Parent-child closeness affects the similarity of drinking levels between parents and their college-age children

College males reported drinking more frequently and in higher amounts than females. Correlations between quantity-frequency (QF) indices of drinking by parents and by their college-age children showed the greatest similarity between fathers and sons. Log linear analyses compared each parent's drinking level against each of three other factors that might affect the QF levels of college-age children: the relationship between parent and child, the effect of the parent's drinking on the parent, and how the parent's drinking affected their treatment of the child. The results supported models in which the relationship of each parent's drinking to the QF levels of both sons and daughters was affected by the closeness of the parent-child relationship. However, there was no support for models involving how each parent's drinking affected that parent or how each parent's drinking affected their treatment of the child.

Safety of antitachycardia pacing in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators and severely depressed left ventricular function

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of antitachycardia pacing (ATP) in third-generation implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) for terminating spontaneously occurring ventricular tachycardias (VTs) in patients with severely depressed left ventricular (LV) function. Ninety-one patients with active ATP were followed for 16 +/- 13 months. During this period, 775 VT episodes occurring in 36 patients were treated by ATP. The patients were divided into two groups according to their LV ejection fraction (LVEF): group A with LVEF < or = 30% (n = 20), and group B with LVEF > 30% (n = 16). There were no differences between both groups in age, gender, underlying heart disease, indication for ICD therapy, or drug therapy. The VT rates were comparable (group A: 183 +/- 16 beats/min; group B: 180 +/- 21 beats/min; P = NS). Eighty-three percent of all episodes (n = 332) in group A and 93% of the VTs (n = 443) in group B were ATP terminated (P < 0.01). Ten percent of VTs in group A were accelerated by ATP into the ventricular fibrillation zone versus 2% in group B (P < 0.01). The individual termination rate and acceleration rate per patient were comparable in both groups. All VT episodes unresponsive to ATP were converted by backup shocks. The efficacy of first-shock therapy was similar in both groups (group A: 89%; group B: 97%; P = NS). The proportion of patients who needed at least one backup shock for unsuccessful ATP was comparable in both groups (group A: 65%; group B: 56%; P = NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

High resolution ECG and left ventricular volume after acute myocardial infarction

The presence of ventricular late potentials (LPs) early after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was recently reported to correlate with left ventricular dilatation subsequent to AMI. We assessed prospectively the relationship between LP (time domain) in the late phase of AMI and left ventricular end-diastolic volume (EDV) measured by equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography 4 weeks and 12 months after AMI. In 80 consecutive patients 4 weeks and 12 months after thrombolytic therapy for AMI, LP and EDV were determined (EDV1, EDV2). There was no significant correlation between QRS duration (r = 0.18), RMS40 (r = 0.08), or LAS40 (r = 0.1) and EDV1 or EDV2 in patients with or without LP at baseline. In both groups (patients with [n = 15] and without LP [n = 65]), EDV1 and EDV2 were comparable (128 +/- 32 mL vs 126 +/- 35 mL; 114 +/- 40 mL vs 117 +/- 36 mL; P = NS). In addition, there was no significant difference between EDV1 and EDV2 in patients who developed new LP (n = 6) or lost LP (n = 9) 12 months after AMI. In contrast to LP in the very early phase after AMI, there seems to be no significant correlation between the high resolution ECG in the late phase after thrombolytic therapy for AMI and left ventricular EDV.

