Adrenal necrosis in a dog receiving trilostane for the treatment of hyperadrenocorticism

Clinical and biochemical changes suggestive of hypoadrenocorticism were observed in a 10-year-old male neutered Staffordshire bull terrier shortly after beginning therapy with trilostane for the treatment of hyperadrenocorticism. The dog's condition was stabilised with intravenous fluids, fludrocortisone and prednisolone. An exploratory laparotomy and excisional biopsy of the left adrenal gland were performed. Histopathological analysis showed adrenal cortical necrosis with reactive inflammation and fibrosis. Trilostane is a reversible inhibitor of steroid synthesis and this complication has not been reported previously. Clinicians should be aware that trilostane therapy may result in adrenal necrosis but that prompt treatment might correct a life-threatening situation.

Survival and developmental potential of stored human early cleavage stage embryos

Human early cleavage stage embryos which survive cryopreservation and thawing fully intact demonstrate similar developmental potential to equivalent non frozen embryos when returned to the in vivo environment, whereas blastomere loss is directly related to the loss of potential for subsequent implantation in thawed embryos. This suggests that blastomere lysis during freezing and thawing does not occur preferentially in non viable blastomeres. Prefreeze growth rate rather than prefreeze blastomere number per se correlates with the developmental potential of stored embryos. When blastomere loss occurs as a consequence of cryopreservation, development of thawed early cleavage stage embryos to the blastocyst stage in vitro is impaired and the resultant blastocysts have a reduced total cell content. Blastomere loss is more prevalent in embryos which have been biopsied for preimplantation genetic diagnosis but this increased sensitivity can be circumvented by modification of the standard cryopreservation protocol.

Teaching head and neck cancer patients coping strategies: results of a feasibility study

To test the feasibility of providing a psycho-educational intervention for people with head and neck (H&N) cancer. A prospective non-randomized design was used. Subjects were patients with H&N cancer. They were offered the Nucare coping strategies program in one of three formats: small group and one-to-one formats with therapists; and a home format, with material for home use, without a therapist. Outcomes measures (quality of life (QOL) and anxiety and depression) were collected at baseline and following the intervention. Analyses were performed using non-parametric statistics. Of 128 people invited to participate, 66 agreed, 59 completed the intervention and 50 had outcomes data. Following the intervention, there were significant improvements in physical and social functioning and global QOL, and reduced fatigue, sleep disturbance and depressive symptoms. These data suggest that the intervention may have some beneficial effects, although an appropriately designed study is required to confirm this.

Follicle development following cryopreservation of human ovarian tissue

Despite the recent increase in human ovarian tissue banking, there has been little progress in establishing whether follicles within this tissue are viable and capable of function following cryopreservation. Two methods to assess growth and developmental potential of cryopreserved tissue are evaluated; (1). isolated follicle culture and (2). xenografting of tissue into a host animal. Development of numerous antral follicles following xenografting of cryopreserved tissue indicates that the cryopreservation procedure can preserve the developmental competence of primordial follicles.

Oocyte maturation, follicle rupture and luteinization in human cryopreserved ovarian tissue following xenografting

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have demonstrated development of antral follicles in cryopreserved human ovarian tissue after autografting and xenografting, thus indicating successful preservation of follicular function. The study aim was to assess whether these follicles could also undergo periovulatory changes in response to hCG.

METHODS

Ovarian tissue from three patients were dehydrated in propanediol (PROH)/sucrose and cryopreserved using the slow cooling/rapid thaw procedure. Thawed tissue was placed under the kidney capsule in immunodeficient mice. Following growth (>20 weeks) in the presence of gonadotrophin, hCG was administered and ovarian tissue examined histologically.

RESULTS

Thirty-two antral follicles (diameter range 0.6 to 5 mm) were examined. Histological evidence of a response to hCG was evident in all follicles. Disruption of the concentric layers of mural granulosa and theca cells was apparent in all antral cavities. In 17 (53%) follicles the exterior follicular wall had reduced to a few cells thick, and in eight (25%) the wall had ruptured. Mucified oocyte-cumulus cell complexes were present in 32 follicles, 17 of which had begun to detach from the pedicle. Resumption of meiosis had occurred in over half the oocytes (five metaphase II and seven metaphase I oocytes, eight germinal vesicle breakdown). Two corpora lutea were also detected.

CONCLUSIONS

Follicles cryopreserved within human ovarian tissue using the PROH procedure, can develop to the antral stage and undergo periovulatory changes following xenografting and exposure to a luteinizing stimulus.

