Showing papers by "Vanderbilt University published in 1978"

Development of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) Scales

Abstract: The development of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scales is described. Scales have been developed to tap beliefs that the source of reinforcements for health-related behaviors is primarily internal, a matter of chance, or under the control of powerful others. These scales are based on earlier work with a general Health Locus of Control Scale, which, in turn, was developed from Rotter's social learning theory. Equivalent forms of the scales are presented along with initial internal consistency and validity data. Possible means of utilizing these scales are provided.

Locus of Control and Health: A Review of the Literature:

Abstract: Locus of control, an individual difference construct from social learning theory, has shown some promise in predicting and explaining specific health-related behaviors. Research is reviewed on the utility of the locus of control construct in understanding smoking reduction, birth control utilization, weight loss, information-seeking, adherence to medication regimens, and other health or sick-role behaviors. Implications for health educators are presented.

Double representation of the body surface within cytoarchitectonic area 3b and 1 in “SI” in the owl monkey (aotus trivirgatus)

Abstract: Microelectrode multiunit mapping studies of parietal cortex in owl monkeys indicate that the classical "primary" somatosensory region (or "SI") including the separate architectonic fields 3a, 3b, 1, and 2 contains as many as four separate representations of the body rather than one, An analysis of receptive field locations for extensive arrays of closely placed recording sites in parietal cortex which were later related to cortical architecture led to the following conclusions: (1) There are two large systematic representations of the body surface within "SI." Each is activated by low threshold cutaneous stimuli; one representation is coextensive with Area 3b and the other with Area 1. (2) While each of these representations contains regions of cortex with topological or "somatotopic" transformations of skin surface, the representations have many discontinuities where adjoining skin surfaces are not adjoining in the representations. Thus, the representations can be considered as composites of somatotopically organized regions, but cannot be accurately depicted by simple continuous homunculi. Lines of discontinuity often cut across dermatomes and seldom follow dermatomal boundaries, i.e., neither cutaneous representation constitutes a systematic representation of dermatomal skin fields. (3) While the two cutaneous fields are basically similar in organization and are approxi- mate mirror images of each other, they differ in important details, i.e., lines of discontinuity in the representations and the sites of representations of dif- ferent specific skin surfaces differ significantly in the two representations. (4) The two cutaneous representations also differ in size and in the relative propor- tions of cortex devoted to representation of various body parts. Because the pro- portions in each representation differ, they cannot both be simple reflections of overall peripheral innervation density. (5) All or part of Area 2 contains a sys- tematic representation of deep body structures. These conclusions are consistent with a view of the anterior parietal region as containing functionally distinct fields at least partially related to different subsets of receptor populations and coding or representing different aspects of somatic sensation. We suggest that the "SI" region of primates be redefined as a parietal somatosensory strip, the Area 1 representation as the posterior cuta- neous field, and, for reasons of probable homology with "SI" of other mammals, the Area 3b representation as SI proper.

An Overview of Psychological Measurement

Abstract: Because this book is being written for clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and kindred professionals, in this chapter it will be assumed that the reader is already familiar with fundamental issues relating to behavioral measurement and, consequently, that there will be no need to discuss low-level principles. Rather, the discussion will center on controversial issues that are of immediate importance to the professional clinician or researcher in the behavioral sciences. Whereas the examples chosen for this chapter to illustrate principles of measurement are particularly applicable to clinical diagnosis, the principles are quite general to empirical science. Because some methods of statistical and mathematical analysis are intimately related to the development and use of measurement methods, critical comments will be made about some prominent approaches to statistical analysis, but details regarding their applications will be left to referenced sources rather than be discussed in detail here. (Any reader who is not already familiar with fundamental principles of psychometric theory and analysis, or would like a refresher course in that regard, might want to consult my book Psychometric Theory, 1978.)

Epidermal growth factor stimulates phosphorylation in membrane preparations in vitro.

Abstract: EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR (EGF) forms a complex with plasma membrane receptors in intact cells that initiates a series of biochemical events resulting in increased cell growth in vivo and in vitro1. The interaction of EGF with membrane receptors has been demonstrated in crude membrane preparations2, but no biochemical alteration of the membrane resulting from hormone binding has been detected. To clarify the molecular mechanisms regulating cell proliferation, specific biochemical reactions initiated by mitogens such as EGF need to be investigated in cell-free systems. As the human epidermoid carcinoma cell line A-431 has an extraordinarily high concentration of EGF receptors3,4 (2–3 x 106 receptors per cell), we have used a crude membrane preparation from these cells to look for an EGF-dependent alteration of membrane structure and/or function. We report here that (1) membranes may be prepared from A-431 cells that retain the ability to bind 125I-labelled EGF in a specific manner, and (2) the binding of EGF to these membranes in vitro results in a marked stimulation of the phosphorylation of endogenous proteins in the presence of [γ-32P]ATP.

