A scale for identifying "Stockholm syndrome" reactions in young dating women: factor structure, reliability, and validity

The factor structure, reliability, and validity of a 49-item scale designed to measure Stockholm Syndrome (also referred to as "traumatic bonding" and "terror bonding"), that is, bonding with an abusive partner, were assessed for college women in heterosexual dating relationships. Factor analysis identified three major factors: Core Stockholm Syndrome, characterized by cognitive distortions and other strategies for coping with abuse; Psychological Damage, marked by depression, low self-esteem, and loss of sense of self; and Love-Dependence, typified by the feeling that one cannot survive without one's partner's love. The scale and factors had excellent internal consistency and good test-retest reliabilities. They correlated negatively with the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability scale and positively with Horowitz, Wilner, & Alvarez' (1979) Impact of Event Scale, Hyler and Rieder's (1987) Borderline Personality Disorder Scale, Hatfield and Sprecher's (1986) Passionate Love Scale, and Straus' (1979) Verbal Aggression and Violence scales of the Conflict Tactics Scales.

Evaluation of the hepatobiliary excretion of technetium-99m-MAG3 and reconstitution factors affecting radiochemical purity

Technetium-99-MAG3 is a renal tubular function agent. However, sporadic liver and gallbladder visualization have raised questions about kit stability, impurities and nonrenal routes of excretion. To address these issues, studies were conducted to optimize the labeling efficiency of the TechneScan MAG3 kit and to evaluate the hepatobiliary excretion of the MAG3 complex.

METHODS

Thirty-six vials of the commercial formulation of 99mTc-MAG3 were prepared according to manufacturer's instructions and evaluated for radiochemical purity using two methods: a combination of high-performance liquid chromatography and paper chromatography (HPLC/PC); and the manufacturer's miniature chromatography system (Sep-Pak procedure).

RESULTS

The labeling efficiency was significantly higher when the kit was reconstituted with 10 ml (96.6%) of saline versus 5 ml (91.4%) (p < 0.01). The radiochemical purity of the kits remained stable for up to 6 hr, but the purity determined by Sep-Pak averaged 2.5% higher than that determined by HPLC procedures (p < 0.01). Rat studies to evaluate renal and hepatobiliary elimination of MAG3 showed no difference in the %ID excreted into the urine by 60 min in all groups of animals studied. However, the %ID excreted into the bile was significantly higher for the kit formulation than the HPLC-purified MAG3, 9.9% versus 6.6% (p = 0.0475).

CONCLUSION

The radiochemical purity of the TechneScan MAG3 kit can be improved by reconstituting with larger volumes. In addition, the studies in rats suggest that fasting or kit impurities may be a contributing factor to increased hepatobiliary visualization in patient studies.

Organ distribution of avian polyomavirus DNA and virus-neutralizing antibody titers in healthy adult budgerigars

Tissue specimens and serum samples obtained from adult budgerigars in various stages of reproduction housed in an aviary with enzootic avian polyomavirus (APV) disease were examined by means of polymerase chain reaction techniques for APV DNA. Although the birds were apparently healthy, APV DNA could be detected in all 40 birds examined (inapparent infection rate, 100%). Viral DNA was found in most organ systems examined. Analysis of data suggested that organ virus concentrations were lower in breeding than in nonbreeding birds. Serum samples from 144 birds were examined for virus-neutralizing (VN) antibody. All serum samples had detectable VN antibody titers. Determining VN titer had a sensitivity of 100% for detection of APV infection in birds and was more sensitive than analysis of droppings by use of polymerase chain reaction techniques to detect APV infection in 6-month-old birds. Analysis of the data suggested that lower VN antibody titers were associated with longer duration of continuous breeding.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria as a marker for clonal myelopathy

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is recognized as a clonal disorder manifested as increased sensitivity of marrow cells to complement. Case reports have associated this condition with leukemia, myelodysplasia, and myeloproliferative disorders. We identified 47 patients with PNH from 1976 to 1990. In 9 of the 47 patients, PNH was associated with another clonal myelopathy. Five patients had PNH and a myelodysplastic syndrome, and four had PNH and agnogenic myeloid metaplasia. PNH preceded the development of myelodysplastic syndrome but occurred after the development of agnogenic myeloid metaplasia. This is the largest series of PNH and other clonal myelopathies. We suggest that the PNH defect may represent a second manifestation of a single stem cell disorder.

