Challenges of Organ Donation: Potential Donors for Transplantation in an Area of Brazil's Northeast.

BACKGROUND: New strategies to manage the pool of potential donors are needed to increase organ donation rates. The purpose of the study was to identify the main causes of lack of organ donation and to identify the sociodemographic and clinical profiles of potential organ donors in an area of northeastern Brazil. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, retrospective, observational study between November 2015 and January 2017. RESULTS: A total of 150 potential donors were included in the sample. The main cause of death among potential donors was hemorrhagic stroke (35.3%). Hypertension was the most prevalent comorbidity (25.6%). Family member's refusal was cited as the most common reason for not performing organ donation (49.4%). Among the causes of family member's refusal, the most prevalent was declaration of non-consent in life (23%), followed by family disagreement (20.3%). CONCLUSION: There is clearly a need for public educational efforts with regard to organ donation. Educational advertising campaigns can help improve the authorization rate of organ donation.

Morfeas hemicorporales: estudio de siete casos / Hemycorporal morphea: study of seven cases

Introducción: las morfeas hemicorporales son aquellas que tienen un neto predominio hemicorporal y se extienden a más de dos regiones anatómicas al menos. Son enfermedades extremadamente infrecuentes. Sus vínculos con la hemiatrofia facial y la morfea lineal no están completamente explicadas. Objetivos: caracterizar las morfeas hemicorporales para poder reconocerlas inicialmente e intentar frenar su curso evolutivo irreversible. Materiales y métodos: se analizan 7 casos con diagnóstico de morfeas hemicorporal (6 mujeres y un hombre) entre 6 y 45 años de edad, que consultaron entre el 2000 – 2009 en la División Dermatología consignando: 1- presencia de esclerosis y/o atrofia, 2- edad de consulta e inicio, 3- sitio de inicio, 4- compromiso contralateral, 5- presencia de contracturas, distonía o mioclonías, 6- alteración de función visual, ojo seco, 7- hallazgos de laboratorio, 8- examen neurológico, resultados de RMN y análisis bioquímico del LCR de acuerdo a los síntomas en cada caso. Resultados: cinco casos comenzaron en los miembros inferiores o superiores (tres concomitantes con otra región). Tres se iniciaron en la extremidad cefálica o el tronco (todo sincrónicos con inicio en miembros). La extensión en días o meses fue una característica. La esclerosis predominó en la mayoría y en uno sólo se observó atrofia. Lesiones contralaterales se observaron en dos casos. Uno se desarrolló en una esclerodermia sistémica, otro (con niveles moderados de anticuerpos anticardiolipina en una de tres determinaciones) presentó una úlcera maleolar. Todos refirieron distonía, contracturas o dolor local. En el laboratorio se hallaron hiperglobulinemia, FR, ACL y FAN positivos en títulos altos, complemento disminuido en dos. Sólo uno fue positivo para Scl70. Los exámenes complementarios demostraron anomalías locales en la RMN de miembros afectados, áreas de demielización múltiples con bandas oligoclonales en LCR en otro. El ojo seco se asoció en tres pacientes.

Morfeas hemicorporales: estudio de siete casos / Hemycorporal morphea: study of seven cases

Introducción: las morfeas hemicorporales son aquellas que tienen un neto predominio hemicorporal y se extienden a más de dos regiones anatómicas al menos. Son enfermedades extremadamente infrecuentes. Sus vínculos con la hemiatrofia facial y la morfea lineal no están completamente explicadas. Objetivos: caracterizar las morfeas hemicorporales para poder reconocerlas inicialmente e intentar frenar su curso evolutivo irreversible. Materiales y métodos: se analizan 7 casos con diagnóstico de morfeas hemicorporal (6 mujeres y un hombre) entre 6 y 45 años de edad, que consultaron entre el 2000 û 2009 en la División Dermatología consignando: 1- presencia de esclerosis y/o atrofia, 2- edad de consulta e inicio, 3- sitio de inicio, 4- compromiso contralateral, 5- presencia de contracturas, distonía o mioclonías, 6- alteración de función visual, ojo seco, 7- hallazgos de laboratorio, 8- examen neurológico, resultados de RMN y análisis bioquímico del LCR de acuerdo a los síntomas en cada caso. Resultados: cinco casos comenzaron en los miembros inferiores o superiores (tres concomitantes con otra región). Tres se iniciaron en la extremidad cefálica o el tronco (todo sincrónicos con inicio en miembros). La extensión en días o meses fue una característica. La esclerosis predominó en la mayoría y en uno sólo se observó atrofia. Lesiones contralaterales se observaron en dos casos. Uno se desarrolló en una esclerodermia sistémica, otro (con niveles moderados de anticuerpos anticardiolipina en una de tres determinaciones) presentó una úlcera maleolar. Todos refirieron distonía, contracturas o dolor local. En el laboratorio se hallaron hiperglobulinemia, FR, ACL y FAN positivos en títulos altos, complemento disminuido en dos. Sólo uno fue positivo para Scl70. Los exámenes complementarios demostraron anomalías locales en la RMN de miembros afectados, áreas de demielización múltiples con bandas oligoclonales en LCR en otro. El ojo seco se asoció en tres pacientes.(AU)

