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R J Craig

Publications and source records attributed to R J Craig.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

Chromosomal band assignments of the genes encoding human FKBP12 and FKBP13.

Human FKBP12 and FKBP13 are encoded by distinct genes designated FKBP1 and FKBP2, respectively. Human FKBP1 was previously characterized. The characterization of human FKBP2 is described. FKBP2 is three kb in length and contains six exons. Fluorescence in situ hybridization of FKBP1 and FKBP2 genomic probes to metaphase chromosomes localized FKBP1 to human chromosome 20 band p13 and FKBP2 to human chromosome 11 band q13.1-q13.3.

Amino Acid Sequence

Assessing drug abusers with the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory: a review.

This paper reviews studies that used the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory with drug abusers. Although the test has been used with over 2000 such patients in the published literature, there is still a dearth of basic research with the MCMI with this population. Preliminary evidence suggests that the Personality Disorder Scales are quite useful to assess personality styles of drug abusers, but the Clinical Syndrome Scales present some problems. Specifically, the Drug Dependence Scale has had difficulty in reliably "detecting" drug addicted individuals who were in treatment for drug abuse. However, a reliable modal MCMI profile among this population seems to exist, although cluster research suggests several subtypes, each with different personality styles. MCMI computer-narrative reports may overdiagnose paranoid disorder and under diagnose antisocial disorders among this population.

Humans

Personality factors in Psy.D. students: empirically derived comparisons between men and women.

A total of 180 students in a Doctor of Psychology program of an APA-accredited Professional School of Psychology (55 men and 125 women) took the MMPI for course requirements. A larger subgroup (43 men and 88 women) also completed the Adjective Check List. Men scored higher than women on the MMPI dimensions of Assertion (Pd), Organization (Pt), and Imagination (Sc). Women scored higher on the Ego Strength Scale (Es). Men scored higher on the Check List scale of Dominance. Data were compared with a previous report of MMPIs of Ph.D. students, and few differences were observed. Findings were discussed in terms of stereotypical role behaviors from which doctoral students are not yet immune.

Adult

Relationship between MCMI-II scales and normal personality traits.

We correlated MCMI-II and 16 PF profiles of 145 couples in outpatient marital therapy and noted significant associations between these tests that were consistently and logically related to constructs which underlie the meaning of the MCMI-II scales. This provided good concurrent validity for both the Personality and Clinical Scales of the MCMI-II. These results add credence to research designed to study Millon's basic styles in normal populations.

Adult

MMPI subtypes for cocaine abusers.

The MMPIs of 104 cocaine abusers in treatment were subjected to a hierarchical cluster analysis and two basic profile types emerged. Type I consisted of a spike on Pd and a subspike on Hyp, reflecting a rebellious, acting out character-disordered style with narcissistic traits. Type II consisted of a high-ranging, floating profile consisting of marked elevations on F, Sc, Dep, Pt, Pd, and Pa, reflecting a psychiatric patient who concurrently abused cocaine. These findings were contrasted to other MMPI typological studies, and the similarities and differences were discussed.

Adult

Conscious and unconscious perceptions of self in children of alcoholics.

The conscious and unconscious self-concept was examined in three groups of children: 23 children of alcoholics (COA), 19 children from nonalcoholic but dysfunctional families, and 23 children from normal families without alcoholism or family dysfunction. Self-concept was assessed both objectively, using the Piers-Harris Children's Self Concept Scale, and subjectively, using the Draw-A-Person Test and the Thematic Apperception Test from rating systems designed to tap unconscious dimensions of self. The COAs and normal controls were also compared for behavioral problems with the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist. We found that COAs made more positive self-statements on objective measures of self-concept than children from families without alcoholism, whether or not the families were dysfunctional. Subjective analyses of projective test responses revealed unconscious differences in self-concept among the COAs, though this was not corroborated with objective scores, probably due to the crudeness of the rating instrument in failing to tap these dimensions. Also COAs had significantly more behavior problems, based on parental reports, which contrasts with their objective reports of self. Implications of these findings were discussed.

Alcoholism

Exon organization of the human FKBP-12 gene: correlation with structural and functional protein domains.

FKBP-12, the major T-cell binding protein for the immunosuppressive agents FK506 and rapamycin, catalyzes the interconversion of the cis and trans rotamers of the peptidyl-prolyl amide bond of peptide and protein substrates. The function of rotamase activity in cells and the role of FKBP-12 in immunoregulation is uncertain. In this paper we report the cloning and characterization of the human chromosomal FKBP-12 gene and four processed FKBP-12 pseudogenes. The FKBP-12 gene is 24 kilobases in length and contains five exons. The protein-coding region of the gene is divided into four exon modules that correlate with the structural and functional domains of the protein. The novel structure of FKBP-12 resulting from the topology of the antiparallel beta-sheet is the topological crossing of two loops that are encoded by separate exons. Separate exons also encode the antiparallel beta-sheet and alpha-helical region that define the drug-binding pocket and enzyme activity site of FKBP-12. The exon organization of the FKBP-12 gene also provided insight into the genetic evolution of the immunophilin family. Knowledge of the FKBP-12 gene structure will enable inactivation of this gene by homologous recombination in cells to provide a model to study the role of FKBP-12 in immunoregulation and normal cellular processes.

Amino Acid Sequence

Evidence for organicity in concrete vs. overinclusive thought-disordered schizophrenics.