Theories of Social Conflict

Abstract: Conflict results from purposeful interaction among two or more parties in a competitive setting. It refers to overt behavior rather than to potential for action and to subjective states. According to Deutsch (1973:10), "competi­ tion implies an opposition in the goals of . . . interdependent parties such that the probability of goal attainment for one decreases as the probability for the other increases." Whereas a competitive situation might exist with­ out any awareness of it by the parties concerned, according to Boulding (1963:5) conflict "is a situation of competition in which the parties are aware of the incompatibility of potential future positions and in which each party wishes to occupy a position that is incompatible with the wishes of the other." "Social" conflict refers to conflict in which the parties are an aggregate of individuals, such as groups, organizations, communities, and crowds, rather than single individuals, as in role conflict. Group conflict is used as a synonym of social conflict in this essay. Finally, social conflict refers in common usage to interaction in which the means chosen by the parties in pursuit of their goals are likely to inflict damage, harm or injury, but not necessarily in every case. With this small proviso, Coser's definition of social conflict conveys its meaning very well (1967:232): "social conflict [is] a struggle over values or claims to status, power, and scarce resources, in which the aims of the conflict groups are not only to gain the desired values, but also to neutralize. injure, or eliminate rivals. " Social conflict encom­ passes a broad range of social phenomena: class, racial, religious, and communal conflicts; riots, rebellions, revolutions; strikes and civil disorders; marches, demonstrations, protest gatherings, and the like.

Patterns of retinal terminations and laminar organization of the lateral geniculate nucleus of primates.

Abstract: Autoradiographic tracing procedures have been used to study the organization of retinogeniculate axons in seven primates, i.e., four species of New World monkeys, one species of Old World monkeys and two species of prosimians. These data suggest that the basic primated pattern of geniculate lamination consists of two parvocellular layers, two magnocellular layers, and two poorly developed and highly variable superficial (S) layers which are ventrally lacoted. Ocular input to each member of each of the three pairs differs. In the macaque, the squirrel, and the saki monkey, the parvocellular layers subdivide and interdigitate into four leaflets so as to give the appearance of four parvocellular “layers”. These leaflets are much less extensive in the owl and marmoset monkeys. In some individual macaque monkeys, there is further splitting of the parvocellular leaflets into subleaflets, giving the appearance of six parvocellular “layers”. The prosimians (galago and slow loris) have two additional layers that are not found in pithecoid primates, and only one superficial layer is apparent. The two additional layers are termed “koniocellular” since they consist of very small cells. Finally, New and Old World monkeys have both ipsilateral and contralateral retinal input to the interlaminar zones. We conclude that the basic pattern of lateral geniculate organization is six layers, but not the traditional six. Prosimians have evolved two additional layers, the koniocellular layers, and have possibly lost one superficial layer. Both New World and Old World monkeys have elaborated the parvocellular layers by forming leaflets to varying extents. With the possible exception of the single S layer in prosimians, layers form pairs that are similar in cell types, but different in ocular input.

Effects of aging and liver disease on disposition of lorazepam.

Abstract: The disposition of lorazepam after intravenous administration (2 mg) was investigated in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and acute viral hepatitis, and compared to that in normal subjects ranging in age from 15 to 73 yr. No statistically significant age-dependent relationships in the drug's pharmacokinetic parameters were observed. Cirrhosis was associated with a doubling of the mean elimination half-life (21.7 ± 7.6 to 41.2 ± 24.5 hr). This was due to a similar increase in the volume of distribution of lorazepam, caused by a reduction in the extent of the drug's plasma binding (88.6 ± 2.5 from 93.2 ± 1.8). No changes in systemic plasma clearance of either the unbound (about 11 ml/min/kg) or bound plus unbound (about 0.75 ml/min/kg) lorazepam, or urinary recovery of conjugated drug (about 50%) were detected. In contrast, there were no significant changes in the kinetics of lorazepam in the patients with acute viral hepatitis. Comparison of lorazepam's systemic plasma clearance in the liver disease patients in whom studies with antipyrine and chlordiazepoxide had also been performed indicated impairment in their values but this was not the case for lorazepam. It is concluded that the degree of impairment, if any, in the metabolism of lorazepam in patients with liver disease is considerably less than that of certain other drugs including related benzodiazepines. Aging also does not lead to alterations either in distribution or metabolism as have been observed with other benzodiazepines. It is speculated that these observations may reflect characteristics of the drugs associated with their metabolic fate, i.e., glucuronidation or oxidative biotransformation.