Cardiac troponin I in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

The molecular structure of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is highly conserved across mammalian species and assays developed for its measurement in human patients have been validated in a number of veterinary species. A raised concentration of circulating cTnI is a sensitive and specific marker of cardiac myocyte injury. Raised levels have been documented in a variety of cardiac diseases in both human and veterinary patients. This study compared serum cTnI concentrations between 16 cats diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) using echocardiography and 18 control cats. The results show that cats with HCM have significantly higher concentration of serum cTnI (median 0.95 ng/ml, range 0.2-4.1 ng/ml) than control cats (median <0.2 ng/ml, range <0.2-0.25 ng/ml) [P<0.0001]. Furthermore in cats with cardiomyopathy a weak correlation was found between the thickness of the left ventricular freewall in diastole measured by ultrasound and serum cTnI concentration (r(2)=0.28;P=0.036). These results suggest that measurement of serum cTnI concentration may enable cats with cardiomyopathy to be distinguished from normal cats using the assay described here.

Activational effects of testosterone on cognitive function in men

OBJECTIVES

The effect of testosterone (T) on sexual function in men is well established. However, less is known about its effects on cognitive function. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between T levels and sex-typed cognitive abilities in both eugonadal and hypogonadal men.

DESIGN

A single-blind placebo-controlled design was employed in this study.

METHODS

Thirty healthy eugonadal men and seven hypogonadal men participated in the study. Eugonadal men were randomised into one of two treatment regimens: (1) active group--receiving 200 mg of T enanthate i.m. weekly for 8 weeks (raising T levels into the supraphysiological range) or (2) placebo group--receiving 200 mg of sodium chloride i.m. weekly for 8 weeks. The hypogonadal group received the physiological replacement dose of 200 mg T enanthate i.m. bi-weekly for 8 weeks. All groups underwent a battery of neuropsychological tests and had circulating T measured at baseline, and at weeks 4 and 8 during treatment.

RESULTS

A significant time by group interaction effect was found in the measure of spatial ability (i.e., block design test) indicating that the active group's performance declined significantly at week 4, compared to placebo group (F(4,64)=3.78, P<0.01). Conversely, the active group performed significantly better than the placebo group in the measure of verbal fluency (i.e., the Controlled Oral Word Association Test) at week 4 (F(4,64)=2.54, P<0.05). No significant changes were found on any of the other tests. Generally, the hypogonadal group performed less well than the eugonadal groups on all tests.

CONCLUSIONS

These results offer support to the notion that increased T has a differential effect on cognitive function, inhibiting spatial abilities while improving verbal fluency in eugonadal men.

The influence of victim gender and sexual orientation on judgments of the victim in a depicted stranger rape

This study investigated the impact of respondent gender, victim gender, and victim sexual orientation on judgments toward the victim of a depicted stranger rape. Respondents were required to read a scenario in which victim gender and sexual orientation varied between subjects, and to complete measures of behavioral blame, responsibility, and severity of the attack. Results revealed that male respondents made more anti-victim judgments than female respondents did. Male respondents judged gay male victims more negatively than they did other victims. Female respondents' judgments were pro-victim regardless of victim gender and victim sexual orientation. Results are discussed in relation to the feminist analysis of victim blame, and blame toward male rape victims. Implications for support services, particularly of male victims, are also considered.

Broad and narrow perspectives in grief theory: comment on Bonanno and Kaltman (1999)

G. A. Bonanno and S. Kaltman's (1999) concentration on the grief work hypothesis in their review of perspectives on bereavement is only 1 aspect required for a comprehensive theory of grief, which should cover the following: the origin and adaptive significance of grief; the mechanism that initiates the grief response; the mechanism that leads to the resolution of grief; and sources of individual variation. Bonanno and Kaltman's replacement for grief work also emphasized cognitive restructuring, which can be contrasted with 2 alternative mechanisms, forgetting and engaging in new activities and relationships. M. S. Stroebe and H. A. W. Schut's (1994) dual process model, which involves cognitive restructuring and engaging in new activities, provides a broader alternative to grief work than that advocated by Bonanno and Kaltman.

Heat resistance of Bacillus cereus, Salmonella typhimurium and Lactobacillus delbrueckii in relation to pH and ethanol

