Patient-therapist identification in relation to both patient and therapist variables and therapy outcome.

18 patients in a counseling center completed (a) a battery of tests, including scales from the MMPI and Gibson's Acceptance of Self; and (b) rating scales measuring S's identification with and perception of the therapist. Results reveal that S's identification with the therapist significantly correlated with therapy improvement. Degree of identification was associated with both (a) subjective feelings of helplessness and weakness and (b) perception of a stronger therapist during therapy. S's perception of the therapist's strength was incongruent with external judges' ratings of therapist competence, indicating that S's ratings were based on subjective needs. (28 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dietary fat composition and tocopherol requirement: IV. Safety of polyunsaturated fats

In a long-term multigeneration study, conducted in our laboratories for 32-years, with occasional longevity and histopathological evaluations included, rats of our own inbred strain (originally of Wistar derivation) were fed semisynthetic diets comprising whole wheat, skim milk powder, and fat in the form of margarine products. The total source of tocopherols was the dietary fat itself. Saturated fatty acid content (S) remained relatively constant at about 20% of the fat and total tocopherol level also remained constant at about 0.12% of the fat. Polyunsaturated fatty acid (P) content, however, progressively increased almost fourfold, from 7.5% to 28.5% and alphatocopherol levels decreased to one-half level, from 0.033% to 0.016% of the fat. Hence, the ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids to alpha-tocopherol content changed markedly from 227∶1 to 1780∶1, with other factors (relative to fat composition) held constant during the 32-year period of feedings and observations. Fat level in the diet increased over the years from 9.2% to 16.0% or from about 21% to about 33% of the caloric intake. Thus, quality and quantity of the fat in the diet progressively changed, and the impact of these changes was evaluated by comparing biological performances of the successive generations. Growth and reproduction and lactation performances were noted to be regularly satisfactory and comparable from generation to generation throughout the experimental period. Longevity studies conducted on arbitrarily selected generations also provided data showing no deleterious effects associated with a dietary change. Histopathological examinations of tissue revealed minimal myocarditis and no malignant tumors which could be attributed to a dietary factor. No vitamin E deficiencies were observed. Even the in vitro peroxide hemolysis values for the red blood cells of the animals, fed the diets containing the higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, were low, indicating that the dietary fats provided sufficient absorbable tocopherol to protect the potentially oxidizable unsaturated fatty acids in the erythrocyte membrane. Biochemical data reflected responses to aging and not to any specific diet fed. It is concluded that a diet providing as much as 33% of the calories as a fat, the latter containing up to 28.5% polyunsaturated fatty acids, substantially of the essential fatty acid type, with a P/S ratio of up to 1.6∶1 and a polyunsaturated fatty acid to alphatocopherol ratio as high as 1780∶1] produces no undesirable effects in the rat. Presented in part at a symposium entitled “Long Term Nutritional Effects of Dietary Fats” at the International Society for Fat Research World Congress, September 30, 1970, Chicago, Illinois.     

Computer applications in mine maintenance

ABSTRACT

This is an overview of the application of digital computers to the Maintenance Planning function and to the Maintenance Engineering support role of a large open pit BWE/conveyor mining operation. The benefits to Suncor Mine Maintenance are highlighted so this paper will be of interest to any group contemplating the installation of computers to improve productivity and flexibility.     

Cytomegalovirus infection, lipoprotein(a), and hypercoagulability: an atherogenic link?

A link between cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and atherosclerosis has been suggested by experimental, clinical, and epidemiologic studies. We investigated the association between CMV antibody titers in serum collected in 1974 in 300 adult residents in Washington County, Md, and hemostatic parameters in plasma collected in 1987 through 1989, when these individuals participated in the baseline examination of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. The cross-sectional association of CMV serum antibodies and hemostatic parameters was also explored in another set of Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities cases and controls. In the longitudinal analyses, CMV titers in 1974 were directly associated with 1987 through 1989 plasma levels of von Willebrand factor, factor VIII, and protein C and negatively associated with activated partial thromboplastin time. In the cross-sectional analyses, CMV titers were directly related to antithrombin III and fibrinogen levels. When the association between CMV antibodies and atherosclerosis was examined in stratified analyses, a significant association was restricted to individuals with high levels of lipoprotein(a) and fibrinogen. These results are compatible with previous evidence suggesting that CMV virus might have procoagulant properties. The possible synergism of CMV infection and resulting hypercoagulability with reduced fibrinolysis due to increased lipoprotein(a) levels deserves further investigation.     