Pre-operative radiotherapy and curative surgery for the management of localized rectal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative radiotherapy (PRT) has become part of standard practice offered to improve treatment outcomes in patients with rectal cancer. OBJECTIVES: To determine if PRT improves outcome for patients with localized resectable rectal cancer and how it compared with other adjuvant or neoadjuvant strategies. SEARCH STRATEGY: A computerized search was performed December 2006 on MEDLINE (from 1966 to December 2006) and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), conference proceedings, using MeSH and textwords where appropriate to identify randomized trials in PRT and rectal cancer. In addition, MetaRegister of Clinical Trials was searched for ongoing trials. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized trials with a PRT arm versus surgery alone, or other neoadjuvant or adjuvant (NA/A) strategies, targeted patients with localized rectal cancer planned for radical surgery were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Trials were selected, data extracted and quality assessed by 2 authors. Quality was assessed using a 14 point checklist. Summary statistics included Hazard ratios and variances (for the outcomes: overall (OA) mortality, cause specific (CS) mortality, any recurrence and local recurrences (LR)) and Odds Ratio (OR) for other outcomes. Potential sources of heterogeneity hypothesized a priori included study quality, biological effective dose (BED), radiotherapy RT technique, and total mesorectal excision (TME) surgery. MAIN RESULTS: Nineteen trials compared PRT versus surgery alone. Overall (OA) mortality was marginally improved HR 0.93 [95% CI -0.87-1](absolute difference is 2% if the expected survival rate is 60%). Local recurrence (LR) was improved but the magnitude of benefit was heterogeneous across trials. Sensitivity analyses suggested greater benefits in patients treated with BED>30Gy(10) and multiple field RT techniques. There was significantly more pelvic or perineal wound infection, late rectal and sexual dysfunction. Nine trials compared PRT vs. other NA/A. Available evidence did not support an OA mortality or sphincter preserving benefit with the use of combined chemoradiotherapy (CRT) or selective postoperative RT. CRT provides incremental benefit for local control compared with PRT, which was independent of the timing of the CT. There was no significant difference in outcome for different intervals between RT and surgery (2 vs. 8 wk). Dose escalation with endocavitary boost showed significant effect on sphincter preservation. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Optimal PRT improves LR, OA mortality, but no increase in sphincter sparing procedure. CRT further increases local control. If the objective is to increase the incidence of sphincter sparing surgery, endocavitary boost showed the most promise. Strategies with the potential to improve outcomes, especially OAS and sphincter sparing while reducing acute and late toxicities (rectal and sexual function) are needed to guide future strategy designs.

[Microbiological isolates in patients with febrile neutropenia and hematological neoplasias]. / Aislamientos microbiologicos en pacientes con neutropenia febril y neoplasias hematologicas.

We studied the frequency of culture isolation, type of microorganism isolated and local pattern of resistance in 309 adult febrile neutropenic inpatients with hematological neoplasm, who were hospitalized between January 1998 and December 2003, in Caracas University Hospital (Hospital Universitario de Caracas), in Venezuela. There were 576 febrile neutropenic episodes. Organisms were isolated in 41% of 940 cultures. The most common organisms involved were gram-negative bacilli (48%), followed by gram-positive cocci (35.1%), fungal (11.5%) and other agents (5.4%). Coagulase-negative staphylococci (22.4%) and Escherichia coli (13.4%) were the most isolated; 58.5% of 479 agents isolated had an antibiogram; 62.2% of coagulase-negative staphylococci and 23.1% coagulase-positive staphylococci were oxacillin-resistant. We did not find any vancomycin-resistant organisms. The gram-negative antimicrobial sensitivity for imipenem was 96.2%, cefepime 81%, and ceftazidime 57.5%. Tazobactam-piperacillin and sulbactam-cefoperazone were tested in 26% of antibiograms and had activity of 57.1% and 77.5%, respectively. Fungi were not characterized. Betalactamases producing gram-negative bacilli were found. In general, micro-biological identification and local vigilance of antibacterial resistance pattern must be done routinely in these patients, in order to improve empiric therapy guidelines.

