Psychoanalytic Therapy and the Gay Man
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Journal Article↗
Biomedical subjects
J Drescher
Publications and source records attributed to J Drescher.
Cardiovascular response to lower body negative pressure stimulation before, during, and after space flight.
BACKGROUND: It is well known that space travel cause post-flight orthostatic hypotension and it was assumed that autonomic cardiovascular control deteriorates in space. Lower body negative pressure (LBNP) was used to assess autonomic function of the cardiovascular system. METHODS: LBNP tests were performed on six crew-members before and on the first days post-flight in a series of three space missions. Additionally, two of the subjects performed LBNP tests in-flight. LBNP mimics fluid distribution of upright posture in a gravity independent way. It causes an artificial sequestration of blood, reduces preload, and filtrates plasma into the lower part of the body. Fluid distribution was assessed by bioelectrical impedance and anthropometric measurements. RESULTS: Heart rate, blood pressure, and total peripheral resistance increased significantly during LBNP experiments in-flight. The decrease in stroke volume, the increased pooling of blood, and the increased filtration of plasma into the lower limbs during LBNP indicated that a plasma volume reduction and a deficit of the interstitial volume of lower limbs rather than a change in cardiovascular control was responsible for the in-flight response. Post-flight LBNP showed no signs of cardiovascular deterioration. The still more pronounced haemodynamic changes during LBNP reflected the expected behaviour of cardiovascular control faced with less intravascular volume. In-flight, the status of an intra-and extravascular fluid deficit increases sympathetic activity, the release of vasoactive substances and consequently blood pressure. Post-flight, blood pressure decreases significantly below pre-flight values after restoration of volume deficits. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the cardiovascular changes in-flight are a consequence of a fluid deficit rather than a consequence of changes in autonomic signal processing.
Adult↗
Nine months in space: effects on human autonomic cardiovascular regulation.
We studied three Russian cosmonauts to better understand how long-term exposure to microgravity affects autonomic cardiovascular control. We recorded the electrocardiogram, finger photoplethysmographic pressure, and respiratory flow before, during, and after two 9-mo missions to the Russian space station Mir. Measurements were made during four modes of breathing: 1) uncontrolled spontaneous breathing; 2) stepwise breathing at six different frequencies; 3) fixed-frequency breathing; and 4) random-frequency breathing. R wave-to-R wave (R-R) interval standard deviations decreased in all and respiratory frequency R-R interval spectral power decreased in two cosmonauts in space. Two weeks after the cosmonauts returned to Earth, R-R interval spectral power was decreased, and systolic pressure spectral power was increased in all. The transfer function between systolic pressures and R-R intervals was reduced in-flight, was reduced further the day after landing, and had not returned to preflight levels by 14 days after landing. Our results suggest that long-duration spaceflight reduces vagal-cardiac nerve traffic and decreases vagal baroreflex gain and that these changes may persist as long as 2 wk after return to Earth.
Adult↗
Influence of the amino acid differences between the hemagglutinin HA1 domains of influenza virus H1N1 strains on their reaction with antibody.
For influenza H1N1 strains, including some of their escape variants, the association of amino acid differences located at their hemagglutinin HA1 domains with their antigenic relationship was examined. The antigenic relationship was recorded in terms of the ratios of hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers, the concentration of antibody molecules recognized by the virus, and the equilibrium constant of epitope-paratope interaction determined with heterologous virus compared to that found with homologous virus. The HI titers of antisera were found to depend primarily on the concentration of antibody molecules recognized by the virus and much less on the equilibrium constants. The avidity of antibody in sera raised against historically later strains with earlier strains was higher than vice versa. In contrast to the results obtained with antisera, the same concentration of monoclonal antibody directed to the Sb site of A/Brazil virus was recognized by both heterologous and homologous viruses, and the differences in HI titers observed were due to avidity changes only. Some of the amino acid differences located at each of the antigenic sites were found to be associated with a reduction in the HI titers and in the concentration of antibody molecules recognized by heterologous virus, whereas other differences in addition decreased the avidity of epitope-paratope interaction. Further amino acid differences decreased the avidity only. The strains tested differed also in their amino acids located outside the antigenic sites. However, an influence of these differences on the reaction of virus with antibody could not be evidenced. For the strains tested, the antigenic hemagglutinin drift occurred by reduction of the concentration of antibody molecules recognized by the virus and by avidity changes, which, in turn, were caused by exchanges of some key residues located at the antigenic sites.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Influenza vaccination in heart transplant recipients.
