Effect of inflammation of enteric nerves. Cytokine-induced changes in neurotransmitter content and release.

The results of our previously published work provide evidence of inflammation-induced functional disturbances in the enteric nervous system. Data presented in this paper describe our preliminary results indicating that the altered function in enteric nerves in the nematode-infected rat model of intestinal inflammation is mediated by interleukin-1. This is based on the ability of the exogenous cytokine to mimic changes observed in the model, and on the ability of a specific IL-1 antagonist to attenuate these changes.

A comparison of cognitive measures in low back pain: statistical structure and clinical validity at initial assessment.

Four cognitive measures--MHLC, PLC, CSQ and PRSS/PRCS--were directly compared in 120 U.K. patients with chronic low back pain.

Pain: psychological and psychiatric factors.

Recent research in the field of chronic pain has highlighted the importance of the assessment of psychological factors as part of the overall assessment of the chronic pain patient. Reliance only on self report of pain is inadequate. A number of different approaches have been taken to psychological evaluation, ranging from formal assessment of psychiatric illness to self-report questionnaires and clinical evaluation.

[Optimizing the learning process in short-term autogenic training by practice protocols].

The results of two studies are presented, in which the question was investigated, whether the learning process of autogenic training (AT) in short group programs can be improved by the use of a self-control technique (records for the AT-exercises realized without the group at home). Study I refers to 24 university students, who learned AT within their psychology education; Study II refers to 28 adults, who learned AT within a psychosocial community service for adults. Within control-group designs evaluative and follow-up data were gathered before, during, at the end, and 4 months after the AT-treatment.

Early intervention in low back disability among coal miners in West Virginia: negative findings.

A major issue in the field of workers' compensation is cost containment, not only of medical costs, but of extended disability costs as well. For a 9-month period in 1985 to 1986, the West Virginia Workers' Compensation Fund tested an early intervention case management approach begun within 2 weeks after injury and found it not to be cost effective. In a controlled study of 284 reported back injuries among underground coal miners, medical costs increased with the case management intervention, although only to the extent of the added costs of the intervention, and disability costs and time lost from work did not decrease.

A psychometric evaluation of adult patients with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus: prevalence of psychological dysfunction and relationship to demographic variables, metabolic control and complications.

The relationship between psychosocial traits and glycaemic control and complications was examined in 130 adults (83 men, 47 women) with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Abnormal depression ratings were observed in more women (19.1%) than men (12.

Antioxidant therapy for recurrent pancreatitis: placebo-controlled trial.

Oxidant stress has been proposed as the initiating pathogenetic mechanism in pancreatitis, hence micronutrient antioxidant therapy has been assessed in patients with recurrent attacks and/or constant pancreatic pain. In a 20-week double-blind double-dummy crossover trial active treatment was given as two types of tablets providing daily doses of 600 micrograms organic selenium, 9000 IU beta carotene, 0.54 g vitamin C, 270 IU vitamin E and 2 g methionine.

Spinal vs. supraspinal actions of morphine on the rat tail-flick reflex.

A controversy exists as to whether morphine attenuates spinal cord nociceptive transmission through a supraspinal site of action. The approach of examining the effects of morphine on spinal cord nociceptive transmission in the presence and absence of spinal cord conduction has led to conflicting conclusions. We have compared the effects of morphine on the rat tail-flick reflex (TFR) in lightly anaesthetized animals in the presence and absence of a spinal cord cold-block.

Immunocytochemical localization of chorionic gonadotropin, placental lactogen, and placental alkaline phosphatase in the diagnosis of complete and partial hydatidiform moles.

Complete hydatidiform moles (CHMs) and partial hydatidiform moles (PHMs) represent different clinicopathologic entities with characteristic morphologic and cytogenetic findings. In the absence of cytogenetic data, the histologic distinction between these lesions and abortuses showing hydropic swelling (AHS) may be difficult. An immunocytochemical study analyzing the distribution of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), human placental lactogen (hPL), and placental alkaline phosphatase (PlAP) in CHMs, PHMs, and AHS was undertaken to determine whether the expression of these trophoblastic proteins might assist in the differential diagnosis.

