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Comparison of alternative models for personality disorders.

BACKGROUND: The categorical classification system for personality disorder (PD) has been frequently criticized and several alternative dimensional models have been proposed. METHOD: Antecedent, concurrent and predictive markers of construct validity were examined for three models of PDs: the Five-Factor Model (FFM), the Schedule for Nonadaptive and Adaptive Personality (SNAP) model and the DSM-IV in the Collaborative Study of Personality Disorders (CLPS) sample. RESULTS: All models showed substantial validity across a variety of marker variables over time. Dimensional models (including dimensionalized DSM-IV) consistently outperformed the conventional categorical diagnosis in predicting external variables, such as subsequent suicidal gestures and hospitalizations. FFM facets failed to improve upon the validity of higher-order factors upon cross-validation. Data demonstrated the importance of both stable trait and dynamic psychopathological influences in predicting external criteria over time. CONCLUSIONS: The results support a dimensional representation of PDs that assesses both stable traits and dynamic processes.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disord↗

The ABC of Alzheimer's disease: ADL and improving day-to-day functioning of patients.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by deterioration in the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL) in addition to loss of cognitive function and behavioral changes. This decline in day-to-day functioning is increasingly recognized as a source of considerable social, health, and economic costs. Inability to perform ADL results in growing caregiver burden and may lead to the eventual need for alternative care or nursing home placement. The measurement of ADL, which enables monitoring of the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions, can be performed using a number of inventories including the Progressive Deterioration Scale (PDS), the Disability Assessment for Dementia (DAD), and the Alzheimer Disease Cooperative Study ADL (ADCS/ADL) assessment scale. Clinical studies using these and other scales have indicated that cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitors offer an effective approach to treating the functional decline of AD. Donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine have been shown in some studies to prevent or slow decline in ADL over treatment periods of one to two years. For instance, in a 24-week study in subjects with moderate to severe AD, donepezil-treated patients remained stable compared with the placebo-treated patients. Rivastigmine has shown improvement or stabilization of PDS scores in patients with mild to moderate disease following 26 weeks of treatment and slowed deterioration in patients with more severe disease. Evidence to date suggests that these agents may not be equally effective at slowing or stabilizing loss in ADL over time and that these differences may reflect differences in pharmacology. In addition to inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), these compounds have other putative differences in mechanisms of action. Galantamine allosterically modulates the nicotinic receptor and may prevent the loss of ADL. Rivastigmine robustly inhibits butyrylcholinesterase in addition to AChE and therefore acts as a dual ChE inhibitor. Comparative studies evaluating the differential effects of these ChE inhibitors on ADL are awaited.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Multivariate calibration standardization across instruments for the determination of glucose by Fourier transform near-infrared spectrometry.

The transfer of multivariate calibration models is investigated between a primary (A) and two secondary Fourier transform near-infrared (near-IR) spectrometers (B, C). The application studied in this work is the use of bands in the near-IR combination region of 5000-4000 cm(-)(1) to determine physiological levels of glucose in a buffered aqueous matrix containing varying levels of alanine, ascorbate, lactate, triacetin, and urea. The three spectrometers are used to measure 80 samples produced through a randomized experimental design that minimizes correlations between the component concentrations and between the concentrations of glucose and water. Direct standardization (DS), piecewise direct standardization (PDS), and guided model reoptimization (GMR) are evaluated for use in transferring partial least-squares calibration models developed with the spectra of 64 samples from the primary instrument to the prediction of glucose concentrations in 16 prediction samples measured with each secondary spectrometer. The three algorithms are evaluated as a function of the number of standardization samples used in transferring the calibration models. Performance criteria for judging the success of the calibration transfer are established as the standard error of prediction (SEP) for internal calibration models built with the spectra of the 64 calibration samples collected with each secondary spectrometer. These SEP values are 1.51 and 1.14 mM for spectrometers B and C, respectively. When calibration standardization is applied, the GMR algorithm is observed to outperform DS and PDS. With spectrometer C, the calibration transfer is highly successful, producing an SEP value of 1.07 mM. However, an SEP of 2.96 mM indicates unsuccessful calibration standardization with spectrometer B. This failure is attributed to differences in the variance structure of the spectra collected with spectrometers A and B. Diagnostic procedures are presented for use with the GMR algorithm that forecasts the successful calibration transfer with spectrometer C and the unsatisfactory results with spectrometer B.

Algorithms↗

Determination of dissociation constants for enzyme-reactant complexes for NAD-malic enzyme by modulation of the thiol inactivation rate.