The aim of the present work was to investigate the effect of ethanol alone and in combination with low pH on the heat resistance of specific bacteria. The bacteria chosen are representative of heat resistant and heat sensitive pathogens (Bacillus cereus and Salmonella typhimurium) and of relatively heat resistant spoilage microorganisms (Lactobacillus delbrueckii). The chosen bacteria were treated at different temperatures ranging between 70 and 97 degrees C for B. cereus, 48 and 54 degrees C for S. typhimurium and 44 and 60 degrees C for L. delbrueckii, in media of different pH (3, 5 and 7) and ethanol content (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10%). Both factors proved to be very effective in reducing the heat resistance of the bacteria examined in this work. At pH 7, an increase in ethanol content up to 10% caused D values to decrease by up to 100-fold (S. typhimurium). A drop from pH 7 to pH 3 also caused up to a 100-fold reduction in the D values (S. typhimurium). For B. cereus the regression analysis of the log10 of the D value in relation to temperature, pH and ethanol content was used to produce a second order polynomial equation. The z values increased at decreasing pH and cells were more sensitive to ethanol at lower pH. For S. typhimurium the polynomial equation produced to describe the relationship between log10 of the D values and temperature and ethanol content was also a second order equation indicating that the relationship between z values and ethanol was non-linear. For L. delbrueckii, z values were independent of the ethanol content of the heating medium. Acid tolerance at 25 and 37 degrees C (L. delbrueckii and S. typhimurium) and acid adaptation (S. typhimurium) were also tested. L. delbrueckii was more ethanol and pH tolerant than S. typhimurium at heat treatment temperatures whilst S. typhimurium was more acid tolerant than L. delbrueckii at incubation temperatures (25 and 37 degrees C). Acid adaptation increased the tolerance of S. typhimurium to low pH at 25 degrees C but failed to improve its thermal resistance at 48 degrees C. In all bacteria used, the effects of pH and ethanol were more evident at lower treatment temperatures and therefore their significance becomes greater in view of reduced thermal processing and/or changes in product formulation.

Samaritan's Purse furthers worldwide relief efforts with OCR for Forms

Samaritan's Purse is widely known for our Operation Christmas Child program. The program has been a phenomenal success, growing from 110,000 donated shoe boxes in 1994 to 2.3 million in 1998--an annual growth rate in excess of 110 percent.

Brief therapy in college counseling and mental health

Several factors have converged to make brief counseling and therapy the preferred mode of individual service delivery for college counseling and mental health services. The authors introduce the topic of brief therapy, offer a rationale for its use in college contexts, and discuss significant issues, research findings, and therapist attitudes in support of successful use of these approaches. This is followed by a description of issues of implementation, including assessment processes, interventions (short-term intermittent approaches, very brief therapy, single-session counseling, crisis intervention within brief therapy, connections with multiculturally oriented psychology, and brief group therapy), and referral issues. General conclusions about brief therapy in college settings and recommendations for research on furthering use of these approaches are offered.

Investigations on the ability of clenbuterol hydrochloride to reduce clinical signs and inflammation associated with equine influenza A infection

Twenty-four Quarter Horse and Quarter Horse-cross yearlings were experimentally infected with influenza A virus (Influenza A/equine/Saskatoon/90 [H3N8]) by nebulisation. In a double blind controlled trial the horses were randomly assigned to 3 groups of 8 animals. Group 1 received a placebo, (carrier syrup), Group 2 the labelled dose and Group 3 twice the labelled dose of clenbuterol hydrochloride. All treatments were given per os b.i.d. for 10 days and started on the day of infection. The horses were monitored for clinical signs of influenza infection for 14 days. Bronchoalveolar lavages were performed 4 days prior to, and 5 and 13 days after infection. Cell counts and concentrations of prostaglandin E2 and prostaglandin F2alpha in the lavage fluid were determined. Blood samples for haematology and serology were taken 4 days before, on the day of infection, 5, 9 and 13 days after infection. All horses experienced a typical influenza infection with fever, coughing and secondary bacterial infections with mainly Actinobacillus spp. and Streptococcus spp. There was no statistically or clinically significant effect of treatment with clenbuterol hydrochloride on measured clinical or laboratory parameters within 14 days of infection.

Sex differences in beliefs about aggression: opponent's sex and the form of aggression

Previous studies show that men endorse instrumental beliefs about aggression to a greater extent than women, whereas women endorse expressive beliefs to a greater extent than men. However, men and women indicate that they have different opponents in mind when thinking about aggression, and existing measures may emphasize physical forms of aggression. Therefore, beliefs about aggression were examined when the type of aggression (physical or verbal) and the sex of the opponent (same sex or opposite-sex partner) were specified, among a sample of 200 students. Expressive beliefs were higher and instrumental beliefs lower for an opposite-sex partner and for physical aggression. The characteristic sex difference applied across all manipulations for expressive beliefs, but not for instrumental ones: men showed higher scores than women only for same-sex physical aggression. Higher instrumental (but not lower expressive) scores were also found among those who based their responses on real rather than hypothetical events. The sex difference in instrumental beliefs for same-sex physical aggression was largely confined to respondents using a hypothetical event. As in previous studies, instrumental and expressive beliefs were relatively independent of one another. The position that the beliefs represent rhetorical devices is assessed in the light of these findings.