Characterization of the Surface Glycoproteins of Rat Spermatozoa

Abstract: The present study investigates the macromolecular composition of a membrance fraction isolated from rat spermatozoa and uses specific biochemical probes to study the externally oriented plasma membrane glycoproteins of caput and cauda epididymal spermatozoa. A highly purified membrane fraction was isolated from rat cauda epididymal spermatozoa using sonication and differential centrifugation. SDS polyacrylamide gels of the isolated membrane fraction revealed a large number of Coomassie Blue staining bands (>25) and 5 PAS positive bands. The galactose oxidase-[3HI sodium borohydnide technique was employed on intact spermatozoa to radioactively label externally oriented plasma membrane glycoproteins possessing terminal galactose or galactosamine residues on their oligosaccharide chains. Cauda epididymal spermatozoa possess a 37,000 dalton glycoprotein on the cell surface which is labelled by this technique, but no such component is detected on caput epididymal spermatozoa. Similarly, radioactive labelling of surface sialo-glycoproteins by sequential treatment of spermatozoa with sodium metaperiodate and [3 HI sodium borohydride revealed that the 37,000 dalton glycoprotein could be labeled on cauda epididymal spermatozoa, but is not detected on caput epididymal spermatozoa. The significance of these results with respect to maturation of spermatozoa in the epididymis is discussed.

Biological determinants of propranolol disposition in man.

Abstract: Propranolol disposition has been investigated in 15 normal subjects with the use of a protocol which allowed simultaneous determination of the kinetics of the drug after both intravenous and oral administration by giving H3‐propranolol intravenously and native drug orally. In addition, plasma propranolol binding and the bloodlplasma propranolol concentration ratio (B/P) were measured. The data were used to calculate hepatic blood flow as well as systemic drug clearance from the blood and intrinsic clearance, which is an estimate of the activity of the drug‐metabolizing enzymes. Under the steady‐state conditions used, the hepatic extraction ratio was found to be 64% ± 2.5% (mean ± SE) resulting in a bioavailability of 36% ± 2.6%. Calculated liver blood flow varied from 778 to 2,162 ml/min, and, as predicted, the systemic clearance of propranolol (0.61 to 1.52 L/min) was correlated with both liver blood flow and intrinsic drug clearance (1.16 to 5.08 L/min). Variations in plasma drug binding had no effect on systemic clearance. Because of presystemic or “first‐pass” elimination, the variation in both free and total propranolol levels was greater after oral (5‐fold) than intravenous administration (2.5‐fold). We conclude that the approach described allows quantification of all of the biological determinants of propranolol disposition in subjects with normal hepatic vasculature.

Perceived Risk of Punishment and Self-Reported Delinquency

Abstract: Using data from a survey of students in six Arizona high schools, this paper examines the relation between perceived risk of punishment and selfreported delinquency. Consistent with the deterrence doctrine, the relation is inverse regardless of the location of the schools (metropolitan or small town), type of delinquency, or the kind of measure of perceived risk. However, measures of perceived personal risk (the individual's perception of his or her own risk) provide more consistent support for the deterrence doctrine than measures of perceived aggregate risk (perception of the risk for all juveniles in the same community). Moreover, personal risk is inversely related to delinquency even when social condemnation of delinquent offenses, attachment to conventional persons, and several status characteristics (e.g., age, sex) of the students are taken into account.

Relationship between the plasma glucose level and glucose uptake in the conscious dog.

Abstract: In the absence of a change in the pancreatic hormonal milieu, elevations in the normal fasting plasma glucose level have little effect on glucose clearance. In view of these data, and the previously established responsiveness of M to hormones, glucose clearance can be considered to represent a useful index of hormone action on glucose uptake in vivo. Care should be taken, however, when interpreting clearance data obtained under hypoglycemic conditions, since there is a possibility that clearance may spontaneously increase at very low plasma glucose levels.

Immunochemical identification of renin in rat brain and distinction from acid proteases.

Abstract: THE direct action of angiotensin II on the central nervous system is well recognised1–4. There is evidence for the presence in the brain of angiotensinogen5, angiotensins6–9, and angiotensin I converting enzyme10–12. These findings strongly suggest the presence of a brain renin–angiotensin system which may function independently from the somatic system. Renin-like activity in the brain has also been reported8,13,14. However, the acid pH optimum of the angiotensin I-generating activity in the brain13,14 led to the suggestion that this renin-like activity might be due to a nonspecific action of acid proteases released during homogenisation and that intrinsic brain renin might not exist14. Since this view has a profound implication on the origin and control of brain renin activity, we have sought to obtain an unequivocal answer as to whether the observed renin-like activity is indeed due to renin intrinsic to the brain. Using an affinity column capable of separating renin from general acid proteases, and by making use of specific antibodies to renin elicited by pure pig renin15. We demonstrate here the presence in rat brain of renin which is clearly distinct from acid protease.