Incubation of NAD-malic enzyme from Ascaris suum with the sulfhydryl reagents N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB), or 4,4'-dithiodipyridine (4-PDS) results in rapid and complete loss of malate oxidative decarboxylase and pyruvate reductive carboxylase activities. With DTNB, this loss of activity occurs concomitantly with the modification of about 1 thiol group per subunit. The majority of the activity is lost when 0.5 thiol per subunit is modified, indicative of possible half-site reactivity with DTNB. Complete restoration of activity follows addition of dithiothreitol to enzyme inactivated by DTNB and 4-PDS but not with NEM. With the DTNB-inactivated enzyme, replacement of the thionitrobenzoate moiety with cyanide restores activity. The presence of a divalent metal ion (Mg2+ or Mn2+) results in enhancement of the inactivation rate with all sulfhydryl reagents. However, malate alone or competitors of malate provide protection which is more effective in the presence of Mg2+, while NAD provides only about 25% protection. Thus, the Ascaris suum NAD-malic enzyme has a thiol group probably located in or near the malate binding site, which is not essential for enzyme activity. The changes in the rate of inactivation in the presence of reactants were used to determine the dissociation constants for enzyme-reactant complexes. These data suggest that all three possible binary and all three possible ternary complexes form. The binding of malate to free enzyme exhibits negative cooperativity, which is eliminated by the presence of either NAD or Mg2+.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Single-cysteine substitution mutants at amino acid positions 306-321 in rhodopsin, the sequence between the cytoplasmic end of helix VII and the palmitoylation sites: sulfhydryl reactivity and transducin activation reveal a tertiary structure.

As sensors for structure at the cytoplasmic face of rhodopsin, single-cysteine substitution mutants have been previously studied in the regions connecting helices III and IV and helices V and VI. In this paper we report on single-cysteine substitution mutants at amino acid positions 306-321, comprising the cytoplasmic sequence between helix VII and the palmitoylation sites in rhodopsin. The cysteine opsin mutants were expressed in COS-1 cells and on treatment with 11-cis-retinal all formed the characteristic rhodopsin chromophore. Cysteines at positions 306-316 and 319 reacted in the dark with the thiol-specific reagent 4, 4'-dithiodipyridine (4-PDS) but showed a wide variation in reactivity. Cysteines at positions 317, 318, 320, and 321 showed no reaction with 4-PDS. The mutants on illumination also showed wide variations in activating GT. The mutant Y306C showed almost no GT activation, I307C and N310C were poor, and the activity of the mutants M309C, F313C, and M317C was also reduced relative to WT. The results suggest that the region comprising amino acids 306-321 is a part of a tertiary structure and that specific amino acids in this region on light-activation participate in the interaction with GT.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Bonding in Mo(3)M'S(4) Cubane-Type Clusters: Variations in Electronic Structure When M' Is a Main Group or Transition Metal.

The results of Fenske-Hall molecular orbital calculations for cubane-type clusters having Mo(3)M'S(4) cores show that the electronic structures of the clusters depend on the nature of M'. When M' is a main group metal, as in [Mo(3)(SnCl(3))S(4)(NCS)(9)](6)(-), Mo(3)SnS(4)(S(2)PEt(2))(6), or [Sn(Mo(3)S(4)(H(2)O)(9))(2)](8+), the heterometal is oxidized upon incorporation into the cluster; no M'-Mo bonds are formed, and electrons are transferred from M' to an orbital localized on the Mo(3)S(4) incomplete cubane core. When M' is a transition metal, as in [Mo(3)NiS(4)(CO)(H(2)O)(9)](4+), [Mo(3)PdS(4)(CO)(tacn)(3)](4+) (tacn = 1,4,7-triazacyclononane), or Mo(3)CoS(4)(CO)(Cp')(3) (Cp' = methylcyclopentadiene), M' is not oxidized but instead shares electron density with the Mo(3)S(4) core through the formation of metal-metal bonds with the Mo(3) triangle. The relatively high stretching frequencies observed for CO ligands bound to the Ni and Pd centers in the Mo(3)NiS(4) and Mo(3)PdS(4) clusters arise from the nature of the bonding in the clusters, not from the oxidation of the Ni and Pd atoms. Since the same heterometal orbitals are used both to form the M'-Mo bonds and to back-donate to the CO ligand, the Mo(3) orbitals and the CO pi orbitals compete for M' electron density. The CO orbitals do not compete effectively for metal electron density in the Ni and Pd clusters, and this results in weak back-donation to the CO pi orbitals and relatively high CO stretching frequencies. Although it has been proposed that the Mo(3)NiS(4) cluster may serve as a model for NiMoS hydrodesulfurization (HDS) catalysts, the fact that the Ni center in this cluster is not electron rich suggests that it may not provide a suitable model. The electron density at the heterometal can be increased slightly by increasing the donor ability of the ligands attached to the Mo atoms.

