An intervention for multiethnic obese parents and overweight children.

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the effects of the addition of coping skills training for obese multiethnic parents whose overweight children were attending a weight management program. At 6 months, parents in the experimental group had significantly lower body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BFP) and higher numbers of pedometer steps compared with those in the control group. Parents in the experimental group also demonstrated significant improvement in interpersonal relationships, behavior control, and stress management compared with those in the control group. Children in the experimental group demonstrated trends toward decreased BMI and BFP and increased pedometer steps.     

Helical CT of calcaneal fractures: technique and imaging features

 Since the degree of comminution, fracture alignment, and articular congruity of intra-articular calcaneal fractures are important determinants in surgical treatment and patient prognosis, we review helical computed tomographic (CT) technique and features for detecting and assessing the extent of acute calcaneal fractures. Helical CT can be used to classify these fractures and facilitate the surgeon’s understanding of the anatomy and position of the fracture components in all orthogonal planes independently of the patient’s condition, foot placement in the CT gantry, or other injuries.     

Involvement of Ca+ mobilization in the amplifying effect of serotonin on responses of rabbit isolated ear artery to exogenous noradrenaline

Summary The present study examined the involvement of Ca⁺ mobilization in the amplifying effect of serotonin on steady-state responses of rabbit isolated perfused ear artery to exogenous noradrenaline (NA; 0.001–3 ol/l). In contrast to its marked amplifying effect on responses to NA, serotonin in the subconstrictor concentration of 100 nmol/l had no effect on responses to KCl. The Ca⁺-entry blocking drug diltiazem (10 gmol/1) decreased responses to NA; in addition, the amplifying effect of serotonin on responses to NA was reduced by diltiazem. Lowering the concentration of Ca⁺ in the Krebs-Henseleit perfusion solution from 2.5 to 0.25 mmol/l also reduced both responses to NA and the amplifying effect of serotonin. Using the method of Manzini et al. (1982), separate intra- and extracellular Ca⁺-dependent responses to NA were obtained. Serotonin had no effect on intracellular Ca⁺-dependent responses to NA but enhanced extracellular Ca²⁺-dependent NA responses. These results suggest that the amplifying effect of serotonin on responses of rabbit ear artery to exogenous NA involves a selective enhancement of the component of the NA response which is dependent on extracellular Ca⁺; serotonin may increase NA-evoked entry of Ca²⁺ into the vascular smooth muscle cells through receptor-operated Ca⁺ channels. Send offprint requests to A. G. Meehan at the above address     

An Accurate Prediction of the pH Change Due to Degradation: Correction for a “Produced” Secondary Buffering System

Esmolol hydrochloride degrades in aqueous solutions by the hydrolysis of a labile aliphatic carboxy-ester group. The products are methanol and ASL-8123. The resulting aliphatic carboxylic acid moiety (ASL-8123) has a pK of 4.80, which is within 1 pH unit of the pH of the formulation. ASL-8123 therefore acts as a secondary buffer and minimizes the change in pH due to degradation. Equations are presented to calculate the change in the pH when the primary degradation product acts as a secondary buffer. This information can be used in the development of a parenteral product to predict, a priori, the concentration of buffer necessary for optimal pH maintenance. This knowledge can reduce the number of formulation screens required to determine the necessary buffer capacity for optimal drug stability.     

Anti-conflict efficacy of buspirone following acute versus chronic treatment

In many animal studies, acute treatment with the novel anxiolytic agent buspirone exhibits only minimal anxiolytic efficacy (i.e., increases in punished responding) when compared to benzodiazepines and barbiturates. The present studies examined the effects of acute pre-test challenges with buspirone in subjects receiving chronic post-test buspirone or saline treatments. Chronic post-test treatment with buspirone (4 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks, followed by 8 mg/kg/day for 12 weeks) did not significantly affect CSD behavior. Consistent with previous reports, acute pre-test administration of buspirone (0.125–2 mg/kg, IP) to subjects receiving chronic post-test saline treatment resulted in only a modest anti-conflict effect in the CSD paradigm (approximately ten shocks over control). In contrast, subjects chronically treated with buspirone exhibited a dramatically greater anti-conflict effect following acute challenge with buspirone (up to 40 shocks over control). These data are consistent with the hypothesis that the full anxiolytic efficacy of buspirone requires repeated administration.     

Cognitive-behavioral treatment of late-life generalized anxiety disorder

This study addressed the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), relative to minimal contact control (MCC), in a sample of 85 older adults (age 60 years and over) with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). All participants completed measures of primary outcome (worry and anxiety), coexistent symptoms (depressive symptoms and specific fears), and quality of life. Results of both completer and intent-to-treat analyses revealed significant improvement in worry, anxiety, depression, and quality of life following CBT relative to MCC. Forty-five percent of patients in CBT were classified as responders, relative to 8% in MCC. Most gains for patients in CBT were maintained or enhanced over 1-year follow-up. However, posttreatment scores for patients in CBT failed to indicate return to normative functioning.     

Atypical maternal behavior,maternal representations,and infant disorganized attachment

The data for 197 mother-infant pairs from two longitudinal studies were analyzed to assess relations between maternal attachment representations; atypical maternal behavior, coded with a new tool. Atypical Maternal Behavior Instrument for Assessment and Classification (AMBIANCE), and infant attachment. Both maternal and infant attachment were systematically related to atypical maternal behavior: mothers who were Unresolved on the Adult Attachment Interview and those whose infants were disorganized in the Strange Situation Procedure engaged in more atypical behaviors than those who were not Unresolved and whose infants showed organized patterns of attachment, respectively. Regression analyses indicated that when tested as a mediator, atypical maternal behavior as measured on the AMBIANCE did not reduce the association between maternal Unresolved status and infant disorganized attachment. This may, in part, reflect the fact that our low-risk sample did not include enough cases in the risk categories. These data provide preliminary empirical validation for the AMBIANCE and strengthen the evidence for links between atypical maternal behavior and disorganized attachment but indicate that in addition to maternal attachment representations, other factors must contribute to atypical maternal behavior.