Essential Functions: The Journey of an OT Student with Learning Disabilities

This article is essentially the story of my journey, as a student with a learning disability, through the system. It is a very personal account designed to raise the awareness of those who deal with people during the recognition and evaluation stage of a learning disability.

New Developments in Instrumentation for X-ray and Neutron Fibre Diffraction Experiments

New instrumentation has been developed for use in X-ray and neutron fibre diffraction studies to provide automated control of sample position, orientation and ambient relative humidity. A sample mount system has been constructed for the Keele fibre diffraction camera on beamline 7.2 at the Daresbury Laboratory synchrotron radiation source. This allows the sample position and orientation to be controlled remotely, without disturbing the sample environment or the detector, and permits the implementation of efficient data-collection strategies. The system can be used to record entire datasets without incurring any loss of data in the meridional region of the diffraction pattern and has also been used to record three-dimensional datasets from fibres exhibiting `double orientation'. The design incorporates a translation feature so that the effects of radiation damage during data collection can be minimized. An automated humidity control system has also been constructed and can be used in either X-ray or neutron fibre diffraction studies where the water content of samples is a critical parameter and careful control of the relative humidity of the sample environment is required. This system allows the relative humidity to be controlled according to a pre-programmed set of instructions and alleviates some of the common problems that are encountered with conventional methods that require the use of saturated salt solutions. The system is currently installed on instrument D19 at the Institut Laue–Langevin, Grenoble. Results illustrating the application of these facilities in high-angle fibre diffraction studies of DNA are presented.

Heat resistance of Salmonella weltevreden in low-moisture environments

The heat resistance of Salmonella weltevreden inoculated into flour and heated in hot air was determined for (a) an initial water activity (aw) range of 0.20 to 0.60 prior to heating, (b) a range of storage relative humidities of 6.0 to 35.5% prior to heating, and (c) temperatures of 57 to 77 degrees C. The death curves obtained were biphasic, demonstrating an initial rapid decline in the numbers of survivors (1.0- to 1.5-log reductions) during the first 5 to 10 min of heating for all the temperature-water activity combinations tested. Following this initial rapid decline in the number of cells, a linear survivor curve was obtained where inactivation occurred at a slower rate. The initial decline in survivors coincided with a rapid decrease in the water activity of all the samples tested. Irrespective of the initial water activity level in the samples prior to heating, the aw decreased to < 0.2 during the first 5 to 10 min of heating. The D values obtained for these experimental parameters ranged from a D60-62 of 875 min at an initial aw of 0.4 to a D63-65 of 29 min at an initial aw of 0.5. The results demonstrated that, for any temperature, as the initial water activity of the sample prior to heating decreased, the heat resistance of the cells increased. The z values obtained from these data ranged from 15.2 to 53.9 degrees C. The relative humidity during storage prior to heating did not appear to have a significant effect on the heat resistance of S. weltevreden in flour. These results demonstrate that the amount of available water in foods that are considered to be "dry" (i.e., with a water activity less than 0.60) will significantly influence the effectiveness of the heat processing of foods and, in addition to the temperature, the aw prior to heating is a critical controlling factor during these processes.

Derivation of a homesickness scale

A 33-item measure of homesickness (the Homesickness Questionnaire, HQ) was derived from features of grief modified for the circumstance of separation from home. In three samples of year 1 students (N = 264) during their first year at university, total HQ scores were highly correlated with a single-item measure of homesickness used in previous studies, and 28 items showed significant differences between subgroups divided on the basis of the single-item scores. Previous findings that homesick students show more health and psychological symptoms, and cognitive failures, were supported by further comparisons between the two groups, and a meta-analysis of four studies. Factor analysis of the HQ indicated two factors, disliking the university, and attachment to the home, which are consistent with both the separation and strain models of homesickness. Correlations with other variables, and sex differences in the factor scores, further supported the distinction between these two aspects of homesickness. Women showed higher levels of intrusive thinking about the homesickness, but this was mediated by their higher scores on the attachment factor of the HQ. There was no sex difference in avoidant responses to homesickness.

Comparison of plasma fentanyl concentrations by using three transdermal fentanyl patch sizes in dogs

OBJECTIVE

To compare plasma fentanyl concentrations attained after the application of three transdermal fentanyl patch sizes (50, 75, and 100 micrograms/hour) in dogs.

DESIGN

Repeated Latin square controlled study.

ANIMALS

Six intact, mixed-breed adult dogs (2 males, 4 females) weighing 19.9 +/- 3.4 kg.

