bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative Analysis of Protein-Protein Interactions in Cancer-Associated Genes
Authors: Guda Purnima , Chittur Sridar V. , Guda Chittibabu
Published: July 2009

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) have been widely studied to understand the biological processes or molecular functions associated with different disease systems like cancer. While focused studies on individual cancers have generated valuable information, global and comparative analysis of datasets from different cancer types has not been done. In this work, we carried out bioinformatic analysis of PPIs corresponding to differentially expressed genes from microarrays of various tumor tissues (belonging to bladder, colon, kidney and thyroid cancers) and compared their associated biological processes and molecular functions (based on Gene Ontology terms). We identified a set of processes or functions that are common to all these cancers, as well as those that are specific to only one or partial cancer types. Similarly, protein interaction networks in nucleic acid metabolism were compared to identify the common/specific clusters of proteins across different cancer types. Our results provide a basis for further experimental investigations to study protein interaction networks associated with cancer. The methodology developed in this work can also be applied to study similar disease systems.
Role of Positive Selection Pressure on the Evolution of H5N1 Hemagglutinin
Authors: Duvvuri Venkata R.S.K. , Duvvuri Bhargavi , Cuff Wilfred R. , Wu Gillian E. , Wu Jianhong
Published: July 2009

The surface glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA) helps the influenza A virus to evade the host immune system by antigenic variation and is a major driving force for viral evolution. In this study, the selection pressure on HA of H5N1 influenza A virus was analyzed using bioinformatics algorithms. Most of the identified positive selection (PS) sites were found to be within or adjacent to epitope sites. Some of the identified PS sites are consistent with previous experimental studies, providing further support to the biological significance of our findings. The highest frequency of PS sites was observed in recent strains isolated during 2005–2007. Phylogenetic analysis was also conducted on HA sequences from various hosts. Viral drift is almost similar in both avian and human species with a progressive trend over the years. Our study reports new mutations in functional regions of HA that might provide markers for vaccine design or can be used to predict isolates of pandemic potential.
In vivo metabolic tracking of 14C-radiolabelled isoflavones in kudzu (Pueraria lobata) and red clover (Trifolium pratense) extracts
Authors: Mun Jonathan G. , Grannan Michael D. , Lachcik Pamela J. , Reppert Adam , Yousef Gad G. , Rogers Randy B. , Janle Elsa M. , Weaver Connie M. , Lila Mary Ann
Published: July 2009

Absorption, distribution and elimination of 14C-labelled isoflavone-containing extracts from kudzu (Pueraria lobata) root culture and red clover (Trifolium pratense) cell culture were investigated in an in vivo rat model. The predominant isoflavones in the kudzu extract were the glycosides puerarin, daidzin and malonyl daidzin, while in the red clover extract, the major isoflavones were formononetin and its derivatives, genistein and biochanin A, with radioactivities of 3·770 and 7·256 MBq/g, respectively. Male Sprague–Dawley rats, implanted with a jugular catheter and a subcutaneous ultrafiltrate probe, were orally administered with 14C-labelled isoflavone extracts from either kudzu or clover cell cultures. Serum, interstitial fluid (ISF), urine and faeces were collected using a Culex® Automated Blood Collection System for 24 h. Analysis of bone tissues revealed that radiolabel accumulated in the femur, tibia and vertebrae at 0·04, 0·03 and 0·01 % of the administered dose, respectively, in both kudzu and red clover treatments. The liver accumulated the greatest concentration of radiolabel among the tissues tested, at 1·99 and 1·54 % of the administered kudzu and red clover extracts, respectively. Serum and ISF analysis showed that both extracts were rapidly absorbed, distributed in various tissues, and largely eliminated in the urine and faeces. Urine and faeces contained 8·53 and 9·06 % of the kudzu dose, respectively, and 3·60 and 5·64 % of the red clover dose, respectively. Serum pharmacokinetics suggest that extracts from kudzu may undergo enterohepatic circulation.
The failure to discriminate: superparasitism ofTrichoplusia niHübner by a generalist tachinid parasitoid
Authors: Caron V. , Myers J.H. , Gillespie D.R.
Published: July 2009

Parasitoids are dependent on their hosts, which provide all of the resources for larval development. Parasitoid fitness, therefore, is directly related to the host quality, as determined by host size, age and health (e.g. parasitisation status); and this can only be assessed by the female parasitoid during host selection. Most studies of parasitoid-host interactions have focused on hymenopteran parasitoids rather than dipterans that are believed to be less discriminating during host selection. We assessed the impact of host quality and superparasitism on parasitoid fitness inCompsilura concinnataMeigen, a gregarious tachinid dipteran parasitoid, and its lepidopteran host the cabbage looper,Trichoplusia niHübner.

FemaleC. concinnataparasitised all host stages ofT. nithat were presented to them, but emergence rates were higher from older hosts. Females readily superparasitised hosts. The number of flies emerging was higher from hosts parasitised at later instars, and flies emerged earlier from heavily superparasitised hosts. Superparasitism decreased parasitoid pupal weight and development time, indicating intra-host competition between parasitoid larvae and skewed the parasitoid sex ratio in favour of males.

