Emotions and psychopathology

Few psychological assessment instruments exist for Jamaicans. Studies that address the appropriateness of foreign instruments for Jamaicans are sparse and empirical focus on psychopathology and its aetiology in Jamaican adults is virtually nonexistent. The present study addressed these deficits via Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFA) which revealed that factors on the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) were not replicated for a Jamaican sample (N=352). Exploratory Factor Analyses (EFA) on the TAS-20 revealed one factor labelled Unawareness and Confusion Regarding Emotions (UCRE). Also, EFA yielded six BSI dimensions labelled Somatic Complaints, Paranoia, Hostility, Mild Depression/Dysthymia, Major Depression with Psychotic features, and Agoraphobia with Panic. Regression analyses on the Jamaican-based TAS-20 and BSI factors revealed a positive relationship between UCRE and each BSI factor and total BSI score. Mild Depression, Agoraphobia with Panic, Paranoia, Hostility, Mild Depression and Major Depression were higher for women and younger Jamaicans, respectively, but younger Jamaicans with higher UCRE scores had higher scores on Paranoia, Major Depression, and total score. The findings suggest that Jamaican mental health policy and programmes should focus on the difficulties some Jamaicans experience in recognising and expressing their emotions.(AU)

Emotions and psychopathology.

Few psychological assessment instruments exist for Jamaicans. Studies that address the appropriateness of foreign instruments for Jamaicans are sparse and empirical focus on psychopathology and its aetiology in Jamaican adults is virtually nonexistent. The present study addressed these deficits via Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFA) which revealed that factors on the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) were not replicated for a Jamaican sample (N = 352). Exploratory Factor Analyses (EFA) on the TAS-20 revealed one factor labelled Unawareness and Confusion Regarding Emotions (UCRE). Also, EFA yielded six BSI dimensions labelled Somatic Complaints, Paranoia, Hostility, Mild Depression/Dysthymia, Major Depression with Psychotic Features, and Agoraphobia with Panic. Regression analyses on the Jamaican-based TAS-20 and BSI factors revealed a positive relationship between UCRE and each BSI factor and total BSI score. Mild Depression, Agoraphobia with Panic, Paranoia, Hostility, Mild Depression and Major Depression were higher for women and younger Jamaicans, respectively, but younger Jamaicans with higher UCRE scores had higher scores on Paranoia, Major Depression, and total score. The findings suggest that Jamaican mental health policy and programmes should focus on the difficulties some Jamaicans experience in recognising and expressing their emotions.

Release of cytokines by a fermented lectin-1 (ML-1) free mistletoe extract reflects differences in the reactivity of PBMC in healthy and allergic individuals and tumour patients.

OBJECTIVE: Mistletoe extracts are used in adjuvant cancer treatment, but little is known concerning their mode of action. There is, however, evidence that antigens in these extracts may stimulate cells of the immune system, thereby modifying the altered immunological reactivity in tumour patients. METHODS: In order to find out whether the postulated immunomodulatory properties of mistletoe extracts are mediated by cytokines, a spectrum of different cytokines was analysed in the supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy (n = 23) and allergic (n = 16) individuals after stimulation with the fermented mistletoe lectin-1 (ML-1) free mistletoe extract Iscador Pini (IP) in vitro, and their cytokine patterns were compared to those from tumour patients with either breast cancer (n = 20) or colorectal tumours (n = 22). RESULTS: PBMC from healthy and allergic individuals produced high levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 and to a lesser extent Th1- and Th2-related cytokines. This finding was in contrast to data obtained in tumour patients. Thus, the concentration of TNF-alpha was significantly lower in the cell cultures from breast cancer patients than in controls, and patients with colorectal tumours released IFN-gamma/IL-2 (5%) in the supernatants significantly less frequently than PBMC from healthy controls (26%). Similar results were obtained when the Th1- and monocyte/macrophage-related cytokines were analysed in the unstimulated cell cultures. CONCLUSIONS: These in vitro studies provide evidence that there is a reduced immunological reactivity to the fermented ML-1 free mistletoe extract in tumour patients and may give some clues as to how mistletoe-derived antigens could act on immune cells involved in the tumour defence.

Effects of ice and recovery time on maximal involuntary isometric torque production using electrical stimulation.

This study was conducted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the U.S. Army-Baylor University Graduate Program in Physical Therapy, Academy of Health Sciences, Fort Sam Houston, TX. The opinions and assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or representing the views of the Department of the U.S. Army or the Department of Defense. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 30-minute ice treatments to the quadriceps femoris muscle and subsequent recovery time on involuntary isometric torque production (the dependent variable) using the Electrostim 180-2. Twenty healthy, male subjects (age 18-35) on active military duty completed the study. Each subject served as his own control. Collected data included maximum current tolerated during electrical stimulation and maximum involuntary isometric torque production pretreatment, immediately posttreatment, and 90 minutes posttreatment. From the statistical analysis, it was concluded that ice application did not significantly affect an individual's ability to tolerate more electrical current or to produce higher maximum involuntary isometric contraction (MIIC) torque values. Results showed a wide variation in subjective response to electrical stimulation. Suggestions for further research and implications for the clinical use of ice in combination with electrical stimulation modalities are discussed. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1991;13(5):240-248.

