Enhanced Absorption by Linewidth Narrowing in Optically Excited Type-II Semiconductor Heterostructures.

We experimentally report a surprising linewidth narrowing of the direct exitonic 1 s heavy-hole transition in a type-II quantum well system. This narrowing, which builds up on a pico- to nanosecond timescale, causes a transient enhanced absorption at the spectral peak position of the excitonic resonance. We discuss how this effect depends on experimental parameters such as excitation density, temperature, and barrier width. We cannot attribute this effect to known physical mechanisms.

[Narcissistic personality disorder]. / Narzisstische Persönlichkeitsstörung.

Narcissism is a multifaceted term which encompasses traits of normal personality as well as a specific personality disorder. While much research has been concerned with narcissism as a trait there are only few empirical studies available on narcissistic personality disorder (NPS). The current diagnostic of NPS according to DSM-IV-TR focuses on grandiose type narcissism whereas vulnerable narcissism, which has been described by clinicians and researchers has not yet been recognised. Psychotherapy of narcissistic patients through different psychotherapeutic schools focuses mainly on processes in the therapeutic relationship, the analysis and change of grandiose and vulnerable schemas, emotion regulation techniques and correction of narcissistic behavior in favor of prosocial interactions.

Versatile system for the temperature-controlled preparation of oxide crystal surfaces.

We present a versatile system for the preparation of oxide crystal surfaces in the ultra-high vacuum (UHV) at temperatures up to 1300 K. Thermal treatment is accomplished by direct current heating of a tantalum foil in contact with the oxide sample. The sample temperature is measured by a thermocouple at a position close to the crystal and its reading is calibrated against the surface temperature determined by a second thermocouple temporarily attached to the surface. The design of the sample holder is based on a transferable plate originally developed for a commercial UHV scanning probe microscope. The system is, however, also suitable for the use with electron spectroscopy or electron diffraction based surface analytical techniques. We present results for the high-temperature preparation of CeO(2)(111) surfaces with atomically flat terraces exhibiting perfect atomic order and cleanliness as revealed by non-contact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM) imaging. NC-AFM imaging is, furthermore, used to demonstrate the temperature-controlled aggregation of gold atoms on the CeO(2)(111) surface and their evaporation at high temperatures.

Preliminary evidence of improvement of depressive symptoms but not impulsivity in cluster B personality disorder patients treated with quetiapine: an open label trial.

INTRODUCTION: Atypical antipsychotics might become a new treatment option for patients with an impaired impulse regulation as seen in cluster B personality disorders (PD). The aim of the present study is to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of quetiapine in patients with cluster B PD. METHODS: Fifteen in-patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of borderline, histrionic, or narcissistic PD were treated for 8 weeks with quetiapine at a dose of 400 mg/day in an open-label fashion. Effects on impulsivity (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, BIS), depressive symptoms (Hamilton Depression Scale, HAMD, and Beck Depression Inventory, BDI) and side effects (Dosage Record and Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale, DOTES) were assessed. RESULTS: Twelve patients completed the study. No positive effect on impulsivity (BIS) was found, but a significant improvement on depression scores (HAM-D and BDI) was noted. Adverse effects that might have been due to study medication were mainly anticholinergic and mild-to-moderate. DISCUSSION: The data of our preliminary open-label study do not argue for a general recommendation of quetiapine for the treatment of impulsivity in cluster B PD, but indicate positive effects on depressive symptoms.

[Psychopharmacologic treatment of personality disorders]. / Psychopharmakologische Behandlung von und bei Persönlichkeitsstörungen.

