Causal modeling of panic disorder theories

We compare a variety of theories of panic disorder using a neutral framework: causal modeling. The framework requires identification of key constructs and specification of their interaction. Biological, cognitive, and behavioral elements of the theory have to be clearly distinguished, as do critical past events and current trigger conditions. The theories compared were drawn from the psycho-dynamic, cognitive, and neurobiological literature. We conclude that there are substantive differences among the cognitive theories and between the biological theories reviewed. However, cognitive and biological theories appear to be compatible in principle. It is not clear whether substantive differences among theories are due to the existence of subtypes of PD or due to the predominance of multifactorial cause. It is argued that current treatment methods imply particular theories, and that particular patterns of success and failure can be understood in relation to theory through the methods we have employed.     

Excision of membrane patches reduces the mean open time of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Excision of membrane patches from clonal BC3H1 cells to the inside-out configuration reduces the mean open time and burst duration of skeletal muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. The channel conductance is not altered. Our results indicate that the rates for several steps in receptor activation are affected. The altered receptors apparently form a homogeneous population. Patterns of activity similar to that seen after excision are seen infrequently in recordings from cell-attached patches, suggesting that receptors with this type of altered function are present in intact membranes. The extent and rate of the reduction in mean open time after excision are similar at acetylcholine concentration over a 1000-fold range, indicating that the alteration does not depend on the state of ligation of the receptor. The extent and rate also are similar at room temperature and at 11° C. The changes seen indicate that careful comparisons to intact preparations are necessary when studying the gating of channels in excised patches or following reconstitution into artificial membranes.     

Assessing Children's Conceptions of AIDS

Assessed intuitive theories of AIDS transmission through clinicalmethod interviews in a cross-sectional design for a sample of205 1st; 195 3rd; and 208 5th-grade students, balanced by sexand race (black/white). Analyses of relationships between thetypes of theories children held and their responses to closed-endquestions about transmission and willingness to interact witha person with AIDS supported the validity of the interview method.Grade differences were noted for knowledge of high-risk routes,rejection of misconceptions, and cohe-siveness and complexityof children's theories. Theories also differed by race and verbalabilities. Implications for most appropriate ways to assesschildren's understanding of illnesses and directions for futureresearch are discussed.     

ANALYSING MURIEL'S WEDDING WITH REFERENCE TO THE STORY OF 'CINDERELLA'

abstract    This paper analyses Muriel's Wedding , a film based on and inspired by the story of 'Cinderella'. Beginning with a discussion of fairy tales, it argues that interpretations of them are theoretically and culturally specific. Bearing this point in mind, Bettelheim's oedipal analysis of 'Cinderella' is compared with an alternative view developed in Muriel's Wedding . Hogan, the film's author and director, posits a different perspective; one where female friendship becomes integral to the psychological development of Muriel. The iconic significance of weddings is also discussed in relation to this. The paper draws on the pre-oedipal theories of Winnicott, and the more recent contributions of analytic feminist and relational theorists. Implicit in this is the contribution that can be made to clinical practice, and the notion there is a dialectical relationship between the fantasies of the inner world and the lived experience of the cultural world.     

氟哌啶醇季铵盐衍生物F2对大鼠胸主动脉螺旋肌条收缩的影响

目的 :观察氟哌啶醇季铵盐衍生物F2 对KCl所致大鼠胸主动脉螺旋肌条收缩的影响 ,并初步探讨其作用机制。方法 :采用生物检定法 ,以大鼠胸主动脉螺旋条为标本 ,观察F2 (2× 10 - 6 、 6 32× 10 - 6 、 2× 10 - 5mol L)对KCl(10～4 0mmol L)诱导的肌条收缩的拮抗作用 ;F2 (10 - 4mol L)对 30、 80mmol LKCl所致收缩的拮抗作用 ,和格列苯脲 (10 - 6 ～ 10 - 4mol L)对F2作用的影响。结果 :F2 对KCl所致肌条收缩呈非竞争性拮抗 ,其拮抗作用呈量效关系 ,pD2 =5 13± 0 33。F2 (10 - 4mol L)可拮抗 80mmol L的KCl所致的肌条收缩。 10 - 6 ～10 - 4mol L的格列苯脲不能阻断 10 - 4mol L的F2 对 30mmol LKCl所致收缩的舒张效应。结论 :F2 呈非竞争性拮抗KCl所致大鼠主动脉螺旋肌条收缩。结合相关实验结果 ,F2 的拮抗作用可能与阻断血管平滑肌钙通道和开启钾通道有关 ,但这种钾通道不是ATP敏感性钾通道。     

