[Psychiatric studies of chemotherapy and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting of patients with lung or thymic cancer].

Psychiatric studies were made on 26 inoperable patients with lung cancer or thymic cancer to exam the possible correlation of chemotherapy and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. All patients were informed of their disease and how to undergo the therapy. Psychiatric tests of CMI (Cornell Medical, Index), MAS (Manifest Anxiety Scale), SDS (Self-Rating Depression Scale) and QOL questionnaire were performed just before the chemotherapy. SDS and QOL questionnaire were also done after chemotherapy. The patients were given chemotherapy including CDDP (80 mg/m2) and anti-emetic agents of 30 mg of azasetron, 750 mg of methylprednisolone and 1,800 mg of domperidone. The patients showing neurosis, anxiety or depression had significantly high nausea scores, so we concluded that psychiatric support was needed to improve these patients' QOL in chemotherapy.

Perceptions of family values and roles among Japanese Americans: clinical considerations.

A follow-up study of intact families in Hawaii found that Japanese Americans' perceptions of family values and roles were more likely than those of European Americans to reflect a hierarchical family status with greater role differentiation and the male role as central. Additionally, Japanese Americans emphasized collective harmony, cooperation, interpersonal acceptance, and positive mutual social interactions. Clinical implications of the findings are discussed.

MMPI profiles of child abusers.

One hundred eighty-three adults who were confirmed abusers or neglecters of children served as subjects. Their MMPI profiles were examined with respect to sex of perpetrator, type of maltreatment (i.e., sexual, physical, neglect) and offending status (perpetrator or passive perpetrator). Passive perpetrators included those individuals who did not abuse children, but had knowledge of the abuse and allowed it to occur. Results indicated no significant differences for males or females across any of the MMPI scales relative to type of abuse or offending status. However, data suggested that active perpetrators were generally more disturbed than passive perpetrators, with profile elevations consistent with a characterological configuration.

[Case report on the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome].

The Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a hereditary disease of the connective tissue, characterized by tendencies of hyperextensibility and fragility of the skin, and hypermobility of the joints. We are reporting in this paper on a 4 year, 4 month old boy with the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Type III. The following findings were obtained: 1) In addition to the three main symptoms the complications of exotropia, low position of the auricle, defect of the right musculuspectoralis major, right double thumbs, dislocation of hip joint, right inguinal hernia, right undescended testis and pes planovalgus were found. 2) Based on histopathological tissue examination, hypoplasia of the collagen fibers and the elastic fibers was found. 3) The occlusion was edge to edge, the plate was high arched and the upper and the lower dental arches were contracted. 4) The mesiodistal lengths of all primary teeth and the lengths and widths of the dental arches were smaller than the standard size. 5) The orthopantomo and dental x-rays revealed a tendency toward late calcification of the deciduous teeth and permanent teeth germs, and the stricture of the root canals. 6) According to x-ray cephalometric analysis, retardation of the growth of the upper face as well as the maxilla and mandibula was found.

The asymptotic transectional/circumferential homogeneity of the solutions of reaction-diffusion systems in/on cylinder-like domains.

It is often reported that an animal with spotty coat markings on its body has a tail with stripe-shaped pattern. In other various biological and chemical phenomena in/on cylinder-like domains, longitudinally periodic band patterns are observed much more often than the other non-uniform patterns. This paper mathematically explains these observations by proving that, in/on a long and narrow cylinder-like domain, any solution of reaction-diffusion system asymptotically loses its spatial dependence in the transectional/circumferential direction.

Coping with transplant failure: grief vs. denial.

A major drawback to kidney transplantation as a treatment for end stage renal disease is the common occurrence of rejection and failure of the transplanted kidney. We evaluated twenty-five dialysis patients, all of whom had suffered transplant failure during a ten year period. Of these, twenty-four had good psychological readjustment to chronic dialysis. Fourteen patients successfully grieved the loss of their kidneys. Ten denied any psychological difficulty in returning to dialysis and did not manifest the usual signs of grief. We suggest that the effectiveness of denial as a coping mechanism should be recognized and supported when present; in contrast, "grievers" should be helped through the grieving process and followed up to ensure resolution and proper readjustment to dialysis.

Denial in dialysis patients: relationship to compliance and other variables.

Denial has been documented as an important defense mechanism to helping the chronically ill cope with their disease. With respect to a dialysis population, however, the role of denial has been ambiguous. The purpose of this study were 1) to examine the physiological and psychological correlates of denial in a dialysis population and 2)( to examine the relationship between use of denial and compliance to fluid restrictions. Subjects were 46 self- and limited-care dialysis patients. From this subject pool two groups were derived, based upon weight gains between treatments: complies (N=15) and noncompliers(N=16). Both physiological and psychological data were correlated with denial as measured by the Marlow-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. Results indicated that denial is used a great deal in dialysis patients, but there was no difference in denial scores between compliers and noncompliers. For compliers, however, denial was correlated with more adaptive attitudes toward illness. The results have implication for the clinical management of dialysis patients.

Limitations of psychological tests in a dialysis population.

Psychological tests are being used increasingly in dialysis populations, both for psychosomatic research and for clinical evaluations, warranting careful examination of their uses and limitations. Characteristics associated with dialysis populations can limit the validity of many psychological tests which are useful in other populations. These characteristics include such factors as the great biological heterogeneity of dialysis patients, their uniquely dependent relationship to treating staff, and their tendency to respond with socially desirable answers. There is a need to develop psychological tests that are specific for dialysis populations and take into account social desirability response bias. At present, the limitations of psychological tests in a dialysis population are substantial.

The relationship between depression and self-concept discrepancy among different generations of Japanese-American women.

Investigated the relationship between real-ideal self-concept discrepancy and depression among different generations and age groups of Japanese-American women in Hawaii. In contrast to the numerous results with Caucasian Ss, the present findings revealed that self-concept discrepancy and depression are related positively for certain generations (i.e., Nisel, young Sansei), but not others (i.e., old Sansei, Yonsei). It was speculated that the differences were due to acculturative and historical experiences that mediated personality pattern development. The findings also point out the ethnocentricity of one of the most supported notions in Western psychology (i.e., the relationship between self-concept discrepancy and maladjustment).