Age group differeces in depression on MMPI D scale

Much of the work that has been done to the present in exploring age differences in the assessment of depression has utilized normally aging populations. This research has indicated that present depresion scales may yield many false positives for depression because of the large number of somatic items that these scales contain. An important question is whether this same finding would hold in psychiatric populations, which are the ones most likely to be subject to diagnosis. The present study was designed to supply information in that area. The D-scale responses of the MMPI for 6,964 patients were factor-analyzed. Results indicated significant differences in the expression of depression for three age groups–20-39, 40–59 and 60+ years. A central core of items that accounted for one-half of the variances for all three groups was found. Additional items appeared across the age groups with greater to lesser significance in terms of the variance accounted for producing distinct qualitative differences. Concern over declining physical well-being was not part of the central core of depression for the older group in this psychiatric population.     

A Hyperlipidemic Rabbit Model Provides New Insights into Pulmonary Zinc Exposure Effects on Cardiovascular Health

This study ascertains the effects of zinc, a major component of particulate matter, on pulmonary and systemic endpoints using hyperlipidemic rabbits to model diet-induced human atherosclerosis. New Zealand White rabbits were fed a normal or cholesterol-enriched diet and then were intratracheally instilled 1×/week for 4 weeks with saline or 16 μg/kg of zinc, equal parts sulfate and oxide. Physiologic responses, blood after each exposure, and terminal bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were assessed. Rabbits fed a cholesterol-rich diet developed hyperlipidemia and had consistently higher circulating leukocyte counts than rabbits fed normal chow. Within minutes after zinc instillation, saturation of peripheral oxygen was decreased in hyperlipidemic rabbits and heart rate was increased in hyperlipidemic rabbits with total serum cholesterol levels greater than 200 mg/dl. Total circulating leukocytes levels were increased 24 h after the first zinc instillation, but upon repeated exposures this effect was attenuated. After repeated zinc exposures, BAL fluid (BALF) N-acetylglucosaminidase activity was increased regardless of hyperlipidemic state. Hyperlipidemic rabbits had an increase in BALF-oxidized glutathione and a decrease in serum nitrite. The study elucidates mechanisms by which the zinc metal component of PM drives cardiovascular health effects, as well as the possible susceptibility induced by hyperlipidemia. Furthermore, the study exemplifies the benefits of monitoring circulatory physiology during exposure as well as after exposure. This article was reviewed by the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of the agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. A. P. Carll and N. D. Manzo supported by EPA-CT82947101 and EPA-CT826512010, respectively.     

Retrospective maternal mortality case ascertainment in West Virginia, 1985 to 1989.

OBJECTIVE: The death of women from pregnancy-related causes remains a threat to national maternal and child health. Maternal deaths as persistent, albeit rare occurrences are overlooked if vital registration systems are relied on to report such deaths. STUDY DESIGN: Live birth records were matched with death records for women of reproductive age to detect if a woman died within 1 year of delivery. The data for potential cases were reviewed by committee and classified as maternal and nonmaternal deaths. RESULTS: Of all linked birth-death records, 32% were related to pregnancy: 81% were directly related to pregnancy and 19% were indirectly related to pregnancy. The most frequent causes of death were hemorrhage and embolism. Thirty-eight percent of the women were transferred to tertiary hospitals before death. The case ascertainment through this study improved maternal death detection by 100% over official vital statistics. CONCLUSION: Enhanced maternal mortality surveillance increased the detection of maternal death in West Virginia. Case review of these deaths yielded important information useful in shaping the state's perinatal system.     

Nutrition and brain function: a multidisciplinary virtual symposium

A few months ago, the Brazilian Society for Neuroscience and Behavior (SBNeC) promoted a "virtual symposium" (by Internet, under the coordination of R.C.A. Guedes) on "Nutrition and Brain Function". The discussions generated during that symposium originated the present text, which analyzes current topics on the theme, based on the multidisciplinary experience of the authors. The way the brain could be non-homogeneously affected by nutritional alterations, as well as questions like early malnutrition and the development of late obesity and hormone abnormalities were discussed. Also, topics like the role of essential fatty acids (EFAs) on brain development, increased seizure susceptibility and changes in different neurotransmitters and in cognitive performance in malnourished animals, as well as differences between overall changes in nutrient intake and excess or deficiency of specific nutrients (e.g. iodine deficiency) were analyzed. It was pointed out that different types of neurons, possibly in distinct brain structures, might be differently affected by nutritional manipulation, including not only lack-but also excess of nutrient intake. Such differences could help in explaining discrepancies between data on humans and in animals and so, could aid in determining the basic mechanisms underlying lesions or changes in brain function and behavior.     

