resistance. SLC7A11 knockdown restored radiosensitivity (2 Gy SF: 46% vs. 73%; p = 0.0239), possibly via enhanced sensitivity to oxidative stress. Pathway analysis of the mRNA targets of differentially expressed miRNAs indicated potential involvement in several pathways associated with apoptosis, ribosomes, and p53 signaling pathways. The data suggest that mut-p53 in JH-EsoAd1, despite being classified as non-functional, has some function related to radio- and chemoresistance. The results also highlight the important role of SLC7A11 in cancer metabolism and redox balance and the influence of p53 on these processes. Inhibition of the SLC7A11-glutathione axis may represent a promising approach to overcome resistance associated with mut-p53.