Host discrimination does not seem to be well developed inC. concinnata. Hosts are superparasitised despite the effects of superparasitism on offspring and sex ratio. This could be due to the wide host range ofC. concinnata; avoiding high superparasitism could occur naturally due to host switching and, therefore, developing host discrimination mechanisms for one host species may not be crucial.
Molecular signature of epistatic selection: interrogating genetic interactions in thesex-ratiomeiotic drive ofDrosophila simulans
Authors: CHEVIN LUIS-MIGUEL , BASTIDE HÉLOÏSE , MONTCHAMP-MOREAU CATHERINE , HOSPITAL FRÉDÉRIC
Published: July 2009

Fine scale analyses of signatures of selection allow assessing quantitative aspects of a species' evolutionary genetic history, such as the strength of selection on genes. When several selected loci lie in the same genomic region, their epistatic interactions may also be investigated. Here, we study how the neutral polymorphism pattern was shaped by two close recombining loci that cause ‘sex-ratio’ meiotic drive inDrosophila simulans, as an example of strong selection with potentially strong epistasis. We compare the polymorphism data observed in a natural population with the results of forward stochastic simulations under several contexts of epistasis between the candidate loci for the drive. We compute the likelihood of different possible scenarios, in order to determine which configuration is most consistent with the data. Our results highlight that fine scale analyses of well-chosen candidate genomic regions provide information-rich data that can be used to investigate the genotype–phenotype–fitness map, which can hardly be studied in genome-wide analyses. We also emphasize that initial conditions and time of observation (here, time after the interruption of a partial selective sweep) are crucial parameters in the interpretation of real data, while these are often overlooked in theoretical studies.
Correlation measures for linkage disequilibrium within and between populations
Authors: SVED J. A.
Published: July 2009

Correlation statistics can be used to measure the amount of linkage disequilibrium (LD) between two loci in subdivided populations. Within populations, the square of the correlation of gene frequencies,r2, is a convenient measure of LD. Between populations, the statisticrirj, for populationsiandj, measures the relatedness of LD. Recurrence relationships for these two parameters are derived for the island model of population subdivision, under the assumptions of the linked identity-by-descent (LIBD) model in which correlation measures are equated to probability measures. The recurrence relationships closely predict the build-up ofr2andrirjfollowing population subdivision in computer simulations. The LIBD model predicts that a steady state will be reached withr2equal to 1/[1+4Nec(1+(k−1)ρ)], wherekis the number of island populations,Neis the effective local population (island) size, and ρ measures the ratio of migration (m) to recombination (c) and is equal tom/[c(k−1)+m]. For low values ofm/c, ρ=0, andE(r2) is equal to 1/(1+4Nec). For high values ofm/c, ρ=1, andE(r2) is equal to 1/(1+4kNec). The value ofrirjfollowing separation eventually settles down to a steady state whose expectation,E(rirj), is equal toE(r2) multiplied by ρ. Equations predicting the change inrirjvalues are applied to the separation of African (Yoruba – YRI) and non-African (European – CEU) populations, using data from Hapmap. The primary data lead to an estimate of separation time of less than 1000 generations if there has been no migration, which is around one-third of minimum current estimates. Ancient rather than recent migration can explain the form of the data.
Bayesian prediction of breeding values by accounting for genotype-by-environment interaction in self-pollinating crops
Authors: BAUER A. M. , HOTI F. , REETZ T. C. , SCHUH W.-D. , LÉON J. , SILLANPÄÄ M. J.
Published: July 2009

In self-pollinating populations, individuals are characterized by a high degree of inbreeding. Additionally, phenotypic observations are highly influenced by genotype-by-environment interaction effects. Usually, Bayesian approaches to predict breeding values (in self-pollinating crops) omit genotype-by-environment interactions in the statistical model, which may result in biased estimates. In our study, a Bayesian Gibbs sampling algorithm was developed that is adapted to the high degree of inbreeding in self-pollinated crops and accounts for interaction effects between genotype and environment. As related lines are supposed to show similar genotype-by-environment interaction effects, an extended genetic relationship matrix is included in the Bayesian model. Additionally, since the coefficient matrixCin the mixed model equations can be characterized by rank deficiencies, the pseudoinverse ofCwas calculated by using the nullspace, which resulted in a faster computation time. In this study, field data of spring barley lines and data of a ‘virtual’ parental population of self-pollinating crops, generated by computer simulation, were used. For comparison, additional breeding values were predicted by a frequentist approach. In general, standard Bayesian Gibbs sampling and a frequentist approach resulted in similar estimates if heritability of the regarded trait was high. For low heritable traits, the modified Bayesian model, accounting for relatedness between lines in genotype-by-environment interaction, was superior to the standard model.
Embryonic development and protein content of the embryos and intracapsular liquid of Melongena melongena (Caenogastropoda: Melongenidae)
Authors: Noriega Nicida , Miloslavich Patricia
Published: July 2009

