Rho-associated protein kinase II (rock II) expression in normal and preeclamptic human placentas.

Rho-associated kinases are serine/threonine kinases that have several functions which might contribute to various physiological and pathological states in cells. There are two isoforms of these enzymes known as rho-associated kinase I (rock I, ROKbeta) and II (rock II, ROKalpha). It has been shown that rock II may be a potential mediator of apoptosis. In addition, rocks play a crucial role in the formation of microvilli-like structures. Increased placental apoptosis and microvilli shedding were shown in preeclampsia. We hypothesized that altered rock expression may lead to the pathologies seen in preeclampsia. Therefore in this study we compared placental rock II expression between normotensive and preeclamptic women using immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot experiments revealed that rock II is mainly localized in syncytiotrophoblast cells of the placental villi and increased in preeclampsia. In addition to 160 kDa rock II molecule we also detected biologically relevant smaller active form of rock II in preeclamptic but not in normal placentas. We suggest that increased rock II expression in preeclamptic placentas may contribute to etiology or pathogenesis of this syndrome. However, it is considered that rock II expression may also increase to compensate for placental functions changing in preeclampsia.

[Activation of resources in elderly depressed patients. An overview of current knowledge]. / Ressourcenaktivierung bei depressiven älteren Patienten. Ein Uberblick zum gegenwärtigen Kenntnisstand.

Psychotherapeutic research has empirically proven the activation of resources to be a primary and pervasive activating principle. Equally empirically substantiated is psychotherapy with the aged. In the present article, the specific application of resources activation in psychotherapy for old-age depression is particularly emphasized and attempts at defining the concept of resources as well as hints towards the discovery of resources are explored. Contrary to earlier assumptions that ageing is a deficiency process, it has now been shown that despite evident losses in various life areas in aging, some resources can be defined which can be decisive for a sense of well-being among the elderly and for prophylaxis or therapy of old-age depression. Procedures and resource activation with content must be activated in parallel with problem actualization so that feelings of self-esteem and well-being increase, problems are solved and experiences of loss due to ageing are compensated. One of the most important resources among the elderly has proved to be the ability to accommodate and the social network. Group therapy as an effective and economical form of therapy as well as the therapeutic relationship itself can be employed as resources to promote social interaction among the aged.

Background and sexual experience of Israeli medical students.

It is now general professional consensus that to develop a good human sexuality curriculum it is mandatory to first study the future target population, Such a study was done on a national basis at the four medical schools in Israel, concentrating on the senior students. The data on background, sexual experience, knowledge, and attitudes were analyzed and compared to findings of similar studies in other countries. This article reviews the results on background and sexual experience, also trying to analyze logical hypotheses of possible links between variables. Most Israeli senior medical students are unmarried Jewish Ashkenasi males, with a rather small proportion of females, Sephardic-originated Jews, Moslems, and Christians. Their sex education during childhood originated mostly from peers and literature, but was almost completely lacking at school. Masturbation started early, being more frequent for males. The majority of both sexes had dated, had gone steady, and had had sexual intercourse frequently with at least two partners. Only 5.4% of males had never experienced coitus. Intercourse with prostitutes was infrequent. The students' background has direct influence on their early sexual knowledge and experience. This in turn influences self-ratings on sexual matters. This is further correlated with sexual behavior.