Polymorphic microsatellite markers for the Mojave desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii.

We describe primers and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) conditions to amplify 14 tri- and tetranucleotide microsatellite loci for the Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii). Across three populations (87 individuals) located in the Mojave Desert, USA, the markers yielded a range of four to 33 alleles and an average observed heterozygosity of 0.733 (range 0.433 to 0.933). We neither detected linkage disequilibrium between any pair of loci nor did we find a consistent pattern of deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. These microsatellites are designed for PCR multiplexing, and provide higher throughput capacity to aid in conservation genetics studies for this threatened species.

Apolipoprotein AV does not contribute to hypertriglyceridaemia or triglyceride lowering by dietary fish oil and rosiglitazone in obese Zucker rats.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Apolipoprotein AV (apoAV) is a recently discovered apolipoprotein with a triglyceride-lowering effect in genetically modified mice. Transcription of the human gene encoding apoAV (APOA5) is suppressed by insulin and stimulated by fibrates. Our goal was to study the expression of Apoa5, in comparison with Apoa4 and Apoc3, in hypertriglyceridaemic, obese and insulin-resistant Zucker rats receiving the insulin sensitiser rosiglitazone and/or a fish oil diet to lower triglycerides. METHODS: Hepatic Apoa5, Apoa4 and Apo3 mRNA and liver and plasma apoAV were measured in lean and obese Zucker rats receiving rosiglitazone while on a coconut oil or fish oil diet. RESULTS: Basal hepatic Apoa5 expression was similar in obese and lean Zucker rats. Unexpectedly, obese Zucker rats tended to have higher plasma apoAV levels despite their hypertriglyceridaemic state. Both rosiglitazone and the fish oil diet significantly increased Apoa5 mRNA, by about 70%, but tended to lower liver and plasma apoAV. Rosiglitazone had no effect on Apoa5 mRNA in cultured rat hepatocytes. No intact PPAR (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor) response element was identified in the rat Apoa5 promoter. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Our data indicate that apoAV does not contribute to the hypertriglyceridaemia of obese Zucker rats or to the hypolipidaemic effect of rosiglitazone or a fish oil diet. The divergent changes of Apoa5 mRNA and apoAV levels suggest co- or post-translational regulation. The increase in Apoa5 mRNA induced by rosiglitazone is not directly mediated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma.

Changes in directed attention and short-term memory in depression.

This study examined changes in directed attention and short-term memory in depression using a newly constructed battery of computerized measures. A repeated measures design was used with two sample groups; 25 individuals meeting DSM-IV criteria for Major Depression and a group-matched comparison sample of 27. Both groups were tested at three points in time over a 10-week period. Test-retest reliability of the measures was examined. Profile analysis demonstrated that there were differences between the depressed and comparison groups in both directed attention and short-term memory. Recommendations for specific improvements in the testing battery are discussed. The ability to detect changes in directed attention and short-term memory may have clinical utility in early detection of impending onset of depression or subtle residual symptoms of an acute episode that may impair functioning or signal a relapse.

Research from afar: considerations for conducting an off-site research project.

An off-site research project is defined as a research study having a conduction location and data-collection site from which the principal investigator is geographically separated. Off-site research projects will likely increase because they afford greater access to larger research subject pools relevant to research questions and allow participation research at a site from which research would otherwise not be conducted. The critical elements proposed to make an off-site study successful include system negotiations, attending to personnel issues, fostering communication, encouraging subject participation, optimizing data collection and management, considering privacy issues, and ensuring optimal research team performance. An example of a specific off-site study involving a major midwest research university in one state and a large United States Navy training center in another state is discussed, and essential elements in establishing off-site research are highlighted.

The effects of sense of belonging, social support, conflict, and loneliness on depression.

BACKGROUND: A number of interpersonal phenomena have been linked to depression, including sense of belonging, social support, conflict, and loneliness. OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of the interpersonal phenomena of sense of belonging, social support, loneliness, and conflict on depression, and to describe the predictive value of sense of belonging for depression in the context of other interpersonal phenomenon. METHOD: A sample of clients with major depressive disorder and students in a midwestern community college participated in the study by completing questionnaires. RESULTS: Path analysis showed significant direct paths as postulated, with 64% of the variance of depression explained by the variables in the model. Social support had only an indirect effect on depression, and this finding supported the buffer theory of social support. Sense of belonging was a better predictor of depression. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings emphasize the importance of relationship-oriented experiences as part of assessment and intervention strategies for individuals with depression.

Prodromal symptoms of recurrent major depressive episodes: a qualitative analysis.

In four focus groups, 16 people with major depressive or bipolar disorder were asked to describe the onset of an acute depressive episode. Findings indicate that those entering a major depressive episode often have difficulty identifying prodromal symptoms, although they experience early warning phases. These phases and described, and implications for clinical intervention are outlined.

Sense of belonging and indicators of social and psychological functioning.

Sense of belonging has recently been described and defined as one specific interpersonal process that influences health. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between sense of belonging and personal characteristics and selected indicators of social and psychological functioning in men and women. Using a sample of 379 community college students, sense of belonging was examined in relation to social support, conflict, involvement in community activities, attendance at religious services, loneliness, depression, anxiety, history of psychiatric treatment, and suicidality. Results indicated that sense of belonging is closely related to indicators of both social and psychological functioning. These relationships were generally stronger for women than for men. It appears that sense of belonging is a useful concept pertinent to exploration of social and psychological functioning.

Advances in understanding major depressive disorder.

