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OBJECTIVE: Determine whether an emergency medicine–focused clinical pathology training course improved the proficiency of house officers. DESIGN: Prospective blinded study. SETTING: Veterinary academic center. STUDY SUBJECT: House officers enrolled in programs other than clinical pathology. INTERVENTIONS: A 4‐hour curriculum was provided by a board‐certified specialist in veterinary clinical pathology. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A focused clinical pathology lecture course derived from historical teaching materials was delivered. A pre‐ and post‐course multiple choice question examination was taken by the enrolled house officers, as well as a survey regarding their confidence level pre‐ and post‐course utilizing a novel 5‐point scoring system, ranging from 1 (very low confidence) to 5 (very high). A total of 21 house officers completed the study, 5 of which attended didactic lectures, 13 utilized an online learning platform, and 3 used a combination of both. There was a significant improvement in all house officers’ post‐training course examination results compared to pre‐course results (pre‐course examination score: mean 49% ±12; post‐course examination score: mean 72.5% ± 15.7; P

Background There is a limited body of literature exploring referral relationships between general dental practitioners and periodontists. Clinical and non-clinical factors associated with the referral process are rarely considered however a better understanding of these will improve the general dentist practitioner and periodontal specialist relationship and benefit patient management. This study investigated which non-clinical factors have an association with the referral of patients by general dental practitioners to periodontists in Tasmania, Australia. Methods A questionnaire was emailed to registered general dental practitioners in Tasmania, Australia and information collected on demographics, referral patterns, and potential factors which may influence referral. Results Response rate was 44.5%. Non-clinical factors that influenced referral were previous treatment by a periodontist (70.8%), a complex medical history (56.8%), the patient's reluctance to undergo periodontal treatment, medico-legal reasons, patient awareness of periodontal disease (47.3%), and lack of training (43.2%). Patients frequently declined periodontal referral due to cost (66.2%), oral health not being a priority (55.4%), or inconvenience (46.6%). The most important periodontist qualities were their reputation (84.0%), patient feedback (81.3%), ease of communication (72.0%), report quality (68.0%), and location (62.7%). Conclusion Non-clinical factors, such as practice type-, general dental practitioner-, patient-, periodontist-related factors are associated with referral by general dental practitioners to periodontists for periodontal management.

Background: Delayed discharge for non-clinical reasons is related to a failure to plan for discharge and a lack of availability of intermediate care resources as an alternative to acute hospitalisation. The literature concerning the relationship with pneumonia is scarce. At present, the coronavirus pandemic is a new cause of complicated pneumonias that can further affect the functionality of the most fragile patients. Objective: The aim of this study was to understand what characteristics are typical of patients affected by pneumonia, compared with other cases of delayed discharge. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. All cases of delayed discharge were studied at the hospitalisation units of a general university hospital in Northern Spain from 2007 to 2015. In order to compare the differential characteristics of the groups of patients with pneumonia with the total Student's T-test and Pearson's chi-square test (?²) were used. Results: 170 patients were identified with a diagnosis of pneumonia and delayed discharge for non-clinical reasons during the study period. These cases accumulated a total of 4790 days of total stay, of which 1294 days corresponded to the prolonged stay. The mean age of the patients was 80.23 years. The mean DRG weight was 2.28 [SD 0.579], and 14.12% of patients with pneumonia and delayed discharge died. So, patients with pneumonia were older (P = .001), less complex (P = .001) and suffered greater deaths compared with the remaining patients (P = .001). Conclusions: The sum of these factors has to do with comorbidities and complications associated with ageing and the characteristics of conditions such as aspiration pneumonia.

There is mixed evidence that individuals who use cannabis have reduced hippocampal and amygdalar gray matter volume, potentially because of small sample sizes and imprecise morphological characterization. New automated segmentation procedures have improved the measurement of these structures and allow better examination of their subfields, which have been linked to distinct aspects of memory and emotion. The current study applies this new segmentation procedure to the Human Connectome Project Young Adult dataset (N = 1080) to investigate associations of cannabis use with gray matter volume in the hippocampus and amygdala. Results revealed significant bilateral inverse associations of hippocampal volume with recent cannabis use (THC+ urine drug screen; P < .005). Hippocampal subfield analyses indicated these associations were primarily driven by the head of the hippocampus, the first section of the cornu amonis (CA1), the subicular complex, and the molecular layer of the hippocampus. No associations were detected for age of cannabis initiation, the frequency of cannabis use across the lifespan, or the lifetime presence of cannabis use disorder. In one of the largest studies to date, these results support the hypothesis that recent cannabis use is linked to reduced hippocampal volume, but that this effect may dissipate following prolonged abstinence. Furthermore, these results clarify the specific subfields which may be most associated with recent cannabis use.

