Towards a miniaturised system for dynamic field gradient focused separation of proteins

Separation and focusing of proteins is described in a miniaturised dynamic field gradient focusing device with a 2.5 cm x 0.1 cm channel filled with a porous polymer monolith. The separation channel is in contact with a parallel electric field channel with five individually addressable electrodes through a porous glass membrane so that a variable field can be generated that drives charged proteins electroosmotically against a constant hydrodynamic flow. Separated pre-stained proteins were detected by means of a digital camera and background subtraction.

A series of case studies on the effect of a midfoot control ankle foot orthosis in the prevention of unresolved pressure areas in children with cerebral palsy

This paper reports on a series of case studies where improvements were sought in muscle tone and gait in children with cerebral palsy. A Midfoot Control Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO) was developed to control foot position in a cohort of patients with cerebral palsy (CP). The concept of controlling midfoot and hindfoot with an encapsulated internal Supra-Malleolar AFO that fitted into an external AFO was shown to be effective in ambulant children with CP. Some initial problems of compliance were noted and postulated to be due to difficulties associated with previous orthotic devices. Evidence from the case studies suggest that the developed Supra-Malleolar AFO orthoses enables children with CP to maintain mobility without skin tissue damage, delays the need for surgery and at the same time maintains the length of the Triceps Surae (Gastrocnemius and Soleus) complex. Plans for further research are discussed which will contribute to the evidence base for this particular orthotic device.

Somatization and symptom reduction through a behavioral medicine intervention in a mind/body medicine clinic

The authors assessed data from 1,148 outpatients in a 10-week medical symptom reduction program to determine the effectiveness of a behavioral medicine intervention among somatizing patients. The program included instruction in the relaxation response, cognitive restructuring, nutrition, and exercise. Before and after the intervention, the patients were evaluated on the Symptom Checklist-90 Revised (SCL-90R), the Medical Symptom Checklist, and the Stress Perception Scale. They were divided into high- and low-somatizing groups on the basis of the pretreatment SCL-90R somatization scale. At the end of the program, physical and psychological symptoms on the Medical Symptom Checklist and the SCL-90R were significantly reduced in both groups, with the reductions greater in the high-somatizing group. Improvements in stress perception were about the same in both groups, but the absence of an untreated control group precluded estimates of how much the improvements resulted from the behavioral medicine intervention and how much from natural healing over time.

Depression and education as predicting factors for completion of a behavioral medicine intervention in a mind/body medicine clinic

The authors compared characteristics of 1,012 outpatients completing a 10-week behavioral medicine intervention with 300 outpatients who dropped out. They administered the Symptom Checklist-90 Revised (SCL-90R) before and after the program. Patients who completed the treatment, compared with dropouts, tended to be more highly educated, married, and gainfully employed. Their pretreatment scores on the SCL-90R were significantly lower than those of the dropouts on somatization, depression, and obsessive-compulsive scales and on the global severity index. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that lower depression and higher education marked the group who completed the intervention in contrast to the dropouts. After the intervention, all of the SCL-90R scores were significantly lower among patients who completed the treatment. Pre- to postintervention score changes were not significantly associated with the number of sessions attended. The findings suggest that the intervention had salutary effects in patients with mind/body distress and that its effectiveness was not diminished by a few absences. Depressed or less educated patients might benefit from preparatory interventions or from a modified approach to their treatment.

Effects of gender and marital status on somatic symptoms of patients attending a mind/body medicine clinic

To clarify the mechanisms of gender-related mind/body relationships, the authors analyzed the characteristics of 1,132 outpatients (848 women and 284 men) attending a mind/body medicine clinic. At entry in the program, the patients completed the Medical Symptom Checklist, Symptom Checklist-90 revised (SCL-90R), and Stress Perception Scale. Women reported 9 out of 12 symptoms (fatigue, insomnia, headache, back pain, joint or limb pain, palpitations, constipation, nausea, and dizziness) more frequently than the men did. Being a woman was a predictor of the total number of somatic symptoms endorsed. SCL-90R somatization scores were significantly higher in nonmarried women than in married women. Perceived stress ratings of family and health were higher in women than in men, despite the lower degree of perceived stress concerning work. Women, especially nonmarried women, were more likely to report somatic discomfort. Gender appears to be an important factor in relation to the report of somatic symptoms in stress-related conditions.

