The Mental Health of Federal Offenders: A Summative Review of the Prevalence Literature

To date, only a small number of government and peer-reviewed studies have examined the mental health of federal offenders. Although these studies provide isolated bits of information they have yet to be organized into a coherent body of knowledge from which clinicians, administrators and policy makers can inform their work. As a first step in constructing this knowledge and understanding the possible mental health needs of this population (currently America's largest correctional population), this paper delineates the available government and peer-reviewed studies on federal offenders, highlights their convergent findings, and suggests opportunities for growth in research, administration and policy.     

The pharmacological evaluation of pergolide mesylate as a potential anti-Parkinson agent

The effects of the putative dopamine agonist, pergolide mesylate, a substituted propylergoline, were investigated in several animal models of dopamine-related behavior in an attempt to evaluate its possible role in the treatment of Parkinsonism. Pergolide induced intense stereotypic behavior in both rats and guinea-pigs. The stereotypy was immediate in onset, of prolonged duration, and was blocked by non-sedating doses of haloperidol but not by clozapine. In rats, pergolide reversed reserpine-induced effects even in animals pretreated with the dopamine depletor, α-methyl-para-tyrosine. Pergolide induced vomiting in dogs which could be inhibited by pretreatment with haloperidol. In animals with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the substantia nigra, pergolide produced contralateral rotation. Behavioral subsensitivity to apomorphine developed after 4 weeks of chronic administration of a low (subthreshold) dose of pergolide that did not induce steroetyped behavior, while supersensitivity to apomorphine was observed when animals were chronically treated with a suprathreshold dose of pergolide. These data indicate that pergolide can cause stimulation of central dopaminergic receptors and possesses direct agonist properties. However pergolide does have effects which are different from those of other available dopaminergic drugs and may be advantageous in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.     

Contact activation of blood coagulation on a defined kaolin/collagen surface in a microfluidic assay

Generation of active Factor XII (FXIIa) triggers blood clotting on artificial surfaces and may also enhance intravascular thrombosis. We developed a patterned kaolin (0 to 0.3 pg/μm²)/type 1 collagen fibril surface for controlled microfluidic clotting assays. Perfusion of whole blood (treated only with a low level of 4 μg/mL of the XIIa inhibitor, corn trypsin inhibitor) drove platelet deposition followed by fibrin formation. At venous wall shear rate (100 s^− 1), kaolin accelerated onset of fibrin formation by ~ 100 sec when compared to collagen alone (250 sec vs. 350 sec), with little effect on platelet deposition. Even with kaolin present, arterial wall shear rate (1000 s^− 1) delayed and suppressed fibrin formation compared to venous wall shear rate. A comparison of surfaces for extrinsic activation (tissue factor TF/collagen) versus contact activation (kaolin/collagen) that each generated equal platelet deposition at 100 s^− 1 revealed: (1) TF surfaces promoted much faster fibrin onset (at 100 sec) and more endpoint fibrin at 600 sec at either 100 s^− 1 or 1000 s^− 1, and (2) kaolin and TF surfaces had a similar sensitivity for reduced fibrin deposition at 1000 s^− 1 (compared to fibrin formed at 100 s^− 1) despite differing coagulation triggers. Anti-platelet drugs inhibiting P2Y₁, P2Y₁₂, cyclooxygenase-1 or activating IP-receptor or guanylate cyclase reduced platelet and fibrin deposition on kaolin/collagen. Since FXIIa or FXIa inhibition may offer safe antithrombotic therapy, especially for biomaterial thrombosis, these defined collagen/kaolin surfaces may prove useful in drug screening tests or in clinical diagnostic assays of blood under flow conditions.     