Seventy-nine heart transplant recipients were vaccinated with a trivalent influenza virus vaccine 1996/97 containing the strains A/Singapore/6/86 (H1N1), A/Wuhan/395/95 (H3N2), and B/Beijing/184/93. The proportions of patients with protective levels of antibody (HI > or = 40) after vaccination ranged from 100% (A/Singapore [H1N1]) to 31.6% (B/Beijing) and their mean fold titer increases were lower than those recorded for vaccination of 109 healthy subjects with the same batch of vaccine. The vaccinations were tolerated well and did not result in serious side effects, such as graft rejections. Our findings indicate that influenza vaccination can induce protective antibody levels in a substantial proportion of heart transplant recipients and lend support to the recommendation to vaccinate such patients annually against influenza.
Antibodies, Viral↗
Heart period and heart period variability during sleep on the MIR space station.
The long-term acclimation of cardiac rhythms to microgravity was studied in four astronauts aboard the Russian space station MIR during wakefulness and sleep. Sleep polygraphies were obtained between the third and the 30th day in space and, in addition, prior to mission on the ground. From each of the sleep polygraphies, beat-to-beat intervals of cardiac rhythms were determined. The response of heart period and heart period variability to the stimulus microgravity was tested during sleep across sleep stages and during waking. A lengthening of heart period by about 100 ms was found in space compared to measurements on the ground. The slowing of heart rate was more pronounced for non-REM sleep than for REM sleep. A systematic change in heart period in relation to the duration of the stay in space could not be detected. An analysis of heart period variability in the high frequency (respiratory sinus arrhythmia) band supports the hypothesis that the decrease of heart rate under microgravity is produced by an increase in parasympathetic activity. Testing the response of cardiac rhythms to microgravity across distinct behavioural states seems to be a powerful tool to investigate the cardiovascular system.
Adult↗
Infection chains and evolution rates of hepatitis B virus in cardiac transplant recipients infected nosocomially.
Following an outbreak of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection amongst immunosuppressed transplant recipients, the complete sequences of the HBV-DNA isolated from nine of the affected patients were determined. The DNA sequences were found to differ from each other by a maximum of three nucleotides and belonged to the same serotype (ayw3). By contrast, the sequences differed by 18 nucleotides from the most similar HBV-DNA sequence published, indicating a common source of infection. The infection chains that have been constructed according to the base differences between the DNAs agreed well with those previously established on the basis of epidemiological data [Drescher et al. (1994) Journal of Hospital Infection 26:81-92]. At least two HBV populations, differing by one or two nucleotides, were detected in four patients, and coexisted for differing periods of time. Mutations of the core and X-peptide were not found. The data were used to calculate evolution rates of HBV DNA, both for HBV persisting within a patient and for infection chains. The rates obtained were of the same order as described previously for immunocompetent patients, indicating that the immunosuppressive medication did not influence the evolution rate. However, the evolution rate was found to decrease with increasing evolution time.
Cross Infection↗
[Finite element modeling and simulation of the human tympanic membrane].
Besides a knowledge of material properties geometric properties are needed to investigate the mechanical behavior of the human eardrum. Although the geometry of the eardrum has been examined methodically, its composition has been described in the literature. The true surface geometry of a cadaver specimen of the human eardrum was examined under a laser-scanning microscope. Forty points (85 parameters) depicted the surface of this cadaver specimen and formed the basis for a finite shell model. Furthermore, the coupling with the malleus and its suspension was simulated. Additional geometric and material parameters were chosen from the available literature. Both static behavior and the influence of a parameter variation to modal behavior of the finite element model were tested. ANSYS 5.1 software was used for this study.
