Plasma concentrations of bupivacaine for continuous peridural anesthesia in children]

BACKGROUND: Supraclinoid carotid aneurysms have traditionally been classified according to their relation to the major carotid branches, but considerable variation exists with respect to site of origin, projection, and relationship to the skull base. Distal internal carotid aneurysms with a superior or medial projection are uncommon vascular lesions, with an unusually high incidence of operative complications. METHODS: Surgical experience with five patients suffering from subarachnoid hemorrhage due to ruptured aneurysms of the dorsomedial wall of the distal internal carotid artery is presented, with emphasis on their angiographic appearance, anatomical features, and operative management. RESULTS: All five patients underwent surgical clipping. Intra-operative rupture occurred in two cases, with avulsion of the aneurysm from the internal carotid artery in both. A third patient experienced recurrent subarachnoid hemorrhage three days after uneventful surgery, due to the clip shearing off of the parent vessel. CONCLUSIONS: Distal internal carotid aneurysms do not conform to the usual principles of aneurysm formation and are unique in their dorsomedial location unrelated to an arterial bifurcation. Although their anatomy is straightforward and exposure is not restricted by bone or dural structures of the skull base, they possess extremely fragile necks which make surgical management particularly hazardous.     

Unmet needs of older women in a clinic population: The discovery of possible long-term sequelae of domestic violence.

The effects of prior domestic violence may significantly affect older women who seek mental health services. In two community mental health centers, older women frequently presented with depressive and anxious symptoms, poor family relationships, multiple health problems, alcohol dependence (in themselves, their former spouses, and their children), and economic difficulties. Increased media attention to domestic violence often preceded first-time disclosure of abuse within their marriages, which often had occurred years ago. Peers and family members rarely provided adequate support. Practitioners should assess for prior abuse, and treatment must address the full spectrum of these clients' needs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Role of sialoglycan structures for the function of the epidermal growth factor receptor and the in vitro proliferation of head and neck cancer

Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck have been found to show a high expression of the receptor for epidermal growth factor (EGF). This overexpression of the receptor has been associated with malignant transformation of cells, although there is still debate as to what extent this receptor takes part in the proliferation of malignant cells and which function it fulfills. The factors which determine receptor-ligand interaction are also not clearly defined. That the extracellular domain of the EGF receptor carries carbohydrate or sialoglycan structures might be important for function of the receptor. Since tumor specific enzymes can possibly alter such structures, it was the aim of our study to investigate the role of these structures on the EGF receptor during the proliferation of head and neck carcinomas. We used the human laryngeal squamous carcinoma cell line HLaC 79 and altered, for the first time, specific glycan structures with sialidase alpha-2,3 and alpha-2,6, causing desialylation. Changes were also produced by endo-beta-galactosidase and sialyltransferase. Findings were monitored by labeling with bromo-deoxyuridine. To determine receptor affinity, 125I-labeled EGF was employed. Results showed that both cell proliferation and receptor affinity depended on the level of sialylation of the receptor carbohydrate side chains. Desialylation led to a statistically significant reduction of tumor cell proliferation to 65 +/- 33% (P < 0.01), while receptor affinity decreased to 70 +/- 26% (P < 0.01). The importance of EGF receptor for the proliferation of malignant cells seems to depend on the level of sialylation of glycan structures on receptor protein. A release of enzymes by tumor cells may then produce auto-control of tumor proliferation on its own.     

Long-term influence of divorce and single parenting on adolescent family- and work-related values, behaviors, and aspirations.

Examines possible long-term influences of both divorce and living with a single mother on the development of adolescents' values and plans. How divorce affects children both directly and indirectly through its impact on the mother's resources, attitudes, and socialization goals are also examined. Particular focus is placed on those aspects of family interaction that impact on identity formation as it is linked to educational and occupational goals and to gender-role related behaviors associated with marriage, family, and job plans. Possible benefits as well as potential costs of living with a single mother are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of induced mood states on activity and self-reported affect.

Studied the influence of positive and negative affect induced by cognitive mediation on behaviors thought to reflect depression. Data from 88 undergraduates who completed the Multiple Affect Adjective Checklist and who were subsequently assigned to 3 mood-induction conditions (elation, depression, and neutral) support a cognitive mediation theory of depression and suggest that affect can be manipulated in the laboratory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cast Coil Transformers: An Alternative to Conventional Dry Type Transformers

Now that askarel insulated transformers are no longer available because of environmental regulations, engineers are looking to new approaches in design of nonflammable transformers. Cast coil construction is one promising new design. Cast coil construction is compared with the more familiar conventional dry type construction with particular attention to 15 kV class units up to 5000 kVA in rating. Questions of reliability, energy efficiency, performance characteristics, maintenance requirements, and initial costs are explored in detail.     

Interplay of function morphemes and prosody in early language.

Previous studies have demonstrated that children are aware of the function morphemes in their language despite their failure to produce them. However, none of these studies tested whether children are aware of the linguistic contexts in which particular function morphemes occur. Only if children are aware of such co-occurrence patterns could they use function morphemes to determine the linguistic categories of words and phrases. Young 2-yr-olds demonstrated their awareness of function morpheme co-occurrence patterns by performing better in a picture identification task when the target word was preceded by a grammatical article than an ungrammatical auxiliary. Children who heard the sentences produced in a female voice performed better than those who heard a male voice, and this was especially true for sentences exhibiting the most regular co-occurrence patterns. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evaluating competency in the diagnostic interview among graduate psychology students: Development of generic scales.

Both graduate students and their trainers are concerned with reliable and valid evaluations of trainee skills. This article reports development of a unique system to evaluate objectively the diagnostic interview competency among professional psychology graduate students. Two training outcomes, skills used in the diagnostic interview and global interview quality, and one training process, student group supervision behaviors in diagnostic seminars, were measured. Development of generic scales is described, initial results reported, and system benefits and weaknesses are noted. Recommendations for evaluating students' competency at conducting diagnostic interviews are offered to trainers and educators, and potential clinical applications are highlighted for practitioners. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Internal€xternal control expectancies: From contingency to creativity.

Highlights theory and research concerning internal vs external locus of control of reinforcement (IE) and explores the ways in which the IE dimension is related to attributions and personal styles such as perceived control, helplessness, and optimism, particularly in regard to health. Discussed are (1) J. B. Rotter's (1954) social learning theory and early IE research, (2) the Nowicki-Strickland Internal–External Scale, (3) contemporary cognitive-expectancy variables and health, and (4) IE in relation to creativity. It is suggested that the strategies that individuals use to understand and control events in their lives depend on understanding of contingencies between behavior and subsequent events and include the creation of new patterns of contingencies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)