Eggs of Melongena melongena develop inside round, flat egg capsules which contain a gelatinous intracapsular fluid. To determine if this gel represents a nutritional source for the developing embryos, we measured the amount of proteins of the embryos throughout their development from the egg to the hatching stage as well as the protein content of the intracapsular liquid at the same stages of development. Egg capsules of M. melongena were collected at Golfete de Cuare, Venezuela between 1–2 m depth. Uncleaved eggs measured 352–480 μm and contained 8–15 μg of protein/egg. This amount of protein was not significantly different at the trochophore, veliger and pediveliger stages, however, it decreased significantly at the hatching stage to 6 μg/hatchling. About 95–98% of the eggs develop to the hatching stage, the remaining 2–5% remain intact in the egg capsule. Hatching takes place as a pediveliger measuring around 720 μm in shell length. The protein concentration of the intracapsular liquid was 0.18 μg/μl at the egg stage and it reached 0.13 μg/μl at the prehatching stage; however, the total amount of protein in the intracapsular fluid was not significantly different throughout the development from one stage to another. Results indicate that embryos of M. melongena use neither the intracapsular liquid as an extraembryonic food source, nor nurse eggs.
Two new species of Poecilosclerida (Porifera: Demospongiae) from Terra Nova Bay (Antarctic Sea)
Authors: Bertolino Marco , Calcinai B. , Pansini M.
Published: July 2009

Two new species of Poecilosclerida Crella (Crella) aurantiaca sp. nov. (Crellidae) and Mycale (Aegogropila) denticulata sp. nov. (Mycalidae) are described on the basis of material collected during the XX Italian Expedition (2004–2005) in Antarctica. Crella (Crella) aurantiaca sp. nov. is based on presence of acanthostyles of two size-categories. Mycale (Aegogropila) denticulata sp. nov. is characterized by the presence of palmate anisochelae and styles.
Annual dynamics of glycogen, lipids and proteins during the sexual cycle ofPerna perna(Mollusca: Bivalvia) from south-western Morocco
Authors: Benomar S. , Costil K. , El Filali F. , Mathieu M. , Moukrim A.
Published: July 2009

Field investigations onPerna pernawere carried out in 1999 in an unpolluted site (Cap Ghir) and a wastewater-polluted site (Anza) to determine the contents of glycogen, lipids and proteins in mussel samples collected every month. Sample analyses were made using the entire soft masses of male and female mussels or their gonads only. Compared to unpollutedP. perna, the glycogen and lipid concentrations found in polluted mussels showed significantly quantitative variations throughout the year; in contrast, insignificant differences were only found for protein concentrations. Female gonads contained higher rates of lipids than male ones, whereas protein contents were similar. In contrast, in entire mussels, females were richer than males, whatever the biochemical parameter considered. Apart from protein rates in December, most of highest concentrations were noted from October to November. Contrary to unpolluted mussels (of which storage components were constituted by glycogen and lipids), a different reserve strategy, mainly based on the use of lipids, followed by that of proteins would exist in theP. pernafrom the polluted bed.
New species of Paracalanidae along the west coast of India: Paracalanus arabiensis
Authors: Kesarkar Kirti Sureshchandra , Anil Arga Chandrashekar
Published: July 2009

A new species of copepod, Paracalanus arabiensis sp. nov. collected from Mandovi and Zuari estuaries, Goa, central west coast of India, is described. It differs from its congeners mainly in the structure of leg 5, with a row of six teeth along the edge of inner terminal spine resulting in a serrated margin and two small, stiff spines of equal length protrude in between the terminal spines.
Clinical psychopharmacology: some current problems
Authors: Lader M. H.
Published: July 2009

Some current problems in clinical psychopharmacology are examined and pharmacological approaches towards their elucidation outlined and discussed. Particular topics reviewed include the concepts of potency and maximum effect, the balance between wanted and unwanted effects, and the problems of heterogeneity and variability as they apply to patients and their responses to psychotropic drugs. Types of methods for the assessment of drug effects are listed and the growing importance and relevance of pharmacokinetic studies stressed. A more general and intensive use of the pharmacological approach is urged in order to acquire much-needed basic data on psychotropic drug action in man.
Comparison of bulimic and non-bulimic anorexia nervosa patients during treatment
Authors: Eckert Elke D. , Halmi Katherine A. , Marchi Peggy , Cohen Jacob
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

Bulimic and non-bulimic anorexics were compared on psychological variables during a hospital treatment study. Although before treatment bulimic anorexics displayed more overall psychopathology than non-bulimics, many of the differences disappeared with treatment. There was no difference in severity of depression or body size estimation in these groups both before and with treatment. There was no difference in treatment response as measured by rate of weight gain. More expression of discomfort by bulimic anorexics during the acute phase of illness may in part account for some described differences in these two groups.
Relationship of skin conductance activity to clinical features in obsessive-compulsive ritualizers
Authors: Lelliott P. T. , Noshirvani H. F. , Marks I. M. , Monteiro W. O. , Basoglu M. , Cohen S. D.
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

