Microalbuminuria in obesity

Albumin excretion rate, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and kidney volume in obese patients and normal-weight controls were compared with body mass index (weight (kg)/height2 (m)) in 17 subjects. Body mass index varied from 21.5 to 48.0, the albumin excretion rate from 2.8 to 17.8 micrograms/min, and the kidney volume from 238 to 468 ml. Body mass index correlated significantly with albumin excretion rate and with kidney volume (p < 0.01), but not with the GFR. Neither the body mass index nor the albumin excretion rate showed any correlation with blood pressure. Albumin excretion rate in obese subjects could be as good an early predictor of complications as it is in patients with diabetes mellitus, and in the elderly.     

Determination of extent of formaldehyde-induced crosslinking in hard gelatin capsules by near-infrared spectrophotometry

PURPOSE: To predict the degree of crosslinking from formaldehyde-stressed hard gelatin capsules (HGCs) using near-infrared spectrophotometry (NIR). METHODS: HGCs were exposed to a 150 ppb atmosphere of formaldehyde for 2.25, 4.60, 9.42, 16.0 and 24.0 hours. The capsules were filled with fresh amoxicillin, placed in a 90 degrees conical reflector cone, and scanned in a NIR spectrophotometer. Principal component regression (PCR) was employed to analyze the spectra of the intact capsules. Dissolution profiles were then obtained for each experimental group. RESULTS: The dissolution of amoxicillin from the capsules at pH 1.2 was found to decrease with increasing time of exposure to the formaldehyde atmosphere. A set of principal components (PCs) was formed by a linear combination of the absorbance values at each wavelength scanned. A good correlation was established (r2 = 0.963) when PC values from the NIR spectra of the HGCs were regressed against percentage of amoxicillin dissolved at 45 minutes, at pH 1.2. Water content of the capsules was found to be the largest determinant in the variation between HGC spectra at each exposure time. CONCLUSIONS: NIR spectrophotometry, combined with PCR, was successful at not only predicting dissolution of HGCs exposed to formaldehyde, but also at determining which wavelengths contributed most to spectral variation of these stressed HGCs.     

Visually perceived eye level: Changes induced by a pitched-from-vertical 2-line visual field.

The physical elevation corresponding to visually perceived eye level (VPEL) changes linearly with the pitch of a visual field. Deviations from true eye level average more than 0.5 times the angle of pitch over a 65° pitch range. A visual field consisting of 2 dim, isolated vertical lines in darkness is more than 4/5 as effective as that of a complexly structured visual field; 2 horizontal lines have a small and inconsistent effect. Differences in influence on VPEL between pitched-from-vertical and horizontal lines were predicted from an analysis that extracted differences in retinal perspective resulting from changes in pitch. The Great Circle Model (GCM), based on a spherical approximation to the erect, stationary eye, predicts the present results and results of 8 other sets of experiments. The model treats the influence of a single line on VPEL as systematically related to the elevation of the intersection between the great circle containing the image of the line and the central vertical retinal meridian; generalized GCM combines visual inputs with inputs from the body-referenced mechanism and maps onto the central nervous system. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Being a stroke patient: a review of the literature

The purpose of this paper is to review the research literature on the patient's experience of stroke. Four qualitative studies on how patients experience stroke were identified. The findings of these studies show that the stroke patient often has clear goals for himself in relation to functional abilities, against which he measures all success and forward progress in his rehabilitation. Even though the stroke patient accepts a lower level of functional ability, he is not willing to accept the rehabilitation professionals' prediction of his ultimate functional level if it is lower than his own goal. Furthermore, stroke patients see recovery as a return to the existence they had lived before the stroke, which is different from the health care providers' view. To the health care provider, recovery is measured in terms of isolated and discrete return of movement, whereas in the eyes of the patients, recovery is a return to previously valued activities. Further, studies on psychosocial function after stroke were reviewed. Recent studies show that the psychological impact of the stroke experience is immense and that stroke patients experience stress on a variety of levels. Also, depression exists in a large portion of the stroke population. The impact of stroke also influences the patient's social existence, as studies have shown that stroke patients do manifest diminished social function. However, the reviewed studies are not without limitations. Further studies, with a qualitative design, are needed to throw light on the patient's experience of being ill with stroke, and the process of his recovery.     

