Pituitary Pathology and Gene Expression in Acromegalic Cats.

The prevalence of GH-secreting pituitary tumors in domestic cats (Felis catus) is 10-fold greater than in humans. The predominant inhibitory receptors of GH-secreting pituitary tumors are somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) and D2 dopamine receptor (DRD2). The expression of these receptors is associated with the response to somatostatin analog and dopamine agonist treatment in human patients with acromegaly. The aim of this study was to describe pathological features of pituitaries from domestic cats with acromegaly, pituitary receptor expression, and investigate correlates with clinical data, including pituitary volume, time since diagnosis of diabetes, insulin requirement, and serum IGF1 concentration. Loss of reticulin structure was identified in 15 of 21 pituitaries, of which 10 of 15 exhibited acinar hyperplasia. SSTR1, SSTR2, SSTR5, and DRD2 mRNA were identified in the feline pituitary whereas SSTR3 and SSTR4 were not. Expression of SSTR1, SSTR2, and SSTR5 was greater in acromegalic cats compared with controls. A negative correlation was identified between DRD2 mRNA expression and pituitary volume. The loss of DRD2 expression should be investigated as a mechanism allowing the development of larger pituitary tumors.

The EGL-3 proprotein convertase regulates mechanosensory responses of Caenorhabditis elegans.

Neuroactive peptides are packaged as proproteins into dense core vesicles or secretory granules, where they are cleaved at dibasic residues by copackaged proprotein convertases. We show here that the Caenorhabditis elegans egl-3 gene encodes a protein that is 57% identical to mouse proprotein convertase type 2 (PC2), and we provide evidence that this convertase regulates mechanosensory responses. Nose touch sensitivity (mediated by ASH sensory neurons) is defective in mutants lacking GLR-1 glutamate receptors (GluRs); however, mutations eliminating the egl-3 PC2 restored nose touch sensitivity to glr-1 GluR mutants. By contrast, body touch sensitivity (mediated by the touch cells) is greatly diminished in egl-3 PC2 mutants. Taken together, these results suggest that egl-3 PC2-processed peptides normally regulate the responsiveness of C. elegans to mechanical stimuli.

A comparison of breast self-examination and clinical examination.

Twenty-six female college students were trained to examine their breasts using the Mammacare Method. After training, participants were asked to demonstrate their breast self-examination technique for a competency evaluation. On average, 85% of the components of the palpation technique were correctly included in the participants' self-examinations, indicating that they had been trained competently. Breast self-examiners then were asked to palpate three breast models in search of embedded lumps. Thirteen health professionals were asked to examine the same breast models for lumps. The examination of the models by self-examiners was compared to that by health professionals. Breast self-examiners took longer to examine each model, and on average correctly identified significantly more lumps than health professionals. The two groups did not differ in number of false-positive findings. These results indicate that women adequately trained to perform breast self-examination can perform breast examinations at least as accurately as health professionals.

Effects of cognitive style and maintenance strategies on breast self-examination (BSE) practice by African American women.

A convenience sample of 159 African American women, 18-45 years old, was trained to perform breast self-examination (BSE) and was categorized according to the participants' cognitive style (monitors/blunters). Participants were then randomly assigned to one of four groups differing in BSE maintenance strategy (self-management, positive reinforcement, both, or neither). Self-reported monthly compliance with BSE was subsequently assessed during a 9-month period. A significant interaction between maintenance strategies and cognitive style was found. For blunters, the highest compliance rates and the highest competency scores occurred in the group with no maintenance strategy, whereas for monitors, the highest compliance rates and competency scores were found in the groups receiving positive reinforcement and/or self-management strategies. Additional results indicate that high levels of BSE competency were achieved across conditions and that competency improved over time.

Breast self-examination: knowledge, attitudes, and performance among black women.

This survey assessed the reported frequency of breast self-examination (BSE): the knowledge of the technique and attitudes regarding the self-exam of 180 black women. Most respondents indicated having practiced the exam during the previous year, and 50% reported practicing it monthly or more often. Less than half of the sample indicated performing the exam according to American Cancer Society guidelines, although 92% reported being either very confident or somewhat confident of their performance ability. Attitudinal and demographic variables were tested for significant relationships with BSE practice. Compared with nonperformers, BSE performers were older, had higher annual incomes, and were more likely to believe in the benefits of BSE, to perceive social approval for BSE practice, to have been taught to perform BSE, to have had a Pap smear, a clinical breast exam, and a general physical exam within one year, and to visit a physician in a private office or clinic (as opposed to a hospital emergency room). Frequency of self-examination was significantly associated with the performer's competency level, age, belief in the benefits of performing BSE, perceived social approval for practice, having been taught to perform the exam, and level of confidence in ability to perform it.

