Experimental Induction of Emotional and Sexual Intimacy: Exploring the Validity of the German Fast Friends Procedure in Individuals with and without Childhood Maltreatment

The Fast Friends Procedure (FFP) is a widely used experimental paradigm to induce emotional intimacy. Besides exploring the validity of a German translation of the paradigm (n?=?46), we developed an extension of the FFP that induces sexual intimacy and assessed heart rate, high-frequency heart rate variability, and electrodermal activity responses to the FFP and its extension. Furthermore, we examined its applicability to individuals with childhood maltreatment (n?=?56), who frequently suffer from intimacy-related difficulties. Intimacy, positive affect, liking, and attraction increased during the FFP and partly during the sexual intimacy extension in both study groups. Moreover, both groups showed physiological responses consistent with positive social interactions. The use of the German FFP and its sexual intimacy extension can thus be recommended for research in the general population and in individuals with childhood maltreatment, although more studies are needed to further validate the paradigms.

     

The Role of Community Health Workers Within the Continuum of Services for HIV,Viral Hepatitis,and Other STIs Amongst Men Who Have Sex with Men in Europe

Journal of Community Health - Little is known about Community Health Workers (CHWs) who work in non-clinical settings to provide sexual health support around HIV, viral hepatitis, and other...     

Application of molecular and cytogenetic techniques to the detection of a de novo unbalanced t(11q;21q) in a patient previously diagnosed as having monosomy 21

Hertz B, Brandt CA, Petersen MB, Pedersen S, König U, Strømkjær H, Jensen PKA. Application of molecular and cytogenetic techniques to the detection of a de novo unbalanced t(11q;21q) in a patient previously diagnosed as having monosomy 21.
Clin Genet 1993: 44: 89–94. © Munksgaard, 1993
The occurrence of complete autosomal monosomy in man is extremely rare and generally considered to be incompatible with life. Since the introduction of banding techniques in human cytogenetics, several cases of presumptive monosomy for chromosome 21 have nevertheless been reported. However, it has been suggested that most, if not all, of these cases may represent unbalanced translocations or other structural aberrations resulting in only partial monosomy 21. Here we describe a patient in whom full monosomy 21 was initially diagnosed by routine karyotyping. Re-examination with a combination of high resolution banding technique, chromosome painting and DNA polymorphism analysis demonstrated the presence of an unbalanced translocation between the long arms of chromosome 11 and 21, respectively. Consequently, the case was re-classified as a partial monosomy for the proximal long arm of chromosome 21.     

Efficient propagation of single gene deleted recombinant Sendai virus vectors

Recombinant Sendai virus vectors (SeVV) have become an attractive tool for basic virological as well as for gene transfer studies. However, to (i) reduce the cellular injury induced by basic recombinant SeV vectors (encoding all six SeV genes as being present in SeV wild-type (wt) genomes) and to (ii) improve SeV vector safety, deletions of viral genes are necessary for the construction of superior SeVV generations. As a strong expression system recombinant replication-incompetent adenoviruses, coding for SeV proteins hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN), fusion (F), or matrix (M), were generated and successfully employed for the propagation of single gene deleted (DeltaHN, DeltaF, DeltaM) recombinant SeVV. Further investigations of the propagation procedures required for single gene deleted recombinant SeVV demonstrated (i) modifications of the cell culture medium composition as well as (ii) incubation with vitamin E as crucial steps for the enhancement of SeVV-DeltaHN, -DeltaF, or -DeltaM viral particle yield. Such optimized propagation procedures even led to a successful propagation of HN-deleted viral particles (SeVV-DeltaHN), which has not been reported before.     

Human monocyte-derived dendritic cells expressing both chemotactic cytokines IL-8, MCP-1, RANTES and their receptors, and their selective migration to these chemokines

Ｄｅｎｄｒｉｔｉｃｃｅｌｌｓ(ＤＣｓ)ａｒｅｔｈｅｍｏｓｔｐｏｔｅｎｔａｎｔｉｇｅｎｐｒｅｓｅｎｔｉｎｇｃｅｌｌｓａｎｄｓｐｅｃｉａｌｉｚｅｉｎｓｔｉｍｕｌａｔｉｎｇｒｅｓｔｉｎｇＴｃｅｌｌｓａｎｄｉｎｉｔｉａｔｉｎｇＴｃｅｌｌｄｅｐｅｎｄｅｎｔｉｍｍｕｎｅｒｅｓｐｏｎｓｅｓ1ＤＣｐｒｅｃｕｒｓｏｒｓｏｒｉｇｉｎａｔｅｉｎｔｈｅｂｏｎｅｍａｒｒｏｗａｎｄｓｕｂｓｅｑｕｅｎｔｌｙｍｉｇｒａｔｅｉｎｔｏｐｅｒｉｐｈｅｒａｌｔｉｓｓｕｅｓａｎｄｐｒｉｍａｒｙｌｙｍｐｈｏｉｄｏｒｇａｎｓｗｈｅｒｅｔｈｅｙ…     

