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Selected AbstractsWHO/ISBRA Study on State and Trait Markers of Alcohol Use and Dependence: Analysis of Demographic, Behavioral, Physiologic, and Drinking Variables That Contribute to Dependence and Seeking TreatmentALCOHOLISM, Issue 7 2002Jason Glanz Background Discussions between the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Society on Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (ISBRA) identified the need for a multiple-center international study on state and trait markers of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence. The reasoning behind the generation of such a project included the need to understand the alcohol use characteristics of diverse populations and the performance of biological markers of alcohol use in a variety of settings throughout the world. A second major reason for initiating this study was to collect DNA for well-structured and stratified association studies between genetic markers and/or "candidate" genes and behavioral/physiological phenotypes of importance to predisposition to alcohol dependence. Methods An extensive interview instrument was developed with leadership from the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). The instrument was translated from English to Finnish, French, German, Japanese, and Portuguese (Brazilian). One thousand eight hundred sixty-three subjects were recruited at five clinical centers (Montreal, Canada; Helsinki, Finland; Sapporo, Japan; São Paulo, Brazil; and Sydney, Australia). The subjects responded to the structured interview and provided blood and urine samples for biochemical analysis. This article focuses on the demographic characteristics of the study subjects, their drinking habits, alcohol-dependence characteristics, comorbid psychiatric and other drug variables, and predictors for seeking treatment for alcohol dependence. Multiple logistic regression models were constructed and used to explore variables that contribute to various levels of alcohol consumption, to a diagnosis of alcohol dependence, and to seeking treatment for alcohol dependence. ANOVA with post hoc comparisons, ,2, and Pearson moment calculations were used as necessary to assess additional relationships between variables. Results A number of factors previously noted in disparate studies were confirmed in our analysis. Men consumed more alcohol than women, Asians consumed less alcohol than whites or Blacks, alcohol-dependent subjects consumed more alcohol than nondependent subjects, alcohol consumption increased with age, and an increased level of education (university or postgraduate education) reduced the percentage of such individuals in the category designated as heavy drinkers (>210 g alcohol/week) and in the group who were currently in treatment for dependence. However, our analysis allowed for much more detailed comparisons; for example, although men drank more than women on a g/day basis, the differences were less pronounced on g/kg/day basis, and alcohol-dependent women drank equal amounts of alcohol as alcohol-dependent men on a g/kg/day basis. Antisocial personality characteristics or reports of trouble sleeping when an individual stops drinking were associated with higher alcohol intake. The most important of the tested factors that contributed to a DSM-IV diagnosis of dependence, however, was the report of anxiety if an individual stopped drinking. In terms of the various criteria within the DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence, no one criterion seemed to be prominent for individuals who sought alcohol dependence treatment, but the higher the number of criteria met by the individual, the higher was the probability that he or she would be in treatment. Conclusions This initial report is the beginning of the "data mining" of this rich data set. The cross-national/cross-cultural aspects of this study allowed for multiple comparisons of variables across several ethnic/racial groups and allowed for assessment of biochemical markers for alcohol intake and predisposition to alcohol dependence in diverse settings. [source] Does social problem solving mediate the relationship between personality traits and personality disorders?PERSONALITY AND MENTAL HEALTH, Issue 3 2010An exploratory study with a sample of male prisoners Background Social problem solving therapy is one helpful approach to treating people with personality disorders (PD). Consequently, it is worthwhile to develop a greater understanding of the role of social problem solving in PD. One hypothesis is that social problem solving mediates the relationship between personality dimensions and personality disorder. This premise was explored in a sample of male prisoners, a population known to have a high prevalence of PD. Method Sixty-eight men completed the International Personality Disorder Examination (IPDE), NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and the Social Problem-Solving Inventory,Revised: Short Version (SPSI-R:S). The data were explored for direct and indirect mediational effects of social problem solving variables in the personality dimension,PD relationship, using methods appropriate for small samples and multiple mediators. Results A number of relationships between personality dimensions, social problem solving, and personality disorder traits were identified, but only for paranoid, schizotypal, borderline, narcissistic, and avoidant PDs. Discussion These findings support the hypothesis that social problem solving mediates between personality dimensions and some PDs. Further research is necessary to verify these relationships. However, these findings begin to clarify the mechanisms by which personality dimensions relate to PDs. This knowledge has potential to contribute to the development of more effective interventions for people with particular personality dimensions and specific personality disorders. