Comparing the effectiveness of process-experiential with cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy in the treatment of depression.

This study compared process-experiential and cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy in the treatment of major depression in a researcher allegiance-balanced randomized clinical trial. Sixty-six clients participated in weekly sessions of psychotherapy for 16 weeks. Clients' level of depression, self-esteem, general symptom distress, and dysfunctional attitudes significantly improved in both therapy groups. Clients in both groups showed significantly lower levels of reactive and suppressive coping strategies and higher reflective coping at the end of treatment. Although outcomes were generally equivalent for the 2 treatments, there was a significantly greater decrease in clients' self-reports of their interpersonal problems in process-experiential than cognitive-behavioral therapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Adapting instruction to the cognitive demands of learning to program.

This study investigated how instructional practices influence what students learn in Pascal programming classes. The study contrasted 8 introductory and 8 Advanced Placement (AP) level courses because goals of teachers, classroom activities, and assigned tasks differ. Introductory students primarily learn syntax and AP students learn to plan and debug complex problems. These differing cognitive demands would seem to require different instructional practices. In order to establish instructional practices, students reported teaching strategies, course structure, and classroom resources. To demonstrate programming proficiency, students modified and analyzed a computer program. Programming proficiency varied as a function of instructional practices and class level. Introductory students benefited from direct instruction, and AP students performed better with less direct guidance and more opportunities for autonomy. Characteristics of effective programming instruction vary depending on the cognitive demands of courses. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Do small lapses predict relapse to smoking behavior under bupropion treatment?

Although bupropion is known to be an effective aid to smoking cessation, little is known about its mode of action. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that bupropion reduces the likelihood that a smoking lapse, or slip, leads to a subsequent relapse. This hypothesis was tested in the context of a clinical trial of bupropion as a smoking cessation aid, using Cox regression and representing lapse history as a discrete time-varying covariate. Bupropion treatment reduced the probability of relapse during the treatment phase (hazard ratio, or HR=.421, p< or =.000) but not during the follow-up phase (end of treatment to 6 months, HR=.896, p< or=.67). As anticipated, having small lapses during treatment contributed to or predicted subsequent relapse, both during treatment (HR=2.897, p< or =.000) and during follow-up (HR=2.320, p< or=.008). Although an interaction was found between drug treatment and lapse history in predicting subsequent failure during the treatment phase, the finding suggested that drug slightly increased the effect of lapse on eventual failure during treatment (HR=1.706, p相似文献   

On the Use of Laminated Beams for the Determination of Pure and Mixed-Mode Fracture Properties of Structural Adhesives

The use of cracked laminated beam specimens is proposed for determining fracture properties of structural adhesives. Slight variations in specimen geometry and loading are used to produce pure mode I and II conditions as well as an intermediate mode-mix. Bounds are established for proper use of the specimens and mixed-mode fracture criteria are examined.     

The effect of sowing date and growth stage on the essential oil composition of three types of parsley (Petroselinum crispum)

Essential oils obtained by simultaneous distillation–extraction (SDE) from leaves, petioles and roots of three types of parsley (turnip‐rooted, plain leaf and curly leaf type), sown on three different dates, were analysed by GC‐MS (gas chromatography–mass spectrometry) analysis. Parsley plants were found to produce mainly β‐phellandrene, 1,3,8‐p‐menthatriene, α‐,p‐dimethylstyrene, myristicin, β‐myrcene and apiole. In some cases α‐ and β‐pinene were also found, whereas β‐elemene was detected, especially in the curly leaf type. The growth stage, plant tissue and date of sowing, as well as the climate conditions, all had a significant effect on the essential oil composition by altering the ratio of the above substances. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Evaluation of disease status with sensitive measures of growth hormone secretion in 60 postoperative patients with acromegaly

Traditionally, suppression of GH measured by polyclonal RIA to less than 2.0 microg/L after oral glucose was accepted as evidence of remission after transsphenoidal surgery for acromegaly. Recently, with newer, more sensitive GH assays, a cut-off of less than 1.0 microg/L has been suggested. With the development of accurate insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) assays, additional tools are now available for assessing postoperative GH secretion. There has, however, never been a systematic comparison of sensitive GH, IGF-I, and IGFBP-3 assays in defining disease status in a large cohort of postoperative patients with acromegaly. Therefore, we evaluated how the use of modern assays impacts on our assessment of disease activity in these patients. Sixty postoperative subjects with acromegaly and 25 age-matched healthy subjects were evaluated with nadir GH levels after 100 g oral glucose as well as baseline IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels. GH was assayed by polyclonal RIA, sensitive immunoradiometric assay (IRMA), and highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mean nadir GH determined by IRMA was 0.09 +/- 0.004 microg/L in the healthy subjects, with the upper limit of the normal nadir being 0.14 microg/L (mean + 2 SD). Subjects with acromegaly were divided into those with active disease (n = 22), defined by elevated IGF-I levels, and those in remission (n = 38), defined by normal IGF-I levels. GH determined by IRMA failed to suppress into the normal range defined by our healthy subjects in all patients with active disease; nadir GH determined by IRMA ranged from 0.33-5.0 microg/L in this group. In 50% of the active group, nadir GH levels determined by IRMA were less than 1.0 microg/L, a GH nadir previously considered normal by strict criteria. When nadir GH levels in the subjects with active disease were measured by polyclonal RIA, there was overlap with the range of RIA values in the healthy subjects. Thus, the IRMA was superior to the RIA in that the overlap between these two groups was eliminated. Subjects with acromegaly in remission included those with normal GH suppression (n = 23; mean nadir GH by IRMA, 0.10 +/- 0.006 microg/L) and others with abnormal GH suppression by IRMA (n = 15; mean nadir GH by IRMA, 0.35 +/- 0.07 microg/L). The latter group may have persistent GH dysregulation detected by the sensitive IRMA. GH levels measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay confirmed the IRMA results. IGFBP-3 levels were significantly higher in subjects with active acromegaly (4940 +/- 301 microg/L) vs. those in healthy subjects (2887 +/- 153 microg/L; P < 0.0001) and those in the subjects in remission (2966 microg/L; P < 0.0001). IGFBP-3 levels correlated overall with IGF-I levels (r = 0.765; P < 0.0001), but IGFBP-3 levels were not predictive of disease status because 32% of the subjects with active acromegaly had normal IGFBP-3 levels. In addition, failure of GH to suppress adequately was not associated with a higher IGFBP-3 level among the subjects in remission. These data indicate that the IRMA is superior to the RIA in distinguishing between patients with active disease (defined by elevated IGF-I levels) and healthy subjects. We also show that GH levels after oral glucose measured with highly sensitive GH assays can be much lower in subjects with active disease than previously believed; values less than 1.0 microg/L may be found in up to 50% of patients. In addition, in 39% of patients in apparent remission with normal IGF-I levels, GH determined by highly sensitive assays fails to suppress normally; it remains to be determined whether these patients are at higher risk for recurrence of active disease.     