Before treatment 49 obsessive-compulsive (o-c) ritualizers were presented with two series of brief stimuli – 15, 100db tones (brief neutral) and 15 presentations of a ritual-evoking object (brief aversive). Habituation of skin conductance (SC) responses to the tones was reduced compared with that previously found in normal subjects. Neither habituation rates to tones nor aversive stimuli were related to coexisting anxiety or depression or to the severity of o-c symptoms. The increased arousal induced by the aversive stimuli was sustained, that induced by the tones was short-lived and SC level and subjective anxiety had returned to resting levels by the end of the tone series. Concordance between SC activity and subjective anxiety was much greater during and after the presentations of ritual evoking stimuli than of tones. There were few correlations between SC and clinical measures, though patients who strongly resisted and were able to control their compulsive urges were more aroused.
Depression and disability in Parkinson's disease: a follow-up of 132 cases
Authors: Brown R. G. , Maccarthy B. , Gotham A.-M. , Der G. J. , Marsden C. D.
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

Patients with Parkinson's disease, 132 in number, were followed up after approximately one year, and measures of depression and disability re-administered. Depression was common on both occasions, and was characterized by dysphoria, pessimism and somatic symptoms, but not guilt or self-blame. Depression and disability were associated on both occasions. The relationship between changes in disability and depression across time was complex. In trying to understand changes in depression, the absolute change in disability may be less important than the relative change and rate of change. The results were discussed in relation to findings from other disease groups, and the implications for the clinical management of depression in Parkinson's disease.
Suicide, age and marital status
Authors: Kreitman Norman
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

A new data set concerning suicide in relation to marital status for Scotland, 1973–83, is presented. The effects of age-standardization on marital status rates and of marital status standardization on age-specific rates are both elucidated. The difficulties of drawing conclusions from marital status rates for suicide are outlined. Nevertheless, the data suggest that the importance of the widowed state has been underestimated and that it appears that the relative risk for suicide associated with divorce has probably been decreasing among Scottish men over the study period.
Anorexia nervosa: a psychiatric case register study from Aberdeen
Authors: Szmukler George , McCance Colin , McCrone Lesley , Hunter David
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

The results of an examination of the 238 cases of anorexia nervosa on the Aberdeen Psychiatric Case Register for the period 1965–82 are reported. A highly significant increase in the number of cases over time was found. The average annual incidence rate for the period 1978–82 was 4·06 per 100000 population. The case notes of every second patient on the register were inspected to assess diagnostic reliability, to define patient characteristics further and to look for changes in these over time. The diagnosis was highly suspect in 5% of cases. A social class bias was found, with an over-representation of classes I and II but an under-representation of social class III. Few significant changes were noted in the patients over time. The utilization of services was also examined, and it was found that 24% of the patients remained in contact for 4 years or more.
Controlled and automatic information processing in senile dementia: a review
Authors: Jorm A. F.
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

The evidence on cognitive decline in senile dementia is reviewed with respect to the distinction between controlled and automatic processing. It is argued that controlled processing, which requires the attentional resources of the individual, declines in early senile dementia. However, automatic processing, which does not require attentional resources, is well maintained until late in the disorder. Implications of this view are drawn for the development of effective screening instruments which can be used for the early detection of dementia in the general population.
Transmissible and non-transmissible neurodegenerative disease: similarities in age of onset and genetics in relation to aetiology
Authors: Ridley R. M. , Baker H. F. , Crow T. J.
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

In only a few cases is transmissible dementia known to have been acquired by infection from a source outside the individual; the remaining cases can be classified as sporadic, loosely familial, or autosomal dominant. Each group has a characteristic mean age of onset. A range of neurodegenerative diseases (including Alzheimer-type dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) can also be classified in this way, with similar characteristic mean ages of onset. The emergence of these diseases in later middle age, and the interdependence of age of onset and the type of familial occurrence suggest that these pathological processes are related to those genetic mechanisms which determine senescence. It is argued that the majority of cases of transmissible dementia arise, not from infection, but from the expression of endogenous virogene sequences as part of the aging processes.
Computerized tomographic scan changes in early schizophrenia – preliminary findings
Authors: Turner Stuart W. , Toone Brian K. , Brett-Jones Jane R.
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

Thirty patients who fulfilled DSM–III criteria for schizophrenia but who were within 2 years of presentation were compared with 26 age–matched normal volunteers with respect to CT scan appearances. In the index group the ventricle–brain ratio (VBR) was significantly greater. The VBR values were positively correlated with average alcohol intake and with early physical trauma, and negatively correlated with a family history of schizophrenia. The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of the present uncertainty about the meaning of CT scan findings in schizophrenia.
The diseases called chlorosis
Authors: Loudon Irvine
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

