Testing the efficacy of narrator empathy, self-disclosure, gender, and use of brief motivational interviewing techniques in a brief internet-based intervention for alcohol use.

OBJECTIVE: Nonspecific relational factors, such as therapist empathy, play an important role in therapy effectiveness. Building on this literature, some researchers have attempted to incorporate relational factors into electronic brief interventions (e-BIs) by using interactive narrators to guide participants through the intervention. However, few studies have examined which characteristics of these interactive narrators increase intervention acceptability and efficacy. The present study sought to systematically manipulate animated narrator characteristics in an e-BI and to examine their effects on respondents' alcohol use and subjective reactions. METHOD: Participants (N = 348) were randomly assigned to 1-16 possible combinations of four narrator-level characteristics in a 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 factorial trial evaluating narrator empathy, self-disclosure, gender, and the use of brief motivational interviewing (BMI) techniques. We measured main and interaction effects of these characteristics on the primary outcome of typical drinks per week at 1-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes included maximum drinks, alcohol consequences, and subjective reactions to the intervention, with additional secondary analyses evaluating moderation by participant gender. RESULTS: Participants showed reductions in all alcohol outcomes. These reductions were stronger for participants exposed to either narrator disclosure or BMI techniques (vs. neither). Participants in the high empathy condition rated the intervention as more supportive, while those exposed to BMI techniques reported feeling more criticized by the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Specific narrator-level characteristics, such as narrator self-disclosure and empathy, may improve the efficacy or acceptability of e-BIs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Acute Effects of Physical Exercise on Cognitive and Psychological Functioning in College Students with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

We sought to elucidate the acute effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) among college students with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Participants were age- and sex-matched across ADHD (n = 18) and non-ADHD groups (n = 18) and both groups completed baseline (non-HIIT) and experimental sessions (HIIT). We examined within- and between-subject effects on a continuous performance task (CPT) and self-reported ADHD and internalizing symptomatology. We found that the degree of improvement on ADHD and depressive symptomatology, as well as processing speed and response variability following HIIT was significantly greater for the ADHD group than the comparison group. Further investigations such as randomized controlled trials focusing on the chronic effects of sustained HIIT interventions are needed to substantiate the potential feasibility and efficacy of HIIT as an intervention. HIIT may be a useful adjunct to psychosocial and/or pharmacological treatments for college students with ADHD because it: (a) yields immediate, acute improvements in executive functioning, ADHD, and mood; (b) promotes improved physical and mental health; (c) poses a relatively low risk of deleterious effects in apparently healthy college students. Even with the need for additional research, current data suggest a single, brief, high-intensity bout of aerobic exercise can yield immediate significant short-term improvements. These improvements may enhance functioning and improve outcomes for college students with ADHD.

Comparative sensitivity to the fungicide tebuconazole of biofilm and plankton microbial communities in freshwater ecosystems.

Stream and lake ecosystems in agricultural watersheds are exposed to fungicide inputs that can threaten the structure and functioning of aquatic microbial communities. This research analyzes the impact of the triazole fungicide tebuconazole (TBZ) on natural biofilm and plankton microbial communities from sites presenting different degrees of agricultural contamination. Biofilm and plankton communities from less-polluted (LP) and polluted (P) sites were exposed to nominal concentrations of 0 (control), 2 and 20 µg TBZ L(-1) in 3-week microcosm experiments. Descriptors of microbial community structure (bacterial density and chlorophyll-a concentration) and function (bacterial respiration and production and photosynthesis) were analyzed to chart the effects of TBZ and the kinetics of TBZ attenuation in water during the experiments. The results showed TBZ-induced effects on biofilm function (inhibition of substrate-induced respiration and photosynthetic activity), especially in LP-site communities, whereas plankton communities experienced a transitory stimulation of bacterial densities in communities from both LP and P sites. TBZ attenuation was stronger in biofilm (60-75%) than plankton (15-18%) experiments, probably due to greater adsorption on biofilms. The differences between biofilm and plankton responses to TBZ were likely explained by differences in community structure (presence of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) matrix) and microbial composition. Biofilm communities also exhibited different sensitivity levels according to their in-field pre-exposure to fungicide, with P-site communities demonstrating adaptation capacities to TBZ. This study indicates that TBZ toxicity to non-targeted aquatic microbial communities essentially composed by microalgae and bacteria was moderate, and that its effects varied between stream and lake microbial communities.