Theory of capillary electrochromatography

The present state of the theory of capillary electrochromatography (CEC) is reviewed. Emphasis is placed on electroosmosis and the electrical double layer, and the generally good understanding of the factors affecting the electroosmotic flow in CEC columns. The relation of CEC to other electrically driven separations are described, along with band broadening, and the influence of column temperature in CEC. The theoretical potential of CEC is assessed from the standpoint of current and future column technology, and likely future application areas are described.

Anxiety is a good indicator for somatic symptom reduction through behavioral medicine intervention in a mind/body medicine clinic

BACKGROUND

This study examined the effect of anxiety on symptom reduction through a behavioral medicine intervention in a Mind/Body Medicine Clinic.

METHOD

Participants were 1,312 outpatients attending a 10-week behavioral medicine intervention which included training in the relaxation response, cognitive restructuring, exercise and nutrition. All of the patients had physical symptoms and were referred to the clinic by their physician. The Medical Symptom Checklist (12 major symptoms), Symptom Checklist 90 Revised (SCL-90R), Stress Perception Scale and the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile were administered before and after the program.

RESULTS

Of the sample, 1,012 patients completed the program, and 911 completed the posttreatment assessment. Self-reported frequency of medical symptoms, degree of discomfort and interference with daily activities were significantly reduced as a result of the program. Anxiety and other psychological distress as measured by the SCL-90R and stress perception scales also showed significant reductions. Furthermore, health-promoting lifestyle functioning significantly improved. High levels of pretreatment anxiety predicted a decrease in the total number of medical symptoms endorsed.

CONCLUSIONS

Behavioral medicine interventions are effective in reducing medical symptoms coinciding with improvement in anxiety. High anxiety at program entry may predict better outcome.

Capillary electrochromatography on silica columns: factors influencing performance

Much capillary electrochromatography (CEC) work is carried out on bonded silica packings which offer many advantages: the number of such packings which are available; the fact that the chemistry of bonding and the separation process are fairly well understood; and the possibility of the transfer to CEC of existing HPLC methods. Packing methods for the preparation of CEC columns have been investigated. The problems inherent in the use of burned-in frits remains an obstacle, but can be at least partially overcome by minimising the length and by silanisation. The influence of a variety of mobile phase variables on aspects of CEC is in agreement with theory for: ionic strength, organic content (including isoeluotropy), and pH. Temperature can be used as a variable to change column selectivity in CEC. The influence of pH on electroosmotic flow (EOF) by changing the degree of ionisation of residual silanol groups is similar for a wide range of neutral bonded groups, but is much less marked for bonded sulphonic acid groups. The EOF may be reversed for bonded groups containing nitrogen.

Comparison of different packing methods for capillary electrochromatography columns

A study was carried out in which 50 microm I.D. fused-silica capillaries were packed with 3 microm octadecylsilane bonded silica, from the same batch, by four methods; liquid slurry and carbon dioxide supercritical carrier, each with and without the use of an ultrasonic probe. A neutral test mixture was analysed by capillary column in reversed-phase mode, and the reproducibility of the electroosmotic flow and of migration time, column efficiency and retention factors, was determined. Initially results suggested that there was no significant difference between properties of columns packed by different methods, and a more thorough statistical evaluation confirmed this; differences observed in the column performance were attributed to random variations between replicate columns, and not between packing methods. However, the variation was least when applying the ultrasonication during liquid slurry.