METHODS

Each dog was randomly assigned to receive each of three treatments: 50 (P50), 75 (P75), or 100 (P100) micrograms/hour transdermal patches. Patches were left in place for 72 hours. Jugular venous blood was collected at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 hours after patch application and for 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 hours after patch removal. Plasma fentanyl concentrations were measured using a radioimmunoassay technique. After a 96-hour washout period, each dog was moved to another treatment group and received a different patch size.

RESULTS

The following results were obtained (mean +/- SD): average plasma fentanyl concentration from 24 to 72 hours, 0.7 +/- 0.2 ng/mL (P50), 1.4 +/- 0.5 ng/mL (P75), 1.2 +/- 0.5 ng/mL (P100); the total area under the concentration versus time curve (0 hours to infinity), 46 +/- 12.2 ng/h/mL (P50), 101.2 +/- 41.4 ng/h/mL (P75), 80.4 +/- 38.3 ng/h/mL (P100); and the apparent elimination half-life, 3.6 +/- 1.2 hours (P50), 3.4 +/- 2.7 hours (P75), and 2.5 +/- 2.0 hours (P100). There was a high degree of variability in plasma fentanyl concentrations achieved. Plasma fentanyl concentrations declined rapidly after patch removal.

CONCLUSIONS

The attainment of steady-state plasma concentrations takes up to 24 hours, and there is a great deal of variability in the final concentrations reached in different individuals. In this study, the 100 micrograms/hour patches did not provide statistically increased plasma concentrations when compared with the 50 micrograms/hour patches.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Because of the interindividual and intraindividual variation in plasma fentanyl concentrations, patches should be applied 24 hours before the anticipated time that analgesia will be required. Adequacy of analgesia and potentially deleterious side effects, such as sedation and respiratory depression, should be monitored while the patches are in place. Skin reactions may occur, and the patches should be removed if such skin irritation is seen. After the patch is removed, it is expected that analgesia will wane rapidly because of the brief elimination half-life.

Do beliefs about aggressive feelings and actions predict reported levels of aggression?

In Study 1, a 40-item questionnaire measuring instrumental and expressive beliefs about aggression, along a five-point scale, was developed. It was based on a 20-item questionnaire (Campbell, Muncer & Coyle, 1992) where the two alternatives were forced choices for each item. In the present study the two sets of beliefs were only moderately correlated (-.35), and their separation into 20-item scales showed a clearer factor structure than combining all 40 items. Men showed higher instrumental scores whereas women showed higher expressive scores: factor analysis revealed one major factor in each case on which items showing the highest sex differences were concentrated. In Study 2 the questionnaire was used on another sample to assess the association between these beliefs and self-reported physical and verbal aggression, and anger. Instrumental beliefs were found to be highly correlated with physical aggression, and to a lesser extent verbal aggression. In this study, sex differences were similar to Study 1, but were complicated by the finding of stronger instrumental beliefs at younger ages for both sexes. In both studies, when filling out the questionnaire, women were equally likely to think of an aggressive episode with a same-sex opponent as with an opposite-sex partner whereas men nearly always thought of an aggressive episode with a same-sex opponent. However, neither instrumental nor expressive scores were affected by whether female respondents were thinking of a partner or same-sex other.

Sex differences in social behavior. Are the social role and evolutionary explanations compatible?

The competing claims of two explanations of sex differences in social behavior, social role theory, and evolutionary psychology are examined. The origin and scope of research on sex differences in social behavior are outlined, and the application of social role theory is discussed. Research that is based on modern sexual selection theory is described, and whether its findings can be explained by social role theory is considered. Findings associated with social role theory are weighed against evolutionary explanations. It is concluded that evolutionary theory accounts much better for the overall pattern of sex differences and for their origins. A coevolutionary approach is proposed to explain cross-cultural consistency in socialization patterns.

Sex differences in social behavior. Are the social role and evolutionary explanations compatible?

The competing claims of two explanations of sex differences in social behavior, social role theory, and evolutionary psychology are examined. The origin and scope of research on sex differences in social behavior are outlined, and the application of social role theory is discussed. Research that is based on modern sexual selection theory is described, and whether its findings can be explained by social role theory is considered. Findings associated with social role theory are weighed against evolutionary explanations. It is concluded that evolutionary theory accounts much better for the overall pattern of sex differences and for their origins. A coevolutionary approach is proposed to explain cross-cultural consistency in socialization patterns.

