Childbirth confidence: validating the Childbirth Self-Efficacy Inventory (CBSEI) in an Australian sample

This study examined the reliability and validity of the Childbirth Self-Efficacy Inventory (CBSEI) (Lowe 1993) in a sample of 100 Australian women. Consistent with US data, the measure was shown to have high internal consistency. Validity of the instrument was determined by applying self-efficacy theory (Bandura 1982), which predicts that parity should have the largest effect on childbirth self-efficacy, followed by knowledge, then support and finally anxiety. Results revealed that having prior good birth experience and knowledge about childbirth had significant effects on childbirth self-efficacy. A factor analysis was performed to determine whether the original factor structure of this instrument held for Australian women. While outcome expectancies and self-efficacy expectancies emerged as distinct factors, the results showed that Australian women did not differentiate between active and second-stage labour. Rather than the two stages of labour emerging as dimensions of the CBSEI, two externally focused coping strategies were revealed.

Interlaboratory agreement among results of human papillomavirus type 16 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays

Serological assays for measuring antibodies to human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) virus-like particles (VLPs) have become important epidemiologic tools in recent years. However, the interlaboratory replicability of these assays has not been assessed. In this investigation, three laboratories tested a panel of specimens obtained from two different groups: 265 subjects in a vulvar cancer case-control study and 107 healthy volunteer blood donors. Each laboratory used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), but no attempt was made to standardize assay procedures among the three laboratories. The data showed good day-to-day intralaboratory replicability in laboratory 1 (correlation coefficient, > or = 0.88) and good intra-assay variability in laboratory 3 (correlation coefficient, > or = 0.93). Interlaboratory correlations, likewise, ranged between 0.61 and 0.80 in both case-control study subjects and healthy blood donors, indicating that ELISA optical density (OD) values between laboratories were linearly related regardless of the population. Kappa coefficients (kappa), based on each laboratory's categorical interpretation of its results (as positive or negative), showed good agreement (kappa, > 0.6) in case-control study subjects and moderate agreement (kappa, > or = 0.4) in blood donors, a population that had few strongly positive sera. When OD values near seropositive cutoffs were treated as indeterminates, there was little discordance between laboratories in either population. The data suggest that each laboratory measured the same humoral immune response and that their HPV-16 VLP ELISAs performed similarly (Pearson correlations). Interlaboratory differences, however, probably due to reagents and procedures, were considerably greater than intralaboratory day-to-day variability. Interlaboratory agreement in determining seropositivity (kappa) could be improved by sharing positive and negative serum controls and by treating marginal results as indeterminate. As part of continuing cooperation to improve interlaboratory agreement, we are preparing bulk serum control specimens to be shared and made available to interested researchers.

Deep-space satellite-image reconstructions from field data by use of speckle imaging techniques: images and functional assessment

Speckle imaging techniques have been shown to mitigate atmospheric-resolution limits, allowing near-diffraction-limited images to be reconstructed. Few images of extended objects reconstructed by use of these techniques have been published, and most of these results are for relatively bright objects. We present image reconstructions of an orbiting Molniya 3 spacecraft from data collected by use of a 2.3-m ground-based telescope. The apparent brightness of the satellite was 15th visual magnitude. Power-spectrum and bispectrum speckle imaging techniques are used prior to image reconstruction to ameliorate atmospheric blurring. We discuss how these images, although poorly resolved, can be used to provide information on the satellite's functional status. It is shown that our previously published optimal algorithms produce a higher-quality image than do conventional speckle imaging methods.

HIV-1 and HIV-2 in Ghana, west Africa: community surveys compared to surveys of pregnant women

We conducted a population-based serosurvey of HIV-1/2 in 2,410 residents of two urban and two rural areas of southern Ghana, West Africa and compared the results to serosurveys of 1,417 pregnant women. Using conservative criteria, we found the prevalence of HIV-1/2 in community survey adults (> 15 years old) to be 1.5% in women and 1.0% in men. Among pregnant women, the prevalence was 9.3% in one rural area but only 1.0% in other areas. Many samples, especially among the pregnant women were HIV-1 and -2 dual reactive on serology. We attribute the disparity between prevalence in the community survey participants and pregnant women to local socio-economic factors. Women in this area have a tradition of working throughout West Africa as trader/ commercial sex workers. When pregnant or ill, they return to their home villages to be with their families. HIV surveillance programs which rely on pregnant women need to be sure that sampled populations are truly typical of the communities they are intended to represent.

