"I must make the grade!": the role of cognitive appraisals, irrational beliefs, exam anxiety, and affect, in the academic self-concept of undergraduate students.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Examination anxiety is a common occurrence, and is potentially detrimental to student attainment. In recent theorizing, it has been suggested that cognitive appraisals, as put forth in cognitive appraisal theory, and irrational beliefs, as put forth in rational emotive behavior therapy, may interact to predict affectivity. The current research examines the antecedents and associates of examination affect and academic self-concept in undergraduate students. DESIGN: A preliminary study applied confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to test the factor structure of an irrational beliefs inventory. Study 1 utilized a cross-sectional and correlational approach to testing core theoretical assumptions. Study 2 took a two-wave longitudinal and path analytical approach to examine temporal effects between target variables. METHOD: All self-report data collection took place in the United Kingdom with university students. We recruited n = 1150, n = 362, n = 662 for preliminary, study 1, and study 2, respectively. RESULTS: Across studies, data indicated that a pattern of adaptive cognitive appraisal was associated with more advantageous affectivity, and better academic self-concept. CONCLUSIONS: Reciprocal temporal relationships were revealed between many variables, supporting an interactive and bidirectional view of how cognition and affect are related pertaining to examination anxiety.

"I must do this!": A latent profile analysis approach to understanding the role of irrational beliefs and motivation regulation in mental and physical health.

In the research concerning rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT) in sport and exercise, irrational beliefs are proposed as a risk factor for health. Concurrent to this, researchers have also indicated that autonomous and controlled motivation, as proposed in organismic integration theory could, together with irrational beliefs, determine individual health. However, research is yet to align irrational beliefs and motivation, and explore how this alignment relates to mental health. The present two study paper identifies individual subgroups, drawn from data concerning irrational beliefs, motivation, and health (psychological distress, and physical health), in a sample of exercisers (study 1) and student athletes (study 2). We examined the latent profile structure of irrational beliefs and motivation, and how these latent profiles relate to psychological distress (studies 1 and 2), and physical health (study 2). Results indicate a two class profile whereby class 1 is characterised by high irrational beliefs, low self-determined motivation, and poor health outcomes. Class 2 is characterised by low irrational beliefs, high self-determined motivation, and better health outcomes. The findings are discussed in relation to the theoretical implications for REBT and organismic integration theory, and the practical implications for key stakeholders in the health of exercise participants and athletes.

Seasonal variation of Mastophorus muris (Nematoda: Spirurida) in the water vole Arvicola amphibius from southern Sweden.

This study focused on the spirurid nematode Mastophorus muris in water voles (Arvicola amphibius) trapped in three regions in southern Sweden during spring and fall 2013. The collection of water voles formed part of a larger project (EMIRO) on the cestode Echinococcus multilocularis in rodents. The voles' stomach contents were examined for the presence of M. muris. Prevalence, mean abundance and mean intensity of infection were calculated. A generalized linear model model was used to examine the effects of sex, functional group, season and region on the number of M. muris individuals in each vole. Forty-seven of 181 (26%) voles were infected with M. muris, with up to 74 worms each. The overall mean intensity (worms per infected vole) was 15 (95% CI 10-21), and abundance (mean number of worms in all voles) was 4 (95% CI 2-6). Model output indicated a significant effect of season and region with respect to abundance of nematode infection, which was independent of sex and functional group of the investigated host.

Physical inactivity and platelet function in humans and brown bears: A comparative study.

Physical inactivity increases the risk of thromboembolism. However, good standardized human models on inactivity are in short supply and experimental models are few. Our objective was to investigate how standardized bed rest affects platelet aggregation in humans and to investigate if aggregation is altered in a translational model system - the hibernating brown bear (Ursus arctos). We collected blood from (1) healthy male volunteers participating in a 21-day bed rest study in head-down tilt position (-6°) 24 h a day; (2) free-ranging brown bears captured during winter hibernation and again during active state in summer. We analyzed platelet function using multiple electrode platelet aggregometry. In total, 9 healthy male volunteers (age 31.0 ± 6.4 years) and 13 brown bears (7 females and 6 males, age 2.8 ± 0.6 years) were included. In hibernating bears adenosine diphosphate, arachidonic acid, thrombin receptor activating peptide, and collagen impedance aggregometry tests were all halved compared to summer active state. In human volunteers no statistically significant changes were found between baseline and the end of bed rest. In human male volunteers 3 weeks of bed rest did not affect platelet function. In hibernating brown bears platelet aggregation was halved compared to summer and we hypothesize that this is a protective measure to avoid formation of thrombi under periods of low blood flow.

