Subject(s)
Mitochondria/metabolism , Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism , Neurons/ultrastructure , Animals , Animals, Newborn , Axons/metabolism , Cells, Cultured , Gene Expression Regulation/genetics , Hippocampus/cytology , Humans , Leucine/genetics , Luminescent Proteins/genetics , Mutation/genetics , Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics , Phenylalanine/genetics , Polymorphism, Genetic/genetics , Protein Transport/drug effects , Protein Transport/genetics , RNA, Small Interfering/genetics , RNA, Small Interfering/metabolism , Rats , Time Factors , Transfection/methodsABSTRACT
The evaluation of phthalocyanine labels for the surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) detection of oligonucleotides is reported. Three phthalocyanine-labelled oligonucleotides were assessed, each containing a different metal centre. Detection limits for each labelled oligonucleotide were determined using two excitation frequencies where possible. Limits of detection as low as 2.8 x 10(-11) mol. dm(-3) were obtained which are comparable to standard fluorescently labelled probes used in previous SERRS studies. The identification of two phthalocyanine-labelled oligonucleotides without separation was also demonstrated indicating their suitability for multiplexing. This study extends the range of labels suitable for quantitative surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering with silver nanoparticles and offers more flexibility and choice when considering SERRS for quantitative DNA detection.
Subject(s)
Fluorescent Dyes/chemistry , Indoles/chemistry , Oligonucleotide Probes/chemistry , Spectrum Analysis, Raman/methods , DNA/analysis , Fluorescent Dyes/analysis , Isoindoles , Metals/chemistry , Oligonucleotide Probes/analysisABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes of Pakistani families living in an urban area of the United Kingdom, towards mental health issues, to identify the emic models used and compare them with the etic model, predominant in Western medicine. This would allow the exploration of some of the inconsistencies in the research literature relating to the incidence of mental illness in this cultural group. The second aim was to explore the needs of this community, particularly women, in relation to mental health services. Due to problems gaining access to females on their own, interviews were held with family groups. Findings suggested that there were differences in the models of mental illness being employed with greater somatisation of symptoms in the Pakistani group and an emphasis on aggressive behaviour as a significant symptom. Treatment expectations also varied with some emphasis on traditional Pakistani treatments such as Faith healers and Hakims as well as General Practitioners and hospital treatments. Language difficulties, religious and cultural practices were also identified as barriers to female treatment in particular. Recommendations were made for improved training for interpreters and more emphasis on cultural factors and emic models of mental illness as part of medical training.
Subject(s)
Attitude to Health , Mental Health , Urban Population , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Mental Disorders/ethnology , Mental Disorders/etiology , Middle Aged , Pakistan/ethnology , Residence Characteristics , United KingdomSubject(s)
Depression/diagnosis , Diagnostic Errors/statistics & numerical data , Mental Health Services/standards , Referral and Consultation , Chi-Square Distribution , Cognitive Behavioral Therapy/statistics & numerical data , Depression/epidemiology , Diagnosis, Differential , Diagnosis-Related Groups/statistics & numerical data , England , Humans , Mental Disorders/diagnosis , Mental Health Services/statistics & numerical data , Prevalence , Primary Health Care/standards , Primary Health Care/statistics & numerical data , Psychiatry/standards , Psychiatry/statistics & numerical data , Referral and Consultation/standards , Referral and Consultation/statistics & numerical data , Sampling Studies , Severity of Illness IndexABSTRACT
62 undergraduate university students were administered the 12-item Belief in Good Luck Scale of Darke and Freedman and the General Health Questionnaire of Goldberg and Williams. Scores on belief in good luck showed a significant correlation of -.29 with anxiety and -.35 with depression but correlations were not significant for somatic symptoms (.15) and social dysfunction (.15).
Subject(s)
Attitude , Health Status , Adolescent , Adult , Anxiety/diagnosis , Depression/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Male , Severity of Illness Index , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
All 223 psychiatric clinical tutors in the UK were surveyed on their use of DSM-III in their postgraduate training programmes. Results indicate that DSM-III is widely used in clinical training to some extent in the majority of schemes (73%) and in the schemes where it is used it is rated as moderately useful by nearly everyone (93%). DSM-III is generally perceived to have positive effects on learning basic elements of psychopathology and in offering a common language for diagnostic discussion. Interestingly only 16% of users felt that DSM-III was so complicated that it impeded rather than facilitated the teaching of diagnosis. Few schemes provide specific teaching courses and case conferences provide the major forum for teaching DSM-III.
Subject(s)
Education, Medical, Graduate , Mental Disorders/classification , Mental Disorders/diagnosis , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Psychiatry/education , Attitude of Health Personnel , Curriculum , Humans , Mental Disorders/psychology , United KingdomABSTRACT
A descriptive and conceptual analysis of the use of the term 'borderline patient' by Scottish psychiatrists revealed that they view borderline patients as being near the psychotic end of the illness spectrum, with a marked propensity towards brief, reactive, reversible, paranoid or schizophrenic reactions. There is clear evidence that the term is not used to refer to patients who in the United States would be labelled borderline schizophrenic. Individual American diagnostic schemata would omit features held to be of major importance by Scottish psychiatrists when diagnosing borderline patients. In an earlier study, Macaskill and Macaskill (1981) found that the term 'borderline patient' although not in the official nomenclature, was used by over one in four Scottish psychiatrists to delineate a syndrome which they felt should be included in contemporary diagnostic systems because of its prognostic and therapeutic implications. This study provided the first demographic information on the use of the term in the United Kingdom, but did not permit direct comparisons at conceptual and descriptive levels with studies in the United States where the term is widely used and recognised in the official nomenclature of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual--III (1980). Research into the use of the term schizophrenia, for example by Cooper et al (1972), has shown that major differences in usage between the United Kingdom and the United States have occurred with serious implications for the cross-cultural validity of research findings in schizophrenia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Subject(s)
Borderline Personality Disorder/diagnosis , Cross-Cultural Comparison , Personality Disorders/diagnosis , Borderline Personality Disorder/psychology , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Scotland , United StatesABSTRACT
One hundred and sixty Scottish psychiatrists complete a questionnaire eliciting the extent of their use of the term 'borderline patient' and the factors affecting this. The term was used by 27.5 per cent, the majority of whom felt that it ought to be included in current diagnostic classification systems. There was, however, general dissatisfaction with the vagueness of current definitions of the term and a confusing use of numerous diagnostic labels. Use of the term was not related to status, geographical location, or familiarity with American psychiatric literature. The practice of psychodynamically-oriented psychotherapy and extended working contact with psychiatry in North America were found significantly to increase its use.