Ba2+ differentially inhibits the Rb+ efflux promoting and the vasorelaxant effects of levcromakalim and minoxidil sulfate in rat isolated aorta

The K⁺ channel openers activate ATP-sensitive K⁺ channels (K_ATP) in vascular smooth muscle and induce relaxation. In this study, the relationship between these two effects was examined in rings of rat aorta using levcromakalim and minoxidil sulfate as the openers and Ba²⁺ as the K⁺ channel blocker; K⁺ channel opening was assessed by determining the rate constant of ⁸⁶Rb⁺ efflux from the preparation.Ba²⁺ inhibited the ⁸⁶Rb⁺ efflux stimulated by levcromakalim in a noncompetitive manner with an IC₅₀ value of 29 M and a Hill-coefficient of 1.2. At concentrations > 300 M, Ba²⁺ increased the tension of rat aortic rings concentration-dependently. Levcromakalim relaxed contractions to Ba²⁺ (0.5 and 1 mM) with potencies similar to those determined against KCl (25 mM) or noradrenaline as spasmogens (EC₅₀ values 15–40 nM). The vasorelaxant effect against Ba²⁺ was inhibited by the K_ATP channel blockers, glibenclamide and tedisamil, and abolished in depolarizing medium (55 mM KCl). At 3 mM Ba²⁺, levcromakalim was still able to transiently induce complete relaxation; however, within 1 h oscillations in tension developed, leading to a stable level of only 15% relaxation. A similar level of relaxation was achieved against 10 mM Ba²⁺ whereas the combination of 0.5 mM Ba²⁺ and 3 M tedisamil blocked the relaxant effect of levcromakalim completely. With minoxidil sulfate as the K_ATP channel opener the results of the ⁸⁶Rb⁺ efflux and tension experiments were similar to those obtained with levcromakalim.It is concluded that Ba²⁺ is more potent in inhibiting the K⁺ channel opening than the vasorelaxant effects of the openers. On the basis of the ⁸⁶Rb⁺ efflux experiments it is estimated that at least 97% of the channels opened by the activators can be blocked without major effects on vasorelaxation suggesting a dissociation between the two effects. However, if the block is pushed to extremes ( 99.95%) the vasorelaxant effect of the openers is also abolished suggesting a link between both effects. This paradoxon remains to be solved.     

Lead-induced blockade of kainate-sensitive receptor channels

The effects of bivalent lead on ion channels activated by kainate and -amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolpropionate (AMPA) were studied using Xenopus oocytes microinjected with mRNA from rat brain. Lead reduced kainate-induced membrane currents in a reversible and dose-dependent manner, without affecting membrane currents induced by AMPA. Lead decreased the kainate currents with a concentration of 0.1 mol/l to 0.93 ± 0.01 and with a concentration of 100 mol/l to 0.41 ± 0.04 of the control values. The blocking effect of lead on kainate responses was voltage dependent. The inhibition was strongest at - 90 mV to - 70 mV and became weaker at more positive membrane potentials. The effect of lead on the kainate-induced membrane currents remained unchanged when the concentration of kainate was increased. Hence lead probably represents a noncompetitive channel-blocking agent for non-N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor channels activated by kainate.     

Argumente gegen die routinem?ssige Mumpsimpfung

Zusammenfassung Die Impfung gegen Mumps wurde 1987 ohne volksgesundheitliche Notwendigkeit in die MMR-Eliminationskampagne der Schweiz miteinbezogen. Sieben Jahre später werden die theoretischen Voraussetzungen der Impfkampagne gegen Mumps aus der Praxis weitgehend widerlegt eine unnötige Impfung erweist sich als schlecht wirksam und mit gehäuften Komplikationen behaftet und ist damit geeighet, durch den Vertrauensverlust in der Bevölkerung auch andere Impfungen in Frage zu stellen. Was bei der Mumpsimpfung als Panne aufgefasst werden könnte, weist indessen auf Ungereimtheiten der gesamten MMR-Massenimpfkampagne hin. In epidemiologischer Hinsicht ist das Eliminationsprojekt zufolge seiner grossen Störanfälligkeit gefährlich. Gesellschaftlich führt die Kampagne durch ihre immanenten Zwangswirkungen zu einer Einschränkung der Grundrechte. Die Gründe, welche rund 20% der Bevölkerung die Mumpsimpfung ablehnen lassen, sind medizinisch-wissenschaftlich noch wenig untersucht. Immerhin kann aus drei. Forschungsbereichen ein Verständnis dieser Einstellung gewonnen werden. Da sich das Immunsystem nach Lernprinzipien entwickelt, stellt sich die Frage der Bedeutung der Kinderkrankheiten für die Ausbildung der Immunkompetenz. In der Krebstherapie wurde die Hyperthermie neu aufgegriffen und damit die Frage nach der Heilkraft des Fiebers weider aufgeworfen. Und letztlich bestehen Zweifel, ob sich natürliche Gleichgewichte zwischen Mensch und Mikroorganismen beliebig unbeschadet manipulieren lassen.