Journal Article↗

Biochemical and molecular analysis of carotenoid biosynthesis in flavedo of orange (Citrus sinensis L.) during fruit development and maturation.

Changes in carotenoid content and composition and expression of carotenoid biosynthetic genes were analyzed in the flavedo of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck, cv. Navelate) fruit during development and maturation. Lutein and all-E-violaxanthin were the major carotenoids in chloroplast-containing tissues. During fruit coloration, phytoene, beta-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, and mainly (9Z)-violaxanthin progressively accumulated, and a large proportion of apocarotenoids was also found in the flavedo of full-colored fruits. We have cloned partial and full-length cDNAs corresponding to genes involved in early condensation and desaturase reactions [phytoene synthase (PSY), phytoene desaturase (PDS), and zeta-carotene desaturase (ZDS)], coupled redox reaction (plastid terminal oxidase), cyclizations [beta-lycopene cyclase (beta-LCY) and epsilon-lycopene cyclase (epsilon-LCY)], hydroxylation [beta-carotene hydroxylase (beta-CHX)], and epoxidation [zeaxanthin epoxidase (ZEP)] and analyzed their mRNA accumulation in the flavedo of fruits during development and ripening as compared with those of leaves. Collectively, the results indicated that PDS gene expression correlated with carotenoid content in developing fruit and that up-regulation of PSY and ZDS genes at the onset of fruit coloration would enhance the production of linear carotenes and the flux into the pathway. The shift from the beta,epsilon-branch to the beta,beta-branch of the pathway that originates the changes in carotenoid composition during fruit coloration may be explained by a down-regulation of epsilon-LCY and by the increase of the beta-CHX transcript.

Carotenoids↗

Correlation between electronic properties and hydrodesulfurization activity of 4d-transition-metal sulfides.

The present study attempts to examine the relationship between electronic-structure properties exhibited by 4d-transition-metal sulfides (TMSs) in connection with the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) catalytic activity. The electronic structure is studied by means of a periodic density functional approach using a plane-wave basis set and appropriate pseudopotentials. Both bulk and relevant surfaces of NbS, NbS(2), MoS(2), TcS(2), RuS(2), Rh(2)S(3), PdS, and PdS(2) have been analyzed. High densities of nonbonding states below the Fermi level have been found for the TMSs that exhibit good catalytic performance. Therefore, it is suggested that the incomplete filling of the band gap at exposed transition metal atoms over the catalyst surface plays a determinant role in the HDS reactions. It has also been found that the highest HDS activity occurs when the surface-metal-site density of electronic states has a local minimum at the Fermi level that enhances the donation-back-donation mechanism. Additionally, the Sabatier principle is qualitatively rationalized in terms of the position of covalent bands below the Fermi level.

Journal Article↗

cDNA cloning and expression of carotenogenic genes during flower development in Gentiana lutea.

All cDNAs involved in carotenoid biosynthesis leading to lycopene in yellow petals of Gentiana lutea have been cloned from a cDNA library. They encode a geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase, a phytoene synthase, a phytoene desaturase and a zeta-carotene desaturase. The indicated function of all cDNAs was established by heterologous complementation in Escherichia coli. The amino acid sequences deduced from the cDNAs were between 47.5% and 78.9% identical to those reported for the corresponding enzymes from other higher plants. Southern analysis suggested that the genes for each enzyme probably represent a small multi-gene family. Tissue-specific expression of the genes and expression during flower development was investigated. The expression of the phytoene synthase gene, psy, was enhanced in flowers but transcripts were not detected in stems and leaves by northern blotting. Transcripts of the genes for geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (ggpps), phytoene desaturase (pds) and zeta-carotene desaturase (zds) were detected in flowers and leaves but not in stems. Analysis of the expression of psy and zds in petals revealed that levels of the transcripts were lowest in young buds and highest in fully open flowers, in parallel with the formation of carotenoids. Obviously, the transcription of these genes control the accumulation of carotenoids during flower development in G. lutea. For pds only a very slight increase of mRNA was found whereas the transcripts of ggpps decreased during flower development.

Blotting, Northern↗

Species-dependent premature degradation of absorbable suture materials caused by infection--impact on the choice of thread in vascular surgery.

