A Comparison of Abuse Experiences in USA and German Clinical Samples

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim R. Tousignant
Keyword(s):  
Author(s):  
Alain R. Trudel ◽  
M. Trudel

AirfugeR (Beckman) direct ultracentrifugation of viral samples on electron microscopy grids offers a rapid way to concentrate viral particles or subunits and facilitate their detection and study. Using the A-100 fixed angle rotor (30°) with a K factor of 19 at maximum speed (95 000 rpm), samples up to 240 μl can be prepared for electron microscopy observation in a few minutes: observation time is decreased and structural details are highlighted. Using latex spheres to calculate the increase in sensitivity compared to the inverted drop procedure, we obtained a 10 to 40 fold increase in sensitivity depending on the size of particles. This technique also permits quantification of viral particles in samples if an aliquot is mixed with latex spheres of known concentration.Direct ultracentrifugation for electron microscopy can be performed on laboratory samples such as gradient or column fractions, infected cell supernatant, or on clinical samples such as urine, tears, cephalo-rachidian liquid, etc..


Author(s):  
Michelle B. Stein ◽  
Jenelle Slavin-Mulford ◽  
Caleb J. Siefert ◽  
Samuel Justin Sinclair ◽  
Michaela Smith ◽  
...  

Abstract. The Social Cognition and Object Relations Scale-Global Ratings Method (SCORS-G; Stein, Hilsenroth, Slavin-Mulford, & Pinsker-Aspen, 2011 ) is a reliable system for coding narrative data, such as Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) stories. This study employs a cross-sectional, correlational design to examine associations between SCORS-G dimensions and life events in two clinical samples. Samples were composed of 177 outpatients and 57 inpatients who completed TAT protocols as part of routine clinical care. Two experienced raters coded narratives with the SCORS-G. Data on the following clinically relevant life events were collected: history of psychiatric hospitalization, suicidality, self-harming behavior, drug/alcohol abuse, conduct-disordered behavior, trauma, and education level. As expected, the clinical life event variable associated with the largest number of SCORS-G dimensions was Suicidality. Identity and Coherence of Self was related to self-harm history across samples. Emotional Investment in Relationships and Complexity of Representations were also associated with several life events. Clinical applications, limitations of the study, and future directions are reviewed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 229-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Chiesi ◽  
Andrea Bonacchi ◽  
Caterina Primi ◽  
Alessandro Toccafondi ◽  
Guido Miccinesi

Abstract. The present study aimed at evaluating if the three-item sense of coherence (SOC) scale developed by Lundberg and Nystrom Peck (1995) can be effectively used for research purpose in both nonclinical and clinical samples. To provide evidence that it represents adequately the measured construct we tested its validity in a nonclinical (N = 658) and clinical sample (N = 764 patients with cancer). Results obtained in the nonclinical sample attested a positive relation of SOC – as measured by the three-item SOC scale – with Antonovsky’s 13-item and 29-item SOC scales (convergent validity), and with dispositional optimism, sense of mastery, anxiety, and depression symptoms (concurrent validity). Results obtained in the clinical sample confirmed the criterion validity of the scale attesting the positive role of SOC – as measured by the three-item SOC scale – on the person’s capacity to respond to illness and treatment. The current study provides evidence that the three-item SOC scale is a valid, low-loading, and time-saving instrument for research purposes on large sample.


2014 ◽  
Vol 222 (3) ◽  
pp. 171-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mareile Hofmann ◽  
Nathalie Wrobel ◽  
Simon Kessner ◽  
Ulrike Bingel

According to experimental and clinical evidence, the experiences of previous treatments are carried over to different therapeutic approaches and impair the outcome of subsequent treatments. In this behavioral pilot study we used a change in administration route to investigate whether the effect of prior treatment experience on a subsequent treatment depends on the similarity of both treatments. We experimentally induced positive or negative experiences with a topical analgesic treatment in two groups of healthy human subjects. Subsequently, we compared responses to a second, unrelated and systemic analgesic treatment between both the positive and negative group. We found that there was no difference in the analgesic response to the second treatment between the two groups. Our data indicate that a change in administration route might reduce the influence of treatment history and therefore be a way to reduce negative carry-over effects after treatment failure. Future studies will have to validate these findings in a fully balanced design including larger, clinical samples.