Biomechanical Phenomena↗
I'm your handyman: a history of reparative therapies.
Reparative therapy has come to generically define talking cures that claim to change an individual's homosexual orientation to a heterosexual one. Although other treatment modalities have also promised to "cure" homosexuality, the history of reparative therapies has become inexorably linked with that of psychoanalysis. This paper reviews the history and theoretical assumptions of psychoanalytically-oriented practitioners, beginning with Freud's juvenilization of gay people to the later analysts who pathologized and attempted to change same-sex attractions. The evolution of reparative therapists from medically concerned practitioners into antigay political activists is also discussed. The evolution of one branch of psychoanalytic theory into an antihomosexual political movement illustrates the permeability of boundaries between clinical issues and political ones. In their open support of antigay legislation, reparative therapists have moved from the traditional psychoanalytic center and have been embraced by conservative religious and political forces opposed to homosexuality. In doing so, they have apparently adopted religious organizational practices themselves, preaching dogma and stifling dissent. The increasing marginalization of reparative therapists from the psychoanalytic mainstream illustrates how psychoanalysis per se is neither gay-affirming nor condemning, although psychoanalytic practitioners may fall into either of these categories.
History, 20th Century↗
Joint NASA-ESA-DARA Study. Part three: cardiorespiratory response to elevated CO2 levels during sleep.
Long-term exposure to elevated ambient CO2-levels is a common condition for living in a closed environment such as a spacecraft. In this study, the cardio-respiratory system response to CO2-levels of 0.7% and 1.2% was assessed. The response was investigated during non-REM sleep when the sensitivity of the respiratory system to ambient CO2 is low and only subject to the metabolic respiratory drive. Four subjects were exposed to 0.7% and 1.2% CO2 for 23 d each. Respiration rate and heart rate were determined for the first two phases of slow wave sleep. In addition, the occurrence of central apneas was assessed. Data were analyzed by a repeated measure ANOVA. As a response to CO2 exposure two dynamic effects were observed. Heart rate increased initially with a peak between the second and the sixth night. Over the period of the exposure, respiration rate and heart rate decreased steadily. At least two mechanisms with different time constants must be considered for this dynamic behavior: an uncompensated respiratory acidosis, followed by a phase of relative compensation. At the end of the 23-d exposure, equilibrium in the physiological state had not been reached. Though the experiment did not show severe effects from CO2, it is too early to state that a long-term exposure does not have any consequences for health and well-being.
Adult↗
[Long-term monitoring of psychophysiologic values in flight physiology].
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Aircraft↗
Two-crew operations: stress and fatigue during long-haul night flights.
BACKGROUND: As part of a research program concerning legal aspects of two-pilot operations on long-haul routes, the purpose of the study was to investigate two-crew extended range operations during a flight roster with two consecutive night flights and a short layover. HYPOTHESIS: Present flight time regulations may not be adequate for two-crew minimum operations. METHODS: The study was conducted in cooperation with a German airline company on the route Frankfurt (FRA)-Mahe (SEZ). There were 11 rotations (22 flights) that were investigated by pre-, in- and post-flight data collection each time from the two pilots. Recordings included sleep, taskload, fatigue and stress by measurement of EEG, ECG, motor activity, and subjective ratings. The average actual flight times were 9:15 h (FRA-SEZ) and 9:53 h (SEZ-FRA). All flights took place at night. The layover duration in Mahe was 13:30 h during day-time. RESULTS: During layover, sleep was shortened by 2 h on average compared with 8-h baseline sleep. The two consecutive night duties resulted in a sleep loss of 9.3 h upon return to home base. Inflight ratings of taskload showed moderate grades, but for fatigue ratings an increasing level was observed. Fatigue was more pronounced during the return flight and several pilots scored their fatigue at a critical level. Motor activity, brainwave activity (occurrences of micro-events) and heart rate indicated drowsiness and a low state of vigilance and alertness during both night flights, but these effects were more pronounced during the second flight. CONCLUSIONS: From the findings it is concluded that a duty roster, as conducted in this study, may impose excessive demands on mental and physiological capacity.