Comparative studies on susceptibility of the mouse (Mus musculus) and the vole (Microtus arvalis) to Listeria monocytogenes and Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae.

The susceptibility of mice and voles to intraperitoneal and subcutan injection of virulent strains has been tested comparatively on 261 mice and 120 voles. Using various germ-doses, 50 per cent lethality has been established. Listeria monocytogenes serovar 1/2a killed mice in doses of 120,000 and 1.5 X 10(6) germs when injected intraperitoneally and subcutaneously and voles in doses of 1800 and 12,000 germs, respectively. Thus voles proved 100 to 120 times more susceptible than mice. Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae killed mice injected both intraperitoneally or subcutaneously in minimal doses, such as 25 germs, but voles survived the infection with 1 to 5 million germs. This indicates that voles are resistant to E. rhusiopathiae, but more susceptible to L. monocytogenes than mice. In contrast, both these rodent species proved susceptible to the obligate pathogenic Francisella tularensis and invariably succumbed to septicaemia when injected with a few of these bacteria.

[Greater omentumplasty for covering the chest wall following removal of ulcerating breast cancer]. / Die Omentum-majus-Plastik zur Brustwanddeckung nach Entfernung exulcerierter Mammacarcinome.

The palliative excision of ulcerous and metastatic breast cancer produces large defects of skin and tissue on the anterior chestwall. In comparison with other methods in plastic surgery for covering up large defects of the chestwall the greater omentum-transposition is, concerning the technique, very practicable. It does not endanger the patients in their distressing condition of cancer generalisation, has less complications and is easy to command in the postoperative phase. The transposition of a highly vascular tissue, which offers some resistance to infection and acts as a immunity barrier is able to cover up the local lesion during a short period of hospitalization, strengthen effectively the self respect of the patients and improve their lifestyle even with the limited lifespan.

A multi-centre study on the phage typing of Listeria monocytogenes.

The aim of this multicenter study was to determine and to standardize methods in order to have common basis for comparing results of phage typing of Listeria monocytogenes. Using a common set of Listeria strains, a standardized method, including media, bacterial growth conditions, application of viruses and reading of lytic reactions, was established. 29 bacteriophages were selected according to their host range. This phage typing system allowed phagovar determination of 54% of the serogroup 1/2 strains and 77% of the serogroup 4 strains of L. monocytogenes.

[Results of operative treatment of proximal femoral fractures in the aged using the Ender and Simon-Weidner spring nailing technic]. / Ergebnisse der operativen Versorgung hüftgelenksnaher Oberschenkelfrakturen bei alten Menschen durch Feder-Nagelung nach Ender und Simon-Weidner.

Results are presented after operative treatment of 195 patients with extracapsular proximal femoral-bone-fractures. After accident early operation time is requested. Operation risk being small, this treatment is regarded as treatment of first choice.

Multiple mandibular canals: oddities or fairly common anomalies?

It is suggested that multiple mandibular canals are present in a significant portion of our population. It is also suggested that they are often unrecognized, even though they are clearly recorded in panoramic radiographs, and that they are not rare oddities but are fairly common anomalies which are often overlooked when radiographs are being reviewed.

A simple method for the isolation of phages from Listeria monocytogenes.

By application of a combined mitomycin-/heat treatment after freezing, 7 out of 29 Listeria monocytogenes strains which were found to be non-phage carriers by UV irradiation could release phages. Propagation of the obtained phages was promoted by storage at 4 degrees C. Apart from TNSA plates the application of chocolate plates appears to be necessary in order to study these phages.

[Primary carcinoma of the extrahepatic bile ducts (author's transl)]. / Das primäre Carcinom der extrahepatischen Gallenwege.

From 1957--1977 193 patients were treated at the surgical clinic of the University of Tübingen for carcinoma of the extrahepatic bile ducts. Gall bladder carcinoma made up 139 cases; 54 were of bile duct carcinoma. The tumors were no longer operable in two-thirds of the patients with extrahepatic bile ducts cancer. The life expectancy rate of five years for patients with gall bladder carcinoma held for 7%. Up to now only one patient with a bile duct malignancy has survived longer than five years. In the last decade essentially no improvement of median life expectancy has occurred despite improved operating techniques. Due to uncharacteristic, misleading upper abdominal symptoms, patients who suffer gall bladder or bile duct cancer are unfortunately accurately diagnosed only after the carcinoma has overcome organ borders or is already metastatic. There is reasonable hope for improved early prognosis of extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma with ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreaticography) and computer-tomography. Because the possibility of a relationship between gall bladder stones and/or the chronic inflammation of gall bladder and bile ducts and the development of cancer is not out of the question, widespread prophylactic cholecystectomy and gall passage cleansing should be employed.

[Circular transhepatic drainage as a palliative surgical measure in central bile duct obstruction]. / Die endlose transhepatische Drainage als palliativ-chirurgische Massnahme beim zentralen Gallengangsverschuss.

A transhepatic drainage tube was used in 27 patients suffering from echinococcus alveolaris of the liver of malignant process of the portal fissure from 1967 to 1978. If an hepatocholangioenterostomy is not possible, another surgical palliative procedure is necessary for drainage of the bile. The transhepatic drainage tube is a simple palliative method. The technique of this procedure, the indications, the possible complications, and the advantages are reported.