The phenomenology of shame and guilt: an empirical investigation

This paper explores the various literatures concerned with shame and guilt. Lewis' (1987) model of shame is outlined. The phenomena she suggested to be part of shame (feelings of helplessness, anger at others, anger at self, self-consciousness and feelings of inferiority) were investigated as to their relationship with shame. Strong support for these phenomena being related to shame, but not guilt, was found. Although located in separate literatures, shame and fear of negative evaluation have considerable overlap and this study set out to explore this relationship. The study further considered the role of submissive behaviour in shame and depression. Evidence was found to support the view that submissive behaviour is involved in both shame and depression.

Development and isotype diversity of antibodies to inhalant and dietary antigens in childhood atopic eczema

This study demonstrated that a major feature of childhood atopic eczema (AE) is the presence of serum IgG and IgE anti-house dust mite (anti-HDM) antibodies in almost all AE individuals. IgG anti-HDM antibodies, usually of the IgG1 isotype, became prevalent in AE children over the age of 4 years with the highest antibody levels in children in their early teens. In contrast, immunological sensitization to dietary antigens, notably milk and eggs, occurred in both AE children and age-matched non-atopic control children, and was often associated with IgG4 antibodies during early childhood. These became less prevalent with increasing age in control children but persisted in AE children, sometimes together with IgE antibodies. The later occurrence of anti-HDM antibodies in AE children could reflect immunological sensitization following inhalation of antigen, whereas sensitization to dietary antigens appears to be a natural event in early childhood.

Magnetic resonance imaging of limbic encephalitis

The authors describe the imaging appearance of limbic encephalitis. This condition may be the presenting complaint of patients with an occult malignant lesion, as in the case reported here. The contrast-enhanced cerebral computed tomography scans of patients with limbic encephalitis may be normal, yet magnetic resonance imaging may show distinctive features. Because neurologic improvement may follow treatment of the primary tumour, early diagnosis is important.

Experimental Lyme disease in dogs produces arthritis and persistent infection

Lyme disease was reproduced in specific pathogen-free beagle dogs by exposure to Borrelia burgdorferi-infected ticks (Ixodes dammini). Seroconversion and disease frequency were higher after exposure to infected adult ticks than to infected nymphs. Young pups developed clinical disease more readily than older dogs. The incubation period lasted 2-5 months. Acute recurrent lameness with fibrinopurulent arthritis was the dominant clinical sign. Dogs recovered but developed persistent mild polyarthritis. B. burgdorferi persisted in recovered dogs for at least 1 year. Isolation of B. burgdorferi and detection by polymerase chain reaction was most successful from skin biopsies at the site of the tick bite. Antibody to B. burgdorferi antigens was first detected by ELISA and Western blots by 4-6 weeks after exposure. High serum levels persisted during 17 months of observation. In contrast to infection from ticks, inoculation of dogs with cultured B. burgdorferi resulted in seroconversion with a shorter duration of antibody persistence and no clinical disease.

Rat MAbs to the product of the c-erbB-2 proto-oncogene for diagnosis and therapy in breast cancer

The product of the c-erbB-2 protooncogene (p185) is a member of the EGF receptor family of transmembrane tyrosine kinases. Amplification of this gene and overexpression of the product has been observed in adenocarcinomas and has been correlated with poor prognosis in patients with breast and ovarian cancer. The very low levels of expression of p185 by normal adult tissues makes the receptor an almost tumor-specific target. We have prepared rat monoclonal antibodies against five distinct epitopes on the external domain of the c-erbB-2 product overexpressed by the breast cancer line BT474. The antibodies bind to the protein core of p185 and stain specifically the membranes in frozen sections of tumors overexpressing the c-erbB-2 product. Three of the antibodies, ICR12 (epitope A), ICR54, and ICR55 (epitope E), also stain the cell membrane in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections and bind to p185 in Western blots. An investigation of the stability of the antigen-antibody complexes indicates that the majority are not readily internalized by SKOV3 cells growing in vitro. Antibodies ICR12 (IgG2a) and ICR55 (IgG2a), which are directed against separate epitopes on the c-erbB-2 p185, are both of high affinity and immunoreactivity (> 75%) and localize specifically and stably to xenografted breast and ovarian carcinomas growing in athymic mice when labeled with 125I (up to 13% injected dose/g, ICR12 and ICR55) or a range of other radionuclides (up to 20% id/g, ICR12). We conclude that these antibodies may be useful as therapeutic vehicles for targeting radionuclides (imaging and therapy) or enzymes for activating prodrugs (ADEPT).