There is only a paucity of studies concerning the pharmacological treatment of personality disorders per se. On the other hand the clinical use of medication in these conditions is quite high, although there is no effective psychopharmacological treatment of distinct personality disorders. The psychopharmacological treatment of patients suffering from a personality disorder focuses on distinct symptoms and its comorbidity. Some symptoms could also be associated with other disorders like depression or psychosis, which often makes an exact differentiation of these disorders and a personality disorder difficult. Since symptoms of personality disorders are ego-syntonic, chronic and very often dependent on psychosocial factors, it is unlikely that a solely psychopharmacological treatment will be successful in most patients with a personality disorder. However, severe syndromes like depressive, impulsive, aggressive, dissociative, anxious or psychotic features may render a pharmacotherapy necessary. For the treatment of depressive syndromes or impulsivity a medical therapy with serotonin reuptake inhibitors, for the treatment of psychotic syndromes a medication with atypical antipsychotics is recommended. Impulsive or aggressive behaviour could be treated with mood stabilizers as well. Furthermore, there are indications for the use of alpha2-agonists, micro-opiate-antagonists and omega-3 fatty acid. The general use of benzodiazepines should be avoided as well as polypragmasy. Advantages versus potential damage of a high dose pharmacotherapy should be carefully weighed against each other. This article gives an overview over the today's most common psychopharmacological treatment possibilities in patients with a personality disorder.

Dissociative symptoms are positively related to stress in borderline personality disorder.

OBJECTIVE: According to DSM-IV criteria, dissociative symptoms in borderline personality disorder (BPD) occur in response to stress. Empirical evidence is, however, lacking. METHOD: Using ambulatory monitoring, we assessed dissociative symptoms and subjective ratings of stress every 60 min for 48 h on a palmtop computer in BPD-patients (n = 51), clinical controls (CC; major depression n = 25; panic disorder n = 26), and healthy controls (HC; n = 40). Data analyses were primarily based on hierarchical linear models. RESULTS: In all groups, states of increased stress were paralleled by increased scores of dissociation, thus confirming the hypothesized association between stress and dissociation. The increase in dissociation was more pronounced in BPD-patients when compared with CC and HC. Additionally, BPD-patients reported heightened dissociative experience compared with CC and HC, even after controlling for stress. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that BPD-patients might be prone to dissociation when experiencing stress and are characterized by a generally heightened level of dissociation.

[Significance of emotion-focused concepts to cognitive-behavioral therapy]. / Bedeutung emotionsfokussierter Konzepte und Interventionen für die kognitive Verhaltenstherapie.

Emotions are the central process of motivation and play a key role in adaptive behavior in humans. Although cognitive-behavioral therapy stresses the importance of changing both cognition and behavior, there is growing emphasis on direct therapeutic work on emotions and emotional processing, as problematic emotional processes are at the core of nearly all psychic disorders. This type of work is the goal of emotion-focused psychotherapy, which centers on direct change of problematic emotions, especially those which are usually suppressed resp. overregulated by the patient. This paper examines the basic phobic/emotional conflict, the problematic emotional processes arising from this conflict, and the importance to cognitive-behavioral therapy of their potentially integrative role.

[Nacissistic personality disorder]. / Narzisstische Persönlichkeitsstörung. Immer Arger mit Mr. Bombastic.

The narcissistic personality disorder is the extreme form of the so-called narcissistic personality style, which is characterized by exaggerated self-importance coupled with an inordinate desire to be admired, ideas of grandiosity and a strong sense of entitlement, an absence of empathy and feelings of envy. In contact with others, the narcissist appears arrogant, readily feels injured, and takes advantage of other to achieve his own ends. A central psychodynamic role in the development of the condition is a labile sense of self-worth and its overcompensation. Psychotherapeutic treatment aims initially to develop an awareness of the problem in the patient, correction of cognitive dysfunction and a reduction in aggressive or disdainful behavior. Impulsive and aggressive behavior and attacks of depression may be reduced through the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

Anxiety scores before and after prenatal testing for congenital anomalies.

OBJECTIVE: Prenatal diagnosis has psychological effects on the pregnant woman. We studied the state of anxiety levels in 332 pregnant women presenting between the 12th and 20th week of gestation before and after prenatal examination with negative and positive prenatal findings. RESULTS: Prenatal examination produced a positive finding in 37 cases (11.1%). Both before and after prenatal examination pregnant women with a positive finding showed significantly higher anxiety-scales when compared to women with a negative result. After the examination state-anxiety levels were significantly reduced with a negative prenatal scan, whereas anxiety levels remained constant with a positive result. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal testing for fetal anomalies presents an anxiety-inducing situation for the parents-to-be. If the results are negative, anxiety is reduced. Pregnant women who are confronted with a positive malformation scan show unchanged levels of anxiety after the examination.