Matched 20 overinclusive schizophrenics, 13 schizophrenics with a concrete thought disorder, defined in terms of performance errors on a conceptual ability test, and 11 brain-damaged patients on age, education, vocabulary proficiency, severity of illness and length of hospitalization. Ss then were given the Combined Test Battery for Organicity. No differences were found between the overinclusive and concrete schizophrenics on any measure of organicity. The Organic Test Battery had poor concurrent validity in distinguishing between brain-damaged and schizophrenic patients. Schizophrenics with a concrete thought disorder have a relatively rare condition that continues to defy explanation, though on the basis of past research an organic involvement seems to be the most parsimonious explanation.

Adult

Locating drug addicts who have dropped out of treatment.

Staff at a VA-sponsored drug treatment center followed up dropouts one year after they left the program; they were able to locate 80 per cent of those clients. The staff found several contacts useful in locating the difficult-to-find population, including the addicts' mothers, other drug programs, prisons, and the department of motor vehicles. To make it easier for researchers to tract down dropouts, the author suggests that when patients enter a program they should be required to give names, addresses, and telephone numbers of at least two friends or relatives who would know where they were. Staff should emphasize to patients that the information is for research purposes and that confidentiality will be preserved.

Chicago

Emergency room admissions for acute drug reactions in a VA hospital.

To determine the extent to which veterans used a VA Emergency Room (ER) for the treatment of acute drug reactions, the ER log of a VA Hospital was examined to ascertain the number of drug-related visits during the past 24 months. The low base rate suggests that veterans do not rely on a VA ER for the treatment of acute drug reactions and that proper medical supervision and medication management is maintained in the majority of cases. Those who did utilize a VA ER appear to be young (age range 25 to 34), used legally prescribed drugs in combination with alcohol or tranquilizers, and were often suicidal. More attention to the crisis state precipitated by the acute drug reaction is recommended.

Adolescent

Personality characteristics of heroin addicts: a review of the empirical literature with critique--part II.

This paper is the second part of a two-part series reviewing the empirical literature on personality characteristics of heroin addicts. It focuses on MMPI-based studies, personality differences between addict subgroups, and changes during the addiction cycle and following treatment. Several personality characteristics of heroin addicts have been consistently validated experimentally, but it is impossible to determine whether these traits comprise the "addictive personality" and predated drug use, or whether they are the result of drug addiction. Most research in this area has proceeded without the benefit of a theoretical premise on which to generate hypotheses and build models of heroin addiction. It is recommended that more study-based research occur that tests postulates.

Adolescent

Diabetes and associated variables in the South Australian Aboriginal.

Diabetes of a predominant maturity-onset type has been identified as being up to ten times more prevalent in South Australian Aborigines than in Caucasians. On the evidence provided, nutritional status and obesity are thought to be dominant in the aetiology of the hyperglycaemia, although relative hyperinsulinaemia in full blood Aborigines suggests a significant racial genetic effect. It is suggested on these and other grounds that the diabetic genotype may represent a factor of previous survival advantage to the Aboriginal, now rendered deleterious by urbanization. The degree of hyperglycaemia, and its association with hyperlipidaemia, obesity, retinal arteriovenous changes and abnormal electrocardiographic findings, accentuates the significance of the diabetes, and underlines the serious need for ongoing nutritional education in these communities.

Adult

Blood pressures and electrocardiographic findings in the South Australian Aborigines.

Blood pressure measurements were recorded in 522 adults and 141 10-19 year-old full and part blood Aborigines in five communities. The means for systolic and diastolic blood pressures at 40 years were close to those reported for Europeans, although below this age, values tended to be lower, and above 40 years tended to be higher than those reported in the Tecumseh study. Hypertension, as defined by the Princeton criteria, was present in 29%, more often in the men (1-6 to 1-0), and eight subjects satisfied the criteria for hypertensive heart disease (HHD). 522 electrocardiograms were recorded on adult subjects at five Aboriginal communities and classified according to categories of the Minnesota code. Of the 210 abnormalities observed, minor T wave inversions and minor S-T segment depression were the most commonly encountered, and were more frequent in female subjects. Q wave changes typical of myocardial infarction was found in 5% of the tracings and occurred mainly in older men. If hypertension and certain ECG codes are assumed to be "risk factors" for the development of clinical ischaemic heart disease (IHD), the urbanized Aboriginal had a higher prevalence compared with Caucasian subjects of the Busselton study. "Probable" and "suspect" ECG changes of IHD, although mainly in the older subjects, were found to be associated with hyperglycaemia, as recognised in Western society. It is postulated that urbanized Aborigines are prone to cardiovascular degenerative disease to a similar or possibly larger extent than Caucasians.

Adolescent

Visual acuity and retinal changes in South Australian Aborigines.

Eye examinations were carried out a four Aboriginal reserves. Of 361 Aboriginal adults tested, 64 had a visual defect (visual acuity of 6/9 or worse) in each eye, a prevalence of 18%, with an additional 79 (22%) with a similar loss of acuity in one eye only; these were more frequently seen at the urbanized reserve of Koonibba. Only one full blood Aboriginal child within the less urbanized communities had a reduced visual acuity, whereas seven (10%) part blood children at a more urbanized reserve had reduced vision in both eyes, with a further nine (13%) in one eye only, not unlike figures quoted for South Australian school children. Vascular changes in the fundus oculi were observed and occurred more often when hypertension and/or hyperglycaemia were present. They consisted of arteriovenous crossing changes (26%), swelling of the retinal veins (3%) and altered light reflex (41%) and were not infrequently seen in the younger adult (20% of adults under 30 years had AV crossing changes and 46% had widened light streak). Analysis suggests that, although hypertension and hyperglycaemia are related to retinal vascular changes, other factors, as yet unidentified, are present in the Aboriginal population under consideration.

Adult