It is suggested that chlorosis, or the ‘green-sickness’, was not a single disease entity, but a name applied to at least two distinct conditions affecting young females in the past. The first (‘chloro-anaemia’) was a form of hypochromic anaemia possibly associated with gastric ulceration and poor diet. This form predominated in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The second (‘chloro-anorexia’) was a disorder of psychogenic origin resembling, but not identical to, anorexia nervosa. The latter form predominated in earlier periods but also occurred throughout the nineteenth century; it was also known as ‘the virgin's disease’ or ‘febris amatoria’. The ‘green’ of‘;green-sickness’ may originally have indicated innocence rather than a green colour of the skin.
The type—token ratio in schizophrenic disorders: clinical and research value
Authors: Manschreck Theo C. , Maher Brendan A. , Hoover Toni M. , Ames Donna
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

Prior research has indicated that the type-token ratio (TTR), a measure of repetition in language, correlates with clinical judgements of thought disorder when spoken language was examined, and differentiates statistically thought-disordered from non-thought-disordered schizophrenics and psychiatric and normal controls. We replicated this finding and examined the clinical sensitivity and specificity of the TTR measure in the diagnosis and in the assessment of thought disorder. The current clinical value of the TTR is limited, but further investigations of the nature of repetition in schizophrenic language are warranted.
Computed axial brain tomography in long-term benzodiazepine users
Authors: Lader M. H. , Ron M. , Petursson H.
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

Twenty patients who had taken long-term benzodiazepines were submitted to brain CT scan examinations. Some scans appeared abnormal. The mean ventricular/brain area measured by planimetry was increased over mean values in an age- and sex-matched group of control subjects but was less than that in a group of alcoholics. There was no significant relationship between CT scan appearances and the duration of benzodiazepine therapy. The clinical significance of the findings is unclear.
ADP and arachidonic acid induced platelet aggregation in schizophrenia and atypical psychoses
Authors: Whalley L. J. , Reading H. W. , Rosie R.
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

Platelet aggregatory responses to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and arachidonic acid were examined in 6 drug-free schizophrenics, 5 other drug-free psychotics, 8 ‘acute-on-chronic’ schizophrenics (on long-term neuroleptic therapy) and 38 healthy controls. Platelet aggregation and disaggregation following ADP was significantly lower in ‘acute-on-chronic’ schizophrenics (on drugs) compared with healthy controls, and disaggregation following 1 µM ADP was significantly less in drug-free schizophrenics. The difference between maximum aggregation induced by ADP and that induced by arachidonic acid was significantly greater in schizophrenics (both on drugs and drug-free) than in controls. These findings are related to possible abnormalities of central nervous system function in schizophrenia.
Does prostacyclin prevent cognitive deficits after open heart surgery?
Authors: Pears Elizabeth , Bowman Richard , Kincey John , Gautam Ramji
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

Two groups of open heart surgery patients, one receiving prostacyclin and one placebo, were assessed one week pre-operatively and 3 months post-operatively, using a battery of clinical tests measuring a variety of cognitive functions. No significant differences between the groups were detected, apart from a visual retention deficit at 3 months in the prostacyclin group. The results cast doubt on previous findings suggesting that prostacyclin reduces cognitive deficits following open heart surgery.
Emotional distress among concentration camp survivors – a community study in Jerusalem
Authors: Levav I. , Abramson J. H.
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

Three hundred and eighty former concentration camp inmates were identified and interviewed in the course of a community health survey in Jerusalem. A set of 8 questions derived from the Cornell Medical Index was used as an index of emotional distress. The concentration camp survivors had a higher prevalence of emotional distress and more symptoms of this type than other European-born members of the community, controlling for age and education. The findings suggested that 16·0% of the emotional distress observed in male camp survivors and 22·9% of that among female camp survivors could be attributed to the camp experience almost three decades after the Holocaust. In this survey, data were elicited in a context unrelated to benefit-seeking such as clinic or compensation claims.
The syndrome concept: history and statistical operationalizations
Authors: Weber Adrian C. , Scharfetter Christian
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

A historical analysis of the syndrome concept shows that this term has been used in many different ways, ranging from clinical experience to records of coinciding symptoms. However, there seems to be broad agreement on the use of the word ‘syndrome’ in daily practice. If empirical–mathematical methods are applied in syndrome detection, however, a precise operation-alization of the syndrome concept is needed. Traditional procedures have often used models more dictated by methodological considerations than derived from the field of application, i.e. psychiatric syndromatology. An alternative approach, Boolean factor analysis, is presented in this paper. This relatively new method is illustrated by means of the analysis of a small artificial sample with a known structure. As a point of reference, traditional methods (factor analysis, cluster analysis, and multidimensional scaling) are also briefly discussed. It is demonstrated that they all share a deficiency of information about inter-group structure. In contrast, Boolean factor analysis uses a syndromic definition which builds on the basic notion of concurrent symptoms. Moreover, this approach can easily be understood by clinicians.
Binge-eating, self-induced vomiting and laxative abuse: a community study
Authors: Fairburn Christopher G. , Cooper Peter J.
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

