Social problem solving as a moderating variable between negative life stress and depressive symptoms

The present study sought to investigate the moderating function that social problem-solving effectiveness serves in relation to negative stressful life events and depressive symptomatology. It was also hypothesized that knowledge of problem solving would improve upon the prediction of level of depressive symptoms beyond the assessment of stressful events. Results involving 462 undergraduate students provide support for both predictions. Specifically, findings from a multiple regression analysis indicated that (1) differences in reported depressive mood between subjects under high and low stress levels were minimal for individuals characterized as effective problem-solvers, relative to those persons with problem-solving scores reflective of ineffective problem solving; and (2) assessment of problem-solving scores and their interaction with stress level provided for an additional three times the amount of explained variance in predicting depression scores beyond life stress scores. Additionally, a cross-validation of the regression analysis was conducted and found to result in a minimal amount of shrinkage that could be due to samplespecific characteristics.We would like to extend our appreciation to two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on an earlier draft of this article. The study was supported in part by a grant funded by Fairleigh Dickinson University to the first author.     

Bupropion and nicotine patch as smoking cessation aids in alcoholics.

This is a double-blind placebo-controlled study of sustained-release bupropion as a smoking cessation aid in alcoholics undergoing treatment for their alcoholism. Participants (N=58) were enrolled within 1 week of entry into alcohol treatment from community and Veterans Affairs Substance Use Disorder programs. All participants received nicotine patch and were invited to attend a smoking cessation lecture and group. Cigarette smoking and alcohol outcomes were measured at 6 months. Bupropion when added to nicotine patch did not improve smoking outcomes. One third of participants on bupropion reported discontinuing the drug during weeks 1-4. Participants reported cigarette outcomes with nicotine patch that are similar to those seen in the general population. All study participants significantly reduced cigarette use. Comorbid affective disorder or antipersonality disorder did not affect outcomes. Alcohol outcomes were improved in those who discontinued cigarettes.     

Safety and efficacy of atorvastatin in heart transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Pravastatin and simvastatin prolong survival and reduce transplant-related coronary vasculopathy, although low-density lipoprotein (LDL) lowering with these agents is only modest. The objective of this study was to assess the safety of moderate dose atorvastatin and its efficacy when prior treatment with another statin had failed to lower LDL to < 100 mg/dl. METHODS: Data from 185 patients were retrospectively evaluated for adverse events, duration of exposure (person-days), and the mean atorvastatin dose exposure. Changes in lipid parameters, and prednisone and cyclosporine doses were determined. RESULTS: Safety: 48 patients received atorvastatin for 24,240 person-days at a mean dose exposure of 21 +/- 10 mg. Rhabdomyolysis, myositis, myalgias, and hepatotoxicity occurred in 0, 2, 2, and 0 patients, respectively. All events occurred at the 10-mg dose, within the first 3 months, and were rapidly reversible with atorvastatin discontinuation. Efficacy: Thirty-four patients evaluable for efficacy analyses had a pre-atorvastatin LDL of 145 +/- 38 mg/dl on the following statins: pravastatin (n = 30, 40 +/- 0mg), fluvastatin (n = 3, 33 +/- 12 mg), simvastatin (n = 1, 40 mg). After atorvastatin (21 +/- 9 mg/day) for 133 +/- 67 days, LDL was reduced to 97 +/- 24 mg/dl (relative reduction 31 +/- 20%, p < 0.0001). At the end of the observation period (418 +/- 229 days, atorvastatin final dose 24 +/- 14 mg/day), LDL was further decreased to 88 +/- 23 mg (relative reduction 37 +/- 17%, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Atorvastatin, when used at moderate doses and with close biochemical and clinical monitoring, appears to be safe and is effective in aggressively lowering LDL in heart transplant recipients when treatment with other statins has failed to achieve LDL goals.     

Who shall be served? Issues in screening for emotional and behavioral problems in school

Journal of Prevention - The major issues involved in the design and implementation of effective school screening programs are addressed, using data from a longitudinal study following over 500...     

Inappropriate social and sexual responses to a female student by male patients with dementia and organic brain disorder

Little attention has been directed toward inappropriate social and sexual approaches by patients with dementia diagnoses and organic disorders of the brain. A female student who approached patients who had dementia and organic brain disorders was frequently approached and touched in a sexual manner that was distressing to her and led her to believe that she was behaving in a manner that elicited these responses. It is recommended that students and volunteers be prepared for experience in settings with patients with these diagnoses through individual or group discussion, training and role playing as a way of enhancing their experiences and avoiding unnecessary feelings of guilt and embarrassment.     

Frizzled-7 and limb mesenchymal chondrogenesis: effect of misexpression and involvement of N-cadherin.

Products of the Frizzled family of tissue polarity genes have been identified as putative receptors for the Wnt family of signaling molecules. Wnt-signaling is implicated in the regulation of limb mesenchymal chondrogenesis, and our recent study indicates that N-cadherin and related activities are functionally involved in Wnt-7a-mediated inhibition of chondrogenesis. By using an in vitro high-density micromass culture system of chick limb mesenchymal cells, we have analyzed the spatiotemporal expression patterns and the effects on chondrogenesis of RCAS retroviral-mediated misexpression of Chfz-1 and Chfz-7, two Frizzled genes implicated in chondrogenic regulation. Chfz-1 expression was localized at areas surrounding the cartilaginous nodules at all time points examined, whereas Chfz-7 expression was limited to cellular aggregates during initial mesenchymal condensation, and subsequently was down-regulated from the centers toward the periphery of cartilage nodules at the time of chondrogenic differentiation, resembling the pattern of N-cadherin expression. Chondrogenesis in vitro was inhibited and limited to a smaller area of the culture upon misexpression of Chfz-7, but not affected by Chfz-1 misexpression. Analyses of cellular condensation and chondrogenic differentiation showed that the inhibitory action of Chfz-7 is unlikely to be at the chondrogenic differentiation step, but instead affects the earlier precartilage aggregate formation event. At 24 hr, expression of N-cadherin, a key component of the cellular condensation phase of chondrogenesis, was delayed/suppressed in Chfz-7 misexpressing cultures, and was limited to a significantly smaller cellular condensation area within the entire culture at 48 hr, when compared with control cultures. Chfz-1 misexpressing cultures appeared similar to control cultures at all time points. However, neither Chfz-1 nor Chfz-7 misexpression affected mesenchymal cell proliferation in vitro. These results suggest that Chfz-7 is active in regulating N-cadherin expression during the process of limb mesenchymal chondrogenesis and that Chfz-1 and Chfz-7 are involved in different Wnt-signaling pathways.