Distress and DNA repair in human lymphocytes

This research assessed differences in DNA repair in lymphocytes from high-and low-distressed individuals. A median split on Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) Scale 2 divided 28 newly admitted nonpsychotic psychiatric inpatients into high- and low-distress subgroups. The high-distress subgroup had significantly poorer DNA repair in lymphocytes exposed to X-irradiation than low-distress subjects. We also found that lymphocytes obtained from this psychiatric sample had significantly poorer DNA repair than lymphocytes from nonpsychiatric control subjects when compared 5 hr after X-irradiation. A high level of distress therefore appears to be associated with significant dysfunctional differences at the molecular level which may have important implications for health. These data provide evidence for a direct pathway through which distress could influence the incidence of cancer.This research was funded in part by General Molecular Applications, Inc., the Bremer Foundation, the Samuel J. Roessler Fund, and Comprehensive Cancer Center Core Grant CA-16068-09.     

Contribution of adrenomedullin to homeostatic response to cold stress in rat model

Acute stress known to stimulate sympathetic activity as well as the hypothalamo-pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, produces a significant increase in adrenomedullin (ADM) levels in the pituitary gland, plasma and adrenal glands, all of which are key components of HPA axis, suggesting a regulatory or protective role for ADM in countering HPA activation following a variety of physiological and psychological stressors. This study was conducted to assess a rat model for in depth investigation of biochemical mechanisms and consequences of cold stress. Four groups of Sprague–Dawley rats were observed for their serum total protein, glucose, trigliceride and cholesterol levels as well as their blood pressures after housing at room temperature, administration of ADM (1.0 nm/kg), exposing to cold stress (8 °C for 48 h) and exposing to ADM injection in addition to cold stress. The results suggest that application of ADM in addition to cold stress may act via receptors on different end-organs and causes altered metabolic regulation taking partial or total occupation of ADM receptors, stimulated in response to cold application induced physiologic ADM release before pharmacological ADM administration.     

低强度脉冲电磁场对大鼠骨质疏松的影响

目的：观察低强度脉冲电磁场（pulsed electromagnetic fields，PEMFs）对去卵巢诱导骨质疏松症的大鼠生化指标和骨应力的影响。方法：雌性SD大鼠30只，随机等分为3组（n=10），分别为假手术组（Sham）、骨质疏松模型组（Model）、脉冲电磁场照射组（PEMFs）。经适应4wk后，在25mg·Kg^-1戊巴比妥钠腹腔麻醉下，Model组和PEMFs组摘除双侧卵巢．Sham组找到但不切除卵巢。各实验组均在相同环境下饲养，模型制备4wk后开始治疗，由GZY型低强度低频率脉冲电磁场发生仪产生低频脉冲磁场，根据实验要求，我们使用亥姆霍兹线圈形成均匀磁场，PEMFs组经照射刺激治疗，频率14．3Hz，场强2Gs．日照8h。Model组和Sham组正常饲养。治疗8wk后，对各组大鼠血清、尿液中ALP和Ca以及骨应力进行检测。结果：（1）ALP、Ca检测结果：与Model组相比，PEMFs组ALP值、Ca值差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。其中，血清中ALP值，Model组为（275．16±228，57），PEMFs组为（179．30±87．68）；Ca值，Model组为（2，66±0，13），PEMFs组为（2．52±0．05）。（2）骨应力检测结果：Model组为（923．60±34．15Pa），PEMFs组为（1152．85±118，20Pa），组间差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论：研究发现，PEMFs对于促进骨重建、提高Ca吸收和骨应力恢复具有积极作用。     

The survey of recent life experiences: A psychometric evaluation

Hitherto, various critics have claimed that the most commonly used measure for daily hassles is confounded with psychological well-being in both content and format. In order to circumvent such contamination, the Survey of Recent Life Experiences (SRLE) was developed by Kohn and MacDonald (1992). In the present study, the SRLE was psychometrically evaluated within a general sample of the Dutch population. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that, with the exception of one item, the original six-factor structure was strongly replicated. For five of six factors, internal consistency reliabilities proved satisfactory. It is argued that the rather low internal consistency reliability of the sixth factor may be improved if additional items are subjoined. In addition, yielded relationships between the SRLE and other variables were in accordance with previous research. It is therefore argued that the results are in support of cross-cultural construct validity of the SRLE. Future use within other Western European societies is recommended.     