Biological responses of Raw 264.7 macrophage exposed to two strains of Stachybotrys chartarum spores grown on four different wallboard types.

The many benefits of building "green" have motivated the use of sustainable products in the design and execution of the built environment. However, the use of these natural or recycled materials, some of which have been treated with antimicrobials, provides a growth opportunity for microorganisms with the potential to elicit adverse health effects especially in the presence of an antimicrobial. The focus of this research was to determine the effects of Stachybotrys chartarum (strains Houston and 51-11) grown under different conditions on a macrophage cell line (Raw 264.7) using endpoints, including cytotoxicity, and those associated with immunity specifically inflammation and MHC class II expression. The fungi were grown on four different gypsum products, and macrophages were exposed to whole spores of both strains and fragmented spores of strain 51-11. Whole spores of the Houston strain elicited no cytotoxicity with some level of inflammation, while exposure to whole spores of 51-11 caused variable responses depending on the wallboard type supporting the fungal growth. High concentrations of fragmented 51-11 spores primarily resulted in the apoptosis of macrophage with no inflammation. None of the fungal strains caused elevated levels of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II expression on the surface of Raw cells. Mycotoxin levels of 51-11 spores from all of the wallboard types measured >250 ng/µL of T2 equivalent toxin based on activity. Collectively, the data demonstrated that all of the wallboard types supported growth of fungi with the ability to elicit harmful biological responses with the potential to negatively impact human health.

Drivers of hibernation in the brown bear.

BACKGROUND: Hibernation has been a key area of research for several decades, essentially in small mammals in the laboratory, yet we know very little about what triggers or ends it in the wild. Do climatic factors, an internal biological clock, or physiological processes dominate? Using state-of-the-art tracking and monitoring technology on fourteen free-ranging brown bears over three winters, we recorded movement, heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), body temperature (Tb), physical activity, ambient temperature (TA), and snow depth to identify the drivers of the start and end of hibernation. We used behavioral change point analyses to estimate the start and end of hibernation and convergent cross mapping to identify the causal interactions between the ecological and physiological variables over time. RESULTS: To our knowledge, we have built the first chronology of both ecological and physiological events from before the start to the end of hibernation in the field. Activity, HR, and Tb started to drop slowly several weeks before den entry. Bears entered the den when snow arrived and when ambient temperature reached 0 °C. HRV, taken as a proxy of sympathetic nervous system activity, dropped dramatically once the bear entered the den. This indirectly suggests that denning is tightly coupled to metabolic suppression. During arousal, the unexpected early rise in Tb (two months before den exit) was driven by TA, but was independent of HRV. The difference between Tb and TA decreased gradually suggesting that bears were not thermoconforming. HRV increased only three weeks before exit, indicating that late activation of the sympathetic nervous system likely finalized restoration of euthermic metabolism. Interestingly, it was not until TA reached the presumed lower critical temperature, likely indicating that the bears were seeking thermoneutrality, that they exited the den. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that brown bear hibernation was initiated primarily by environmental cues, but terminated by physiological cues.

Pattern of brain metastatic disease according to HER-2 and ER receptor status in breast cancer patients.

AIMS: To document the type, location, extent, and complications of brain metastases in patients with breast cancer and identify associations with oestrogen receptor (ER) negative and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) receptor expression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Breast cancer patients with known brain metastases were included in this retrospective study, if cross-sectional imaging of the brain [computed tomography (CT)] was available to review and HER-2 and ER status was known. Two neuroradiologists, who were blinded to the receptor status, separately and for each patient, documented on a proforma the location, number, and dimensions of the deposits and the presence or absence of hydrocephalus. Adjudication was sought where there was discrepancy between the two reports. ER status, HER-2 receptor status, and patient age were also documented. The results were analysed using two-sided Fisher's exact tests with Lancaster's mid-P correction and associations were sought between the tumour characteristics and the pattern of brain disease. RESULTS: Sixty patients were included in the study. There was an association between young age (<40 years) and HER-2 positivity [10 of 24 (41.7%) versus three of 36 (8.3%); p = 0.002]. In ER-negative women, HER-2 positivity was found to be associated with a larger number (six or more) of metastases [11 of 18 (61%) versus nine of 25 (36%); p = 0.049], more brain stem metastases [11 of 18 (61%) versus three of 26 (11.5%); p = 0.035], more frequent occurrence of hydrocephalus [7 of 12 (36.8%) versus three of 26 (11.5%); p = 0.049], and a higher incidence of occipital metastases [12 of 18 (66.7%) versus eight of 26 (30.8%); p = 0.029]. CONCLUSION: ER-negative HER-2-positive women are more likely to present with a larger number of lesions, more brain stem/occipital metastases, and hydrocephalus, which may predispose them to unfavourable outcomes following treatment.

