Time to talk about rape. Joint initiatives can improve services for complainants of sexual assault.
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Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
E Kerr
Publications and source records attributed to E Kerr.
Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography of the iliac arteries: optimization by injection simulation.
Protocols for contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE-MRA) of the iliac arteries were optimized by computer simulations based on an impulse response function (IRF) of contrast agent (CA) concentration as a function of time obtained for 20 patients. Protocols with sequential, centric, and elliptical k-space coverage, different repetition rates (5 and 10 ms), and CA doses (0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mmol/kg b.w.) were compared in terms of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), distortion of vessel profiles, and sensitivity to timing errors. IRF-based simulations successfully characterized CA recirculation. Slow-rate CA infusions were found to achieve relatively high enhancement. In terms of SNR, there is no advantage in increasing the repetition rate. Distortion of vessel profiles is more likely in elliptic and centric k-space coverage. Protocols based on sequential k-space coverage and relatively long CA infusions proved to be particularly suited to large-FOV iliac examinations as they are relatively insensitive to timing errors.
Adult↗
The implicit benefit of learning without errors.
Two studies examined whether the number of errors made in learning a motor skill, golf putting, differentially influences the adoption of a selective (explicit) or unselective (implicit) learning mode. Errorful learners were expected to adopt an explicit, hypothesis-testing strategy to correct errors during learning, thereby accruing a pool of verbalizable rules and exhibiting performance breakdown under dual-task conditions, characteristic of a selective mode of learning. Reducing errors during learning was predicted to minimize the involvement of explicit hypothesis testing leading to the adoption of an unselective mode of learning, distinguished by few verbalizable rules and robust performance under secondary task loading. Both studies supported these predictions. The golf putting performance of errorless learners in both studies was unaffected by the imposition of a secondary task load, whereas the performance of errorful learners deteriorated. Reducing errors during learning limited the number of error-correcting hypotheses tested by the learner, thereby reducing the contribution of explicit processing to skill acquisition. It was concluded that the reduction of errors during learning encourages the use of implicit, unselective learning processes, which confer insusceptibility to performance breakdown under distraction.
Adult↗
Experimental hyperprolactinemia in a rat model: alteration in centrally mediated neuroerectile mechanisms.
INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to induce hyperprolactinemia in adult male rats and determine its effect on the central and peripheral mediated neurogenic as well as myogenic mechanisms of erectile function/dysfunction in a rat model. The use of penile reflexes in awake animals was used to test the effect of both central and peripheral mechanisms. Electrical stimulation of the cavernous nervous was used to test peripheral neural function and intracorporal injection of papaverine was used to test the intactness of the corporal smooth muscles. These mechanisms were further explored by administration of testosterone. METHODS: Eighteen Fisher-344 200-250 g rats aged 10 weeks were used in this study. Group 1 (n = 6) hyperprolactinemia was induced with subcutaneous (SQ) injection of 5 mg rat prolactin (NIDDK-r-PRL-B-7, biopotency 25 IU/mg) in two divided doses daily for 1 week. Testosterone propionate 100 mg/kg dissolved in sesame oil was given intramuscularly on day 1 (weekly dose). Group 2 (n = 6) control animals received SQ injection of vehicle twice daily and sesame oil I/M on day 1. Group 3 (n = 6) received testosterone propionate. Penile reflexes (erections, cups, flips and clusters) were assessed prior to induction (x 3) of and following one-week state of hyperprolactinemia (day 5, 6 and 7). All animals were trained three times before recording the penile reflexes. The penile reflexes being averaged to give a single composite score for each animal. All animals underwent dissections that isolated the cavernosal bodies and cavernosal nerves. Cavernous nerves were activated and intracorporal pressures were recorded at increasing current magnitude (range 0.5-10 mA). Following that corporal smooth muscle reactivity was determined by increasing injection of papaverine (100-3000 microg). Concentration response curves (CRCs) were then generated by plotting percent change (fractional change to make standardized comparison) to increasing neurostimulation or papaverine concentrations at half-log increments. Serum prolactin was determined by rPRL radioimmunoassay Kit-Amersham while serum testosterone was determined Testosterone ELISA Kit-Neogen. RESULTS: Penile reflexes were normal in all groups at the start of experiment but after 1 week of hyperprolactinemia, reflexes were totally abolished in hyperprolactinemia rats (Group 1) and unchanged in Groups 2 and 3. Response to cavernous nerve activation and resulting rise in intracorporal pressure to increasing current (range 0.5-10 mA) were statistically non-significant in any groups. Similarly the intracorporal pressure response to pharmacologic erection induced by papaverine (100-3000 microg) were also non-statistically significant in any groups. Serum prolactin level in all rats receiving prolactin were > 500 ng/ml and the rat group receiving testosterone, serum level were > 20 x higher than the control rat. CONCLUSIONS: This approach allowed more clear separation of central and peripheral mechanism of erection. This study shows a central neurological effect of hyperprolactinemia on erectile function. Hypogonadism does not seem to contribute to the impaired penile reflexes as documented by replacement of testosterone did not recover the centrally mediated penile reflexes. Lowered serum testosterone is secondary phenomenon. These observations may have important implications for the understanding, the mechanism and treatment of men with hyperprolactinemia as well as future research in this field.