Following a television documentary on bulimia nervosa, people who thought that they had this type of eating problem were asked to complete a confidential questionnaire. 579 women who fulfilled self-report diagnostic criteria for bulimia nervosa were thereby identified. These women closely resembled patients with bulimia nervosa, although the age range was wider. They had grossly disturbed eating habits and almost half vomited at least daily. Laxative abuse was also common. Although almost two-thirds had been overweight in the past, the majority had a weight within the normal range. A minority had previously fulfilled diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa. On standardized measures, these women had abnormal attitudes to their weight and shape, as well as significant levels of psychiatric symptomatology. Nearly three-quarters thought that they definitely needed professional help, yet only a third had ever been referred for psychiatric treatment. Using data from this sample and an independent sample of 499 probable bulimia nervosa cases, the significance of three issues relating to the diagnosis of bulimia nervosa were examined: laxative abuse, the frequency of self-induced vomiting, and a history of anorexia nervosa.
Actual and perceived attitudes towards deafness
Authors: Furnham Adrian , Lane Sarah
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

This study had two aims: first, to investigate the attitudes of deaf and hearing people towards deafness; and, secondly, to study the difference between how deaf people perceive the attitudes of hearing people towards deafness, and how hearing people perceive the attitudes of deaf people towards deafness. The results showed that the deaf had more negative attitudes towards deafness than the hearing. In addition, the deaf believed that hearing people have more negative attitudes to deafness than hearing people actually have. This lack of empathy between the two groups was discussed. The amount of contact with the deaf was found to be associated with more realistic and less stereotyped attitudes to the deaf. The results are discussed in the context of research on social interaction with disabled people.
The Wechsler subtests in mild organic brain damage associated with folate deficiency
Authors: Botez M. I. , Botez Thérèse , Maag Urs
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

Forty-nine patients with low serum and cerebrospinal fluid folate levels completed the Ottawa–Wechsler Scale after 7–11 months of folate supplementation (10 mg daily). Twelve patients exhibited major neurological symptoms, while 37 patients displayed depression and minor neurological signs. After folate therapy, Verbal, Performance and Full Wechsler scores were significantly improved (P≺ 0·0·01). The order of improvement in scores on the Wechsler subtests (from the statistically most significant to the least as measured by thet-statistics) was: Block Design, Digit Symbol, Similarities, Picture Completion, Picture Arrangement, Arithmetic, Object Assembly, Digit Span, Information, and Comprehension.
Covariation of depressive symptoms over time
Authors: Hibbert George A. , Teasdale John D. , Spencer Peter
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

The covariation over time of depressive symptoms was studied by repeated ratings of the symptoms of individual depressed in-patients. Both within-patient factor analysis of symptom scores and correlation of symptom change scores to total change scores suggested that, while the symptoms of reduced interest and pleasure covaried closely with ratings of observed and reported low mood, the more ‘biological’ symptoms of sleep and appetite disturbance showed little covariation. The implications for the study of depression are discussed.
Allusive thinking, the Word Halo and verbosity
Authors: Armstrong M. S. , McConaghy N.
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

The concept of allusive thinking is briefly reviewed and a Pavlovian model of thinking advanced. It is hypothesized that allusive, as compared with non-allusive thinkers, have a broader but less intense attention process associated with weaker inhibition. From this model it was predicted that on word tests which require judgements of similarity of meaning, allusive thinkers would tend to choose more remote or unusual words as similar in meaning.

The Word Halo Test and the Word Sorting Test were administered to 63 university students using the Object Sorting Test as a measure of allusive thinking. The prediction that allusive thinkers would choose more unusual words as similar in meaning was supported. A tendency for allusive thinkers to be more verbose than non-allusive thinkers was also noted.
Reliability of the PSE (ninth edition) used in a population study
Authors: Wing J. K. , Nixon J. M. , Mann S. A. , Leff J. P.
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

A random sample of 237 women in a south-east London area were seen by non-medical interviewers, trained to use a standard technique (the Present State Examination) to elicit and record psychiatric symptoms. Ninety-five were interviewed a second time by psychiatrists, who also rated audiotape recordings. The reproducibility of the techniques is adequate though not as high, in some respects, as that obtained from out-patient or in-patient samples. This is true at the level of symptom, syndrome, total score, and index of definition of psychiatric disorder. It is concluded that nonmedical interviewers can obtain as high reproducibility as psychiatrists on most of the non-psychotic sections of the PSE if they have appropriate training. Repeatability is lower than reproducibility, partly due to fluctuations in clinical condition, partly to environmental changes between interviews, and partly to differential responses to medical and non-medical interviewers. Over a short period of time, such as a week, repeatability is satisfactory.
Further studies on interviewer training and inter-rater reliability of the Present State Examination (PSE)
Authors: Cooper J. E. , Copeland J. R. M. , Brown G. W. , Harris T. , Gourlay A. J.
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