The influence of gestational age on depressive reactions, stress and anxiety of pregnant women and their partners in relation to prenatal diagnosis.

Prenatal diagnosis is usually performed in the early weeks of gestation in order to avoid medical and emotional maternal risks in the event of fetal malformation. This study examines emotions such as depression, stress and anxiety in pregnant women and their partners with regard to the week of gestation in which the prenatal diagnosis was made. In total, 452 pregnant women (between 7 and 40 weeks' gestation) and 274 partners participated in this study. The pregnant women were divided into four groups of 113 subjects each according to length of pregnancy (group 1 = 7-15 weeks' gestation, group 2 = 16-18 weeks' gestation, group 3 = 19-23 weeks' gestation and group 4 = 24-40 weeks' of gestation). Depression, stress and Spielberger state-trait anxiety levels were measured before the prenatal examination, and stress and state anxiety were assessed after prenatal examination. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). After the prenatal examination, the mean values of state anxiety (p = 0.032) and stress (p = 0.030) showed statistically significant differences in the pregnant women. Their partners only showed statistically significant differences in the stress values (p = 0.048) after examination. In conclusion, emotional stress related to the prenatal diagnosis seems to be largely independent of gestational age. Ultrasound scans give the parents-to-be a clearer image of their unborn child, as their perception of the fetus is transformed from that of an anonymous object into an individual.

[Fears of pregnant women if prenatal examination yields or does not yield any findings]. / Angst der Schwangeren vor und nach der pränatalen Untersuchung bei unauffälligen und bei auffälligen Befunden.

OBJECTIVE: Besides a medical point of view, prenatal diagnosis also has psychological effects on the pregnant woman. We studied the state of anxiety before and after prenatal examination with unsuspicious and suspicious prenatal findings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a consecutive sample of 332 pregnant women presenting between the 12th and 21st week of gestation for prenatal malformation scan (level three reference centre, Unit for Prenatal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical University of Lübeck) we ascertained state and trait anxiety (Spielberger) before prenatal examination and state anxiety after prenatal examination with unsuspicious and suspicious findings. RESULTS: In the sample of N = 332 pregnant women prenatal examination showed a suspicious finding in 37 fetuses (11.1 %) and an unsuspicious finding in 295 fetuses (88.9 %). Before prenatal examination there is no difference (Mann-Whitney-Test, P = 0.286) between the group with negative results and the pregnant women with a positive result for the trait anxiety scale; however, there is a significant difference (Mann-Whitney-Test, P = 0.014*) for the scale of state anxiety. After prenatal examination the evaluation of the state anxiety questionnaire shows a significant (Mann-Whitney-Test, P = 0.000*) difference between pregnant women with an unsuspicious finding and pregnant women with a suspicious finding. State-anxiety is significantly reduced after examination if the prenatal scan is unsuspicious (Wilcoxon-Test, P = 0.000*), but there is no significant difference between pre-and post-examination anxiety if there is a positive finding (Wilcoxon-Test, P = 0.399). Evaluating aspects of anxiety as regards content, it can be demonstrated that before prenatal examination the pregnant women are just as much afraid of a malformation being detected as of it being missed. CONCLUSIONS: Suspecting or knowing about a malformation of the unborn means a complex process of coping and an intense psychosocial strain for a pregnant woman. Besides the fear of a detected malformation the pregnant women state equal fear of a malformation being missed. In contrast to this the immediate feedback of a negative finding during ultrasound examination leads to a significant reduction of anxiety and to an emotional relief for the pregnant woman.