A new silver sulfadiazine water soluble gel

Silver sulfadiazine is the most commonly used topical antibacterial agent for the treatment of burn wounds. It has many clinical advantages, including a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity, low toxicity, and minimal pain on application. The current formulation of silver sulfadiazine contains a lipid soluble carrier, polypropylene glycol, that has certain disadvantages, including pseudo-eschar formation and the need for twice daily application. The purpose of this investigation was to describe a new formulation of silver sulfadiazine in a water soluble gel, poloxamer 188. The antibacterial activity of this new gel has been compared to that of the commercially available silver sulfadiazine cream by in vitro and in vivo testing. The results of the in vitro antibacterial testing of these two different agents demonstrated the superiority of the new gel formulation. In experimental wounds, the antibacterial activity of the gel and the commercially available silver sulfadiazine cream were not significantly different when applied once a day. The antibacterial activity of the gel when applied once a day was comparable to that encountered by twice daily applications of the silver sulfadiazine cream by experimental wounds. The major advantage of this gel was its ease of application and removal that is attributed to its water solubility.     

Behavioral treatment of childhood obesity.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 103(3) of Psychological Bulletin (see record 2008-10688-001). Tables 1 and 2 contain several errors. The correct data is provided in the erratum. These errors do not influence any of the main points or conclusions in this article.] Obesity is a common problem in children and is associated with an increased risk of adult obesity. Twenty-four studies on the behavioral treatment of childhood obesity are reviewed. Studies involving comparisons of behavioral treatment with no treatment or placebos have shown the superiority of behavioral treatment. In addition, the effects of a number of treatment factors on outcome are suggested. These factors include parental involvement, the arrangement of treatment contingencies, and exercise. Several directions for future research are presented, including selecting which children to treat, individualizing treatment, prevention, community programs, and the side effects of weight control. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Resolution of a left ureteral stone using electrohydraulic lithotripsy in a thoroughbred colt

A 3-year-old Thoroughbred colt was presented for evaluation of azotemia and anorexia. Physical examination revealed a ureterolith in the left ureter, approximately 10 cm from the bladder, which was thought to obstruct urine flow by approximately 90% when viewed cystoscopically. Ultrasonographic examination of both kidneys revealed indistinct corticomedullary junctions, and the right kidney was more hyperechoic. A percutaneous biopsy of the right kidney revealed chronic interstitial nephritis with marked interstitial medullary fibrosis. Medical therapy consisting of IV fluids, sodium chloride PO, and ammonium chloride PO was initiated. Ureteroscopic electrohydraulic lithotripsy via a perineal urethrostomy was used to successfully remove the stone. Klebsiella oxytoca, which responded to oral enrofloxacin therapy, was cultured from the urine after surgery. Azotemia resolved and the horse resumed training.     

The effect of family variables on child weight change.

Analyzed the effects of family variables (e.g., family size, family weight composition, parental weight) on child weight loss in a series of family-based, behaviorally oriented weight control programs for children from 102 families. Results show that the amount of relative weight change was related to initial treatment success, the number of children in the family, and the gender of the child. Children who were more successful lost more weight initially, had fewer siblings, and were female. It is suggested that family size may interact with treatment to determine weight change, possibly by reducing the amount of time a parent has to spend promoting behavior change or the effectiveness of parents in managing their children. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Population dynamics of the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) and Sin Nombre virus, California Channel Islands

Alteration of the wild-type (wt) p53 gene by mutation, deletion or re-arrangement is a major factor in the development of human colon cancer. Recent studies have demonstrated that p53 might be an essential component of the apoptotic pathway triggered by DNA-damaging stimuli such as chemotherapeutic agents and ionizing radiation. We examined the anti-tumor effects of adenovirus-mediated wt-p53 gene transfer in combination with a chemotherapeutic drug on the human colon cancer cell line WiDr, which is homozygous for a mutation in the p53 gene. Treatment with the chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin following infection with a replication-deficient, recombinant adenoviral vector expressing wt-p53 (termed AdCMVp53) significantly suppressed the growth of WiDr cells compared to single treatments alone. To evaluate the in vivo efficacy of AdCMVp53 and cisplatin given sequentially, WiDr cells were inoculated s.c. in nu/nu mice. After 3 days, AdCMVp53 was injected s.c. into the area where tumor cells were implanted, followed by i.p. administration of cisplatin. Analysis of initial growth inhibition at 21 days demonstrated a profound therapeutic cooperativity, though administration of either AdCMVp53 or cisplatin alone was followed only by a slowing of growth. Our results suggest that gene therapy using wt-p53-expressing adenovirus in combination with a chemotherapeutic DNA-damaging drug could be a useful strategy for treating human colon cancer.     

On False Premises and the Hypnotic Enhancement Effect: Reply to Schnall (2004).

Replies to the comments by E. Schnall (see record 2004-13299-016) on the current author's original article (see record 2003-05896-014), which examined whether adding hypnosis enhances cognitive-behavioral pain treatments. Here, the author addresses Schnall's critique point-by-point, and concludes that--Schnall aside--a a voluminous body of research has clearly established that both hypnosis and cognitive-behavioral treatments are useful for reducing pain, and all evidence from a small but growing literature currently suggests that there is no benefit in adding one procedure to the other. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)