The Present State Examination (PSE) is discussed with regard to its use in surveys of subjects who are not psychiatric patients. Although the PSE was originally developed for use by psychiatrists with patients with obvious mental illness, the interview also contains sections dealing in considerable detail with the commoner and less severe complaints and symptoms that are found in a significant proportion of ‘normal subjects’. A shortened version of the PSE (8th edition) is described, limited to these sections, which has been used in population surveys, by interviewers who are not psychiatrists. The training of such interviewers is described, and information on a reliability and repeatability study is presented. This shows that with proper training, non-psychiatric interviewers can achieve standards of inter-rater reliability that are comparable to those previously reported between psychiatrists.
Two-year follow-up of the patients included in the WHO International Pilot Study of Schizophrenia
Authors: Sartorius N. , Jablensky A. , Shapiro R.
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

Over 90% of the 1202 patients investigated in the 9 centres collaborating in the International Pilot Study of Schizophrenia were traced 2 years after the initial examination and on the average over 75% of them were re-examined, using standardized instruments and methods. Results indicate that patients diagnosed as schizophrenic on the basis of standardized assessments and clearly specified diagnostic criteria demonstrated very marked variations of course and outcome over a 2-year period. Schizophrenic patients in the centres in developing countries had considerably better course and outcome than schizophrenic patients in the centres in developed countries.
Bulimia in the late nineteenth century: the observations of Pierre Janet
Authors: Pope Harrison G. , Hudson James I. , Mialet Jean-Paul
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

In 1903 Pierre Janet published perhaps the first detailed descriptions of patients with bulimia. Janet's observations, although anecdotal, are consistent with modern studies suggesting an association between bulimia and major affective disorder and between bulimia and anxiety disorders. Janet's writings also support the belief that bulimia is more prevalent today than a century ago.
Perceptual changes in schizophrenia: a questionnaire survey
Authors: Phillipson O. T. , Harris J. P.
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

Questionnaires were completed by 73 volunteers with a history of probable schizophrenia, and by 67 patients admitted to the accident wards of a general hospital. A high incidence of sensory distortions was recorded in the schizophrenic group compared with the controls, distortions of brightness contrast being the most common. Many schizophrenic patients reported that such distortions were reduced or removed early in treatment. Patients who reported visual distortions also tended to report visual hallucinations. The results are discussed with reference to the hypothesis that perceptual malfunction may underlie some other schizophrenic disorders such as delusions or catatonia.
Patient affiliation in major illness
Authors: Rofé Yacov , Hoffman Michael , Lewin Isaac
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

Affiliation preferences among 100 Israeli out-patients with major illness were assessed in waiting room interviews. Patients preferred healthy others over being with fellow sufferers or alone, and avoided illness as a discussion topic. Secondary preference for being alone rather than with co-patients rose slightly with reported anxiety. Findings contradict the emotional comparison hypothesis that misery seeks out co-sufferers.
Who was the first to describe anorexia nervosa: Gull or Lasègue?
Authors: Vandereycken Walter , Van Deth Ron
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSIS

Leading articles or textbooks on anorexia nervosa generally give credit for its discovery to either the British physician William Withey Gull or to the French neuropsychiatrist Ernest Charles Lasègue. Although the major contributions of both men show a remarkable but independent coincidence around 1873, Gull is mostly given a slight priority because of a rather cryptic mention of an anorexia-like condition in a paper read in 1868. An analysis of the events, however, shows that the British physician from London does not really deserve this honour. For no clear-cut priority for either man can be established.
The role of provocative visual stimuli in agoraphobia
Authors: Watts Fraser N. , Wilkins Arnold J.
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSIS

Three studies examine the role that provocative visual stimuli have in eliciting anxiety reactions in people with agoraphobia. Such stimuli elicit more anxiety in agoraphobic patients than control subjects. The effect of visual stimulation appears to be specific: (1) non-visual stimulation is without comparable effect; (2) both control and agoraphobic groups show similar effects of visual stimulation on another reaction such as headache. The anxiety effects of visual stimuli are correlated with the extent to which subjects experience depersonalization and somatic symptoms of agoraphobia, but not correlated with depression or the behavioural or cognitive aspects of agoraphobia. Alternative accounts of the possible role of visual stimulation in the anxiety reactions of agoraphobic patients are discussed.
Biopsychosocial aspects of long-term survival on end-stage renal failure therapy
Authors: Shulman Ralph , Price John D. E. , Spinelli John
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSIS

At ten-years follow-up of 64 haemodialysis patients, 43 had died and 21 were alive, twelve with cadaver renal transplants and nine on haemodialysis. Examination of the influence of psychological, demographic, physical and biochemical factors revealed the Beck Depression Inventory and age as the two most important predictors of survival. The behaviour of the patient was directly responsible for five (11·6%) of the deaths, by suicide in three cases and dietary noncompliance in two cases. Hypothetical mechanisms linking depression with reduced survival have been reviewed. As the impact of depression on survival was maximal in the first few years of dialysis, monitoring for depression should be incorporated into routine care from the start of dialysis together with evaluative interventions that might enhance survival.
Concurrent validity of GHQ-28 and PSE as measures of change
Authors: Ormel J. , Koeter M. W. J. , Brink W. Van Den , Giel R.
Published: July 2009

Synposis

Substantial cross-sectional correlations have been reported between the GHQ and PSE (and CIS) total scores. Although necessary, this is not a sufficient condition for assuming good validity of the GHQ as a severity measure in longitudinal and health care evaluation studies. For this purpose the GHQ should also accurately reflect changes in severity over time. To examine their concurrent validity, GHQ and PSE scores were compared, in a three-wave longitudinal study, among 175 new psychiatric out-patients. Using a longitudinal structural equation model that takes measurement error into account, the strength of both the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationship between GHQ and PSE were estimated. The GHQ performed remarkably well; changes in severity as defined by PSE-ID and PSE total score were clearly reflected by changes in GHQ scores. The revised scoring method of the GHQ proposed by Goodchild and Duncan-Jones did not yield superior results.
Spontaneous length of depression and response to ECT
Authors: Kukopulos A. , Reginaldi D. , Tondo L. , Bernabei A. , Caliari B.
Published: July 2009

synopsis

Electro-convulsive treatment (ECT) was therapeutically ineffective in 27 (20 %) of 136 depressed patients. Failure to respond occurred in long-lasting depressions and in patients with a history of long-lasting depressions. In these cases the depression lasted at least 6 months. The hypothesis is proposed that ECT is effective only when given within 6 months of the spontaneous end of the depression. Clinical and nosological implications are discussed.
The role of oestrogen replacement in the climacteric syndrome
Authors: Borth Rudi , Strickler Ronald C. , Cecutti Anthony , Cookson Brian A. , Harper John A. , Potvin Robert , Riffel Paul , Sorbara V. James , Woolever C. Allan
Published: July 2009

synopsis

Using a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over design, the effect of equine conjugated oestrogens tablets (Premarin®) was studied in 20 women with the climacteric syndrome followed during 15 months. Sixteen women were equally improved on placebo and oestrogen. Only 2 patients had an improved sense of well-being on oestrogen and not on placebo. The psychological diagnosis was unrelated to the subjective response to oestrogen or placebo. Performance in psychological tests administered before and during treatment periods was not changed by oestrogen or placebo.
Mental distress in mothers of pre-school children in Inner London
Authors: Moss Peter , Plewis Ian
Published: July 2009

synopsis

The level of mental ‘distress’ was assessed for a sample of mothers with pre-school children in Inner London. Fifty-two per cent of mothers had a moderate or severe distress problem in the 12 months prior to interview. Variables correlating with distress were identified and replicated in a second sample. Social class was not found to be related, and the question of the general relationship between social class and distress is considered.
A study of the symptomatology and course of manic illness using a new scale
Authors: Loudon J. B. , Ashworth Cheryl M. , Blackburn Ivy M.
Published: July 2009

synopsis

Sixteen manic patients were rated fortnightly on the Present State Examination and a new manic rating scale. After 4 weeks of treatment a high proportion of symptoms had decreased significantly, but some symptoms likely to affect social functioning persisted. The group displayed many depressive and anxiety symptoms in addition to recognized manic symptoms.
Tryptophan and depressive illness
Authors: Coppen Alec , Wood Keith
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

Plasma free tryptophan is significantly decreased in monopolar, depressed patients. No evidence was found to suggest that poor nutritional history prior to hospital admission was responsible for these low levels. Factors known to influence tryptophan—albumin binding in plasma, e.g. concentration of plasma proteins, albumin and non-esterified fatty acids, did not account for the low levels of free tryptophan in depressed patients. A significant decrease in plasma free tryptophan levels was found in perimenopausal but not in pre- or post-menopausal female controls. This mirrors the decrease in circulating oestrogens. Although exogenously administered oestrogens do not have any therapeutic efficacy in relieving mild residual depressive symptoms of lithium treated patients, they increased the levels of plasma free tryptophan. Clofibrate also displaces tryptophan from plasma protein binding sites in both depressed patients and controls. Utilization of the increased levels of plasma free tryptophan is reduced in depressed patients. A situation therefore exists in depressed patients where the plasma free tryptophan is not only reduced but also leaves the plasma less readily than in control subjects.
A comparative controlled trial of pimozide and fluphenazine decanoate in the continuation therapy of schizophrenia
Authors: Falloon I. , Watt D. C. , Shepherd Michael
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

Evidence from a controlled, comparative trial indicates that oral pimozide is clinically at least as effective as depot injections of fluphenazine decanoate in the continuation therapy of a group of schizophrenic patients discharged from hospital. The administration of pimozide was associated with fewer unwanted effects. The implications of the findings are discussed.