Accuracy of Pap smear and mammogram self-reports in a southwestern Native American tribe

The use of Pap smears and mammograms in the Native American population is not well documented and the validity of women's self-reports is unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the agreement between women's self-reports of their Pap smear and mammogram histories with their medical records in one Native American tribe. Two hundred fifty-one women between the ages of 35 and 65 answered questions regarding their Pap smear and mammogram histories. These women then underwent an education program and one year later they again answered questions about their Pap smear and mammogram histories. Two hundred four of the original 251 women completed the education program and the second questionnaire. On the first questionnaire, 51.0% of women's claims to have received a Pap smear within the past 12 months were verified by the record audit and 69.2% of claims of receiving a mammogram within the past 12 months were verified. On the second questionnaire, 46.7% of women who said they had received a Pap smear within the past 12 months had their claims verified by their records, and 45.2% of women's claims of receiving a mammogram within the past 12 months were verified. These results suggest that patient recall alone should not be used to determine date of last procedure.

Media alternatives for the collection, culture and freezing of mouse and cattle embryos

The replacement of biological products in media for the collection, culture and freezing of mammalian embryos was studied. To test the hypothesis that chemically defined surfactants can replace bovine serum albumin (BSA) or serum in embryo media, morula-stage mouse and cattle embryos were collected, cultured, and/or frozen in the surfactant compound, VF5. Collection efficiency of mouse and cattle embryos did not differ whether the medium contained serum or surfactant. In addition, morula-stage mouse and cattle embryos developed and hatched at similar rates in culture media containing either BSA or surfactant. Although the freeze/thaw survival and development in culture of bovine embryos was not significantly different in any of the media, there was a significantly lower hatching rate of mouse embryos frozen with serum or surfactant than with cryoprotectant alone or with cryoprotectant plus albumin-free serum. However, the absence of serum or surfactant in embryo freezing media resulted in embryo loss, presumably due to stickiness. The data suggest that serum can be replaced by a chemically defined surfactant in mouse and cattle embryo transfer systems for the collection, culturing and freezing of embryos. It is likely that the beneficial effects of serum are due to its surfactant properties.

Radiation safety regulations--the evolution and development of standards

This article describes the development of radiation protection standards, including laws covering equipment, personnel and patients, from a historical and evolutionary standpoint. Laws for the safe use of equipment, guidelines for occupational exposure and means of patient protection are developed from reports and recommendations of national and international organizations. In the United States, some of these laws operate at the federal level and others at the state level. This process is not always well-understood due to the number of organizations involved. This article outlines the process for the radiology manager.

Movement, face processing and schizophrenia: evidence of a differential deficit in expression analysis

Three dynamic face-processing tasks based on the Bruce & Young (1986) functional model of face processing were presented to 10 schizophrenic and 10 depressed inpatients and to 10 non-patient subjects. Familiar face recognition, facial expression recognition and unfamiliar face matching were examined. Schizophrenic patients' performance was significantly poorer than that of depressed patients and non-patient controls. Significantly lower scores were obtained on the facial expression recognition task than on the familiar face recognition task. There was a differential pattern of group performance on each of the three tasks: schizophrenic and depressed patients were as accurate as non-patient controls on the familiar face recognition task, but significantly less accurate than non-patient controls on the unfamiliar face-matching task. Schizophrenic patients were significantly less accurate than depressed patients and non-patient controls on the facial expression recognition task. The results are contrasted with an analogous static face-processing study.

Bereavement following death of a pet

A 40-item questionnaire based on reactions following human bereavement was used to investigate the occurrence of grief following death of a pet in a sample of 88 people. Items indicating initial numbness or disbelief, preoccupation with the loss, a loss of part of themselves and being drawn towards reminders were endorsed by half to four-fifths of the sample. About a quarter reported the urge to search, avoidance or mitigation strategies, anger, anxiety and depression. The questionnaire showed high internal reliability, and total scores were significantly positively correlated with the degree of affective attachment to the pet, the suddenness of the death and whether the respondent lived alone; but not with the type of pet, the time since it had died, and how long the owner had been with it. Factor analysis of the questionnaire revealed one main factor accounting for about a third of the variance, described as emotional distress associated with the loss; two lesser factors involved items representing personal importance of the loss and a feeling of continued attachment. Overall these findings indicate a parallel reaction to that following a human bereavement, but with a lower frequency of affective distress. Moderator variables were also comparable with those known to be important for grief following a human loss.