Body checking is used widely among clinical and non-clinical individuals. It is suggested to be a safety behavior, reducing anxiety initially but potentially enhancing eating and shape concerns in the longer term. However, there is little causal evidence of those negative effects. This experimental study tests the potential negative impact of body checking. Fifty non-clinical women took part in a study of the effects of body checking in naturalistic settings. Each checked their wrist size every 15 minutes for eight hours on one day, then did not check the next day (order randomized). The impact on eating cognitions and body dissatisfaction was measured at the end of each day, and levels of change in those characteristics were also associated with eating pathology levels. Body checking did not result in more negative general eating attitudes or body dissatisfaction, but did result in a significant increase in a specific cognition that is hypothesised to be relevant to eating pathology - the fear of uncontrollable weight gain following eating. This impact was greater among those women with more negative existing eating attitudes. These findings add to the small experimental evidence base, demonstrating negative causal links between body checking and eating pathology. The findings need to be extended to clinical groups, but support the use of existing cognitive-behavioral methods to reduce body checking behavior.

The selection of a vehicle for oral formulations of compounds to be used in non-clinical safety studies is a challenge for poorly soluble compounds. Typically a compromise between solubility and tolerability has to be reached. Vehicle tolerability data are not readily available for a number of vehicles, and a series of oral tolerability studies were, therefore, conducted with Gelucire and Gelucire:PEG400 formulations in rats, dogs and minipigs in order to determine tolerable daily dose volumes in these species. Gelucire and Gelucire:PEG400 formulations were assessed in studies for up to 5 days in minipigs, 7 days in rats and up to 39 weeks in dogs. Gastrointestinal side effects in terms of soft and/or liquid faeces were noted in all species, but the sensitivity to these effects differed between species with the dog being the most sensitive. It was concluded that Gelucire:PEG400 (90:10) was tolerated in Beagle dogs when administered at 1 ml kg(-1) once daily for 39 weeks, and 100% Gelucire was tolerated in the rat and the minipig when administered once daily at 5 ml kg(-1) for 5 days. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Non‐clinical studies are necessary at each stage of the development of oncology drugs. Many experimental cancer models have been developed to investigate carcinogenesis, cancer progression, metastasis, and other aspects in cancer biology and these models turned out to be useful in the efficacy evaluation and the safety prediction of oncology drugs. While the diversity and the degree of engagement in genetic changes in the initiation of cancer cell growth and progression are widely accepted, it has become increasingly clear that the roles of host cells, tissue microenvironment, and the immune system also play important roles in cancer. Therefore, the methods used to develop oncology drugs should continuously be revised based on the advances in our understanding of cancer. In this review, we extensively summarize the effective use of those models, their advantages and disadvantages, ranges to be evaluated and limitations of the models currently used for the development and for the evaluation of oncology drugs., This review summarizes the effective use of animal models, their advantages and disadvantages, ranges to be evaluated and limitations of the models currently used for the development and for the evaluation of oncology drugs.

Objective We aimed to deepen the clinical utility of humiliation assessment in the study of depression. Method We performed a correlational analysis of the relationship between humiliation, depression, resilience, and negative primary familial environment in 80 clinically depressed subjects (41 men and 39 women; mean age = 40.71, standard deviation SD = 9.94) and a strictly matched sample of 80 non-clinical subjects (41 men and 39 women; mean age = 40.64, SD = 10.24). We also implemented a hierarchical multiple regression analysis for each sample, to test the prediction of these variables on depression. Results Humiliation showed positive correlations with depressive factors, while negative correlations emerged with resilience in both samples. The hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed humiliation to be the most predictive factor of depression in the clinical sample only. Conclusion This study improves the understanding of the relationship of humiliation and depression in both clinical and non-clinical populations.

