Web interface is a two-way street.
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Diffusion of Innovation↗
Biomedical subjects
M Cataldo
Publications and source records attributed to M Cataldo.
Effect of beta-aminoproprionitrile on eggshell formation.
1. Eggshells are bioceramic-biopolymer composites made by a cell-mediated deposition of an extracellular matrix which drives the organisation of the inorganic phase. Ultrastructurally, eggshells are composed of shell membranes, mammillary knobs, palisade, and cuticle. Shell membranes are two nets of type X collagen-containing fibrils. On to these membranes, the mammillary knobs, that is, the crystal nucleation sites, are deposited. Type X collagen is highly cross-linked and insoluble. 2. In order to evaluate the role of type X collagen cross-linking on eggshell formation, hens were injected with different doses of beta-aminoproprionitrile, which specifically interferes with cross-link formation. 3. Changes in egg size and shape were observed. Scanning electron micrographs analysis of these eggs demonstrated marked changes in crystal growth and shell membrane structure and arrangement. A dot-blot analysis, using a monoclonal antibody against chicken type X collagen, shows a dose-dependent increase in shell membrane collagen extractability. 4. It is concluded that the formation of beta-aminoproprionitrile-sensitive cross-links among the type X collagen molecules of the shell membranes play an essential role in normal eggshell formation.
Aminopropionitrile↗
Static Einstein-Maxwell solutions in 2+1 dimensions.
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Journal Article↗
Feminist identities and preferred strategies for advancing women's positive self-concept.
This study was an attempt to (a) determine the generalizability of the American-based Feminist Identity Development Scale (FIDS; Bargad & Hyde, 1991) to female students in a New Zealand university and (b) examine the relationship between feminist identities (as measured by the FIDS) and preferred strategies for advancing women's self-concept. Female undergraduate university students (N = 145) were given the FIDS and a self-concept strategy questionnaire. The factor structure of the FIDS was replicated for four of the five stages reported by Bargad and Hyde. Failure to replicate the remaining stage (revelation) was attributed to differences in the sample populations and the wording of the subscale. Positive correlations were found between the early stage of feminist identity development and individual-oriented self-concept strategies and also between the late stage of feminist identity development and group-oriented self-concept strategies. These results suggest that as a woman's feminist identity develops, the strategies for advancing that self-concept change from individual- to group-oriented ones.
Adolescent↗
Serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-I in operable breast cancer in relation to the main prognostic variables and their perioperative changes in relation to those of prolactin.
AIMS AND BACKGROUND: In addition to estrogens, prolactin (PRL) and IGF-I have also appeared to stimulate breast cancer growth. The present study was performed to evaluate IGF-I blood levels in operable breast cancer in relation to PRL values and the main prognostic variables. METHODS: The study included 40 patients, clinical stage T1-3NO-2MO. Venous blood samples were collected before and 7 days after surgery. PRL and IGF-I were measured by radioimmunoassay. The control group consisted of 50 healthy women. RESULTS: Mean serum levels of IGF-I were significantly higher in patients than in controls, without any apparent relation to the main prognostic variables, including estrogen receptor and node status. Surgery-induced hyperprolactinemia occurred in 22/40 patients. IGF-I mean concentrations observed in the postoperative period in patients with surgery-induced hyperprolactinemia were significantly lower than those seen in patients showing no postoperative PRL rise. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that operable breast cancer may be associated with abnormally high levels of tumor growth factor IGF-I, and that surgery was followed by an IGF-I decline only in patients who showed surgery-induced hyperprolactinemia. Our previous studies have shown that postoperative hyperprolactinemia is a favorable prognostic factors for operable breast cancer. The present study, by showing that a postoperative PRL rise is associated with a fall in IGF-I, would suggest that surgery-induced hyperprolactinemia may determine a lower tumor relapse rate by determining a diminished secretion of breast tumor growth factor IGF-I.
Adult↗
Functional communication training with and without extinction and punishment.