Aislamientos microbiológicos en pacientes con neutropenia febril y neoplasias hematológicas / Microbiological isolates in patients with febrile neutropenia and hematological neoplasias

Estudiamos la frecuencia, los tipos de microorganismos aislados y los patrones locales de resistencia en 309 pacientes mayores de 12 añoscon neoplasias hematológicas y neutropenia febril, hospitalizados entre enero de 1998 y diciembre de 2003 en el Hospital Universitario deCaracas, en Venezuela. Se registraron 576 episodios de neutropenia febril. Se reportó algún tipo de aislamiento en el 41% de 940 cultivos.Predominaron los bacilos gramnegativos (48%), seguidos por los cocos grampositivos (35,1%), los hongos (11,5%) y otros agentes (5,4%).Individualmente, Staphylococcus coagulasa negativos (22,4%) y Escherichia coli (13,4%) fueron los más frecuentes. Se realizó antibiogramaal 58,5% de un total de 479 agentes. La resistencia a la oxacilina de los estafilococos coagulasa negativos fue del 62,2% y la de los coagulasapositivos del 23,1%. No se reportó resistencia a la vancomicina. La sensibilidad de los bacilos gramnegativos al imipenem fue del 96,2%,a la cefepima del 81,1% y a la ceftazidima del 57,5%. Piperacilina-tazobactam y cefoperazona-sulbactam se probaron sólo en el 26% de losgramnegativos aislados, y se halló una sensibilidad del 57,1% y el 77,5%, respectivamente. No se precisó especie ni sensibilidad en los hongos.Se encontraron bacilos gramnegativos productores de betalactamasas. En general, la identificación microbiológica y la vigilancia localde las resistencias deben realizarse como norma en estos pacientes para adecuar los esquemas empíricos de tratamiento

We studied the frequency of culture isolation, type of microorganism isolated and local pattern of resistance in 309 adult febrile neutropenicinpatients with hematological neoplasm, who were hospitalized between January 1998 and December 2003, in Caracas University Hospital(Hospital Universitario de Caracas), in Venezuela. There were 576 febrile neutropenic episodes. Organisms were isolated in 41% of 940cultures. The most common organisms involved were gram-negative bacilli (48%), followed by gram-positive cocci (35.1%), fungal (11.5%)and other agents (5.4%). Coagulase-negative staphylococci (22.4%) and Escherichia coli (13.4%) were the most isolated; 58.5% of 479agents isolated had an antibiogram; 62.2% of coagulase-negative staphylococci and 23.1% coagulase-positive staphylococci were oxacillinresistant.We did not find any vancomycin-resistant organisms. The gram-negative antimicrobial sensitivity for imipenem was 96.2%, cefepime81%, and ceftazidime 57.5%. Tazobactam-piperacillin and sulbactam-cefoperazone were tested in 26% of antibiograms and had activity of57.1% and 77.5%, respectively. Fungi were not characterized. Betalactamases producing gram-negative bacilli were found. In general, microbiologicalidentification and local vigilance of antibacterial resistance pattern must be done routinely in these patients, in order to improveempiric therapy guidelines

Interleukin-10 polymorphisms in Spanish type 1 diabetes patients.

The MHC accounts for half of the genetic susceptibility to type 1 diabetes (T1D). Evidence suggests that an imbalance in Th1/Th2 responses may play a key role in the development of autoimmune diabetes. Since interleukin-10 (IL-10) modulates immune and inflammatory responses and has been implicated in many autoimmune diseases, it seemed interesting to examine whether IL-10 polymorphisms participate in diabetes predisposition. In fact, this is the first association study investigating the role of the IL- 10 polymorphisms in susceptibility to T1D in a Caucasian population. Three promoter polymorphisms (-1082G/A, -819C/T, -592C/A) and two CA-repeat microsatellites (IL-10R and IL-10G at -4 and -1.1 kb) were tested in a case-control study with 294 T1D patients and 574 healthy controls. Our results prove a minor role of IL-10 in the autoimmune diabetes risk, although we found the same association trend with IL-10G(*)12 allele as was previously observed for multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Quality of life and breast cancer: relationship to psychosocial variables.

