A longitudinal study of mental health consumer/survivor initiatives: Part 3—A qualitative study of impacts of participation on new members

This article examines the outcomes of participation in mental health Consumer/Survivor Initiatives (CSIs) and identifies helpful qualities of CSIs through a longitudinal, qualitative study that involved in‐depth interviews of people who experienced severe mental health challenges in Ontario, Canada. We used a nonequivalent control group design in which we compared active participants in CSIs ( n = 15) with nonactive participants ( n = 12) at baseline and at 9‐ and 18‐month follow‐up intervals. Compared with non‐CSI participants, CSI participants reported more stable mental health, enhanced social support, sustained work, stable income, and participation in education and training at 9‐ and 18‐month interviews. The helpful qualities of CSIs that participants reported were (1) safe environments that provide a positive, welcoming place to go; (2) social arenas that provide opportunities to meet and talk with peers; (3) an alternative worldview that provides opportunities for members to participate and contribute; and (4) effective facilitators of community integration that provide opportunities to connect members to the community at large. The findings are discussed in terms of previous research in self‐help and consumer‐run organizations in mental health. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Vitreous body proteins. IV. Proteolytic activity of the vitreous body in pathological conditions of the eye]

Two groups of proteins are present in the vitreous: collagen and non-collagen, deriving probably from the blood serum. The authors examined the proteolytic activity against haemoglobin in the course of some ocular pathological conditions. It was demonstrated that the vitreous digests haemoglobin in the acid division of pH (optimum--3.0-4.5) with various activity dependent on the pathological condition of the eye.     

Extrapulmonary location of sarcoidosis.

Two cases of sarcoidosis located outside the lungs are reported. In both cases the symptoms of the sicca syndrome were in the foreground. In the first case other clinical manifestations included mediastinal and retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy, and lacrimal gland impairment. In the other case the symptoms of the sicca syndrome were associated with polyneuropathy and maculopapular skin rash. The diagnosis of sarcoidosis was confirmed by histological examination of a biopsy specimen of lower lip mucosa in the first case, and biopsy of skin lesion in the second case. Abnormal results of laboratory tests included only raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate, in both cases and presence of circulating immune complexes in one case. Serological tests failed to demonstrate the presence of rheumatoid factor, antinuclear and anti-ds DNA antibodies. No decrease was observed also in the haemolytic activity of the complement, and cryoglobulins were absent. Regression of clinical signs was obtained in both cases after treatment with glucocorticosteroids.     

Early Postnatal Changes in the Somatodendritic Morphology of Ankle Flexor Motoneurons in the Rat

The development of locomotor function in the rat spans the first 3 postnatal weeks. We have studied morphological features of the soma and dendrites of motoneurons innervating the physiological flexor muscles of the ankle, tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum longus, by intracellular injection in vitro between the first and ninth postnatal days. We obtained serial optical sections of 96 adequately filled motoneurons in whole-mounted hemisected spinal cords by confocal microscopy, projected them onto a single plane and analysed them morphometrically. On the day after birth, the somatodendritic surfaces of most such motoneurons were covered in growth-associated spiny, thorny or hair-like appendages. These had disappeared from the soma by the fourth postnatal day and from most proximal dendrites by day 7, but were still common distally on day 9. During this period there was little or no net growth of either the soma (which was still much smaller than in the adult) or the dendritic tree. A dorsal dendritic bias was present and 'sprays' of long, loosely bundled dorsal dendrites were often seen. The mean number of primary dendrites remained constant at about eight, and their combined diameter was already significantly correlated with mean soma diameter, as in the adult cat. Thus, the critical neonatal period during which these ankle flexor motoneurons are known to change their electrophysiological properties and to be particularly sensitive to interference with neuromuscular interaction is characterized by major changes in the neuronal surface, presumably linked to synaptogenesis.     

The prodynorphin system in the rat hippocampus is differentially influenced by kainic acid and pentetrazole.

Administration of kainic acid (15 mg/kg, i.p.) or pentetrazole (75 mg/kg, i.p.) to rats evoked recurrent limbic or tonic-clonic seizures, respectively. Radioimmunoassay showed that the level of alpha-neoendorphin (prodynorphin-derived peptide) in the hippocampus was decreased after 3 h (by c. 60%) and 72 h (by c. 40%), but was not changed after 24 h following kainic acid administration. The basal release of alpha-neoendorphin from hippocampal slices of kainic acid-treated rats was decreased after 3, 24 and 72 h following the drug injection by c. 50%. The K(+)-stimulated release was decreased after 3 and 24 h (by c. 300 and 200%, respectively) and was back to the control level after 72 h. An in situ hybridization study showed that kainic acid strongly enhanced the prodynorphin messenger RNA levels in the dentate gyrus after 3 and 24 h (by c. 200%), whereas after 72 h it tended to decrease. Twenty four hours after pentetrazole injection the hippocampal level of alpha-neoendorphin was elevated (by c. 33%) and remained unchanged after 3 and 72 h. No significant changes in the basal or K(+)-stimulated alpha-neoendorphin release from hippocampal slices of pentetrazole-treated rats were found at any time points measured. Three and 24 h after pentetrazole administration the level of prodynorphin mRNA in the dentate gyrus was slightly decreased (by c. 30%), but was back to the control values after 72 h. Hence seizure-related changes in hippocampal prodynorphin neuron activity seem to depend on the experimental model of epilepsy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of various light sources on visual functions in the age aspect. I. Conscious reaction time and the manual spatial visual localization]

The authors present the results of investigations performed in 28 right-handed, normally seeing persons divided into 2 groups: 15 of them were in productive age and 13 in older age. The authors compared the dynamics of the behaviour of the visual functions in dependence on the age of the subjects and the stay in the glow and sodium light. No adverse influence of the sodium light on the hand localization could be detected, instead it seems that it negatively influenced the selective reaction in older productive persons in the sense of an increased number of faults.     

Transient demineralization of the hip--case report]

Transient osteoporosis of the hip is an uncommon disorder of unclear etiology. It is often confused with other diagnosis including osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Authors describe a case of transient osteoporosis of the hip of 32 years woman. The symptoms occurred in third trimester of pregnancy. The primary symptoms were right hip pain and decreased range of motion of the right hip. In diagnostic process helpful were clinical examination, X-ray, ultrasonography, MRI and microscopic examination. As a treatment authors used walking on crutches, calcitonin and calcium preparate. After a few months remission of symptoms and normalization in accessory investigations were obtained.     

Pentobarbital in tobacco.

The spectrometric analysis of extracts from tobacco and tobacco smoke revealed the presence of pentobarbital in the analyzed substances. Tobacco samples and tobacco smoke were extracted with chloroform, determinations were performed with the Perkin-Elmer Autosystem XL system, on a Turbo Mass spectrometer. Subject to analysis were 4 cigarette brands manufactured in Poland and raw, unprocessed tobacco. The presence of pentobarbital in the analyzed samples was confirmed by the analysis of the mass spectrum of the substance, as well as by comparison of retention time with standard of pentobarbital. The determined pentobarbital concentrations in tobacco amounted to 3-6 microg/cigarette, and in tobacco smoke they were approximately 45% lower. In case of tobacco extracts it can with high probability be excluded that pentobarbital is synthesized during chromatographical analysis. The presence of pentobarbital in tobacco is thus beyond question.