Camp Okizu: Preliminary Investigation of a Psychological Intervention for Siblings of Pediatric Cancer Patients

This research was conducted at a summer camp for siblings of children with cancer. The camp is designed to address emotional problems, provide peer interaction and validation, and bolster siblings' self-esteem. Standardized measures assessing posttraumatic stress, anxiety, quality of life, and self-esteem were administered to 77 siblings (ages 6-17) prior to attending camp and again 3 months after camp. From pre- to post-camp, the siblings reported statistically significant decreases in symptoms of posttraumatic stress and anxiety, and statistically significant improvements in quality of life and self-esteem. These preliminary findings are encouraging and suggest the value of camp as a psychological intervention and provide a model for other pediatric cancer facilities designing intervention programs for siblings.     

Differential control of band 3 lateral and rotational mobility in intact red cells.

Measurements of integral membrane protein lateral mobility and rotational mobility have been separately used to investigate dynamic protein--protein and protein-lipid interactions that underlie plasma membrane structure and function. In model bilayer membranes, the mobilities of reconstituted proteins depend on the size of the diffusing molecule and the viscosity of the lipid bilayer. There are no direct tests, however, of the relationship between mechanisms that control protein lateral mobility and rotational mobility in intact biological membranes. We have measured the lateral and rotational mobility of band 3 in spectrin-deficient red blood cells from patients with hereditary spherocytosis and hereditary pyropoikilocytosis. Our data suggest that band 3 lateral mobility is regulated by the spectrin content of the red cell membrane. In contrast, band 3 rotational mobility is unaffected by changes in spectrin content. Band 3 lateral mobility and rotational mobility must therefore be controlled by different molecular mechanisms.     

Uncompensated emergency care in hospital markets in Los Angeles County.

A survey of hospital emergency rooms in Los Angeles County was conducted in March 1987. Analysis of the distribution of uninsured emergency care patients revealed that private hospitals play a significant frontline role in terms of entry into the hospital system for patients who are unable to pay--almost one-half of such patients were treated in the emergency rooms of private hospitals. Hospitals serving markets in which a higher proportion of residents had incomes below the poverty level provided a greater share of uncompensated emergency room services.     

Pentylenetetrazole-induced kindling is prevented by prior treatment with cysteamine

We have previously demonstrated that in pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-kindled rats, cysteamine causes prolonged depression of the kindled state. We now report that administration of cysteamine before or during the kindling process prevents attainment of the kindled state. This effect lasts long after cysteamine administration has ceased, suggesting that depletion or somatostatin may not be the only mechanism underlying cysteamine's effect on kindling. The results also support the likelihood that PTZ kindling primarily effects neocortical rather than limbic structures.     

Pneumococcaemia as a presenting sign in 3 cases of multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma was diagnosed in 3 patients following episodes of pneumococcaemia associated with neutropenia and decreased serum concentration of normal immunoglobulins. Severe pneumococcal infection is commonly encountered during the course of multiple myeloma, but has not been stressed as a presenting feature of the disease.     

Spontaneous increase of DNA turnover in murine systemic lupus erythematosus

DNA synthesis and release was studied in unstimulated splenocytes of strains of mice known to develop spontaneous systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-like disease and in non-SLE age- and sex-matched strains as well. Newly synthesized DNA was measured as total acid-insoluble radioactive material present in cell pellet plus supernatant of unstimulated 0–72 h cell cultures [³H]thymidine-pulsed, whereas DNA release was measured as amount of acid-precipitable radioactivity found in supernatant of those cultures. In all strains known to develop spontaneous murine SLE the amount of newly synthesized DNA was 1.3–2.1-fold increased when compared to normal strains studied concomitantly. Furthermore, a significant increase in DNA release into medium, unrelated to cell viability, was observed in those strains as well. These observations clearly demonstrate different metabolic rates of synthesis and release of DNA in murine SLE. This difference suggests the existance of an underlying mechanism responsible for extracellular DNA abundancy, which may be important for the formation of circulating DNA-anti-DNA immune complexes.     

