Predictors of psychological improvement on non-professional suicide message boards: content analysis.

BACKGROUND: Suicide message boards have been at the core of debates about negative influences of the Internet on suicidality. Nothing is currently known about communication styles that may help users to psychologically improve in these settings. METHOD: In all, 1182 archival threads with 20 499 individual postings from seven non-professional suicide message boards supporting an 'against-suicide', 'neutral' or 'pro-suicide' attitude were randomly selected and subject to content analysis. Initial needs of primary posters (i.e. individual who open a thread), their psychological improvement by the end of the thread, their responses received and indicators of suicidality were coded. Differences between 'pro-suicide', 'neutral' and 'against suicide' boards, and correlations between primary posters and respondents in terms of suicidality were assessed. Logistic regression was used to test associations with psychological improvement. RESULTS: 'Pro-suicide' boards (n = 4) differed from 'neutral' (n = 1) and 'against-suicide' (n = 2) boards in terms of communicated contents. Indicators of suicidality correlated moderately to strongly between primary posters and respondents on 'pro-suicide' message boards, but less on other boards. Several communicative strategies were associated with psychological improvement in primary posters, including the provision of constructive advice [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 4.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.40-7.03], active listening (aOR 1.60, 95% CI 1.12-2.27), sympathy towards the poster (aOR 2.22, 95% CI 1.68-2.95) and provision of alternatives to suicide (aOR 2.30, 95% CI 1.67-3.18). CONCLUSIONS: Respondents resemble primary posters with regard to suicidality in 'pro-suicide' boards, which may hinder psychological improvement. Still, opportunities to intervene in these settings using simple communication techniques exist and need to be taken and evaluated.

Structural differences in chromosomes distinguish species in the tomato clade.

The tomato clade of Solanaceae is composed of 12 species that are all diploid with the same chromosome number and morphology. Species in the tomato clade are considered to have evolved primarily by genic changes rather than large-scale chromosomal rearrangements because pachytene chromosomes in F(1) hybrids synapse normally along their lengths and linkage maps of intra- and inter-specific hybrids are co-linear. However, small inversions have been reported between tomato and some of its wild relatives. Therefore, we reevaluated 5 F(1) hybrids using high-resolution, electron microscopic examination of pachytene chromosome (= synaptonemal complex) spreads to determine whether any minor structural changes had occurred among species in the tomato clade, which were not easily visible using light microscopic analysis of conventional chromosome squashes. Our study revealed a number of unexpected synaptic configurations such as mismatched kinetochores, inversion loops and reciprocal translocations. Most of these structural differences were in or close to heterochromatin that has comparatively few genes and little recombination, so they would be expected to have little effect on the evident colinearity of linkage maps, especially in euchromatin. However, these results demonstrate that substantial changes in chromosome structure have occurred among species within the tomato clade.

Role of fluorescence in situ hybridization in sequencing the tomato genome.

The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) genome is being sequenced by a consortium of laboratories in 10 countries. Seventy-seven percent of the tomato genome (DNA) is located in repeat-rich, gene-poor, pericentric heterochromatin, while 23% of the genome is located in repeat-poor, gene-rich, distal euchromatin. It is estimated that approximately 90% of tomato's nuclear genes can be characterized by limiting the sequencing effort to euchromatin while avoiding the problems involved in sequencing the repetitive DNA in heterochromatin. Sequencing is being performed on tomato nuclear DNA cloned into bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) vectors. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is used to help direct the sequencing effort by cytologically demonstrating the location of selected BACs on tomato chromosomes. While mitotic metaphase chromosomes are too short and compact for this purpose, long pachytene chromosomes are ideal. BACs localized in euchromatin can be used confidently as anchors for the assembly of BAC contigs that extend through the euchromatic length of each chromosome arm. Another important role for FISH is identification of BACs near telomeres and near borders with pericentric heterochromatin to indicate that sequencing should not extend much further. This role of FISH is enhanced by our ability to estimate base pair distances between localized BACs and these chromosomal features. Finally, it is noteworthy that when BAC-FISH is combined with chromosomal in situ suppression (CISS) hybridization to block repeats and localize single/low copy sequences, the great majority of BACs localize to single sites. This observation is consistent with tomato being an ancient diploid.