1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (05) ◽  
pp. 774-779 ◽  
Author(s):  
John T Brandt ◽  
Carmen J Julius ◽  
Jeanne M Osborne ◽  
Clark L Anderson

SummaryImmune-mediated platelet activation is emerging as an important pathogenic mechanism of thrombosis. In vitro studies have suggested two distinct pathways for immune-mediated platelet activation; one involving clustering of platelet FcyRIIa, the other involving platelet-associated complement activation. HLA-related antibodies have been shown to cause platelet aggregation, but the mechanism has not been clarified. We evaluated the mechanism of platelet aggregation induced by HLA-related antibodies from nine patients. Antibody to platelet FcyRIIa failed to block platelet aggregation with 8/9 samples, indicating that engagement of platelet FcyRIIa is not necessary for the platelet aggregation induced by HLA-related antibodies. In contrast, platelet aggregation was blocked by antibodies to human C8 (5/7) or C9 (7/7). F(ab’)2 fragments of patient IgG failed to induce platelet activation although they bound to HLA antigen on platelets. Intact patient IgG failed to aggregate washed platelets unless aged serum was added. The activating IgG could be adsorbed by incubation with lymphocytes and eluted from the lymphocytes. These results indicate that complement activation is involved in the aggregation response to HLA-related antibodies. This is the first demonstration of complement-mediated platelet aggregation by clinical samples. Five of the patients developed thrombocytopenia in relationship to blood transfusion and two patients developed acute thromboembolic disease, suggesting that these antibodies and the complement-dependent pathway of platelet aggregation may be of clinical significance.


1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (04) ◽  
pp. 549-555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter A Wuillemin ◽  
C Erik Hack ◽  
Wim K Bleeker ◽  
Bart J Biemond ◽  
Marcel Levi ◽  
...  

SummaryC1-inhibitor (C1Inh), antithrombin III (ATIII), α1-antitrypsin (a1AT), and α2-antiplasmin (a2AP) are known inhibitors of factor XIa (FXIa). However, their precise contribution to FXIa inactivation in vivo is not known. We investigated FXIa inactivation in chimpanzees and assessed the contribution of these inhibitors to FXIa inactivation in patients with presumed FXI activation.Chimpanzees were infused with FXIa and the various FXIa-FXIa inhibitor complexes formed were measured. Most of FXIa was complexed to C1Inh (68%), followed by a2AP (13%), a1AT (10%), and ATIII (9%). Analysis of the plasma elimination kinetics revealed a half-life time of clearance (t1/2) for the FXIa-FXIa inhibitor complexes of 95 to 104 min, except for FXIa-a1AT, which had a t1/2 of 349 min. Due to this long t1/2, FXIa-a1AT complexes were predicted to show the highest levels in plasma samples from patients with activation of FXI. This was indeed shown in patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation, recent myocardial infarction or unstable angina pectoris. We conclude from this study that in vivo C1Inh is the predominant inhibitor of FXIa, but that FXIa-a1 AT complexes due to their relatively long t1/2 may be the best parameter to assess FXI activation in clinical samples.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 73-78
Author(s):  
A Hossen ◽  
MH Rahman ◽  
MZ Ali ◽  
MA Yousuf ◽  
MZ Hassan ◽  
...  

