The Cerebral Laterality of Mental Image Generation in Normal Subjects

This research was an attempt to replicate and extend a published study that reported a left hemispheric locus for the generation of mental images. Several methodological problems were addressed, the stability of effects was assessed by repeating the experiment, and P300 latency was measured. A lateralized visual choice reaction time task was performed twice, once without the use of imagery and once with imagery. In each visual field, the use of imagery produced a speeding of reaction times when the target stimuli matched the image generated by the subject. A similar effect was present for P300 latency, and was still present in the reaction time data after partialling out the P300 latency effect. These results indicate that mental imagery can speed both stimulus evaluation and response processing. There was no difference in the amount of speeding for images in the two hemifields, providing no evidence for a preferential locus of mental image generation in either cerebral hemisphere.     

The role of the midwife and consumer groups as advocates for the rights of the consumer.

There has been an increasing number of consumer advocacy groups actively lobbying for the right of women to have an informed choice about care and facilities for their childbearing. Mothers and Midwives Action (MAMA) South Australia Inc was formed in 1989 to campaign for improved childbirth services for the women of South Australia. Although the group has been involved in a number of issues this article will concentrate on two, the group's participation in the planning of a Birthing Unit at the new Adelaide Medical Centre for Women and Children and the setting up of a Childbirth Information Centre. The difficulties and complexities of successful lobbying will be discussed within the context of the Ottawa Charter. Midwives in their advocacy role need to be more aware of consumer issues. They must be prepared to participate actively, supporting the consumer when appropriate, both on a personal level and collectively as a professional group. The MAMA group in Adelaide SA has been both supportive and helpful in the production of this article.     

Chromatographic characterization of neuropeptides in post mortem human brain

Reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography was used to establish the immunoreactive species of five neuropeptides (thyrotropin-releasing hormone, luteinising hormone-releasing hormone, neurotensin, substance-P and somatostatin) in three areas of post mortem human brain--the hypothalamus, amygdala and cortex. In the majority of cases the major immunoreactive peak corresponded to the authentic peptide, although other peaks of immunoreactivity were observed in several instances. It was established that somatostatin-14 was present as the major immunoreactive form and that somatostatin-28 did not occur in any of the three brain areas, although other somatostatin-immunoreactive peaks of unknown structure were detected. In addition to authentic neurotensin in the cortex, a substantial peak of immunoreactivity corresponding to the elution time of neurotensin (1-11) was observed. LH-RH was not detected in the amygdala, but was present in the cortex as a minor component of overall immunoreactivity. The major peak of substance-P immunoreactivity in all three brain areas corresponded to authentic substance-P; in addition immunoreactive material eluting in the region of [Met-O] substance-P, substance-P (5-11) and substance-P (6-11) were detected. TRH occurred as the major peak in all three areas, although minor peaks of immunoreactivity were seen in the amygdala.     

Somatostatin immunoreactivity in cortical and some subcortical regions in Alzheimer's disease

Reverse phase HPLC analysis of somatostatin immunoreactivity in the cerebral cortex in elderly normal individuals revealed that the majority of the immunoreactivity co-eluted with synthetic somatostatin-14. While an immunoreactive peak corresponding to somatostatin-28 was not detected there was a peak of immunoreactivity which eluted after somatostatin-14. In cases of senile dementia of Alzheimer type (SDAT), where abundant neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques (density greater than 30 per 1.3-mm2 field) were present in the cerebral cortex, somatostatin immunoreactivity was found to be significantly decreased in either the frontal or temporal cortex. Chromatographic analysis, however, revealed that both the major immunoreactive peaks detected in the normal group were reduced in SDAT in the temporal and frontal cortex. Using a punch microdissection technique somatostatin immunoreactivity has been assessed in the nucleus of Meynert and amygdala of SDAT and elderly normal cases. While there was no change in somatostatin immunoreactivity in the nucleus of Meynert in the SDAT group, tissue punches taken from the amygdala revealed a selective decrease in somatostatin immunoreactivity in the basal nucleus, in the SDAT cases.     

A continuous assay for DNA cleavage: the application of "break lights" to enediynes, iron-dependent agents, and nucleases

Although extensive effort has been applied toward understanding the mechanism by which enediynes cleave DNA, a continuous assay for this phenomenon is still lacking. In fact, with the exception of assays for DNase, continuous assays for most DNA cleavage events are unavailable. This article describes the application of "molecular break lights" (a single-stranded oligonucleotide that adopts a stem-and-loop structure and carries a 5'-fluorescent moiety, a 3'-nonfluorescent quenching moiety, and an appropriate cleavage site within the stem) to develop the first continuous assay for cleavage of DNA by enediynes. Furthermore, the generality of this approach is demonstrated by using the described assay to directly compare the DNA cleavage by naturally occurring enediynes [calicheamicin and esperamicin), non-enediyne small molecule agents (bleomycin, methidiumpropyl-EDTA-Fe(II), and EDTA-Fe(II]), as well as the restriction endonuclease BamHI. Given the simplicity, speed, and sensitivity of this approach, the described methodology could easily be extended to a high throughput format and become a new method of choice in modern drug discovery to screen for novel protein-based or small molecule-derived DNA cleavage agents.     

Older women, medication use and nursing care

Watson J, Mitchell T, deCrespigny C, Grbich C, Biggins A. International Journal of Nursing Practice 1998; 4 : 189–196
Older women, medication use and nursing care
The purpose of this study is to listen to and interpret the experiences of independent older women in the community regarding their medication use. Their experiences were examined regarding medication information, sources of information, types of medication used, relationships with health care professionals and social support systems. The techniques used for data collection included guided qualitative semistructured interviews based on the principle of empowerment and notions of ideal and nonhierarchical communication. The emergent themes show that for these older women general practitioners were important in their medication experiences. Whilst trusted as carers in the acute care setting, registered nurses did not play a role in the medication experiences of these older women. Registered nurses are perceived as 'traditional carers' associated with medical and acute care settings. Although medication issues emerged that ideally required attention, the older women in this study generally perceived themselves to be capable of actively managing their health and medication use.