Psychometric evaluation of a radio electric auricular treatment for stress related disorders: a double-blinded,placebo-controlled controlled pilot study

Background  

The aim of this double-blind randomized study is to test the efficacy of a radio electric stimulator device using an auricular reflex therapy protocol for stress-related symptoms.     

Measurement properties of the benign prostatic hyperplasia impact index in tadalafil studies

Background  

To assess the measurement properties of the Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Impact Index (BII) for use in men with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) secondary to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) treated with tadalafil.     

Characterization of pollution transport into Texas using OMI and TES satellite,GIS and in situ data,and HYSPLIT back trajectory analyses: implications for TCEQ State Implementation Plans

Transport of pollution from remote sources into the state of Texas has been shown by modeling techniques, satellite, and in situ data. Attaining a better understanding of the impact (i.e., temporally) of remote pollution sources will provide a more robust/quantifiable basis for State Implementation Plans (SIPs) that govern air quality. Utilizing Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES) and Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) and in situ data for ozone (O₃) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory Model (HYSPLIT), we assess whether high-pollution events in Texas are primarily sourced locally (i.e., within Texas) or remotely. We focus on TES and OMI dates that exemplify high O₃ and NO₂, over Texas’s lower troposphere from August 5, 2006, to June 21, 2009. For all dates and altitudes, 4-day back trajectory analyses, exemplified by high TES O₃, show that remotely sourced from the Gulf of Mexico, Southeast USA, Midwest USA, Northeast USA, the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Mexico to Texas. The only exception is air at 1 km on July 22, 2006, which shows that air at this altitude is sourced within Texas. Throughout half of the eastern portion of Texas, TES shows O₃ enhancements in the boundary layer and OMI shows O₃ and NO₂ enhancements via tropospheric column profiles (O₃ between 75 and 90 ppbv; NO₂ ≥5.5 molecules cm^?2). These enhancements complement the HYSPLIT 4-day trajectory analyses, which gives further indication that they are influenced by transport from remote sources. Dates with co-located satellite and in situ data (e.g., August 2, 2005) further exemplify the need to consider satellite and in situ data and modeling data/forecasts when creating SIPs for compliance with Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality air quality standards. Despite the fact that quantifying local versus remote sources is in its early stages, Texas has become increasingly compliant with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. Environmental Systems Research Institute’s ArcGIS exemplifies the noticeable decrease in the number of days that locales in Texas exceed EPA’s limit for O₃. From 2005 to 2009, population standard deviation and standard error of the mean, and true sample deviation of the sample mean for O₃ and NO₂, at all 16 monitoring sites distributed throughout Texas, are temporally consistent and small—reinforcing the reliability of in situ data as they are consistent throughout. This investigation has global implications for regions within countries that enforce air quality mandates. Such governing bodies should consider utilizing data assimilation (of in situ data) for air quality prediction as a part of the governmental process that produces such laws. This could potentially keep regions more accountable for emissions both locally and far from high source points.     

Treatment of hemangioma by transfection of antisense VEGF gene

The effect of transfection of antisense vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） gene on the growth of hemangioma was studied. A total of 49 cases of capillary hemangiomas of the skin were collected. Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of PCNA in hemangioma tissues. According to the finding, 49 cases of hemangiomas fell into proliferating phase （27 cases） and involuting phase （22 cases） respectively. Another 5 cases of normal skin tissues adjacent to the tumor tissues served as control. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the expression of VEGF in the tumor tissues and the normal tissues. The average absorbance （A） values and the average positive area rate of VEGF were measured by image analysis system （HPIAS-2000）. Endothelial cells from the tumor tissues in proliferating phase were cultured. Eukaryotic expression vector was constructed by sub-cloning, and transfected into human hemangioma endothelial cells by using cation liposome as vector. The expression of VEGF mRNA and protein was detected by RT-PCR and indirect immunofluorescence assay （IFA）, respectively, and the biological characteristics of the transfected endothelial cells were examined by MTT assay and flow cytometry （FCM） after transfection. Immunohistochemical results showed that the expression of VEGF in proliferating endothelial cells was remarkably higher than those in involuting endothelial cells and normal endothelial cells （P〈0.01）, but there was no significant difference in the expression of VEGF between involuting endothelial cells and normal ones （P〉0.01）. Electrophoresis and sequencing indicated that the eukaryotic expression vector containing antisense VEGF gene, i.e. pcDNA3.1-VEGF, was success- fully constructed. After VEGF antisense RNA recombinant was transfected into hemangioma endothelial cells, RT-PCR revealed that the expression of VEGF mRNA in pcDNA-VEGF （V） group and blank group was obviously higher than that in pcDNA-VEGF （A） group, and that the expression of endogenous VEGF mRNA in pcDNA-VEGF （A） group was significantly inhibited. Immunohistochemical result demonstrated that, compared with blank group, there was statistically significant difference between pcDNA-VEGF （A） and pcDNA-VEGF （V） groups （P〈0.01）, but there was no significant difference between pcDNA-VEGF （V） group and blank group （P〉0.05）. The activity of endothelial cell proliferation was reduced significantly after transfection, and obvious apoptosis occurred in hemangioma endothelial cells after transfection of antisense VEGF. It was suggested that VEGF plays an important role in the pathological change of hemangiomas by promoting endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Antisense VEGF gene transfection could effectively inhibit the growth of hemanioma endothelial cells.     