Pulmonary complications of bone marrow transplantation: the impact of variations in total body irradiation parameters

In this article we report and discuss the pulmonary complications in patients who received a single exposure total body irradiation (TBI) to a total dose of 7.5 Gy at a dose rate of 0.15 Gy/min, a TBI regimen which has the advantage of being given in a single, relatively short exposure, with an active treatment time of less than 1 hour. This forms a part of the bone marrow transplantation programme for the management of certain haematological malignancies at the Leicester Regional Centre. Between July 1986 and October 1990, we treated 31 patients with such a regimen. Full respiratory function tests (RFT) were carried out, prior to TBI, in the majority of patients. After a mean follow-up period of 34 months, 13 patients were alive; full RFT were repeated in all of them. Of the total of 31 patients, only one patient died, from late non-specific pneumonitis; in this case, high dose busulphan was added to conventional cyclophosphamide and TBI. Another patient died as a direct result of cytomegalovirus pneumonia. Comparison of pre- and post-TBI RFT showed no resultant obstructive, restrictive or transfer factor defects. In the three patients who did not have pre-TBI RFT, post-TBI RFT did not reveal any significant change from expected values for age, sex and height. Several major centres have reported their experience using various combinations of different total doses, dose rates and fractionations. Having compared our results with theirs, we conclude that, following this relatively short and convenient single exposure TBI, there is no evidence of increased acute or chronic pulmonary toxicity.

The grief process and job loss: a cross-sectional study

This study assessed the applicability of the grief process to job loss. A pilot study of 10 unemployed men was used to establish a structured interview, and its content analysis, based on a description of the grief process derived from studies of bereavement. Other measures assessed the degree of attachment to the former job. The main study involved 60 men who had lost their jobs during the previous eight years. Individual grief items were found in some of these people, varying in frequency from 10 to 80 per cent. Principal components analysis revealed a general grief component, representing most of the specific items. Twenty-seven per cent of the sample fulfilled a criterion for a clear grief-like response. An overall grief score based on the interview answers was significantly correlated with three different measures of job attachment, and also with questionnaire measures of depression and anxiety. These measures were unrelated to the length of time since job loss, apparently providing no support for stage theories or for more general assumptions of adaptation. However, the cross-sectional nature of the sample complicates this conclusion.

Avoiding pollution from poultry manure

In the UK the poultry industry has a good record with regard to surface water contamination and has been responsible for only a small proportion of the total pollution incidents attributable to agriculture. Guidance is provided to farmers by a Code of Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Water. Because poultry manures have high concentrations of total nitrogen, with much of this in soluble form, the pollution of ground water with nitrates is a more serious problem. A voluntary Pilot Nitrate Scheme has been introduced in some parts of the UK which controls the quantities of animal waste applied to the land and also the timing of waste application. Linked to the scheme is a comprehensive programme of scientific monitoring. The broad requirements of the European Community Nitrate Directive are described. In the case of air pollution due to odours, poultry farms were reported to be responsible for 17% of complaints attributed to agriculture. Where appropriate, legislative means exist to reduce the nuisance and a Code of Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Air has been published. Some implications for poultry production in the future are considered.

Sulphydryl reactivity of the HLA-B27 epitope: accessibility of the free cysteine studied by flow cytometry

HLA-B27 has an unpaired cysteine on or near its serologically defined spondylitis associated epitope, and it has been argued that its sulphydryl side chain may be chemically reactive. In a previous study it was shown that chemical treatment of HLA-B27 cells with the sulphydryl binding agent p-chloromercuriphenylsulphonic acid (pCMPSA) specifically reduced binding of antibodies to HLA-B27 by up to 80%, as measured in a cellular enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (CELISA). The effect of sulphydryl blockade on intact B27 cells was investigated using flow cytometry. Compared with the CELISA, inhibition required higher concentrations of pCMPSA, and the degree of inhibition produced by a greater than or equal to 30 microM solution of pCMPSA as measured by flow cytometry (median 28.9%) was significantly lower than that measured by CELISA (median 73.6%; p = 1.6 x 10(-6)). Analysis of unfixed, cell surface HLA-B27 by flow cytometry suggests that on most B27 molecules the unpaired sulphydryl site is not available. On the basis of this evidence for modification after translation, a new 'altered self' hypothesis is proposed for the part which HLA-B27 plays in inflammatory disease.

Face processing in psychiatric conditions

Functional models of face processing have indicated that dissociations exist between the various processes involved, e.g. between familiar face recognition and matching of unfamiliar faces, and between familiar face recognition and facial expression analysis. These models have been successfully applied to the understanding of the different types of impairment that can exist in neuropsychological patients. In the present study, aspects of face processing in psychiatric patients were investigated in relation to Bruce & Young's (1986) model. Based on this functional model different predictions can be made. We contrast here the impaired expression analysis hypothesis, which is that psychiatric patients would show a deficit in facial expression recognition, but not in facial identity recognition or unfamiliar face matching, with the generalized deficit hypothesis, that patients would be impaired on all tasks. These hypotheses were examined using three forced-choice tasks (facial recognition, facial expression recognition, and unfamiliar face matching) which were presented to schizophrenic and depressed patients, and to non-patient controls. Results showed that schizophrenic patients performed at a significantly lower level than non-patient controls on all three tasks, supporting the generalized deficit hypothesis.