Testosterone and cortisol have been proposed to jointly regulate aggressive behavior. However, few empirical studies actually investigated this joint relation in humans, and reported inconsistent findings. Also, samples in these studies were small and/or specific, and consisted largely of males. Therefore, in the current study testosterone and cortisol in relation to aggression were investigated in a non-clinical sample of 259 boys and girls (mean age 16.98 years, SD = 0.42, 56% boys). A positive testosterone/cortisol ratio, that is, high testosterone relative to cortisol, was found to be associated with aggressive behavior, explaining 7% of the variance. The interaction between testosterone and cortisol was not related to aggressive behavior and gender differences were not found. The ratio may reflect an imbalance leaving the individual more prone to rewarding aspects, than fearful of negative implications of aggressive behavior. Current findings indicate that this relation can be generalized to aggression in non-clinical adolescents.

The MAGE-A3 recombinant protein combined with AS15 immunostimulant (MAGE-A3 Cancer Immunotherapeutic) is under development by GlaxoSmithKline for the treatment of lung cancer and melanoma. We performed non-clinical safety studies evaluating potential local and systemic toxic effects induced by MAGE-A3 Cancer Immunotherapeutic in rabbits (study 1) and cynomolgus monkeys (study 2). Animals were allocated to two groups to receive a single (rabbits) or 25 repeated (every 2 weeks) injections (monkeys) of MAGE-A3 Cancer Immunotherapeutic (treatment groups) or saline (control groups). All rabbits were sacrificed 3 days post-injection and monkeys 3 days following last injection (3/5 per gender per group) or after a 3-month treatment-free period (2/5 per gender per group). Local and systemic reactions and MAGE-A3-specific immune responses (monkeys) were assessed. Macroscopic and microscopic (for rabbits, injection site only) post-mortem examinations were performed on all animals. No systemic toxicity or unscheduled mortalities were recorded. Single (rabbits) and repeated (monkeys; up to four times at the same site) injections were well tolerated. Following five to seven repeated injections, limb circumferences increased up to 26% (5 h post-injection), but returned to normal after 1–8 days. Three days after the last injection, enlargements of iliac, popliteal, axillary and inguinal lymph nodes, and increased incidence or severity of mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltrates was observed in injected muscles of treated monkeys. No treatment-related macroscopic findings were recorded after the treatment-free period. MAGE-A3-specific antibody and T-cell responses were raised in all treated monkeys, confirming test item exposure. Single or repeated intramuscular injections of MAGE-A3 Cancer Immunotherapeutic were well tolerated in rabbits and monkeys. Copyright © 2014 GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines. Journal of Applied Toxicology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The major aim of this study was to evaluate the factor structure of the Italian translation of the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (LSRP) in a sample of 740 community dwelling adult participants. Hull method, minimum average partial analysis and quasi-inferential parallel analysis techniques were used to identify a three-factor solution that appeared broadly consistent with previous work. The three factors exhibited reliability coefficients >0.70, and the three-factor structure was adequately reproduced across gender, educational level and civil status strata (median congruence coefficients = 0.94, 0.93 and 0.95 respectively) and remained largely unchanged when the effect of participants' age was controlled for (median factor score correlation = 0.99). Although Factor 3 in our study was demarcated mainly by reverse-keyed items, the LSRP factors yielded meaningful relations with retrospective measures of antisocial behaviour in adolescence and HEXACO personality traits and were conceptually consistent with the triarchic model of psychopathy of Patrick, Fowles and Krueger (2009). Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Biopharmaceutical development necessitates use of non-human primates in toxicology, leading to adoption of non-traditional methods including cognitive function assessment.A two-object discrimination and reversal test in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) was performed using a Wisconsin General Testing Apparatus (WGTA). Non-clinical study design and regulatory considerations dictate that infants are raised by their biological mothers until weaning at 6 months. Thirty-four animals (6-21 months of age) were trained to discriminate between two randomly selected stimulus objects to retrieve a reward. Following training, days to first reversal after interchanging the reward were measured.Both sexes acquired visual discrimination skills at similar rates. Trends in learning and reversals completed were uniform across age groups. Completing training early in some subjects had no impact on subsequent testing phases.Weaned cynomolgus monkey infants can be successfully tested for cognitive abilities using the WGTA in a non-clinical laboratory setting.

OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that metacognitive beliefs are implicated in the development of distress associated with auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) rather than in their aetiology. DESIGN: A cross sectional questionnaire design was used. METHODS: Three groups of participants were recruited (n= 20 in each group); clinical voice-hearers diagnosed with psychiatric disorders; non-clinical voice-hearers with no psychiatric history; and non-clinical participants with no history of voices or psychiatric disorder. All participants were screened for psychiatric symptomatology and completed a self-report measure of their metacognitive beliefs (MCQ-30). In addition, the two groups of voice-hearers were interviewed about dimensions of their voices (i.e., content, frequency, distress, and disruption). RESULTS: The clinical group scored significantly higher than the two non-clinical groups on two subscales of the MCQ-30 (negative beliefs about worry concerning controllability and danger and negative beliefs about thoughts concerning need for control). There were no significant differences between the two non-clinical groups on MCQ-30 scores. Regression analyses revealed that the negative beliefs about need for control subscale of the MCQ-30 was the only significant predictor of voice-related distress, although this effect was no longer significant after controlling for the effect of group. CONCLUSIONS: These results are consistent with previous findings suggesting that metacognitive beliefs are not directly implicated in the aetiology of AVHs, but may be associated with psychological distress. Further research is however needed to determine whether metacognitive style may directly impact upon voice-related distress.

Objective Growing evidence indicates that non-clinical psychotic-like experiences occur in otherwise healthy individuals, suggesting that psychosis may occur on a continuum. However, little is know about how the diathesis for formal psychosis maps on to individuals at the non-clinical side of this continuum. Our current understanding of the pathophysiology of schizophrenia implicates certain key factors such as early developmental abnormalities and fronto-striatal dysfunction. To date, no studies have examined these core factors in the context of non-clinical psychosis.

Objective To examine the association between components of shame (characterological, behavioural and bodily) and eating disturbance. Method This was a cross sectional study of 859 female and 256 male participants from the general population [non-clinical (NCP)] and 167 female participants from an eating disordered population [clinical (CP)] completing the Experience of Shame Scale. The NCP samples also completed the Eating Attitudes Test-26, and the CP samples completed the Eating Disorder Risk Composite of the Eating Disorder Inventory-3. Participants were recruited via schools/colleges, eating disorder charities and the Internet. Results Bodily and characterological shame were independently predictive of eating disturbance in female NCP samples (both, p

AIMS To assess and compare the mechanisms of central nervous system (CNS) penetration of antimuscarinic overactive bladder (OAB) agents.

Background. Anomalous experiences occur in many psychiatric conditions, but are also reported by non-patients. Given the continuum account of psychiatric symptoms and reports of dissociation between delusions and anomalous experiences, we predicted that anomalous experiences in a large non-clinical sample would (1) associate with delusion-like beliefs but not with socio-cultural beliefs and (2) that anomalous experiences would also show examples of dissociation with anomalous beliefs. A particular focus was the association between beliefs and experiences theoretically predicted to co-occur in Capgras syndrome. Methods. The study examined the distribution and correlates of differential levels of self-reported anomalous experience in a British sample of 1,000 individuals. Results. Anomalous experiences were found to be relatively common in the general population and were reported (occurring sometimes/often) by 48% of the sample. Being female and endorsing a non-Christian religion were the only two demographic factors related to higher experience scores. Significant relationships were found between anomalous experiences and anomalous beliefs (i.e., delusion-like and paranormal/religious), but not general societal beliefs. Dissociations between anomalous experiences and anomalous beliefs also were present but not common. No significant relationship was found between Capgras-type beliefs and experiences. Conclusions. This large scale study demonstrated significant association between anomalous experiences and anomalous beliefs in the general population. The relationship was not, however present in all cases similar to cases reported in the clinical literature.

