Guidelines for cognitive behavioral training within doctoral psychology programs in the United States: report of the Inter-organizational Task Force on Cognitive and Behavioral Psychology Doctoral Education.

The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies initiated an interorganizational task force to develop guidelines for integrated education and training in cognitive and behavioral psychology at the doctoral level in the United States. Fifteen task force members representing 16 professional associations participated in a year-long series of conferences, and developed a consensus on optimal doctoral education and training in cognitive and behavioral psychology. The recommendations assume solid foundational training that is typical within applied psychology areas such as clinical and counseling psychology programs located in the United States.

Introduction to the special section from recent Association of Psychologists in Academic Health Centers (APAHC) programs.

The Association of Psychologists in Academic Health Centers (APAHC) offers programming at the annual American Psychological Association (APA) conventions as well as periodic APAHC conferences. Participants from academic health centers across the country convened in St. Louis, Missouri, October 15-17, 2009, for the 4th National Conference of the Association of Psychologists in Academic Health Centers (APAHC).

Oxidative stress parameters in plasma of Huntington's disease patients, asymptomatic Huntington's disease gene carriers and healthy subjects : a cross-sectional study.

Background: Animal data and postmortem studies suggest a role of oxidative stress in the Huntington's disease (HD), but in vivo human studies have been scarce.

Aim: To assess the presence of oxidative stress in HD patients and its occurrence relative to clinical symptoms.

Methods: Oxidative stress markers were determined in plasma of HD patients (n = 19), asymptomatic HD gene carriers (with > 38 CAG repeats) (n = 11) and their respective sex and agematched healthy controls (n = 47 and n = 22) in a cross-sectional study.

Effects of melatonin on plasma oxidative stress in rats with streptozotocin induced diabetes.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of single melatonin injection on plasma oxidative stress in rats with streptozotocin induced diabetes. Diabetes was induced after a single intraperitoneal dose of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg), while hyperglycemia was determined 10 days upon injection. Diabetic rats were divided into two groups.

Alloxan induced cataract in a rat.

We have measured lipid peroxidation and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in lenses of alloxan injected rats. After 12 weeks alloxan treated rats developed lens cataract. Diabetes rats had both lower lens weight and lower level of proteins in soluble fraction of lens homogenate.

Protein carbonylation and glycation in human lenses.

It has been observed protein carbonylation and glycation in the lens epithelial cell fractions of lenses in people with mature cataract. We used lenses of diabetic patients, weak and strong cigarette smokers and people who had senile cataract. The protein glycation is the highest in a diabetic senile cataract patients and the lowest in non-diabetic senile cataract patients.

Behavioral treatments for adult dental avoidance. A stepped-care approach.

The growing research literature dealing with the psychologic treatment of dental fear and avoidance suggests several interventions as effective, but provides little guidance in choosing among them. Under these circumstances, experienced psychologic practitioners may choose among these interventions on the basis of their own clinical impressions as to which treatment might be best suited to each patient they see. An alternative approach is the stepped-care approach in which the least expensive/most practical intervention is implemented, with more costly or complex procedures implemented only if the less expensive intervention proves unsuccessful.

Effect of dexamethasone on glycogen deposition in pregnant rats and their fetuses.

Glycogen deposition was determined in pregnant rats and their fetuses twenty four hrs after maternal treatment with dexamethasone in the final days of pregnancy. Dexamethasone increases glycogen accumulation in the fetal liver, heart, adrenal glands and thymus. Simultaneously, it increases the glycogen concentration in maternal liver.

Inhibiting effects of hypervitaminosis A on development of fetal rat adrenal glands.

Administration of pregnant rats with excess amounts of vitamin A from the 8th to the 10th day of pregnancy induced destruction in fetal brain. On the last day of pregnancy, fetuses of treated mothers have smaller weight of adrenal glands as compared with intact fetuses. Maternal treatment with high amounts of vitamin A significantly reduced protein and nucleic acids levels and inhibited cell multiplication in fetal rat adrenal glands.

Nucleic acids, glycogen deposition and adrenal gland steroidogenesis in rats with a pituitary mammotropic tumor (MtTF4).

Rats which have an excess of ACTH, growth hormone and prolactin from a pituitary mammotropic tumor (MtT) show a marked growth of adrenal glands, liver, spleen and kidneys. Protein, DNA, RNA and cell numbers were increased in liver, adrenal glands, spleen and decreased in thymus of tumor bearing rats as compared to intact rats. MtT tumor decreased glycogen deposition in liver, adrenal glands, thymus and pituitary of MtT tumor bearing rats.

The effects of dexamethasone on nucleic acid synthesis and cell numbers in rat fetuses.

Pregnant rats were treated with dexamethasone in drinking water (10 micrograms/ml) from the 15th to the 22nd day of pregnancy. Dexamethasone significantly depressed cell numbers in fetal rat adrenal glands, liver, lung, testes and pituitary from the 17th to the 22nd day of pregnancy. These data indicated that dexamethasone retarded cell multiplication in rat fetuses.

