Can hypnotic suggestibility be measured online?

Hypnosis and hypnotic suggestions are gradually gaining popularity within the consciousness community as established tools for the experimental manipulation of illusions of involuntariness, hallucinations and delusions. However, hypnosis is still far from being a widespread instrument; a crucial hindrance to taking it up is the amount of time needed to invest in identifying people high and low in responsiveness to suggestion. In this study, we introduced an online assessment of hypnotic response and estimated the extent to which the scores and psychometric properties of an online screening differ from an offline one. We propose that the online screening of hypnotic response is viable as it reduces the level of responsiveness only by a slight extent. The application of online screening may prompt researchers to run large-scale studies with more heterogeneous samples, which would help researchers to overcome some of the issues underlying the current replication crisis in psychology.

A systematic review of the literature on interpretation bias and its physiological correlates.

An important, yet under-explored area of interpretation bias research concerns the examination of potential physiological correlates and sequalae of this bias. Developing a better understanding of the physiological processes that underpin interpretation biases will extend current theoretical frameworks underlying interpretation bias, as well as optimise the efficacy of cognitive bias modification for interpretation (CBM-I) interventions aimed at improving symptoms of emotional disorders. To this end, systematic searches were conducted across the Web of Science, PsycInfo and Pubmed databases to identify physiological markers of interpretation bias. In addition, grey literature database searches were conducted to compliment peer-reviewed research and to counter publication bias. From a combined initial total of 898 records, 15 studies were included in qualitative synthesis (one of which was obtained from the grey literature). Eligible studies were assessed using a quality assessment tool adapted from the Quality Checklist for Healthcare Intervention Studies. The searches revealed seven psychophysiological correlates of interpretation bias, namely event-related potentials, heart rate and heart rate variability, respiratory sinus arrythmia, skin conductance response, pupillometry, and electromyography. The respective theoretical and practical implications of the research are discussed, followed by recommendations for future research.

Evidence that instrumental conditioning requires conscious awareness in humans.

Instrumental conditioning is a crucial substrate of adaptive behaviour, allowing individuals to selectively interact with the stimuli in their environment to maximise benefit and minimise harm. The extent to which complex forms of learning, such as instrumental conditioning, are possible without conscious awareness is a topic of considerable importance and ongoing debate. In light of recent theoretical and empirical contributions casting doubt on the early demonstrations of unconscious instrumental conditioning, we revisit the question of its feasibility in two modes of conditioning. In Experiment 1, we used trace conditioning, following a prominent paradigm (Pessiglione et al., 2008) and enhancing its sensitivity. Success in this task requires participants to learn to approach reward-predictive stimuli and avoid punishment-predictive stimuli through monetary reinforcement. All stimuli were rendered unconscious using forward-backward masking. In Experiment 2, we used delay conditioning to shorten the stimulus-outcome delay, retaining the structure of the original task but presenting the stimuli under continuous flash suppression to allow for an overlap of the stimulus, action, and outcome, as well as replacing monetary reinforcement with primary appetitive reinforcement. In both experiments, we found evidence for absence of unconscious instrumental conditioning, showing that participants were unable to learn to adjust their behaviour to approach positive stimuli and avoid negative ones. This result is consistent with evidence that unconscious stimuli fail to bring about long-term behavioural adaptations, and provides empirical evidence to support theoretical proposals that consciousness might be necessary for adaptive behaviour, where selective action is required.

Trait phenomenological control predicts experience of mirror synaesthesia and the rubber hand illusion.

In hypnotic responding, expectancies arising from imaginative suggestion drive striking experiential changes (e.g., hallucinations) - which are experienced as involuntary - according to a normally distributed and stable trait ability (hypnotisability). Such experiences can be triggered by implicit suggestion and occur outside the hypnotic context. In large sample studies (of 156, 404 and 353 participants), we report substantial relationships between hypnotisability and experimental measures of experiential change in mirror-sensory synaesthesia and the rubber hand illusion comparable to relationships between hypnotisability and individual hypnosis scale items. The control of phenomenology to meet expectancies arising from perceived task requirements can account for experiential change in psychological experiments.

Glycogen in human peripheral blood leukocytes. I. Characteristics of the synthesis and turnover of glycogen in vitro.