Oral midazolam with an antacid may increase the speed of onset of sedation in children prior to general anaesthesia.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to see whether sodium citrate solution would speed the gastric absorption of oral midazolam. METHODS: Forty presurgical ASA I and II patients (aged 2-6 years) were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Group I received midazolam 0.5 mg x kg(-1) mixed with sodium citrate while group II (control) received midazolam 0.5 mg x kg(-1) mixed with Hawaiian fruit punch. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference between the ages, weights, preoperative sedation and anxiety scores in the two groups. After premedication, the onset of sedation (mean +/- SD) measured by the first change in sedation score was found to be significantly faster (P < 0.05) in group I (17.8 +/- 7.11) compared with group II (21.9 +/- 5.34). There was no statistical difference in anxiety at any time intervals, separation or induction scoring for both groups. Gastric volumes and the pH of gastric aspirates between the two groups were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The time to onset of sedation can potentially be shortened, by using a preparation of intravenous midazolam and antacid, given orally.

Dopamine receptor regulating factor, DRRF: a zinc finger transcription factor.

Dopamine receptor genes are under complex transcription control, determining their unique regional distribution in the brain. We describe here a zinc finger type transcription factor, designated dopamine receptor regulating factor (DRRF), which binds to GC and GT boxes in the D1A and D2 dopamine receptor promoters and effectively displaces Sp1 and Sp3 from these sequences. Consequently, DRRF can modulate the activity of these dopamine receptor promoters. Highest DRRF mRNA levels are found in brain with a specific regional distribution including olfactory bulb and tubercle, nucleus accumbens, striatum, hippocampus, amygdala, and frontal cortex. Many of these brain regions also express abundant levels of various dopamine receptors. In vivo, DRRF itself can be regulated by manipulations of dopaminergic transmission. Mice treated with drugs that increase extracellular striatal dopamine levels (cocaine), block dopamine receptors (haloperidol), or destroy dopamine terminals (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) show significant alterations in DRRF mRNA. The latter observations provide a basis for dopamine receptor regulation after these manipulations. We conclude that DRRF is important for modulating dopaminergic transmission in the brain.

In situ hybridization on brain tissue.

ABSTRUCT: In situ hybridization (ISH) is an important method for determining the distribution of mRNA within cells or tissue preparations by hybridization of a nucleic acid probe (either DNA or RNA) with a specific target nucleic acid (usually mRNA) (1,2). Thus, ISH enables the localization of transcripts within cells, tissues, and whole body and allows a neuroanatomic comparison of specific mRNA expression with the respective protein expression. Furthermore, ISH can serve as a tool to detect quantitative changes in gene expression in distinct neuroanatomic areas under various experimental conditions.

Selective increase of dopamine D3 receptor gene expression as a common effect of chronic antidepressant treatments.

The mesolimbic dopaminergic system is a neuroanatomical key structure for reward and motivation upon which previous studies indicated that antidepressant drugs exert a stimulatory influence, via still unknown neurobiological mechanisms. Here we examined the effects of chronic administration of antidepressants of several classes (amitriptyline, desipramine, imipramine, fluoxetine and tranylcypromine) and repeated electroconvulsive shock treatments (ECT) on dopamine D3 receptor expression in the shell of the nucleus accumbens, a major projection area of the mesolimbic dopaminergic system. Short-term drug treatments had variable effects on D3 receptor mRNA expression. In contrast, treatments for 21 days (with all drugs except fluoxetine) significantly increased D3 receptor mRNA expression in the shell of nucleus accumbens; D3 receptor binding was also significantly increased by amitriptyline or fluoxetine after a 42-day treatment. ECT for 10 days increased D3 receptor mRNA and binding in the shell of nucleus accumbens. D1 receptor and D2 receptor mRNAs were increased by imipramine and amitriptyline, but not by the other treatments. The time-course of altered D3 receptor expression, in line with the delayed clinical efficiency of antidepressant treatment, and the fact that various antidepressant drugs and ECT treatments eventually produced the same effects, suggest that increased expression of the D3 receptor in the shell of nucleus accumbens is a common neurobiological mechanism of antidepressant treatments, resulting in enhanced responsiveness to the mesolimbic dopaminergic system.