Prediction of Trend between Water Environment Pollution of D Lake and Death Rate of Malignancy in Population

Waterisoneofthemostnecessarybasicsforhu manlifeandproductionactivities .Alotofattentionhasbeenpaidto predictionbetweenwaterenviron mentpollutionandpopulationhealth[1- 3] .Thee cosystemwherehumanexistsisverycomplexandthemechanismsbywhichwatercontaminationaffectpopulationhealtharealsoverycomplicated .Re searcheshaveshownthatbladdercancer ,stomachcancer ,coloncancer ,rectumcancer ,esophaguscan cerandlivercancerareamongthecommoncancerswhichhaveshownstatisticalsignificancebetweenpopulationandwatero…     

Anti-tumor angiogenesis with a recombinant ag43/FGFR1 chimeric protein as a model antigen

In order to investigate the anti-tumor angiogenesis activity with a recombinant Ag43/FGFR1 chimeric protein(AF)vaccine in a mouse H22 hepatoma model,tumor volume and survival rate of the mice were studied at a 3-day interval.Microvessel density(MVD)was detected by immunohistochemistry.The endothelial deposition of autoantibodies within tumor tissues was examined by immunofluorescent staining,and anti-FGFR1 antibody-producing B cells(APBCs)were tested by enzyme-linked immunospot(ELISPOT)assay.Compared with t...     

Internet Use by Hospice Families and Providers: A Review

This literature review explores the current evidence related to use of the Internet by hospice patients or families and palliative care/hospice professionals. The research questions guiding this study pertain to the current Internet-based interventions in hospice and palliative care and the evidence of their effectiveness. Six studies were identified as a result of an extensive literature review. These studies included research about web-based clinical interventions for patients, and patients’, caregivers’ and hospice/palliative care providers’ use of the Internet. The majority of interventions involve accessing information via the Internet. Participants among the studies included patients, caregivers/family members, and health care professionals. Findings overall indicate effectiveness of Internet-based interventions. Both patients and professionals are using the Internet to find answers to healthcare questions, communicate, and/or deliver healthcare interventions.     

Szenenaufbau und Aufstellungsarbeit,Praxis und Theorie,Variationen und Indikationen im Gruppensetting und in der Einzelarbeit

Zusammenfassung Der Artikel gibt eine grundlegende Orientierung über die besondere Bedeutung des Szenenaufbaus als zentrale Psychodrama-Technik. Der Szenenaufbau und die Aufstellungsarbeit sind die Basis psychodramatischen Handelns. Denn sie konkretisieren das Konfliktsystem, positionieren es im Raum und lassen es so zu ?u?erer Wahrnehmung werden. Dadurch entstehen zwischen den Konfliktelementen die Interaktionsr?ume, die den Einsatz der übrigen Psychodrama-Techniken überhaupt erst erm?glichen. Der Autor beschreibt anhand eines Fallbeispiels Theorie und Praxis des Szenenaufbaus und der Aufstellungsarbeit im Gruppen- und im Einzelsetting. Er stellt Variationen des Szenenaufbaus auf ihren verschiedenen Bühnen mit ihren verschiedenen Indikationen dar und begründet diese psychodramatisch, tiefenpsychologisch, systemisch und neurobiologisch. Ein besonderer Schwerpunkt des Artikels ist die Darstellung der psychodramatischen Arbeit mit Intermedi?robjekten (Steinen, Holzkl?tzen u.a.) im Einzelsetting.

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Summary The article provides a basic orientation concerning the special significance of scene setting as a central psychodrama technique. Scene setting and work with Aufstellungen are the foundation of psychodramatic action. They concretize the conflict system, place it in space and make possible to perceive it externally. Thereby space for interaction between the elements of conflict is created thus enabling the use of other psychodrama techniques. The author describes theory and practice of scene setting and work with Aufstellungen on the basis of a case study. He presents variations of scene setting on different stages with their respective indications substantiating them psychodramatically, psychodynamically, systemically, and neurobiologically. A special focus of the article deals with the presentation of psychodramatic work with intermediary objects (stones, wooden bricks etc.) in a one-to-one setting.

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Dr. med. Reinhard Krüger Facharzt für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapeutische Medizin in eigener Praxis; Schwerpunkt Psychotherapie, auch mit psychoseerkrankten, suchtkranken und traumatisierten Menschen; Ausbildungsleiter im Psychodrama, u.a am Moreno-Institut überlingen     

Advanced Monitoring of Systemic Hemodynamics in Critically Ill Patients with Acute Brain Injury

Hemodynamic monitoring is widely used in critical care; however, the impact of such intervention in patients with acute brain injury (ABI) remains unclear. Using PubMed, a systematic review was performed (1966–August 2013), and 118 studies were included. Data were extracted using the PICO approach. The evidence was classified, and recommendations were developed according to the GRADE system. Electrocardiography and invasive monitoring of arterial blood pressure should be the minimal hemodynamic monitoring required in unstable or at-risk patients in the intensive care unit. Advanced hemodynamic monitoring (i.e., assessment of preload, afterload, cardiac output, and global systemic perfusion) could help establish goals that take into account cerebral blood flow and oxygenation, which vary depending on diagnosis and disease stage. Choice of techniques for assessing preload, afterload, cardiac output, and global systemic perfusion should be guided by specific evidence and local expertise. Hemodynamic monitoring is important and has specific indications among ABI patients. Further data are necessary to understand its potential for therapeutic interventions and prognostication.