Treatment of subjects with refractory periodontal disease

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of non-surgical periodontal therapy with the adjunct of a selected antibiotic in subjects diagnosed with refractory periodontal disease. 21 subjects were selected for the study; all had a history of periodontal surgery, tetracycline therapy, and regular maintenance by a periodontist. When disease activity was detected, a bacterial sample was taken and a whole plaque susceptibility test was performed. Before the outcome of the susceptibility test the subjects were assigned to either antibiotic or placebo therapy. All subjects received scaling and rootplaning prior to antibiotic or placebo therapy. Based on the susceptibility test, subjects in the antibiotic group were treated either with Augmentin or clindamycin. The results demonstrated that in subjects with refractory periodontal disease there was no significant difference (N.S.) in the proportion of sites losing attachment before and after treatment (11.3% and 12.4%, respectively) over a 2-year post therapy observation period. However, the proportion of sites showing gain of attachment increased from 0.9% before therapy to 5.1% (p = 0.029) following selective antibiotic therapy when combined with scaling and rootplaning. The remainder of sites showed no change between pre- and post-therapy monitoring periods. The progression of attachment loss in the active sites could not be completely stopped over the entire 2-year period. After 12-15 months following therapy, there was a tendency towards new loss of attachment and an increase of pocket depth. However, all 4 subjects treated with placebo drug demonstrated continuous deterioration and had to be retreated. Although the proportion of sites losing attachment decreased from 5.1% to 2.3% (N.S.), the proportion of sites gaining attachment also decreased from 2.0% to 1.0% (N.S.). The results suggest that scaling and rootplaning together with selected antibiotic therapy repeated every 12-15 months may be beneficial for these subjects although it may not completely stop progressive attachment loss.

Cues to start and end drinking episodes as a function of family drinking history

College students with positive (FH+) and negative (FH-) family history for heavy frequent alcohol use showed no differences in age of first drink, amount consumed then, amount currently consumed, current frequency, maximum consumed, or effect of current alcohol consumed. However, there were FH background differences in the reasons identified for ending, but not for starting, drinking episodes involving intoxication. The realization of already drinking too much ended these drinking episodes more often among FH- than for FH+ subjects. In contrast, nausea and lateness of the hour were related to the end of drinking more often for FH+ subjects.

Epithelial tumours induced by a herpesvirus oncogene in transgenic mice

To investigate the role of herpesviral genes in tumourigenesis, transgenic mice were generated expressing STP-C, a transformation associated protein of the lymphoma inducing herpesvirus saimiri. Epithelial tumours developed in the salivary gland, pancreas, thymus and liver of transgenic mice within the first weeks of life. Thus, the target cells for tumour formation in the transgenic mice were surprisingly different from those of the herpesvirus from which the oncogene was derived. Our results identify STP-C as a herpesvirus oncogene sufficient for tumour induction without the cooperation of other viral gene products. Furthermore, the results demonstrate pleiotropic transforming capabilities of the STP-C oncogene and suggest that the specificity of lymphoma induction by the virus is determined by factors other than the oncogene itself.

18q-mosaicism associated with Rett syndrome phenotype

Rett syndrome consists of a characteristic progressive encephalopathy in females. The cause of this syndrome is unknown. We present a patient with 18q-mosaicism who, along with the characteristics of this autosomal deletion, also fulfills the clinical criteria for Rett syndrome. This may demonstrate heterogeneity within this as yet clinically defined syndrome. A thorough chromosomal analysis should be performed in suspected cases of Rett syndrome.

The relationship of worrying, coping, and symptoms among college men and women

College students maintained a daily log of their worrying for 7 consecutive days, with three different subgroups starting on different days of the week. Patterns of the type and amount of worrying did not vary systematically over successive days. Multiple regression analyses showed a direct relationship between worrying level and amount of psychological symptoms, as measured by both the diary method and a single item self-rating. Avoidance coping was related to higher levels of physical and psychological symptoms, whereas problem solving was associated with fewer psychological symptoms for females. Men and women, for the most part, had similar relationships among the variables.

Biodegradation of phenol: a comparative study with and without applying magnetic fields

The objective of this work was to study the effect of magnetic fields on the rate of phenol biodegradation using immobilized activated sludge. A recirculation flow bioreactor employing immobilized bacterial beads was used with phenol as the substrate to study the biodegradation process. This study was conducted by applying separately the north pole and the south pole magnetic fields to the bioreactor. Rate of dissolved oxygen consumption, phenol concentration and extracellular protein concentration were the parameters monitored during the process. It was observed that by applying a magnetic south pole to the process, biodegradation in the form of biological oxidation was enhanced. A 30% increase in biodegradation rate was obtained by applying a magnetic south pole of strength of 0.45 Tesla to the bioreactor with immobilized microbial beads as compared to the control. Magnetic north pole irradiation inhibited this type of biooxidation. This process has potential for biological treatment of organic wastes.

