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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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。     

Definition and prevalence of subfertility and infertility

A common definition of sub- and infertility is very important for the appropriate management of infertility. Subfertility generally describes any form of reduced fertility with prolonged time of unwanted non-conception. Infertility may be used synonymously with sterility with only sporadically occurring spontaneous pregnancies. The major factor affecting the individual spontaneous pregnancy prospect is the time of unwanted non-conception which determines the grading of subfertility. Most of the pregnancies occur in the first six cycles with intercourse in the fertile phase (80%). After that, serious subfertility must be assumed in every second couple (10%) although--after 12 unsuccessful cycles--untreated live birth rates among them will reach nearly 55% in the next 36 months. Thereafter (48 months), approximately 5% of the couples are definitive infertile with a nearly zero chance of becoming spontaneously pregnant in the future. With age, cumulative probabilities of conception decline because heterogeneity in fecundity increases due to a higher proportion of infertile couples. In truly fertile couples cumulative probabilities of conception are probably age independent. Under appropriate circumstances a basic infertility work-up after six unsuccessful cycles with fertility-focused intercourse will identify couples with significant infertility problems to avoid both infertility under- and over-treatment, regardless of age: Couples with a reasonably good prognosis (e.g. unexplained infertility) may be encouraged to wait because even with treatment they do not have a better chance of conceiving. The others may benefit from an early resort to assisted reproduction treatment.     

自主创新学习与问题探究教学改革的探索与实践

<正>人体解剖学与组织学胚胎学是高职护理及助产专业的学生接触最早而又重要的医学基础核心课程。鉴于目前高职护理及助产专业的教学内容多,课时少等难题,教与学的矛盾日益突出。因此,如何在有限的时间内既保证教学体系的完整性,又能解决时间与内容冲突的矛盾,从而使医学生对所学内容真正达到"必须、够用",是授课教师面临的严峻挑战。同时,顺应医学终身教育发展的需求,提高医学生自主学习的能力,     

小鼠肺细小动脉平滑肌细胞原代培养和鉴定以及低氧对其增殖与凋亡的影响

 目的：建立一种方法简单、重复性好、培养周期短的小鼠肺细小动脉平滑肌细胞（PASMCs）原代培养及传代方法,并初步探索低氧下小鼠PASMCs的增殖与凋亡情况。方法：无菌条件显微镜下分离小鼠肺细小动脉,经胶原酶I消化结合血清铺底法培养PASMCs。传代过程中弃除对细胞损伤大的离心步骤。倒置相差显微镜观察细胞形态,免疫细胞化学法和免疫荧光染色法进行α-平滑肌肌动蛋白鉴定,CCK-8显法及TUNEL法测定低氧下PASMCs的增殖与凋亡情况。结果：形态学观察、免疫细胞化学法和免疫荧光染色法鉴定均表明培养的细胞为PASMCs。与大鼠传代后的PASMCs典型的“峰-谷”样生长相比,传代后的小鼠PASMCs形态各异,没有此典型“峰-谷”规律。原代培养后5~7 d即传代,依据细胞活性可传3~5代。CCK-8法显示,与常氧组24 h比较,低氧组A值升高（P＜0.05）。TUNEL法结果显示低氧24 h后凋亡率较常氧组下降（P＜0.05）。结论：胶原酶I消化结合血清铺底法培养小鼠PASMCs,方法简单,培养周期短,重复性好,是一种值得推广的小鼠PASMCs体外培养方法。低氧可以促进小鼠PASMCs的增殖,抑制小鼠PASMCs的凋亡。     

Immunological and non-immunological mechanisms of some of the desirable and undesirable effects of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs

Studies were carried out on patients with adverse reactions to aspirin, paracetamol, phenacetin, codeine, dihydrocodeine, some pyrazolone derivatives, and indomethacin. Three clinico-pathological forms of adverse reactions received particular attention: (1) Asthma, with or without manifestations of systemic anaphylaxis; (2) Serum-sicknesslike syndrome; (3) Lymph node enlargement with histological features simulating lymphoma or Hodgkin's disease, which occurred in patients receiving phenylbutazone in particular. A variety of immunological investigations, including some in vitro correlates of immediate- or delayed-type allergy, were carried out. The three syndromes seemed to be associated with immediate-type (or immediate-type-like), immediate-type plus delayed-type, and delayed-type allergy, respectively. In most of the patients with immediate-type-like reactions, and where immunological mechanisms were apparently not involved, pharmacological mediators, particularly histamine, were released from their leucocytes when challenged in vitro with the causative agent(s). This suggested that the main underlying abnormality of their asthma of peripheral vascular manifestations was a direct release of mediators by the drugs, i.e. some type of idiosyncrasy. The causative mechanism of this abnormality has not been established yet.     

纳米水平分子成像与诊疗一体化研究进展与挑战

分子成像能以非侵入性的方式重现活体细胞的生理功能和生物学过程,提高疾病的早期和特异性诊断水平。纳米颗粒/材料具有物理性质可控性高、易于表面修饰、血液循环时间长和可功能化等优点,在疾病诊断与治疗中显示出巨大潜力。但如何阐明纳米材料多功能间的内在联系、解决其代谢及安全性等关键机制难题、实现纳米颗粒/材料多功能性到临床多功能性的转化,成为目前研究的短板。本文就纳米颗粒/材料在分子成像及诊疗一体化中的应用现状、最新研究进展、面临的挑战和未来前景进行述评。     

T、B细胞表型抗体免疫组化敏感性与特异性分析

目的：探讨Ｔ、Ｂ细胞非霍奇金淋巴瘤免疫表型染色的特异性和交叉反应性。方法：应用Ｓ－Ｐ免疫组织化学方法对６２例非霍奇金淋巴瘤进行ＣＤ２０、ＣＤ７４、ＣＤ４５ＲＯ、ＣＤ４３和ＣＤ３免疫表型测定。结果：发现Ｂ细胞表型抗体ＣＤ２０和ＣＤ７４对Ｂ细胞非霍奇金淋巴瘤染色阳性率达８８．２％～１００％,但ＣＤ７４的特异性不强,与Ｔ细胞有２６．７％（４／１５）～３５．７％（５／１４）的交叉反应,而ＣＤ２０表现出高度的特异性,交叉反应为０。Ｔ细胞表型抗体ＣＤ４５ＲＯ、ＣＤ４３和ＣＤ３对Ｔ细胞非霍奇金淋巴瘤染色阳性率达８５．７％～１００％,但ＣＤ４５ＲＯ和ＣＤ４３对Ｂ细胞的交叉反应高达４０％（６／１５）～４７．１％（８／１７）,特异性不强,而多克隆抗体ＣＤ３与Ｂ细胞仅有５．９％（１／１７）的交叉反应,表现出明显的特异性。结论：提示在进行Ｔ、Ｂ细胞免疫表型划分时,应使用一组包括ＣＤ２０、ＣＤ７４,ＣＤ４５ＲＯ、ＣＤ４３和ＣＤ３等抗体,ＣＤ３是一种具有高度敏感性和高度特异性的Ｔ细胞标志抗体,值得推荐。