Reactivity of chemical respiratory allergens in the Peroxidase Peptide Reactivity Assay.

Sensitizing chemicals are commonly associated primarily with either skin or respiratory sensitization. In the Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay (DPRA), when compared with skin sensitizers, respiratory allergens have been demonstrated to selectively react with lysine rather than cysteine. The Peroxidase Peptide Reactivity Assay (PPRA) has been developed as a refinement to the DPRA. The PPRA incorporates dose-response analyses, mass spectroscopy for peptide detection and a horseradish peroxidase-hydrogen peroxide enzymatic system, increasing the potential to identify pro-haptens. In the investigations reported here, the PPRA was evaluated to determine whether it provides advantages for the identification of respiratory allergens. Twenty respiratory sensitizers, including five predicted to be pre-/pro-haptens were evaluated. The PPRA performed similarly to the DPRA with respect to identifying inherently reactive respiratory sensitizers. However, three respiratory sensitizers predicted to be pre-/pro-haptens (chlorhexidine, ethylenediamine and piperazine) were non-reactive and the general selectivity of the respiratory allergens for lysine was lost in the PPRA. Overall, the data indicate that the PPRA does not provide an advantage over the DPRA for discriminating allergens as either contact or respiratory sensitizers. Nevertheless, the PPRA provides a number of refinements to the DPRA that allow for an enhanced characterization of reactivity for both classes of chemical allergens.

The pain behavior check list (PBCL): psychometric properties in a college sample.

The Pain Behavior Check List (PBCL) was designed to assess the frequency of four dimensions of pain behavior: distorted ambulation, affective distress, facial/audible expressions, and seeking help. This study evaluated theoretical factor structure, internal consistency, and construct validity of the PBCL in a nonclinical college sample. Results provided support for the four-factor oblique model, compared to the one-factor and the four-factor orthogonal models. The PBCL total and subscales showed satisfactory internal consistency. Support for convergent validity was demonstrated by high correlations between the PBCL and several measures of pain behavior and with other pain indices. In addition, results of the confirmatory factor analyses suggested that self-report measures of pain can be differentiated from self-report measures of anxiety and depression.

Systematic evaluation of psychometric properties of the Cognition Checklist with college students.

This study included revision and systematic examination of the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Cognition Checklist. Two separate samples of college undergraduates participated. Analysis showed that all the models reported previously in the literature fitted the data poorly for Sample 1 (n = 220). Principal components and maximum likelihood exploratory analyses of the responses of the 220 students yielded two moderately correlated factors. Using data from Sample 2 (n = 288), LISREL confirmatory factor analyses showed that the two-factor oblique model provided adequate fit to the observed data. Estimates of internal consistency were .88 and .71. Preliminary normative, convergent, and divergent validity data are reported. In addition, directions for research are discussed.

The Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale: psychometric properties in a community sample.

This study investigated the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale (PASS). The PASS assesses four components of pain-related anxiety: cognitive, fear, escape/avoidance, and physiological. Confirmatory factor analyses provided support for both the one-factor and the four-factor structures reported for samples of clinic-referred pain patients. The alpha coefficients were high for the PASS subscales. Significant gender differences were obtained on the PASS total and subscale scores. Convergent and divergent validity estimates of the PASS were also assessed. Results may be used to evaluate the responses of clinic-referred pain patients.