Covariation of mood and blood pressure during daily activities

The relationship between blood pressure (BP) and self-reported mood states was examined for 49 subjects in their natural environment. Subjects performed their usual activities during a 2-day period and recorded their BP using a semiautomated BP monitor at predetermined intervals. Adjective checklists describing mood states and perceptions of the environment as stressful were completed concurrent with each BP measurement. A correlational analysis of average BP and average mood state ratings was performed along with a paired t-test analysis of mood states associated with high versus low BP. The results show that holding anger in correlated positively with average SBP and negatively with average HR. Neither anger arousal nor the expression of anger arousal was able to distinguish between high and low BP readings. The Type A adjective cluster discriminated between high and low SBP as well as between high and low HR readings. The cluster of negative moods also discriminated between high and low SBP. Perceptions of the environment as hostile and demanding discriminated high versus low SBP and high versus low DBP. The discussion focuses upon the value of repeated-measures designs in examining mood/BP relationships as individuals ambulate in their natural environment.This article is based on the first author's dissertation, which was supervised by the second author and submitted to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the doctoral degree.Portions of this article were presented at the 8th Annual Meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, Washington, D.C., 1987.     

Flow rate of nutrient preparations through nasogastric tubes

Experiments have been carried out in vitro to determine the relationships between the internal diameter of fine-bore nasogastric tubes, the viscosity of nutrient solutions, and the flow rate that can be achieved in the enteral feeding of surgical patients. It was found that such tubes are capable of delivering 3-5 l of nutrient solution in 24 h without a pump. The findings are discussed in relation to the supply of nitrogen and energy to the patient.     

Environmental history of a factory producing friction material.

The fibre concentrations generated during the production of friction materials, incorporating asbestos, over the past 60 years have been studied to provide cumulative dust exposure data for a mortality study of the work-force. Chrysotile has been used almost exclusively during this period. The measurements made routinely by the factory staff provided information from 1950 onwards; concentrations for earlier years were derived from simulation studies using original materials, machines, and methods. These have shown that while high concentrations prevailed in the earliest years dust suppression measures initiated in 1931, and other factors, reduced the time-weighted average concentrations to moderate levels. There were two four-year periods when the production of brake blocks incorporating crocidolite occupied a well-defined area of the factory. The simulation of this production was not permissible, but the employees concerned could be identified.     

Studies of the morphology and tumorigenicity of experimental brain tumours in tissue culture.

Brain tumours induced transplacentally in BD-IX rats by a single dose of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea have been successfully grown in tissue culture. These tumours were malignant pleomorphic gliomas. The cultured cells retained their glial morphology both in vitro and on reinjection into syngeneic hosts: astrocytes became the predominant cell type. The ability of the cells to form tumours increased with time in culture as reflected both in the decreased latency of the tumours and in the increased ability of the cells to grow in semi-solid medium.