The relationship between periodontal disease attributes and Helicobacter pylori infection among adults in the United States

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and abnormal periodontal conditions. METHODS: Data from the first phase of the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used. A total of 4504 participants aged 20 to 59 years who completed a periodontal examination and tested positive for H. pylori antibodies were examined. RESULTS: Periodontal pockets with a depth of 5 mm or more were associated with increased odds of H. pylori seropositivity (odds ratio [OR] = 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.12, 1.94) after adjustment for sociodemographic factors. This association is comparable to the independent effects of poverty on H. pylori (OR = 1.54; 95% CI = 1.10, 2.16). CONCLUSIONS: Poor periodontal health, characterized by advanced periodontal pockets, may be associated with H. pylori infection in adults, independent of poverty status.     

Functional foods: psychological and behavioural functions

It is easier to demonstrate the consistent effects of foods on satiety than on cognitive performance. This is understandable since the satiety system incorporates physiological signalling systems that mediate the effects of foods on function. Specific manipulations of proteins, carbohydrates and fats have the potential to act as functional foods for appetite control. Because of the importance of the optimal functioning of cognitions for survival, these functions are quite strongly protected against short-term dietary and physiological perturbances. Therefore, food manipulations may be better detected through the degree of effort exerted to maintain performance rather than via changes in the actual performance itself. This procedure has not been widely used hitherto. The concept of biomarkers may have to be interpreted differently from research on physiological systems or clinical endpoints. For satiety, adjustments in the profile of hunger could serve as a biomarker or surrogate endpoint. For cognitions, correlated physiological variables may be more difficult to measure than the functional endpoint itself. Changes related to unitary functions (such as tracking) could serve as biomarkers for more complex, integrated skills (such as car driving). Since food manipulations may affect multiple functions, the challenge is to design foods with good satiety control that do not impair mental performance; or alternatively to engineer foods that optimise cognitive performance without compromising satiety. This rapidly developing field has great potential for close collaboration between academia and industry in the production of commercially successful products that show clear improvements in human functioning with the capacity to protect against disease or impairment.     

Food cravings and aversions during pregnancy: relationships with nausea and vomiting

Food cravings and food aversions are common during pregnancy. A mechanism that may explain these changes in food preference is taste aversion learning. Accordingly, this study examined the temporal association between the first occurrences of nausea, vomiting, food cravings and food aversions during pregnancy. Ninety-nine women completed a questionnaire that asked about the occurrence, timing of first onset, duration, strength and targets of these symptoms. Nausea and vomiting were reported by 80% and 56% of the women, food cravings and aversions by 61% and 54% respectively. Although more women experienced both food cravings and aversions than either symptom alone, cravings and aversions were statistically unrelated. There was a significant positive correlation between week of onset of nausea and of aversions. In 60% of women reporting both nausea and food aversions, the first occurrence of each happened in the same week of pregnancy. No such association was found for cravings. These retrospective accounts provide good support for taste aversion learning as a mechanism for the development of some but not all food aversions during pregnancy. Prospective data are needed to confirm these temporal relationships and to assist understanding of the emergence of food cravings.     

Family data in Rett syndrome: association with other genetic disorders

BACKGROUND: Rett syndrome is a neurological disorder, almost exclusively affecting girls. METHODOLOGY: Between 1993 and 1995 pedigree data were obtained from families of girls registered with the Australian Rett syndrome database. RESULTS: Although 21 individual disorders were reported to be present in family members of affected girls, there was no apparent clustering of the same disorder in different families. However it was certain that a geneticist had been involved in only 10.9% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Mutations in the MECP2 gene have now been reported in a proportion of sporadic cases. Thus, it will be important to examine this phenotype-genotype correlation in the Australian cohort. Where a mutation is found, prenatal diagnosis in a subsequent pregnancy will be a possibility. Using the Australian population database and in conjunction with the clinical genetic services in each state it is planned to contact families with an affected girl to offer testing and counselling.