Photoreduction of chlorothalonil fungicide on plant leaf models.

Photodegradation is seldom considered at the surface of vegetation after crop spraying. Chlorothalonil, a broad-spectrum foliar fungicide with a very widespread use worldwide, was considered. To represent the waxy upper layer of leaves, tests were performed within thin paraffin wax films or in n-heptane. Laser flash photolysis together with steady-state irradiation in n-heptane allowed the determination of the photodegradation mechanisms Chlorothalonil ability to produce singlet oxygen was measured; noteworthy its efficiency is close to 100%. Additionally, chlorothalonil photodegradation mainly proceeds through reductive dechlorination. In these hydrophobic media, a radical mechanism was evidenced. Photochemical tests on wax films under simulated solar light show that formulated chlorothalonil is more reactive than pure chlorothalonil. The field-extrapolated half-life of photolysis on vegetation was estimated to 5.3 days. This value was compared to the half-lives of penetration and volatilization available in the literature. It appears that chlorothalonil dissipation from crops is ruled by both photodegradation and penetration. The relative importance of the two paths probably depends on meteorological factors and on physicochemical characteristics of the crop leaf cuticle.

Compositional differences between soil humic acids extracted by various methods as evidenced by photosensitizing and electrophoretic properties.

Humic acids (HAs) were isolated from Elliott soil provided by the International Humic Substances Society (1BS102M) by three commonly used methods: (i) 0.1M NaOH (EI-HA), (ii) neutral 0.1M Na(4)P(2)O(7) (L-HA) and subsequent 0.1M NaOH (S-HA), and (iii) 0.1M NaOH+0.1M Na(4)P(2)O(7) (NP-HA). The objective was to evaluate the impact of these extractants on the photosensitizing properties of the isolated HAs. HAs were analyzed for their elemental composition, functional acid groups content, absorption and emission properties, electrophoretic characteristics and ability to produce singlet oxygen using furfuryl alcohol (FFA) as a scavenger. L-HA was slightly more aromatic and oxygenated than the other HAs and contained a higher portion of long-wavelength fluorophores and macromolecules showing low molecular size (MS) and high electrophoretic mobility. L-HA also gave a rate of FFA photooxygenation between 1.25- and 1.6-fold higher than the other HAs. This suggests that the free humic macromolecules ionized at pH 7 and/or weakly bounded on mineral surfaces via cation bridges are of relatively low MS and contribute significantly to the photosensitizing and long-wavelength emitting properties. Differences among the other HAs were more subtle, but the parallel evolution of the reactivity and electrophoretic characteristics was observed. Photochemical and electrophoretic measurements seem to be sensitive indicators to evaluate differences among the extraction procedures of HAs.

Development of a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method for the determination of methamphetamine and amphetamine using small volumes of rat serum.

The aim of this paper was to develop LC/MS/MS methodology for the determination of methamphetamine (METH) and amphetamine (AMP) using low microliter volumes (20-150 microl) of rat serum and demonstrate the use of this method for the study of serum pharmacokinetics in the rat. The analytes were extracted from rat serum using solid-phase extraction followed by an isocratic separation on a narrow-bore Hypersil C(18) column. Lower limits of quantitation for METH and AMP were 0.3 ng/ml using positive ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. The accuracy of the method was within 20% of the actual values over a wide range of serum concentrations. The within-day and between-day precision was better than 20% (R.S.D.). Ion-suppression matrix effects on electrospray ionization were evaluated for extracted rat serum. The LC/MS/MS method was further validated by comparing serum concentrations of METH and AMP to serum concentrations previously determined using an LC/[ (3)H]-METH assay with radiochemical detection. Finally, the LC/MS/MS method was used to study the pharmacokinetics of METH and AMP after a 1mg/kg intravenous bolus dose of METH to female Sprague-Dawley rats.