Oleate-mediated stimulation of apolipoprotein B secretion from rat hepatoma cells. A function of the ability of apolipoprotein B to direct lipoprotein assembly and escape presecretory degradation

Physiological concentrations of oleate stimulate apolipoprotein (apo) B-containing lipoprotein secretion from HepG2 cells without increasing apoB mRNA levels. The purpose of this study was to determine whether oleate acts by increasing translation of apoB mRNA or through posttranslational effects on the apoB protein. To address the mechanism of oleate-stimulated secretion of apoB, a series of carboxyl terminally truncated apoB constructs was made. Each contained the SV40 early promoter, the apoB 5'-untranslated region, and SV40 polyadenylation signals. Any difference in the response to oleate between endogenous apoB and the proteins encoded by the constructs or between the constructs themselves should thus depend on the protein sequence. Stable transformants were established for each of the constructs in the rat hepatoma cell line McArdle-RH7777. The effect of oleate on secretion of the apoB protein products was determined by labeling with [35S]methionine, immunoprecipitation, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Carboxyl-terminal truncation of apoB41 resulted in a loss of the ability of apoB secretion to respond to oleate. Ultracentrifugation of secreted proteins on continuous CsCl gradients from 1.0-1.4 g/ml revealed that this correlated with a decrease in the ability of apoB to be recovered as a buoyant lipoprotein particle. Addition of oleate decreased the densities at which the short forms of apoB secreted as lipoproteins were recovered. Pulse-chase analysis of the secretion of apoB100 and of the truncated proteins revealed that they all underwent rapid posttranslational intracellular degradation. We conclude that oleate has no effect on the translation of apoB mRNA but promotes the secretion of apoB-containing lipoproteins by reducing presecretory degradation of those forms of apoB that can produce buoyant lipoproteins.

Cytogenetic and molecular detection of residual leukemic cells after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in chronic granulocytic leukemia

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is a therapeutic modality with a curative potential for chronic granulocytic leukemia. Approximately 20% of patients have a hematologic relapse after BMT. The frequency of cytogenetic or molecular relapse (or both), despite hematologic remission, is reportedly higher. We performed allogeneic BMT in 32 patients with chronic granulocytic leukemia by using unmanipulated donor marrow and a conditioning regimen that consisted of cyclophosphamide and total-body irradiation. Of these 32 patients, 23 had cytogenetic studies after BMT. Seven of these patients had cytogenetically detectable Philadelphia chromosomes some time after BMT, during hematologic remission. The Philadelphia chromosome was detected transiently in two patients, and the fraction of abnormal metaphases exceeded 25% in three patients. None of the patients with negative results of cytogenetic studies or with the presence of the Philadelphia chromosome in less than 25% of analyzed metaphases had a clinical relapse, whereas two of the three patients with more than 25% abnormal metaphases had clinical relapses. Our results suggest that the detection of more than 25% abnormal metaphases during cytogenetic studies for chronic granulocytic leukemia after BMT may imply an incipient clinical relapse. We review the current literature that discusses isolated cytogenetic or molecular relapses of chronic granulocytic leukemia after BMT.

Pharmacokinetically designed double-blind placebo-controlled study of nortriptyline in 6- to 12-year-olds with major depressive disorder

A random assignment, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of nortriptyline in 50 prepubertal 6- to 12-year-olds with Research Diagnostic Criteria and DSM-III major depressive disorder was performed. The protocol included a 2-week placebo wash-out phase and an 8-week double-blind, placebo-controlled phase with weekly plasma level monitoring. Active subjects had their plasma level pharmacokinetically placed at 80 +/- 20 ng/ml by using previously developed tables to determine the starting dose from a plasma level 24 hours after a single dose administered at baseline. The mean plasma level was 89.9 ng/ml. The study population was severely depressed, had a chronic, unremitting course of long duration before the study, had a high percentage of family histories with affective disorder, alcoholism and suicidality, and had a high rate of comorbidity. None of the subjects had ever received tricyclic antidepressants before this study. There was a poor rate of response in both treatment groups (30.8% active, 16.7% placebo). Active subjects did not evidence the anticholinergic side effects reported in adult samples. The implications of these findings for future pharmacotherapy studies of depressed children are discussed.

