A phase I/II study of paclitaxel (TAXOL) and concurrent radiotherapy in advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVE: Polymerase chain reaction amplification of a portion of the RhC/c/E/e gene could lead to a rapid, accurate determination of fetal RhC/c/E status. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of this technique by testing for the first time a large number of deoxyribonucleic acid samples derived from individuals whose RhC/c/E status was established by standard serologic methods. We also evaluated the potential clinical utility of polymerase chain reaction to ascertain fetal antigen status. STUDY DESIGN: Samples were obtained from Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain families used for studies of genetic variation (n = 655). Deoxyribonucleic acid was extracted by standard techniques. With few modifications, published primers and reaction conditions were used. Samples were digested with restriction enzymes yielding characteristic electrophoresis patterns for RhC/c/E. Clinical utility was assessed by review of all patients evaluated for erythrocyte sensitization. RESULTS: RhC-positive (n = 479), RhC-negative (n = 176), Rhc-positive (n = 524), Rhc-negative (n = 131), RhE-positive (n = 131) and RhE-negative (n = 524) samples were evaluated. The sensitivity of RhC/ c and E typing by polymerase chain reaction was 98.3%, 98.1%, and 96.9%, respectively. The specificity of polymerase chain reaction for identifying the RhC/c/E antigens was 91.5%, 94.7%, and 99.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although it would appear that use of polymerase chain reaction to establish RhC/c/E type could aid in evaluation of RhC/c/E sensitization, we are concerned about the instances of antigen-positive individuals characterized as antigen negative. Further study is necessary to determine if this reflects a polymorphism, mutation, a data coding error, or a combination. The Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain database is known to contain such errors at a rate that may surpass the error rate of our testing. A second molecular technique could be used to achieve better accuracy in the ascertainment of Rh C/c/E type. On the basis of a review of our patient population, molecular deoxyribonucleic acid techniques now available could aid the management of erythrocyte sensitization in pregnancy in > 96% of cases.     

Determination of toxic elements in biological materials by furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

Graphite furnace AAS has evolved into its third phase of maturity. Initially it was considered to be the ultimate high sensitivity interference-free technique for trace metal analysis. This phase quickly ended following the examination of complex sample types. We believe that the introduction of high-performance background correction such as Smith-Hieftje, delayed atomization techniques, and aerosol deposition have taken graphite furnace AAS into its third phase. The technique can now be used more routinely and more easily for the analysis of complex materials such as biological fluids.     

L’adaptation parentale à la venue d’un nouvel enfant: Perspectives et prospectives.

Pregnancy and the birth of a child imply personal changes that require many individual, marital, and family adaptations (Mercer et al., 1988). The outcome of this transition will have implications for the welfare of the whole family. The area of research studying this type of adaptation has witnessed much theoretical and methodological progress in the last 10 years. Contemporary researchers are trying to identify the factors associated with this adaptation process (Gable et al., 1992). A more detailed conceptual model of parental and family adaptation is now starting to take form (Terry, 1991b). The recent proliferation of research on parental adjustment to the birth of a child justifies a review of recent studies in this area. What are the limits of the investigations in this area of interest? What modifications could be suggested to strengthen its empirical basis? What are the implications of a family perspective of parental transition? To answer these questions a review of the literature in this area will be presented. The theoretical, methodological, and clinical implications of a systemic perspective on parental adjustment will then be discussed. This paper will also highlight a number of methodological limits of recent studies and suggest recommendations for future research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Automated telephone answering systems and aging

Surveys about automated telephone answering systems, known as interactive voice response systems or IVRs, report high levels of dissatisfaction, especially among older users. To identify the problems IVR users experience, 22 community-dwelling senior women and 22 female university students were monitored while they performed the same six real IVR tasks. As expected, old age had a negative impact on performance, but seniors were polarized into very poor and very good performers. Seniors gave lower usability ratings than young people; only young users gave high ratings to the one voice-activated system. Users' problems were mostly caused by design flaws in the IVR systems, especially ambiguous choices or instructions, and too-rapid automated voices. Young and old participants had similar complaints, but most young users overcame all difficulties, while the majority of seniors failed because of age-related losses in capacities. The solution is not special products for the old, but universal design that will make IVRs and other technological products more usable for everyone.     

Validation préliminaire d'un système global de cotation des interactions conjugales.

Studied the psychometric properties of the Global System for Coding Marital Interactions (GSCMI). Ss were 40 wives (mean age 38 yrs) and their 40 husbands (mean age 41 yrs). The couples' interactions during a problem-solving activity were filmed, and each spouse's behavior was coded with the GSCMI. Results were analyzed in relation to scores on a measure of marital satisfaction. Interrater reliability and temporal stability of the GSCMI scores were also determined. Results from men and women were compared. The Dyadic Adjustment Scale by G. B. Spanier (1976) was used. (English abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)