In the present paper a model system is described utilizing suspensions of peripheral blood leukocytes in which glycogen synthesis and degradation can be studied. Leukocyte suspensions containing 72-94% granulocytes were prepared essentially free of platelets and erythrocytes and consisted almost entirely of neutrophile granulocytes. Initial glycogen content averaged 7.36 +/- 2.05 mg/10(9) neutrophiles. In a glucose-free medium glycogenolysis took place with glycogen losses averaging 38% in 2 hr. When adequate glucose was added to the medium, glycogen was resynthesized to the original level. Glycogen resynthesis was studied with varying glucose "loads" to determine (a) the glucose level which was adequate for cell maintenance without utilization of glycogen stores, and (b) the glucose level which provided maximal glycogen resynthesis. With cell densities of 20-50 x 10(6)/ml the minimum glucose load which allowed maintenance of glycogen stores was 2 mg and 5.3 mg/10(9) neutrophiles for 30 and 60 min, respectively. During resynthesis with glucose-(14)C, as much as 88.9% of the intracellular radioactivity could be found in glycogen. Leukocyte glycogen was made radioactive by a "pulse" of glucose-(14)C followed by a "chase" with nonradioactive glucose. Specific activity changes in glycogen isolated during the "chase" showed that glycogen was in constant turnover. When glycogen was made radioactive by a "pulse" of glucose-(14)C and the cells placed in glucose-free medium, the specific activity of isolated glycogen fell rapidly. Thus, the most recently added glucose units of the molecule were also the first to be removed when conditions favoring synthesis were changed to conditions favoring degradation.Even though glycogen is constantly turning over, the enzymatic "machinery" for its synthesis is relatively stable and not dependent on continuous protein or RNA synthesis, as shown by experiments with puromycin and actinomycin.

Glycogen in human peripheral blood leukocytes. II. The macromolecular state of leukocyte glycogen.

Glycogen of normal human blood leukocytes was studied in cell suspensions containing chiefly neutrophiles. In electron micrographs of neutrophiles stained with lead the glycogen particles appear to be relatively uniform with a diameter of 20 mmu. At high magnification the 20 mmu particle appears to be composed of at least eight subunits. Leukocyte glycogen released by lysis or homogenization sediments as a single peak of high molecular weight material. The great majority of the cell glycogen can be accounted for in the large molecular weight material. The large molecular weight material is degraded to small fragments by alpha-amylase and partially degraded by beta-amylase. Purification of cell glycogen by alkali extraction and ethanol precipitation produces a relatively uniform particle smaller than the original native macromolecule. Native glycogen was prepared in pure form by a sucrose density gradient technique and its purity demonstrated by its susceptibility to purified alpha-amylase and by analytical ultracentrifugation.

Regulation of the fasting enterohepatic circulation of bile acids by the migrating myoelectric complex in dogs.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study was to correlate the fasting enterohepatic circulation (EHC) of bile acids with the migrating myoelectric complex. Four dogs were surgically provided with a functional cholecystectomy, a duodenal cannula for direct vision cannulation of the common bile duct, and 12 bipolar electrodes implanted from stomach to terminal ileum. Bile was collected in equal-volume, timed aliquots over 6 to 10 h. Aliquots were sampled and either returned to the duodenum for study of the intact EHC, or collected and retained in order to study the time course of the bile acid pool washout. In the washout experiments boluses of radiolabeled taurocholic acid were instilled into the duodenum before and after duodenal phase III of the migrating motor or myoelectric complex (MMC). In another group of experiments the bile acid pool was washed out and during a continuous duodenal infusion of taurocholic acid bile was collected to study the pattern of hepatic secretion. RESULTS: (a) In all experiments, a single broad peak of bile flow and bile acid secretion occurred at 35-55% of the MMC migration time. At this time the MMC had migrated to a point 70-85% of the distance along the small intestine. (b) During bile acid pool washout the peak of bile flow and bile acid secretion occurred with the distal migration of the first MMC and then bile flow and bile acid secretion rates decreased to a minimum and stabilized. (c) In bile acid pool washout experiments the radiolabeled bile acids instilled into the duodenum prior to duodenal phase III were secreted and peaked with peak endogenous bile acid secretion. The secretion of radiolabeled bile acids instilled into the duodenum after duodenal phase III was delayed until the subsequent cycle of the MMC. 88% of the bile acid pool collected over 6 h was secreted during the distal migration of the first MMC (2.4 +/- 0.4 h). (d) After bile acid pool washout and during continuous duodenal infusion of taurocholic acid, hepatic bile flow and bile acid secretion continued to fluctuate with the same pattern observed with the EHC intact. CONCLUSIONS: (a) In the fasting state, the transport of intestinal bile acids to the liver is pulsatile rather than continuous and is determined by the MMC. Maximum hepatic secretion occurs when phase III of the MMC propels the intraluminal bile acid pool to its site of absorption in the distal small bowel. (b) The "housekeeping" action of the MMC is very efficient and clears 88% of the 6-h washout bile acid pool in one pass.