临床流行病学方法与中医基础理论研究

从整体观、综合观、动态观和黑箱思维等认识论上的相似性，说明在中医基础理论研究中应用临床流行病学方法的可能性和合理性基础。认为在中医学的病因学、体质学、证侯学、诊断学、治疗学和预防医学研究等方面，临床流行病学可以发挥独特的作用。     

Single channel analysis of ketamine interaction with a quisqualate receptor

The interactions of the general anaesthetic ketamine with the quisqualate-sensitive L-glutamate receptor (QUIS-R) of locust muscle have been investigated at the single channel level using a MΩ seal patch clamp technique. Low concentrations (10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻⁹M) of ketamine did not significantly alter the kinetics of the QUIS-R channel. Higher concentrations of ketamine decreased the probability of the channel being open, the frequency of channel opening and the channel mean open time, and increased the channel mean closed time. Probability density functions of channel dwell times indicate that during application of > 10⁻⁸ M ketamine the distribution of channel openings becomes restricted mainly to brief events. These results are consistent with the view that ketamine blocks the open, and possibly also the closed, channel of locust muscle QUIS-R and that this anaesthetic dissociates only slowly from its blocking site(s).     

The high speed channel electrode applied to heterogeneous kinetics: the oxidation of 1,4-phenylenediamines and related species in acetonitrile

The application of the high-speed microband channel electrode to the study of the heterogeneous electron transfer kinetics of the oxidation of some N-substituted phenylenediamines is described. Experiments to investigate the standard electrochemical rate constant, k₀, of the oxidation of 1,4-phenylenediamine (PPD), N,N-dimethyl-1,4-phenylenediamine (DMPD), and N,N-diethyl-1,4-phenylene-diamine (DEPD) in acetonitrile solutions containing 0.10 M tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (TBAP) are reported for 2.5 and 5 μm platinum microband electrodes using a range of centre-line velocities from 12 to 25 m s^?1. The measured values of k₀ for PPD, DMPD, and DEPD are 0.84±0.16, 3.15±0.30 and 1.64±0.25 cm s^?1, respectively. The respective formal oxidation potentials are also found to be 0.287±0.002, 0.245±0.001, and 0.208±0.003 V (all measured vs. Ag). Experiments are also presented using “fast scan” cyclic voltammetry to obtain measurements of the heterogeneous rate constants for PPD, DMPD and DEPD to compare between the steady-state channel electrode and the ‘established’ transient methodologies. Scan rates in the range 10²–10⁴ V s^?1 were used to measure peak separations with the resulting k₀ values of 0.51±0.05, 1.89±0.10, and 1.28±0.20 cm s^?1, respectively. The use of steady-state voltammetry obviates the need for capacitative corrections, perhaps suggesting a greater reliability in the resulting data.     

Sulfonylurea therapy in two Korean patients with insulin-treated neonatal diabetes due to heterozygous mutations of the KCNJ11 gene encoding Kir6.2

Permanent neonatal diabetes (PND) is a rare form of diabetes characterized by insulin-requiring hyperglycemia diagnosed within the first three months of life. In most cases, the causes are not known. Recently, mutations in the KCNJ11 gene encoding the Kir6.2 subunit of the ATP-sensitive K+ channel have been described in patients with PND. We report the first two Korean cases with PND due to a lysineto- arginine substitution at position 170 (K179R) and a valine-to-methionine substitution at position 59 (V59M) mutations of KCNJ11 encoding Kir6.2, respectively. After several years of insulin therapy, these patients were managed by oral glibenclamide therapy at a daily dose of 0.8-0.9 mg/kg. Their basal c-peptide levels increased after one week of glibenclamide therapy, and one month later, the insulin and c-peptide levels were in the normal ranges without any episodes of hyper- or hypoglycemia. These cases demonstrate that oral sulfonylurea may be the treatment of choice in PND patients with KCNJ11 mutations even at a young age.