Apoptosis-inducing factor mediates microglial and neuronal apoptosis caused by pneumococcus.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the major cause of bacterial meningitis and it damages the hippocampus by inducing neuronal apoptosis. The blocking of caspases provides only partial protection in experimental meningitis, which suggests that there is an additional apoptotic pathway. A trigger of this pathway is the bacterium itself, as exposure of microglia or neurons to live pneumococci induces rapid apoptosis. In this study, apoptosis was not associated with the activation of caspases-1-10 and was not inhibited by z-VAD-fmk, a broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor. Rather, apoptosis was attributed to damage to mitochondria, which was followed by the release of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) from the mitochondria, large-scale DNA fragmentation, and hypodiploidy. Furthermore, intracytoplasmatic microinjection of AIF-specific antiserum markedly impaired pneumococcus-induced apoptosis. These findings indicate that AIF may play a central role in brain cell apoptosis and bacterial pathogenesis.

Inhibition of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity in cultured rat cerebellar granule cells prevents the onset of apoptosis induced by low potassium.

In cerebellar granule cells in culture, lowering of extracellular [K(+)] results in apoptotic death (D'Mello, S.R., Galli, C., Ciotti, T. and Calissano, P., Induction of apoptosis in cerebellar granule neurons by low potassium: inhibition of death by insulin-like growth factor I and cAMP, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 90 (1993) 10989-10993). In this model, we studied the influence of Na(+), K(+)-ATPase inhibition on apoptosis. We demonstrate that cell death (93+/-2 vs. 46+/-1.6%) as well as fragmentation of nuclear DNA induced by low extracellular potassium were prevented by addition of ouabain (0.1 mM), a specific inhibitor of the Na(+),K(+)-ATPase. Blockade of glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptors by 5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo(a,d)cyclohepten-5,10-imine hydrogen maleate (MK-801; 20 microM) and 6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX; 50 microM) did not inhibit the protective effect of ouabain. 24 h treatment with ouabain also decreased cell death induced by Fe(2+)/ascorbic acid (74+/-2% to 49+/-3%). We speculate that ouabain pretreatment enhances the resistance against low [K(+)]-induced apoptosis independent of glutamate-receptor activation. Since this effect can be mimicked by a free-radical generating system, we suggest an antioxidative effect underlying ouabain-induced neuroprotection.

Alternatives to conventional chest compression.

Alternative techniques to precordial compression are sought to improve the return of spontaneous circulation after cardiopulmonary arrest. The pathophysiology of cardiac arrest and the methods to determine the efficacy of a new technique need critical re-examination. Vest cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), active compression/decompression with abdominal counterpulsation (LifeStick [Datascope, Fairfield, NJ]) CPR, and ascending aortic balloon inflation with saline infusion are promising methods that have been shown to augment coronary perfusion pressure and improve the return of spontaneous circulation in animals. Preliminary studies in human cardiopulmonary arrest have been performed with vest CPR and ascending aortic balloon inflation with saline infusion, with favorable hemodynamic results. In parallel with the development of new methods, the availability and adequacy of bystander CPR should be re-emphasized.

Coronary angioplasty, atherectomy and bypass surgery in cardiac transplant recipients.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to analyze the outcomes of revascularization procedures in the treatment of allograft coronary disease. BACKGROUND: Allograft vasculopathy is the main factor limiting survival of heart transplant recipients. Because no medical therapy prevents allograft atherosclerosis, and retransplantation is associated with suboptimal allograft survival, palliative coronary revascularization has been attempted. METHODS: Thirteen medical centers retrospectively analyzed their complete experience with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, directional coronary atherectomy and coronary bypass graft surgery in allograft coronary disease. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients underwent coronary angioplasty. Angiographic success (< or = 50% residual stenosis) occurred in 153 (94%) of 162 lesions. Forty patients (61%) are alive without retransplantation at 19 +/- 14 (mean +/- SD) months after angioplasty. The consequences of failed revascularization were severe. Two patients sustained periprocedural myocardial infarction and died. Angiographic restenosis occurred in 42 (55%) of 76 lesions at 8 +/- 5 months after angioplasty. Angiographic distal arteriopathy adversely affected allograft survival. Eleven patients underwent directional coronary atherectomy. Angiographic success occurred in 9 (82%) of 11 lesions. Two periprocedural deaths occurred. Nine patients are alive without transplantation at 7 +/- 4 months after atherectomy. Bypass graft surgery was performed in 12 patients. Four patients died perioperatively. Seven patients are alive without retransplantation at 9 +/- 7 months after operation. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary revascularization may be an effective palliative therapy in suitable cardiac transplant recipients. Angioplasty has an acceptable survival in patients without angiographic distal arteriopathy. Because few patients underwent atherectomy and coronary bypass surgery, assessment of these procedures is limited. Angiographic distal arteriopathy is associated with decreased allograft survival in patients requiring revascularization.