热习服和热应激对血液流变性影响的实验研究

目的探讨热应激和热习服对机体血液流变性的影响.方法观察日本大耳白兔在热应激和热习服时全血黏度、血浆黏度、血沉、红细胞比容、纤维蛋白原等指标的变化.结果1.热应激组在受热1 h组全血黏度有所下降;受热2 h组和热习服组全血黏度、血浆黏度均有明显升高;2.血沉、红细胞比容、纤维蛋白原在热习服组显著升高,热应激组在受热2 h有明显升高.结论热习服和热应激均能对机体的血液流变性产生明显影响.     

Effects of fluid flow on elution of hydrophilic modifier from dialysis membrane surfaces

When uremic blood flows through dialyzers during hemodialysis, dialysis membrane surfaces are exposed to shear stress and internal filtration, which may affect the surface characteristics of the dialysis membranes. In the present study, we evaluated changes in the characteristics of membrane surfaces caused by shear stress and internal filtration using blood substitutes: water purified by reverse osmosis and 6.7 wt% dextran70 solution. We focused on the levels of a hydrophilic modifier, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), on the membrane surface measured by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Experiments involving 4 h dialysis, 0-144 h shear-stress loading, and 4 h dead-end filtration were performed using polyester-polymer alloy (PEPA) and polysulfone (PS) membranes. After the dialysis experiments with accompanying internal filtration, average PVP retention on the PEPA membrane surface was 93.7% in all areas, whereas that on the PS membrane surface was 98.9% in all areas. After the shear-stress loading experiments, PVP retention on the PEPA membrane surface decreased as shear-stress loading time and the magnitude of shear stress increased. However, with the PS membrane, PVP retention scarcely changed. After the dead-end filtration experiments, PVP retention decreased in all areas for both PEPA and PS membranes, but PVP retention on the PEPA membrane surface was lower than that on the PS membrane surface. PVP on the PEPA membrane surface was eluted by both shear stress and internal filtration, while that on the PS membrane surface was eluted only by internal filtration.     

下颌骨的应力迹线与骨小梁构筑的关系

根据下頜光弹的等倾线图,描绘出主应力迹线规迹。在下颌侧位X线照片和去除唇侧及颊侧密质骨板的标本上,观察骨密质和松质的配布,以及骨小梁的排列和方向,试行探讨骨小梁方向与主应力迹线的关系。用光弹法求得的主应力迹线有两个系列:S_1系在下颌体近水平方向,在下颌支近垂直方向分布;S_2系力线与S_1系诸力线呈正交。在标本和X线照片上,主应力迹线规迹不同程度地在骨小梁的排列上有所反映。     

The importance of chronicity and controllability of stress in the context of stress-illness relationships

The primary purpose of the present study was to increase our understanding of the roles of chronicity and controllability in the measurement of stress within the context of stress-illness relationships. Controllability and chronicity were assessed directly using a modified version of the Everyday Problems Scale. In addition to this scale, measures of depression, psychosomatic symptoms, and social support were administered to 128 women and 100 men. The results indicated that, for both men and women, the number of stressors was the best single predictor of symptoms. However, for women, chronicity and controllability of the stressors accounted for a significant amount of the variance in health outcomes over and above that accounted for by the number of stressors endorsed; for men, the addition of neither chronicity nor controllability consistently increased the strength of the association. While available social support was not found to influence the stress-illness relationships, greater willingness to utilize social support was associated with lower levels of depression.