The value of radio-anatomical features on non-contrast CT scans in localizing the source in aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Identification of the source of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) can be a challenge in the presence of multiple aneurysms. This study was carried out to assess whether radioanatomical features on noncontrast enhanced computerised tomography (CT) scans may be of value in localizing ruptured intracranial aneurysms. The diagnostic CT scans of 56 consecutive patients, investigated for SAH with cerebral angiography, over a period of six months were available for review. Various radioanatomical features were assessed: (1) pattern of subarachnoid blood (e.g. predominant site and location near major vessel bifurcation), (2) presence of intraparenchymal haematoma, (3) presence of aneurysm contour and (4) hydrocephalus. On the basis of the findings an estimation of the anatomical location of the source of bleeding was made and then compared with the angiogram findings to which the reviewer was blinded. The location of the aneurysm was correctly identified in 89.5% of cases. Careful analysis of the pattern of bleeding was essential for the successful localization of the aneurysm in all these cases. The presence of an aneurysm contour was also associated with correct identification of the source of bleeding (chi(2) = 6.067, P = 0.02). Our findings suggest that radioanatomical features on CT scans in SAH can be a valuable aid in the correct identification of the location of the ruptured aneurysm. This would be of particular significance in the presence of multiple intracranial aneurysms.

Immunoneutralization of vascular endothelial growth factor inhibits pregnancy establishment in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta).

Maternal endometrial vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is considered important in blastocyst implantation. However, there is no direct evidence to support this conjecture in the primate. In the present study, we have examined this hypothesis by testing whether immunoneutralization of VEGF during the peri-implantation stage of gestation affects embryo implantation in the rhesus monkey. Adult female animals (n = 36) during mated ovulatory cycles were randomly assigned to one of the experimental groups treated subcutaneously with either isotype-matched mouse immunoglobulin (group 1: control, n = 8) or monoclonal mouse antibody against VEGF-A (anti-VEGF Mab; group 2: 10 mg on day 5 after ovulation, n = 8; group 3: 20 mg on day 5 after ovulation, n = 8; group 4: 10 mg on day 10 after ovulation, n = 4; group 5: 10 mg on days 5 and 10 after ovulation, n = 8). Anti-VEGF Mab-treated animals in groups 2-4 did not show any marked inhibition in pregnancy establishment. On pooled analysis, however, anti-VEGF Mab administration in groups 2-5 (n = 28) resulted in a significant (P < 0.04) decline in the number of viable term pregnancy when compared with control animals. The observed difference was explained by the fact that 10 mg anti-VEGF Mab given to each animal on days 5 and 10 after ovulation in group 5 (n = 8) inhibited pregnancy establishment significantly (P < 0.02) when compared with control group 1. There was no significant change in serum concentrations of estradiol-17beta, progesterone, and free VEGF among groups. Furthermore, animals treated with anti-VEGF Mab (n = 8) as in group 5 revealed marked decrease in immunoreactive VEGF, fms-like tyrosine kinase-1, and kinase-insert domain region in trophoblast cells associated with shallow uterine invasion on day 13 of gestation when compared with samples from control group animals (n = 8). Thus, VEGF action is required for successful blastocyst implantation in the rhesus monkey.

Complications of cerebral angiography: a prospective analysis of 2,924 consecutive procedures.