Psychometric construction and validity of the Pilowsky Illness Behaviour Questionnaire in British patients with chronic low back pain.

The psychometric construction and validity of the 62-item Illness Behaviour Questionnaire has been examined in a study of 200 British patients suffering from chronic low back pain. 25 of the 62 items were unsatisfactory. Three new scales (AHD, LD and SI) represented a statistical improvement on the original scales, but were of little additional value to established measures in the analysis of reported pain or disability.

Applied relaxation training for generalised anxiety and panic attacks: the efficacy of a learnt coping strategy on subjective reports.

The results of applied relaxation training in patients with generalised anxiety and panic attacks are reported. ART was taught during one session, by means of participant demonstration, written instructions, taped instructions, or a combination of all three, with instructions to practice at home. All four methods proved superior to a waiting list control, but there were no differences between the treatment groups.

Psychological assessment in general orthopaedic practice.

The importance of psychologic distress and illness behavior is well recognized in low-back pain but has rarely been studied in other orthopedic conditions. Psychologic and clinical assessment of 100 patients undergoing elective surgery for minor leg conditions or joint replacement for osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis showed surprisingly little psychologic distress or illness behavior, particularly when compared with 235 patients with low-back pain. The most striking finding was that in low-back pain there was a close relation between psychologic disturbance and failed surgery, but the nonspinal patients showed a complete absence of such a relation.

Symptoms and signs: physical disease or illness behaviour?

The amount of treatment received by 380 patients with backache was found to have been influenced more by their distress and illness behaviour than by the actual physical disease. Patients showing a large amount of inappropriate illness behaviour had received significantly more treatment (p less than 0.001).

Intermediate trophoblast: a distinctive form of trophoblast with specific morphological, biochemical and functional features.

Morphological and immunohistochemical analysis of placental tissue from 12 days to term using antibodies directed against the unique carboxyl terminal peptide of human chorionic gonadotrophin beta subunit, human placental lactogen (hPL) and pregnancy-specific beta I-glycoprotein reveals that an intermediate form of trophoblast with distinctive features exists. This cell has a diverse morphological expression and is located overlying chorionic villi, in the trophoblastic columns, basal plate and the trophoblastic shell. Although all three placental proteins are localized in this cell the predominant hormone is hPL, which can serve as an immunocytochemical marker.

Instrumentation for measurement of dental plaque thickness in situ.

A commercial digital micrometer has been modified mechanically and electronically to allow the measurement, in situ, of the thickness of dental plaque. The device detects initial contact between a moving probe and the plaque, and measures subsequent probe displacement through to the tooth surface. Instrument accuracy is +/- 5 micron over a displacement range of 0-5 mm, with 1 micron resolution.

Chronic low-back pain, psychologic distress, and illness behavior.

The authors have calculated the mathematic relationship between measured elements of illness behavior in chronic low-back pain. Objective physical impairment accounts for about one-half the total disability that also is affected by psychologic reactions. The most important psychologic disturbance in low-back pain is emotional distress, measured on questionnaires as increased bodily awareness and depression and presenting clinically as inappropriate descriptions of symptoms and inappropriate responses to physical examination.

Assessment of severity in low-back disorders.

Physical impairment and disability are defined, simple clinical methods of assessing them in low-back disorders are described, and the relationship between them analyzed.

Immunocytochemical localization of placental lactogen and chorionic gonadotropin in the normal placenta and trophoblastic tumors, with emphasis on intermediate trophoblast and the placental site trophoblastic tumor.

This report presents preliminary observations on the immunocytochemical localization of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and human placental lactogen (hPL) in placental site trophoblastic tumors, hydatidiform moles, and choriocarcinomas and compares the findings with those of a similar immunocytochemical analysis of the placenta at various stages of development. In addition to cytotrophoblast (CT) and syncytiotrophoblast (ST), a third form of trophoblast designated "intermediate trophoblast" (IT) is present during normal pregnancy and in trophoblastic disease. Intermediate trophoblastic cells are mononucleate, larger than CT, and contain more abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm, resulting in a partial resemblance to ST.