Influences on adolescents' decision to postpone onset of sexual intercourse: a survival analysis of virginity among youths aged 13 to 18 years.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has focused on risk factors associated with early onset of sexual intercourse among adolescents. This study hypothesizes that protective factors identified for other health compromising behaviors are also protective against early onset of sexual intercourse. The study sample included 26,023 students in grades 7-12 (87.5% white, 52.5% male) who did not report a history of sexual abuse in a statewide survey of adolescent health in 1988. METHODS: Bivariate analyses were stratified into early (13-14 years), middle (15-16 years) and late (17-18 years) adolescence and by gender. Cox proportional hazards survival analysis, stratified by gender, was used to determine risk and protective factors associated with delayed onset of sexual intercourse. RESULTS: Variables showing a significant bivariate association with lower levels of sexual activity across all age groups and genders were: dual-parent families, higher socioeconomic status (SES), better school performance, greater religiosity, absence of suicidal thoughts, feeling adults or parents cared, and high parental expectations. High levels of body pride were associated with higher levels of sexual activity for all age and gender groups. In the multivariate survival analyses, variables significantly associated with delayed onset of sexual activity for both males and females included: dual-parent families, higher SES, residing in rural areas, higher school performance, concerns about the community, and higher religiosity. High parental expectations were a significant protective factor for males but not for females. CONCLUSION: While many protective factors are not subject to intervention, the present analyses indicate that teen pregnancy prevention may be enhanced by addressing family and educational factors.

PIP: This study examines the probability of identified protective factors of other health-compromising behaviors as protective factors against early onset of sexual intercourse based on previous research. Using a bivariate analysis, a sample of 26,023 students in grades 7-12 (87.5% White, 52.5% male) who completed a statewide adolescent health survey in 1988 without a reported sexual history were evaluated. The sample was stratified according to early (age 13-14), middle (age 15-16), and late (age 17-18) adolescence and by gender. On the other hand, the use of Cox proportional hazards survival analysis determines the risk and protective factors associated with delayed onset of sexual intercourse. Variables associated with non-initiation of sexual intercourse among genders included dual-parent families, higher socioeconomic status, rural residency, better school performance, greater religiosity, absence of suicidal thoughts, feeling that adults and parents care, and high parental expectancy. Furthermore, high parental expectations were found to be a more significant protective factor among males than females. Higher levels of sexual activity across all ages and gender groups were noted to be associated with high levels of body pride. This study concludes that the enhancement of family and educational programs would be beneficial in the prevention of teen pregnancy.

In vivo regulation of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor-inducible transcription factor by kainic acid.

A putative transcription factor induced in vitro by glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and transforming growth factor-beta was recently cloned and characterized [Yajima S. et al. (1997) J. Neurosci. 17, 8657-8666]. The messenger RNA of this protein, termed murine GDNF-inducible transcription factor (mGIF, hereafter referred to as GIF), is localized within cortical and hippocampal regions of brain, suggesting that GIF might be regulated by perturbations of these brain regions. In an effort to learn more about the role of GIF in vivo, we examined GIF messenger RNA in the brains of rats treated with the glutamatergic agonist kainic acid. This treatment is known to induce seizures and alter the messenger RNA expression of several growth factors, including GDNF, in several brain regions. Rats were given intraperitoneal saline (1 ml/kg) or kainic acid (15 mg/kg) and were killed at various time-points for in situ hybridization of brain sections with a GIF messenger RNA riboprobe. In saline-treated rats, GIF messenger RNA was present at low levels in cerebral cortex, hippocampus and hippocampal remnants such as the taenia tecta. Kainic acid treatment induced robust increases in GIF messenger RNA in several brain regions, including cerebral cortex, hippocampus, caudate-putamen, nucleus accumbens, and several nuclei of the amygdala and hypothalamus. Most brain regions showed the greatest increase in GIF messenger RNA 4-6 h after kainic acid administration and a return towards normal levels at 48 h. The CA3 region of hippocampus, however, showed a more rapid increase in GIF messenger RNA that was also evident 48 h after kainic acid administration. These results demonstrate that GIF messenger RNA can be regulated in vivo, and that this novel factor warrants further study as a central mediator of GDNF and perhaps other neurotrophic factors.

