Cohort analyses of the treatment of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients under programme conditions in Korea, 1983-1994

The authors previously reported that male offspring of mothers rats given alkaline ionized water (AKW) showed a significantly higher body weight by day 14 after birth than did offspring of mother rats given tap water (TPW); furthermore, marked myocardial necrosis and fibrosis were observed particularly in the former male offspring at the age of 15 weeks. In the present experiment we looked for differences in bioparameters, namely the milk yield of mothers and suckled milk volume of the offspring, between the AKW- and the TPW-treated groups in order to reveal the factors which cause the unusual body weight gain in the offspring. Even though we were able to repeat our previous observation (the body weight of the male offspring of the AKW group increased significantly more by day 14 and 20 after birth and of the female by day 20 after birth than did that of the TPW group (p < 0.05), no significant difference was noted in any of the bioparameters, including those related to milk production and consumption. It is thus suspected that the water-hydrated cation, which was transferred either to the fetus through the placenta or to the offspring through the milk, might be the cause of the unusual body weight increase. Since calcium plays an important role in skeletal formation, it is tentatively concluded that the higher calcium concentration of AKW enriched the mother, serum calcium which was transferred to the fetus through the placenta and to the offspring through the milk.     

Autoreactive B cell regulation: peripheral induction of developmental arrest by lupus-associated autoantigens

Continuous wave (CW) lasers, the first medical lasers to be used, continue to be effective, but are extremely operator dependent and can potentially result in significant risks, including scarring. In 1983, the theory of selective photothermolysis was introduced, which enabled physician-scientists to design lasers that were highly selective and safer to operate. These newer lasers are capable of affecting a specific target tissue without a high risk of scarring and pigmentary changes. They accomplish this task by producing a wavelength and pulse duration that is best absorbed by a specific target. However, not all modern lasers employ this theory and, therefore, may operate in either a CW, quasi-CW, pulsed, or Q-switched mode. CW lasers are least selective and tend to produce unwanted tissue damage and scarring through heat dissipation. Quasi-CW lasers attempt to limit unwanted thermal damage by producing a series of brief laser pulses or by the chopping of a CW beam; however, they still have a relatively high risk of causing nonspecific tissue damage and thermal injury. The pulsed and Q-switched systems adhere most closely to the principles of selective photothermolysis and result in the most selective destruction with the lowest risk of scarring and unwanted thermal diffusion. Of course, any laser system can potentially result in scarring and tissue damage; therefore, adequate operator education and skill are essential when utilizing medical lasers.     

Countertransference disclosure and the conceptualization of analytic technique

Most discussions of countertransference disclosure have focused on points of impasse. Here, I will discuss countertransference disclosure in which the analyst attempts to make explicit to the patient how the analyst experiences something during an analytic session that differs from the way the patient experiences the same moment. The analyst presents his observation as something for the patient and analyst to work on together, with the aim of arriving at further understanding. In a clinical example, I suggest a way of comparing uses of countertransference that relate to other approaches in analytic technique. Since the analyst's disclosure evokes questions regarding asymmetry and anonymity in the analytic process, I will briefly elaborate these dimensions.     

Children of mothers with borderline personality disorder: A multimodal clinical study.

Studied 9 children (aged 5–17 yrs) whose 5 mothers were in a day treatment program for adults with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. The children were studied to determine if they were at risk for serious emotional difficulty. Five Ss were administered the Rorschach, the TAT, the WISC—R, the Bender-Gestalt Test, the Draw-A-Person Test, and the Kinetic Family Drawing. Three Ss met weekly for 4 mo in an activity-interview group led by 2 female therapists. Case histories are provided for each S in which it is illustrated that they experienced serious emotional delays and exhibited disturbed behavior requiring further treatment. Data suggest that the Ss were responsive to, and at least somewhat disorganized by, affective stimulation, despite attempts to limit their experience. In addition, they all seemed to rely on similar and relatively unsophisticated defenses and coping strategies. In effect, they all relied on fantasy or withdrawal from reality rather than verbal expression in dealing with their painful experience of the world. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A proposed animal model for hallucinogens based on LSD's effects on patterns of exploration in rats.