Endoluminal Vacuum Therapy for Ivor Lewis Anastomotic Leaks: A Pilot Study in a Swine Model.

Anastomotic leaks are a serious complication associated with Ivor Lewis esophagectomies. Endoluminal negative pressure vacuum devices create a possible treatment alternative to conventional surgical intervention. Ten pigs had an intrathoracic esophageal anastomosis with a 1-cm defect. The experimental group had the device placed intraoperatively across the defect, whereas the control group did not. Once treatment was completed, a contrast fluoroscopic study and necropsy was performed. All control pigs had contrast extravasation on fluoroscopy and contamination on necropsy. The experimental group had no radiologic leak and no contamination on necropsy. The P value for leak is 0.03. This study demonstrated that endoluminal negative pressure vacuum therapy is tolerated in the swine model and is successful in facilitating the healing of anastomotic leaks. Endoluminal negative pressure vacuum therapy has potential clinical benefits, including decreased morbidity and length of hospital stay.

Cholelithiasis in sickle cell anemia: surgical or medical management.

Cholelithasis was diagnosed in 40 of 100 consecutive patients with sickle cell anemia treated in the emergency room. Incidence apparently was not related to sex or degree of reticulocytosis, but did increase with age and perhaps was greater in patients with lower percentage of hemoglobin F and more complications of their hemoglobinopathy. Cholelithiasis was not unusual in children less than 11 years old. No major surgical complications were noted during 29 elective cholecystectomies, but urgent cholecystectomy, performed for real or suspected acute cholecystitis in seven patients, resulted in multiple major postoperative problems. With the low morbidity of elective procedures, as well as simplification of subsequent abdominal pain crisis management, elective cholecystectomy in patients with stable sickle cell conditions is recommended. Surgery during sickle cell crises or acute cholecystitis, with the attendant increased morbidity, should be avoided.

Use of immunoglobulin A-antiendomysial antibody to screen for celiac disease in North American children with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine if a serological marker, the immunoglobulin A antiendomysial antibody (IgA-EMA), can be used to screen for celiac disease in North American children with type 1 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Subjects included 236 diabetes clinic patients and 56 gastrointestinal clinic patients who underwent intestinal biopsy for suspected malabsorption. Total IgA and IgA-EMA assays were performed. Diabetic patients who were positive for IgA-EMA were asked to undergo biopsy. RESULTS: Of 236 diabetic patients tested, none were IgA deficient and 19 were positive for IgA-EMA (8%). Of 17 patients biopsied, 12 had celiac disease and 3 were symptomatic. The estimated prevalence of celiac disease was 5.1%, consistent with data from European diabetic clinics. Of the 56 gastrointestinal clinic patients, the 3 who were IgA-EMA positive had biopsies diagnostic of celiac disease. Three were found to be IgA deficient, one of whom had celiac disease. Of the 50 IgA-sufficient and IgA-EMA-negative patients, 1 had celiac disease and 49 did not. The IgA-EMA test had a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 91% for IgA-sufficient biopsied patients. CONCLUSIONS: IgA-EMA is an appropriate tool for demonstrating an increased prevalence of celiac disease in a North American pediatric diabetic population. Positive testing should be confirmed by intestinal biopsy, and false-positive results require serial follow-up. Symptomatic children require biopsy regardless of their IgA-EMA status.

Hemolytic potential of methocarbamol.

Methocarbamol, a compound related to mephenesin, has in vitro hemolytic potential. A study was performed to determine whether any hemolysis was detectable after intravenous injection. Methocarbamol and its vehicle (50% polyethylene glycol-300) was compared with vehicle alone and with normal saline controls in high- and low-dose regimens in normal volunteers. Significant increases in plasma hemoglobin were detected 30 min after intravenous injection of methocarbamol or its vehicle alone. Maximum initial plasma hemoglobin levels were approximately 10 mg/dl with vehicle alone, but only 4 mg/dl with the methocarbamol added. Serum haptoglobin levels fell after both high-dose methocarbamol and vehicle during the 3-day period of treatment. Hemolysis, though detectable, did not exceed levels found under physiologic circumstances such as exercise, and represents only a small fraction of the normal daily hemolysis of aged erythrocytes.

