Predictors of outcome for telephone and face-to-face administered cognitive behavioral therapy for depression.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be delivered efficaciously through various modalities, including telephone (T-CBT) and face-to-face (FtF-CBT). The purpose of this study was to explore predictors of outcome in T-CBT and FtF-CBT for depression. METHOD: A total of 325 depressed participants were randomized to receive eighteen 45-min sessions of T-CBT or FtF-CBT. Depression severity was measured using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Classification and regression tree (CART) analyses were conducted with baseline participant demographics and psychological characteristics predicting depression outcomes, HAMD and PHQ-9, at end of treatment (week 18). RESULTS: The demographic and psychological characteristics accurately identified 85.3% and 85.0% of treatment responders and 85.7% and 85.0% of treatment non-responders on the HAMD and PHQ-9, respectively. The Coping self-efficacy (CSE) scale predicted outcome on both the HAMD and PHQ-9; those with moderate to high CSE were likely to respond with no other variable influencing that prediction. Among those with low CSE, depression severity influenced response. Social support, physical functioning, and employment emerged as predictors only for the HAMD, and sex predicted response on the PHQ-9. Treatment delivery method (i.e. telephone or face-to-face) did not impact the prediction of outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that the predictors of improved depression are similar across treatment modalities. Most importantly, a moderate to high level of CSE significantly increases the chance of responding in both T-CBT and FtF-CBT. Among patients with low CSE, those with lower depressive symptom severity are more likely to do well in treatment.

Characterization of two endopolygalacturonase isozymes produced by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici.

Polygalacturonase (EC 3.2.1.15) produced by Fursarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici was purified by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, CM-cellulose, and hydroxyapatite. The purified enzyme consisted of two electrophoretically distinct "isozymes", that behaved as charge isomers during electrophoresis in several different concentrations of polyacrylamide gel. The two isozymes had similar "endo" modes of action on polygalacturonic acid, as determined by comparison of viscosity reduction, reducing group release, and thin-layer chromatography of oligomeric hydrolysis products. Both isozymes hydrolzyed 5% of the substrate bonds in reaching 50% viscosity reduction. The amino acid compositions of the isozymes were similar and their molecular weights were about 37000 as determined by sedimentation equilibrium. Removal of large amounts of carbohydrate during purification did not affect heat stability of the enzymes. A large proportion of the remaining carbohydrate appeared to be covalently linked to the enzyme protein.

Stimulation of mycelial growth of Endothia parasitica by heavy metals.

Of 16 metal cations tested on agar medium, only copper and iron stimulated mycelial growth of Endothia parasitica in relatively high concentrations. Similarly enhanced growth was produced in high (32%) glucose concentrations and also when the fungus was grown on cellophane placed over the agar surface. E. parasitica secreted large amounts of oxalate that precipitated primarily as calcium oxalate at the periphery of the fungal colony, causing an opaque halo in the medium. Mycelial growth was retarded greatly when calcium oxalate accumulated, but retardation was reversed by copper and iron salts that prevented accumulation of the calcium oxalate crystals. E. parasitica grew well on media containing copper oxalate and copper-calcium oxalate but grew poorly with calcium oxalate as the carbon source and was inhibited by sodium oxalate in the medium. The specificity by which only copper and iron salts stimulated mycelial growth suggested that the metal and oxalate ions interact to form specific oxalate complexes that reverse the inhibition of simple oxalate salts. This probably accounts for enhanced growth in the presence of otherwise toxic levels of metals and oxalate. The stimulation did not occur in liquid cultures.