Individual and cultural-diversity competency: focus on the therapist

The Competencies Conference: Future Directions in Education and Credentialing in Professional Psychology was held in Arizona in November 2002. One of the workshops, Individual and Cultural Differences (ICD), focused on racism, homophobia, and ageism. The consensus was that self-awareness and knowledge about the three "isms" are critical components in the education and training of psychologists. This article, authored by four of the workshop attendees, is a review of the current research and theoretical literature. Implications that address both content and context in graduate programs and training sites are presented. This is one of a series of articles published in this issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychology. Several other articles that resulted from the Competencies Conference will appear in Professional Psychology: Research and Practice and The Counseling Psychologist.     

Assessing olfaction in the neuropsychological exam: the relationship between odor identification and cognition in older adults.

The relationship between odor identification and cognition has not been previously well characterized. The neuroanatomy of the olfactory system and the frequent finding of olfactory dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases suggest a likely relationship between odor identification and memory, language, and executive functioning, though previous studies have often failed to demonstrate the expected relationship. The current study examined this relationship in across a continuum of ability levels (N=100). Strongest correlations were found between odor identification and language, most aspects of memory, and a measure of general cognitive functioning. Significant but more modest correlations were seen between odor identification and attention, motor, visuospatial, and executive functions. A regression analysis revealed language as the only significant predictor of olfactory performance. These findings suggest that odor identification is most closely associated with other measures of temporo-limbic functioning. The implications of these findings, particularly in consideration of the assessment of older adults, are discussed.     

Mild atopic dermatitis lacks systemic inflammation and shows reduced nonlesional skin abnormalities

1. Download : Download high-res image (227KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

     

Telomere lengths of translocation-associated and nontranslocation-associated sarcomas differ dramatically

Sarcomas can be divided into those with specific translocations displaying monotonous cytomorphology, and those with complex karyotypes and marked cellular pleomorphism. Telomeres contain terminal DNA sequence repeats that maintain chromosomal stability. Telomeres shorten with cell division and may become dysfunctional leading to chromosomal instability. Using a fluorescence in situ hybridization/immunofluorescence method to assess telomere lengths in archival tissues we analyzed these two types of sarcomas using paraffin-embedded primary tumor specimens. Tissues from nine sarcomas with characteristic translocations (two synovial sarcomas, two alveolar rhabdomyosarcomas, two desmoplastic round cell tumors, and one each of infantile fibrosarcoma, myxoid liposarcoma, cellular congenital mesoblastic nephroma) and nine without (four malignant fibrous histiocytomas, two leiomyosarcomas, one pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma, one dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma, and one malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor) were analyzed. In all (nine of nine) cases with specific translocations, which generally have few karyotypic abnormalities, telomere lengths were similar to or reduced compared to surrounding nonneoplastic tissues. In contrast, telomeres in cases lacking specific translocations, which generally contain complex karyotypes, were often found to be dramatically lengthened and heterogeneous. In addition to markedly elongated telomeres, seven of nine (78%) complex cases exhibited large brightly stained regions corresponding to a specific type of promyelocytic leukemia nuclear body found in immortalized cells that maintain telomeres in a telomerase-independent manner [alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway]. This phenotype is unlike that of epithelial neoplasms that typically display complex karyotypes with abnormally short telomeres maintained by the enzyme telomerase. The discovery of heterogeneous telomere lengths and evidence of the ALT pathway in the majority of sarcomas with complex karyotypes supports the existence of a telomere maintenance pathway incapable of full karyotypic stabilization in pleomorphic sarcomas. These findings provide additional molecular-genetic evidence supporting the dichotomous grouping of sarcomas into those with characteristic signature translocations without extensive additional karyotypic abnormalities, and those without such signature translocations that typically display very complex karyotypes, and point to telomere dysfunction as a plausible contributor to the chromosomal aberrations found in complex sarcomas.     

