Interactions ofCandida albicans with bacteria and salivary molecules in oral biofilms

The yeastCandida albicans coaggregates with a variety of streptococcal species, an interaction that may promote oral colonization by yeast cells.C. albicans andCandida tropicalis are the yeasts most frequently isolated from the human oral cavity and our data demonstrate that both these species bind toStreptococcus gordonii NCTC 7869 while two otherCandida species (Candida krusei andCandida kefyr) do not. Adherence ofC. albicans was greatest when the yeast had been grown at 30° C to mid-exponential growth phase. For 21 strains ofC. albicans there was a positive correlation between the ability to adhere toS. gordonii and adherence to experimental salivary pellicle. Whole saliva either stimulated or slightly inhibited adherence ofC. albicans toS. gordonii depending on the streptococcal growth conditions. The results suggest that the major salivary adhesins and coaggregation adhesins ofC. albicans are co-expressed.     

Measurement of global self-esteem in dementia. Reliability and validity of Brinkman's self-esteem scale

In a person-centered approach to dementia-care, the self-concept of people suffering from dementia receives more and more attention. There is, however, a lack of direct measures of self-esteem, which is the evaluative component of the self-concept. An 8-item scale to tap global self-esteem was administered to 245 consecutive visitors of a psychogeriatric day care centre. Mokken scale analysis revealed a scalability coefficient of H = 0.44, which is in the medium range. The item responses were explained by a double monotonicity model, allowing for a reliable ordering of subjects and items on the latent trait 'self-esteem'. One-week test-retest reliability on the self-esteem scale was 0.68. Scalability and reliability were about equal across subgroups differing in severity of dementia. Patients were asked to give themselves a rating (1-10) for their estimated sense of self-worth. These ratings correlated 0.55 with scores on the self-esteem scale. Self-esteem was negatively related to measures of depression, fatigue and loneliness, but not to the level of cognitive impairment of the patient. As an independent measure of subjective well-being, self-esteem deserves particular attention in the assessment and treatment of dementia patients.     

Globale zelfwaardering bij dementie

Measurement of global self-esteem in dementia. Reliability and validity of Brinkman’s self-esteem scale In a person-centered approach to dementia-care, the self-concept of people suffering from dementia receives more and more attention. There is, however, a lack of direct measures of self-esteem, which is the evaluative component of the self-concept. An 8-item scale to tap global self-esteem was administered to 245 consecutive visitors of a psychogeriatric day care centre. Mokken scale analysis revealed a scalability coefficient of H = 0.44, which is in the medium range. The item responses were explained by a double monotonicity model, allowing for a reliable ordering of subjects and items on the latent trait ‘self-esteem’. One-week test-retest reliability on the self-esteem scale was 0.68. Scalability and reliability were about equal across subgroups differing in severity of dementia. Patients were asked to give themselves a rating (1-10) for their estimated sense of self-worth. These ratings correlated 0.55 with scores on the self-esteem scale. Self-esteem was negatively related to measures of depression, fatigue and loneliness, but not to the level of cognitive impairment of the patient. As an independent measure of subjective well-being, self-esteem deserves particular attention in the assessment and treatment of dementia patients. Tijdschr Gerontol Geriatr 2007; 38:122-133     

Physiological routes from intra-uterine seminal contents to advancement of ovulation

Whole boar semen or seminal plasma has been demonstrated to advance the time of ovulation in gilts. As a means of clarifying this influence, the contribution of uterine lymphatics and their white cell populations has been examined. After duct visualisation with Evan's blue, lymph was sampled from a mesometrial vessel in eight pre-ovulatory gilts whose uterine lumen was infused simultaneously with whole semen in one ligated horn and saline in the contralateral ligated horn. Lymph was collected from cannulated vessels for periods of up to four hours under general anaesthesia. Thereafter, mesometrial lymph nodes, utero-tubal junction and uterine wall tissues were sampled. The proportion of nucleated cells in the sampled lymph increased towards the end of the collection period, but erythrocytes were found in all instances preventing a meaningful differentiation and identification of leukocytes. Prominent uterine lymph nodes were present in the mesometrium on both sides of the reproductive tract in 7 of 10 gilts. Differences in cellular contents were demonstrated between the side of the tract infused with semen and that infused with saline control. Two of 4 gilts had lower values for CD4 (Cluster Differentiation) and 3 of 6 gilts higher values for MHC II (Major Histocompatibility Complex) markers on the side challenged with semen. In contrast, values remained constant for CD8 but ranged widely for CD18. Immunohistochemical analysis of uterine tissue samples for MHC II+ cells revealed significant differences (P < 0.05) between the control and semen-treated ligated portions of the horns, as well as between the tissue sample of uterine wall and that from the utero-tubal junction, but there were no significant differences for CD4+ cells. It therefore remains plausible that semen-induced cytokines in the uterine lymph undergo counter-current transfer to the ipsilateral ovary and accelerate the final maturation of pre-ovulatory Graafian follicles.     

Construct validity of some episodic memory tests for psychogeriatric patients

Episodic memory is the conscious recollection of personal experiences. In clinical practice several episodic memory tests are used, but their validity as measures of an episodic memory construct is not clear. The sensitivity and specificity of variables hypothesized to represent a distinct psychological construct is established by a pattern of convergent and discriminant validity. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to analyse the correlations between four episodic memory tests: a standardized orientation questionnaire, free recall, and two delayed recognition memory tests. The episodic memory construct was contrasted with an executive functioning construct, measured by three variables: two tasks of semantic word fluency and the Expanded Mental Control Test. The measures were taken from 813 consecutive visitors of a psychogeriatric day care centre. As a set the four indicators of episodic memory provided reliable measurement of the construct. The same was true for the three measures of the executive functioning construct. However, the strong correlation (0.89) between the two constructs implies a lack of discriminant validity and suggests that processes of executive control contribute to the successful performance on episodic memory tasks.     

Het Tijdschrift voor Gerontologie en Geriatrie en de praktijk

In 2008 the Dutch-language journal of gerontology and geriatrics goes into its 39th year of publication. Most of the scientific papers published by the Journal in 2007 serve a practical purpose. The Journal is oriented towards the scientific community of Dutch speaking geriatricians, nursing home physicians, psychologists, sociologists and other scientific professionals. Besides theory-driven empirical studies in gerontology and geriatrics, the Journal publishes comments and criticism on government policy on geriatric care and services for the elderly.