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] 2451: What's new in neuroprotectionACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2010L WHEELER Purpose Vision loss is a an important patient concern in glaucoma and retinal diseases. This talk will update recent findings with alpha-2 agonists and NMDA antagonists in light of recent clinical experience in neuroprotection. Alpha-2 agonists have been shown to be neuroprotective in many animal models by mechanisms thought to enhance neuronal survival. The physiological role of alpha-2 receptors is still an emerging area of research in the retina and optic nerve. Methods Recent experiments suggest that alpha-2 agonists can improve retinal performance in laboratory animals. The new methods to demonstrate this will be presented. How is this different than neuroprotection? Or is it? Results A number of ideas are being pursued to explain the observation of improved retinal performance: increased axonal transport in rats; changes in down stream receptor signalling, etc. Conclusion Understanding the mechanism(s)of action for how alpha-2 agonists affect neuroportection and retinal performance may lead to new medical therapies and the role of these receptors in the physiology and function of the eye. Commercial interest [source] 4245: Non-surgical strategies for PCO preventionACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2010IM WORMSTONE Purpose Surgical approaches and IOL design have gone some way to reduce the rate of PCO progression. Despite these efforts PCO remains a common and important problem which diminishes the visual quality of patients and is a major financial burden on healthcare providers. If we are to effectively respond to the problem of PCO then a biological solution has to be adopted to reduce/prevent formation of light scattering changes. Methods Methods have been employed to investigate PCO development, which include in vitro cell culture and capsular bag models; in vivo animal models and post-mortem analysis. These have greatly aided our understanding of PCO. Results A number of basic approaches have been identified to prevent PCO. 1) To kill the entire lens epithelial population. This will require a pharmacological agent, therefore delivery of this drug needs to be localised to the target cells, but have limited access to non-target cells; closed capsular bag systems such as perfect capsule provides opportunity to achieve this aim. 2) Maintenance of a cell monolayer on the posterior capsule. In particular the role of TGF, has been investigated, which is known to cause matrix deformation. Disruption of TGF, signalling pathways can suppress matrix deformation and thus reduce light scatter. 3) Recreation of a lens is the ultimate solution. While it has been shown that lens fibre differentiation can be promoted in animal systems, perfect formation of the lens is not achieved and the protein density is typically low relative to the native lens. Conclusion Strategies to prevent PCO are being actively developed, which will are greatly aided by improved drug delivery systems. The development of biological/pharmacological approaches in concert with improved surgical methods and IOL designs should yield benefit to patients. Commercial interest [source] Revision of the subgenus Wichuraea (M.Roemer) Baker of BomareaMirbel (Alstroemeriaceae)FEDDES REPERTORIUM, Issue 3-4 2003A. Hofreiter The subgenus Wichuraea of Bomarea (Alstroemeriaceae) was last revised by Baker (1888) as part of his revision of the genus Bomarea. Since then the number of validly published names has increased from seven to recently 50, indicating an urgent need for further revision. Extensive field studies in Peru (A. Hofreiter) and depth investigation of herbarium material have led to new insights into the subgenus. As a result a number of Bomarea species formerly placed under Wichuraea are relocated to another subgenus, a large number of names are placed into synonymy and one species, Bomarea vargasiiHofreiter sp. nova, and one subspecies, Bomareaandimarcana subsp. andimarcanaHofreiter comb. nov. und B. andimarcana subsp. densifoliaHofreiter comb. nov., are newly described. A key to the 16 species is given. Field studies revealed that even taxonomically valuable characters can be remarkably variable, even within a single population. This has demonstrably resulted in a high degree of taxa instability in the group. The typical habit and its variability, preferred habitats and the geographical distribution of each species is presented. Revision der Untergattung Wichuraea (M.Roemer) Baker der Gattung BomareaMirbel (Alstroemeriaceae) Die Untergattung Wichuraea wurde zuletzt von Baker (1888) als Teil der Revision von Bomarea (Alstroemeriaceae) revidiert. Seit dieser Zeit hat die Zahl gültig veröffentlichter Namen von sieben auf 50 zugenommen. Eine Revision erscheint deshalb dringend erforderlich. Die Grundlage für diese Arbeit wurde bei ausführlichen Feldstudien in Peru (A. Hofreiter) und umfangreichen Analysen von Herbarmaterial gelegt. Durch die vorliegende Revision wird die Anzahl der Arten auf 16 reduziert. Ein Teil der bisher zu Wichuraea gestellten Arten gehört zu einer anderen Untergattung, ein weiterer Teil der Namen muss in die Synonymie verwiesen werden. Eine Art, Bomarea vargasiiHofreiter sp. nova, und eine Unterart, Bomarea andimarcana subsp. andimarcanaHofreiter comb. nov. und B. andimarcana subsp. densifoliaHofreiter comb. nov., werden neu beschrieben. Feldstudien ergaben eine hohe Variabilität der Merkmale, selbst innerhalb einer Population. Dies hat z. B. allein bei Bomarea dulcis zu 14 Synonymen geführt. Für jede Art werden die typische Wuchsform und deren Variabilität, die bevorzugten Standorte und die geographische Verbreitung dargestellt. [source] | ||||||||||