Psychiatric disturbance and decision-making

The relationship between psychiatric disorder (as measured by severity of psychoneurotic status and depression) and decision-making behaviour was examined in a sample of 39 hospitalised patients. Measures based on the conflict theory of decision-making of Janis and Mann (1977) and the expectancy-value theory of decision-making of Edwards (1961) were administered. Patients who scored highest on measures of psychoneurotic disorder--the Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory--were least confident about their decision-making. They also reported a high use of maladaptive decision-making coping patterns, in particular decision avoidance. Slightly over one-half of the patients demonstrated an ability to make rational decisions, while the remainder made either irrational decisions or avoided making any decision at all. Observation in the test session revealed that patients were strikingly slow in answering the questionnaires and often attempted to make no response. The importance of this area of research for patient assessment and treatment is discussed.     

Induced synthesis of albumin-like protein in damaged rat reticulocytes

In this study, we present evidence that red blood cell (RBC) membrane p68 in the Belgrade (b/b) rat is similar if not identical to rat serum albumin (RSA). Structural homology between RSA and the RBC p68 has been determined by a variety of biochemical and immunological criteria. This albumin-like protein is a normal constituent of rat RBC and it is partially exported by exosomes during erythroid differentiation. The endogenous origin of rat RBC albumin-like protein was demonstrated by monitoring protein synthesis in reticulocytes and by identification of reticulocyte mRNA for albumin. Haemolytic anaemia, either hereditary (b/b rat) or drug-induced (phenylhydrazine-treated normal rat), results in increased accumulation of the albumin-like protein in rat RBCs as a result of its induced synthesis.     

High-grade pelvic sarcoma after radiation therapy for low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma

A high-grade heterologous pelvic sarcoma arose in a 60-year-old woman 15 years after she received whole-pelvic radiation for a low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma. This complication must be considered in determining therapy for low-grade endometrial sarcomas, which are usually inherently of indolent biological behavior.     

A FURTHER STUDY OF THE GASTRIC ULCERS FOLLOWING ADRENALECTOMY

Acute gastric ulcers are found in a large percentage of animals dying from acute adrenal insufficiency. In dogs in which a portion of the jejunum had been transplanted some time previous to the removal of the adrenals, the gastric mucosa showed more marked changes than the transplanted jejunal mucosa. This tends to show that the gastric juice as the cause of the ulcer is but a secondary although necessary factor.     

THE HEALTH OF DEPARTMENT STORE WOMEN IN NEW YORK CITY

Doctor Mann's paper not only presents the specific problem indicated in the title, but also deals with some problems which are sure to command an increasing amount of attention on the part of health administrators, particularly the relationship between wages and health.     

Malignant mixed mullerian tumor arising in extragenital endometriosis: report of a case and review of the literature

A primary malignant mixed Mullerian tumor (MMMT) was found in the wall of the rectum of a 67-year-old female. The uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries had been previously excised for benign disease. The tumor was associated with foci of benign endometriosis. A literature review of extragenital MMMTs indicates that these are extremely rare tumors. This case supports the theory that endometriosis may serve as a progenitor to extraendometrial malignancy.     

Concentration of doxycycline in human gingival fluid

Doxycycline is a synthetic tetracycline compound whose main advantages over tetracycline hydrochloride are increased oral absorption, prolonged serum half-life and decreased gastrointestinal side-effects. The purpose of this study was to measure the concentration of doxycycline in gingival fluid and blood after oral administration. 4 volunteers were given doses of 100 mg doxycycline every 12 h on the first day of antibiotic administration followed by a maintenance dose of 100 mg per day for an additional 4 days. 3 of these volunteers were also given tetracycline hydrochloride every 6 h for 5 days either 1 month before or after doxycycline administration to compare gingival fluid levels of these 2 tetracycline compounds. Gingival fluid was sampled from 4 gingival sites in each volunteer at hourly intervals from hours 0 to 6, 9, 24, 27, 48 to 54, 57, 72, 75, 96 to 102 and 105. Blood was sampled by finger puncture at hours 0, 3, 6, 24, 48, 54, 72, 96 and 102. Antibiotic levels in gingival fluid and blood were measured using an agar diffusion assay method. The results demonstrated that doxycycline achieved much higher levels in the gingival fluid than in blood and yielded comparable gingival fluid levels to those achieved by tetracycline hydrochloride. Doxycycline levels in gingival fluid ranged between 1.2 micrograms/ml and 8.1 micrograms/ml in the first 24 h and generally achieved 3-10 micrograms/ml after 48 h. Blood levels after 48 h ranged between 2.1 micrograms/ml and 2.9 micrograms/ml. Tetracycline hydrochloride in gingival fluid after 48 h was generally in the range of 4 micrograms/ml-10 micrograms/ml with blood levels between 2.2 micrograms/ml and 3.4 micrograms/ml.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Treatment of poor prognosis non-Hodgkin's lymphoma using cyclophosphamide and total body irradiation regimens with autologous bone marrow rescue

Twenty patients with poor prognosis non-Hodgkin's lymphoma received regimens which employed cyclophosphamide and total body irradiation followed by autologous bone marrow rescue. There were two toxic deaths. All 10 patients with residual disease prior to treatment achieved a complete remission. Ten patients survive disease free from 1.4 to 9.5 years and median survival exceeds 2.9 years. The actuarial 3-year disease-free survival is 50%. Treatment with cyclophosphamide and total body irradiation followed by autologous bone marrow infusion is an effective salvage regimen for poor prognosis lymphoma. Durable long-term remissions can be achieved.