Modes of reinforcement and gender and culture of experimenter and subject: effects of "alien" and external reinforcement for Japanese and American men and women

In this study, we examined external and "alien" reinforcement (ER and AR. respectively) as a factor in social learning, and studied the combined effects of culture and reinforcement mode. A female (Experiment 1) and a male (Experiment 2) experimenters conducted experimental sessions. Both men and women, who grew up in the same culture as the experimenter, participated and performed the experimental task. A three-way interaction effect of experimenter gender, culture, and reinforcement mode was found on task performance. And the effect was more pronounced for a Japanese experimenter. A female and a male experimenters conducted Experiments 3 and 4, respectively; however participants this time were men and women who grew up in different cultures than the experimenter. Results indicated that the pattern of the subject gender and reinforcement mode interaction effect, when the experimenter was Japanese with American subjects, was exactly opposite to that when the experimenter was American. These experiments showed that AR was as effective for social learning as ER, and that the cultural backgrounds of experimenter and subject influenced AR and ER effectiveness.     

Rates of oxygen consumption and of anaerobic glycolysis in renal cortex and medulla of adult and new-born rats and guinea-pigs

1. Rates of oxygen uptake and of anaerobic glycolysis were estimated in slices from the renal cortex and medulla (a) of adult rats and guinea-pigs, (b) of new-born (1-, 5- and 21-day-old) rats and of guinea-pigs of 1, 12, 21, 24 and 120 hr age.2. In the adult rat, Q(O2) values for the cortex were 12.55 +/- 0.20 (22) and for the medulla: 8.56 +/- 0.17 (22) mul./hr.mg dry weight, while in the new-born rat (24 hr old) they were 10.99 +/- 0.46 (12) and 9.33 +/- 0.18 (9) mul./hr.mg dry weight respectively.3. Values for Q(CO2) (N2) (anaerobic glycolysis) in the 14 hr old new-born rat were in the renal cortex 9.65 +/- 0.35 (5) and in the medulla 7.39 +/- 0.43 (5) mul./hr.mg dry weight; while in the adult they were 2.25 +/- 0.08 (16) and 5.76 +/- 0.14 (16) mul./hr.mg dry weight, respectively.4. In the adult guinea-pig values for Q(CO2) (N2) were of the same order as in the adult rat, though the rate of O(2) uptake was for the cortex 8.12 +/- 0.22 (12) and for the medulla 5.02 +/- 0.23 (11) mul./hr.mg dry weight.5. Though the Q(O2) values in the renal cortex and medulla were smaller in the 1 hr old new-born guinea-pig, they were already increasing in the 12 hr old neonate.6. The results are discussed in the light of enzyme changes occurring during the process of maturation of the nephron as indicated by histochemical observations.     

Timing and intensity of early fevers and the development of allergies and asthma

BACKGROUND: Early childhood fevers appear to protect against later allergies and asthma. What is not known is the time in which fevers exert this effect and whether the degree of temperature increase is important. OBJECTIVE: We sought to examine the relationship between the time and degree of early fevers and later allergies and asthma. METHODS: Eight hundred thirty-five children from southeast Michigan were enrolled at birth. Clinic records from their first 2 years were abstracted for episodes of fever. At age 6 to 7 years, children underwent allergy testing. We examined fevers occurring within 6-month intervals in the first 2 years of life and outcomes at age 6 to 7 years. The primary outcome measures were allergic sensitization, asthma, asthma with allergic sensitization, and asthma without allergic sensitization. RESULTS: In the unadjusted analysis each episode of fever between 7 and 12 months of age was associated with a lower odds of allergic sensitization (odds ratio [OR], 0.71; 95% CI, 0.54-0.93) and asthma with allergic sensitization (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.21-0.90) at age 6 to 7 years. Likewise, every 1 degrees C increase in the maximum temperature between 7 and 12 months was associated with a lower odds of allergic sensitization (OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.61-0.96) and asthma with allergic sensitization (OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.40-0.94). After adjusting for potential confounders, each episode of fever between 7 and 12 months was associated with a lower likelihood of asthma with allergic sensitization (adjusted OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.11-0.94) at age 6 to 7 years. CONCLUSIONS: Both the timing and intensity of childhood fevers appear to be important factors in the development of allergies and asthma.     

