Hierarchy of the main factors predicting the decision to go to the doctor in a general population sample: A factorial survey design.

Objective: To obtain a hierarchy of the main factors that predict the decision to go to the doctor when symptoms are not yet linked to a specific disease.

Method: 64 representative vignettes, combinations of nine factors, were presented to 168 adults between 28-60 years of age.

Results: Multilevel multiple regression models were used to rank the main factors predicting urgency to see a doctor in order of importance: the interference of symptoms in daily activities (B = -1.

Chronic stress and calcium oxalate stone disease: influence on blood cortisol and urine composition.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of chronic stress (CS) on urine composition of calcium oxalate (CaOx) stone patients and controls.

Methods: This case-control study enrolled 128 patients during a period of 20 months. The cases were CaOx stone formers with a recent stone episode.

Chronic stress and calcium oxalate stone disease: is it a potential recurrence risk factor?

Chronic emotional stress is associated with increased cortisol release and metabolism disorders. However, few studies have evaluated the influence of chronic stress on calcium oxalate (CaOx) stone disease and its recurrence. A total of 128 patients were enrolled in this case-control study over a period of 20 months.

Effects of posttraining damage to the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus on conditioned stimulus transfer in two-way active avoidance in rats.

The effects of posttraining excitotoxic lesions of the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg) on two-way active avoidance after changing the conditioned stimulus (CS) used during prelesion training were examined. Prelesion training was carried out with either a tone or a light as the CS, and this CS was changed during postlesion training. Replacing the tone with a light reduced the performance of control and lesioned rats, but the degree of reduction was higher in the latter.