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral angiography is an invasive procedure associated with a small, but definite risk of neurological morbidity. In this study we sought to establish the nature and rate of complications at our institution among a large prospective cohort of consecutive patients. Also, the data were analysed in an attempt to identify risk factors for complications associated with catheter angiography. METHODS: Data were prospectively collected for a consecutive cohort of patients undergoing diagnostic cerebral angiography between January 2001 and May 2006. A total of 2,924 diagnostic cerebral angiography procedures were performed during this period. The following data were recorded for each procedure: date of procedure, patient age and sex, clinical indication, referring specialty, referral status (routine/emergency), operator, angiographic findings, and the nature of any clinical complication or asymptomatic adverse event (arterial dissection). RESULTS: Clinical complications occurred in 23 (0.79%) of the angiographic procedures: 12 (0.41%) significant puncture-site haematomas, 10 (0.34%) transient neurological events, and 1 nonfatal reaction to contrast agent. There were no permanent neurological complications. Asymptomatic technical complications occurred in 13 (0.44%) of the angiographic procedures: 3 groin dissections and 10 dissections of the cervical vessels. No patient with a neck dissection suffered an immediate or delayed stroke. Emergency procedures (P = 0.0004) and angiography procedures performed for intracerebral haemorrhage (P = 0.02) and subarachnoid haemorrhage (P = 0.04) were associated with an increased risk of complications. CONCLUSION: Neurological complications following cerebral angiography are rare (0.34%), but must be minimized by careful case selection and the prudent use of alternative noninvasive angiographic techniques, particularly in the acute setting. The low complication rate in this series was largely due to the favourable case mix.

Diagnosis of suspected venous thromboembolic disease in pregnancy.

Venous thromboembolic disease is a leading cause of maternal mortality during pregnancy. Early and accurate radiological diagnosis is essential as anticoagulation is not without risk and clinical diagnosis is unreliable. Although the disorder is potentially treatable, unnecessary treatment should be avoided. Most of the diagnostic imaging techniques involve ionizing radiation which exposes both the mother and fetus to finite radiation risks. There is a relative lack of evidence in the literature to guide clinicians and radiologists on the most appropriate method of assessing this group of patients. This article will review the role of imaging of suspected venous thromboembolic disease in pregnant patients, highlight contentious issues such as radiation risk, intravenous contrast use in pregnancy and discuss the published guidelines, as well as suggesting an appropriate imaging algorithm based on the available evidence.

First-line investigation of acute intracerebral hemorrhage using dynamic magnetic resonance angiography.

PURPOSE: To report the initial experience of magnetic resonance (MR) digital subtraction angiography (MR-DSA) in the dynamic assessment of the cerebral circulation in acute non-traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twelve patients with acute ICH were investigated within 6 days of the ictus using a dynamic contrast-enhanced 2-D MR angiogram that produces subtracted images with a temporal resolution of 1-2 frame/s. The MR-DSA examinations were assessed for evidence of an intracranial vascular abnormality and were compared with (i) the routine MR sequences, (ii) non-dynamic time-of-flight MR angiography, and (iii) catheter angiogram performed during the same admission. RESULTS: All 12 MR-DSA examinations were considered to be technically satisfactory. MR-DSA detected an intracranial vascular abnormality in 7 patients (3 arteriovenous malformations, 2 aneurysms, 1 dural arteriovenous fistula, and 1 venous thrombosis). All abnormalities were confirmed by catheter angiography with the exception of one patient with venous sinus thrombosis found on MR imaging that did not undergo catheter angiography. All four arteriovenous shunts were detected by MR-DSA by virtue of early venous filling. CONCLUSION: MR-DSA can be performed satisfactorily in the setting of acute ICH and provides an alternative method to catheter angiography for identifying shunting vascular abnormalities such as arteriovenous malformations and fistulae, as well as large aneurysms and venous occlusions. MR-DSA is a contrast-medium-based technique that does not suffer from the T1 shortening effects of acute hemorrhage that can obscure abnormalities on conventional flow-based non-dynamic techniques.

Recurrent bacterial vaginosis: the use of maintenance acidic vaginal gel following treatment.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) frequently recurs after treatment. One option in the management of recurrences is to keep the vaginal pH at 4.5 or less, in order to prevent overgrowth of bacteria, until the normal lactobacilli are re-established. We report the outcome of using maintenance acetic acid vaginal gel, after treatment of BV, in a sample of 49 women with frequent recurrences. Half of the women had no further recurrences, and in those who did there was a significant increase in time to first recurrence (4.8 months) after commencing the gel compared with the previous recurrence (2.1 months). Prior to using acidic gel, the mean recurrence rate in 49 women was 4.4 per woman/year, and this was reduced to 0.6 recurrences per woman/year. As there are few effective therapies for women with recurrent BV, we feel this offers an option that can currently be used in clinical practice.

An evaluation of the use of tooth temperature to assess human pulp vitality.