C7 complement deficiency in an Israeli Arab village

Deficiencies of terminal complement components, particularly the latter ones, are often detected because of increased susceptibility to Neisserial infections. Herein we document the first report of C7 deficiency among a highly inbred Arab population living in the lower Galilee region of Israel. Both biochemical and molecular analysis were performed on samples from infected survivors and parents of children who succumbed to Neisserial infections in a 4-year period. Only the index case who suffered recurrent infections and a sibling who had not suffered an infection during the outbreak were found to be C7-deficient. The mutation was found to be the one previously described to be prevalent among Israeli Jews of Moroccan ancestry (mutation G1135C). The implications of this finding are discussed in the context of family pedigree, the protective effect of complement deficiency, and the clinical outcome.     

Sequential Measurements of Human Decidua-Associated Protein (hDP) 200 in the Uterine Fluid During the Menstrual Cycle

PROBLEM: To examine the relationship between the concentration of uterine fluid human decidua-associated protein (hDP) 200, identified as a monoclonal rheumatoid factor, and different phases of the menstrual cycle. METHODS: Sequential measurements of hDP 200 concentration in uterine fluid were performed in 11 normal ovulatory women, aged 22–36 years. The samples were collected in early proliferative phase, late proliferative phase, periovulatory period, early secretory phase, and late secretory phase. RESULTS: Consistent fluctuations of hDP 200 levels in uterine fluid were found throughout the menstrual cycle. High levels were found during early proliferative phase and periovulatory period related to significantly lower levels during late proliferative and early luteal phases. CONCLUSION: There is menstrual phase dependent variation in the uterine fluid levels of hDP 200.     

Efficacy of topical gentamicin treatment after 193-nm photorefractive keratectomy in an experimental Pseudomonas keratitis model

Background: The treatment of Pseudomonas keratitis has many limitations, and further investigation to identify more effective approaches is required. We therefore studied the possible contribution of the debridement effect of 193-nm excimer laser on Pseudomonas keratitis in rabbit eyes. Methods: Pseudomonas keratitis was induced in 30 rabbit eyes by inflicting controlled central corneal scratches and applying a drop of Pseudomonas aeruginosa suspension. After 24 h, one cornea of each animal was photo-ablated (excimer laser: fluency 90 mJ/cm², 10 Hz, 213 pulses), yielding 50 m of tissue ablation, while the follow cornea served as control. Five groups of six animals each were formed and received: a subconjunctival injection of gentamicin 20, mg (group 1), topical 14 mg/ml gentamicin hourly (group 2) or every 2.5 h (group 3), or NaCl 0.9% hourly (group 4) for 8 h. In group 5, animals were sacrificed without additional treatment. After 9 h corneas were excised, homogenized, serially diluted, and plated on agar blood plates. The numbers of colony-forming units (CFU) per cornea were statistically evaluated (Mann-Whitney test). Results: In control eyes, a greater decrease of CFU was observed in group 2 than in group 3 (P = 0.03). In laser-ablated eyes, there was no difference in CFU between groups 2 and 3. Comparison of the excimer-treated and control eyes revealed a greater number of bacteria (CFU) in controls only in group 3 (P=0.02). Conclusion: Our study suggests that controlled debridement of cornea with excimer laser may improve the effect of topical antibiotics.Presented at ECORA First Annual Meeting, 5 October 1993, Bonn, Germany     

CEBQ: Composite Eating Behavior Questionnaire--development and performance

Poor eating behavior is an important nutritional risk factor among community dwelling elders, and precedes overt malnutrition in the majority of cases. Several tools were developed to assess nutritional risk through evaluating eating behavior. All containing elements shown to be related to nutritional decline. Given the diversity of the geriatric population each tool may apply to specific subsets of the population but not to all. The ideal tool may be a questionnaire tailored for the study population based on a pool of methods and questions. We describe the development and use of such a composite tool, and compares its performance to other questionnaires. Our results show that in community dwelling elders nutrition risk assessments such as the NRI or eating behavior score were not predictive of nutritional status measured by dietary intake, weight change or BMI. Subjective appetite assessment was the most predictive question for nutritional decline. We describe the questionnaire and its development and offer general advice to its future implementations.