1. Major depressive disorder is recognized by different, frequently recurring patterns of signs and symptoms that are suggestive of specific subtypes of the disorder, including melancholic, atypical, and psychotic. 2. MDD occurs at younger ages, twice as frequently in women, in conjunction with other psychiatric disorders, in persons with a family history of mood disorders, and is associated with high use of medical services. 3. Research on the biological basis of depression has focused on neurotransmission, neuroendocrine dysregulation, and genetic transmission. 4. Advances in understanding MDD have important implications for nursing assessment, diagnosis, outcome planning, intervention, and evaluation with depressed clients.

Symptoms of depression among female nursing students.

This study examines the extent to which depressive symptoms in female nursing students are affected by specific stressors and coping styles. Three hypotheses were examined for differences in symptoms of depression scores and a model was tested for predicting depression in female nursing students. Responses were gathered from three questionnaires (Hassles and Uplifts Scales, Symptoms of Stress Inventory, and Coping Styles) from 408 female baccalaureate, master's and doctoral students from a major Midwest research university. Symptoms of depression were not significantly different among the students and were as high as a comparative group of stress management clients. Path analysis was used to examine the patterns of stressors (hassles, uplifts, personal and student-related stress), coping (coping styles, habits, quitting school, and drug use), and a biological factor (depression around the menstrual cycle) that predicted symptoms of depression. All hypothesized variables had direct paths to symptoms of depression; the path model explained 58% of the variance. Results from this study support the biological and psychological theories of depression in women and raise important questions of particular relevance to women, nursing students and educators.

The status of psychiatric nursing: characteristics and perceptions of nurses in the state of Michigan.

Concerned about the status of both mental health services and the role of professional nursing in the delivery of those services, the Michigan Nurses' Association Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Practice Section initiated a survey of psychiatric nurses in the state. One hundred forty psychiatric nurses returned questionnaires that explored their professional characteristics and activities, the characteristics of their clients, their perceptions of major issues confronting mental health services and psychiatric nursing and recommended actions, the perceived strengths of psychiatric nursing, and the skills and knowledge they believed are necessary for the future. Respondents are working with a variety of patients in difficult circumstances. Responses indicate the need for specialized knowledge and skills to provide care to mentally ill clients with increasingly complex problems, additional nursing involvement in political and health care arenas, and more nursing leadership and support within nursing.

Developing a measure of sense of belonging.

The purpose of this study was to develop and test psychometrically a self-report instrument designed to measure sense of belonging in adults. The Sense of Belonging Instrument (SOBI) is a 27-item, self-report instrument consisting of two separately scored scales, SOBI-P (psychological state) and SOBI-A (antecedents). Content validity was assessed by a panel of experts. Construct validity, internal consistency, and retest reliability were examined through a series of studies with three subject groups: community college students, patients in treatment for major depression, and Roman Catholic nuns. Results suggest that SOBI-P is a valid and reliable measure of sense of belonging. SOBI-A appears to reflect an individual's motivation for sense of belonging but requires additional study regarding its construct validity and internal consistency.

Registered nurses' perceptions of liberal education.

Educators in higher education and nursing stress the importance of liberal education in helping professionals address the complexity, ambiguity, and rapid change inherent in current practice. Yet, little is known about nurses' perceptions and use of liberal education either personally or professionally. This article explores RNs' perceptions of liberal education, including its personal and professional impact and its acquisition. Based on interviews with 17 practicing nurses, important themes about liberal education were derived using phenomenological analysis. The findings suggest issues that educators might examine to improve the acquisition of liberal education and its integration with professional practice.

An emerging theory of human relatedness.

Theory of human relatedness addresses a pervasive human concern, establishing and maintaining relatedness to others, objects, environments, society and self. This theory, derived from a series of inductive and deductive strategies, views relatedness as a functional, behavioral system rooted in early attachment behaviors. Individuals move through different states of relatedness including connectedness, disconnectedness, parallelism and enmeshment. Social processes that contribute to this movement are sense of belonging, reciprocity, mutuality and synchrony. Disruptions in clients' relatedness contribute to biological, psychological, and social disturbances.

Sense of belonging: a vital mental health concept.

Sense of belonging is a concept that has not been researched in psychiatric nursing practice. Using a concept-analysis strategy proposed by Walker and Avant, the authors present a detailed description of the concept that evolved from a series of inductive and deductive strategies. Sense of belonging is defined as the experience of personal involvement in a system or environment so that persons feel themselves to be an integral part of that system or environment. Sense of belonging has important applicability for clinical use as well as continued theory development in psychiatric nursing.

Development of the Applied Liberal Education Competences Scale.

This article describes the development and initial psychometric testing of the Applied Liberal Education Competences Scale, an instrument designed to measure professional nurses' self-reported use of selected applied liberal education competences in professional practice. The ALECS was created using a conceptual model proposed by Stark and Lowther (1988a) and content validity was assessed using an expert panel. Construct validity and internal consistency reliability of the ALECS were examined and the instrument refined. This 67-item instrument consists of six subscales: leadership, contextual practice, professional development, analytic practice, reflective practice, and aesthetic practice. Since the instrument taps dimensions other than technical skills and specific role functions, it will enable educators and service personnel to better understand how nurses think and perform.

The influence of liberal education on professional nursing practice: a proposed model.

Nursing has embraced philosophically the importance of liberal education to professional practice. Yet there has been little exploration of how and if liberal education influences professional action. Based on a series of studies designed to examine the role of liberal education in professional practice, this article describes six competencies related to liberal and professional education and puts forth a model of practice that appears to be influenced by liberal education.