Duck plague (DP) is the most important infectious disease of geese, ducks and free-ranging water birds. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of duck plague virus followed by isolation and identification. For these purposes, a total of 155 cloacal swabs samples were collected randomly from duck of different haor areas of Bangladesh including 45 (41 surveillance and 4 clinical) samples from Netrokona; 42 (40 surveillance and 2 clinical) samples from Kishoregonj; 30 samples from Brahmanbaria and 38 samples from Sunamganj. The samples were processed and pooled (1:5 ratio) for initial screening of target polymerase gene of duck plague virus by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. All the samples of a positive pool were then tested individually for identifying the individual positive samples. The result showed that out of 155 samples, 41 (26.45%) were found positive in which 17 were from Netrokona, where 15 (36.58%) were from surveillance samples and 2 (50%) were from clinical sample; 16 were from Kishoregonj, where 14 (35%) were from surveillance samples and 2 (100%) were from clinical sample; 2 (6.6%) were from Brahmanbaria and 5 (13.15%) were from Sunamganj. These positive samples were inoculated into 9-10 days embryonated duck eggs (EDE) through chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) route for the isolation of virus. The EDE died earlier was also chilled, and in a similar way, the CAMs were collected and again performed PCR for id entification of virus. Out of 41 PCR positive samples, 26 samples were isolated and reconfirmed by PCR. Subsequently, DPV was isolated in primary duck embryo fibroblasts cell culture and confirmed by observing cytopathic effect (CPE). Bang. J. Livs. Res. Vol. 26 (1&2), 2019: P. 73-78


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (01) ◽  
pp. 46-50
Author(s):  
Ashwak B Al-Hashimy ◽  
Huda S Alagely ◽  
Akeel K Albuaji ◽  
Khalid R Majeed

The present study included the collection of 100 samples from various clinical sources for investigating the presence of P. aeruginosa in those sources, the samples have been collected from some hospitals in Baghdad and Hillah city (Al-qassim General Hospital, ,Al-hillah teaching hospital,and Al-hashimya General hospital ) which included wounds, burns, ear and sputum infections. The study was carried out through October 2017 till the end of March 2018. The samples were identified based on the morphological and microscopically characteristics of the colonies when they were culturing or number of culture media as well as biochemical tests, molecular identification were also used as a final diagnostic test for isolates that were positive as they belong to P.aeruginosa bacteria during previous tests based on the OprD gene which has specific sequences for P.aeruginosa bacteria as a detection gene and also consider as virulence factor so it have a synonyms mechanism to antibiotic resistance . The results of the final diagnosis showed that 38 isolates belong to target bacteria were distributed as 18 of burns, 11 isolates of wounds, 6 isolates of ear infection and 3 isolates of sputum, The examination of the sensitivity of all bacterial isolates was done for elected 38 isolation towards the 9 antibiotic by a Bauer - Kirby and the isolates were resistant for a number of antibiotics used such as Ciprofloxacin 65.7%, Norflaxacin 71%, Imipenem 63.1% Meropenem 68.4%, Gentamicin 65.7%, Amikacin 26.3%, Cefepime 68.4%, Ceftazidime 65.7% and Piperacillin 57.8%.Molecular method , All isolates (38) of P. aeruginosa positive for the diagnostic special gene (OprD) genes (100%).


Author(s):  
Haider Qassim Raheem ◽  
Takwa S. Al-meamar ◽  
Anas M. Almamoori

Fifty specimens were collected from wound patients who visited Al-Hilla Teaching Hospital. The samples were grown on Blood and MacConkey agar for 24-48 hr at 37oC. The bacterial isolates which achieved as a pure and predominant growth from clinical samples as Pseudomonas fluorescens, were identified using morphological properties and Vitek2 system. The anti-bacterial activity of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) against was tested by (disk diffusion assay) using dilutions of (400, 200, 100, 50, 25, and 12.5‎µ‎g/ml). The (MIC and MBC) of each isolate was determined. CuO NPs shows wide spectrum antibacterial activity against tested bacteria with rise zone of inhibition diameter that is proportionate with the increase in nanoparticle concentration. The MIC of CuO NPs extended from 100-200‎µ‎g/ml and the MBC ranged from 200-400‎µ‎g/ml. The antibiotic profile was determined by Viteck 2 compact system (Biomérieux). CuO NPs‎ found highly effective and safe in P. fluorescens wounds infections comparing with used antibiotics.


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