Sensory hypnoanalysis

Sensory hypnoanalysis as a psychotherapeutic approach emphasizes the reorganization of cognitive correlates of sensory and motor components encountered in behavioral disorders. Nonverbal stimulation is utilized in elucidating areas of sensory deprivation and sensory overloading which appear linked to disorganizing or interfering effects upon the behavioral process.     

The production of antisocial behavior through hypnosis: New clinical data

The role of hypnosis in relation to the production of antisocial behavior is re-evaluated. Both specific psychodynamic factors which play a role in creating conditions under which antisocial behavior is possible and the relationship of this kind of behavior to the social context within which it takes place are examined. Particular emphasis is placed on the personality of the hypnotist and the emergent compliance of the patient. In this connection, clinical material is presented from the current treatment of several patients who have been involved in antisocial behavior in connection with the use of hypnosis.     

Proliferation kinetics of subpopulations of human marrow cells determined by quantifying in vivo incorporation of [2H2]-glucose into DNA of S-phase cells

This report investigated in vivo turnover kinetics of marrow hematopoietic progenitors and precursors using a recently developed stable isotope-mass spectrometric technique (SIMST). Human subjects were administered a 2-day infusion of 6,6-[2H2]-glucose, a nontoxic stable isotope-labeled form of glucose, which becomes incorporated into DNA of all S-phase cells. The percent [2H2]-glucose incorporated into DNA in the form of [2H2]-deoxyadenosine (%[2H2]-dA enrichment) was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The rate constant of replacement of unlabeled by labeled DNA strands (labeling kinetics) was used to calculate population turnover kinetics of CD34+ cells, CD133+ cells, and CD133-CD34+ cells. The observed mean replacement half-life (t1/2) was 2.6 days for CD34+ cells, 2.5 days for CD133-CD34+ cells, and 6.2 days for CD133+ cells. Results from the estimated rate constant of replacement of labeled by unlabeled DNA (delabeling kinetics) also demonstrated slower turnover rates for CD133+ cells than for CD133-CD34+ cells. Although there was a relatively rapid initial decrease in the %[2H2]-dA enrichment, low levels of labeled DNA persisted in CD34+ cells for at least 4 weeks. The results indicate the presence of subpopulations of CD34+ cells with relatively rapid turnover rates and subpopulations with a slower t1/2 of 28 days. Results also demonstrate that in vivo [2H2]-glucose-SIMST is sensitive enough to detect differences in turnover kinetics between erythroid and megakaryocyte lineage cells. These studies are the first to demonstrate the use of in vivo [2H2]-glucose-SIMST to measure in vivo turnover kinetics of subpopulations of CD34+ cells and precursors in healthy human subjects.     

Development of a synthetic peptide-based tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase radioimmunoassay for the measurement of bone resorption in rat serum

Selective markers of bone turnover provide a convenient and reproducible alternative to the complex and expensive histochemical techniques used commonly to study the effect of pharmacological agents and the pathogenesis of bone disease in the ovariectomized (OVX) rat model. One marker, which has been specifically linked to terminally differentiated osteoclasts and, thus, provides useful insight at cellular levels, is type-5 tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP). We describe the development of a TRACP radioimmunoassay (RIA), which requires synthetic peptide for antibody development. To develop the RIA, polyclonal antibodies were generated in goats against a synthetic peptide, DPSVRHQRKCY, corresponding to amino acid residues 267–275 of the rat type-5 TRACP sequence. In the RIA, 50 μl of rat serum, 100 μl of goat anti-TRACP antibodies, and 100 μl of tracer were incubated overnight. The antibody-bound fraction was separated, counted, and unknown values were calculated by comparison with the peptide calibrator. Rat serum shows parallelism with the synthetic peptide calibrator used in the RIA. The sensitivity of the RIA was 24.7 μg/l, and the measuring range was 19–2476 μg/l. The average intra-assay coefficients of variation for (CV) two controls were less than 7%. The average dilution and spike recoveries were 107% and 87%, respectively. We applied our peptide-based RIA to study bone resorption in an OVX rat model. TRACP concentrations in serum in 12-week-old OVX Sprague Dawley rats were 14%–22% (P < 0.05) higher than those in the sham-operated rats, and TRACP concentrations in OVX rats treated with estradiol were 24%–32% lower (P < 0.01) than those in the vehicle-treated OVX group. Similarly, as compared with those in OVX rats, TRACP concentrations decreased to those of sham levels in OVX rats receiving 10 μg/kg per day of alendronate for 10 days. In addition, the TRACP levels determined by RIA showed a significant correlation with serum C-telopeptide (type-I collagen) concentrations (r = 0.56; P < 0.001) measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) developed earlier for the rat model. In conclusion, we have developed a TRACP RIA that could be used to monitor the rate of bone resorption in the rat model. Received: June 18, 2001 / Accepted: October 26, 2001     

Cardiovascular simulator improvement: pressure versus volume loop assessment

This article presents improvement on a physical cardiovascular simulator (PCS) system. Intraventricular pressure versus intraventricular volume (PxV) loop was obtained to evaluate performance of a pulsatile chamber mimicking the human left ventricle. PxV loop shows heart contractility and is normally used to evaluate heart performance. In many heart diseases, the stroke volume decreases because of low heart contractility. This pathological situation must be simulated by the PCS in order to evaluate the assistance provided by a ventricular assist device (VAD). The PCS system is automatically controlled by a computer and is an auxiliary tool for VAD control strategies development. This PCS system is according to a Windkessel model where lumped parameters are used for cardiovascular system analysis. Peripheral resistance, arteries compliance, and fluid inertance are simulated. The simulator has an actuator with a roller screw and brushless direct current motor, and the stroke volume is regulated by the actuator displacement. Internal pressure and volume measurements are monitored to obtain the PxV loop. Left chamber internal pressure is directly obtained by pressure transducer; however, internal volume has been obtained indirectly by using a linear variable differential transformer, which senses the diaphragm displacement. Correlations between the internal volume and diaphragm position are made. LabVIEW integrates these signals and shows the pressure versus internal volume loop. The results that have been obtained from the PCS system show PxV loops at different ventricle elastances, making possible the simulation of pathological situations. A preliminary test with a pulsatile VAD attached to PCS system was made.