男性乳腺发育症临床病理分析及雌,孕激素受体检测

对１１３例男性乳腺发育症进行临床病理分析。同时检测其中３０例乳腺组织中雌激素受体和孕激素受体分布情况，结果发现两者阳性率分别为８０．０％和８３．３３％。结合文献讨论了男性乳腺发育症的发生与高血清激素浓度及乳腺组织高受体水平的关系。     

Association between functional alterations of senescence and senility and disorders of gait and balance

OBJECTIVES:

Declines in cognition and mobility are frequently observed in the elderly, and it has been suggested that the appearance of gait disorders in older individuals may constitute a marker of cognitive decline that precedes significant findings in functional performance screening tests. This study sought to evaluate the relationship between functional capacities and gait and balance in an elderly community monitored by the Preventive and Integrated Care Unit of the Hospital Adventista Silvestre in Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

METHODS:

Elderly individuals (193 females and 90 males) were submitted to a broad geriatric evaluation, which included the following tests: 1) a performance-oriented mobility assessment (POMA) to evaluate gait; 2) a mini-mental state examination (MMSE); 3) the use of Katz and Lawton scales to assess functional capacity; 4) the application of the geriatric depression scale (GDS); and 5) a mini-nutritional assessment (MNA) scale.

RESULTS:

Reductions in MMSE, Katz and Lawton scores were associated with reductions in POMA scores, and we also observed that significant reductions in POMA scores were present in persons for whom the MMSE and Katz scores did not clearly indicate cognitive dysfunction. We also demonstrated that a decline in the scores obtained with the GDS and MNA scales was associated with a decline in the POMA scores.

CONCLUSIONS:

Considering that significant alterations in the POMA scores were observed prior to the identification of significant alterations in cognitive capacity using either the MMSE or the Katz systems, a prospective study seems warranted to assess the predictive capacity of POMA scores regarding the associated decline in functional capacity.     

Pathology and genetics of phaeochromocytoma and paraganglioma

Phaeochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PHEO/PGL) are rare tumours with an estimated annual incidence of 3 per million. Advances in molecular understanding have led to the recognition that at least 30–40% arise in the setting of hereditary disease. Germline mutations in the succinate dehydrogenase genes SDHA, SDHB, SDHC, SDHD and SDHAF2 are the most prevalent of the more than 19 hereditary genetic abnormalities which have been reported. It is therefore recommended that, depending on local resources and availability, at least some degree of genetic testing should be offered to all PHEO/PGL patients, including those with clinically sporadic disease. It is now accepted that that all PHEO/PGL have some metastatic potential; therefore, concepts of benign and malignant PHEO/PGL have no meaning and have been replaced by a risk stratification approach. Although there is broad acceptance that certain features, including high proliferative activity, invasive growth, increased cellularity, large tumour nests and comedonecrosis, are associated with an increased risk of metastasis, it remains difficult to predict the clinical behaviour of individual tumours and no single risk stratification scheme is endorsed or in widespread use. In this review, we provide an update on advances in the pathology and genetics of PHEO/PGL with an emphasis on the changes introduced in the WHO 2017 classification of endocrine neoplasia relevant to practising surgical pathologists.     