The influence of testosterone on human aggression

Animal studies show clear evidence for a causal link between testosterone and aggression. This review assesses studies involving androgens, principally testosterone, and human aggression. Evidence for a possible effect of prenatal androgens is inconclusive. In adults, higher testosterone levels are found in groups selected for high levels of aggressiveness. Correlations between testosterone and aggression were low when hostility inventories were used, but higher (r = .38) when aggressiveness was rated by others. Regression analysis data and studies of boys at puberty were inconclusive. Other studies show that the outcome of aggressive and competitive encounters can alter testosterone levels, thus confounding interpretation of the correlational evidence. The design of future studies to reveal evidence of a causal link is considered. Suggestions concerning two important methodological problems, the experimental manipulation of hormone levels and the nature of the dependent variable, are made.

Aggressive behaviour of children aged 6-11: gender differences and their magnitude

A total of 72 boys and 72 girls, of six age groups from 6 to 11 years, was observed in the school classroom over eight 5-minute periods, under conditions of low structure, non-directive teaching; aggressive and other categories of behaviour were recorded. There were no overall gender differences in aggression, but boys showed significantly more physical aggression than girls (overall effect size d = 0.36), whereas girls showed significantly more verbal aggression than boys (overall effect size d = 0.66). The physical aggression difference was variable both in direction and magnitude across the age categories and included a large reversal at 9 years. Boy's higher levels of physical aggression were not associated with higher levels of activity or more time spent in social interactions. The gender difference in verbal aggression was consistent in direction and magnitude across age categories, but in the opposite direction to the majority of previous findings. There were no gender differences in other categories of verbal behaviour.

Grief and rehousing

The occurrence and extent of grief-like features were assessed in a sample of people who had been rehoused involuntarily. Answers indicating the following responses were reported by a proportion of those interviewed: intrusive thoughts (29 per cent), searching (22 per cent), anger (24 per cent), loss of self (56 per cent) and identification (38 per cent).

The sociobiology of bereavement: a reply to Littlefield and Rushton

This article offers a critique of Littlefield and Rushton's (1986) application of sociobiological principles to bereavement following the death of a child. The following general issues are considered: (a) whether behavior is always adaptive and (b) the distinction between proximate and ultimate explanations. It is argued that grief is a maladaptive by-product of another, adaptive feature and that hypotheses about the severity of grief are best derived from proximate considerations rather than genetic relatedness. The use of a single-item rating scale to measure grief is questioned, and it is noted that interspouse reliabilities reported in the article were low, a problem not solved (as claimed) by aggregation. Criticisms are made of the specific hypotheses, notably in terms of their origins in sociobiological theory. It is argued that functional hypotheses are not alternatives to proximate mechanisms, but enable some proximate mechanisms to be viewed from the perspective of evolutionary biology.

The sociobiology of bereavement: A reply to Littlefield and Rushton

This article offers a critique of Littlefield and Rushton's (1986) application of sociobiological principles to bereavement following the death of a child. The following general issues are considered: (a) whether behavior is always adaptive and (b) the distinction between proximate and ultimate explanations. It is argued that grief is a maladaptive by-product of another, adaptive feature and that hypotheses about the severity of grief are best derived from proximate considerations rather than genetic relatedness. The use of a single-item rating scale to measure grief is questioned, and it is noted that interspouse reliabilities reported in the article were low, a problem not solved (as claimed) by aggregation. Criticisms are made of the specific hypotheses, notably in terms of their origins in sociobiological theory. It is argued that functional hypotheses are not alternatives to proximate mechanisms, but enable some proximate mechanisms to be viewed from the perspective of evolutionary biology.

Bereavement and reactions to job loss: a comparative review

An assessment is made of the applicability of the grief framework for understanding reactions to job loss. Jahoda's 'deprivation view' of unemployment is introduced as a statement of what is lost, with the grief model describing the process of adjustment to loss. The main features of grief are described: it is an active process, changing over time, consisting of a number of episodic components combined with a background of chronic emotional disturbance. Parkes' concept of psychosocial transitions is then outlined; this provides a theoretical link between grieving and reactions to other forms of loss, including job loss. An assessment is made of how the grief process has been applied to job loss in existing research. Evidence for most of the components of the grief process is apparent in accounts of reactions to unemployment, but there is little evidence on their frequency, changes over time or their relationship to one another. Variables which are likely to affect the occurrence, extent and precise course of any grief-like process are examined by comparing reactions to bereavement and job loss. The family and social contexts of reactions to loss are then considered in relation to both grief and unemployment. Finally, the advantages and limitations of the grief model are briefly discussed.