Carboxyl-terminal truncation of apolipoprotein B results in gradual loss of the ability to form buoyant lipoproteins in cultured human and rat liver cell lines

Apolipoprotein B has an obligatory role in the production of chylomicrons, VLDL, and LDL. Familial hypobetalipoproteinemia is a codominant disorder characterized by reduced levels of apo B containing lipoproteins in plasma. We have previously described mutations of the apo B gene in persons with hypobetalipoproteinemia that predict truncated forms of apo B designated apo B29 (1305 amino acid residues) and apo B39 (1799 residues). Apo B39 was present in the VLDL and LDL fractions of plasma, but apo B29 was not detected in the lipoprotein or infranatant fractions of plasma. Here we have investigated the regions of apo B necessary for apo B containing lipoprotein secretion by expression of constructs designed to express truncated forms of apo B. Apo B13 (583 residues), apo B17 (784 residues), apo B23 (1084 residues), apo B29 (1306 residues), and apo B41 (1880 residues) were transiently expressed in HepG2 cells, and apo B23 and apo B41 were stably expressed in McArdle 7777 cells. Lipoprotein (d less than 1.25 g/mL) and infranatant (d greater than 1.25 g/mL) fractions of conditioned medium were analyzed by immunoprecipitation and SDS-PAGE. The distribution between lipoprotein and infranatant fractions varied: apo B41 was found solely in the lipoprotein fraction; apo B29, apo B23, and apo B17 were present in both fractions, but with stepwise truncation, progressively more apo B was recovered in the infranatant; apo B13 was only in the infranatant. These results demonstrate that deletion from the carboxyl terminal of apo B41 results in a gradual loss of the ability of the truncated proteins to form buoyant lipoprotein particles.

Polymerase chain reaction assay for avian polyomavirus

A polymerase chain reaction assay was developed for detection of budgerigar fledgling disease virus (BFDV). The assay used a single set of primers complementary to sequences located in the putative coding region for the BFDV VP1 gene. The observed amplification product had the expected size of 550 bp and was confirmed to derive from BFDV DNA by its restriction digestion pattern. This assay was specific for BFDV and highly sensitive, being able to detect as few as 20 copies of the virus. By using the polymerase chain reaction, BFDV was detected in adult, nestling, and embryo budgerigar (Melopsitticus undulatus) tissue DNAs and in sera from adult and nestling budgerigars. These results suggest the possibility of persistent infections in adult birds and lend further support to previously described evidence of possible in ovo transmission. BFDV was also detected in chicken embryo fibroblast cell cultures and chicken eggs inoculated with the virus. A 550-bp product with identical restriction enzyme sites was amplified from a suspected polyomavirus isolated from a peach-faced lovebird (Agapornis pesonata) and from tissue DNA from a Hahn's macaw (Ara nobilis) and a sun conure (Aratinga solstitialis) with histological lesions suggestive of polyomavirus infection. These fragments also hybridized with a BFDV-derived probe, proving that they were derived from a polyomavirus very similar, if not identical, to BFDV.

Chromosome studies in 104 patients with polycythemia vera

Chromosome studies were done in 104 patients with various stages of polycythemia vera (PV): 10 had leukemia-myelodysplastic syndrome, 28 had post-PV with myeloid metaplasia (PPVMM), 12 had PV with myelofibrosis, and 54 had PV. Chromosome studies were successful in 86 patients, 37 (43%) of whom had a chromosome abnormality. At diagnosis, 4 of 28 patients (14%) had an abnormal clone; the incidence was 78% in PPVMM and 100% in leukemia-myelodysplastic syndrome. Among the 63 patients with successful chromosome studies during the first 10 years of disease, 27% had an abnormal clone. In contrast, of the 23 patients who had the disease for more than 10 years, 87% had an abnormal clone. Chromosome abnormalities were found in 11 of the 60 patients who either were untreated or underwent only phlebotomy and in 26 of the 44 patients who were treated with myelosuppressive agents. Trisomy 8, +9, and 20q- were found in some patients early during the course of their disease and also among untreated patients. These chromosome abnormalities seem to be related to the natural course of PV rather than to therapy. Patients with a chromosomally abnormal clone at the time of diagnosis of PV had a poorer survival than did those with only normal metaphases. Cytogenetic results did not predict evolution of the disease, but they did provide clues to hematologic phenotype, duration of the disease, and consequences of myelosuppressive therapy.