Objectives. To explore the nature and context of psychotic-like phenomena in clinical (C) and non-clinical (NC) participants, and to investigate whether the factors involved with triggering a psychotic-like ‘out-of-the-ordinary’ experience (OOE) can be distinguished from those determining its clinical consequences. Design and methods. Qualitative data were collected by semi-structured interviews, and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Twelve participants, who reported OOEs starting in the last 5 years, were split into C and NC groups depending on whether they were involved with mental-health services as a result of their experiences. Inter-group comparisons of emergent themes were made. Results. Inter-group similarities were found in the triggers and subjective nature of experiences, with clearer group differences in the inter-personal and background personal contexts, and how the experiences were incorporated into their lives. In particular, the inter-personal theme of validation was identified as important in distinguishing the clinical consequences of OOEs. Conclusions. It is not the OOE itself that determines the development of a clinical condition, but rather the wider personal and interpersonal contexts that influence how this experience is subsequently integrated. Theoretical implications for the refinement of psychosis models are outlined, and clinical implications for the validation and normalization of psychotic-like phenomena are proposed.

Recent evidence suggests a relationship between psychoform and somatoform dissociation both in clinical and non clinical samples. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between the two forms of dissociation among 947 university students who completed two self-administered questionnaires, the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ-20) and the Dissociative Experience Scale (DES). The main result of the study was that the association between somatoform and psychoform dissociation was strong for individuals with moderate level of DES scores (O.R. 57.0), but much stronger for individuals with high level of DES scores (O.R. 518.9). & 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 67:665–672, 2011.

A growing body of literature investigates heterosexual donor conception and there is now also a small body of work which investigates the experiences of single women and lesbian couples. Both of these focus on a clinical setting. Women, notably single and lesbians, also undertake non-clinical donor conception, and insufficient consideration has been paid to these self-arranged reproductive practices, and how they may compare with the clinical ones. Seeking to fill this gap, this paper explores women's experiences of accessing donor sperm inside and outside reproductive health clinics by drawing on a qualitative interview study with 25 lesbian couples in England and Wales with experiences of jointly pursuing donor conception. The paper explores the differences embedded in the two conception routes with regard to donor recruitment, access to donor sperm over time, space and the management of sperm as a bodily fluid. Utilising the framework of 'ontological choreography' developed by Thompson (2005), as well as Douglas's (1966) work around bodies, dirt and disgust, the paper argues that the clinic functions as a containment for legal as well as practical and bodily dimensions of donor conception, and this in turn shapes practices and perceptions of self-arranged conception.

Background The purpose of this study is to better characterize the hematological, biochemical, respiratory, cardiovascular and electroneurophysiological parameters in young adult Cercopithecus aethiops sabaeus of both sexes. The rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys are widely used as experimental primate models. However, only few articles have been published testing toxicological effects of pharmaceuticals on African green monkey. Methods The present study was carried out with the recompilation of all parameters recorded before the first drug administration in five sub-chronic or chronic toxicological studies performed on 66 Cercopithecus aethiops sabaeus, born in Cuba. Results This study provides hematological, biochemical, respiratory, cardiovascular and electroneurophysiological data for both choosing animals to be included into experiments and monitoring these parameters during the study. Conclusions We conclude that this study provides valuable integrated data for determining the health status, including electroneurophysiological parameters, data not previously reported for this species, of the African green monkey.

We have read with interest the article on vertebral fractures after stopping Denosumab by Cummings SR et al. (1). Denosumab discontinuation is followed by a rebound effect with an increase of CTX above baseline values for two years and a decrease of BMD to baseline value after one year (2). Spontaneous clinical vertebral fractures, most often multiple, occur in the 8 to 16 months (median 11.2 months) following the last Denosumab injection (3). The risk of clinical vertebral fractures in the 12 months following the last Denosumab injection was evaluated at 7.3% (4). This risk is certainly higher with a follow-up of 16 months and the inclusion of non clinical fractures. Cummings SR et al. calculate an exposure-adjusted participant incidence of vertebral fractures (radiological and clinical) of 7.1 per 100 participant-years, from which only 39.3% where clinical fractures. We think that the difference between the previously published data and the actual study is due to the fact that the duration of the follow-up was not sufficient to capture all the vertebral fractures. Moreover, we found that this study has methodological caveats.

