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Biomedical subjects

G Bernal

Publications and source records attributed to G Bernal.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Effects of environmental factors on maxillofacial elastomers: Part II--Report of survey.

Part II of a four-part report presents an international survey that was conducted to determine the most frequently used materials in the fabrication of facial and somatoprostheses. The survey also solicited information about advantages and disadvantages, methods of coloring, and the perceived properties of an "ideal" material. The results of the survey indicated that the majority of prosthodontists and prosthetists are using room temperature-vulcanized silicone products, intrinsically colored with dry earth pigments or artist's pigments. The need for further research in materials for external prostheses was clearly indicated.

Color↗

Families are helped by drug treatment.

Twenty-six pairs of heroin addicts applying for methadone maintenance treatment and their family members were interviewed before being admitted to a drug treatment program and 3 months after entry into treatment to determine whether treatment resulted in changes in family or individual functioning. Results revealed a considerable lessening of family and patient problems in the first months of drug treatment. Family members and patients reported significantly fewer family crises and family difficulties with the patient. Both family members and patients reported improvement on several mood indicators and significant lessening of the patient's family/social problems and drug problems.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Contextual therapy: brief treatment of an addict and spouse.

The clinical and theoretical applications of contextual therapy for the treatment of drug abuse are presented. A case study illustrates intervention strategies, the therapy process, and a contextual-intergenerational view of drug addiction. Contextual concepts of intergenerational processes, loyalty, fairness, accountability, and trust are defined and applied. Four stages of brief contextual therapy are presented, and the process is examined using examples from transcribed transactions of the therapy sessions. It is suggested that contextual therapy offers conceptual and methodological tools for working with complex situations often involved in drug abuse cases.

Adult↗

In vitro effects of ketoconazole on corticotrope cell morphology and ACTH secretion of two pituitary adenomas removed from patients with Nelson's syndrome.

The direct effects of ketoconazole on the secretion of ACTH by human pituitary adenoma cells from 2 patient with Nelson's syndrome were studied in vitro. Stereologically quantified, intracellular changes affect the surface density of the endoplasmic reticulum (it decreased by 73%), the volume density of the secretion granules (it decreased by 49%), and the volume density of lysosomes (it decreased by 67%). The hormone released in the culture medium decreased depending on the doses of ketoconazole used; 10 mumol/l decreased ACTH levels by 31%. These data show that ketoconazole induce marked changes on corticotrope morphology and ACTH secretion in pituitary cells obtained from patients with Nelson's syndrome.

Adenoma↗

Approval need in self-reports of addicts and family members.

Ample evidence documents the tendency of research subjects to attribute to themselves socially desirable traits and to deny having socially undesirable qualities. This tendency is particularly marked among subjects who are defensive, lacking in self-esteem, or sensitive to status differences. Drug addicts often have all of these characteristics. This paper examines the extent to which need for social approval is reflected in methadone patients' and family members' self-reports of personal and family functioning. Results demonstrate the importance of taking the approval motive into account when conducting research with this population. Addicts tend to deny negative things about themselves and their families, while family members tend to exaggerate their own and their families' positive qualities. Implications for drug treatment programs and researchers are discussed.

Adult↗

Methadone applicant dropouts: impact of requiring involvement of friends or family in treatment.

This paper examines attrition among applicants to a methadone maintenance program before and after it began to require that applicants have a relative or close friend willing to act as a treatment sponsor. Few applicants were unable to locate sponsors. The dropout rate was greater for Blacks than for Hispanics and Anglo Whites both before and after the sponsor requirement was introduced. However, young addicts, addicts with recent drug histories, and singles were somewhat less likely to enter treatment after the requirement was introduced. Implications for drug treatment clinicians and administrators are discussed.

Adult↗

Multi-level couple therapy: applying a metacommunicational framework of couple interactions.

Excerpts from a couple therapy case are cited to illustrate the practical significance of a multi-level framework in understanding couple interactions. The clinical implications of the metacommunicational framework, as a metaphor for examining and understanding relational processes, are discussed. Also, the pragmatics of following "process" at a variety of levels when working with punctuational differences, developing therapy strategies and goals, and measuring the progress of couple therapy are discussed.

Accidents↗

Toward a metacommunicational framework of couple interactions.

A multi-level, metacommunicational framework to understand couple interactions is presented. Five interactional levels are defined following a mode of abstraction that parallels the theory of logical types; case examples are offered of couples interacting at each of the levels. The clinical implications of the framework, as a metaphor for understanding transactional processes, are discussed with an emphasis on the pragmatics of working with punctuational diffferences, developing therapeutic strategies, measuring progress, and setting goals for therapy with couples.

Communication↗

Vicarious eyelid conditioning.

This study attempted to demonstrate that elicited electromyographic (EMG) reactions in observers may become conditioned to environmental events during the observation of a modeling sequence. Observers were shown a videotape of a model in a simulated direct eyelid discriminative conditioning situation involving adaptation, acquisition, and extinction trials. Various EMG measures were obtained in order to determine the occurrence of vicarious instigation and conditioning. The results demonstrated vicarious EMG eyelid responses. Also, the motor reactions were found to be localized to specific muscular activity rather than a result of general arousal. Some theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

Arousal↗

The effect of finish line form and luting agent on the breaking strength of Dicor crowns.

Molar teeth were prepared to a standardized cylindric form using a lathe. Dicor crowns were luted on these preparations using zinc phosphate, glass-ionomer, and resin cements. The crowns were thermocycled and subjected to fracture loading to compare the effect of the different luting agents on fracture strength. Five finishing lines were used to determine if resin cement and associated bonding procedures could counteract the negative effect certain finish lines produce on all-ceramic crowns. When resin cement was used in conjunction with restoration and tooth precementation bonding treatments, the crowns were significantly stronger than when glass-ionomer or zinc phosphate cements were used. No difference in strength was found between the five finish lines when the crowns were cemented with resin and associated bonding procedures.

Analysis of Variance↗