Distinct BRCT domains in Mcph1/Brit1 mediate ionizing radiation-induced focus formation and centrosomal localization.

Microcephalin (MCPH1/BRIT1) forms ionizing radiation-induced nuclear foci (IRIF) and is required for DNA damage-responsive S and G(2)-M-phase checkpoints. MCPH1 contains three BRCT domains. Here we report the cloning of chicken Mcph1 (cMcph1) and functional analysis of its individual BRCT domains. Full-length cMcph1 localized to centrosomes throughout the cell cycle and formed IRIF that colocalized with gamma-H2AX. The tandem C-terminal BRCT2 and BRCT3 domains of cMcph1 were necessary for IRIF formation, while the N-terminal BRCT1 was required for centrosomal localization in irradiated cells. Centrosomal targeting of cMcph1 was independent of ATM, Brca1 or Chk1. cMcph1 formed IRIF in ATM- and Brca1-deficient cells, but not in H2AX-deficient cells. Inability to form cMcph1 IRIF impaired the cellular response to DNA damage. These results suggest that the role of microcephalin in the vertebrate DNA damage response is controlled by interaction of the C-terminal BRCT domains with gamma-H2AX.

Screening events to reduce farmers' hazardous exposures.

Dairy farmers may be exposed to high levels of noise and dust. Protections against these hazards exist, but many farmers do not use them. An intervention consisting of hearing and respiratory screenings combined with personalized education was implemented. This study evaluates the impact of this intervention on farmers' self-reported use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and implementation of noise and dust abatement. Participants were screened as to noise (n=209) or dust (n=392) hazards and use of PPE. Following this, they were counseled on PPE use, and identification and reduction of noise or dust hazards. Counselors sought a pledge from the farmers to eliminate hazards and increase PPE use. Farmers were subsequently surveyed and asked whether they had implemented the changes. At baseline, 70% (146/209) of farmers exposed to high levels of noise reported poor use ("sometimes", "rarely", or "never") of hearing protection. Results indicated that two months after intervention, 25.2% (28/111) of these subjects had successfully improved their PPE use. At baseline, 79% (311/392) offarmers reported poor use of respiratory protection, with 27.3% (41/150) showing improvement in PPE use within the same time. Strategies to reduce noise hazards were identified by 92.8% (194/209) of hearing screening attendees; 13.2% (18/136) successfully reduced or removed exposure. These values for dust screening attendees were 98.2% (385/392) and 30.7% (54/176), respectively. Use of this intervention appears to be an effective method for increasing PPE use on the farm. However, it is not effective for reducing noise hazards.

Estimating farmworker population size in New York State using a minimum labor demand method.

Assessment of health needs and services for hand-harvest farmworkers requires reliable population estimates. In New York State, the only publicly available source for these is the Department of Labor (DOL). However, published production data exist that may enable estimation of minimum labor demand (MLD) for hand-harvest labor. Our objective was to develop an estimation process for minimum labor demand (MLD) for hand-harvested crops in NYS and contrast the results with DOL estimates. Four crop strata (below ground, ground, bush/vine, and orchard) were identified. MLD (measured in worker-seasons) was estimated by dividing the total annual harvest hours required for each crop stratum by the total hours worked by one worker in a season for that crop stratum. The MLD estimate of the total number of worker seasons combined for all strata (14,121) was higher than that of the DOL (8,230). Harvest acreage was unavailable for 21% of the 991 county-crop combinations studied; therefore, data were imputed from other sources. Within these strata, the greatest difference was found for ground crops, where the DOL count was 28% of the size of the MLD estimate. DOL and MLD estimates were closest in orchard crops (DOL 109% of MLD). Publicly available data provide a potentially valuable source of informationfor estimation of the MLD. Use of these methods implies that the DOL may substantially underestimate the size of this population. Differences seen between the two methods were sensitive to the crop type. County-level farm surveys to verify MLD estimation factors would enhance the method's accuracy.

Recombination nodules in plants.