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) is widely used for the treatment of patients with anaemia and its loss of patent protection has stimulated the development of cheaper biosimilar products. However, the quality and comparability of rhEPO products recently marketed in several developing countries is questionable. Paying attention to quality in its isolation, purification and analytical characterization, it has been possible to produce a biosimilar rhEPO that is comparable with the originator product. Non-clinical safety testing was initially carried out in the absence of a regulatory framework and contributed to the receipt of marketing approval for biosimilar rhEPO in Eastern Europe. Subsequently, this non-clinical testing was extended to take into account the recent guidelines for similar biological medicinal products published by the European regulatory authorities, which were markedly influenced by the intervening occurrence of pure red cell aplasia in patients taking what proved to be an impure rhEPO product. This Mini Review discusses the challenges faced, approaches taken and lessons learned in developing a biosimilar rhEPO product, both before and after the publication of the regulatory guidelines.

Eighty undergraduate students completed the Italian versions of the Metacognition Questionnaire and Thought Control Questionnaire along with well-established measures of worry, obsessive–compulsive symptoms and coping styles on two occasions four months apart. A series of hierarchical regression analyses revealed that, after controlling the initial level of both worry and obsessionality, negative beliefs about worry focused on uncontrollability and danger appeared consistently associated with worry and obsessive symptoms at a four-month distance. In addition, positive beliefs about worry predicted maladaptive coping styles whereas cognitive self-consciousness and thought strategies aimed at distraction appeared to foster or facilitate adaptive coping styles. Results, implications and limitations are discussed according to Well's metacognitive model of emotional disorders. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The current study examined the relationship of clinically relevant core beliefs measured by the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF) to personality disorder (PD) symptoms in a large non-clinical sample (N = 804). Results indicated that the 15 YSQ-SF scales added sizeable explained variance (4% to 13%) to self-reported symptoms of 12 PDs, above variance explained by gender and symptoms of other PDs. In addition, several specific core beliefs related uniquely to individual PDs after controlling for the other core beliefs. Given that core beliefs related to personality disorder symptoms in a non-clinical sample of people at the typical onset age of PDs, it is possible that such beliefs might be important to understanding the development of PDs. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Objective Few data exist on the efficacy of antiretroviral therapy in individuals infected with HIV in the Caribbean. We evaluated the virological and immunological responses of HIV-infected adults starting highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Design This was a prospective observational cohort study. Methods A total of 158 antiretroviral-naive patients who initiated HAART between January 2002 and March 2003, and completed at least 6 months of treatment and follow up, were included in the analysis. The response to therapy was assessed by changes in CD4 cell counts and viral loads from baseline. The mean increase in CD4 cell count, the rate of virological success (a viral load of

The authors sent a questionnaire to a random sample of general dentists in Ontario, Canada, to assess the types of non-clinical information (NCI) dentists usually obtain during initial examinations of older patients. From a list of 11 NCI questions, dentists indicated which questions they usually asked during new patient examinations. The adjusted response rate was 34% (n = 672). Respondents most often asked about pain and satisfaction with the appearance of teeth and/or dentures. About half the respondents asked about oral dryness and whether problems with chewing had limited food choices. Respondents were least likely to ask about problems with speaking and avoidance of eating with others because of chewing problems. Traits of those who asked the least common NCI questions typically including continuing education courses in geriatric dentistry, self-perceived competence in treating elderly adults living in institutional settings, exposure to geriatric outreach settings during dental school and greater dentist involvement in patient history taking.

Objectives The literature on links between anger and bulimic behaviours has focused largely on clinical populations of female patients. This study of a non-clinical group explores whether the relationship between anger and bulimia is specific to binge-eating (rather than other eating or impulsive behaviours) and whether the links are gender-specific. Methods A non-clinical population of 72 women and 49 men completed Spanish translations of self-report measures on anger, bulimia and impulsivity. Non-parametric correlations (Spearman's rho) were used. Results Women with higher levels of trait anger were more likely to engage in binge-eating, and fasted less. In contrast, men who experienced higher levels of anger used more impulsive behaviours (such as substance abuse and self-harm). External expression of anger was related to binge-eating regardless of gender, but was associated with different facets of impulsivity for males and females. Conclusions These findings suggest that different behaviours are associated with anger among males and females. Further research and potential implications for preventative programmes are discussed. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

