There is substantial information supporting the role of genetic factors in the susceptibility for alcohol dependence. However, the identification of specific genes that contribute to this predisposition has proven elusive, although several theoretically relevant candidates, e.g. DRD2 or 5-HT(1B), have been considered. The difficulty in identifying specific genes may be related to the clinical heterogeneity of the disorder resulting in a poorly defined phenotype for genetic analysis. An alternative approach to the use of a diagnostic phenotype for identifying alcoholism susceptibility genes may lie in the examination of the neurobiological correlates of the disorder, the so-called endophenotypes. One possible endophenotype of alcohol dependence may be related to the P300 waveform of the event-related brain potential (ERP). Using data obtained from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA), a multi-site family-based study, the utility of P300 amplitude as an endophentype was examined. Differences in P300 amplitude were found between alcoholics and nonalcoholics, between unaffected relatives of alcoholics and relatives of controls, as well as between unaffected offspring of alcoholic fathers and offspring of controls. A genetic analysis indicated that attributes of the P(3) ERP waveform are heritable, and a quantitative trait locus analysis found linkage to several chromosomal regions. These data provide significant support for P300 as an endophenotype for alcohol dependence.

Alcoholism↗

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P3 amplitudes in two distinct tasks are decreased in young men with a history of paternal alcoholism.

Visual event-related potentials (ERPs) were obtained in two groups of young adult male subjects: One group (N = 24) considered to be at high risk for alcoholism due to paternal alcoholism and the second group (N = 26) with no family history of alcoholism. Results presented here were obtained during a baseline (no drug) condition. The ERP tasks both were target detection paradigms, but differed in several respects. One paradigm involved continuous participation in a distracting tracking task, but used an easily interpreted target stimulus. The second task involved no distractions, but entailed more complex stimuli. Both paradigms utilized level of task difficulty as an experimental variable. The results from both tasks were quite similar and demonstrated significantly lower ERP amplitudes in the high risk compared to the low risk group. Reaction times to target stimuli did not discriminate group membership, but were related to perceived task difficulty. Task difficulty was not a useful variable in discriminating group membership.

Adult↗

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Infectious diseases. More surprises.

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Communicable Diseases↗

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Generating ideas for research: an Australian research experience.

Recent changes in the educational system and career developments in Australia have provided Australian clinical nurses with an opportunity to conduct research in their practice. In this article, the nursing staff of an Australian gastroenterology unit describe their experience in defining a research project.

Australia↗

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Innominate osteotomy in Perthes disease.

A retrospective study was performed in 27 patients who underwent innominate osteotomy for the treatment of severe Perthes disease. Time intervals between surgery and final follow-up ranged from 5 years to 16 years 4 months. Preoperative and postoperative periods of treatment were often more prolonged than those reported by Salter. One-half of the patients were less than 6 years of age at onset of the disease. A number of patients had significant deformity of the femoral head. Nevertheless, clinically good or fair results were obtained in 88% of the patients and poor results were found in 12%.

Age Factors↗

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Nursing should be an all-graduate profession.

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Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate↗

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Potential infectious etiologies of atherosclerosis: a multifactorial perspective.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) contributes substantially to illness and death worldwide. Experimental studies demonstrate that infection can stimulate atherogenic processes. This review presents a spectrum of data regarding the link between CHD and infection. In addition, the need for improved diagnostic tools, the significance of multiple pathogens, and potential intervention strategies are discussed.

Animals↗

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Uniforms. Removing barriers to communication.

Nurses have engaged in debate over the advantages and disadvantages of the traditional uniform for many years, Stephen O'Connor and Martinne Wright describe an imaginative approach to attire which was adopted by nurses in a rehabilitation Results indicate that the particular needs of patients in this unit are better met in the less formal atmosphere which subsequently developed.

Clothing↗

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