Subjective appraisal of infant crying

How families appraise difficult situations contributes to later adaptive functioning. We have observed in both research and practice that when appraising their infants' crying, mothers often compared their own infants' crying to actual or supposed much worse infants. They typically appraised their infants to be crying less than average infants. This phenomenon, defined in the social psychology literature, is called downward comparison. Secondary analysis of an established data set was used to assess the extent of downward comparison and the identification of excessive crying among a sample of 193 primiparous mothers. Mothers appraised their own infants' crying to be less than that of the expected average infant. Mothers who identified their infants as excessive criers made less robust downward comparisons than did mothers who did not identify their infants as excessive criers. Nursing interventions that focus on supporting mothers' positive appraisal and promoting knowledge of infant behaviors, particularly infant crying, are proposed.

MSH6, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein that binds to mismatches as a heterodimer with MSH2

The process of post-replicative DNA-mismatch repair seems to be highly evolutionarily conserved. In Escherichia coli, DNA mismatches are recognized by the MutS protein. Homologues of the E. coli mutS and mutL mismatch-repair genes have been identified in other prokaryotes, as well as in yeast and mammals. Recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae MSH2 (MSH for MutS homologue) and human hMSH2 proteins have been shown to bind to mismatch-containing DNA in vitro. However, the physiological role of hMSH2 is unclear, as shown by the recent finding that the mismatch-binding factor hMutS alpha isolated from extracts of human cells is a heterodimer of hMSH2 and another member of the MSH family, GTBP. It has been reported that S. cerevisiae possesses a mismatch-binding activity, which most probably contains MSH2. We show here that, as in human cells, the S. cerevisiae binding factor is composed of MSH2 and a new functional MutS homologue, MSH6, identified by its homology to GTBP.

Modulation of murine peritoneal macrophage functions by gastrin

The effect in vitro of gastrin-17 and gastrin-34 was studied at concentrations from 10(-12) to 10(-6) M on several functions of resting peritoneal macrophages from BALB/c mice: adherence to substrate, mobility (spontaneous and directed by chemical gradient or chemotaxis), and ingestion of inert particles (latex beads) or cells (Candida albicans). Both gastrins, at concentrations from 10(-10) to 10(-8) M, inhibited significantly all functions studied with the exception of adherence, which was increased. A dose-response relationship was observed, with a maximum inhibition of macrophage functions found at 10(-9) M. These peptides induced in murine macrophages a significant increase of cAMP levels at 60 and 120 s. Adenosine, an adenylate cyclase inhibitor, significantly increased the ingestion of latex beads, whereas the combined presence of adenosine and either G-17 or G-34 produced similar values to those of control samples without adenosine or gastrin. These results suggest that gastrin is a negative modulator of several macrophage functions, and that the inhibition of these activities is carried out through an increase of intracellular cAMP levels.

Increased susceptibility to Bacillus thuringiensis associated with pyrethroid resistance in Bovicola (Damalinia) ovis (Phthiraptera Mallophaga: possible role of monooxygenases

A comparison of the toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) to pyrethroid-susceptible and -resistant strains of Bovicola (Damalinia) ovis showed that B. thuringiensis and pyrethroid toxicity were inversely related. The B. ovis strain with an apparent monooxygenase-mediated pyrethroid resistance mechanism was significantly more susceptible to B. thuringiensis. Susceptibility to B. thuringiensis in both the pyrethroid-susceptible and -resistant strains was significantly reduced after administration of the monooxygenase inhibitor piperonyl butoxide. Susceptibility to B. thuringiensis in the pyrethroid-susceptible strain was significantly enhanced after administration of a monooxygenase inducer, sodium phenobarbital. These results suggest that monooxygenases may be important in increasing the toxicity of B. thuringiensis against B. ovis. We discuss the potential use of B. thuringiensis to control pyrethroid-resistant lice.