The efficacy of hydrophilic contact lens cleaning systems in removing protein deposits

New, never-worn, individual hydrophilic contact lenses were incubated in an artificial tear solution (containing lysozyme, albumin, lactoferrin, and glycoprotein) for 24 hours at 37 degrees C with constant stirring. These lenses were then cleaned following the manufacturer's instructions with one of six commercial cleaning systems: AOSEPT, CONSEPT, Oxysept, ReNu, Opti-Free and thermal disinfection in conjunction with the Allergan Enzymatic Contact Lens Cleaner. The protein remaining on each lens after cleaning was removed and then quantified by the Bio-Rad Protein Assay. High resolution gel electrophoresis was used to assess the individual protein profile patterns. We found that only one-third to one-half of the protein deposited on a lens is removed by the above cleaning systems. Of the proteins in the artificial tear solution only lysozyme is removed by cleaning, while lactoferrin, albumin, and glycoprotein tend to remain on the lens. Since many of the complications experienced by contact lens wearers are thought to be related to protein deposits on their lenses, our results suggest the need for more effective contact lens cleaning solutions.

Iron-sulfur centers as endogenous blue light sensitizers in cells: a study with an artificial non-heme iron protein

The possible involvement of Fe-S clusters in photodynamic reactions as endogenous sensitizing chromophores in cells has been investigated, by using an artificial non-heme iron protein (ANHIP) derived from bovine serum albumin and ferredoxins isolated from spinach and a red marine algae. Ferredoxins and ANHIP, when exposed to visible light, generate singlet oxygen, as measured by the imidazole plus RNO method. Irradiation with intense blue light of the ANHIP-entrapped liposomes caused severe membrane-damage such as liposomal lysis and lipid peroxidation. In the presence of ANHIP, isocitrate dehydrogenase and fructose-1,6-diphosphatase were photoinactivated by blue light. However, all of these photosensitized reactions were significantly suppressed by a singlet oxygen (1O2) quencher, azide, but enhanced by a medium containing deuterium oxide. Further, the Fe-S proteins with the prosthetic groups destroyed did not initiate the blue light-induced reactions. In addition, the action spectrum for 1O2 generation from ANHIP was very similar to the visible absorption spectrum of Fe-S centers. The results obtained in this investigation appear consistent with the suggestion that Fe-S centers are involved in photosensitization in cells via a singlet oxygen mechanism.

Malignant melanoma in 20-MHz B scan sonography

In order to assess the value of 20-MHz sonography in the pre-operative diagnosis of malignant melanomas, 54 melanomas were examined. The pre-operative ultrasound scans were compared with corresponding histological sections from the excised tumours. A computer-aided measurement of the tumour thickness (sonometry) and the internal echo density (densitometry) was performed in the ultrasound scans. The melanomas appeared as largely echolucent zones. There was a significant correlation between the tumour thickness measured in the ultrasound scan and those measured in the histological sections (r = 0.938, p less than 0.001). As a rule the tumour thickness determined by sonometry were greater than the histometrically determined values. Subtumoral inflammatory infiltrate and other hypo-echoic structures in the region of the tumour are possible causes of the discrepancies. Some of those hypo-echoic structures can be identified and disregarded in B scan measurement. Even if a definite differential diagnosis is not possible on the basis of the ultrasound scan alone, 20-MHz sonography provides additional information which can be of use in surgical planning.

PCR-based typing of DNA extracted from cigarette butts

Limited genetic marker information can be obtained from saliva by typing by conventional serological means. Thus, the application of PCR-based DNA typing methods was investigated as a potential approach for typing genetic markers in saliva. DNA was isolated from 200 cigarettes smoked by 10 different individuals (20 cigarettes per individual) and from 3 cigarette butts recovered from 2 crime scenes (adjudicated cases) using a Chelex 100 extraction procedure. The amount of recovered human DNA was quantified by slot-blot analysis and ranged from approximately less than 2-160 ng DNA per cigarette butt for the 200 samples, and 8 ng, 50 ng, and 100 ng for the cigarette butts from the adjudicated cases. The DNA was successfully amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the HLA-DQ alpha locus (99 out of 100 samples) as well as for the variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) locus D1S80 (99 out of 100 samples). Amplification and typing of DNA was successful on all samples recovered from the crime scenes. The results suggest that PCR-based typing of DNA offers a potential method for genetically characterizing traces of saliva on cigarette butts.