We investigated whether changes in the dopamine transporter in the nucleus accumbens or striatum are involved in cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization by using in vivo electrochemistry to monitor the clearance of locally applied dopamine in anesthetized rats. Rats were injected with cocaine-HCl (10 mg/kg i.p.) or saline daily for 7 consecutive days and then withdrawn for 7 days. Pressure ejection of a finite amount of dopamine at 5-min intervals from a micropipette adjacent to the electrochemical recording electrode produced transient and reproducible dopamine signals. After a challenge injection of cocaine (10 mg/kg i.p.), the signals in the nucleus accumbens of cocaine-treated animals became prolonged and the clearance rate of the dopamine decreased, indicating significant inhibition of the dopamine transporter. In contrast, simultaneous measurements in the dorsal striatum indicated a transient increase in both the amplitude of the signals and the clearance rate of the dopamine. The signals in both brain regions in the saline-treated animals given the cocaine challenge were similar to those in untreated animals given an acute injection of cocaine (10 mg/kg i.p.) or saline. Behaviorally, not all of the cocaine-treated animals were sensitized; however, both sensitized and nonsensitized animals displayed similar changes in dopamine clearance rate. Quantitative autoradiography with [3H]mazindol revealed that the affinity of the dopamine transporter for cocaine and the density of binding sites were similar in cocaine- and saline-treated rats. The decrease in dopamine clearance rate observed in the nucleus accumbens of the cocaine-treated rats after a challenge injection of cocaine is consistent with increased dopaminergic transmission, but does not appear to be sufficient in itself for producing behavioral sensitization.

Objectives To determine if a standardised method of leg positioning without stirrups reduces the physical discomfort and sense of vulnerability and increases the sense of control among women undergoing speculum examination as part of a routine gynaecological examination. Design Randomised clinical trial. Setting Family medicine outpatient clinic. Patients 197 adult women undergoing routine gynaecological examination and cervical smear. Intervention Examination with or without stirrups. Main outcome measures Women's perceived levels of physical discomfort, sense of vulnerability, and sense of control during the examination, measured on 100 mm visual analogue scales. Results Women undergoing examination without stirrups had a reduction in mean sense of vulnerability from 23.6 to 13.1 (95% confidence interval of the difference − 16.6 to − 4.4). Mean physical discomfort was reduced from 30.4 to 17.2 ( − 19.7 to − 6.8). There was no significant reduction in sense of loss of control. Conclusion Women should be able to have gynaecological examinations without using stirrups to reduce the stress associated with speculum examinations.

Purpose/Objectives: Studies in health professional students have shown the students' perception of instructor caring behaviors had a positive impact on student behaviors and their anxiety. Health professional students are under high emotional and academic demands during entry-level programs which can lead to higher anxiety. The purpose of this study was to measure the relationship between worry or anxiety and dental hygiene students' perceptions of faculty caring behaviors. Methods: Cross-sectional survey research was conducted with a convenience sample of dental hygiene students (n = 355) in the United States using a web-based survey. The validated instruments Nursing Students' Perceptions of Instructor Caring (NSPIC) and Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) were used for data collection. The NSPIC contains five subscales including instilling confidence through caring (CTC), supportive learning climate, appreciation of life's meanings, control versus flexibility (F), and respectful sharing (RS). Data analysis included descriptive, correlation, and multiple linear regression. Results:The completion rate was 66% (n = 235). Findings showed the NSPIC subscale, CTC had a statistically significantly higher median score than other NSPIC sub-scales (p < 0001). The NSPIC subscale RS had the second-highest median score. The results of the PSWQ showed that 48% of participants were in the chronic worrier category. Regression analysis showed CTC was a significant predictor of worry (p < 0.001) and a one-unit increase in CTC resulted in a 0.21 decrease in the PSWQ score. Conclusion:Our findings suggested instilling CTC behaviors was the most significant faculty caring behavior and was associated with lower levels of student worry.The results from this study may aid in identifying and developing effective caring behaviors for faculty to support students during stressful dental and allied dental curricula.

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