人际交往训练降低医学生心理应激反应的实验研究

目的　探讨人际交往训练降低医学生心理应激反应的有效模式 ,以培养交往手段 ,促进身心健康 ,提高学习效率。方法　从云南中医学院中医专业 2 0 0 0级 8个班 ,41 2名学生中随机抽取 2个班 ,共 1 0 6人为被试对象 ,结合专业学习 ,在生理学课堂教学中贯穿人际交往训练 ,训练前后分别测查 90项症状自评量表 ( SCL-90 )和防御方式问卷 ( DSQ) ,并用 Q分类法检验被试课前和课后自我评价。最后 ,对被试和其余 6个班的学生进行生理测验 ,并对测验成绩进行比较。结果　被试在交友信心、乐观豁达、口头表达、积极接纳、说服技巧方面均比训练前有显著和极显著提高 ;且考前心理应激反应明显降低 ,防御方式趋向成熟 ,测验及格率高于其余 6个班。结论　结合专业进行人际交往训练可在近期内改善医学生的心理健康水平 ,有利于提高学习效率 ,深受大学生欢迎     

模拟腰椎前路、后路间盘摘除术T12-L5腰段脊柱应力松弛蠕变实验研究

研究了18例新鲜尸体T12－L5腰段脊柱应力松弛，蠕变特性。测定了完整脊柱（正常组）及模拟前路（对照1组），后路手术（对照2组）腰段脊柱的应力松弛和蠕变效应，得出了在恒应变，应力条件下应力－时间曲线及数据，用回归分析的方法处理实验数据，得出了归一化应务松弛，蠕变函数及曲线，对前路间盘摘除术与后路间盘摘除术对脊柱粘弹性的影响进行分析讨论。     

Microfilament system in the microvascular endothelium of the palmar fascia affected by mechanical stress applied from outside

The effect of externally applied mechanical stress was investigated by thin section electron microscopy of the microvessels in the unaffected palmar fascia in the carpal tunnel syndrome and in patients with Dupuytren's contracture before and after application of a continuous elongation device. In the unaffected palmar fascia the microfilaments of the endothelial cells were connected to a few adherens junctions and focal contacts; stress fibres were absent. In the cord of Dupuytren's disease the microfilaments were increased in quantity. The length ratios of the connections with the lateral and basal cell membrane were significantly higher than in the control group and increased to an even greater extent in the continuously extended fascia. Stress fibres appeared in the endothelial cells of postcapillary venules in the nonextended cord and in the endothelium of both arterioles and venules after extension elongation. The numerous intermediate filaments and the rare microtubules remained unchanged in the endothelial cells of all palmar fasciae analysed. In the endothelial cells of the microvessels the mechanical stress applied from outside mainly affected the contractile component of the cytoskeleton.     

The influence of the initial state of hydration on endocrine responses to exercise in the heat

Summary This study examines the effect of the initial state of hydration on hormone responses to prolonged exercise in the heat. Five subjects at two initial hydration levels (hypohydrated and hyperhydrated) were exposed to a 36°C environment for 3 h of intermittent exercise. During exercise, the subjects were either fluid-deprived, or rehydrated with water or an isotonic electrolyte sucrose solution (ISO). Both the stress hormones, adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol, and the main fluid regulatory hormones, aldosterone, renin activity (PRA) and arginine vasopressin (AVP), were measured in blood samples taken every hour. Prior hyperhydration significantly reduced initial AVP, aldosterone and PRA levels. However, except for AVP, which responded to exercise significantly less in previously hyperhydrated subjects (p<0.05), the initial hydration state did not influence the subsequent vascular and hormonal responses when the subjects were fluid-deprived while exercising. Concurrent rehydration, either with water or with ISO, reduced or even abolished the hormonal responses. There were no significant differences according to the initial hydration state, except for PRA responses, which were significantly lower (p<0.01) in previously hyperhydrated subjects who also received water during exercise. These results indicate that prior hydration levels influence only slightly the hormonal responses to prolonged exercise in the heat. Progressive rehydration during exercise, especially when extra electrolytes are given, is more efficient in maintaining plasma volume and osmolarity and in reducing the hormonal responses.     

Advanced 1H Solid‐State NMR Spectroscopy on Hydrogels, 1

Summary: The nature of the pH dependent collapse of poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) hydrogels is investigated using recent ¹H solid‐state NMR methods. In aqueous solution, PMAA changes from an expanded conformation at high pHs to a compact contracted form at low pHs, where hydrogen bonds play a central role. In solid‐state ¹H NMR spectra, recorded under fast magic angle spinning (MAS), dried PMAA samples previously collapsed at low pHs show characteristic signals in the spectral region of the carboxylic acid protons. With the aid of 2D ¹H‐¹H double‐quantum (DQ) MAS NMR spectra, three signals can be distinguished at 8, 10.5 and 12.5 ppm, which are attributed to free carboxylic groups and two different types of hydrogen bonded forms, respectively. The 12.5 ppm signal arises from the hydrogen bond with the shortest H? H distance, corresponding to the form that is most stable with respect to increasing temperature and pH. The weaker hydrogen‐bonded form (with a signal at 10.5 ppm) requires a slightly lower pH, while the free acid signal (at 8 ppm) emerges under the most acidic medium. Moreover, the stabilities of the hydrogen‐bonded carboxylic acid dimers can be inferred from the proton‐proton distances within the dimers, i.e. (275 ± 5) pm and (295 ± 15) pm for the protons at 12.5 and 10.5 ppm, respectively, which are determined by means of DQ MAS sideband patterns. Both the stability of the hydrogen bonds and the acidity of the protons may be related to the stereochemistry and the conformation of the PMAA chains.