Alzheimer's disease and Down syndrome: leukocyte membrane fluidity alterations.

Down Syndrome (DS) patients over the age of 40 have brain lesions identical to those of patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). We have earlier shown that with some membrane probes, the plasma membranes of circulating leukocytes had increased fluidity in AD compared to the normally more rigid membranes in similarly aged subjects. We next questioned whether the occurrence of AD-like pathological lesions in older DS subjects would be associated with a similar increase in membrane fluidity. Fluidity was assessed by measurements of steady-state fluorescence anisotropy using TMA-DPH, which anchors at the plasma membrane surface, and a series of 9-anthroyloxy fatty acids substituted with the fluorescent moiety at different positions on the fatty acid, which permit measurement of fluidity at different depths of the plasma membrane. This was done simultaneously in neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes utilizing flow cytometry. In older DS subjects (average age 52.6), plasma membrane fluidity was indeed increased, a finding similar to that with AD leukocytes. Membrane fluidity of leukocytes of young DS subjects (average age 23.6 years) was less than that seen in older subjects. Membrane changes may result from lipophilic substances released from the central nervous system, or may reflect intrinsic differences in membrane structure unique in DS.

Altered membrane anisotropy gradients of plasma membranes of living peripheral blood leukocytes in aging and Alzheimer's disease.

Several reports have suggested that membrane rigidity, a term that refers to the relative motion of membrane constituents, is decreased in Alzheimer's Disease. Accordingly, a series of fluorescent membrane probes was used to evaluate the rigidity from the surface to the center of the outer hemi-leaflet of the plasma membrane of living neutrophils, monocytes and lymphocytes. Anisotropy, a parameter which increases with increasing membrane rigidity, was calculated from flow cytometric measurements of vertically and horizontally polarized components of the fluorescence emission of the probes. These preliminary experiments suggest that whereas membrane rigidity in certain regions of the plasma membrane of peripheral blood leukocytes is increased as expected in elderly controls, it is decreased in Alzheimer's disease.

Separation of resting and proliferating granulocytic precursors.

We have obtained cells in various stages of granulocytic development by a combination of isopycnic separation and electronic cell sorting. Not only were immature cells (blast cells, promyelocytes and myelocytes) separated from mature cells (bands and polys), but the immature cells were separated into proliferating (S + G2 + M) and resting (Go/G1) compartments of the cell cycle. This permits the study of the morphological and biochemical changes associated with development apart from those changes associated with proliferation.

Electronic sorting of granulocyte precursor cells from stimulated bone marrow.

A commerical cell sorter was used to obtain preparations of cells in various stages of granulocyte development from rabbit marrows stimulated by inflammatory response. Marrow cells were fractionated on density gradients of Ficoll/Hypaque and each fraction sorted using light scatter. Trial and error selection of appropriate gradient fractions and light scatter windows allowed sorting of early (blast cells, promyelocytes), intermediate (myelocytes, metamyelocytes) and late stage (band cells, polys) granulocytes with enhanced purity.

Catch-up growth in children treated with home enteral nutrition.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to determine the effect of home enteral nutrition on the outcomes of growth and the relationship between growth and entrance anthropometric criteria. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 78 consecutive children (median age, 20 months) who were enrolled in the home enteral feeding program at the Alberta Children's Hospital (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) between 1993 and 1995. Weights, heights, and weight-for-heights were expressed as Z scores, using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention anthropometric growth curve software. To evaluate growth outcome, the total group was further subdivided using anthropometric criteria into appropriate, wasted, or stunted at the time of entry to the program. In a subgroup of 36 children on whom anthropometric data was available for a median length of 5.7 months, Z scores were compared at 3 points in time: before entry, at time of entry, and last follow-up. RESULTS: Patients were classified into five main groups: 11 (14%) had pulmonary disease, 26 (33%) had a gastrointestinal disorder, 21 (27%) had congenital defects, 10 (13%) had a neurologic disorder, and the remaining 10 (13%) had a variety of other illnesses, including malignancies and metabolic disorders. Patients were on the program for a median duration of 8.9 months. It was found that during the period of support within the program, enteral feeding was successful in improving weight-for-age Z scores by 0.42 standard deviations but the effect on height-for-age Z scores and weight-for-height Z scores did not reach significance for this population. The subgroup of 36 children on whom longitudinal anthropometric data was available before entering the program was found to have had a significant drop in weight Z scores between the time before program entry (median length of time, 5.7 months) and the time of program entry, which indicates that these children were falling off the growth curve before commencing enteral feeding. To evaluate growth outcome, the total group was further subdivided using anthropometric criteria into appropriate, wasted, or stunted at the time of entry to the program. In the group of appropriate growth patients, while in the program, 50% had catch-up growth for weight (positive change in Z scores) and 33% for height. In the wasted patients, 92% improved their weight percentile and 75% their height percentile. In the stunted group, 71% had catch-up growth for weight and 74% for height. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the enteral feeding program was able to promote catch-up growth or maintain growth along percentiles in the majority of children.