Determination of the Presence and Distribution of Polymers on Wool

The presence and distribution of a wide range of polymers on wool can be determined by preferentially staining the polymer-treated wool with a selected fluorochrome, followed by observation, under u.v. light, using an optical microscope. The technique is a simple, rapid and less expensive alternative to the scanning electron microscope. It enables the spread of polymer along the fibre and the types of fibre—fibre bonds to be readily observed.     

Transmittance Fourier transform infrared spectra of liquid water in the whole mid-infrared region: temperature dependence and structural analysis

Transmittance Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra of liquid water in the 4-80 degrees C temperature range are reported in the whole mid-infrared (MIR) region (4000-360 cm (-1)). The spectra were recorded by using a newly developed, home-made transmittance cell, working in light vacuum conditions (pressures of the order of 3-4 millibar). This permits the elimination of the aqueous vapor bands from the liquid spectra, particularly in the bending region, and the rapid collection of data without fluxing large amounts of nitrogen through the interferometer sample chamber. The temperature evolution of the OH stretching and HOH deformation bands is discussed in terms of Gaussian components analysis and a two-state model describing the equilibrium between different H-bond structures of liquid water. From this picture, structural and thermodynamic information about the hydrogen-bonding network of water is obtained.     

Genetic epidemiology of muscular dystrophies resulting from sarcoglycan gene mutations

BACKGROUND: The autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMDs) are a group of genetically heterogeneous muscle diseases characterised by progressive proximal limb muscle weakness. Six different loci have been mapped and pathogenetic mutations in the genes encoding the sarcoglycan complex components (alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-sarcoglycan) have been documented. LGMD patients affected with primary "sarcoglycanopathies" are classified as LGMD2D, 2E, 2C, and 2F, respectively. METHODS: A geographical area in north east Italy (2,319,147 inhabitants) was selected for a genetic epidemiological study on primary sarcoglycanopathies. Within the period 1982 to 1996, all patients living in this region and diagnosed with muscular dystrophy were seen at our centre. Immunohistochemical and immunoblot screening for alpha-sarcoglycan protein deficiency was performed on all muscle biopsies from patients with a progressive muscular dystrophy of unknown aetiology and normal dystrophin. Sarcoglycan mutation analyses were conducted on all patient muscle biopsies shown to have complete or partial absence of alpha-sarcoglycan immunostaining or a decreased quantity of alpha-sarcoglycan protein on immunoblotting. RESULTS: Two hundred and four patient muscle biopsies were screened for alpha-sarcoglycan protein deficiency and 18 biopsies showed a deficiency. Pathogenetic mutations involving one gene for sarcoglycan complex components were identified in 13 patients: alpha-sarcoglycan in seven, beta-sarcoglycan in two, gamma-sarcoglycan in four, and none in the delta-sarcoglycan gene. The overall prevalence of primary sarcoglycanopathies, as of 31 December 1996, was estimated to be 5.6 x 10(-6) inhabitants. CONCLUSION: The prevalence rate estimated in this study is the first to be obtained after biochemical and molecular genetic screening for sarcoglycan defects.     

Mouse pregnancy-specific glycoproteins: tissue-specific expression and evidence of association with maternal vasculature

The pregnancy-specific glycoproteins (Psg) are secreted hormones encoded by multiple genes in rodents and primates, and are thought to act as immune modulators. The only Psg receptor identified is CD9, through which Psg17 induces cytokine production from macrophages cultured in vitro. We examined temporal and spatial aspects of Psg and CD9 expression during mouse pregnancy to determine whether their expression patterns support a role in immune modulation. Using in situ hybridisation, immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR we found Psg expression in trophoblast giant cells and in the spongiotrophoblast. Psg22 is the predominant Psg family member expressed in giant cells. Detectable Psg is associated predominantly with endothelial cells lining vascular channels in the decidua, rather than with maternal immune cell markers. CD9 expression exhibited partial overlap with Psg, but without exclusive co-localisation. CD9 was observed in decidual cells surrounding early implantation sites, and in the endometrium. However, embryo transfer of wild-type embryos to CD9-deficient females indicates that maternal CD9 is not essential for successful pregnancy.