Seasonal and mood independence of low basal prolactin secretion in premenopausal women with seasonal affective disorder

To test hypotheses of opposing roles of dopamine and serotonin in prolactin secretion in seasonal affective disorder, the authors determined basal serum prolactin concentrations for premenopausal women, eight with and 14 without seasonal affective disorder, in late afternoon during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle (and a subgroup during the luteal phase) in winter and summer. Despite their significantly higher Hamilton depression scale scores in winter than in summer, the patients had significantly lower prolactin concentrations than the control subjects in both seasons. These results suggest that low prolactin secretion may be a trait characteristic in seasonal affective disorder.     

Group care workers as parent educators

Using a model of group care practice that identifies seven areas of child care worker activity and skill, this paper shows how these skills can be used in work with parents and other family members of children in placement. The emphasis is on the child care worker’s role as parent educator. This approach transforms the 24-hour-per day group care environment, and the living unit in particular, into a classroom for teaching and learning parenting skills. The educational, policy, and resource consequences of this proposal are then discussed. Finally, this model of practice is linked to psychoeducational, family resource, and competency-based approaches to family intervention and social work practice. All of these models de-emphasize family pathology in favor of practice that views parents and family members as partners in the care and treatment process. The author thanks Karen Kayser of Boston College and Henry Maier of the University of Washington, Seattle, for their comments on an earlier draft of this article.     

Differences in the phagocytosis of four bacteria by channel catfish neutrophils

The purpose of this study was to compare the phagocytosis of Aeromonas hydrophila, Edwardsiella ictaluri, Edwardsiella tarda and Micrococcus luteus by channel catfish neutrophils. Various aspects of opsonization effect and bactericidal ability of channel catfish neutrophils were investigated. Percent phagocytosis ranged from a low of 1% to a high of 91%. The highest percent phagocytosis and phagocytic indices routinely occurred with normal serum and were highest for M. luteus (91.78%, 55.25) and A. hydrophila (87.52%, 43.60). In all cases, the percent phagocytosis and phagocytic index was lowest in assays without serum. Channel catfish neutrophils displayed a bactericidal/static ability for each bacterium tested except E. tarda. Neutrophils exhibited a greater inhibitory capacity for A. hydrophila and M. luteus than for the other bacteria when in the presence of normal or inactivated catfish serum.     

Interpretation of gram-stained sputa containing Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis.

Sputum specimens culture positive for Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis were Gram stained with three decolorizer solutions (slow, 95% ethyl alcohol; intermediate, 1:1 ratio of 95% ethyl alcohol and acetone; and fast, acetone alone) for 5, 10, 20, and 30 s. Optimal results were obtained with acetone alone after 10 s or with a 1:1 mixture of acetone and ethanol after 20 s. Inadequate decolorization of M. catarrhalis in sputa is likely if the decolorization solution and exposure time are not optimal and may contribute to underreporting of this organism.     

Alcohol and the Psychophysiological Detection of Deception

Psychophysiological detection of deception examinations were conducted on 40 subjects. Of these, 32 were “guilty” of a mock crime and 8 were innocent. Sixteen guilty subjects committed the crime while intoxicated and the remaining 16 committed the crime sober. These two groups of guilty subjects were subdivided such that half of each group was examined with the polygraph while intoxicated and the other half was examined while sober. Two questioning techniques were used in the examination, a Control Question Test and the Guilty Knowledge Test. Measures of skin resistance, heart rate and respiration were recorded. The principal findings were that alcohol intoxication during the crime reduced detectability with detection scores derived from the measurement of skin resistance responses on the Control Question Test and on the Guilty Knowledge Test. The analyses of guilt/innocent classifications, based on the detection scores, showed these classifications to be affected by alcohol intoxication.     

Collared crypts in irradiated small intestine

Crypts of Lieberkuhn are radiosensitive: the technique of crypt counting is an established method of assessing radiation induced changes in the small intestine. However, there has been little work done on the surface contours of the crypts, as they open into the intervillous cleft. The current paper describes the structure of control mouse crypt mouths as unobtrusive openings approximately 5 microns in diameter. After radiation with heavy ion particles, the crypt mouths are substantially larger (up to 10 microns in diameter) with a marked collar which is similar to that sometimes seen in coeliac disease. The shape and incidence of the collared crypts is described for specimens irradiated with neon, silicon and iron ions, with treatment with iron producing the most marked collars: it is suggested that the size and incidence of the collared crypts may be related to the LET of the beam used. It is of interest that the abnormal crypts are not produced after single doses of X-irradiation. The consideration of the structure of the collared crypts may require a redefinition of the terms crypt and villus with priority being given to the position of subepithelial vessels rather than surface shape. Finally, although the collared crypts can not be directly equated with 'tunnel' or 'channel' lesions, it is pointed out that they do represent localised damage with a specific position and shape.