Animals↗
Confrontation naming of environmental sounds.
The development of a set of everyday, nonverbal, digitized sounds for use in auditory confrontation naming applications is described. Normative data are reported for 120 sounds of varying lengths representing a wide variety of acoustic events such as sounds produced by animals, people, musical instruments, tools, signals, and liquids. In Study 1, criteria for scoring naming accuracy were developed and rating data were gathered on degree of confidence in sound identification and the perceived familiarity, complexity, and pleasantness of the sounds. In Study 2, the previously developed criteria for scoring naming accuracy were applied to the naming responses of a new sample of subjects, and oral naming times were measured. In Study 3 data were gathered on how subjects categorized the sounds: In the first categorization task - free classification - subjects generated category descriptions for the sounds; in the second task - constrained classification - a different sample of subjects selected the most appropriate category label for each sound from a list of 27 labels generated in the first task. Tables are provided in which the 120 stimuli are sorted by familiarity, complexity, pleasantness, duration, naming accuracy, speed of identification, and category placement. The. WAV sound files are freely available to researchers and clinicians via a sound archive on the World Wide Web; the URL is http://www.cofc.edu/~marcellm/confront.htm.
Acoustic Stimulation↗
Learning needs of congestive heart failure patients.
Congestive heart failure (CHF) affects approximately one-half million Canadians and five million Americans. Patient education is a vital component of nursing care of this population, with the goals of improving the CHF patient's quality of life, minimizing symptoms and hospital admissions, and reducing length of hospital stay. A review of the literature related to the educational needs of CHF patients reveals minimal research. The purpose of this study was to compare the perceived learning needs of CHF patients by patients and nurses, and to identify existing gaps between their perceptions. Fifty (50) CHF patients and 47 cardiac nurses were surveyed using a modified version of the CHF Patient Learning Needs Inventory developed by Hagenhoff et al. This instrument measured the importance of specific learning topics within the categories of anatomy and physiology, medications, diet, risk factors, activity, psychological factors, and other pertinent information. The results indicated that both groups found most information "moderately" to "very" important to learn. The patients generally rated all information items higher than nurses did. The most significant finding was that the nurses rated the diet category as second in importance, while the patients rated it last. The results from the study will be incorporated into a needs-based educational program for CHF patients.
Adult↗
Too many scientists, too few academic jobs.
Graduate education in the sciences is not doing its job. By preparing students only for academic research, the system neglects the range of opportunities for work in science that young scientists want and society needs.
Biotechnology↗
Comparison of TechLab Clostridium difficile Tox-A enzyme immunoassay and Bartels Prima system toxin-A EIA.
We evaluated the Bartles Clostridium difficile toxin A test and the TechLab Tox-A test to detect C. difficile toxin A in stool. The results were compared with C. difficile cytotoxicity assays. Of the 463 specimens tested 82 (17.7%) tested positive by cytotoxicity assay. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the TechLab EIA were 86.6%, 93.7%, 74.7%, and 97.0%, respectively. For the Bartels Prima EIA, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 95.1%, 95.5%, 82.1%, and 98.9%, respectively. The differences in sensitivity were statistically significant. Indeterminate results requiring repeat testing were more common with the TechLab EIA than with the Bartels Prima EIA. Of the two kits, the Bartels EIA is preferable, primarily because of its increased sensitivity.
