Intensive physical activity and alexithymia: results from swimmers' discourse analysis.

The aim of this study was to describe and understand the relationship of swimmers' practice intensity and alexithymia features in discourse. This study investigated psychological processes in two groups of male swimmers training at different intensities. The first group was composed of 10 Expert amateurs (M age = 19.

Schizophrenia: the quest for a minimum sense of identity to ward off delusional disorder.

Objective: This study was designed to analyze the language of patients with schizophrenia exhibiting negative symptoms during a 3-month period.

Method: The computer-assisted ALCESTE method was used to simultaneously analyze the subjects' oral behaviour and speech patterns at various levels.

Results: The tested subjects had very specific speech patterns.

Increased sense of identity in delusional disorders.

Language, which is unique in each subject, can reflect how a patient copes with disease. The method ALCESTE used here made it possible at the same time to analyse the subject's verbal behavior and speech patterns at several levels. The present study was designed to analyse during a 3-mo.

Comparison of textual analysis applied to two lectures written three years apart by one author: the language satellites.

A comparative textual analysis was carried out on two essays "Thanatol" and "Double Talk," by F. Perrier, which were originally lectures given three years apart by the author, a psychoanalyst. This study involved the use of the ALCESTE software program, a computer-assisted method of discourse analysis.

Personality factors, stoicism and motivation in subjects under hypoxic stress in extreme environments.

Previous studies on the physiological and psychological adaptation of subjects to survival conditions involving high-altitude hypoxia (>6,500 m) have shown that personality factors are important in this adaptation. We, therefore, proposed personality traits assessments in two groups of subjects engaged in sporting activities under extreme hypoxic environmental conditions: a group of mountaineers at high altitudes (>5,500 m) and a group of free-lung divers at great depths (<30-60 m). These subjects were compared with two control groups: a group of subjects practicing no sport and another one practicing various competitive athletic activities involving speed constraints.

Effects of different stay durations on attentional performance during two mountain expeditions.

Background: Hypoxia-induced deficits in intellectual performance are linked to the altitude level reached, the speed of the ascent and the time spent at high altitude. This study analyzes attentional changes during adaptation to two different types of stay at high altitude on two different expeditions: one involving a 16-d trip between 2,000 m and 5,600 m, followed by a 2-d ascent to 6,440 m and back again; the other, a 21-d stay at 6,542 m. We tested the hypothesis that, at similar high altitudes, decrements in attentional performance would only occur during a long duration stay.

Criteria for psychological adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia.

The purpose of this study was to test an ascent program for ideal psychological adaptation to high altitudes. A psychological approach was used to test a model describing a gradual step-by-step ascent. Seven subjects spent nine days between 3,500 m and 4,400 m altitude, followed by eight days climbing 500 m each day from 3,500 m to 5,400 m.

Discursive strategies of subjects with high altitude hypoxia: extreme environment.

A discourse analysis was carried out on nine European lowlanders during a 2-month scientific expedition at high altitude including a 3-week stay in extreme survival conditions at the summit of Mt. Sajama (6542 m), in order to contribute to the understanding of psychological adaptation to extreme environments. This discourse analysis was part of a wide-ranging scientific investigation involving 12 scientific and medical research protocols which targeted human adaptation to high altitude chronic hypoxia.

A new approach to discourse analysis in psychiatry, applied to a schizophrenic patient's speech.

Objective: Progress in the science of data analysis and computer technology has led to the development of advanced methods for investigating structure discourse in the psychiatric field, where language constitutes a useful investigative and therapeutic tool. The purpose of this study was to present and use a computer-assisted method of discourse analysis (Alceste-software) to analyse the schizophrenic subject's oral contributions regularly collected for 3 months.

Method: The method used consisted of modelling the main word distribution in spoken recordings pooled together and identifying the repetitive language patterns most frequently used by the speaker.

Pain perception under chronic high-altitude hypoxia.

Following studies of respiratory sensory functions during high-altitude adaptation, pain perception investigations were carried out on European lowlanders during an expedition on the Bhrikuti peak, Himalaya (first ascent). Perception thresholds and discrimination performances of electrical stimuli applied to the skin were determined with a constant stimulus method. Additionally, Clark's Situational Pain Questionnaire was used to measure discriminability and response bias of the subjects' reports of pain.

The sensation of respiration in men experiencing high-altitude chronic hypoxia.

Respiratory sensation was studied in seven European lowlanders during a Himalayan expedition at over 6000 m. At rest, the ability to detect added inspiratory resistive loads can be used to create a sensitivity index P(A) taking response bias (B) into account based on Sensory Decision Theory. The data indicate that respiratory sensitivity may be involved in successful adaptation to hypoxia.

Psychological changes during altitude hypoxia.

We examined the effects of altitude hypoxia on the subject's cognitive functions and psychological state. Two assessment approaches were used, a cognitive-motor task and a structured interview. An experimental group of six subjects was tested three times: once under conditions of normoxia, once 8-20 h after a rapid climb to an altitude of 4383 m, and once 48-60 h after ascent to that altitude.

Changes in human respiratory sensation induced by acute high altitude hypoxia.