Adenosine triphosphate citrate lyase mediates hypocitraturia in rats

Chronic metabolic acidosis increases proximal tubular citrate uptake and metabolism. The present study addressed the effect of chronic metabolic acidosis on a cytosolic enzyme of citrate metabolism, ATP citrate lyase. Chronic metabolic acidosis caused hypocitraturia in rats and increased renal cortical ATP citrate lyase activity by 67% after 7 d. Renal cortical ATP citrate lyase protein abundance increased by 29% after 3 d and by 141% after 7 d of acid diet. No significant change in mRNA abundance could be detected. Hypokalemia, which causes only intracellular acidosis, caused hypocitraturia and increased renal cortical ATP citrate lyase activity by 28%. Conversely, the hypercitraturia of chronic alkali feeding was associated with no change in ATP citrate lyase activity. Inhibition of ATP citrate lyase with the competitive inhibitor, 4S-hydroxycitrate, significantly abated hypocitraturia and increased urinary citrate excretion fourfold in chronic metabolic acidosis and threefold in K+-depletion. In summary, the hypocitraturia of chronic metabolic acidosis is associated with an increase in ATP citrate lyase activity and protein abundance, and is partly reversed by inhibition of this enzyme. These results suggest an important role for ATP citrate lyase in proximal tubular citrate metabolism.     

Biological utilization of fatty acid isomers

Summary A review of the literature has shown that in the hydrogenation of vegetable oils, positional and stereoisomers of the unsaturated fatty acids are formed in appreciable quantities and that some isomers are intermediates in the development of others as hydrogenation proceeds. Using a microbiological assay technique, it was demonstrated that the iso-oleic acids formed during hydrogenation are not antimetabolites for natural oleic acid but are utilized as nutrients. Fatty acids with conjugated double bonds are not antimetabolites for the essential fatty acids but are readily metabolized to carbon dioxide and water. Hydrogenated fats compare favorably with a natural fat of comparable firmness in serving as a source of essential fatty acids. In hydrogenating vegetable oils, isomers of linoleic acid can be formed which resist spectrophotometric detection but exhibit essential fatty acid activity. Paper presented at the 1953 Conference on Food and Nutrition, Gordon Research Conferences, AAAS, Colby Junior College, New London, N. H. Contribution 351 of the Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, University of Southern California.     

A portable virus concentrator for testing water in the field

A system is described for concentrating viruses from large volumes of water. The system consists of a water pump, an electric generator, a series of clarifiers, a virus adsorbent, a virus reconcentrator, a 5- and a 1-gal pressure vessel with a small tank of nitrogen as a source of positive pressure, and ancillary equipment, all mounted on 2-wheel carts for easy portability. Standardization of the system was achieved by use of minute amounts of poliovirus. The virus was added to dechlorinated city tap water so that it could not be detected unless the virus was first concentrated. In the system, raw tap water containing virus is serially passed through clarifying filters of porosities of 1–5 μm to remove particulate matter, and then through a 1-μm cotton textile filter to electrostatically remove submicron ferric and other heavy metallic complexes. These filters do not detectably remove virus. Salts are then added to the running tap water to enhance the adsorption of virus to a fibreglass or cellulose acetate filter. Raw water could be processed at the rate of 300 gallons per hour, with total virus removal from the water and with 80 per cent elution of the virus from the adsorbent.     

Protective and restorative effects of a Commiphora mukul gum resin and triheptanoin preparation on the CCL-110 skin fibroblast cell line

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a major ingredient in skin care products because of its anti‐wrinkle effects, although it has some side effects especially at higher amounts. In this study, we compare the anti‐wrinkle related properties of CoQ10 and a proprietary Commiphora mukul gum resin (guggul) and triheptanoin preparation (GU‐TC7). GU‐TC7 is prepared with a supercritical CO₂‐co‐solvent extraction with ethanol, standardized to 2% guggulsterones and triheptanoin, a triglyceride composed of three 7‐carbon fatty acids. Treatment of CCL‐110 skin fibroblasts with GU‐TC7 demonstrates a mild proliferative effect compared to CoQ10 and increased type I collagen synthesis. Additionally, GU‐TC7 inhibited matrix metalloproteinase‐1 (MMP‐1) expression in a dose‐dependent manner at 20–100 μg mL^?1 and inhibited human elastase expression by more than 50% as compared to no elastase inhibition with CoQ10 treatment. These results suggest that GU‐TC7 possesses properties that are applicable to the treatment of wrinkles and may be considered for its further evaluation in skin care products.