The molecular events of recombination are thought to be catalyzed by proteins present in recombination nodules (RNs). Therefore, studying RN structure and function should give insights into the processes by which meiotic recombination is regulated in eukaryotes. Two types of RNs have been identified so far, early (ENs) and late (LNs). ENs appear at leptotene and persist into early pachytene while LNs appear in pachytene and remain into early diplotene. ENs and LNs can be distinguished not only on their time of appearance, but also by such characteristics as shape and size, relative numbers, and association with unsynapsed and/or synapsed chromosomal segments. The function(s) of ENs is not clear, but they may have a role in searching for DNA homology, synapsis, gene conversion and/or crossing over. LNs are well correlated with crossing over. Here, the patterns of ENs and LNs during prophase I in plants are reviewed.

Media coverage as a risk factor in suicide.

A total of 293 findings from 42 studies on the impact of publicized suicide stories in the media on the incidence of suicide in the real world were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. Studies measuring the effect of either an entertainment or political celebrity suicide story were 14.3 times more likely to find a copycat effect than studies that did not. Studies based on a real as opposed to fictional story were 4.03 times more likely to uncover a copycat effect. Research based on televised stories was 82% less likely to report a copycat effect than research based on newspapers. A review of recent events in Austria and Switzerland indicates that suicide prevention organizations can successfully convince the media to change the frequency and content of their suicide coverage in an effort to reduce copycat effects.

Media coverage as a risk factor in suicide.

A total of 293 findings from 42 studies on the impact of publicized suicide stories in the media on the incidence of suicide in the real world were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. Studies measuring the effect of either an entertainment or political celebrity suicide story were 14.3 times more likely to find a copycat effect than studies that did not. Studies based on a real as opposed to fictional story were 4.03 times more likely to uncover a copycat effect. Research based on televised stories was 82% less likely to report a copycat effect than research based on newspapers. A review of recent events in Austria and Switzerland indicates that suicide prevention organizations can successfully convince the media to change the frequency and content of their suicide coverage in an effort to reduce copycat effects.

Pseudoexfoliation and sensorineural hearing loss.

AIMS: There is increasing evidence that pseudoexfoliation (PXF) not only affects ocular anterior segment structures, but may also be a systemic disease. This study was undertaken to assess the relationship between PXF and sensorineural hearing loss. METHODS: Patients with PXF were identified from hospital records and underwent complete ocular examination. The sum of pure-tone hearing thresholds measured at 1, 2 and 3 kHz (HTL1,2,3) in each ear was compared with the ISO 7029 standard sex-matched, median age-associated hearing loss summed over the same frequencies (AAHL1,2,3). The proportion of ears with thresholds higher than the ISO 7029 median AAHL1,2,3 on the same side as eyes without PXF was compared with the proportion of ears ipsilateral to eyes with PXF but without glaucoma and similarly the proportion of ears on the same side as eyes with PXF and glaucoma. RESULTS: In total, 69 patients were studied, of whom 39 were male (56.5%). The mean age of the male patients was 75.8 years, while that of the female group was 75.1 years. All patients had PXF affecting at least one eye. Overall 101 ears (73.7%) had a higher HTL1,2,3 than the ISO 7029 median AAHL1,2,3 which included 56 ears of 78 in the male group (71.8%) and 45 ears of 59 in the female group (76.3%). There was no significant difference between the proportion of ears with HTL1,2,3 higher than the ISO 7029 median AAHL1,2,3 on the same side as eyes without PXF, with PXF but not glaucoma and with PXF and glaucoma, in either the male or female groups. CONCLUSIONS: A large proportion of patients with PXF have sensorineural hearing loss in comparison to age-matched controls, regardless of whether or not there is associated glaucoma. This finding supports the theory that PXF may be a systemic condition.

The distribution of early recombination nodules on zygotene bivalents from plants.

Early recombination nodules (ENs) are protein complexes approximately 100 nm in diameter that are associated with forming synaptonemal complexes (SCs) during leptotene and zygotene of meiosis. Although their functions are not yet clear, ENs may have roles in synapsis and recombination. Here we report on the frequency and distribution of ENs in zygotene SC spreads from six plant species that include one lower vascular plant, two dicots, and three monocots. For each species, the number of ENs per unit length is higher for SC segments than for (asynapsed) axial elements (AEs). In addition, EN number is strongly correlated with SC segment length. There are statistically significant differences in EN frequencies on SCs between species, but these differences are not related to genome size, number of chromosomes, or phylogenetic class. There is no difference in the frequency of ENs per unit length of SC from early to late zygotene. The distribution of distances between adjacent ENs on SC segments is random for all six species, but ENs are found at synaptic forks more often than expected for a random distribution of ENs on SCs. From these observations, we conclude that in plants: (1) some ENs bind to AEs prior to synapsis, (2) most ENs bind to forming SCs at synaptic forks, and (3) ENs do not bind to already formed SCs.

