Comparative testing for weak expression of D antigen: manual tube testing vs. a semiautomated IgG gel system.

Donor RBCs nonreactive in initial tests for D must be tested further for evidence of weak expression of D antigen. Performing this test in test tubes is labor intensive and prone to inconsistencies in readings (relative strength of agglutination) and interpretation (positive versus negative). These inconsistencies can lead to repeat testing, additional documentation, and delay in releasing units. We evaluated use of the Tecan MEGAFlex-ID pipettor to perform this test in anti-IgG gel cards. Results with this semi-automated gel test were compared with results obtained with 37 D- and 99 weak D samples, as determined by previous testing with a manual IAT tube test. Hands-on time was determined for both methods and both methods were evaluated for inconsistency, or nonagreement, between the interpretation of the current weak D test and the results on record for any prior donations. There were no discordant results obtained, with the majority of weak D samples giving stronger reactions with the gel test. The semiautomated gel test required less hands-on time, with an average savings of more than 70 seconds per test. There were no inconsistencies with the gel method, whereas manual tube testing was found to have an inconsistency rate of 0.035 percent of total samples tested. Semiautomated IgG gel is now used for all weak D testing, with a labor savings of more than 10 hours per week. Thus far, more than 70,000 donors have been tested, with no inconsistencies reported.

Dietary NaC1 during pregnancy and lactation: effect on brain angiotensin II receptors and behavior.

Female rats were fed diets containing either a basal (0.12%), mid- (1%) or high (3%) level of NaCl during pregnancy and lactation. Plasma aldosterone was elevated approximately 5- and 15-fold in dams fed basal compared with either the mid- or high-NaCl diets at the end of both pregnancy and lactation (Postnatal Day 21), respectively. Dams fed basal diet and killed at the end of lactation had a higher density of angiotensin II receptors in the organum vasculosum laminae terminalis, paraventricular hypothalamus, and median preoptic nucleus than did rats fed either mid- or high-NaCl diets. Other dams, treated identically, were returned to rodent chow (approximately 0.2% NaCl) at the end of lactation for intake tests during the next week. Dams that had received basal diet did not differ from mid-NaCl and high-NaCl groups in sodium appetite induced by either acute sodium depletion or mineralocorticoid administration but showed the lowest spontaneous intake of NaCl solution.

Comparison of Fos induced in rat brain by GLP-1 and amylin.

The patterns of Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos-ir) in rat brain were compared following treatment of rats with two anorectic 'gut' peptides. Central administration of GLP-1 produced dose-related increases in Fos-ir in the area postrema (AP) and caudal nucleus of the solitary tract (cNTS) as well as strong activation in the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBE), hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) and central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA). At centrally-active doses, peripheral administration of GLP-1 did not induce Fos-ir in brain. In contrast, peripheral administration of amylin produced strong Fos-ir in the AP and cNTS, as well as the BNST and CeA, but not in the PVN. The common activation of the LPB-BNST-CeA by these and other previously-studied anorectics suggest this is an important circuit involved in satiety.

Covert actions by a coworker. Identification, consequences, solutions.

Saboteurs cannot survive if overt communication exists. Open lines of communication discourage unethical behavior and make it difficult for saboteurs to cause problems. Managers must learn to confront problems directly and then move on. Employees should be encouraged to practice direct, open communication and not to repeat rumors and gossip. Also, it is important to provide overt support for overt communication and behavior. Supporting directness is one way to discourage sabotage. Everyone involved needs to remember that it is easy to blame the messenger, but saboteurs cannot continue to practice deceit if others are not willing to listen to and encourage their continuous gossip.

Females in the workplace. Acknowledging, preventing betrayal.

The only way that backstabbing will be stopped is if women work together. All women must work toward: developing confidence in themselves; extending a hand to help others; taking the risk to be overt; confronting backstabbers and not letting them be role models; communicating with each other the lessons they learn, and becoming positive role models. No matter how badly you have been hurt, you need to claim the gift of compassion for yourself and for others. You need to build a strong and supportive network that will not tolerate covert action, and that supports and rewards overt behavior. It is an important step to becoming a happy and fulfilled woman in the workplace.

Capgras syndrome: a literature review and case series.

The authors have presented a description and review of the Capgras Syndrome along with data from a case series of 25 patients with misidentification syndromes (24 Capgras Syndrome, 1 Fregoli Syndrome). From this data, the following conclusions can be drawn: The Capgras Syndrome is not a rare condition, but an uncommon one which is probably frequently overlooked. The misidentification syndrome is not important as a diagnostic entity. It appears in a variety of psychiatric and neurologic conditions. Capgras Syndrome appears to have a possible neurological link in clinicopathological studies; it has been correlated with lesions which produce prosopagnosia. Capgras Syndrome seems to occur more frequently in women, blacks and schizophrenics. Capgras Syndrome had a high (15%) incidence in our adult inpatients diagnosed as having schizophrenia. From this figure we estimate a 0.12% prevalence of Capgras Syndrome in the general population. Capgras Syndrome is often associated with medical illness and when found should signal the alert clinician to investigate for occult organic conditions.

Focal changes in cerebral blood flow produced by monetary incentive during a mental mathematics task in normal and depressed subjects.

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of incentive-induced arousal on the diffuse and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) response during cognitive activation for normal and depressed groups. Two normal rest CBF measurements were followed by two mental mathematics activation CBF measurements. For the first activation measurement, half the subjects in each group were offered monetary incentive for correct performance and half the subjects received no monetary incentive. All subjects were offered monetary incentive on the final activation run. The effect of monetary incentive on the first activation run was to increase CBF activation at four detectors in the left hemisphere. Incentive did not affect the CBF activation response when introduced following practice on the activation task (on the final run). Depressed groups had lower resting blood flow than normals, but the distribution of flow and the CBF response to incentive were almost identical in the two groups.

Kinetic evidence for decreased methionine adenosyltransferase activity in erythrocytes from schizophrenics.

We have observed significantly lower kinetic parameters (KM and Vmax) for methionine adenosyltransferase activity in erythrocytes obtained from early onset schizophrenics when compared to samples from normal subjects. These differences are apparently not due to differences in S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) utilization. These results offer an explanation for the conflicting reports of previous investigators and support the concept that undermethylation may characterize some forms of schizophrenia. Methylation is involved in multiple aspects of metabolism and although similar differences in the MAT enzyme in the brain have not been reported, such a deficit could have profound effects on the nervous system. Decreased availability of SAM could decrease catecholamine metabolism or rates of phospholipid methylation.

Manic depressive illness concomitant with antisocial personality disorder: six case reports and review of the literature.

Six cases of young adults are reported who have manic depressive illness, manic type, and meet research criteria for antisocial personality concomitantly. The manic behavior of these patients responded to lithium carbonate. The literature is reviewed and documents lithium response in aggressive behavior and antisocial personality. A further clinical finding is an unusually high rate of homosexual prostitution. The authors conclude antisocial personality does not preclude mania.