BACKGROUND: In case of infection after vascular reconstruction, preference is often given to absorbable suture material with the aim of preventing persistence of infection. We have investigated the functional deficit of absorbable sutures on incubation with various different bacteria. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Four suture materials Dexon bicolor, Vicryl, Maxon and PDS II--were placed in contact with reference bacterial cultures (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, E. coli, coagulase-negative staphylococci and Proteus mirabilis). The bacteria were incubated for 7 days at 37 degrees C, together with the suture material. A logarithmic phase (Group A) and a static phase (Group B) were simulated. The linear tensile strength (LTS) of the suture material was measured (Instron Tensiometer). RESULTS: In the case of Staphylococcus aureus, a significant decrease in LTS was established for Dexon bicolor (group A: 31%, group B: 22%), and Vicryl (53% and 43%), but not for the monofilament threads. With regard to the other bacteria, a considerably more dramatic effect was observed: in both groups the braided sutures had completely disintegrated after 7 days. The monofilament sutures also revealed a significant loss of function (Maxon: 88%, PDS II 66%). CONCLUSIONS: The absorbable sutures revealed a premature, species-dependent loss of function due to the presence of the bacteria. On the basis of our results, the use of absorbable threads for vessel sutures in case of infection cannot be recommended, with the exception of monofilament material in a monocultural Staphylococcus aureus infection.

Absorbable Implants↗

Single hemicerclage for lateral type B malleolar fracture--a novel, minimal and reliable osteosynthesis.

AIM OF STUDY: To investigate the short- and long-term outcome of patients with isolated lateral malleolar fracture type B treated with a single hemicerclage out of metallic wire or PDS cord. METHODS: Over an 8-year period 97 patients were treated with a single hemicerclage for lateral malleolar fracture type B and 89 were amenable to a follow-up after mean 39 months, including interview, clinical examination and X-ray controls. RESULTS: The median operation time was 35 minutes (range 15-85 min). X-ray controls within the first two postoperative days revealed an anatomical restoration of the upper ankle joint in all but one patient. The complication rate was 8%: hematoma (2 patients), wound infection (2), Sudeck's dystrophy (2) and deep vein thrombosis (1). Full weight-bearing was tolerated at median 6.0 weeks (range 2-26 weeks). No secondary displacement, delayed union or consecutive arthrosis of the upper ankle joint was observed. All but one patient had restored symmetric joint mobility. Ninety-seven percent of patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the outcome. Following bone healing, hemicerclage removal was necessary in 19% of osteosyntheses with metallic wire and in none with PDS cord. CONCLUSION: The single hemicerclage is a novel, simple and reliable osteosynthesis technique for isolated lateral type B malleolar fractures and may be considered as an alternative to the osteosynthesis procedures currently in use.

Adolescent↗

Age-related change in personality disorder trait levels between early adolescence and adulthood: a community-based longitudinal investigation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate change in personality disorder (PD) traits between early adolescence and early adulthood among individuals in the community. METHOD: PD traits were assessed in 1983 (mean age = 14), 1985-86 (mean age = 16) and 1992 (mean age = 22) in a representative community sample of 816 youths. RESULTS: Overall, PD traits declined 28% during both adolescence and early adulthood. PD traits were moderately stable during the first 2-year interval, and were as stable as they have been reported to be among adults over similar intervals. PD trait stability declined slightly as the inter-assessment interval increased. Adolescents with PDs tended to have elevated PD traits during early adulthood. CONCLUSION: PD traits tend to decline steadily in prevalence during adolescence and early adulthood. However, adolescents with PDs often have elevated PD traits as young adults, and the stability of PD traits appears to be similar during adolescence and early adulthood.

Adolescent↗

Gender-related differences in the onset of panic disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate gender-related differences in premorbid conditions and in the role of triggering events in the onset of panic disorder (PD). METHOD: One hundred and eighty-four out-patients with a principal diagnosis of PD (DSM-IV) were evaluated with a semi-structured interview to generate Axis I and Axis II diagnoses according to DSM-IV, to collect family history of psychiatric disorders and life events. The statistical analysis was performed comparing men and women. RESULTS: Men and women showed similar age at onset of PD. A family history of mood disorders characterized females. Men had higher rates of cyclothymia, body dysmorphic disorder and depersonalization disorder preceding PD, while women had higher rates of bulimia nervosa. Dependent and histrionic PDs were more common among women, while borderline and schizoid PDs were more common among men. Life events showed a significant role in precipitating PD onset in women. CONCLUSION: Premorbid clinical conditions of PD seem to differentiate between males and females in the role of precipitating events.

