Implementation of a non-lethal biopsy punch monitoring program for mercury in smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieu Lacepède, from the Eleven Point River, Missouri.

A non-lethal biopsy method for monitoring mercury (Hg) concentrations in smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu; smallmouth) from the Eleven Point River in southern Missouri USA was evaluated. A biopsy punch was used to remove a muscle tissue plug from the area immediately below the anterior dorsal fin of 31 smallmouth. An additional 35 smallmouth (controls) were held identically except that no tissue plug was removed. After sampling, all fish were held in a concrete hatchery raceway for 6 weeks. Mean survival at the end of the holding period was 97 % for both groups. Smallmouth length, weight and Fulton's condition factor at the end of the holding period were also similar between plugged and non-plugged controls, indicating that the biopsy procedure had minimal impact on growth under these conditions. Tissue plug Hg concentrations were similar to smallmouth Hg data obtained in previous years by removing the entire fillet for analysis.

Neurocognitive sequelae in African American and Caucasian children with multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine domain-specific neurocognitive differences between African American (AA) and Caucasian (CA) patients with pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS). METHODS: An extensive battery of neuropsychological tests was given to each subject, including tests in all major domains of cognitive function. Point-biserial correlations between ethnicity and test performance were computed. Significant correlations were followed up with hierarchical multiple regression analysis, accounting for clinical and demographic variables before examining ethnic differences. RESULTS: Forty-two patients with POMS including 20 AA and 22 CA subjects were assessed. The cohorts did not differ in age, gender, socioeconomic status, disease duration, disability score, immunoglobulin G index, or number of relapses in the first 2 years of disease. Retaining some of these variables as covariates in the hierarchical regression analysis, the AA cohort performed worse on measures of language (p < 0.001) and complex attention (p < 0.01) than their CA peers. CONCLUSION: AA patients with POMS may be at higher risk for adverse cognitive impact in the areas of language and complex attention. Longitudinal characterization of cognitive pathology is critical for the development of effective intervention strategies to prolong cognitive functioning in POMS cohorts.

Cognitive bibliotherapy for mild and moderate adolescent depressive symptomatology.

The efficacy of cognitive bibliotherapy for adolescents experiencing mild and moderate depressive symptomatology was examined with a group of 22 community-dwelling adolescents. Cognitive bibliotherapy was determined to be superior to a delayed-treatment control condition. The treatment produced both statistically and clinically significant improvements in depressive symptoms. Treatment gains were maintained at 1-month follow-up. A significant decrease in dysfunctional thoughts, but not in negative automatic thoughts, was found after treatment. These results contribute to converging evidence on the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral treatments for adolescents experiencing depressive symptoms.

Negative outcomes: what is the evidence on self-administered treatments?

D.C. Mohr (1995) suggested that high deterioration rates may occur in self-directed treatments. The investigators examined data from 5 studies of self-administered treatment for depression and found in contrast much lower rates (9% vs. 19%) than those cited in Mohr's review. The negative response rates for the self-administered treatments compared favorably with the negative response rates in the therapist-administered treatments provided in the National Institute of Mental Health Treatment of Depression Collaborative Research Program. The findings indicate that it may be the manner in which participants are prepared for self-administered treatment that is critical.

Reducing distress during invasive medical procedures: relating behavioral interventions to preferred coping style in pediatric cancer patients.

The hypothesis that matching childrens' preferred coping styles (repression, sensitization) with behavioral interventions (distraction, sensory information) during invasive medical procedures will reduce self-reports of fear and pain, anticipatory heart rate, and observable signs of distress was tested in 28 children with cancer. A significant coping style by intervention interaction for the self-report of experienced pain was found. However, those groups using an intervention that matched their preferred coping style actually reported higher experienced pain ratings. Trends for differences between coping style on factors indicative of the chronicity of the disease were found. Chronicity, which reflects the degree of past experience with invasive medical procedures, may be a more important factor than preferred coping style in pain management of these patients.

Alterations in two conserved regions of promoter sequence lead to altered rates of polymerase binding and levels of gene expression.

Characterization of recombinant lac promoters highlights the importance of two regions of sequence conservation in promoters. The "Pribnow box" sequences are necessary for specific transcription in this system. This specificity is maintained when a mutated upstream sequence is introduced. However, changing the upstream DNA sequences influences both the rate of RNA polymerase binding in vitro and levels of expression in vivo.