韧带和肌腱的生物力学和力学生物学研究

国际韧带和肌腱研讨会(The International Symposium on Ligaments and Tendons,ISI&T)于2000年在美国佛罗里达州奥兰多市首次召开。研讨会的宗旨是引起对韧带和肌腱研究的重视,并为生物工程师、生物学家、临床医师提供一个可以分享、评论、讨论韧带和肌腱最新研究成果的论坛。从2000年起,国际韧带和肌腱研讨会已经开展了15届;每届研讨会上涌现了大量令人振奋的关于当前韧带和肌腱研究热点和未来挑战的讨论。多年来,韧带和肌腱领域内的研究数量大幅增加,研究质量不断提升。为纪念《医用生物力学》杂志创刊30周年,本文总结过去30年里韧带和肌腱研究的主要进展,包括组织力学、力学生物学、损伤与治愈机制、组织修复和再生。     

Alterations of regular and mature monocytes are distinct,and dependent of intensity and duration of exercise

Circulating monocytes comprise functionally distinct regular (CD14^bright+) and mature (CD141^low+) cells. Cell surface receptors were determined by three colour flow cytometry in 8 healthy control subjects. Compared to regular monocytes, mature monocytes had lower levels of the high affinity Fcy receptor 1 (CD64), complement receptor 3 (CDllb), CD45RO and higher levels for HLA-DR, LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18), interleukin-2 receptor (CD25), CD45RA and the Fc receptor 3 (CD16). Both regular and mature monocytes were measured before and up to three hours after four different types of exercise (Ex) in endurance trained athletes (n=9-16). Immediately after anaerobic exercise of I min with a maximal lactate concentration (la_max) of I2.3 (SD I.4) mmol · l^–1 and exhaustive exercise of 24 (SD 8) min with a maximal lactate concentration (la_max) of 7.4 (SD 2.6) mmol· l^–1 mature monocytes increased more than regular monocytes. Exhaustive endurance exercise of 87 (SD 21) min [la_max 3.7 (SD I.0)] led to a similar increase of regular and mature monocytes. 15–33 min after a 100km run regular monocytes increased significantly, whereas mature monocytes decreased. Up to three hours after the end of all exercises mature monocytes fell below pre-exercise values. In conclusion, duration and intensity of exercise alter distinct maturation stages of monocytes differently. It is probable that the avidity of adhesion molecules like LFA-1 to their endothelial ligands is increased to enable the firm attachment to the endothelium.     

壬基酚与卵清蛋白的结合与鉴定

目的：合成壬基酚与卵清蛋白的偶联物。方法：在磷酸盐（PBS，pH=8．0）缓冲液中利用甲醛通过曼尼希反应连接壬基酚与卵清蛋白（OVA）；通过抗体芯片技术与紫外扫描鉴定偶联物。结果：壬基酚与OVA偶联成功，壬基酚单克隆抗体对偶联物的识别浓度小于2．68μg／ml。结论：本方法可用于壬基酚与卵清蛋白的偶联，且方法简单易实现。     

Diagnosis of leptospirosis and comparison of ELISA and MAT techniques

Leptospirosis is perhaps the most common, most wide spread yet under diagnosed zoonosis in the world, Inada et al identified the causal agent in Japan in 1916. Microscopic agglutination test (MAT) developed initially by Martin and Pettit (1918) is the reference method that was successively done after ELISA test to evaluate and compare and make a reliable diagnosis. Blood samples were collected from August 2004 to September 2004 from hospitalized patients of South Gujarat region who were clinically suspected cases of leptospirosis according to WHO case definition. In our setup we separated the sera and carried out ELISA for detection of IgM antibodies and rest of the sera were stored at -20 degrees C. As we do not have the facility for performing MAT test in our centre, we personally carried these sera to Chennai for performing the MAT and identified the serovars prevalent in South Gujarat region. Out of 30 samples tested 16 samples (53.3%) were positive by ELISA and 12 samples (40%) were negative by ELISA. By MAT, 17 samples (56.67%) were found positive and 13 samples (43.33%) were negative. 2 samples were borderline by ELISA and these turned out to be negative by MAT. Cosidering MATas the gold standard the sensitivity of IgM ELISA in this study was 88% and specificity 90.90%. We concluded that IgM ELISA is rapid test and its results are quite similar to MAT. The most common serovars isolated and identified are L. hebdomadis, L. pyrogenes, L. autumnalis and L. grippotyphosa in this part of the country.