Is pH a biochemical marker of IQ?

We have measured intracellular brain pH in vivo in 42 boys and found a significant correlation between this biochemical parameter and samples of intelligent behaviour. To the best of our knowledge this is the first reported relation between a biochemical marker which is within normal physiological values and intellectual ability. pH is one of the most accurate parameters that can be measured by 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy and it reflects sensitively cellular ionic status and metabolic activity. The observed correlation, although not implying a causal relation, raises the possibility that intelligent behaviour may be influenced by the ionic status of brain tissue, or vice versa.

Superoxide radical production after phorbol ester stimulation in neutrophils of aged donors.

Superoxide anion radical production was studied in purified neutrophils of young and old donors after stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate to determine whether phorbol-stimulated activation of NADPH-oxidase was altered by aging. Superoxide radical production of neutrophils of healthy ambulatory elderly (mean age 73 years) was increased compared to young adult controls. Expressed as nmol superoxide/min/mg protein, however, old cells were no different from young. Neutrophils of the elderly contained nearly 20% more protein/cell than young cells, yet neutrophil diameter and volume were not increased in the old cells. Binding affinity and maximum binding capacity of 3H-phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate were similar in young and old neutrophils. Maximum binding capacity was similar whether expressed on a per cell or per mg protein basis. Although others have suggested that initial plasma membrane events leading to superoxide radical production are diminished in aging cells, these studies show that intracellular phases of the mechanisms leading to superoxide radical production are maintained. Superoxide production rate per cell is increased in older persons, associated with a higher protein content per cell but not larger cell size.

Differentiation-associated changes in in-vitro mRNA translation in the HL60 cell line.

In order to characterize certain aspects of gene expression during the granulocytic differentiation of the HL60 cell line, we have analysed changes in the population of mRNA available for translation in vitro. RNA extracts of DMSO-induced and control cells were translated in vitro in a wheat germ cell-free protein synthesizing system. Translation products were analysed by two-dimensional electrophoresis followed by autoradiography. Autoradiograms were analysed by a computer-assisted method utilizing a drum-scanning microdensitometer. Spots were identified by their relative positions on the films and their relative intensity was estimated. One hundred and eighty-one peptides were identified in both the DMSO-induced and untreated control HL60 cells, 31 of which showed differentiation-associated changes in synthesis in vitro. The 11 peptides which decreased in synthesis did so early in the differentiation process, whereas most of the 20 peptides which increased did so at a later time. Three peptides were shown to increase more than 8-fold by day 4 of induction. A comparison with normal granule proteins from human leukocytes suggests that at least two of these may correspond to functional granule proteins. The changes in peptide patterns which we describe demonstrates that the program of gene expression during HL60 differentiation includes changes in the relative abundance of specific mRNA transcripts. The data described here also provides a standard for comparison of other proteins, such as oncogene products, as they are identified.

Poisoning in the elderly: characterization of exposures reported to a poison control center.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of poison center calls involving the elderly, characterize these poisonings, and compare them with poisonings that occur in people younger than 60 years of age. DESIGN: Concurrent, observational survey. SETTING: The Virginia Poison Center in Richmond, Virginia. PARTICIPANTS: All persons 60 years of age and older who were involved in a poison exposure reported to the Virginia Poison Center from October 1, 1991 through March 31, 1992. MEASUREMENTS: Incidence, type, route, location, management site, medical outcome of exposures and reasons for these exposures. RESULTS: Exposures in persons 60 years of age and older accounted for 2.3% of all poison center calls during the 6-month study period. These calls were most likely to involve women who unintentionally ingested extra doses of medications. The majority of these exposures occurred in the home and resulted in either no effect or minor effects. For those exposures that necessitated an emergency room visit, elderly persons were more likely to be admitted to the hospital than younger persons (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of poisonings that occur in persons 60 years of age and older are unintentional and may be amenable to poison prevention education.