Help--we need a helpline! A public health audit case study

Multi-disciplinary public health audit involving whole departments is often perceived as difficult to carry out in areas other than the annual report of the Director of Public Health. This paper describes the audit of an emergency telephone helpline set up during a meningococcal disease outbreak and provides standards that could be applied to any emergency helpline set up in response to issues of public health concern.

The 1.7 A crystal structure of human cell cycle checkpoint kinase Chk1: implications for Chk1 regulation

The checkpoint kinase Chk1 is an important mediator of cell cycle arrest following DNA damage. The 1.7 A resolution crystal structures of the human Chk1 kinase domain and its binary complex with an ATP analog has revealed an identical open kinase conformation. The secondary structure and side chain interactions stabilize the activation loop of Chk1 and enable kinase activity without phosphorylation of the catalytic domain. Molecular modeling of the interaction of a Cdc25C peptide with Chk1 has uncovered several conserved residues that are important for substrate selectivity. In addition, we found that the less conserved C-terminal region negatively impacts Chk1 kinase activity.

The three-in-one proximal and distal soft tissue patellar realignment procedure. Results, and its place in the management of patellofemoral instability

The three-in-one procedure for extensor mechanism realignment of the knee combines lateral release, vastus medialis obliquus muscle advancement, and transfer of the medial one-third of the patellar tendon to the tibial collateral ligament. We observed 37 patients (42 knees) receiving this treatment at a minimum 25-month follow-up (range, 25 to 85 months; mean, 44). Thirty-two of 42 knees (76%) with recurrent patellar dislocation had good or excellent results after surgery. Redislocation occurred in four knees (9.5%). Skeletal immaturity, chondral damage, and generalized ligament laxity did not seem to affect outcome. Thirty patients (37 knees) were studied 2 years earlier as well (mean follow-up, 29 months). When comparing the results 2 years later, there was a significant deterioration in outcome over time. These results are comparable with the published results for other techniques of patellar stabilization. We describe the place of the three-in-one operation in our surgical protocol for patellofemoral instability, which is based on the principle that a procedure should be selected to address the underlying pathologic features in an individual case rather than always using one operation for all cases.

The objective assessment of general practitioners' educational needs: an under-researched area?

A systematic literature review of the educational needs assessment of general practitioners (GPs) is described. A total of 36 studies, based on the subject of educational needs in primary care, were identified. The methods of searching and the difficulties in identifying papers on the chosen subject are discussed. Although there is an extensive literature on the reporting of the perception of GPs' learning needs, there have been relatively few studies describing their objective evaluation. Seventeen papers on this subject are described, and it was found that questionnaires and structured interviews were the most usual method adopted. There is a case for developing and evaluating a wider range of methods for assessing educational needs in primary care, particularly if the move towards portfolio-based learning is to gain momentum.

Disruption of estrogen signaling does not prevent progesterone action in the estrogen receptor alpha knockout mouse uterus

Estrogen is known to increase progesterone receptor (PR) levels in the wild-type mouse uterus, and this estrogen induction was thought to be important for progesterone action through the PR. The estrogen receptor alpha knockout (ERKO) mouse uterus was observed to express PR mRNA that cannot be induced by estrogen. Progesterone action was characterized to determine whether it was diminished in ERKO mice. The PR protein is present in the ERKO uterus at 60% of the level measured in a wild-type uterus. The PR-A and PR-B isoforms are both detected on Western blot, and the ratio of isoforms is the same in both genotypes. Although the level of PR is reduced in the ERKO uterus, the receptor level is sufficient to induce genomic responses, since both calcitonin and amphiregulin mRNAs were increased after progesterone treatment. Finally, the ERKO uterus can be induced to undergo a progesterone-dependent decidual response. Surprisingly, the decidual response is estrogen independent in the ERKO, although it remains estrogen dependent in a wild type. These results indicate that estrogen receptor alpha modulation of PR levels is not necessary for expression of the PR or genomic and physiologic responses to progesterone in the ERKO uterus.