This study explores the frequency of the appearance of intrusive thoughts in normal people, as well their association with cognitive appraisals and control strategies. A total of 336 subjects completed the Spanish adaptation of the Obsessional Intrusions Inventory-Revised (ROII), designed by Purdon and Clark (1993, 1994a, 1994b). Most of the subjects (99.4%) reported experiencing intrusive thoughts occasionally, but only 13% reported having them with some frequency. The intrusions were included in two factors: aggression, sexually and socially inappropriate behaviours, and doubts, checking, and cleanliness. The frequency of appearance of the most upsetting intrusive thought was associated with: the likelihood/probability bias, the need to control the thoughts, and neutralizing strategies. Nevertheless, the unpleasantness was associated with the morality bias and a broad range of control strategies. These results are discussed in relation to the different roles that the appraisal and the thought control responses play, both regarding the persistence as well as the unpleasantness associated with the most upsetting intrusions. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Sustained performance and regulation of effort in clinical and non-clinical hyperactive children

The present paper describes a research project that is looking at how non-clinical support roles may be more fully integrated into the ward team in an acute hospital setting. The research, funded by NHS Estates, is part of the policy of developing evidence-based support services that is a central strand of NHS modernization. Practice development is a key part of the project design and an action research approach has been adopted to support the development of new ways of integrating both clinical and non-clinical aspects of care within the multidisciplinary ward team. The research is linked to increasing evidence of the importance of team-working, not only for the well-being of healthcare workers but also because of its effect on patient outcomes. The research will make a contribution in this area by focusing on the important relationship between non-clinical and clinical staff. Copyright © 2002 Whurr Publishers Ltd.

–Objectives: To provide an overview of the use of non-clinical outcome measures in dentistry and to identify trends and strengths and weaknesses in existing research. Methods: Literature searches using medical and social sciences databases and stated inclusion and exclusion criteria. Categorisation and coding of accepted studies according to: concept of outcome, study design and standardisation of outcome measures used. Simple graphical and statistical analysis used to identify trends in outcome measurement and strengths and weaknesses. Results: There has been a steady growth in non-clinical outcome measurement research in dentistry over the last 10 years. Most studies have addressed dental knowledge, attitudes or behaviours (KAB), socio-dental indicators or anxiety. Two-thirds of all studies have used non-standardised outcome measures. Different concepts of outcome are associated with different study designs and standardisation status of outcome measures used. Studies addressing dental “satisfaction” and KAB are more likely than average to use non-validated measures. Conclusions: There needs to be more focus on the development of methods to assess the validity of non-clinical outcome measures in dentistry. In addition more conceptual studies need to be undertaken on the theoretical links between the different concepts of outcome found in the current study.

While nephrologists wait for the ideal, non invasive, inexpensive, precise, and reproducible tool to evaluate extracellular volume (ECV), they need to exert their clinical acumen in the quest of that holy grail, dry weight (DW). Estimation of DW using a clinical approach based on blood pressure (BP) and ECV is feasible and reliable as shown by successful experiences in various dialysis modes over more than three decades. But a need still exists to resolve difficulties associated with accurate assessment of BP (methods and circumstances of measurement, and the confounding effects of antihypertensive drugs) and ECV (evaluation of weight changes unrelated to ECV, lack of specificity and sensitivity of clinical symptoms, lag time, confusion in terminology). An essential point in clinical assessment of DW is that a normal BP is at the same time the target and the crucial index of DW achievement. For this reason, a trialand-error "probe" process has to be used at intervals to make sure that the dry weight target point is correctly estimated. The various "non clinical" methods proposed for dry weight assessment increase the complexity and the cost of hemodialysis. They are, in the present state of things, more clinical research than practice tools. They do not replace clinical judgment.

