Patterns of social desirability and anger in young men with a parental history of hypertension: association with cardiovascular activity.

We identified, via cluster analysis, subgroups of young men with a parental history of hypertension (PH+) who differed in their profiles of need for approval, covert experience of anger, and extent to which they express anger when provoked. The PH+ subgroup with high need for approval and low anger acknowledgment scored higher on denial but lower on measures of angry temperament and overt display of anger than did the PH+ subgroup with low need for approval and high anger acknowledgment or men without a parental history of hypertension (PH-). Moreover, the PH+ subgroup with high need for approval and low anger acknowledgment manifested significantly higher stressor-induced blood pressure (BP) responsivity than did the other two groups. Possible relations between parental history status, need for approval, anger, BP reactivity, and essential hypertension are discussed.

Automated computerized rat eater meter: description and application.

A real-time Automated Computerized Rat Eater Meter was developed by modifying commercially available metabolic cages. Food access via a feeding tunnel was monitored by photocells. Food consumption was measured by an electronic scale. The signals thus generated were processed by a computer. This allowed us to continuously measure the spontaneous feeding behavior of free-feeding nondeprived Fischer rats for a sum total of 35 study days. Based on our data, we defined a meal as an episode of food consumption preceded and followed by at least 5 minutes of no feeding. Fischer rats showed periodic nychthemeral eating behavior. Food consumption, number of meals, meal sniffs, intermeal sniffs, and, consequently, eating activity were greater during the dark cycle than the light cycle. Meal duration, meal size, and thus food consumption rates remained constant throughout both cycles. Our modification of commercially available metabolic cages provides unique data for continuously monitoring rat feeding patterns over prolonged periods of time.

A comparison of biofeedback-assisted cardiodeceleration in type A and B men: modification of stress-associated cardiopulmonary and hemodynamic adjustments.

The primary purpose of this experiment was to examine the cardiac effects of instructions and biofeedback to reduce heart rate during both rest and a behavioral stressor. A second purpose was to assess respiratory, hemodynamic, and metabolic function in conjunction with heart rate. A final aim was to compare the effects of biofeedback on Type A and B men. Type A subjects fell in the upper 10% of the distribution of Jenkin's Activity Survey scores and Type B subjects fell in the lower 10%. Subjects experienced one of three instructional sets during an initial session: instructions to reduce heart rate with biofeedback; instructions to reduce heart rate without biofeedback; and instructions to sit quietly. During a second session, all subjects received identical instructions prior to the behavioral stressor. Heart rate, pulmonary gas exchange, and ventilation were measured breath-by-breath. During the first session, the groups did not differ in any measured parameter, but Type As had higher heart rates than did Type Bs across all conditions. During the second session, subjects given instructions to reduce heart rate with and without biofeedback did not differ in heart rate; as expected, however, both of these groups had smaller increases in heart rate than did the control group. Interestingly, the tachycardia of the control group occurred without an increase in oxygen consumption, indicating a cardiac-metabolic dissociation in this group. The modification of heart rate without a concomitant change in metabolism is important in understanding the association between cardiac and metabolic function.