Adult↗

Childhood maltreatment and personality disorders in adult patients with binge eating disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between retrospective reports of different types of childhood maltreatment and current personality disorders (PDs) in patients with binge eating disorder (BED). METHOD: A total of 116 consecutive out-patients with DSM-IV BED were assessed with diagnostic interviews and completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire to assess childhood maltreatment in five domains (emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect and physical neglect). RESULTS: Eighty-two percent of patients reported some form of childhood maltreatment and 30% met criteria for at least one PD. Emotional abuse was significantly associated with cluster C PD overall and specifically with avoidant PD. CONCLUSION: Reports of emotional abuse - but not other forms of maltreatment - were associated with greater likelihood of a PDs in patients with BED.

Adult↗

Role of smoking and HbA1c level in periodontitis among insulin-dependent diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to analyse the role of smoking and HbA1c level in attachment loss (AL) and probing depths (PDs) among insulin-dependent diabetic patients. MATERIAL AND-METHODS: The study subjects were selected from a group of 149 insulin-dependent diabetic patients and included 64 patients (39 men and 25 women) aged 30 years or older. Data were obtained from patient records and by clinical examination. The outcome variables were the number of sites with AL and PDs of 5-9 mm. Relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Poisson regression models. RR was adjusted for the number of teeth, dental calculus and age. RESULTS: RR for AL among the smokers was 4.15 (95% CI: 2.30-7.63) and that for PD among the smokers was 7.96 (95% CI: 4.91-13.19). HbA1c was not related to AL or PD. Among smokers with HbA1c > 8.5, RR for AL was 12.34 (95% CI: 4.14-39.35), but RR was not elevated for PD. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that the poor metabolic control together with smoking is extremely detrimental for AL.

Adult↗

Changes in restorative caries treatment in 15-year-olds in Oslo, Norway, 1979-1996.

OBJECTIVES: To examine changing patterns regarding restorative treatment criteria for dental caries. METHODS: A representative sample (n = 215) was drawn from all 15-year-olds receiving dental treatment in the Public Dental Service (PDS) in Oslo, Norway for each of the years 1979, 1989, 1993 and 1996. Information from clinical records and bitewing radiographs on caries treatment was collected. The results presented in this paper pertain to 198, 201, 209 and 208 subjects in each group. RESULTS: The results revealed dramatic changes in the use of restorative treatment criteria. Only 16% of tooth surfaces were treated in 1996 according to the criteria from 1979. The number of sound surfaces was found to have increased by 39% whereas the number of filled surfaces was reduced by 92%. In spite of more stringent criteria for restorative treatment, the number of D4 lesions did not increase. CONCLUSION: The practice of change in restorative treatment continued during the 17 years of study. Though the number of decayed surfaces appeared to be stable during the period, in reality, there was a reduction in caries occurrence during the first 10-year period (1979-1989). A conceptual model of dentists' caries-related treatment decisions outlined by Bader & Shugars may be used to explain parts of the rapid change in the criteria used in the PDS in Oslo.

Adolescent↗

Epidermolysis bullosa simplex keratinocytes with extended lifespan established by ectopic expression of telomerase.

As part of a strategy to develop somatic gene therapy of epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) we have established patient keratinocytes with expanded lifespan by ectopic expression of the human telomerase gene (hTert). The presence of an active telomerase enzyme was demonstrated by the telomerase repeat amplification protocol (TRAP). The hTert(+) cells have a normal karyotype and the cells have, until now, undergone more than 80 population doublings (PDs) after hTert retroviral transduction while control cells exhibited senescence-associated proliferation arrest after 8 PDs. In organotypic culture the hTert(+) cells are capable of forming a stratified epidermis illustrating their preserved ability to differentiate.

Cell Line, Transformed↗

Stability and change in personality disorder symptomatology: findings from a longitudinal study of HIV+ and HIV- men.

A longitudinal study was conducted to investigate the stability of personality disorders (PDs) over a 2-year interval, as well as the association between change in PD symptomatology and change in psychological distress. Structured clinical interviews and questionnaires assessing PDs and psychological distress were administered to a community sample of 118 gay men (80 HIV seropositive men and 38 HIV seronegative men) at a baseline session and readministered 2 years later. Results indicated that PD symptom levels tended to be moderately stable, that PD diagnoses had low stability and that changes in PD symptom levels were associated with changing levels of psychological distress but not with progression of HIV infection.

Adult↗