The aim of this article is to shed more light on the relationship between quality of life and aspects of the psychosocial experience for women with breast cancer. The literature is briefly reviewed, including highlights of the psychosocial consequences of cancer, an exploration of the relationship of psychosocial variables to cancer, and a brief review of psychosocial interventions for cancer. Further, preliminary findings of an on-going NCI study are introduced. Finally, clinical implications are discussed. The purpose of this article is to provide a context and foundation on which future researchers and clinicians can build. Ultimately, we suggest that the biomedical model of disease, though crucial, does not take into account all of the complex factors involved in cancer. The current literature lends support to the argument that a broader, more integrative framework, which includes psychosocial factors, is needed.

Central venous catheters for infusion therapy in gastrointestinal cancer. A comparative study of tunnelled centrally placed catheters and peripherally inserted central catheters.

Protracted venous infusion of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is a common treatment for patients with gastrointestinal malignancy. A central venous access device is required for safe and effective drug delivery. This study uses a survival analysis to compare the useful life and treatment completion success of tunelled centrally placed catheters (TCPCs) and peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs). It also describes complications found with both devices. Data on insertion, complications, and removal of TCPCs and PICCs were collected on standardized forms, prospectively for initial PICCs and retrospectively for initial TCPCs. Survival of indwelling catheters was similar for both devices for the first 120 days, but after that TCPC survival was statistically better than that of PICCs (P = 0.051). Complications occurred in 61% of patients with TCPCs and 67% of patients with PICCs. The authors conclude that PICCs provide less invasive, more cost-effective, and easier to schedule central venous access for 5-FU infusion; however, their advantage over TCPCs decreases significantly in treatments lasting more than 120 days.

Cardiac herniation mimics cardiac tamponade in blunt trauma. Must early resuscitative thoracotomy be done?

Blunt rupture of the pericardium is a rare injury. Strangulated cardiac hernia following blunt trauma is one cause of reversible cardiac arrest. Traumatic pericardial tears usually have delayed diagnoses and carry high mortality rates (64%). Clinical signs mimic cardiac tamponade during the primary survey. We report here two cases of blunt trauma. Both patients arrived alive in the emergency room and presented signs of cardiac tamponade caused by pericardial rupture.

The heritability of personality factors in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).

Human personality and behavior genetic studies have resulted in a growing consensus that five heritable factors account for most variance in human personality. Prior research showed that chimpanzee personality is composed of a dominance-related factor and five human-like factors--Surgency, Dependability, Emotional Stability, Agreeableness, and Openness. Genetic, shared zoo, and nonshared environmental variance components of the six factors were estimated by regressing squared phenotypic differences of all possible pairs of chimpanzees onto 1 - Rij, where Rij equals the degree of relationship and a variable indicating whether the pair was housed in the same zoo. Dominance showed significant narrow-sense heritability. Shared zoo effects accounted for only a negligible proportion of the variance for all factors.

A meta-analytic approach to growth curve analysis.