Molybdenum sequestration in Brassica species. A role for anthocyanins?

To elucidate plant mechanisms involved in molybdenum (Mo) sequestration and tolerance, Brassica spp. seedlings were supplied with molybdate, and the effects on plant physiology, morphology, and biochemistry were analyzed. When supplied with (colorless) molybdate Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) seedlings accumulated water-soluble blue crystals in their peripheral cell layers. Energy dispersive x-ray analysis showed that Mo accumulated predominantly in the vacuoles of the epidermal cells. Therefore, the blue crystals are likely to be a Mo compound. The x-ray absorption spectrum of the plant-accumulated Mo was different than that for molybdate, indicating complexation with a plant molecule. Because the blue compound was water soluble and showed a pH-dependent color change, possible involvement of anthocyanins was investigated. An anthocyanin-less mutant of Brassica rapa ("fast plants") was compared with varieties containing normal or high anthocyanin levels. The anthocyanin-less mutant did not show accumulation of a blue compound when supplied with molybdate. In the anthocyanin-containing varieties, the blue compound colocalized with anthocyanins in the peripheral cell layers. Mo accumulation by the three B. rapa varieties was positively correlated with anthocyanin content. Addition of molybdate to purified B. rapa anthocyanin resulted in an in vitro color change from pink to blue. Therefore, Mo appears to be sequestered in vacuoles of the peripheral cell layers of Brassica spp. as a blue compound, probably a Mo-anthocyanin complex.

A model for chromosome structure during the mitotic and meiotic cell cycles.

The chromosome scaffold model in which loops of chromatin are attached to a central, coiled chromosome core (scaffold) is the current paradigm for chromosome structure. Here we present a modified version of the chromosome scaffold model to describe chromosome structure and behavior through the mitotic and meiotic cell cycles. We suggest that a salient feature of chromosome structure is established during DNA replication when sister loops of DNA extend in opposite directions from replication sites on nuclear matrix strands. This orientation is maintained into prophase when the nuclear matrix strand is converted into two closely associated sister chromatid cores with sister DNA loops extending in opposite directions. We propose that chromatid cores are contractile and show, using a physical model, that contraction of cores during late prophase can result in coiled chromatids. Coiling accounts for the majority of chromosome shortening that is needed to separate sister chromatids within the confines of a cell. In early prophase I of meiosis, the orientation of sister DNA loops in opposite directions from axial elements assures that DNA loops interact preferentially with homologous DNA loops rather than with sister DNA loops. In this context, we propose a bar code model for homologous presynaptic chromosome alignment that involves weak paranemic interactions of homologous DNA loops. Opposite orientation of sister loops also suppresses crossing over between sister chromatids in favor of crossing over between homologous non-sister chromatids. After crossing over is completed in pachytene and the synaptonemal complex breaks down in early diplotene (= diffuse stage), new contractile cores are laid down along each chromatid. These chromatid cores are comparable to the chromatid cores in mitotic prophase chromosomes. As an aside, we propose that leptotene through early diplotene represent the 'missing' G2 period of the premeiotic interphase. The new chromosome cores, along with sister chromatid cohesion, stabilize chiasmata. Contraction of cores in late diplotene causes chromosomes to coil in a configuration that encourages subsequent syntelic orientation of sister kinetochores and amphitelic orientation of homologous kinetochore pairs on the spindle at metaphase I.

Anomalous left adrenal venous drainage directly into the inferior vena cava.

Primary hyperaldosteronism is a potential cause of hypertension. Unilateral adrenal adenoma and bilateral adrenal cortical hyperplasia are the most common causes of primary hyperaldosteronism. Adrenal venous sampling is employed as the gold standard test to differentiate between these two different causes when the results of other studies in the work-up protocol are non-diagnostic or ambiguous. Adrenal venous sampling can be a challenging procedure, especially in the presence of anomalous venous drainage patterns. Knowledge of normal adrenal venous anatomy, as well as possible variants, is therefore important to ensure a successful procedure. The authors describe an unusual variant of left adrenal venous drainage directly into the IVC.

