Involvement of the spinoparabrachial pathway in inflammatory nociceptive processes: a c-Fos protein study in the awake rat

The effect of graded inflammatory stimuli (intraplantar-carrageenan, 0.2, 1, and 6 mg/150 microl) on paw edema and c-Fos protein expression at two levels of the spinoparabrachial pathway, the spinal cord and parabrachial area (PB), were studied. The present study, in awake rats, is an extension of previous study (Bester et al. [1997] J. Comp. Neurol. 383:439-458) which evaluated, in anesthetized rats, the effect of graded cutaneous heat stimulation on c-Fos-expression at the same levels. At the spinal level, the c-Fos-protein-like-immunoreactive (c-Fos-LI) neurons were located primarily in superficial laminae ipsilateral to intraplantar carrageenan. The number of c-Fos-LI neurons increased dose dependently (r = 0.973, n = 24) for carrageenan, from a number close to zero for the saline injection. At the PB level, c-Fos was predominantly expressed contralateral to intraplantar carrageenan. c-Fos-LI neurons were located primarily around the pontomesencephalic junction in (i) a restricted pontine area, centered in the lateral crescent, and including an adjacent part of the outer portion of the external lateral subnucleus, and (ii) the mesencephalic superior lateral subnuclei. The number of c-Fos-LI neurons in the PB area was correlated with that in the superficial laminae (r = 0.935, n = 24) and with the paw edema (r = 0.931, n = 24). No significant changes in c-Fos expression were observed in the nucleus of the solitary tract and ventrolateral medulla. The close correlation between c-Fos expression at both the spinal and PB levels and inflammatory edema provides further evidence for the involvement of spinoparabrachial pathway in inflammatory nociceptive processes. The present results are congruent with the existence of electrophysiologically demonstrated spinoparabrachio-amygdaloid and -hypothalamic nociceptive pathways.     

Comparison of the kinetics of pancreatic secretion and gut regulatory peptides in the plasma of preruminant calves fed milk or soybean protein

Exocrine secretion from the pancreas and concentrations of cholecystokinin, gastrin, secretin, and somatostatin in plasma were measured in relation to feeding in 70- to 120-d-old preruminant calves fed either a milk diet or a soybean diet. Pancreatic fluid was continuously collected, measured, and reintroduced in catheterized calves. Blood samples were withdrawn for measurements of gut regulatory peptide concentrations in plasma. A slight increase in outflow of pancreatic fluid was observed 30 min before the milk diet was introduced but not before the soybean diet was fed. In contrast, concentrations and outflows of protein and trypsin immediately after feeding were higher when calves were fed the soybean diet. Overall, during the first 5 h postfeeding, the outflow of pancreatic fluid was 40% higher when the milk diet was fed than when the soybean diet was fed. No difference in outflow of protein was observed, but that of trypsin was 82% higher when the soybean diet was fed. This enhanced enzyme secretion could have been related to the increased plasma concentrations of gastrin and cholecystokinin after the soybean diet was fed. Secretin release was less in calves fed the milk diet that in calves fed the soybean diet during the first 2 h postfeeding, suggesting that this gut peptide along with gastrin and cholecystokinin, contributed to the stimulation of enzyme secretion. Plasma gut regulatory peptides could be influenced by the soybean diet, which does not coagulate in the stomach, inducing faster gastric emptying of protein and fat, and by the chemical form of protein from the soybean diet and the lower susceptibility of these proteins to protease compared with casein. However, the resulting enhancement of pancreatic trypsin secretion and activity seemed to be insufficient to increase the digestibility of soybean protein up to a level similar to that of milk.     

The “rubber-mask” technique-II. Pattern storage and recognition

This paper briefly summarizes much of the work in pattern recognition to date, and relates the rubber mask technique to previous work. A scheme for incorporating flexible-mask methods into a proposed pattern recognition and memory system is presented. A discussion based on some facts and on some conjecture of the human eye/brain system and how it recognizes patterns, possibly by flexible matching, is also presented.     

Self-modification in a college course: Outcomes and correlates.

49 students in an undergraduate educational psychology course designed and conducted behavioral self-modification projects. They were prepared to undertake the projects through preliminary instruction and a system of computer-delivered mastery tests on operant psychology. Project outcomes were measured by goal-attainment scaling, a technique that permits individuality of self-change goals and produces standardized outcome scores for the group of participants. Correlation and regression analyses indicated weak but significant relationships between self-modification outcomes and a linear combination of dogmatism (Rokeach Dogmatism Scale), sex, and mathematical aptitude (Scholastic Aptitude Test) variables. The effects of demand characteristics in the instructional setting were negligible. (l7 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Attitudes of academic clinical psychologists toward projective techniques: 1968–1983.

Replicated a survey by the 3rd author et al (see record 1968-18843-001) concerning the attitudes of academic clinical faculty toward projective techniques. The questionnaire was completed by 153 faculty in American Psychological Association (APA)-approved programs in clinical psychology. As was found in the 1968 survey, many Ss supported instruction in projectives, but they held generally negative attitudes toward projectives. More of the 1983 Ss than the 1968 Ss expressed negative attitudes toward specific projectives such as the Rorschach. Negative attitudes toward projectives were particularly prominent among the younger Ss in the 1983 survey. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)