On the Acetylation of Phenanthrene and 9-chlorophenanthrene

Friedel-Crafts acetylation of phenanthrene ( 1a ) in sym-tetrachloroethane yields mixtures of 2-, 3- and 9-acetylphenanthrenes ( 2a, 3a, 4 ). The distribution of isomers is found to depend strongly upon the method of mixing the reagents. Acetylation of 9-chlorophenanthrene ( 1b ), performed by a variety of methods and solvents, led mainly to 3-acetyl-9-chlorophenanthrene ( 3b ) (≥85%). Previously unreported 2-acetyl-9-chlorophenanthrene ( 2b ) was found to form up to a maximum 11% in nitrobenzene.     

Essential oil composition of Pterospartum tridentatum grown in Portugal

The essential oils, isolated by hydrodistillation and distillation-extraction, from the aerial parts of different populations of Pterospartum tridentatum collected during the flowering phase, at different locations in Portugal, were analysed by GC and GC–MS. All the P. tridentatum populations studied afforded a yellowish oil in a yield <0.05% (v/w). cis-Theaspirane (2–14%), trans-theaspirane (2–17%) and octen-3-ol (2–37%) were, in variable amounts, the dominant components of the oils. Cluster analysis of the essential oil compositions from the nine populations studied, confirmed a major chemical variability.     

Partner unsupportive responses, avoidant coping, and distress among women with early stage breast cancer: Patient and partner perspectives.

This 18-month longitudinal study examined the associations among partner unsupportive behavior, avoidant coping, and distress experienced by 219 women with early stage breast cancer. The role of patient and partner ratings of unsupportive behavior were evaluated. Results indicated that patient and partner ratings of unsupportive behavior were highly correlated. Growth curve modeling suggested that unsupportive behavior, from both patient and partner perspectives, predicted more avoidant coping and distress. When partner and patient perceptions were placed in the same model, patient perceptions mediated the association between partners' ratings of their unsupportive behavior and patient distress. Avoidance also mediated the association between unsupportive behavior and distress, extending prior cross-sectional findings. Results highlight the long-term detrimental effects of partners' unsupportive behavior on the quality of life of women with early stage breast cancer. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Interpersonal Process Model of Intimacy: The Role of Self-Disclosure, Partner Disclosure, and Partner Responsiveness in Interactions Between Breast Cancer Patients and Their Partners.

This study evaluated H. Reis and P. Shaver's (1988) interpersonal process model of intimacy in a sample of 98 women with breast cancer and their partners. Couples engaged in two discussions and rated self- and partner disclosure, perceived partner responsiveness, and intimacy experienced. A mediational model was tested in which partner responsiveness mediated the association between disclosure and intimacy. For patients, perceived responsiveness partially mediated the association between partner disclosure and intimacy, but self-disclosure was not significantly associated with responsiveness or intimacy. For partners, perceived responsiveness mediated the association between self-disclosure and perceived partner disclosure and intimacy. For breast cancer patients, partner disclosure predicted patient feelings of intimacy, because this type of disclosure was associated with greater feelings of acceptance, understanding, and caring. These findings may have implications for interventions to improve relationship closeness among couples coping with breast cancer. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Protective buffering and psychological distress among couples coping with breast cancer: The moderating role of relationship satisfaction.

This study examined whether the association between protective buffering and psychological distress was moderated by relationship satisfaction. Protective buffering is defined as hiding worries, denying concerns, and yielding to one's partner in an effort to avoid disagreement and reduce one's partner's upset and burden. Two hundred thirty-five women diagnosed with early stage breast cancer and their partners completed measures of protective buffering, psychological distress, and relationship satisfaction at 3 time points over an 18-month period after cancer diagnosis. The authors hypothesized that protective buffering would result in more distress among patients and partners reporting higher relationship satisfaction than among patients and partners reporting lower levels of relationship satisfaction. Patients' protective buffering predicted more distress among patients rating their relationships as more satisfactory, whereas the patients' buffering did not predict distress among patients rating their relationships as less satisfactory. Partner relationship satisfaction also moderated the association between patients' buffering and partners' distress. These findings elucidate conditions under which protective buffering may have detrimental effects. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Couple-Focused Group Intervention for Women With Early Stage Breast Cancer.

This study examined the efficacy of a couple-focused group intervention on psychological adaptation of women with early stage breast cancer and evaluated whether perceived partner unsupportive behavior or patient functional impairment moderated intervention effects. Two hundred thirty-eight women were randomly assigned to receive either 6 sessions of a couple-focused group intervention or usual care. Intent-to-treat growth curve analyses indicated that participants assigned to the couples' group reported lower depressive symptoms. Women rating their partners as more unsupportive benefited more from the intervention than did women with less unsupportive partners, and women with more physical impairment benefited more from the intervention group than did women with less impairment. Subgroup analyses comparing women attending the couple-focused group intervention with women not attending groups and with usual care participants indicated that women attending sessions reported significantly less distress than did women receiving usual care and women who dropped out of the intervention. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)