Factors influencing tactile spatial acuity of knee regions in healthy individuals

The psychological characteristic of having difficulty expressing emotions, known as alexithymia, is associated with hypervigilance to pain and is considered one of the risk factors for chronic pain. The correlation between alexithymia and hypervigilance to pain can be observed even in healthy individuals. However, the factors influencing this correlation remain unknown. We explored the dopamine system, which is known to be involved in emotion and pain. The dopamine-degrading enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) has a genetic polymorphism known to influence dopamine metabolism in the prefrontal cortex. COMT polymorphism reportedly affects various aspects of pain and increases pain sensitivity in Met allele carriers. Therefore, we investigated whether the correlation between alexithymia and hypervigilance to pain is influenced by COMT polymorphism in healthy individuals. The results revealed a significant positive correlation between the “difficulty describing feelings” of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the “attention to changes in pain” of the pain vigilance and awareness questionnaire in COMT Met carriers but not in Val/Val individuals. This finding suggests that the correlation between alexithymia and hypervigilance to pain is influenced by COMT polymorphism.

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Morphological and elemental analysis of isolated incubated frog retina-choroid

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100111604 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 42 ◽

pp. 298-299

Author(s):

B. J. Panessa-Warren ◽

J. B. Warren ◽

H. W. Kraner

Keyword(s):

Elemental Analysis ◽

Pigment Epithelium ◽

Human Retina ◽

Healthy Individuals ◽

Anterior Portion ◽

Pathological Conditions ◽

Frog Retina ◽

Isolated Retina ◽

Vertebrate Eye ◽

Retina Pigment Epithelium

Our previous studies have demonstrated that abnormally high amounts of calcium (Ca) and zinc (Zn) can be accumulated in human retina-choroid under pathological conditions and that barium (Ba), which was not detected in the eyes of healthy individuals, is deposited in the retina pigment epithelium (RPE), and to a lesser extent in the sensory retina and iris. In an attempt to understand how these cations can be accumulated in the vertebrate eye, a morphological and microanalytical study of the uptake and loss of specific cations (K, Ca,Ba,Zn) was undertaken with incubated Rana catesbiana isolated retina and RPE preparations. Large frogs (650-800 gms) were dark adapted, guillotined and their eyes enucleated in deep ruby light. The eyes were hemisected behind the ora serrata and the anterior portion of the eye removed. The eyecup was bisected along the plane of the optic disc and the two segments of retina peeled away from the RPE and incubated.

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Factors influencing adhesive bonding at the bone/implant interface

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100130201 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 50 (2) ◽

pp. 1114-1115

Author(s):

Julie A. Martini ◽

Robert H. Doremus

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Adhesive Bonding ◽

Microscopy Study ◽

Electron Microscopy Study ◽

Bone Implant ◽

Factors Influencing ◽

Lr White ◽

Transmission Electron ◽

New Zealand White Rabbits ◽

Scanning Electron

Tracy and Doremus have demonstrated chemical bonding between bone and hydroxylapatite with transmission electron microscopy. Now researchers ponder how to improve upon this bond in turn improving the life expectancy and biocompatibility of implantable orthopedic devices.This report focuses on a study of the- chemical influences on the interfacial integrity and strength. Pure hydroxylapatite (HAP), magnesium doped HAP, strontium doped HAP, bioglass and medical grade titanium cylinders were implanted into the tibial cortices of New Zealand white rabbits. After 12 weeks, the implants were retrieved for a scanning electron microscopy study coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy.Following sacrifice and careful retrieval, the samples were dehydrated through a graduated series starting with 50% ethanol and continuing through 60, 70, 80, 90, 95, and 100% ethanol over a period of two days. The samples were embedded in LR White. Again a graduated series was used with solutions of 50, 75 and 100% LR White diluted in ethanol.

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Factors Influencing Electrophysiologic Responsivity in Normal Adults

Journal of Speech and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/jshr.0804.323 ◽

1965 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 323-347

Author(s):

Robert Goldstein ◽

Benjamin RosenblÜt

Keyword(s):

Conditioned Stimulus ◽

White Light ◽

Pure Tone ◽

Alpha Rhythm ◽

White Women ◽

White Men ◽

Inverse Relation ◽

Factors Influencing ◽

Electrodermal Responses ◽

Normal Adults

Electrodermal and electroencephalic responsivity to sound and to light was studied in 96 normal-hearing adults in three separate sessions. The subjects were subdivided into equal groups of white men, white women, colored men, and colored women. A 1 000 cps pure tone was the conditioned stimulus in two sessions and white light was used in a third session. Heat was the unconditioned stimulus in all sessions. Previously, an inverse relation had been found in white men between the prominence of alpha rhythm in the EEG and the ease with which electrodermal responses could be elicited. This relation did not hold true for white women. The main purpose of the present study was to answer the following questions: (1) are the previous findings on white subjects applicable to colored subjects? (2) are subjects who are most (or least) responsive electrophysiologically on one day equally responsive (or unresponsive) on another day? and (3) are subjects who are most (or least) responsive to sound equally responsive (or unresponsive) to light? In general, each question was answered affirmatively. Other factors influencing responsivity were also studied.

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