AIM: To evaluate change in tooth surface temperature following a thermal stimulus as a simple and reliable method to assess the presence and the extent of blood flow through teeth. METHODOLOGY: Miniature thermometers were used to measure the relationship between surface temperature of teeth and internal flow of 37 degrees C water (in vitro) or blood (in vivo). In addition, thermal stimuli were applied to the external surface of the teeth, and the rate of temperature recovery was related to internal flow. RESULTS: Under in vitro conditions, the surface temperature of teeth and rate of temperature recovery were related to the rate of internal water flow. However, in vivo neither standing surface temperature (P = 0.47) nor rate of temperature recovery (P = 0.19) were significantly related to evidential pulp vitality. CONCLUSION: Change in the surface temperature of teeth is not suitable as a simple clinical means to assess pulp vitality.

The effect of RU486 on the gene expression profile in an endometrial explant model.

Administration of RU486 in vivo during the receptive phase rapidly renders the endometrium non-receptive to the implanting embryo. In order to identify key pathways responsible for endometrial receptivity we have used cDNA arrays to monitor gene expression changes in short-term endometrial explants in response to RU486. Endometrial biopsies from five normal fertile women at mid-secretory phase were cultured in the presence of estradiol and progesterone with or without RU486 for 12 h. cDNA arrays were produced containing approximately 1000 sequence-verified clones which included genes known to be important in angiogenesis, apoptosis, cell signalling, extracellular matrix remodelling and cell cycle regulation. cDNA probes from the paired endometrial samples were hybridized to the arrays and hybridization signals were quantified. A total of 12 genes displayed significant changes in expression; six were up-regulated and six down-regulated following RU486 treatment. For five of these genes this is the first report suggesting that they are regulated by steroids in the endometrium. JAK1 and JNK1 were two of the genes shown by the arrays to be down-regulated in RU486-treated endometrial explants. This was confirmed by real time RT-PCR. JAK1 immunoreactivity was localized to both glandular epithelium and the stroma of normal endometrium and staining was much stronger in the luteal phase of the cycle. These results show that components of two important signalling pathways in endometrium-the JAK/STAT pathway, and the JNK pathway-are altered by RU486. Genes whose expression is controlled by these pathways are likely to be involved in the mechanism by which steroids render the endometrium receptive to the implanting embryo.

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: a pilot study of a new computer version of the self-report scale.

A computer-based version of the self-report Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was developed with colourful graphics illustrating each question. One hundred and two children referred to child and adolescent mental health services were recruited and randomly allocated to complete either the new computer-based version or the paper original. A further 112 children from local schools were recruited and completed the computer-based version of the scale. All children who took part in the study were aged between 8 and 15 years. The paper version of the SDQ is recommended for use in children aged 11 and over and, in this age group, the computer-based questionnaire was able to discriminate between the clinical and community sample (ROC = 0.761, 95 % CI 0.676-0.846). Comparison of the paper-based SDQ and computer-based SDQ within the clinic sample found trends towards better test-retest reliability, inter-rater reliability and significantly better user satisfaction in the computer version compared to the paper-based version. The computer-based SDQ has the added advantage of results being automatically added to a spreadsheet out of view from the user reducing the chance of operator error in coding and entering the data. These preliminary results suggest that the computer-based version of the SDQ may represent a further improvement on the paper SDQ. All versions of the SDQ, including the computer-based version, can be downloaded from the Strengths and Difficulties website address www.sdqinfo.com.

Identification of FBN1 gene mutations in patients with ectopia lentis and marfanoid habitus.

BACKGROUND: Marfan syndrome (MFS), inherited as an autosomal dominant trait, typically affects the cardiovascular, skeletal, and ocular systems. Ectopia lentis (EL) is a clinical manifestation of MFS, with stretching or disruption of the lenticular zonular filaments, leading to displacement of the lenses. EL, with or without minor skeletal changes, exists as an independent autosomal dominant phenotype linked to the same FBN1 locus. METHODS: A consecutive series of 11 patients, affected predominantly by EL, was analysed for FBN1 mutations using PCR, SSCA, and sequencing. RESULTS: Six mutations were identified, of which three are novel and one is recurrent in two patients, thus establishing a mutation incidence in this group of 7/11 (63%). CONCLUSION: The FBN1 variants reported are clustered in the first 15 exons of the gene, while FBN1 mutations reported in the literature are distributed throughout the entire length of the gene. A different type of FBN1 mutation presents in this group of patients, compared with MFS, with arginine to cysteine substitutions appearing frequently.