Predictors of successful PTCA using coronary perfusion balloon catheters.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to define clinical, angiographic and procedural predictors of successful PTCA using perfusion balloon catheters (PBC). Age, gender, diabetes, clinical state (stable or unstable angina), coronary vessel, AHA/ACC lesion type, lesion contour, pre-procedural thrombus, percent stenosis, lesion length, balloon size, maximum PBC pressure, and maximum inflation time were analyzed for 207 lesions in 193 successive patients. Unsuccessful results occurred more frequently in patients with unstable angina, pre-PTCA thrombus, and those treated with smaller balloon catheter diameter. Logistical regression analysis identified larger balloon size (odds ratio [OR] = 0.447 [95% confidence interval 0.203, 0.986], p < .05); and absence of thrombus (OR = 2.217 [95% confidence interval 1.066, 4.610], p < .05) as predictors of success. This study suggests that small vessel size, approximated by balloon size selection, and the presence of pre-PTCA thrombus reduces the likelihood of success, especially in the setting of unstable angina. In these cases other percutaneous interventions may be warranted.

Examination of common PTCA guide wires used for side branch protection during directional coronary atherectomy of bifurcation lesions performed in vivo and in vitro.

Side branch protection of bifurcation lesions with guide wires treated with directional coronary atherectomy has been performed safely in a small number of patients using a nickel/titanium (Nitinol) alloy guide wire. There is no information about the safety of using other guide wires in this scenario. The purpose of this study was to microscopically examine a variety of guide wires exposed to the directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) device in vitro. Eight common guide wires used in percutaneous coronary angioplasty were positioned in a side branch of a simulated coronary bifurcation and exposed to the operating DCA device. The guide wires were examined grossly and under scanning electron microscopy. The Nitinol guidewire suffered no discernible damage in comparison to varying degrees of damage seen on the other guide wires, and this guidewire appears to be best suited for side branch protection. Examination of the protecting guide wire and cutting cylinder used in the initial patients also showed no damage. Further clinical trials are necessary to assess the efficacy of DCA under such conditions.

Modified "kissing" atherectomy procedure with dependable protection of side branches by two-wire technique.

We report a new two-wire atherectomy technique for side branch protection. Newer, more resilient wire designs are capable of withstanding cutting forces of the Simpson atherocath device. This technique expands atherectomy application to lesions previously excluded from atherectomy as high risk lesions.