Case-control study of factors associated with failure to detect breast cancer by mammography

BACKGROUND

Although mammography is widely used to detect breast cancer, it is recognized that not all cancers can be seen on mammographic images.

PURPOSE

Our purpose was to examine factors associated with failure to detect breast cancer by mammography.

METHODS

A case-control study was carried out in which subjects in whom histologically verified breast cancer was not detected by mammography (false negatives) were contrasted with subjects in whom breast cancer had been detected by mammography (true positives). Mammograms from individuals with histologically confirmed breast cancer were classified independently by two radiologists who were unaware of the clinical or other characteristics of the subjects. Histologic slides of all tumors were reviewed by one pathologist.

RESULTS

Three variables were found to be independently and significantly associated with failure to detect breast cancer by mammography. Breast cancer was less likely to be detected by mammography in the presence of extensive parenchymal densities (odds ratio [OR] = 9; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.8-44.3), a tumor of lobular histology (OR = 7; 95% CI = 2.2-22.1), and tumors of small size (OR = 0.10; 95% CI = 0.0-0.9).

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that biologic factors are associated with failure to detect some breast cancers by mammography and indicate directions for future research in breast imaging.

Identification of a 200-kDa glycoprotein antigen of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

SDS-PAGE analysis of the soluble proteins of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae revealed a single predominant moiety of apparent size 200 kDa which was strongly periodic acid Schiff-positive. In immunoblotting experiments, human sera containing anti-S. cerevisiae antibodies were reactive only with this glycoprotein (gp200); this was demonstrated using sera containing IgG and IgA isotype-specific anti-S. cerevisiae antibodies. The antigenicity of gp200 was substantially reduced by periodate treatment. These results show that gp200 is a major glycoprotein antigen of S. cerevisiae which is immunogenic in man.

Female green treefrogs (Hyla cinerea) do not selectively respond to signals with a harmonic structure in noise

1. Females of the green treefrog, Hyla cinerea, communicate in noisy environments, with spectrally complicated signals. A previous study (Megela Simmons 1988), using the reflex modification technique, found that the masked threshold of green treefrogs to two-tone signals differed by about 10 dB depending on whether or not the two components were harmonically-related. The present study used the same two-component stimuli to test the prediction that gravid females would better detect harmonic sounds in noise than inharmonic ones. 2. We offered gravid treefrogs simultaneous choices between alternative two-component synthetic sounds: (1) an inharmonic sound of 831 + 3100 Hz, and a harmonic sound of 828 + 2760 Hz. We varied the sound pressure level (SPL in decibels [dB]) to which we equalized these alternatives at the female's release point (75 and 80 dB SPL), and we tested females in quiet conditions and in the presence of broadband background noise (52 dB/Hz at the female's release point). 3. At a signal playback level of 75 dB SPL, one-third of the females responded in the presence of background noise. Subtracting the spectrum level yields a critical ratio estimate of 23 dB, a value that is very similar to estimates for single pure tones in noise reported in other studies of this species (Ehret and Gerhardt 1980; Moss and Megela Simmons 1986). Females did not, however, choose the harmonic sound over the inharmonic sound in this condition, at the higher signal-to-noise ratio, or in either of the unmasked situations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Serum antibodies reactive with Saccharomyces cerevisiae in inflammatory bowel disease: is IgA antibody a marker for Crohn's disease?

Sera from patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) have been evaluated for antibodies reactive with Saccharomyces cerevisiae (anti-Sacc antibodies) using an enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). IgG anti-Sacc antibodies were detected in 63% (25/40) of CD patients, compared with 15% (4/27) of UC patients (p less than 0.001) and 8% (5/60) healthy adult controls (p less than 0.001). Furthermore, the prevalence of detectable IgG anti-Sacc antibodies in adult patients with coeliac disease, dermatitis herpetiformis, irritable bowel syndrome or atopic eczema was not significantly different to controls. In comparison, the prevalence of detectable IgG anti-Escherichia coli antibodies was not significantly different between CD (75%) or UC (79%) patients. More particularly, elevated levels of serum IgA anti-Sacc antibodies were detected in 17/40 CD patients, but in none of the 27 UC patients. These data confirm that serum antibodies reactive with S. cerevisiae are strongly associated with CD and further show that serum IgA anti-Sacc antibodies may be specific for this disorder.

Agenesis of the gallbladder and cystic duct: a report of 3 cases

Three further cases of agenesis of the gallbladder and cystic duct are described. The surgical presentation and management of the condition is outlined. The English literature is reviewed, and it is suggested that the condition may be more common than previous reports indicate.