The need and value of breast self-examination.

The incidence of breast cancer is higher for black women aged less than 40 years than for white women aged less than 40; however, both black and white women aged less than 35 years have the lowest breast cancer survival rates of all age groups. The issue of breast self-examination (BSE) efficacy has special implications for these women because the BSE and the clinical breast examination (CBE) are the only early detection techniques recommended to them. Breast self-examination is even more important for black women because CBE might not be accessible to them for economic or other reasons.Studies relating BSE practice to tumor stage were reviewed. Most of the evidence was favorable, although it was not obtained with the most scientific methodologic approach. The negative evidence, on the other hand, came from studies with additional methodologic and conceptual problems, and should have little impact when evaluating BSE efficacy.Competence of performance has been shown to affect the efficacy of the self-examination. Most studies on BSE value, however, did not assess the examiner's competence. Because data obtained elsewhere show that most women performing BSE do not perform it competently, the significance of the positive evidence on BSE value is heightened. Most breast tumors are self-discovered, and encouraging competent BSE performance will give more women better means to discover tumors earlier.

Comparison between Gorham's Proverbs Test and the revised Shipley Institute of Living Scale for a black population.

A total of 278 black women (183) and men (95) were administered the Gorham's Proverbs Test and the Shipley Institute of Living Scale (revised). This study compared Abstract scores on the Gorham's Proverbs Test with Vocabulary and Abstract scores on the Shipley Institute of Living Scale. The two tests were remarkably similar in terms of score distributions and susceptibility to the effects of age, perceived socioeconomic level during childhood, education, and perceived quality of education. Analysis also showed that abstract reasoning, as measured by these tests, is not free from the effects of vocabulary skills. Mean scores on both tests were within the range of mean scores previously reported in the literature.

Familiarity with proverbs and performance of a black population on Gorham's Proverbs Test.

The Gorham Proverbs Test was administered to 278 black participants residing in a large metropolitan area in Southern California. Respondents were also asked to indicate whether they were familiar with each of the 40 proverbs in the test. Scores were significantly affected by respondents' ages, education, and perceived childhood socioeconomic status. Familiarity with a proverb increased the probability of its correct interpretation. Familiarity of proverbs and attempts to interpret them were significantly associated, that is, respondents tended not to attempt interpretation of unfamiliar proverbs. The number of familiar proverbs per test was not significantly associated with respondents' test scores. The mean Abstract score obtained in this study was comparable to mean scores previously reported in the literature, suggesting that ethnic differences do not significantly affect performance on the Proverbs Test.

Effects of reinforcement context on choice.

Two experiments investigated the effects of successive reinforcement contexts on choice. In the first, concurrent variable-interval schedules of primary reinforcement operated during the initial links of concurrent chains. The rate of this reinforcement arranged by the concurrent schedules was decreased across conditions: When it was higher than the terminal-link rate, preference for the higher frequency initial-link schedule increased relative to baseline. (During baseline, a standard concurrent-schedule procedure was in effect). When the initial-link reinforcement rate was lower than the terminal-link rate, preference converged toward indifference. In the second experiment, a chain schedule was available on a third key while a concurrent schedule was in effect on the side keys. When the terminal link of the chain schedule was produced, the side keys became inoperative. Availability of the chain schedule did not affect choice between the concurrent schedules. These results show that only when successive reinforcement contexts are produced by choice responding do those successive contexts affect choice in concurrent schedules.

Affirmative action at work: a survey of graduates of the University of California, San Diego, Medical School.

Reported here are the results of a mail survey of 113 graduates from the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine. Fifty-seven had been admitted with assistance of the Special Admissions Subcommittee (SAS) and 56 had been admitted through the traditional Recruitment and Admissions Committee mechanisms. SAS graduates see more patients daily, and practice more often in primary care specialties in rural and inner-city areas, providing medical care for ethnic minorities from lower socioeconomic strata.