Characterization of a gram-positive bacterium from the proventriculus of budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus)

The cellular, cultural, and biochemical characteristics of eight isolates of a large gram-positive bacillus that are commonly observed as apparently normal flora in the proventriculus of budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) were determined. The bacterium was highly pleomorphic and changed markedly in both diameter and length when subcultured on agar media. The bacterium was facultative anaerobic and capnophilic, hemolytic on blood agar, and formed flat colonies with irregular edges after incubation for several days. All isolates grew on sodium azide agar but did not grow on MacConkey agar. The isolates were catalase-negative and oxidase-negative and did not reduce nitrate. All isolates failed to utilize arginine, lysine, ornithine or tryptophane but produced acid from glucose, galactose, levulose, maltose, melibiose, starch, and sucrose. All isolates produced acetoin from glucose and hydrolyzed esculin. The eight isolates could not be identified to either genus or species level based on the descriptions of currently classified organisms in the division Firmicutes as described in Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology.

Endocrine regulation of the metabolism of 1-naphthol in the rat

A sex difference exists in the rate of conjugation of 1-naphthol by rat liver cubes with the male exhibiting a more than 3-fold higher activity (1.69 +/- 0.20 and 0.48 +/- 0.04 nmol of conjugate formed per min/g of liver in male and female, respectively). Hypophysectomy reduced the conjugating activity in both male and female rats (by 57% in the male and 42% in the female). Thyroidectomy also decreased the rate of conjugation in both sexes and adrenalectomy was without effect. Castration of the male animals caused a significant reduction in activity (of 32%) but ovariectomy resulted in a marked increase in conjugation (of 60%). The effect of hypophysectomy in the male can therefore be explained in terms of the hypophyseal control of the thyroid gland and testes but the effect of pituitary ablation in the female is more difficult to explain in terms of interference with peripheral endocrine organs as hypophysectomy and ovariectomy have such opposite effects. The effect of ovariectomy is seen to be reversed by estradiol benzoate treatment and testosterone has a small effect in the castrated but not the hypophysectomized male animals. This indicates that estrogens and androgens are important regulators of 1-naphthol conjugation and that androgens probably act via the hypothalamo-pituitary axis and not directly on the liver. This is substantiated further by the partial reversal of the effect of hypophysectomy by a renal pituitary implant or growth hormone. The conjugate formed from 1-naphthol is seen to be all glucuronide and this is unaffected by the sex of the animal or by hypophysectomy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Identification and characterization of a high density lipoprotein-binding protein in cell membranes by ligand blotting

Cholesterol efflux from cultured cells can be mediated through binding of high density lipoprotein (HDL) to a cell-surface site which shows many characteristics of a biological receptor. To determine whether a specific protein forms a component of this site, cell membrane proteins were analyzed by ligand blotting using 125I-HDL3. Results demonstrated that membranes from a number of cell types possess a protein with an apparent molecular mass of 110 kDa that binds HDL and apoA-I and apoA-II proteoliposomes, but not low density lipoprotein, acetylated low density lipoprotein, or apoE proteoliposomes. The binding activity of this protein was increased by loading cells with cholesterol and was abolished by trypsin treatment of intact cell monolayers. These results suggest that HDL binds with specificity to a cell-surface protein which is regulated by intracellular cholesterol levels. Since HDL binding to intact cell monolayers shows the same characteristics, the 110-kDa binding protein may represent the proposed HDL receptor that functions to facilitate transport of cholesterol from cells to HDL particles.

Characterization of a reo-like virus and its isolation from and pathogenicity for parrots

Necropsy of an African Grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) revealed subcutaneous hemorrhages, multiple foci and microfoci of necrosis in the liver, spleen, bone marrow, and intestinal lamina propria, mild air sacculitis, and epicarditis. A virus, isolated from the liver, was non-enveloped, was polyhedral with a diameter of 84.9 +/- 3.4 nm, possessed a double-stranded RNA genome, and was stable at pH 3.0 for 30 minutes and at 56 C for up to 120 minutes. The virus was propagated in cell culture, purified by limiting dilution, and inoculated into two African Grey parrots. The experimental infections were fatal on the 8th and 9th days postinoculation in the orally and intramuscularly inoculated birds, respectively, and produced hemorrhages and necrotic lesions that recapitulated those of the index case.