Characteristics of clients seeking therapy for the reduction of dental avoidance: reactions to pain.

Avoidant dental patients responding to advertisements offering behavioral treatment for avoidance of dentistry were compared with patients particularly low in dental fear along a number of dimensions. Factors which discriminated between the two groups were: gender; the neuroticism scale of the Eysenck Personality Inventory; several self-reported reactions to past dental treatment; tolerance for dental (but not non-dental) pain; state anxiety during pain testing; and a measure of "efficacy". This last finding suggested that avoidant subjects saw themselves as less able to tolerate electrical tooth pulp stimulation and dental treatment than did their fearless counterparts, but no different in ability to tolerate pain irrelevant to dentistry (shock to the forearm).

Influence of dexamethasone on growth and development of rat fetuses: changes in nucleic acids and protein content.

Pregnant rats were treated with dexamethasone in drinking water (10 micrograms/ml) from the 15th to the 22nd day of pregnancy. Dexamethasone significantly reduced the weight of rat fetuses and concentration of DNA, RNA and proteins in fetal adrenal glands, liver, placenta, brain, kidneys, heart, lung, testes and pituitary from the 17th to the 22nd day of pregnancy. These data show that dexamethasone given to pregnant rat may lead to potentially deleterious effects on fetal rat development.

Treatment of an overactive gag reflex: two cases.

Two cases are presented in which avoidance of dental work was caused by an overactive gag reflex rather than fear. Subjects were able to demonstrate increased control of gagging in the laboratory, and to complete a series of dental visits immediately after treatment and again at 6 or 12 month follow-up. Assessment and treatment strategies which were developed with these subjects are described.

Interview vs. paper-and-pencil administration of the McGill Pain Questionnaire.

In a 2 x 2 design, college student subjects described one of two levels of cold pressor pain (threshold or tolerance) with the McGill Pain Questionnaire administered via one of two modes (interview or paper-and-pencil). Interview administration was associated with higher scores on 5 of the 6 MPQ scores calculated. Data did not support the notion that this effect is entirely attributable to increased probability of interviewed subjects' endorsement of descriptors for which clarification of meaning was sought.

Sensitivity of the McGill Pain Questionnaire to intensity and quality of laboratory pain.

Subjects completed a modified McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) to describe one of two laboratory stressors (cold pressor or electrical tooth pulp stimulation) at one of two subjective intensities (pain threshold or pain tolerance). Differences in MPQ-derived scores were associated with both type of stressor and intensity level, as were patterns of frequently chosen word groups and specific words. These data support the validity of interpretations drawn from MPQ differences in clinical practice and research.

Influence of ACTH secreting tumor (MtTF4) on fetal rat adrenal gland steroidogenesis in vitro in prolonged pregnancy.

Pregnant female rats with ACTH secreting tumor (MtTF4) have prolonged pregnancy and cannot deliver. The fetuses of tumor bearing females have in prolonged pregnancy on days 24 and 25 of pregnancy greater body weight and smaller adrenal weight as compared to intact fetuses of the 22nd day of pregnancy. The fetal adrenal glands converted to vitro 4-14C progesterone to radioactive 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC), corticosterone (B), 18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone (18-OH-DOC), 18-hydroxy-corticosterone (18-OH-B) and aldosterone.

Fetal rat adrenal gland steroidogenesis in vitro in prolonged pregnancy.

Progesterone, injected into pregnant rats on the last days of pregnancy, prolonged pregnancy and prevented parturition. The fetuses from mothers whose pregnancies were prolonged have greater body and adrenal weights on days 23 and 24 of gestation as compared with 1- and 2-day-old rats. The adrenal glands of fetuses and neonatal rats converted in vitro 4-(14)C-progesterone to 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC), corticosterone (B), 18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone (18-OH-DOC), 18-hydroxy-corticosterone (18-OH-B) and aldosterone.

Reactions to pain among subjects high and low in dental fear.

Differential pain tolerance might account for the diversity of reactions commonly seen in response to stressful medical and dental procedures. College students reporting themselves either highly fearful or nonfearful of dental work were compared in several aspects of their reactions to dental and nondental pain. The two groups did not differ in pain threshold or pain tolerance assessed during tooth pulp stimulation or during electrical stimulation of the forearm.

Reports of pain after dental treatment, electrical tooth pulp stimulation, and cutaneous shock.

A growing body of literature suggests that pain is a crucial factor in the development and maintenance of apprehension toward dental treatment. These findings are often at variance with dental practitioners' impressions that routine dental treatment is virtually painless. Data from this study suggest that routine dental treatment is seldom perceived by regular patients as painless but is seen as low in intensity of pain compared with mild laboratory stressors.

Fetal rat adrenal growth and steroidogenesis in vitro after maternal dexamethasone treatment.

Two groups of female rats were treated with dexamethasone phosphate (DEX) for 24 h. One group received DEX in drinking water (10 micrograms/ml) on the 15th day of pregnancy (DEX15--16), and the second group on the 17th day of pregnancy (DEX 17--18). The mothers and fetuses were sacrificed on the 20th and 22nd days of pregnancy.