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Summary Routine immunization against mumps was included in the MMR-elimination-programme of Switzerland despite the lack of any public health necessity. Seven years later, the theoretical presumptions of the mumps immunization campaign are challenged by practical experiences. An unnecessary vaccination proves to be of insufficient efficacy, yet associated with an unexpected high complication rate and bears thus the risk of discrediting also other immunizations in the general public. What could be considered a particular immunization failure reveals important inconsistencies of the entire MMR-mass-immunizationcampaign. The project remains epidemiologically highly vulnerable and thus hazardous. Because of its constraining effects on the general population, compatibility with basic civil rights can be questioned. The reasons why some 20% of the Swiss population refuse mumps vaccination are little investigated so far. Nevertheless, research can provide important clues for further investigations in this field. As the maturation of the immune system follows learning principles, the question arises whether childhood diseases are not essential for the hormal development of immunocompetence. In cancer therapy new attention is drawn to hyperthermy and thus to the healing potential of fever. And finally, there are concerns about the longterm effects of manipulations of the natural balance between man and microorganisms.

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Résumé Le vaccin contre les oreillons a été introduit en Suisse en 1987, inclus dans la campagne d'élimination ROR. Après sept ans d'application, la pratique du vaccin contre les oreillons dément largement les arguments théoriques avancés lors du lancement de cette campagne: inutile et peu efficace, ce vaccin est lié à des complications inattendues. Il en résulte une perte de confiance de la population qui entraîne une remise en cause d'autres vaccins. Les «incidents» rencontrés à l'application du vaccin contre les oreillons soulignent l'inconsistance du concept vaccinal ROR. Vu sous l'angle épidémiologique, l'idée d'élimination se révèle peu fiable et dangereuse. Du point de vue collectif, cette campagne contraint l'individu ipso facto à la vaccination, entravant ainsi une liberté fondamentale. Les raisons scientifiques pour lesquelles 20% de la population refuse le vaccin contre les oreillons restent encore peu étudiées. A cela, trois approches sont esquissées: l'efficacité d'un système immunitaire va de pair avec une stimulation adéquate, d'où la question de l'utilité des maladies d'enfance. Les vertus curatives de la fièvre sont à nouveau évoquées dans l'application thérapeutique de l'hyperthermie contre le cancer. Enfin, le doute subsiste quant à une manipulation à bien plaire de l'équilibre entre l'homme et les microorganismes sans conséquences aucunes.

     

Differentiation and expansion of beta cell mass in porcine neonatal pancreatic cell clusters transplanted into nude mice

Neonatal porcine pancreas has considerable capacity for growth and differentiation, making it an attractive potential source of islet tissue for xenotransplantation. Pancreases from 1-3-day-old newborn pigs were digested with collagenase and cultured for 8 days. The resulting cellular aggregates are called porcine neonatal pancreatic cell clusters (NPCCs). The mean yield of NPCCs from a newborn pig was 28,200 +/- 1700 islet equivalents. Cytokeratin 7 (CK7) was used as a marker for the immunostaining of pancreatic duct cells. In neonatal pancreas, 18% of the insulin-positive cells co-stained for CK7, thus being protodifferentiated. NPCCs also contained protodifferentiated cells; insulin/PP and insulin/somatostatin co-stained cells were more common than insulin/glucagon cells. Between 1 and 8 days of culture, the DNA content of the NPCCs fell to 16% and the insulin content to 33% of the starting value, mainly due to the preferential loss of exocrine cells. Transplantation of 2000 or 4000 NPCCs into diabetic nude mice typically normalized glucose values in 10-20 weeks. Mice with successful grafts had lower fasting blood glucose levels than normal mice and accelerated glucose clearance after an i.p. glucose load. The starting NPCCs consisted of 17% insulin-staining cells, but the grafts of mice with reversed diabetes consisted of 94% beta cells, with some co-stained for CK7, indicating that the grafts still contained immature cells. The mass of insulin-producing cells rose from 0.22 +/- 0.08 mg 1 week after transplantation to 4.34 +/- 0.27 mg in mice sacrificed at 27-35 weeks. In summary, NPCCs contain mostly islet precursor cells, which when transplanted into nude mice undergo striking differentiation and beta cell expansion.     

Left-hemispheric superiority for visuospatial orientation in homing pigeons

To test for lateralisation of visuospatial orientation during homing, pigeons who had binocularly learned the homeward route from remote release sites were tested monocularly on either their left or their right eye for homing performance. In two experiments with three different release sites, birds using their right eye showed considerably better homing performance. If sun compass information was available, there was no difference in the direction of vanishing. Without this information, a difference between pigeons using their left or right eye emerged. Results show that visuospatial orientation in birds can be lateralised in favour of the left brain hemisphere and lend further support to the view that vision is important for pigeons homing on a familiar route. Cognitive mechanisms which might account for the observed pattern of lateralisation are discussed.