A meta-analytic approach to growth curve analysis is described and illustrated by applying it to the evaluation of the Arizona Pilot Project, an experimental project for financing the treatment of the severely mentally ill. In this approach to longitudinal data analysis, each individual subject for which repeated measures are obtained is initially treated as a separate case study for analysis. This approach has at least two distinct advantages. First, it does not assume a balanced design (equal numbers of repeated observations) across all subjects; to accommodate a variable number of observations for each subject, individual growth curve parameters are differentially weighted by the number of repeated measures on which they are based. Second, it does not assume homogeneity of treatment effects (equal slopes) across all subjects. Individual differences in growth curve parameters representing potentially unequal developmental rates through time are explicitly modeled. A meta-analytic approach to growth curve analysis may be the optimal analytical strategy for longitudinal studies where either (1) a balanced design is not feasible or (2) an assumption of homogeneity of treatment effects across all individuals is theoretically indefensible. In our evaluation of the Arizona Pilot Project, individual growth curve parameters were obtained for each of the 13 rationally derived subscales of the New York Functional Assessment Survey, over time, by linear regression analysis. The slopes, intercepts, and residuals obtained for each individual were then subjected to meta-analytic causal modeling. Using factor analytic models and then general linear models for the latent constructs, the growth curve parameters of all individuals were systematically related to each other via common factors and predicted based on hypothesized exogenous causal factors. The same two highly correlated common factors were found for all three growth curve parameters analyzed, a general psychological factor and a general functional factor. The factor patterns were found to be nearly identical across the separate analyses of individual intercepts, slopes, and residuals. Direct effects on the unique factors of each subscale of the New York Functional Assessment Survey were tested for each growth curve parameter by including the common factors as hierarchically prior predictors in the structural model for each of the indicator variables, thus statistically controlling for any indirect effect produced on the indicator through the common factors. The exogenous predictors modeled were theoretically specified orthogonal contrasts for Method of Payment (comparing Arizona Pilot Project treatment or "capitation" to traditional or "fee-for-service" care as a control), Treatment Administration Site (comparing various locations within treatment or control groups), Pretreatment Assessment (comparing general functional level at intake as assigned by an Outside Assessment Team), and various interactions among these main effects. The intercepts, representing the initial status of individual subjects on both the two common factors and the 13 unique factors of the subscales of the New York Functional Assessment Survey, were found to vary significantly across many of the various different treatment conditions, treatment administration sites, and pretreatment functional levels. This indicated a severe threat to the validity of the originally intended design of the Arizona Pilot Project as a randomized experiment. When the systematic variations were statistically controlled by including intercepts as hierarchically prior predictors in the structural models for slopes, recasting the experiment as a nonequivalent groups design, the effects of the intercepts on the slopes were found to be both statistically significant and substantial in magnitude. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

Genetic characterization of soybean rhizobia in Paraguay.

The soybean is an exotic plant introduced in Paraguay in this century; commercial cropping expanded after the 1970s. Inoculation is practiced in just 15 to 20% of the cropping areas, but root nodulation occurs in most sites where soybeans grow. Little is known about rhizobial diversity in South America, and no study has been performed in Paraguay until this time. Therefore, in this study, the molecular characterization of 78 rhizobial isolates from soybean root nodules, collected under field conditions in 16 sites located in the two main producing states, Alto Paraná and Itapúa, was undertaken. A high level of genetic diversity was detected by an ERIC-REP-PCR analysis, with the majority of the isolates representing unique strains. Most of the 58 isolates characterized by slow growth and alkaline reactions in a medium containing mannitol as a carbon source were clustered with strains representative of the Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Bradyrhizobium elkanii species, and the 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences of 5 of those isolates confirmed the species identities. However, slow growers were highly polymorphic in relation to the reference strains, including five carried in commercial inoculants in neighboring countries, thus indicating that the Paraguayan isolates might represent native bradyrhizobia. Twenty isolates highly polymorphic in the ERIC-REP-PCR profiles were characterized by fast growth and acid reactions in vitro, and two of them showed high 16S rDNA identities with Rhizobium genomic species Q. However, two other fast growers showed high 16S rDNA identity with Agrobacterium spp., and both of these strains established efficient symbioses with soybean plants.

Intimate partner aggression--what have we learned? Comment on Archer (2000)

This commentary on J. Archer (2000) identifies limitations at the level of the primary data, the formal meta-analysis, and the interpretations of the results. Highlighted are concerns with the conceptual dichotomy that is the foundation of the analysis, how aggression was conceptualized and defined, and the methodological problems in the studies included in the database that were not neutralized by the meta-analysis. These include inadequate measurement of contextual factors and injury outcomes, scaling issues, and sampling concerns. The authors question the degree to which the field is advanced by this meta-analysis when the results are placed in the context of these limitations. Following American Association for the Advancement of Science directives (I. Lerch, 1999), the authors believe that inadequate attention was paid to the policy implications of the conclusions raising the potential to undermine societal efforts to eradicate violence against women.

A Brunswikian evolutionary-developmental theory of adolescent sex offending.

A Brunswikian Evolutionary-Developmental model was developed to relate the sex offending behavior of adolescents to other forms of social deviance, tracing a history of repeated frustration and failure in various competitive sexual strategies and escalation to more extreme means of obtaining sexual gratification. Four hypothetical constructs were proposed as stages in the development of sexual criminality: (1) Psycho-Social Deficiency (PSD); (2) Non-Criminal Sexuality (NCS); (3) Non-Sexual Criminality (NSC); and (4) Sexual Criminality (SC). Significant direct and indirect pathways led from PSD to SC through both NCS and NSC, each time facilitated by an interaction with PSD. Although the causal orders between stages remain equivocal, the current results are consistent with our theory and establish the heuristic value of our theoretical approach, providing empirical support for otherwise counterintuitive predictions. This interpretation also offers hope for focusing preventative intervention at one major root cause of this unfortunate cascade of consequences, Psycho-Social Deficiency.