Coronary angioplasty in cardiac transplant patients. Results of a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Accelerated allograft atherosclerosis is the main cause of death of cardiac transplant recipients after the first year after transplantation. Because no medical therapy is known to prevent or retard graft atherosclerosis and transplantation is associated with a shortened allograft survival, alternative, palliative therapy with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) has been attempted. Because no single medical center has performed angioplasty in a large number of cardiac transplant recipients, representatives of 11 medical centers retrospectively analyzed their complete experience of coronary angioplasty in cardiac transplant patients to determine the safety, efficacy, limitations, and long-term outcome of angioplasty in allograft coronary vascular disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-five patients underwent 51 angioplasty procedures for 95 lesions 46 +/- 5 months (mean +/- SEM) after transplantation. The primary indications for angioplasty included angiographic coronary disease in 22 cases (43%) and noninvasive evidence of ischemia in 18 procedures (35%). Angiographic success, defined as less than or equal to 50% post-PTCA stenosis, occurred in 88 of 95 lesions (93%). Mean pre-PTCA stenosis was 83 +/- 1.1%; mean post-PTCA stenosis was 29 +/- 2.1% (p less than 0.0001). Periprocedural complications included myocardial infarction and late in-hospital death in one patient and three groin hematomas. Twenty-three of the 35 patients (66%) had no major adverse outcome such as death, retransplantation, or myocardial infarction at 13 +/- 3 months after angioplasty. Four patients died less than 6 months after angioplasty, and four died more than 6 months after angioplasty (range, 6-23 months). Two patients had retransplantation 2 months after PTCA, and one patients had retransplantation 18 months after angioplasty. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary angioplasty may be applied in selected cardiac transplant recipients with comparable success and complication rates to routine angioplasty. Whether angioplasty prolongs allografts survival remains to be determined by a prospective, controlled trial.

Complete left main coronary artery occlusion: angiographic evaluation of collateral vessel patterns and assessment of hemodynamic correlates.

An angiographic study of eight patients with total occlusion of the left main coronary artery identified six patients with chronic occlusion and two with acute complete occlusion. In each of six patients, there were two to six different intercoronary collateral pathways. Altogether, a total of 13 specific collateral channels were recognized. One patient had evidence of unique homocollaterals represented by enlarged vasa vasorum, which created a vascular cuff that surrounded a totally obstructed left main artery. The ventricular function and hemodynamic parameters in these patients not only depend on the collateral vessels but may also be affected by the severity of coronary artery disease in the artery that supplies collaterals.

Dose effects of adenine on myocardial ATP content in the post-anoxic nonworking rat heart.

1. Tissue ATP levels were measured in Langendorff perfused nonworking rat hearts subjected to 50 min anoxia prior to reperfusion with Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate (KRB) buffer alone or supplemented with 50 microM or 1 mM adenine for 60 min. 2. ATP content was restored to the normoxic range in hearts reperfused with 50 microM adenine in KRB (20.82 +/- SEM 1.90 mumol/g dry weight vs 24.95 +/- 0.83 in normoxic hearts, P = NS). 3. Reperfusion with oxygenated KRB alone or buffer with 1 mM adenine failed to improve ATP levels (17.23 +/- 0.91 mumol/g dry weight for buffer alone, 15.60 +/- 0.46 with 1 mM adenine and 13.45 +/- 0.93 for anoxic hearts not reperfused). 4. These findings indicate that adenine at 50 microM dosage can restore ATP concentrations to the normoxic range after 60 in of anoxia in the nonworking rat heart while raising the adenine dose to 1 mM inhibited the tissue ATP content.

Efficacy of pentoxifylline in patients with stable angina pectoris.

Pentoxifylline, a methyl xanthine derivative, improves symptoms of peripheral vascular disease probably by reducing whole blood viscosity. The authors assessed the value of this agent in treating myocardial ischemia in 11 patients with angiographically documented coronary artery disease and stable angina pectoris. Maximal, symptom limited treadmill exercise stress tests were performed before and after six weeks of therapy with 1200 mg of pentoxifylline per day. Clinical symptoms proved in 9 [82%] of patients; none developed drug side effects. After therapy, mean total exercise time [7.7 +/- 1.3 vs 10.1 +/- 1.2 minutes], time to onset of angina [5.5 +/- 0.9 vs 7.9 +/- 1.0 minutes], heart rate at onset of angina [93.4 +/- 6.7 vs 112.0 +/- 10.5 beats/min] and rate at onset of ST depression [94.0 +/- 5.8 vs 115.9 +/- 7.4 beats/min] all increased significantly [p less than 0.05]. Mean maximum ST segment depression also decreased [1.6 +/- 0.3 vs 1.2 +/- 0.4mm], but the difference was not significant. Thus, pentoxifylline increases exercise performance in patients with angina pectoris and increases exercise capacity before development of of myocardial ischemia. It may, therefore, be a useful agent for treating ischemic heart disease.