Cytoprotection and regulation of heat shock proteins induced by heat shock in human breast cancer T47-D cells: role of [Ca2+]i and protein kinases

Overexpression of heat shock protein 70 kDa alters the susceptibility of tumor cells to chemotherapeutic agents. We conducted experiments to study the regulation of expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in heat shock-treated T47-D cells, a human breast cancer cell line that expresses estrogen receptors. Cells exposed to heat shock at 44 degreesC displayed increased expression of heat shock protein 72 kDa (HSP-72), glucose-regulated protein 78 kDa (GRP-78), and GRP-94 in a time-dependent manner, as shown by [35S]methionine incorporation and Western blotting experiments. The maximal rate of synthesis occurred between 2 and 4 h after heat shock. Removal of external Ca2+ inhibited the synthesis of the heat shock-induced GRP-78 but not of HSP-72 and GRP-94, whereas treatment of cells with BAPTA (a Ca2+ chelator) inhibited HSP-72 and GRP-78. Treatment with H89 (a protein kinase A inhibitor) blocked the heat shock-induced GRP-78 synthesis, whereas GF-109203X (a protein kinase C inhibitor) attenuated the heat shock-induced HSP-72 synthesis and completely blocked synthesis of GRP-78 but not of GRP-94. These results indicate that protein kinase C is involved in regulation of the heat shock-induced synthesis of HSP-72, whereas PKA and PKC are involved in the regulation of GRP-78 synthesis. Cells overexpressing HSP-72 and GRPs after heat shock displayed resistance against lethal temperature (47 degreesC for 50 min) -induced death, which was diminished after removal of external Ca2+ and treatment with GF-109203X. Heat shock increased intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in a temperature- and heating duration-dependent fashion, and the increase was inhibited in the absence of external [Ca2+]i and significantly reduced by pretreatment with H89 and GF-109203X. The results suggest that different pathways are involved in the induction of synthesis of HSP-72, GRP-78, and GRP-94 by heat shock. It is highly likely that only HSP-72 and GRP-78 are involved in the process of cytoprotection from the thermal injury.     

Efficacy of self-examination therapy in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder.

To determine the efficacy of self-examination therapy in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, 38 adults volunteered for a study in which they were randomly assigned to self-examination therapy or to a delayed-treatment group. Analyses indicated that participants in self-examination therapy had significantly fewer symptoms of anxiety than did participants in the delayed-treatment group on the outcome measures of this study, which included ratings by trained clinicians and participants. The reduction in anxiety for people receiving self-examination therapy was maintained 3 months after treatment ended. The delayed-treatment group also showed significant improvement in anxiety symptoms after receiving self-examination therapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gender differences in the acquisition of salary negotiation skills: The role of goals, self-efficacy, and perceived control.

Examined the effectiveness of different training programs in men's and women's acquisition of salary negotiation skills. MBA students received a 2-stage training program that provided initial content instruction in negotiation tactics, followed by supplemental training in either goal setting or self-management. After both training sessions, participants conducted salary negotiations with trained confederates who used standardized guides to award salary increases. Results indicated that, although women negotiated lower salaries than men following the initial training, controlling for goals eliminated this difference. Analysis of salary improvements following supplemental training revealed that gender differences were reduced for self-management participants only. Changes in perceived control over the negotiation appeared to mediate this effect. Implications of these findings for understanding training effectiveness are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The potential impact on women from environmental exposures

BACKGROUND: Vascular complications following laparoscopic techniques may often be attributed to the incomplete control of bleeding sites at laparoscopy. When confronted with post-laparoscopy symptoms of hemodynamic insufficiency, the surgeon may infer the existence of hemorrhagic complications neglected at the laparoscopic session. METHODS: The author reviewed two otherwise normal cases of laparoscopic procedures that were complicated by bleeding disorders of unknown origin. RESULTS: Diagnosis and treatment of the hematologic complications revealed causes other than operator-inflicted injury. CONCLUSIONS: While laparoscopists should remain vigilant concerning the very real threat of overlooked vascular injury following laparoscopy, some patients may exhibit hemorrhagic symptoms unrelated to the laparoscopic procedure.     

Bernard Lubin (1923-2003).

Presents an obituary for Bernard Lubin. The author states that Lubin was a professor, collaborator, colleague, and friend whose work in personality and clinical psychology continues to be influential. Lubin was born in Washington, DC, on October 15, 1923. He left high school before graduation to join the Merchant Marines, returning to educational pursuits following World War II. He earned his bachelor's (1952) and master's (1953) degrees at George Washington University and attained his doctorate in clinical psychology at the Pennsylvania State University (1958). He was a diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology and a fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA), maintaining affiliation with a broad array of its divisions and initiatives. Lubin was designated Distinguished Senior Contributor in Counseling Psychology by Division 17 in 1995, received the Division 13 Harry Levinson Award for Excellence in Consultation in 1996, and received the Richard Wilkinson Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology from the Missouri Psychological Association in 1997. Lubin's life and many contributions are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of Practice Conditions and Supplemental Training Method on Cognitive Learning and Interpersonal Skill Generalization

Organizational expenditures for interpersonal-skills training have been rising. However, little is known about the translation of cognitive learning into skilled interpersonal-task performance, or about the mechanisms through which interpersonal skills in one domain generalize to other interpersonal tasks. This study used a 2 x 2 experimental design to examine the effectiveness of neutral versus stressful practice conditions and mastery-versus performance-oriented supplemental training for improving cognitive learning and interpersonal-skill transfer to a novel task. Participants who experienced stressful salary-negotiation practice conditions, followed by mastery-oriented supplemental training, showed greater skill transfer when performing a novel task (i.e., contract negotiations). Results showed that superior cognitive learning (i.e., recall, comprehension, and synthesis) and greater time on task were the mechanisms that supported interpersonal-skill transfer for trainees in the stressful practice/ mastery-oriented training condition when compared with the other experimental groups. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.     

Structural properties of stereotypic knowledge and their influences on the construal of social situations.

This research focused on the role that higher order structural properties of stereotypic knowledge play in the processing of social information. It is argued that stereotypic assumptions about cause–effect relations provide important constraints for the causal structure underlying the perceiver's subjective representation of social information. Experiment 1 shows how, within the context of a jury decision experiment, the causal structure underlying stereotypic knowledge about African Americans influences the construal of causality in a situation involving a member of that group. Results from 2 additional experiments indicate that this construal effect is based in part on stereotypic knowledge affecting the encoding of the trial evidence instead of on biasing responses at the output stage. The implications of these findings are discussed, and a theoretical framework is offered according to which the application of category knowledge involves not only the matching of stereotypic attributes but also the alignment of structural relations in the environment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of alternative training methods on self-efficacy and performance in computer software training.

Alternative training methods on self-efficacy and mastery of a computer software program were compared in the context of a field experiment involving 108 university managers. A behavioral modeling approach relative to a tutorial approach yielded higher self-efficacy scores and higher performance on an objective measure of computer software mastery. Participants scoring high in self-efficacy performed significantly better than participants with low computer self-efficacy scores. Participants low in self-efficacy reported greater confidence in their ability to master the software training in the modeling compared with the tutorial conditions. Participants in the modeling training reported more effective cognitive working styles, more ease with the task, more satisfaction with training, and less frustration compared with participants in tutorial training. Implications for training interventions are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)