Regulation of striatal dopamine receptors by estrogen.

The ability of estrogen to modulate the expression of ventral and dorsal striatal dopamine receptors D(1), D(2,) and D(3) was examined in vivo using semi-quantitative in situ hybridization and ligand binding autoradiography. Two-week treatment with subcutaneous pellets of 17beta-estradiol (25 mg) downregulated D(2) dopamine receptor mRNA in both dorsal and ventral striatum (shell and core regions of nucleus accumbens). No significant changes in D(1) or D(3) mRNA expression were detected. Ligand binding autoradiography did not reveal changes in D(1), D(2,) or D(3) receptor protein expression. We also assessed the ability of 17beta-estradiol to regulate D(2) gene promoter activity in NB41A3 neuroblastoma cells that express this gene endogenously using co-transfections with an estrogen receptor expression vector. While a small fragment of the D(2) promoter could be activated 2.5-fold by estrogen, a larger portion of the D(2) gene was not regulated by this treatment. Estrogens do not appear to have a net effect on striatal dopamine receptor expression. The observed downregulation of D(2) receptor mRNA in the dorsal and ventral striatum in vivo could be secondary to the increased striatal dopamine release induced by estrogen. Synapse 34:222-227, 1999. Published 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Family risk factors associated with adolescent pregnancy: study of a group of adolescent girls and their families in Ecuador.

PURPOSE: To identify characteristics within the family that were associated with adolescent pregnancy in a group of adolescent girls in Quito, Ecuador. METHODS: Of 135 female adolescents (12-19 years of age), 47 were pregnant and seen at the adolescent prenatal care clinic at an inner city hospital in Quito, and 88 were students from schools located within the same geographic area. Family variables were compared for pregnant and nonpregnant adolescents using chi-square, Student's t-test, and analysis of variance. RESULTS: More nonpregnant adolescents lived with their biological parents when compared with their pregnant peers (p < .002). Pregnant adolescents reported lower mother-daughter and father-daughter communication (p < .02), lesser life satisfaction and happiness in general, and more school and economic difficulties (p < .001). They were less likely to find support for their problems in or outside the family (p < .0001) and showed higher levels of depression and sexual abuse than their nonpregnant peers (68.8% vs. 34.5%, and 14.9% vs. 4.5%, respectively). Nonpregnant adolescents showed higher school performance and expectations regarding school achievement and future perspectives (p < .001). Values such as respect for others and religiosity were higher among nonpregnant adolescents (p < .0001). Parental education was lower in the families of pregnant adolescents (p < .05). Among nonpregnant adolescents, both parents worked outside the home (p < .006), whereas mothers of pregnant adolescents usually stayed at home. CONCLUSION: The current study showed that parental separation or divorce, and poor parent-daughter communication were associated with adolescent pregnancy. Families of nonpregnant adolescents had a higher educational level, and both parents worked to provide financial support to the family in an environment where family authority is shared by both parents. There were also better problem-solving strategies and parent-daughter communication, higher levels of cohesion, connectedness, and life satisfaction in general, and higher future expectations.

PIP: This paper presents the study on the family risk factors associated with adolescent pregnancy among adolescent girls and their families in Quito, Ecuador. The study aimed to identify characteristics within the family associated with adolescent pregnancy. A total of 135 female adolescents (aged 12-19 years) and their families were separately interviewed. 47 were pregnant and attending prenatal care at an inner city hospital in Quito, and 88 were nonpregnant students from schools located within the same geographical area. Results showed that when compared to their pregnant peers, more nonpregnant adolescents lived with their biological parents (p 0.002); they showed higher school performance (p 0.001); and more values and religiosity (p 0.0001). Pregnant adolescents reported lower mother-daughter and father-daughter communication (p 0.02), lesser life satisfaction in general, and more school and economic difficulties (p 0.001). Moreover, they were less likely to find support for their problems in or outside the family (p 0.0001) and showed higher levels of depression (68.8%) and sexual abuse (14.9%). Parental education was higher in the families of nonpregnant adolescents and both parents worked to provide financial support for the family.