     

Fluid and solid mechanical implications of vascular stenting

Vascular stents have emerged as an effective treatment for occlusive vascular disease. Despite their success and widespread use, outcomes for patients receiving stents are still hampered by thrombosis and restensosis. As arteries attempt to adapt to the mechanical changes created by stents, they may in fact create a new flow-limiting situation similar to that which they were intended to correct. In vitro fluid mechanics and solid mechanics studies of stented vessels have revealed important information about how stents alter the mechanical environment in the arteries into which they are placed. Adverse nonlaminar flow patterns have been demonstrated as well as remarkably high stress concentrations in the vessel wall. In vivo studies of stented vessels have also shown a strong relationship between stent design and their dynamic performance within arteries. Alterations in pressure and flow pulses distal to the stent have been observed, as well as regional changes in vascular compliance. Considering the influence of flow and stress on the vascular response and the suboptimal clinical outcomes associated with stenting, knowledge gained from stent/artery mechanics studies should play an increasingly important role in improving the long-term patency of these devices. © 2002 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC2002: 8719Rr, 8780-y, 8719Uv     

Local cerebral blood flow in gently restrained rats: effects of propranolol and diazepam

Summary The cerebrovascular consequences of the gentle restraint commonly used for the measurement of local cerebral blood flow (LCBF) in conscious rats has been tested by using two drugs, propranolol and diazepam. Propranolol induced small LCBF decreases in 7 structures suggesting that the cerebral circulation was partially controlled by the activation of intra or extracerebral aminergic pathways in this protocol. Sedative doses of diazepam reduced LCBF in most of the structures but anxiolytic doses increased it in 4 structures. This effect may be due to a regionally differentiated modification of activity in the brain due to the selective inhibition of limbic structures by diazepam. Since propranolol and diazepam induced only small changes, the LCBF of gently restrained rats appeared to be minimally affected by the stressful situation imposed by the protocol.     

Humoral indices of stress in rats

Rats, bearing chronic venous cannulas, were subjected to 30 sec of constant current grid shock at 1 of 6 intensities (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 mA), after being allowed to acclimate to the test chamber overnight. Blood, sampled before and after shock, was assayed for epinephrine, norepinephrine and corticosterone. Peak levels of both catecholamines increased in a stepwise fashion (i.e., monotonically) with increasing magnitude of stress, as reflected by current intensity of foot shock. Plasma corticosterone did not increase monotonically but instead showed similar increases in the 5 groups of rats that actually received shock. These data support earlier work which indicate that plasma corticosterone is not a sensitive index of stress; this is probably the case because of the relatively narrow range of responsiveness of the adrenal cortex to ACTH. In contrast, both plasma catecholamines appear to satisfy some of the requisites for a sensitive visceral index of stress.     

Factors related to postmenopausal muscle performance: a cross-sectional population-based study

The aim of the present study was to investigate cross-sectionally the association of postmenopausal muscle strength with simple performance tests. A random sample of 1,166 naturally postmenopausal women (born 1932–1941) was selected from the Kuopio Osteoporosis Risk Factor and Prevention (OSTPRE) study cohort. Grip and quadriceps strength were measured with strain gauge dynamometers and reported in both absolute values (KPa and kg) and per kilogram of body mass (N cm^–2 kg^–1 and N kg^–1). In addition, two performance tests, ability to stand on one foot and ability to squat down to touch the floor were carried out. A five-category self-assessment of overall health (very good, good, moderate, bad, and very bad) was obtained by postal questionnaire. The women that were able to stand on one foot and able to squat down to touch the floor had greater grip and quadriceps strength than their counterparts (P<0.001 and P<0.03 in ANOVA, respectively). In addition, self-assessed health had a strong positive association with muscle strength in the grip and leg extensor muscles in ANOVA (P<0.001 between very good and moderate or poorer state of health) and regression model (P<0.001). Adjustment for age, duration of menopause, body mass, height, physical activity level, use of HRT, and number of diseases and medications did not change any of the main effects. Also, there were no differences in results between absolute measurement values and values reported per kilogram of body mass. According to the present study, a simple performance test may be useful in the prediction of postmenopausal muscle strength. Furthermore, self-assessed state of health is strongly associated with muscle strength in postmenopausal women.