Papovavirus infection in hand-fed parrots: virus isolation and pathology

Papovavirus infection was diagnosed in 44 parrots of at least 18 species exclusive of the budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus). The birds were 14 days to 4 months old and had been removed from parental care and hand-fed as nestlings. The birds had been unexpectedly found dead after having evidenced no premonitory signs of illness, or they died following a short (12-to-48-hour) period of lassitude and anorexia. In most cases, necropsies revealed pallor, multiple hemorrhages, splenomegaly, and hepatomegaly with multifocal necrosis. Histological lesions included multifocal to diffuse hepatic necrosis that spared the periportal hepatocytes, karyomegaly of splenic reticuloendothelial cells and cells in other tissues, membranous glomerulopathy, and necrosis of bursal medullary lymphocytes. Papovaviruses were isolated from two cases, and papovavirus infection was confirmed in 27 of the birds by the fluorescent-antibody test using a conjugate against a papovavirus isolated from a budgerigar.

Pharmacokinetics of a long-acting oxytetracycline preparation in ring-necked pheasants, great horned owls, and Amazon parrots

After a single IV or IM dose of a long-acting oxytetracycline (OTC) preparation, serum concentrations were determined at various times in the ring-necked pheasant, great horned owl, and Amazon parrot. Pharmacokinetic parameters, including serum half-life (t1/2) and apparent volume of distribution (Vd) were calculated from the OTC concentration-time curves for each species and route of administration. Significant differences (P less than 0.05) were found in the t1/2 and Vd parameters between species and routes of administration. Dosage regimens to maintain minimum OTC concentration of 5 micrograms/ml of serum were calculated from the t 1/2 and Vd values obtained, using steady-state pharmacokinetics. In the pheasant, the calculated mean IV dose was 23 mg/kg of body weight every 6 hours, whereas the mean IM dose was 43 mg/kg every 24 hours. The mean IM dose was 16 mg/kg every 24 hours for the owl and 58 mg/kg every 24 hours for the parrot. The small volumes required for treatment, the long-dosing interval obtainable, and the broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity of the long-acting OTC preparation studied offered major advantages over other antibiotics commonly used in treating avian species.

The isoinhibitors of chymotrypsin/elastase from Ascaris lumbricoides: isolation by affinity chromatography and association with the enzymes

Five isoinhibitors, proteins that inactivate chymotrypsin and elastase, were isolated from aqueous extracts of the intestinal parasite Ascaris lumbricoides var. suum by affinity chromatography. They were named in the order that they eluted from a CM-Sephadex C-25 column at pH 8.6 using a salt gradient. Isoinhibitor 1, first reported in this paper, is anionic on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at pH 9.3. The other four isoinhibitors are cationic on electrophoresis at pH 9.3, separable from each other, and identical with those reported previously [R.J. Peanasky and G. M. Abu-Erreish (1971) in Proceedings International Research Conference on Proteinase Inhibitors (Fritz, H., and Tschesche, H., eds.), pp. 281-293, de Gruyter, New York]. Amino acid compositions show differences between the isoinhibitors. Antibody to isoinhibitor 1 reacts with its self-antigen only. Antibody to isoinhibitor 5 reacts with isoinhibitors 2-5 but not with isoinhibitor 1. Association equilibrium constants show that each of the isoinhibitors interacts most avidly with alpha-chymotrypsin. For isoinhibitor 1, the K alpha for alpha-chymotrypsin was 2.6 X 10(11) M-1, for porcine elastase I 1.6 X 10(10) M-1, and for Subtilisin Carlsberg 3.3 X 10(7) M-1. For isoinhibitors 2-5, the K alpha ranges were 7.1 X 10(10) to 1.3 X 10(11) M-1 for alpha-chymotrypsin, 1.0 X 10(9) to 5.6 X 10(9) M-1 for porcine elastase I, and 6.0 X 10(8) to 1.3 X 10(9) M-1 for subtilisin Carlsberg. Because of the strong affinity of these inhibitors for alpha-chymotrypsin and elastase, two proteins in the normal environment of the nematode, the name isoinhibitors of chymotrypsin/elastase is suggested for these proteins.