Relation between plasma concentration of indomethacin and its effect on prostaglandin synthesis and platelet aggregation in man

Abstract: The dose and plasma levels of indomethacin correlated with inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis as measured both by urinary excretion of the major metabolite of prostaglandin E2 (PGE-M) and by the release of prostaglandin E2 from thrombin-stimulated platelets. Considerable intersubject variability was observed in the suppression of PGE-M excretion. In some patients 37.5 mg indomethacin daily, usually considered subtherapeutic, caused suppression. Maximal suppression (greater than 90%) occurred in some after a daily dose of 75 mg, whereas 150 mg was required to achieve this level of inhibition in others. Suppression of the excretion of PGE-M by 60% occurred when the end of the dosage interval plasma levels of indomethacin were in the range 0.05 to 0.3 microgram/ml, which implies that a somewhat higher average steady-state concentration during the dosage interval was required to achieve this effect. A similar degree of inhibition of the release of PGE2 on thrombin-stimulated platelets was associated with the same range of plasma levels. Upon discontinuation of the drug, the levels of indomethacin in plasma decreased exponentially; inhibition of the release of PGE2 from platelets by indomethacin declined linearly with time and in parallel with the logarithm of the diminishing plasma levels.

Homologous radioimmunoassay for human epidermal growth factor (urogastrone).

Abstract: Epidermal growth factor (EGF), a polypeptide hormone originally discovered in the mouse submaxillary gland, stimulates growth in a variety of tissues in several species. This hormone has recently been identified in human urine. A homologous RIA for human EGF (RIA-hEGF) has been developed. In general, levels were similar to those recently reported using a heterologous RIA system. Twenty-four-hour urinary excretion of RIA-hEGF by normal adult males and females was 63.0 ± 3.0 and 52.0 ± 3.5 (mean ± SE) μg/total vol, or 29.7 ± 1.1 and 39.8 ± 1.7 μg/g creatinine, respectively. Excretion by females taking oral contraceptives was significantly greater (60.1 ± 2.7 μg/g creatinine; P < 0.01) than that by females who were not. Recent evidence suggests the probable identity of hEGF and β-urogastrone, a potent inhibitor of gastric acid secretion. Adult males with active peptic ulcer disease appeared to have lower urinary RIA-hEGF excretion (22.9 ± 2.6 μg/g creatinine) than normal men, but this was not significant (P ...

Molecular properties of phytochrome

Abstract: The physiological experiments which led to the discovery of the photoreversible, morphogenically active plant chromoprotein phytochrome and to predictions concerning its molecular properties represent a classic example of a successful photobiological investigation (Hendricks, 1964). Biochemical and biophysical studies which followed verified many of these predictions. However, hypotheses concerning the molecular mode of action of phytochrome (Mohr, 1966; Borthwick et al., 1969; Mancinelli and Rabino, 1975; Schafer, 1975a) have not yet been definitively tested. A principal purpose of this review will be to summarize our present understanding of the molecular properties of phytochrome in order to provide a framework within which these latter hypotheses may 1976; Kendrick and Spruit, 1977; Marmk, 19771, monographs (Mohr, 1972; Smith, 1975) and symposium volumes (Mitrakos and Shropshire, 1972; Smith, 1976) concerning phytochrome have appeared in recent years. Because most of these reviews deal more with phytochrome-mediated events within intact tissues or whole organisms than with the molecular properties of the pigment itself, I shall emphasize those studies which involve direct in vitro biochemical or biophysical assay of phytochrome. In addition, since available reviews of the molecular properties of phytochrome generally cover literature up to about 1973, I shall further emphasize information which has appeared since that year.

Intensity factors for the I2 B↔X band system

Abstract: Franck-Condon factors and R -centroids are presented for the I 2 B ↔ X visible band system. The tabulations include values relevant for both bound-bound and bound-free transitions in absorption from low v levels and in fluorescence from selected v' levels.

Chronic brain disease: An overview.

Abstract: The author discusses the current state of clinical and pathological knowledge regarding chronic brain disease, focusing particularly on the dementias. His review of clinical studies deals with diagnostic issues and methods, etiology, and treatment. More basic research on brain alterations with aging, their relation to clinical manifestations of dementia, and studies of specific disorders are also reviewed. These disorders have been receiving increasing attention from psychiatrists, who are becoming more aware of the importance of organic cerebral factors in their patients' complaints. The need to understand the chronic brain diseases and their appropriate diagnosis and treatment will continue to grow as the proportion of older individuals in our society increases.