Circulating monocytes in patients with diabetes mellitus, arterial disease, and increased CD14 expression.

Low serum concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and elevated levels of acute-phase reactans are frequently found in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and cardiovascular disease. Changes in the phenotype of circulating monocytes have been reported with both of these circumstances in nondiabetic subjects. In the present study, we explored the possibility that similar changes may occur in circulating monocytes of patients with NIDDM and arterial disease. Two groups of subjects with NIDDM were studied: patients with cardiovascular disease (n = 25) were compared with a group without cardiovascular disease (n = 26); both groups were age- and sex-matched, had the same length of diabetes duration, and degree of glycemic control. Healthy nondiabetic volunteers of comparable age and sex (n = 35) formed the control group. There was no significant difference in the numbers of the CD14+/CD16+ monocyte subpopulations between the 3 groups. However, a significant graded increase of the mCD14 intensity expression values was observed among the groups, with the highest levels in patients with NIDDM patients and the lowest in nondiabetic subjects. The serum C-reactive protein concentrations were significantly higher in the group with arterial disease compared with those without arterial disease or healthy controls. In the group of patients as a whole, relative mCD14 intensity expression was significantly correlated with HDL cholesterol levels (inversely) and with serum concentrations of C-reactive protein. Serum HDL cholesterol levels and the C-reactive protein concentrations were also significantly correlated. We concluded that the increased mCD14 intensity expression on circulating monocytes may be an important contributor to the increased inflammatory response observed in patients with NIDDM and arterial disease, and eventually, to atherogenesis.

Isolation of hypotensive compounds from Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam.

The crude hydroalcoholic root extract (CRE) of Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam. has formerly been shown to have hypotensive activity both in normo-and hypertensive rats. Hypotensive activity-guided fractionation of the CRE was performed in anaesthetized normotensive rats, which led to the isolation of the active principles. The intravenous (i.v.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) values of the CRE in mice were found to be, respectively, 343 and 451 mg/kg, and no lethal effect was caused by doses up to 5.0 g/kg when administered by oral route. Depression of locomotion, increase of breathing rate and piloerection was observed in a general behavior test with doses up to 200 mg/kg i.p., and 1000 mg/kg p.o., respectively. Increase in the gastrointestinal transit was found using 0.1 g/kg, whereas at doses of 0.5 and 1 g/kg, no significant activity was observed in comparison with the control mice. Hexanic and butanolic fractions induced a remarkable hypotension in anaesthetized normotensive rats in doses of 1, 5, 7.5 and 10 mg/kg i. v. Two compounds isolated from the butanolic fraction induced a significant decrease of the blood pressure, HR, amplitude of the ECG and breathing rate when injected in a dose of 1 mg/kg i.v; and both systofic and diastolic, blood pressures were affected in a proportional mode. The hypotensive effect of the two compounds were not influenced by pretreatment with atropine and propranolol; and the pressor response to noradrenaline was not affected by any of them which suggests that neither a direct muscarinic activity, beta-adrenoceptor activation nor decrease of sympathetic vascular tone (sympatholitic activity) are probably involved in the mechanism of hypotension. The present study shows that the CRE of S. sisymbriifolium contains at least two hypotensive compounds whose characterization is under way.

The influence of personality and history of sexual victimization in the prediction of juvenile perpetrated child molestation.

Structural equation modeling was used to delineate the relationship between sexual victimization and personality variables in the prediction of patterns of child molestation in adolescent males. Two hundred thirty-five adolescents, representing subsamples of sexually victimized and nonvictimized, perpetrating and nonperpetrating, and emotionally maladjusted and nonmaladjusted youths, participated in the study. Juvenile child molesters were found to have more pessimistic explanatory styles and deficits in self-sufficiency relative to nonoffending youths. A younger age at time of victimization, a greater number of incidents, a longer period of waiting to report the abuse, and a lower level of perceived family support postrevelation of the abuse were found to be predictive of subsequent sexual perpetration. Implications for treatment are discussed.