Respiratory sensation was studied in European low-landers at an altitude of 4382 m after a helicopter flight in order to investigate the acute and prolonged effects of high altitude hypoxia. At rest the ability to detect four inspiratory resistive loads can be used to create a sensitivity index P(A) without taking the response bias (B) into account, based on the Sensory Decision Theory. In 6 subjects respiratory sensitivity increased significantly under acute and prolonged hypoxia after 3-4 days of high altitude exposure.

A comparison of nutritional profiles of patients with alcohol-related pancreatitis and cirrhosis.

A multifactorial study of 58 variables of alcohol, dietary and tobacco habits of 106 chronic alcoholic and normal subjects was conducted over 2 years. The alcoholic population included subjects with either calcifying chronic pancreatitis (CCP) or cirrhosis (Ci). A standardized, previously validated questionnaire was used to investigate dietary intakes, drinking and smoking habits.

Nutritional profiles of chronic alcoholics.

An epidemiological study of 58 variables from 300 chronic alcoholic and normal subjects was carried out in the Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Neurology, Psychiatry and Alcohology Departments in order to research, within this chronic alcoholic population, a correlation between diet, alcohol intake, tobacco use and the various alcohol-related diseases. A standardized questionnaire (previously tested) was used to relate dietary intakes (proteins, fats, carbohydrates, water and energy) to drinking and smoking habits. Discriminant analyses were used as appropriate.

The respiratory sensation at high altitude.

The respiratory sensation was studied in Nepal at four different altitudes, 1377 m before and after the ascension, 2800 m, 3900 m and 530 m. Dyspnea was noted at each altitude for the nine subjects. They had to rate 4 external resistive loads between 2.

Influence of environmental conditions on exocrine pancreatic response to intravenous injection of ethanol or 2-deoxyglucose in the dog.

When dogs have free access to the outside, an intravenous injection of ethanol depresses secretin-stimulated exocrine pancreatic secretion by a vagally mediated mechanism. This was shown in two separate series of six and seven dogs each. When dogs were kept in air-conditioned windowless kennels, the response to a meal was unchanged but the response to ethanol was reversed to stimulation.

Simultaneous mechanisms on exocrine pancreatic secretion initiated by alcohol in the conscious dog.

Modifications of pancreatic secretion induced by the infusion of alcohol were investigated in seven Thomas fistula dogs. Acute intravenous injections of low doses of alcohol induced a significant increase of all parameters of pancreatic secretion. On the contrary the acute intravenous injection of high doses of alcohol induced a significant decrease of pancreatic secretion.

Repeated I. V. injections of calcium salts give rise to increased exocrine pancreatic cell sensitivity to caerulein and urecholine in the dog.

The persisting modifications induced by repeated intravenous infusion of calcium salts were investigated in five dogs with Thomas fistulae. Five control dogs were also tested. In calcium treated dogs the pancreatic secretion stimulated by graded doses of either caerulein or urecholine showed: a) an increase in the sensitivity of acinar cells to caerulein and urecholine and potentiation by caerulein of the water and bicarbonate response to secretin, in contrast to the decreased sensitivity to secretin alone reported previously.

Pancreatic basal secretion in alcohol-fed and normal dogs.

Biochemical, histological, and crystallographic studies were carried out on basal pancreatic secretion of 4 dogs fed alcohol for 12-15 months and 11 control dogs. The results in alcohol-fed dogs when compared to normals showed that: (1) protein concentration was higher, (2) fluid was decreased; (3) conductivity was decreased leading to differences in ionic distribution: Cl- and H+ ion concentrations increased, HCO3 concentrations and output decreased, total Ca, Mg, and Zn soluble in the juice did not change and therefore Ca, Mg, and Zn to protein ratios decreased. In the basal secretion of alcoholic dogs, numerous plugs were found of which three components were identified: (1) cells mostly of ductal origin; (2) calcium already crystallized; (3) protein material in the center of these plugs.

Persisting modifications of dogs' basal exocrine pancreatic secretion after repeated intravenous calcium injections.

Biochemical, histological and crystallographic studies were carried out on the pure exocrine pancreatic juice of calcium treated dogs and of normal dogs. 1. A long-lasting effect of repeated intravenous calcium injections was observed on the protein basal secretion (output and concentration) with intraductal plug formation.

Response of the exocrine pancreas to graded doses of secretin in calcium-treated and normal dogs.

Persisting modifications induced by repeated intravenous calcium infusion (acute hypercalcaemia) were investigated in 6 Thomas fistula dogs: 4 controls and 4 calcium-treated dogs, two of which were studied as controls. (a) The pancreatic response to graded doses of synthetic secretin (water and bicarbonate outputs) was significantly reduced in calcium-treated dogs when compared with controls. As both the D50 for secretin-induced response increased, and the maximal secretory response decreased, if may be concluded that calcium treatment decreased the sensitivity of duct cells to secretin and reduced their secretory capacity.

Dose-dependent, and long-lasting, effects of repeated intravenous injections of calcium on the canine secretin-stimulated pancreatic juice secretion.

The effects of repeated intravenous calcium administration on pancreatic juice secretion were investigated in four Thomas fistula dogs. During stimulation by 1.0 U kg-1h-1 GIH secretin, three Ca doses were administered: 2, 4 and 8 mu mol kg-1 min-1 during 1 h, saline being used in control tests; one dose only was tested per day.