Functional communication training has been reported to be a promising treatment for severe behavior problems. In this study, functional communication training alone and combined with extinction and/or punishment was evaluated for 4 clients with severe retardation, behavior problems, and communication deficits. The participants were inpatients on a hospital unit for treatment of severe behavior disorders. They received individualized interventions based on functional assessment that included reinforcement of a communication response with the same function as their destructive behavior. Results showed that for some patients, functional communication training was not sufficient to produce clinically significant reductions in destructive behavior, and the combination of training plus punishment produced the largest and most consistent reductions.
Adult↗
[Intraarterial cytostatic therapy of head and neck: operative and cytostatic complications and side effects (author's transl)].
In the past 30 months 51 patients with squamous cell carcinomas in head and neck were treated by intraarterial application of cytostatic drugs. A catheter was placed in the external carotid artery below of the vessel supplying the tumor. For placement of the catheter the temporal and the superior thyroid artery were used. The right position of the catheter tip is important for achieving a high concentration of the cytostatic drugs in the tumor region. The wrong positioning of the catheter tip in the carotid bifurcation leads to perfusion or embolization in the internal carotid system. In one case we noted a persistent hemiplegia in three other cases temporary hemiplegia, due to perfusion of the brain with highly concentrated cytostatics. Postoperative bleeding of the arterial stump was noted in 3 cases. Local side effects of the cytostatics were mucositis, loss of hair and hyperpigmentation. The systemic side effects correlated with those after intravenous injection.
Aged↗
Pediatric intensive care unit patients. Effects of play intervention on behavior.
The effects of a 20-min play intervention by a child life teacher on two observed behaviors were investigated in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) patients at the Johns Hopkins Hospital Children's Center. Eleven subjects, ranging in age from 2--13 years, were observed using a Preintervention--Intervention--Postintervention design with a 3-min time sampling technique to measure the change occurring when structured play activities were introduced into the PICU environment. Significant positive changes were noted between Preintervention and Intervention in (1) affect and (2) interaction with materials. In the Postintervention period, these behaviors fell close to Preintervention levels, suggesting that the positive changes were not maintained in the absence of the Intervention condition. The results indicate that while play intervention in the PICU environment can have beneficial effects on patient's behavior, the effects of such intervention are short-lived. These data hold important implications for the staffing requirements needed to provide opportunities for the positive behavior changes to occur.
Adolescent↗
Accuracy of the family history method in affective illness. Comparison with direct interviews in family studies.
We interviewed available spouses and first-degree relatives of 140 bipolar and unipolar probands for current and past psychopathology, and assessed interrater reliability. Diagnoses based on direct interviews of relatives were compared with those based on reports of the probands and of all other interviewed family members. Probands underestimated the prevalence of affective illness and other psychiatric disorders in their relatives, and overestimated the age of onset of illness in their ill relatives. Probands reported more accurately about illness in their spouses and parents than in their siblings and children, but accuracy reached acceptable levels for spouses only. Diagnoses on relatives derived by combining reports of all other interviewed family members, including the proband, were slightly more accurate than those based on the proband's reports alone. Good accuracy was obtained only for reports about spouses.
Adult↗
Affective disorder on paternal and maternal sides. Observations in bipolar (manic-depressive) patients with and without a family history.
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Affective Symptoms↗
A study of interactions among markers of macrophage functions in metastatic solid tumors: neopterin levels in relation to those of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and of soluble interleukin-2 receptors.
High levels of the macrophage activation marker neopterin have been described in metastatic cancer patients. Since macrophages may either counteract or stimulate tumor development, it is important to establish which macrophage activity is mainly related to neopterin release. The present study was carried out to evaluate neopterin levels in metastatic solid tumor patients in respect with the antitumor macrophage cytokine TNF and with soluble IL-2 receptor (SIL-2R), whose secretion is stimulated by macrophages and it is associated with the immunosuppressive status of cancer patients. The study included 35 patients with metastatic solid neoplasms. Serum levels of neopterin, TNF and SIL-2R were measured in blood samples collected during the morning. Abnormally high concentrations of neopterin were seen in 18/35 (51%) patients. Patients with high levels of neopterin showed significantly higher concentrations of SIL-2R than those with normal neopterin values, whereas no difference was found in TNF levels. This study would suggest that the increased secretion of neopterin may reflect macrophage-mediated immunosuppression in metastatic solid neoplasms, rather than to be associated with the antitumor activity of macrophages.
Adult↗