Frequent clones of p53-mutated keratinocytes in normal human skin

The multiple genetic hit model of cancer predicts that normal individuals should have stable populations of cancer-prone, but noncancerous, mutant cells awaiting further genetic hits. We report that whole-mount preparations of human skin contain clonal patches of p53-mutated keratinocytes, arising from the dermal-epidermal junction and from hair follicles. These clones, 60-3000 cells in size, are present at frequencies exceeding 40 cells per cm2 and together involve as much as 4% of the epidermis. In sun-exposed skin, clones are both more frequent and larger than in sun-shielded skin. We conclude that, in addition to being a tumorigenic mutagen, sunlight acts as a tumor promoter by favoring the clonal expansion of p53-mutated cells. These combined actions of sunlight result in normal individuals carrying a substantial burden of keratinocytes predisposed to cancer.     

Sunlight and sunburn in human skin cancer: p53, apoptosis, and tumor promotion

Levels of allergen-specific IgE and IgE antibodies were determined in serum samples from 60 atopic and 11 normal dogs by means of commercially available ELISA test kits and a panel of 33 allergens. In the atopic population, IgE antibodies were most commonly identified with a specificity for Dermatophagoides farinae (78.3 per cent of affected dogs), D pteronyssinus (61.6 per cent), mould mix (25 per cent) and house dust (19 per cent), whereas the most frequently detected IgG antibodies had a specificity for D farinae (38.3 per cent), D pteronyssinus (33.3 per cent), mould mix (33.3 per cent), insect mix (16.6 per cent) and meadow fescue (16.6 per cent). The IgG subclass profile of allergen-specific antibodies was determined for five representative allergens from the panel. The IgG response to D farinae and D pteronyssinus was dominated by IgG4 antibodies, although lower levels of IgG2, and IgG3 and IgG1 D pteronyssinus antibodies were also detected. The IgG response to Timothy grass was predominantly within the IgG1 and IgG4 subclasses, IgG subclass selection in the response to mould mix and insect mix was broader, with relatively low level reactions from all four subclasses. The data suggest a degree of IgG subclass restriction in the humoral immune response of canine atopy which may be dependent upon the nature of the allergen.     

Professional mobility for psychologists is rapidly becoming a reality.

Professional mobility for psychologists has been a problem since states first passed psychology licensing laws because of relatively small but crucial variations in licensing requirements. Although the profession of psychology and the association of psychology regulatory bodies in the United States and Canada (i.e., the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards [ASPPB]) have recognized this problem for decades, little progress was made in resolving it. Recently, the ASPPB launched two different approaches to facilitating professional mobility: one to forge agreements between regulatory bodies to accept each other's licensees, and another to certify or endorse individual psychologists who meet ASPPB standards for licensure and therefore can be recommended to licensing boards for relicensure. The specific requirements of each of these programs and their success in addressing the professional mobility problem are described. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Patent statistics as related to the industrial development trend in Sweden in the period 1925–1936—I

This article sets out to use statistics on the number of patent applications as a basis for discussing and explaining the industrial development trend in Sweden during the period 1925–1936 from various standpoints. The following topics are examined: The extent and depth of the Depression; Structural changes; Foreign activity in Swedish trade and industry; and the increase in systematic research by firms. The first two of these topics are examined here in Part I of the article. The second two will be dealt with later in Part II.     

Effects of simultaneous and successive septal and amygdaloid lesions on social behavior of the rat.

Tested the social cohesiveness in an open field of 96 male hooded Long-Evans rats which had been subjected to either simultaneous or successive septal and amygdaloid lesions. Both the increased cohesiveness of Ss with septal lesions and the decreased cohesiveness of Ss with amygdaloid lesions were attenuated by the addition of the 2nd lesion. Ss with simultaneous lesions did not differ from controls. The 2 structures also were demonstrated to be reciprocally involved in mediating activity levels. (16 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The dirty dozen: A concise measure of the dark triad.

There has been an exponential increase of interest in the dark side of human nature during the last decade. To better understand this dark side, the authors developed and validated a concise, 12-item measure of the Dark Triad: narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism. In 4 studies involving 1,085 participants, they examined its structural reliability, convergent and discriminant validity (Studies 1, 2, and 4), and test–retest reliability (Study 3). Their measure retained the flexibility needed to measure these 3 independent-yet-related constructs while improving its efficiency by reducing its item count by 87% (from 91 to 12 items). The measure retained its core of disagreeableness, short-term mating, and aggressiveness. They call this measure the Dirty Dozen, but it cleanly measures the Dark Triad. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Patent statistics as related to the industrial development trend in Sweden in the period 1925–1936—II

This article sets out to use statistics on the number of patent applications as a basis for discussing and explaining the industrial development trend in Sweden during the period 1925–1936 from various standpoints. The following topics are examined: The extent and depth of the Depression; Structural changes; Foreign activity in Swedish trade and industry; and the increase in systematic research by firms. The first two of these topics were examined in Part I of the article. The second two are dealt with here in Part II.