Is there a dark matter signal in the galactic positron annihilation radiation?

Assuming Galactic positrons do not go far before annihilating, a difference between the observed 511 keV annihilation flux distribution and that of positron production, expected from beta+ decay in Galactic iron nucleosynthesis, was evoked as evidence of a new source and signal of dark matter. We show, however, that the dark matter sources cannot account for the observed positronium fraction without extensive propagation. Yet with such propagation, standard nucleosynthetic sources can fully account for the spatial differences and positronium fraction, leaving no new signal for dark matter to explain.

Supplementation of postmenopausal women with fish oil does not increase overall oxidation of LDL ex vivo compared to dietary oils rich in oleate and linoleate.

Although replacement of dietary saturated fat with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (MUFA and PUFA) has been advocated for the reduction of cardiovascular disease risk, diets high in PUFA could increase low density lipoprotein (LDL) susceptibility to oxidation, potentially contributing to the pathology of atherosclerosis. To investigate this possibility, 15 postmenopausal women in a blinded crossover trial consumed 15 g of sunflower oil (SU) providing 12.3 g/day of oleate, safflower oil (SA) providing 10.5 g/day of linoleate, and fish oil (FO) providing 2.0 g/day of eicosapentaenoate (EPA) and 1.4 g/day of docosahexaenoate (DHA). During CuSO(4)-mediated oxidation, LDL was depleted of alpha-tocopherol more rapidly after FO supplementation than after supplementation with SU (P = 0.0001) and SA (P = 0.05). In LDL phospholipid and cholesteryl ester fractions, loss of n-3 PUFA was greater and loss of n-6 PUFA less after FO supplementation than after SU and SA supplementation (P < 0.05 for all), but loss of total PUFA did not differ. The lag phase for phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide (PCOOH) formation was shorter after FO supplementation than after supplementation with SU (P = 0.0001) and SA (P = 0.006), whereas the lag phase for cholesteryl linoleate hydroperoxide (CE18:2OOH) formation was shorter after FO supplementation than after SU (P = 0.03) but not SA. In contrast, maximal rates of PCOOH and CE18:2OOH formation were lower after FO supplementation than after SA (P = 0.02 and 0.0001, respectively) and maximal concentrations of PCOOH and CE18:2OOH were lower after FO supplementation than after SA (P = 0.03 and 0.0006, respectively). Taken together, our results suggest that FO supplementation does not increase the overall oxidation of LDL ex vivo, especially when compared with SA supplementation. Consequently, health benefits related to increased fish consumption may not be offset by increased LDL oxidative susceptibility.-- Higdon, J. V., S. H. Du, Y. S. Lee, T. Wu, and R. C. Wander. Supplementation of postmenopausal women with fish oil does not increase overall oxidation of LDL ex vivo compared to dietary oils rich in oleate and linoleate. J. Lipid Res. 2001. 42: 407--418.

Supplementation of postmenopausal women with fish oil rich in eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid is not associated with greater in vivo lipid peroxidation compared with oils rich in oleate and linoleate as assessed by plasma malondialdehyde and F(2)-isoprostanes.

BACKGROUND: Although the replacement of dietary saturated fat with unsaturated fat has been advocated to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, diets high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) could increase lipid peroxidation, potentially contributing to the pathology of atherosclerosis. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine indexes of in vivo lipid peroxidation, including free F(2)-isoprostanes, malondialdehyde (MDA), and thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS), in the plasma of postmenopausal women taking dietary oil supplements rich in oleate, linoleate, and both eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. DESIGN: Fifteen postmenopausal women took 15 g sunflower oil/d, providing 12.3 g oleate/d; safflower oil, providing 10.5 g linoleate/d; and fish oil, providing 2.0 g EPA/d and 1.4 g DHA/d in a 3-treatment crossover trial. RESULTS: Plasma free F(2)-isoprostane concentrations were lower after fish-oil supplementation than after sunflower-oil supplementation (P: = 0.003). When plasma free F(2)-isoprostane concentrations were normalized to plasma arachidonic acid concentrations, significant differences among the supplements were eliminated. Plasma MDA concentrations were lower after fish-oil supplementation than after sunflower-oil supplementation (P: = 0.04), whereas plasma TBARS were higher after fish-oil supplementation than after sunflower oil (P: = 0.003) and safflower oil (P: = 0.001) supplementation. When plasma MDA concentrations were normalized to plasma PUFA concentrations, significant differences were eliminated, but TBARS remained higher after fish-oil supplementation than after sunflower oil (P: = 0.01) and safflower-oil (P: = 0.0003) supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: With fish-oil supplementation, there was no evidence of increased lipid peroxidation when assessed by plasma F(2)-isoprostanes and MDA, although plasma TBARS was higher than with sunflower-oil and safflower-oil supplementation.

