Differentiating bulimic-anorexic from normal families using interpersonal and behavioral observational systems.

Compared the ability of interpersonal and behavioral observational systems to differentiate 16 families with a bulimic-anorexic daughter (mean age 18.2 yrs) from 24 control families. Trained coders observed father–mother–daughter triads using 2 theoretically divergent observational systems: A. L. Robin and J. G. Weiss's (1980) Marital Interaction Coding System (MICS), a cognitive-behavioral approach, and the L. S. Benjamin et al (in press) Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB), an interpersonal system. Results from discriminant and regression analyses of 4 types of parent–daughter interactions show that both the SASB and the MICS successfully discriminated between groups to similar extents and that each system added to the predictive power of the other. Jointly, the observational systems accounted for about 50% of the variance in the families' diagnostic status. The key variables from both observational systems were interpersonal codes, including positive and negative dimensions, whereas problem-solving codes did not distinguish the groups. The merits of the 2 observational systems are discussed. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Influence of experience on information-gathering strategies.

Decision making and situation understanding are related to information-gathering strategies used by experienced, intermediate, and novice decision makers. Differences according to level of experience were predicted for 7 strategies. These predictions were tested in a process-tracing experiment employing a submarine search scenario. The Ss were 3 groups of naval officers ranging in experience from former commanding officers to students in the 1st course for potential submarine officers. Differences were found among the groups in use of information-gathering strategies, situation understanding, and decision accuracy. The results are discussed in terms of the influence of experience on the decision process and implications for decision aiding. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social competence intervention and evaluation in the inner city: Cincinnati's Social Skills Development Program.

Describes a large-scale early intervention program conducted in an inner city based on a social competence conceptualization. The key elements of the school-based program and an evaluation study are presented. The program focuses on children's competencies and problems in assessment, intervention, and evaluation. Ratings by teachers indicated that interventions improved competencies, but not problems, compared to controls. Further evaluations and more intensely behavioral interventions are warranted. (7 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Obese people who seek treatment have different characteristics than those who do not seek treatment.

A group of obese people who had not sought treatment; an obese group who had sought treatment in a professional, hospital-based program; and normal-weight controls (N?=?547) were compared in regard to level of psychopathology, binge eating, and negative emotional eating. Because the groups differed significantly on several demographic variables, 3 demographically matched groups were created and compared (n?=?177, 59 per group). In the matched subgroups, obese people who had sought treatment reported greater psychopathology and more binge eating than did normal-weight controls or those who had not sought treatment. Both obese groups (including those who had not sought treatment) endorsed more symptoms of distress, negative emotional eating, overeating, difficulty resisting temptation, and less exercise than did normal-weight controls. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for bulimia: An initial outcome study.

Examined the efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral therapy for bulimia with 20 18–30 yr old bulimic females who were randomly assigned in equal numbers to either full- or brief-intervention therapy programs. Three Ss reported a previous history of anorexia nervosa; 3 of the Ss had previously received treatment for bulimia. The full intervention was based on a cognitive-behavioral conceptualization in which bulimia is viewed as a type of obsessive-compulsive problem, and it involved cognitive restructuring, exposure with response prevention, behavioral contracting, and process-oriented psychotherapy. Results indicate that the full-intervention Ss, relative to the brief-intervention Ss, substantially reduced the frequency of their bingeing-vomiting; improved their general psychological adjustment; and changed their attitudes about food, dieting, and their bodies. In addition, data collected in an actual eating situation demonstrated a dramatic reduction in the urge to vomit and level of discomfort for the full-intervention Ss. (42 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reactions of Trivalent Silver with One-Electron Reducing Agents

Kinetic and stoichiometric data are reported for the reduction of Ag(OH)⁻₄ with Fe(CN)⁴⁻₆, MnO²⁻₄ and Mo(CN)⁴⁻₈. The rate constants for reduction to Ag(II) are 1.1 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ s⁻¹, 1.3 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ and < 1 × 10² M⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively, at 25°C and μ = 1.2 M. Reaction with Mo(CN)⁴⁻₈ results in an apparent one-electron equilibrium, indicating a Ag(OH)⁻₄/[Ag(II)]_n potential near that of the Mo(V)/MO(IV) couple. In the Fe(CN)⁴⁻₆ and MnO²⁻₄ reactions, there is a competition between transfer of a second electron to silver and polymerization of silver(II). A general mechanism for these reactions is presented.     

Atherogenic lipoproteins enhance mesangial cell expression of platelet-derived growth factor: role of protein tyrosine kinase and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase A

Mesangial cell proliferation and extracellular matrix accumulation are fundamental in the pathogenesis of glomerulosclerosis. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a major cytokine involved in mesangial cell proliferation, and its increased expression is seen in glomerular injury. Atherogenic lipoproteins stimulate mesangial cell proliferation and induce glomerular injury in experimental animals. We examined the effect of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and its more atherogenic oxidized forms, minimally modified LDL (mm-LDL) and oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) on mesangial cell PDGF mRNA expression. Incubation with 2.5 to 25 microg/ml LDL or mm-LDL for 1 to 4 hours stimulated mesangial cell PDGF mRNA expression (mm-LDL 2 to 3 times greater than LDL); ox-LDL had no effect. Similarly, both LDL and mm-LDL induced mesangial cell DNA synthesis (mm-LDL 1.5 to 2 times greater). In further studies evaluating key associated intracellular signal transduction mechanisms, the protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitors herbimycin and genistein markedly decreased basal and lipoprotein-induced PDGF mRNA expression. Both pertussis toxin and isoproterenol, cyclic AMP-generating substances, stimulated PDGF mRNA expression. Preincubation with H-8 or H-89, cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitors, blocked the lipoprotein-induced PDGF message, whereas preincubation with calphostin C, a protein kinase C inhibitor, did not alter LDL- or mm-LDL-mediated PDGF mRNA expression. These data suggest that the accumulation of atherogenic lipoproteins and their endogenous oxidized forms within the glomerulus may regulate mesangial cell PDGF expression and related cellular responses. These events appear to be modulated by signal transduction pathways involving PTK and PKA.