Interactions of protamine with the marine bacterium, Pseudoalteromonas sp. NCIMB 2021.

UNLABELLED: Pseudoalteromonas sp. NCIMB 2021 (NCIMB 2021) was grown in synthetic seawater (SSW) containing pyruvate, in the presence (SSW(++) ) and absence (SSW(-) ) of divalent cations. Cultures contained single cells. Addition of the cationic antibacterial peptide (CAP), protamine, did not inhibit, but rather increased, the growth of NCIMB 2021 in SSW(++) and caused the bacteria to grow in chains. Bacterial growth was assessed using turbidity, cell counts and the sodium salt of resazurin. In SSW(-) , NCIMB 2021 was no longer resistant to protamine. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 5 mg ml(-1) . SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Protamine is a cationic antimicrobial peptide (CAP), which is active against a variety of bacteria. This is the first in-depth study of the interaction of protamine with a marine bacterium, Pseudoalteromonas sp. NCIMB 2021. Our results show that protamine is only active in seawater in the absence of divalent cations. In the presence of the divalent cations, Mg(2+) and Ca(2+) , protamine enhances the growth of Pseudoalteromonas sp. NCIMB 2021 and produces chains rather than individual cells. These are important considerations when deciding on applications for protamine and in terms of understanding its mechanism of action.

Zircon U-Pb geochronology and trace element dataset from the Southern Rocky Mountain Volcanic Field, Colorado, USA.

This contribution provides in-situ LA-ICP-MS U-Pb ages and trace element determinations of zircons from dacitic to rhyolitic lavas, ignimbrites and intrusions in the Southern Rocky Mountain Volcanic Field (SRMVF) in Colorado, USA. The data record a period of intense magmatic activity in the Oligocene-early Miocene (∼37-22 Ma) which gave rise to some of the largest explosive ignimbrites in the geological record (e.g. the Fish Canyon Tuff). Age data are drift corrected, but not corrected for radiation dosage or Th disequilibrium, in order to allow users to apply their own algorithms. Xenocrysts (much older crystals up to 2 Ga from the Proterozoic basement) are included in this record.

The "to feed or not to feed" dilemma.

Advance directives can promote and improve communication between the patient and the provider and ideally safeguard the resident's interests by directing medical care. Participation on the facility's ethics committee allows the dietitian to become involved in the legal and ethical issues regarding feeding and to promote the use of specific advance directives for nutrition and hydration. Consider the goals of patient care carefully and assure that they are individualized and patient-centered. Continually reassess nutritional status and collaborate with the health care team in recommending interventions and care plans for each case.

Assessment of therapeutic alliances in the psychiatric hospital milieu.

The authors developed scales to assess long-term hospital patients' collaboration in milieu treatment and their working relationships with various staff members. A factor analysis of patients' ratings of their collaboration in several areas of treatment yielded three dimensions: Goal Orientation, Involvement, and Use of Structure. While each dimension of collaboration correlated positively with working relationships and progress, Goal Orientation was the most substantial contributor. Patients' and staff members' perceptions of their working relationships corresponded to a statistically significant-but modest-degree. Only nurses' ratings of progress related significantly to patients' ratings. The authors highlight divergent perceptions of the treatment process, and advocate that different perspectives be openly discussed and clarified in the service of improved collaboration.

The cascade model: an alternative to comorbidity in the pathogenesis of posttraumatic stress disorder.

Comorbidity has been used extensively to explain the numerous co-occurring psychiatric syndromes accompanying chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A cascade model is proposed as an alternative to comorbidity for the pathogenesis and clinical course of the condition. This model allows for a dynamic, integrated conceptualization of disease progression in PTSD. Findings in the clinical, epidemiological, neurobiological, and psychosocial literature which might support this model are described. Conceptual and heuristic difficulties and/or potential objections to the model are also examined. Finally, diagnostic and treatment implications as well as potential research applications of the model are discussed.

Dealing with difficult students in the classroom.

Despite the proliferation of literature on dealing with difficult people, little has been written on how to manage problematic students in the classroom. Every teacher encounters difficult students because the classroom is merely a microcosm of the outside world. Nursing educators strive to create an open and caring atmosphere in their classes, but it is still necessary to intervene when students disrupt the class by showing disrespect for others or by getting the discussion off track. The authors describe the most common difficult student roles seen in the classroom and suggest strategies for dealing with them.

Parallel process in the supervision of child psychotherapy.

Parallel process is a phenomenon in which therapists unconsciously replicate the problems and dynamics of their clients during supervision. It has the unconscious aim of provoking the supervisor to demonstrate how to handle a perplexing situation. Recognizing and resolving parallel process when it occurs is an important supervisory skill. This paper focuses on the unique characteristics of parallel process in child psychotherapy. It reviews various types and manifestations, discusses several case examples, and outlines strategies for intervention.

Effects of extended hospitalization: a one-year follow-up study.

The C. F. Menninger Memorial Hospital is conducting an ongoing follow-up study of the effects of extended hospitalization. The authors report key indicators of outcome at one year postdischarge for 110 patients hospitalized on extended care units for at least 180 days. Outcome is determined by postdischarge rates of rehospitalization, postdischarge suicide attempts, and occupational functioning at the time of the one-year follow-up interview. After comparing these areas with preadmission levels of symptomatology and functioning, the authors report significant improvement in each category at the time of follow-up.

A cognitive developmental approach to understanding how children cope with disasters.

TOPIC: This paper applies cognitive developmental theory to explain how preschoolers, school-age children, and adolescents process and respond to disasters. PURPOSE: To help clinicians understand the disaster experience from a child's point of view, recognize age-specific reactions, identify symptoms that may signal coping difficulties, and plan effective interventions. SOURCES: Case examples from the author's work with flood victims illustrate typical reactions for children (preschool to adolescents) within a family context, along with developmentally appropriate interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Children affected by disasters need nursing interventions geared toward their particular developmental level and sensitive to their perception of the disaster.

Neuropsychological assessment of battered women: a pilot study.

Mean performance of 19 battered women was significantly lower than that of 9 control women on the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery, the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised, and the Quick Neurological Screening Test. 58% of the battered women scored in the impaired range on the Halstead-Reitan Impairment Index; and 53% scored in the impaired range on the Quick Neurological Screening Test. More definitive research was recommended.

A review of the borderline diagnosis for children.

The concept of the "borderline child" has gained increasing attention in the past 10 years. New diagnostic criteria are being proposed, and research is attempting to identify the salient features of the syndrome. This article examines the childhood borderline concept, reviews some new diagnostic systems, identifies the major diagnostic controversies, lists considerations for differential diagnosis, and discusses implications for practice. The intent is to present the state of the art of the diagnosis and to discuss some potential problems with its use. Unique aspects of the childhood syndrome in contrast to the adult disorder are highlighted. Overlap with other disorders, questions about the continuity of symptoms, lack of attention to developmental variables, and countertransference issues are a few of the problems identified.