Adult↗
Patient to patient hepatitis B transmission during heart biopsy procedures. A report of the European Working Party on Viral Hepatitis in Heart Transplant Recipients.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biopsy↗
Development of a regional cohort of very-low-birthweight children at six years: cognitive abilities are associated with neurological disability and social background.
The authors studied the intelligence, memory, visuomotor skills and la nguage of 298 six-year-old children with very low birthweight (VLBW) (less that 1500g). Of 591 VLBW childern born July 1983 to June 1986 within 50km of the centre of Hamburg, Germany, 330 were traceable at age six years and 298 of these were seen by a neuropaediatrician and a psychologist; the other 19 were too severely disabled for psychological assessment with the standardized tests used. The mean memory performance of VLBW children at age six years was below the standard mean in all diagnostic and socio-economic subgroups. As expected, visuomotor development was clearly influenced by neurological but not socio-economic status. Intelligence and language skills were much more closely related to socio-economic background that to neurological morbidity. However, VLBW children with hyperactivity, clumsiness or cerebral palsy differed significantly in intelligence and visuomotor performance from those without neurological symptoms.
Cerebral Palsy↗
Peritoneal leak and chronic pericardial effusion in a CAPD patient.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Aged↗
Determination of the concentration of influenza virus antihaemagglutinin antibody molecules of the IgG class and of the equilibrium constant by use of enzyme immunoassay titres determined for graded epitope concentrations.
A new technique for determining the concentration of influenza virus antihaemagglutinin antibody molecules of the IgG class (A) and of the equilibrium constant K of paratope-epitope interaction is described. The method is based on determining enzyme immunoassay (EIA) titres of antibody with graded epitope concentrations: EIA titres were defined in terms of the antibody dilution yielding a fixed amount of antibody adsorbed per ml (= 6.21 x 10(10)). Adsorption of antibody depends on the concentration of paratopes and epitopes allowed to react and on the equilibrium constant. For the use of a constant concentration of epitopes, the paratope concentration needed to yield the desired degree of antibody adsorption decreases with increasing avidity. Therefore, the EIA titres increase both with increasing avidity and increasing antibody concentration. When graded epitope concentrations are used for determining the EIA titres of a given serum, the titres are influenced in a similar manner by the antibody concentration of the serum and the increase of titres with increasing epitope concentration reflects avidity. The equilibrium constant found is subsequently used to determine the concentration of free antibody at the dilution meeting the definition of EIA titre and the product of EIA titre and the sum of free and bound antibody at this dilution gives the number of antibody molecules present in the test serum. A panel of 118 antisera was tested comparatively for A and K using the new method and by means of the guanidine titre ratio test and equilibrium filtration. The values obtained agreed well with each other. This novel technique offers the advantage that it can be easily adapted for use with other viruses.
Animals↗
Sleepiness of civil airline pilots during two consecutive night flights of extended duration.
Sleepiness of civil airline pilots was studied in a two-crew cockpit during two consecutive night flights of about 10 h duration each. Sleepiness was assessed by EEG recordings and subjective ratings during hourly recurrent short experimental phases. On the second night flight, the alertness component that is related to the preceding sleep showed a modification due to reduced quality and quantity of sleep between flights. The daytime sleep during layover was not sufficient to maintain the same alertness level as observed during the initial flight. This result is in coincidence with investigations in shift workers starting a period of night shifts. It is concluded that improvements such as the introduction of a nap schedule should be considered to alleviate spontaneous sleepiness in the cockpit.
Adult↗