Parents' Experiences of Receiving the Initial Positive Newborn Screening (NBS) Result for Cystic Fibrosis and Sickle Cell Disease

The clinical advantages of the newborn screening programme (NBS) in the UK are well described in the literature. However, there has been little exploration of the psychosocial impact on the family. This study followed the principles of grounded theory to explore parents' experiences of receiving the initial positive NBS result for their child with cystic fibrosis (CF) or sickle cell disease (SCD). Semi-structured, qualitative interviews were conducted with 22 parents (12 mothers and 10 fathers) whose children had been diagnosed with CF or SCD via NBS and were under the age of 1 year at the time of interview. The main themes that arose from the data were; parents previous knowledge of the condition and the NBS programme, the method of delivery and parental reactions to the result, sharing the results with others, the impact on parental relationships and support strategies. Study conclusions indicate that most parents thought initial positive NBS results should be delivered by a health professional with condition specific knowledge, preferably with both parents present. Genetic counselling needs to include a focus on the impact of NBS results on parental relationships. Careful consideration needs to be given to strategies to support parents of babies who have positive NBS results both in terms of the psychological health and to assist them in sharing the diagnosis

The impact of thought speed and variability on psychological state and threat perception: Further exploration of the theory of mental motion.

Thought speed and variability are purportedly common features of specific psychological states, such as mania and anxiety. The present study explored the independent and combinational influence of these variables upon condition-specific symptoms and affective state, as proposed by Pronin and Jacobs’ (2008) theory of mental motion. A general population sample was recruited online (N = 263). Participants completed a thought speed and variability manipulation task, inducing a combination of fast/slow and varied/repetitive thought. Change in mania and anxiety symptoms was assessed through direct self-reported symptom levels and indirect, processing bias assessment (threat interpretation). Results indicated that fast and varied thought independently increased self-reported mania symptoms. Affect was significantly less positive and more negative during slow thought. No change in anxiety symptoms or threat interpretation was found between manipulation conditions. No evidence for the proposed combinational influence of speed and variability was found. Implications and avenues for therapeutic intervention are discussed

Synthesis and carbon-11 labeling of the stereoisomers of meta -hydroxyephedrine (HED) and meta -hydroxypseudoephedrine (HPED)

The synthesis of the four stereoisomers of carbon-11 labeled meta -hydroxyephedrine (HED) and meta -hydroxypseudoephedrine (HPED) was undertaken for evaluation of their in vivo kinetic behavior. The stereoisomers of HED and HPED were synthesized by conversion of their respective enantiomerically-pure, normethyl precursors ( meta -hydroxyphenylpropanolamine stereoisomers) to the carbamate derivatives and subsequent reduction with lithium aluminum hydride. Direct N -[ 11 C]methylation of the appropriate normethyl precursor with [ 11 C]methyl triflate and HPLC purification provided the radiotracers in 27–42% (average = 36%; n = 12) decay-corrected radiochemical yields in a 40 min synthesis time from end-of-bombardment. The specific activity of the radiotracers was 1260–1625 Ci/mmol (average = 1368 Ci/mmol; n = 8) at end-of-synthesis and the radiochemical purity >98%. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/34875/1/345_ftp.pd

Reference phase analysis of free and bound intracellular solutes. I. Sodium and potassium in amphibian oocytes.

A method is described for the quantitative determination of free and bound solute concentrations in the cytoplasm of intact cells. The method includes (a) introduction of a gelatin gel reference phase (RP) into the cytoplasm; (b) diffusion of dissolved substances between cytoplasm and RP, (c) cell quenching to - 196 degrees C to prevent subsequent solute redistributions, (d) ultra-low temperature microdissection to isolate RP and cytoplasm samples, and (e) analysis of isolates for solute and water content. In normal oocytes of the salamander, Desmognathus ochrophaeus, free or RP Na+ and K+ are 21.0 +/- 1.1 and 128.8 +/- 2.4 mu eq/ml, respectively, and vary stoichiometrically in altered oocytes. Overall cytoplasmic concentrations are 75.2 +/- 2.7 mu eq Na+/ml and 88.6 +/- 1.5 mu eq K+/ml. Cytoplasmic chemical activities are 16.2 mu eq Na+/ml and 99.2 mu eq K+/ml, corresponding to activity coefficients of 0.22 and 1.12, respectively. The results demonstrate unambiguously that (a) oocytes actively transport Na+ and K+, and (b) cytoplasm has important binding properties which differentiate it from an ordinary aqueous solution. These cytoplasmic properties are investigated in the following paper