Presence of the cfxA gene in Bacteroides distasonis

In this study we investigated the presence of the cfxA gene (encoding a class A beta-lactamase) in 73 strains of the Bacteroides fragilis group belonging to the species B. distasonis (34), B. vulgatus (14), B. thetaiotaomicron (8), B. merdae (6), B. caccae (9) and B. ovatus (2) isolated from human intestinal microflora of healthy children and adults. Employing specific primers to the cfxA gene, a 312-bp amplified fragment was obtained in 2 strains of B. vulgatus and 9 strains, the majority from children, of B. distasonis. The expression of this enzyme was analysed by determining the MICs to cefoxitin and cefotaxime and values varied from 2 to >256 microg/ml of both cefoxitin and cefotaxime. Sequence analysis of the amplicons corresponding to the cfxA gene from B. distasonis and B. vulgatus revealed identical sequences between these isolates and high similarity with other beta-lactamase genes of anaerobes such as cfxA of B. vulgatus (99%) and cfxA2 of Prevotella intermedia (99%), both sequences of which deposited in Genbank under accession numbers U38243 and AF118110, respectively. However, a fragment obtained from a B. distasonis strain (EC17-4) showed a unique RFLP profile and 87% nucleotide similarity with cfxA and cfxA2 genes. These results seem to suggest a dissemination of these resistance determinants among Bacteroides species.     

Comparison of Real-Time, Quantitative PCR with Molecular Beacons to Nested PCR and Culture Methods for Detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in Bovine Fecal Samples

An automated PCR with fluorescent probes (molecular beacons) detected Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in bovine feces. When the PCR was compared with culture in testing 41 fecal samples, kappa scores of 0.94 to 0.96, a sensitivity of 93 to 96%, and a specificity of 92% were obtained. Results were quantitated by using a standard curve derived from a plasmid containing IS900. A minimum quantity of 1.7 x 10(-4) pg of DNA, correlating to 1 to 8 CFU, was detected.     

Mechanical properties of dilated human ascending aorta

Dilation of the ascending aorta, associated with Marfan Syndrome, bicuspid aortic valve, or advanced age, may lead to aortic dissection and rupture. Mathematical models can be used to assess the relative importance of increased wall stresses and decreased strength in these mechanical failures. To obtain needed inputs for such models, mechanical properties of dilated human ascending aorta were measured in vitro. Specimens for opening angle, biaxial elastic, and uniaxial circumferential strength tests were cut from excised tissue obtained from 54 patients (age 18–81 years) undergoing elective aortic graft replacement surgery. Opening angle was significantly greater in patients older than 50 years (262°±76°, n=21) compared to younger patients (202°±70°, n=13 All biaxial elastic specimens n=40 exhibited nonlinear stress-strain behavior. Rapid increases in circumferential and axial stresses occurred at lower strains in the older patient group than in the younger. Mean strength was significantly lower in older patients (1.35±0.37 MPa, n=14) than younger (2.04 ± 0.46 MPa, n=11, age <50 years). These changes in mechanical properties suggest that age may influence the risk of aortic dissection or rupture of dilated ascending aorta. © 2002 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC2002: 8719Rr, 8719Hh     

Examination of the Short-Term Efficacy of a Parent-Based Intervention to Prevent Skin Cancer

The research evaluated an intervention strategy designed to prevent skin cancer in young adolescents. The intervention used parents as change agents to effectively communicate the risks of skin cancer and encourage their children to avoid high-risk sun-related behaviors while increasing positive sun-safe behaviors. Three hundred and forty parents in two regions of the United States were educated about the dangers of risky sun behaviors and how to convey information about skin cancer prevention to their children. Parents were then encouraged to talk with their children about these issues over a 1-month period prior to the onset of summer. Following this time period, children whose parents received and implemented the intervention materials were compared with a control sample of 129 children. These two groups were matched on age, gender, and school on number of sunburns and sunburn severity, attitudes and beliefs, and sunbathing behavior. Children in the treatment condition differed significantly from controls in the predicted directions on all outcome variables. The findings are discussed in terms of reducing skin cancer risk behaviors of children via parent-based intervention approaches.