Cognitive-behavioral treatment for severe anger in posttraumatic stress disorder.

With a randomized group design, a 12-session anger treatment was evaluated with severely angry Vietnam War veterans suffering combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Eight participants in anger treatment and 7 in a routine clinical care control condition completed multiple measures of anger control, anger reaction, and anger disposition, as well as measures of anxiety, depression, and PTSD at pre- and posttreatment. Controlling for pretreatment scores, significant effects were found on anger reaction and anger control measures but not on anger disposition or physiological measures. Eighteen-month follow-up (for both completers and dropouts) supported the posttreatment anger control findings. The challenges of treatment research with this refractory population are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate monitoring in combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder

This study examined the cardiovascular correlates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Vietnam combat veterans using 24-hr ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate monitoring. Veterans with PTSD (n = 11) exhibited significantly higher heart rate and diastolic blood pressure across the 24 hr than veterans without PTSD (n = 7) (80.8 vs. 71.9 bpm, and 80.1 vs. 71.5 mm Hg, respectively). Heart rate during sleep was also significantly higher among veterans with PTSD, compared to veterans without PTSD (71.0 vs. 62.7 bpm). These results, based on a more naturalistic measurement methodology used outside the laboratory, support an association between PTSD and increased chronic cardiovascular arousal.     

A Simple Method for the Reinforcement of UV‐Cured Coatings via Sol‐Gel Photopolymerization

A difunctional methacrylate oligomer was mixed with a variable amount of a MAPTMS precursor in the presence of both a radical and a cationic photoinitiator. The simultaneous photolysis of both photosensitive molecules upon UV irradiation allowed the single‐step generation of a type‐II polymethacrylate/polysiloxane nanocomposite film. Methacrylate and methoxysilyl conversions during irradiation were efficiently monitored by FTIR spectroscopy. The inorganic structure of the resulting silica‐based hybrid films was characterized using ²⁹Si solid‐state NMR. Finally, the reinforcement ability of the resulting hybrid films was also assessed by using a unique range of characterization techniques: DMA, scratch test, and nanoindentation.

     

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing treatment for combat PTSD.

Four Vietnam veterans (aged 42–55 yrs) diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were treated with 12 sessions of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, targeting their combat memories. An extensive multimodal assessment battery showed very substantial clinical improvement for 3 of the veterans along a number of psychological dimensions that characterize the disorder, but not along several physiological parameters. A 4th veteran showed only very modest changes. Results are discussed in terms of the importance of several issues, including numbers of treatment sessions and differential effects of treatment on cognitive-behavioral and physiological symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Tandem cationic and sol–gel photopolymerizations of a vinyl ether alkoxysilane

In the present study, a novel single hybrid monomer combining a vinylether and trimethoxysilane groups in the same molecule was synthesized by chemoselective hydrosilation and subjected to UV‐irradiation in the presence of a triarylsulfonium salt. Through the UV‐decomposition of this photoacid generator, two acid‐catalyzed processes occurred simultaneously: the cationic polymerization of the vinyl ether functions and the sol–gel polycondensation of the alkoxysilyl groups, leading to a type II polyvinyl‐polysilicate nanocomposite film. Both reaction kinetics were efficiently monitored by real‐time Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and the influence of different key experimental parameters was investigated (laminated conditions, UV irradiation equipment, and film thickness). A particular attention was also given to the complete characterization of the hybrid microstructure by associating ²⁹Si and ¹³C solid‐state NMR. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Changes in body water compartments with diuretic therapy in infants with chronic lung disease

The effects of diuretic therapy on body water compartments were studied in preterm infants with chronic lung disease. Gestational age of the infants ranged from 24 to 28 weeks, while the median postnatal age at the time of study was 40 days. Infants were randomized to receive furosemide (1.0 mg/kg/day) alone (n = 5) or combined with metolazone (0.2 mg/kg/day, n = 7) for 4 consecutive days. Treatment in both groups produced a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in extracellular water (ECW) without changes in plasma volume, total body water or body weight. The decrease in ECW with furosemide (503 +/- 28 to 446 +/- 19 ml/kg initial body weight) was of similar magnitude to that seen with combined furosemide plus metolazone (522 +/- 30 to 454 +/- 15 ml/kg initial body weight). Water and electrolyte intakes were similar in both groups and unchanged over the course of the study. These findings suggest that in infants with chronic lung disease, diuretic therapy induces intercompartmental shifts in body water, ultimately decreasing interstitial water while preserving PV. Only combined treatment with furosemide plus metolazone produced a significant increase in urine output, confirming the increased efficacy of combination therapy in inducing diuresis.