Thought recognition, locus of control, and adolescent well-being.

This paper reviews the underlying assumptions and principles of a new psychological paradigm, Psychology of Mind/Health Realization (POM/HR). A core concept of POM/HR, thought recognition, is then compared with locus of control (LOC), a well-known psychological construct. Next, the relationship of LOC to self-reported happiness and satisfaction is examined from the perspective of POM/HR, using a sample of 1,872 at-risk adolescents from 17 nations. The findings support POM/HR predictions that (1) locus of control would account for a slight portion of the variance in adolescent happiness and satisfaction, (2) circumstances that are external in nature would account for additional variance in happiness and satisfaction, and (3) there would be little difference in self-reported happiness and satisfaction between adolescents self-reporting high and low internal LOC. Further, it was conjectured that the adolescents mistook superficial emotions, such as excitement and security, for genuine feelings of well-being. Finally, the implications for prevention and intervention efforts with at-risk adolescents are discussed.

Prokaryotic expression, purification, and reconstitution of biological activities (Antiprotease, antitumor, and heparin-binding) for tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2.

We report the expression of tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2) (also known as PP-5, placental protein-5; MSPI, matrix-associated serine protease inhibitor) in E. coli as a 25-kDa nonglycosylated protein with a glycine substituted for aspartic acid at the amino terminus. High-level expression of TFPI-2 was obtained with pRE1 expression vector under the transcriptional and translational controls of the lambdaP(L) promoter and lambdacII ribosome-binding site, respectively, with ATG initiation codon. TFPI-2 was produced as inclusion bodies and accounted for 25-30% of the total E. coli proteins. The inclusion bodies containing TFPI-2 were solubilized with urea, sulfitolyzed, purified, and refolded through a disulfide interchange reaction. The refolded E. coli TFPI-2 inhibited plasmin with an inhibition constant (K(i)) of 5 nM that is similar with the TFPI-2 expressed in a mammalian system. The refolded E. coli TFPI-2 bound heparin and also inhibited plasmin, regardless of whether the enzyme was in the fluid phase or was bound to the membranes of HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells. In addition, refolded E. coli TFPI-2 inhibited radiolabeled matrix degradation and Matrigel matrix invasion by HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells and B16-F10 melanoma cells. Together, our results suggest that glycosylation is not essential for antiprotease, antitumor, and matrix-binding activities of TFPI-2. Based on these collective data, we conclude that a biologically active nonglycosylated TFPI-2 can be produced in E. coli and that the protein can be produced in high-enough quantities to conduct in vivo studies for determination of the role of this inhibitor in tumor invasion and metastasis.

Blues fans and suicide acceptability.

Research has neglected the possible impact of the blues music subculture on suicide acceptability (SA). The sad themes in the blues may attract suicidal persons and reinforce their suicidal moods and attitudes. The present study performs the first test of the thesis that associates SA with being a blues fan. It uses data on a national sample of 961 adults drawn from the General Social Survey of 1993. The results of a multivariate logistic regression analysis found that blues fans were no more accepting of suicide than nonfans. However, blues fanship was found to have substantial indirect effects on SA through its influence on such factors as lowered religiosity levels, the most important predictor of SA. Race-specific analyses found more support for the model for whites than for African Americans.

Suicide: a 15-year review of the sociological literature. Part I: cultural and economic factors.

Cultural and economic patterns from 130 sociological works on suicide from 1981 to 1995 are reviewed in this article. The traditional Durkheimian perspective on suicide was often questioned by research on the impact of the mass media, alcohol, class, modernization, religion, and politics. Major theoretical developments included the application of differential identification theory to Phillips's model of copycat suicide, the application of criminology's opportunity theory to suicide, and new explanations for the link between alcohol and the social suicide rate. Explanations are reviewed for the major new suicide trend: after half a century of convergence, male and female suicide rates are diverging. Finally, the review notes patterns of continued stability in suicide research findings in areas such as racial differences and economic strain.