The authors investigated the relationship between brief warm social and physical contact among cohabitating couples and blood pressure (BP) reactivity to stress in a sample of healthy adults (66 African American, 117 Caucasian; 74 women, 109 men

Although there has been considerable research on attachment and delinquency, few studies have focused on gender differences. This study used a survey of adolescent boys and girls incarcerated in the Wyoming Boys' and Girls' Schools to examine (a) differences in boys' and girls' level of attachment to parents, peers, and school; and (b) the effects of the various attachments on the severity of boys' and girls' self-reported delinquency. The results show no differences in boys' and girls' levels of attachment. However, gender differences in the effects of the various attachments on severity of delinquency were found. Attachment to parents reduced the severity of boys' delinquency, whereas attachment to peers and school reduced the severity of girls' delinquency.

INTRODUCTION: Blood collected in cardiotomy suction contains high levels of cellular debris and lipid microparticulates, which have been shown to cause embolization of the brain blood vessels. If shed blood was processed with a cell-saver device, it considerably reduced cerebral lipid embolization. The objective of this study was to determine if replacement of cardiotomy suction with a continuous flow cell-saver device would reduce cognitive decline in elderly patients after elective CABG surgery. METHODS: After REB approval and informed consent, 226 patients over 60 years were randomly allocated to either cell saver or control (i.e. cardiotomy suction) groups. Neuropsychological testing was conducted 1 week before (baseline) and 6-weeks after surgery by a psychometrist blinded to the treatment arm assignment. The proposed battery of tests complied with the international consensus on assessing neuropsychological outcome. A Z-score was calculated for each of the 10 main test variables in each patient. For cognitive dysfunction to be considered significant it had to occur in two or more tests. Anesthesia and surgical management was standardized. A comprehensive TEE examination and epiaortic scanning were performed in all patients. A subset of patients in each group underwent transcranial Doppler (TCD) assessments to detect cerebral embolic load. RESULTS: There was no difference with baseline demographic data, preoperative variables, and surgical characteristics between the two groups. Cognitive outcome could not be determined at 6 weeks in 13 and 15 patients in the cell-saver and control groups respectively. Baseline neuropsychological test scores were similar between the two groups. Cognitive dysfunction was present in 6% (95% CI 1.3% to 10.7%) of patients in the cell saver group and 15% (95% CI 8% to 22%) of patients in the control group. (p=0.038). The rates of improvement above the 1SD were similar between the two groups; 19% (95% CI 11.4% to 26.6%) in the cell saver group versus 17% (95% CI 9.8% to 24.2%) in the control group (p=0.712) (Figure) Using the raw Zscores as a continuous cognitive outcome, patients in the cell saver group performed considerably better on three of the ten variables assessed. The severity and distribution of atheroma were similar between the two groups. There was no significant difference with respect to the TCD detected embolic events during CPB between the two groups.