Degeneration in the efferent nerve endings in the cochlea after axonal section

Both roots of the olivo-cochlear nerve bundle to one ear were transected in the brain stems of 12 chinchillas. The animals were sacrificed at times ranging from 2 to 35 days after surgery. The normal olivo-cochlear terminals on the external hair cells in the cochleas of the control ears contained many mitochondria and small vesicles of constant size. The earliest evidence for degeneration was the presence of fine 100 A filaments in the proximal parts of the terminals. These were visible at 2 days. Animals sacrificed at later times showed a greater number of filaments and fewer vesicles, but few mitochondrial changes. After 1 week, disintegration of the terminals was more prominent. A few terminals showed mitochondrial swelling and lysis of the plasma membrane but few or no filaments within the first week. These latter terminals were interpreted as representing a more rapid process of disintegration than those terminals characterized by numerous filaments and seemingly unchanged mitochondria.

Adaptation in patients with chronic rheumatoid arthritis: application of a general model

We derived a model of appraisal, coping, and adaptation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from the more general theory of Lazarus and Folkman (1984) and examined this model using a longitudinal data set spanning 4 years and involving 239 RA patients (of whom 157 contributed to the primary analyses, with the remainder contributing to various follow-up analyses). This model attempted to identify the short- and long-term adaptational consequences of coping as well as the antecedents (appraisals, beliefs, social support, disease activity, etc.) that promote particular coping styles. Interrelations among the variables were examined using path-analytic techniques. Many observed relations were consistent with the model. Significant relations were subjected to more stringent analyses examining the ability of hypothesized causal variables to predict changes in outcome variables 1 year later. These analyses provided additional support for many observed relations and suggested the existence of a vicious cycle involving helplessness appraisals, passive coping with pain, and psychosocial impairment that promotes maladaptation in the face of RA. Theoretical implications, strengths, and limitations of the study are discussed.