Simulation of Intrathrombus Fluid and Solute Transport Using In Vivo Clot Structures with Single Platelet Resolution

The mouse laser injury thrombosis model provides up to 0.22 μm-resolved voxel information about the pore architecture of the dense inner core and loose outer shell regions of an in vivo arterial thrombus. Computational studies were conducted on this 3D structure to quantify transport within and around the clot: Lattice Boltzmann method defined vessel hemodynamics, while passive Lagrangian Scalar Tracking with Brownian motion contribution simulated diffusive-convective transport of various inert solutes (released from lumen or the injured wall). For an input average lumen blood velocity of 0.478 cm/s (measured by Doppler velocimetry), a 0.2 mm/s mean flow rate was obtained within the thrombus structure, most of which occurred in the 100-fold more permeable outer shell region (calculated permeability of the inner core was 10^?11 cm²). Average wall shear stresses were 80–100 dyne/cm² (peak values >200 dyne/cm²) on the outer rough surface of the thrombus. Within the thrombus, small molecule tracers (0.1 kDa) experienced ~70,000 collisions/s and penetrated/exited it in about 1 s, whereas proteins (~50 kDa) had ~9000 collisions/s and required about 10 s (tortuosity ~2–2.5). These simulations help define physical processes during thrombosis and constraints for drug delivery to the thrombus.     

The relationship between parafunctional masticatory activity and arthroscopically diagnosed temporomandibular joint pathology.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this investigation was to assess the relationship between parafunctional masticatory activity and arthroscopically visualized changes in patients with severe, unremitting symptoms caused by intra-articular temporomandibular joint pathology. The working hypothesis was that the presence of parafunctional activity leads to increased arthroscopically diagnosed pathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Temporomandibular joint arthroscopy was performed on 124 joints in 83 patients (female:male, 5.4:1; mean age, 35 years; mean duration of symptoms, 49 months) with severe symptoms unresponsive to nonsurgical management. Preoperatively, the presence of parafunctional habits (bruxism, clenching) was assessed, and joints were classified as either with or without parafunctional influences. Joints were diagnosed arthroscopically and assessed for the presence or absence of osteoarthritis, synovitis, and adhesions. Analyses were performed to determine significant relationships between parafunctional activity and the presence of osteoarthritis, synovitis, and adhesions. RESULTS: Parafunctional influences were present in 82 of 124 joints (66%). Clinically diagnosed osteoarthritis was present in 59 of 124 joints (48%) and arthroscopically diagnosed osteoarthritis was seen in 82 of 124 joints (66%). Arthroscopically, synovitis was diagnosed in 123 of 124 joints (99%) and adhesions in 93 of 124 joints (75%). Statistical analyses showed a significant relationship between parafunction and clinically diagnosed osteoarthritis, and suggested a close relationship between parafunction and arthroscopically diagnosed osteoarthritis. A significant association between clinically and arthroscopically diagnosed osteoarthritis and adhesions was also demonstrated. There also was no significant relationship detected between parafunction and the presence of synovitis or adhesions seen arthroscopically. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that parafunctional masticatory activity and its influence on joint loading contribute to osteoarthritis of the temporomandibular joint. Such osteoarthritis is associated with adhesions of the joint. Arthroscopically diagnosed synovitis is not specifically associated with parafunction, and it appears that numerous other causative factors may contribute to its development in the TMJ. Because abnormal joint loading is a major causative factor in cartilage degradation, biochemical and biomechanical abnormalities, and intraarticular temporomandibular pathology, clinicians must identify and address parafunctional masticatory activity during nonsurgical, surgical, and postsurgical treatment regimens.     

Depression in family caregivers of elders: A theoretical model of caregiver burden,sociotropy, and autonomy

To test the diathesis‐stress model for family caregivers, two structural equation models were developed to explain depression measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. A cross‐sectional convenience sample of 112 caregivers completed questionnaires to measure burden, personality traits, dysfunctional attitudes, and depression. The final model included direct paths from caregiver burden to autonomy and sociotropy, and indirect paths from burden to depression through sociotropy and autonomy. The final model fit adequately (χ² [224, N = 112] = 308.60, p < .00; CFI = .951; RMSEA = .058). Levels of burden influenced caregiver depression scores. One pathway to depression was though the personality traits of sociotropy and autonomy; both had a larger influence on depression scores than burden alone. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 33:20–34, 2010