Customer satisfaction and self-reported treatment outcomes among psychiatric inpatients.

OBJECTIVE: Relationships among different dimensions of patient satisfaction and selected demographic, clinical, and outcome variables were explored in a sample of severely ill people receiving inpatient psychiatric services. METHOD: The sample consisted of 81 patients admitted to and discharged from an inpatient psychiatric unit at a midwestern Veterans Affairs medical center. Stepwise multiple regression was used to examine the relationship between patient satisfaction and self-reported changes in quality of life, symptomatology, and level of functioning as measured by the Treatment Outcome Profile. Other variables such as diagnosis, length of stay, employment, living situation, and prior psychiatric and substance abuse treatment were also considered. A subsample of the most satisfied and dissatisfied patients was chosen to further explore variables contributing to satisfaction with services. RESULTS: Patient satisfaction was related to initial level of functioning, certain diagnoses, and treatment gains. Clinicians were highly accurate in identifying patients who were satisfied, based on blind chart reviews. CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the significant relationships between patient satisfaction, psychiatric diagnosis, and other outcome measures, and argues for the validity and utility of patient satisfaction measures in assessing the efficacy of inpatient care.

Expressive therapy in conjunction with psychotherapy in the treatment of persons with multiple personality disorder.

This article examines the prevalence and complexity of multiple personality disorder as well as the contributions that psychiatry and occupational therapy make in its treatment. The value of activity is that it serves as a nonverbal mediator of communication. Activities are also useful in helping the therapist to obtain a patient's history, which is necessary for abreaction (i.e., the patient's reliving and recalling of the original abuse). Abreaction is a precursor to the integration of the abusive memories into the patient's current life.

Multipass prism monochromator for coherent Raman spectroscopy.

A multipass, Brewster prism monochromator that is an effective laser beam separator is described. Fourteen passes through the prism of the monochromator produce a resolution of 4 cm(-1) with a throughput of 63%. Larger throughputs are obtained for fewer passes and a poorer resolution. The device is tunable and has an extinction coefficient of 2 x 10(-8) at a detuning of 200 cm(-1). It promises to be an important tool for coherent Raman spectroscopy.

Pregnancy outcome in women exposed to diethylstilbestrol in utero.

The presence of anomalies in vagina, cervix, and uterine body of women exposed to diethylstilbestrol in utero has provoked interest and concern regarding the reproductive potential of these women. To expand and to evaluate better better the current knowledge in this matter, the outcomes of the pregnancies of exposed women registered in the Stilbestrol Clinic at the Stanford University Medical Center were examined. The results were combined with the published results of similar examinations of other institutions and a summation of all available data is presented. Although it is evident that the majority (79%) of exposed women who have become pregnant and not regularly sought abortion have obtained at least one living infant, the incidence of spontaneous abortion and preterm delivery has consistently been found to be greater in exposed women than in unexposed control women. One of every 30 pregnancies reported in exposed patients has been ectopically located. Additionally, there is suggestive evidence that exposed women with teratologic changes have a higher incidence of pregnancy loss than those without such changes. However, few of these observations can boast statistical validity and statistical validation of the same observation by separate investigators has not been obtained. Moreover, none of th teratologic changes in exposed patients has been seen to preclude normal pregnancy and term delivery.

PIP: Current knowledge regarding the pregnancy outcome for women exposed to DES (diethylstilbestrol) in utero is presented using information from a follow-up study of patients at the Stanford Stilbestrol Clinic and from other published data from similar studies. 2/3 of all women exposed to DES in utero have teratologic changes in the vagina, cervix, and/or uterine cavity, leading to a question as to the reproductive capacity of these women. A compilation of the study material revealed a doubled incidence of spontaneous abortion, a 3-fold increase in the incidence of preterm delivery, and a substantially greater occurrence of ectopic pregnancy in exposed women when compared to unexposed women. These findings were true for all and for the 1st pregnancies. Exposed patients had obtained at least 1 surviving infant in only approximately 80% of all cases whereas unexposed patients had done so in 95% of all instances. It is not clear whether teratologic changes in any part of the reproductive tract of exposed patients have an influence on pregnancy outcome. None of the vaginal, cervical, uterine, or tubal changes alone or in any combination was found to preclude a term intrauterine pregnancy and delivery of a viable infant. It is emphasized that the relevant study literature was minimal and incomplete.