Morbidity of juvenile onset inflammatory bowel disease: effects on education and employment in early adult life

Seventy young adults (50 with Crohn's disease (CD) and 20 with ulcerative colitis (UC) (from a geographically derived cohort of patients with juvenile onset inflammatory bowel disease were interviewed and examined at a mean of 14 (range 5.2-29.5) years after diagnosis. Details of education and employment were collected as part of a structured clinical interview. Although 57% had had periods of absence from school of two months or more, their school examination pass rates were similar to those of the healthy population. The achievements of CD patients were consistently better than those of the UC group. In 15 patients, relapses of inflammatory bowel disease had adversely affected examination performance or prevented them from sitting school examinations. Extra tuition in hospital had been provided for only four patients, and three others had had privately arranged tuition at home. Fifty per cent proceeded to full time higher education. At the time of review, seven patients were full time students, one was a university research fellow, 47 were in full time and three in part time employment, one was self employed, four were housewives, and only six were involuntarily unemployed. All four unemployed CD patients attributed this to inflammatory bowel disease, but other factors were relevant in the unemployed UC patients. Few had direct evidence of rejection by employers on health grounds, though some did not declare their illness to prospective employers.

The prevalence of antibodies to the human T lymphotropic virus (HTLV) in Ghana, West Africa

We conducted a population-based serosurvey of urban areas and rural regions of southern Ghana, West Africa. Subjects (3763) of all ages were enrolled from 25 city and village sites and in studies of groups of special interest. "Positive" results were difficult to define because of a high frequency of results that were indeterminate on immunoblotting, the current standard for confirmation of HTLV-I. However, polymerase chain reaction results and HTLV type-specific discriminatory tests proved HTLV-I was present in Ghana. No HTLV-2 positivity was observed. By using strict criteria that considered indeterminate results as negative, the overall prevalence was found to be between 1 and 2% in all areas, with no difference by geographic location. Prevalence rose with age and was higher in adult women than men. However, in substudies of selected populations, we found HTLV prevalence among 124 persons with lymphomas and hematological malignancies was not different from that in the general population. Furthermore, the prevalence in prostitutes was similar to that in the general population and in pregnant women. HTLV-I is present in West Africa, but we were unable to associate HTLV-I seropositivity with malignancy or with prostitution.

HTLV-II infection in Florida Indians

A significantly increased prevalence of antibodies to human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV) has been described in several native American populations in the United States and Latin America. Initial virologic studies indicate that HTLV-II is the predominant virus responsible for this antibody pattern. We obtained blood samples from 106 Seminole Indians living on four reservations in Southern Florida. Seropositivity to HTLV-I/II was found in 14 (13.2%) of these individuals. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) documented HTLV-II and the absence of HTLV-I in 7 of the 9 donors available for follow-up testing of white blood cells. Evaluation of various risk factors excluded blood transfusion or intravenous drug use as an important contributing factor to the HTLV-II seroprevalence rate. These studies support the hypothesis that HTLV-II is endemic in many native American tribes in the Western hemisphere.

Detection of early human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I antibody patterns during seroconversion among transfusion recipients

From a cohort of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) exposed transfusion recipients (N = 71) enrolled in the Jamaican Transfusion Study, 11 were selected for detailed laboratory evaluation. All recipients were followed at monthly intervals for 6 months and then bimonthly up to 1 year for evidence of HTLV-I seroconversion. Without regard to results on screening assays, pretransfusion and posttransfusion samples were tested with two licensed HTLV-1 whole-virus screening enzyme immunoassays (EIAs), recombinant EIAs for antibody against tax (p40x) and p21e envelope, standard whole virus Western blot (WB), WB enhanced with recombinant p21e, and radioimmunoprecipitation assay (RIPA). In the early period posttransfusion, antibody to gag core protein was predominant with anti-p24 generally appearing before anti-p19. Recombinant anti-p21e envelope protein, in EIA and WB format, was frequently the earliest envelope reactivity detected, while anti-gp46 in WB and anti-gp61/68 in RIPA system appeared later. Anti-tax antibodies appeared later in the time course of seroconversion. The whole-virus EIAs were less sensitive than the confirmatory assays. The combination of WB and RIPA or WB enhanced with recombinant p21e appeared equally effective in confirming samples as positive by the Public Health Service two gene group confirmatory algorithm. However, specificity of this assay approach could not be addressed in this study.