Bacterial Toxins↗
Isolation of Nocardia asteroides from respiratory specimens by using selective buffered charcoal-yeast extract agar.
Nocardiosis is difficult to diagnose clinically and by laboratory methods. A patient presented with disease compatible with pulmonary malignancy, but Nocardia asteroides was isolated on buffered charcoal-yeast extract agar. Investigation revealed that this medium may be a suitable selective primary isolation medium for Nocardia species from respiratory specimens.
Animals↗
A comparison of quantitative dual-energy radiographic absorptiometry and dual photon absorptiometry of the lumbar spine in postmenopausal women.
Noninvasive bone densitometry is an important aspect in the detection and management of osteoporosis and other forms of metabolic disease of calcified tissue. A system using quantitative dual-energy digital projection radiography (QDR) of the lumbar spine was systematically tested against dual-photon absorptiometry (DPA) of the lumbar spine in 131 women over 55 years of age and free from major risk factors for osteoporosis. All subjects were scanned by both QDR and DPA under the same conditions. Measurements for a given subject were made within 15 minutes of each other. Bone mineral densities (BMD) were determined for four individual levels in the lumbar spine (L1-L4). Regression equations for BMD vs. age, height, and weight were calculated. The results of this investigation indicate that DPA- and QDR-derived BMD values are comparable. BMD values derived by QDR were consistently lower than those obtained by DPA (DPA = 1.115 QDR + 0.137, r = 0.942). The L2 lumbar region was the most strongly correlated determination.
Absorptiometry, Photon↗
Quantitative dual-energy radiographic absorptiometry of the lumbar spine: in vivo comparison with dual-photon absorptiometry.
Quantitative dual-energy radiographic absorptiometry (DRA) and dual-photon absorptiometry (DPA) were compared to determine the best means of assessing bone density. Both methods were used to evaluate the lumbar spine in 107 women (aged 35-84 years [mean, 64 years]) referred for evaluation of osteoporosis risk. High correlation was documented between measurements derived by the two techniques, with a .95 linear regression coefficient for the total spine density measurement. Age-related regression equations were similar in slope but manifested different intercepts. Bone mineral density values derived with DRA were consistently lower than those obtained with DPA (conversion equation: DPA density = [1.067 X DRA density] + 0.163). Besides the inherent imperfections of each system, it was found that inaccurate identification of intervertebral spaces on the low-resolution DPA images introduced errors in patient data. DRA may replace DPA as the dedicated projectional densitometric procedure of choice for technical reasons, but at present a conversion equation must be used to compare DRA data to DPA data.
Adult↗
Resonance Raman investigation of CO-ligated monomeric insect hemoglobins. Direct evidence for reciprocal changes in iron-axial ligand bonds induced by allosteric transitions.
The resonance Raman spectra of the two affinity states of the CO-ligated monomeric insect hemoglobins, Chironomus thummi thummi (CTT) III ad IV, have been investigated. We have identified (via 54Fe/57Fe and 13C18O/12C16O isotope exchange) the Fe-N epsilon(His) stretching mode at approximately 317 cm-1. This stretching mode changes from 329 (pH 5.5) to 317 cm-1 (pH 9.5) reflecting the pH-induced t in equilibrium with r conformational transition. The Fe-CO stretching mode is also pH-sensitive changing from 483 (pH 5.2) to 485 cm-1 (pH 9.2) in 57Fe CTT III . 13C18O complex. However the C-O stretching mode is pH-insensitive. The nonallosteric monomeric insect hemoglobin CTT I does not exhibit a pH-dependence of these vibrational modes. pH-Induced effects were also observed for a vinyl bending mode at 379 cm-1 (pH 9.5) in CTT III deuterated at the beta-carbons of the vinyls in position 2 and 4. It shifts to 390 cm-1 at pH 5.5. The other vinyl vibration at 573 cm-1 exhibits intensity enhancement via through-space coupling with the Fe-C-O bending mode. Our resonance Raman data provide the first direct evidence that the trans-effect is operative as a trigger mechanism for ligand-binding in monomeric allosteric insect hemoglobins. In going from the low-affinity to the high-affinity state, the Fe-N epsilon(His) bond becomes weaker, whereas the Fe-CO bond becomes stronger.
Allosteric Regulation↗
Bacteriology of pilonidal cyst abscesses.
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Abscess↗
On track. Employees play own game.
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Health Promotion↗