The Millon Behavioral Health Inventory (MBHI) is being used more widely in pain treatment settings; however, normative data on a large sample of chronic pain patients have not been published. In the present study, norms were established for 247 chronic pain patients. The chronic pain patient norms then were compared statistically to norms for non-medical population. Overall, the results showed that the score distributions for chronic pain patients and normals were similar on most MBHI scales. The differences that were found are consistent with other research on pain patients and indicate that chronic pain patients are more likely to be depressed and anxious. Differences in scales between chronic pain patients and controls may be explained by state vs. trait factors. In evaluating chronic pain patients by personality tests, one needs to keep in mind state-trait problems and their potential influence on test results.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1989

Binding modes of IgG from pemphigus autoimmune sera onto guinea pig keratinocytes and the fate of bound IgGs.

Pemphigus is an intraepidermal autoimmune blistering disease of humans caused by circulating IgGs. We have investigated the binding mode and the fate of bound antibodies from Pemphigus sera (P-IgG) on guinea pig keratinocytes in suspension in order to find clues to the loss of cell adhesion in vivo (acantholysis). Flow cytometry, following indirect immunofluorescent labeling of the keratinocytes, and dead cells' staining with ethidium bromide, demonstrated the specific surface binding of P-IgG onto living keratinocytes only. This was shown with several Pemphigus sera or purified P-IgG. This technique, used with various Pemphigus sera, showed that the specific binding is increased when the serum titer is higher, and "Km" values for P-IgG were roughly and inversely correlated to the titers. Upon saturation the same average number of Pemphigus IgG sites per cell were found for the sera of different patients. Analysis of the specific binding of [125I]-P-IgG onto Percoll-separated (living) keratinocytes showed the existence of two classes of sites: 2 x 10(6) sites/cell high-affinity sites (Kd = 1.5 x 10(-6) M total IgG) and 25 x 10(6) sites/cell low-affinity sites (Kd = 6 x 10(-5) M total IgG). Cell sorting and flow cytometry of individual cells allowed us to correlate the light-scattering signal, the RNA content, the size and morphology, and the P-IgG binding to the cells. The results indicated that P-IgG binding is homogeneous within the living keratinocytes and increases with cell size (cell maturity). Cell-sorter analysis of cells with membrane-bound P-IgG, coupled to direct determination of P-IgG released in the medium, revealed the fate of bound P-IgG: 40-60% of the P-IgGs were released in the medium within 30 minutes at 37 degrees C. This was accompanied and followed by a much slower, metabolic energy-dependent, internalization process of the membrane-bound P-IgG. The internalization has been confirmed by electron microscopy of bound P-IgG labeled with protein A-gold. Internalized IgGs were seen in the cells in coated membranous vesicles and other endocytic compartments. Similar behavior was also observed with two other membrane ligands: i.e., concanavalin A and multispecific rabbit "antisurface" antibodies.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Effect of tunicamycin on glycogen accumulation in the stratum intermedium and odontoblasts of rat incisor.

Repeated injection of rats with tunicamycin over two days induced a 1- to 5-fold increase in glycogen. This accumulation occurred in the stratum intermedium of the enamel organ and in young secretory odontoblasts. In rats injected over 3 days, the number of glycogen particles was at least 10 times larger than in control rats, and large glycogen accumulations were observed in the cytosol of these two groups of cells. These results were obtained by staining with periodic acid-thiocarbohydrazide and silver proteinate, a specific method for the detection of glycoconjugates containing vic-glycol groups. The existence of a relationship between these local cytosolic accumulations of glycogen and the developmental stage of certain groups of cells was shown by the changes that occurred in glycogen distribution. The present results suggest that the stratum intermedium supplies energy for precursor transport.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Transnasal biliary drainage for treatment of common bile duct leakage and bile peritonitis.

A new nonoperative method for treating postoperative common bile duct leaks by endoscopic placement of a nasobiliary stent is described. Two patients were treated successfully by placing a nasobiliary stent above the point of bile leakage, acting to divert the flow of bile and to allow the fistula to close.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Interference of automated electroencephalographic processing by an endocardial pacemaker.

This article reports a patient with an endocardial pacemaker undergoing a carotid endarterectomy in whom cerebral function was monitored by using processed electroencephalography (EEG). The EEG was processed by means of aperiodic analysis. The pacemaker generated an artifact that was identified on the processed EEG display and on the raw EEG display. During the time of carotid cross-clamping, a loss of EEG activity was noted on careful examination of the processed EEG and confirmed by referring to the raw EEG. Nevertheless, because of the presence of the artifact, the activity edge remained essentially constant despite the change in underlying EEG activity. The cross-clamp was released based on the observed change in EEG activity, yielding a return to baseline EEG activity. The surgeon elected to shunt the patient. The patient awoke without neurologic sequelae. This case serves to demonstrate the importance of referring to the raw EEG signal and the limitations of the activity edge in the presence of artifact.

Carotid Artery Diseases↗

PubMed1989

A comparative ultrahistochemical study of glycosaminoglycans with cuprolinic blue in bone formed in vivo and in vitro.

Histochemical and morphological studies have shown that proteoglygans (PG) are involved in mineralization process in vivo but such studies have not yet been conducted in vitro. A comparative histochemical study in electronic microscopy of the localization, organization, and morphology of the PG was performed with bones of calvaria rat formed in vivo and bone nodules formed in vitro from osteoblastic cells in culture. For this investigation, we used a cationic phthalocyanin dye, cuprolinic blue, in a critical electrolyte concentration which simultaneously stained the glycosaminoglycans and demineralized the bone. This histochemical technique demonstrated (1) osteoblast cells in vitro synthesized PG which were included in the matrix formed. (2) These PG were found in the calcified and uncalcified matrix both in vivo and in vitro. In the uncalcified matrix, PG were either free with a granular or rodlike structure or tightly connected to the periphery of the collagen fiber. Contrarily, in the calcified matrix, PG formed dense filamentous reticular patches between the collagen fibers. (3) Similarities in localization, organization, and morphology were noted in PG of bone formed de novo in vitro and in vivo with the exception of the mineralization front, where the staining in vivo compared with in vitro was faint or absent.

Animals↗