Aflatoxin production by entomopathogenic isolates of Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus flavus

Fourteen isolates of Aspergillus parasiticus and 2 isolates of Aspergillus flavus isolated from the mealybug Saccharicoccus sacchari were analyzed for production of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 in liquid culture over a 20-day period. Twelve Aspergillus isolates including 11 A. parasiticus and 1 A. flavus produced aflatoxins which were extracted from both the mycelium and culture filtrate. Aflatoxin production was detected at day 3 and was detected continually for up to day 20. Aflatoxin B1 production was greatest between 7 and 10 days and significantly higher quantities were produced by A. flavus compared to A. parasiticus. Aflatoxin production was not a stable trait in 1 A. parasiticus isolate passaged 50 times on agar. In addition to loss of aflatoxin production, an associated loss in sporulation ability was also observed in this passaged isolate, although it did maintain pathogenicity against S. sacchari. An aflatoxin B1 concentration of 0.16 micrograms/mealybug (14.2 micrograms/g wet wt) was detected within the tissues of infected mealybugs 7 days after inoculation. In conclusion, the ability of Aspergillus isolates to produce aflatoxins was not essential to the entomopathogenic activity of this fungus against its host S. sacchari.

Evaluation and synthesis of aminohydroxyisoxazoles and pyrazoles as potential glycine agonists

Except for structurally similar small amino acids, such as alanine, beta-alanine, and serine, compounds acting as glycine-receptor agonists are an unknown class of pharmacological agents. To investigate the potential of small, substituted heterocycles to act as glycine agonists, we have evaluated the similarities between glycine and a series of hydroxy- and amino-substituted pyrazoles and isoxazoles through complementary molecular modeling techniques. Using a "scorecard approach" to determine the overall similarity of projected agonist structures to glycine, we prioritized synthesis and subsequently prepared several novel derivatives. The biological activity of these compounds was compared to that of glycine by using a [3H]strychnine-mediated glycine receptor binding assay. Despite the close similarity in the calculated parameters when compared to glycine, no significant receptor-binding activity was observed for the targeted analogues. These results illustrate the structurally exacting nature of the glycine receptor.

Total lung lavage for pulmonary alveolar proteinosis in an infant without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis is a rare disease that usually affects the adult patient, but is now being recognized as a possible cause of neonatal respiratory distress. In the adult patient, whole lung lavage, as described by Ramirez-R in 1965, is considered the most effective therapy for management of this condition. The lavage can be accomplished safely and with relative ease by using a Carlens or Robertshaw tube to isolate and lavage one lung while ventilating the other. The unavailability of a small double-lumen tube makes this procedure impossible in the pediatric age group. Therefore, whole lung lavage has been possible in only a few children in the past with the help of cardiopulmonary bypass to allow simultaneous oxygenation during the pulmonary lavage. Due to the hazards and technical difficulties of cardiopulmonary bypass, total pulmonary lavage can not be considered a practical option in the very small infant. A 15-week-old infant is reported, weighing 2 kg with a diagnosis of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, who underwent total pulmonary lavage safely on three different occasions without employing cardiopulmonary bypass. A double-lumen Swan-Ganz catheter, introduced transbronchoscopically through the side-arm of a rigid, 3.5-mm Storz bronchoscope was used to isolate and lavage one lung while ventilation to the other lung was maintained through the bronchoscope. A Nellcor oximeter, utilized for transcutaneous monitoring, revealed satisfactory oxygen saturation during the entire pulmonary lavage. The transbronchoscopic lavage was monitored under direct vision with a video monitor, ensuring correct position of the bronchoscope and the catheter at all times.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Disorganized recall, hypnotic amnesia and subjects' faking: more disconfirmatory evidence

Wagstaff hypothesized that subjects' faking may account for the disorganization in the clustering of recall that frequently accompanies suggested amnesia for a list of categorized words. According to this hypothesis subjects who learned a categorized word list will cluster inefficiently when they are explicitly instructed to pretend that they have forgotten some of the words. This hypothesis also predicts that subjects asked to mix up words from different categories during recall and simultaneously to recall only a specific number of the words will have difficulty carrying out both tasks. We present two experiments that tested both of these predictions and disconfirmed them both. Our findings are inconsistent with a faking hypothesis of hypnotic amnesia.