Examined the utility of various measures of exploratory activity in rats in an animal model of hallucinogens. A hole board chamber, connected by a door to a home cage, provided 2 test situations. Ss either were placed directly into the hole board with the door closed (forced exploration) or were placed in the home cage and, following adaptation, the door was opened (free exploration). The monitoring system provided both quantitative measures (crossovers, rearings, and hole pokes) and qualitative measures of locomotor patterns. Four experiments, in which 196 male Sprague-Dawley rats received subcutaneous injections of saline or 2–260 μg/kg LSD, revealed 3 major categories of effects, distinguishable on the basis of dose dependency, time course, or response to environmental manipulation: (a) increased avoidance of novel and central areas, (b) disruption of the spatial patterning of locomotion, and (c) suppression of rearing. All 3 effects exhibited partial tolerance 24 hrs after 1 injection of 30 μg/kg LSD and complete tolerance after 5 daily injections. The possibility that LSD's enhancement of neophobia in rats may be a valid analog model of its intensification of affective reactions in humans is discussed. (53 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Influence of mouse strain and vaccine viability on T-cell responses induced by Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin

C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice were vaccinated with either live or heat-killed Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) organisms, and splenic T cells were used to screen the stimulatory potential of fractionated somatic and secreted mycobacterial proteins by production of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma). Maximum responses were obtained with fractionated secreted proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. There was no single dominant antigen, but five regions of mycobacterial proteins induced high concentrations of IFN-gamma. However, only two of the five regions stimulated T cells from both mouse strains: two were exclusively recognized by T cells from BALB/c mice, and one was exclusively recognized by T cells from C57BL/6 mice. T cells from mice vaccinated with heat-killed M. bovis BCG organisms failed to respond to fractionated secreted proteins but recognized several somatic antigen fractions. As late as 1 year after primary vaccination, memory T cells responded to similar protein regions, and IFN-gamma production was intensified by secondary infection. Our data confirm a central role for secreted proteins in immunity to mycobacteria. Moreover, we demonstrate that a major set of mycobacterium-reactive T cells is stimulated only by vaccination with live but not with heat-killed M. bovis BCG organisms. Because a major impact of genetic host factors on antigen recognition was observed, we favor the use of live carrier organisms which secrete mycobacterial proteins over subunit vaccines as an improved antituberculosis vaccine.     

Scanning photoluminescence technique to determine the phase of thegrating at the facets of gain-coupled DFB's

We demonstrate a rapid, nondestructive scanning photoluminescence (PL) technique for the determination of the phase of the grating at the cleaved or coated facets of “in-phase” gain-coupled distributed feedback lasers. The measured phases of the grating at the cleaved facets of a bar of lasers are found to be consistent with experimental measurements of laser performance     

Sequences of MGH-1, YOU-1, and YOU-2 extended-spectrum beta-lactamase genes

Genes for MGH-1, YOU-1, and YOU-2 extended-spectrum beta-lactamases have been cloned and sequenced. The gene for MGH-1 has the sequence of blaTEM-10, YOU-2 has that of blaTEM-12, and YOU-1 has that of blaTEM-26. All have evolved from blaTEM-1b but have the strong dual promoter sequence of blaTEM-2.     

Neurotechnology: expanding opportunities for funding at the National Institute of Mental Health

The National Institute of Mental Health recognizes the importance that creative development of technology and methodology play in brain and behavioral science research. This institute is making major efforts to support such development through specific initiatives, like the Human Brain Project. In addition, this Institute is actively building bridges between business and academic research communities to make optical use of funds for the research and development of commercially viable technologies relevant to all aspects of the Institute's mission through the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs. Together, these efforts will culminate in a more vigorous scientific enterprise, and ultimately benefit the entire mental health community and society.     

Effect of thiol reagents on functional properties and heme oxidation in the hemoglobin of Geochelone carbonaria

The reaction of thiol reagents with G. carbonaria hemoglobin was studied, and the oxygen equilibrium and kinetic of oxidation of derivatives determined. The oxygen affinity and kinetic of oxidation of hemoglobin derivatives were modified to various extents depending on the nature of thiol reagents used. Diamide yielded approximately 80% polymeric hemoglobin, although the oxidation kinetic, and the functional properties, were practically invariant (T1/2 = 10.0 min.; P50 = 5.0 mm Hg at pH 7.4; alkaline Bohr effect = -0.64). Iodoacetamide did not modify the electrophoretic pattern significantly, although all the free SH groups of hemoglobin were alkylated. A P50 of 2.5 mmHg at pH 7.4 and the Bohr effect of -0.15 were obtained; the T1/2 of about 6.4 min. was shorter than that for un-modified Hb. Similar T1/2 were obtained for Hb treated with oxidized glutathione, which produced polymeric Hb and glutathionyl-Hb. The oxygen binding characteristics showed that both of Hb derivatives, glutathionyl-Hb and polymeric Hb, maintain the capacity to transport the gas.