Effects of stimulation on the ultrastructure and Na, K, Cl composition of the fundus of the rat plantar sweat gland.

Initial stimulation of the rat plantar sweat gland with pilocarpine caused a variable degree of distension of the apical membrane of the secretory cell. This appeared to be a process of filtration of secretory cell cytoplasm through the apical terminal web. Further stimulation resulted in luminal dilatation, cytoplasmic depletion, and morbidity of some cells. These morphological changes in the footpad gland, which thus can no longer be considered as eccrine, were accompanied by a fall in potassium and a rise in sodium concentration within the secretory cells. The mode of secretion induced by pharmacological stimulation was fundamentally the same as that in the glands of species responsive to thermal stimulation.

The effects of thermally-induced activity in vivo upon the ultrastructure and Na, K and Cl composition of the epithelial cells of sweat glands from patients with cystic fibrosis.

The secretory cells of the fundus of sweat glands from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients had higher Na and Cl contents and showed more granule depletion, cellular disruption and dilated intercellular canaliculi than normal. The cells of the coiled duct also had higher cytoplasmic levels of Na and Cl but were structurally normal. Thermal stimulation produced ultrastructural changes in the CF fundus comparable to normal, including further dilatation of the basolateral clefts, but did not induce the marked changes in the coiled duct which normally occur. The elevated Na and fall in K in the fundus and raised Na and Cl in the coiled duct upon activation, were not observed in the CF glands in which no significant changes were detected.

Community mental health ideology and activity interests.

Sixty mental health professionals completed two scales: the Community Mental Health Ideology Scale (CMHI), and a scale rating the importance of, and personal interest in, a range of mental health activities. The overall mean CMHI score was comparable to that of clinical psychologists surveyed in the original CMHI study. CMHI scores correlated significantly with subjects' ratings of the importance for the general community to provide a range of services other than direct rehabilitative services. Ratings of the importance for community mental health centers to provide mental health planning and development, and activities directed at general community and social problems, also correlated significantly with CMHI scores. Additionally, CMHI scores were related to personal interest in participating in a broad range of mental health activities. The results contribute to the construct validity of the CMHI and support the notion that community mental health ideology relates to actual mental health activity interest.

Issues in replicating the trauma--Stren conversion.

The Trauma--Stren (T-S) conversion procedure was examined at a large state university and the construct related to personality and cognitive process variables. Significantly more respondents reported T-S conversion than in the original studies. Conversion was not significantly correlated with personal variables. The presence of experiences in which an event was reported as simultaneously traumatic and strenful is reported, and the criteria for clearly identifying the conversion phenomenon are questioned.

Client evaluation of community mental health services: relation to demographic and treatment variables.

Community mental health center (CMHC) outpatient clients' satisfaction and perceived problem improvement were assessed by telephoning 108 clients, representing 40% of clients discharged during the period under investigation. The CMHC's services were perceived positively, and most clients were satisfied with their therapy experience, found it helpful, and felt more able to handle future problems. Data on reasons for termination, expected future behavior, and extratherapeutic factors were also gathered. Of particular interest were the findings that satisfaction and improvement were unrelated to client age, sex, marital status, or social class, but significantly more positive outcome responses were found for those clients who terminated therapy with a mutual client--therapist decision as compared to those who terminated unilaterally.

Developing a rural mental health service from a base in an academic clinical psychology program.

The development of a Community Mental Health Service for a multiethnic rural area by an academic psychology department clinical program was carried out for the purpose of providing relevant training for grauate students through realistic service functions. The population served was largely lower socioeconomic, and the available resources very limited. The Community Psychology course was used to assist the planning and negotiating for the clinic. Services provided during the first year are summarized. The graduate students' not-too-happy view of the program is presented. The problems and issues raised by this experience, for both training and service, are discussed.

Effects of topically-applied antiperspirant on sweat gland function.

In subjects exposed to a hot environment, short-term topical pretreatment with aluminium zirconium tetrachlorhydrate delayed the onset of visible sweating although it failed to prevent the response. The delay was considered most probably to be due to the occlusive action, in the duct within the upper epidermis, of aluminium-containing conglomerates, which disappear after continuous sweating. However, microanalytical evidence indicated that ionic transport within the fundus secretory cells was also modified.

Preparation of cryosections with a modified Sorvall MT2B ultramicrotome and cryoattachment.

The Sorvall MT2B ultramicrotome and cryoattachment were modified to extent the duration of cutting and to overcome problems in tissue preparation. Microtome and cryochamber were encased and surrounded by an atmosphere of dry nitrogen gas at room temperature. A specially designed cold block sited within the box close to the microtome enabled tissues to be trimmed at low temperatures in the dry environment. Tissues could be readily visualized both on the trimming block and in the chamber with the existing microscope modified to improve its working distance and lighting system. During transfer from storage in liquid nitrogen, through the trimming procedure, to arrival in the cryochamber, the temperature of tissues as determined using thermocouples embedded in PVP on a stub, never exceeded 140 K. Although there was a considerable standing temperature gradient within the cryochamber, the cutting environment, specimen and edge of the knife were thermally stable. Sections could be routinely cut dry and freeze-dried within the chamber, if desired.