Stress and coping in siblings of childhood cancer patients

The purpose of this study was to identify and describe cognitive and behavioral coping strategies used by siblings of pediatric oncology patients. Fifteen families with 26 siblings between 7 and 11 years of age were studied. Parent data were obtained from an open-ended interview and a questionnaire. Sibling data included open-ended interviews using psychosocial assessments through puppet play, kinetic family drawings, cartoon story telling, a sentence completion test, and a limited number of direct questions. Content analysis of sibling data revealed major stressor themes of loss, fear of death, and change. Further analysis of sibling data pertinent to coping efforts led to the development of a taxonomy of cognitive and behavioral coping efforts.

Are hospital managers served by current models for predicting financial distress?

During the last decade there have been major competitive changes in the health care industry. This more dynamic environment has forced hospitals to emphasize efficiency in their operations. One consequence is an increased concern with financial condition and, subsequently, with the ability to predict financial distress. This paper synthesizes several important studies on firm failure in the field of finance and compares them with recent studies of hospital survival. The inescapable conclusion is that most models predicting hospital financial distress are restricted, flawed, or both. As result, one must question whether such applications effectively serve hospital managers or public policy makers.

T cell receptor variable gene usage in a specific cytotoxic T cell response. Primary structure of the antigen-MHC receptor of four hapten-specific cytotoxic T cell clones

The primary structure of the alpha and beta chains of the T cell antigen receptor in four cytotoxic T cell clones specific for N-iodoacetyl-sulfonic-naphthyl-ethylene-diamine (AED)-haptenated target cells displaying a particular class I MHC molecule has been determined. Two of the T cell clones, 8/10-2 and 5/10-20K, recognize AED-modified targets in association with H-2Kb, while the other two clones 5/10-20D and C9 react with AED-modified cells in the context of H-2Db. Comparison of the nucleotide sequences of both the alpha and beta chain cDNAs and their deduced protein sequences indicates that a specific variable gene segment was not used to recognize the hapten and/or class I gene products. Furthermore, there does not appear to be any conserved amino acid residues used in the AED-specific response other than the framework amino acids. However, when the two clones 8/10-2 and 5/10-20D were compared, a striking similarity was seen in the J segments. These two clones that recognize AED in the context of different MHC epitopes used identical J alpha (J alpha 810) and J beta (J beta 2.6) gene segments. C9, specific for AED-Db, shared identical V beta (V beta 6) and J beta gene segments (J beta 1.1) as those of a cytotoxic T cell that recognizes allogeneic targets expressing Db. These data indicate that a simple rule governing the usage of the variable regions of either the alpha or beta T cell receptor (TcR) genes in the recognition of antigen and MHC gene products cannot be formulated. However, subtle similarities can be detected in some situations between the primary structures of the TcR and the targets they recognize.

T cell-specific gamma genes in C57BL/10 mice. Sequence and expression of new constant and variable region genes

The T cell-specific gamma genes in C57BL/10 (B10) mice have been analyzed. Based on the cDNA sequences of these genes from antigen-specific MHC-restricted cytotoxic T cells, we found that the repertoire of these genes is not as limited as previously postulated (8). T cells from the B10 mice express an identical copy of V gamma J gamma C gamma (V gamma 10.8A-JC gamma 10.5) transcript previously found in T cells of BALB/c mice. In addition, a potentially functional mRNA using V gamma 10.8B and newly identified J gamma and C gamma gene segments were found. The new J gamma C gamma (JC gamma 10.8) is located 5' to the inverted V gamma 10.8B in the germline DNA of both B10 and BALB/c mice. This new C gamma is only 77 and 66% homologous to the C gamma 10.5 at the nucleotide and deduced protein sequences, respectively, thus making it a potential isotype of the C gamma genes reported previously. The V gamma 5.7, J gamma 2.3 gene segments and pseudogene C gamma 7.5 found in the germline DNA of BALB/c mice are absent in B10 mice. The loss of this gamma chain pseudogene in the B10 mouse strain, and the retention of all potentially functional V gamma, J gamma, and C gamma genes with highly conserved coding sequences supports the importance of these genes.

A short dietary questionnaire for use in an epidemiological survey: comparison with weighed dietary records

Nutrient data from a short dietary questionnaire designed for self-administration in epidemiological studies of ischaemic heart disease were compared with those from 7-day weighed dietary records obtained 2 to 6 weeks later in a sample of 119 men from the general population. For the major nutrients correlation coefficients of between 0.27 (total carbohydrate) and 0.75 (alcohol) were obtained all of which were statistically significant. In the case of alcohol over 90 per cent of the weekly intake was consumed outside the home in standard measures. In the case of other nutrients improvement in the precision of the questionnaire estimates may be obtained by direct estimates of portion sizes.

Determinants of high density lipoprotein and total cholesterol in women

An epidemiological study was carried out among a random sample of women aged 18 to 69 years to examine possible determinants of plasma high density lipoprotein and total cholesterol (HDL-C and T-C). In a multiple regression analysis consumption of alcohol, fatty fish, and parental longevity showed positive associations with HDL-C, which were statistically significant. Smoking habit, sucrose consumption, and a family history of ischaemic heart disease showed significantly negative associations. In contrast, T-C was associated significantly only with age and Quetelet's index of body mass. Five variables having significant associations with HDL-C explained only 8% of the total variance; in the case of T-C 17% of the variance was explained by age and body mass.