Keeping Secrets or Educating Others: A Dyadic Analysis of Group Entitativity’s Influence on Spouses’ Label Management Connected to AATD

In 1963, Goffman argued that forming a group based on shared stigma may provide benefits. However, there is no empirical research on whether perception that a separate, unique, coherent group exists (i.e., group entitativity) influences coping, such as educating others or secrecy, for the stigmatized individual or his or her spouse. Further, little is known about how spouses influence each other in terms of promoting the education of others about a stigmatizing condition, especially when it comes to the role of believing that stigma-based groups, to which they may both belong, exist. This study provides a step toward bridging this gap in the research by applying the label management model in efforts to understand coping for couples in which one spouse is diagnosed with genetic mutations leading to alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD). This study included 50 married couples in which one spouse is diagnosed with genetic mutations leading to alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD). We found that group entitativity related to those with AATD counterbalanced the influence of genetic stigma on spouses’ intentions to keep the diagnosis secret or to educate others about it. Intrapersonal and interpersonal influences appeared among spouses. Attention is needed on the power of creating groups for stigmatized persons and their relatives. Indeed, people live within a dynamic world of group entities, and multiple social identities including spousal and familial. While attention has been paid to the diffusion of stigmas to loved ones, less has been paid to the uplift of group entities for them.     

Vergiftungen. Giftnachweis (einschl. Blutalkoholbestimmung)

International Journal of Legal Medicine -     

Pathologische Anatomie (Sektionstechnik) und Physiologie

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Effect of nadolol on liver haemodynamics and function in patients with cirrhosis.

Beta-adrenoceptor blockers used in the medical management of portal hypertension decrease liver blood flow. The sporadic onset of hepatic encephalopathy during propranolol treatment was ascribed to this decrease. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of chronic treatment with nadolol on liver blood flow and liver function. Nadolol, a non-cardioselective beta-adrenoceptor blocker, has been reported to be as powerful as propranolol in decreasing portal pressure. Before and after 1 month of treatment with nadolol at a dose reducing heart rate by 25%, in 15 cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension, the following parameters were determined: hepatic venous pressure gradient, hepatic blood flow, galactose eliminating capacity, aminopyrine metabolic activity, ICG clearance and intrinsic hepatic clearance. Hepatic venous pressure gradient and hepatic blood flow were decreased by nadolol. However liver function was not affected by the drug. We conclude that, despite a lowered hepatic blood flow, liver function is not affected by 1 month of nadolol treatment.     

Positive affect predicts improved lip movement in facial movement disorder.

OBJECTIVES: Positive affect in individuals with a facial movement disorder may promote lip corner movement (zygomaticus major) during smiling. We investigated whether a positive affect marker (orbicularis oculi activity) observed in an initial clinic visit of individuals with facial movement disorder (N = 28) predicted increased lip corner movement at a subsequent visit. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: In this clinical outcomes study, lip corner movement was assessed with the use of automated facial analysis. Asymmetry of movement was compared in individuals who smiled with or without the positive affect marker at an initial clinic visit. RESULTS: The positive affect marker at the initial visit was associated with a reduction in the asymmetry of the lip corner movement at the second visit. CONCLUSION: Positive affect predicts improved facial movement outcomes in patients with facial movement disorders. SIGNIFICANCE: Positive emotion in facial movement patients may be an important factor in recovery of facial movement during therapy.     

The use of human albumin millimicrospheres tagged with 99mTc in the evaluation of the removal capacity of the reticuloendothelial system

Liver uptake kinetics of 99mTc labelled millimicrospheres of human serum albumin (MM) was studied in 16 subjects. Every subject received four doses of MM intravenously. The uptake constant decreased progressively with increasing dose. The maximum liver removal capacity, a parameter which is independent of liver blood flow, was calculated according to the method of Iio and Wagner (1963). From these data we conclude that MM are taken up by the reticuloendothelial system (RES) with saturable kinetics, and they are suitable for clinical use to evaluate RES function in man.