Responsibility is one of the most investigated constructs in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Although there are an increasing number of studies on this topic, results seem to be questionable. Whereas several authors reported a significant link between OC behaviour and responsibility in nonclinical as well as in clinical samples, the findings of many authors failed to demonstrate the presence of such an association. In the current study, we examined the relationship between obsessive-compulsive behaviour and responsibility. To this aim, participants filled in five inventories: the Responsibility Attitude Scale (RAS), the Responsibility Questionnaire (RQ), the Padua Inventory Revised (PI-R), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results showed a relationship between obsessive-compulsive behaviour (PI-R scores) and responsibility, as measured by both RAS and RQ. A principal component analysis showed that RAS can be interpreted as a four-factor scale, accounting for 63% of the variance overall. Regression analyses showed that responsibility can be considered a significant predictor of obsession and compulsion behaviour, as measured by PI-R. Furthermore, showing a connection between specific factors of responsibility and certain kinds of obsessive-compulsive behaviour, results seem to confirm the hypothesis that responsibility is more salient in checking than in cleaning symptoms. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Welcome to Veterinary Record Case Reports, an exciting new addition to the expanding group of BVA journals published by the prestigious BMJ with its long heritage of excellence in medical publishing. Until now there has been limited opportunity to publish veterinary case reports, as most journals, including Veterinary Record, will only publish large and notable case series or single cases of exceptional novelty or significance. Thus, this initiative presents a real opportunity for colleagues outside large specialist referral centres, universities and research institutes to launch their publishing careers. Indeed, we will be encouraging reports of cases from first-opinion practice, less usual areas of practice and from the extramural studies of veterinary students. Colleagues writing up cases as part of their studies leading to a Certificate or Diploma are particularly encouraged to submit their reports for publication in this journal. Veterinary Record Case Reports will be delivering a focused, peer-reviewed, valuable collection of cases in all disciplines so that veterinary professionals, researchers and others can easily …

The present study compared negative priming performance in a non-clinical sample of individuals based on their schizotypal personality scale (STA) scores. There were 13 High STA and 19 Low STA individuals. High, but not Low, STA individuals displayed deficient negative priming, replicating previous findings. Converging evidence for this claim was observed in the correlation between negative priming and STA score, r = -.64, p < .01, supporting the notion that individuals with high STA scores exhibit an inability to adequately inhibit irrelevant information. Both groups did not differ on a simple reaction time control task, ruling out the possibility that observed negative priming differences across groups were the result of a simple motor reaction time difference.

The current study was an investigation into intra-session changes in the pattern of Stroop colour-naming impairments with body shape-related words and food-related words. The subject pool comprised anorexic women and a control group of non-clinically disordered women. The results indicated that anorexic women show greater colour-naming decrements that non-disordered controls for both types of eating-related words. Stroop interference significantly decreased across the course of the experiment with the body-shape words for the anorexic subjects, thereby indicating habituation to the semantic content of those words. There was no comparable process of habituation observed with the food-related words.

CONTRIBUTORS. Chapter 1: Introduction (Alberto Lodola and Jeanne Stadler). Chapter 2: The Regulatory Environment (Claudio Bernardi and Marco Brughera). Chapter 3: Toxicological development: Roles and Responsibilities (Franck Chuzel and Bernard Ruty). Chapter 4: Contract Research Organizations (Maurice Cary). Chapter 5: Safety Pharmacology (Claudio Arrigoni and Valeria Perego). Chapter 6: Formulations, Impurities and Toxicokinetics (Claude Charuel). Chapter 7: General Toxicology (Alberto Lodola). Chapter 8: Genetic Toxicology (Peggy Guzzie-Peck, Jennifer Sasaki and Sandy Weiner). Chapter 9: Developmental and reproductive toxicology (Jeanne Stadler). Chapter 10: Data analysis, report writing and regulatory documentation (Monique Y. Wells). Chapter 11: Risk Management (Alberto Lodola). INDEX.

Five different phenotypic identification systems were used in attempts to place 164 Acinetobacter strains obtained from a biological nutrient removal plant and 16 reference cultures into the genospecies of Bouvet and Grimont, and Tjernberg and Ursing. Of these strains only four, including two of the reference strains, were identified at a Willcox probability level of >0·95 and a modal likelihood fraction of > 0·0001 by all five systems. These different identification schemes were compared for their usefulness with such non-clinical isolates.

To look at the occurrence of ipecac misuse in two high-risk populations, we distributed a structured self-report questionnaire regarding eating attitudes and behaviors to a non-clinical sample of 5,537 young women in a national collegiate social organization and to a clinical sample of 299 consecutive outpatients referred to our Eating Disorders Clinic. The lifetime prevalence of ipecac use in the college population was 2.5% compared to 10% in the outpatient sample. The prevalence rates in both populations suggest that further restriction of syrup of ipecac by warnings of toxicity on labels, package inserts, and pharmacist dispension over-the-counter should be considered