Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1985.

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1985. / Also available in print.

Résumé indisponible. / Twelve percent of the world population suffers from migraine and its cost is estimated at $18 billion per year in Europe. The frequency of attacks may increase over time in some migraineurs, evolving from episodic migraine (0 to 14 days of migraine/month) to chronic migraine (more than 15 days of migraine/month). Propranolol is one of the major prophylactic treatments of migraine, used to decrease the frequency of the attacks. However, its mechanism of action is largely unknown. Thus, using an animal model of repeated chemical stimulation of the dura, along with behavioural, electrophysiological, and immunohistochemical approaches, we assessed the prophylactic effect of per os propranolol on central sensitisation. It was able to prevent (i) the aggravation and persistence of central sensitisation as well as (ii) the alteration of descending controls of pain (iii) dural stimulation-induced activation of the locus coeruleus (LC). Recording simultaneously from Sp5C and LC then allowed us to demonstrate that (iv) LC integrates both cutaneous and meningeal nociceptive information and (v) LC exerts a facilitatory effect on Sp5C excitability, while in pathological conditions, (vi) integration of trigeminal nociception by LC was decreased while (vii) the modulation of Sp5C by LC was altered. We then tested the effect on central sensitisation of propranolol microinjection in the LC. It (viii) prevented central sensitisation but (ix) couldn’t reverse it. Finally, we investigated the mechanism of action of propranolol in the LC; the results suggested that (x) propranolol alters intrinsic properties of LC, thereby dampening its ability to facilitate Sp5C. In conclusion, our results revealed the facilitatory influence of the LC on trigeminal nociception, suggesting that the LC could play a facilitating role in triggering migraine headaches.

Les progrès thérapeutiques et le diagnostic plus rapide ont permis d'améliorer le taux de survie de nombreux cancers. Il est donc de plus en plus nécessaire de trouver un moyen d'aider les patients à maintenir une bonne santé psychologique et à améliorer leur Qualité de Vie Liée à la Santé (QVLS). Les croyances des patients (Locus De Contrôle, LDC) et les stratégies de coping sont des variables psychologiques pouvant influer sur la QVLS des patients. Les liens entre l’évolution de la QVLS et du LDC et du coping ont été étudiés chez des patients atteints d'un cancer du sein ou d'un mélanome au cours des deux ans suivant le diagnostic. Afin d'évaluer si les croyances des patients jouent également un rôle dans les choix thérapeutiques, l'association entre le choix du traitement au moment du diagnostic d’un cancer de la prostate et les croyances des patients et d'autres variables médicales et psychologiques, a été étudiée. Certains types de LDC ou stratégies de coping ont une influence sur l’évolution de la QVLS pour le cancer du sein et le mélanome alors que certains ont une influence uniquement pour l’un des deux cancers. De plus, la QVLS n’évolue pas de la même façon pour ces deux cancers. La croyance que les médecins peuvent avoir le contrôle sur la santé du patient était négativement associée au choix d’un traitement plus invasif au moment du diagnostic d’un cancer de la prostate. Il semble que les psychothérapies basées sur le coping ou le LDC devraient être spécifiques au type de cancer et au temps depuis le diagnostic. Ce travail renseigne également sur l’importance de considérer les aspects psychologiques de la relation médecin-patient dans la décision médicale partagée. / Advances in treatment and faster diagnosis have helped improve the survival rate for many cancers. Therefore, the need to find a way to help patients to maintain good psychological health and to increase Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) has become essential. The patients’ beliefs (Locus of Control, LOC) and the coping strategies are psychological variables can have an impact on patients’ HRQoL. The association of changes in HRQoL over time and coping and LOC was assessed in breast cancer and melanoma patients during 2 years post-diagnosis. In order to study if the patients’ beliefs also play a role in treatment decision making, the association between the treatment choice at diagnosis and patients’ beliefs and other medical and psychological variables was assessed. Some LOC sub-dimensions or coping strategies have an association with HRQoL change for breast cancer and melanoma, whereas some of them have an association only with one cancer type. Moreover, HRQoL does not evolve in the same way for both types of cancer. The belief of the control of the doctors on patient’s health was negatively associated with radical treatment choice. It seems that psychological therapies, that consider the patients’ coping strategies and beliefs, should be specific according to the type of cancer and time post-diagnosis. This work has also highlighted the importance of considering the psychological aspects of the doctor-patient relationship in shared medical decision making.

Thesis (M.A.)--Marshall University, 2003. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains v, 57 p. Includes bibliographical references (p. 52-57).

This thesis develops the theoretical construct of "relatedness." Relatedness is defined as a sense of connectedness or meaning which provides for acceptance and serenity in the face of "the things I cannot change" and is an empirical extension of the work of Victor Frankl in Man's Search for Meaning. To examine the possible interaction between locus of control and an hypothesized "relatedness" phenomenon, four hundred forty four students of introductory psychology at the University of Arizona were given the Rotter Social Reaction Inventory and the Antonovsky Sense of Coherence Scale. A subscale measuring relatedness was constructed by factor analysis of Rotter and Antonovsky items combined. Five subscales of the Rotter were identified by factor analysis. Correlation was performed between the Relatedness subscale and the Rotter and its various subscales. Regression procedures were applied using Relatedness and Sex as independent variables and the Rotter as the dependent variable.

In this report we explore how to find the locus-locus interaction using microarray data. Our analysis makes use of a dataset from an experiment with Affymetrix GeneChip MGU74Av2 for mice. In Chapter 1 we give the genetics background, an introduction to microarray methodology and the preprocessing of microarray data, and a review of SAM (Significance Analysis of Microarrays) method for finding differentially expressed genes in microarray data. In Chapter 2 we describe our dataset and our objective of finding the genes with locus-locus interaction but with no main effect. We also show how to find the interaction in this chapter. In Chapter 3 we show the simulation study of detecting the locus-locus interaction without main effects and propose a two-stage method of doing that. In Chapter 4 we apply the two-stage method to the microarray data and focus on the second stage analysis. In Chapter 5 we examine an alternative method using bootstrap resampling in place of permutations. Chapter 6 contains our conclusion and some suggestions for future research. / Thesis / Master of Science (MS)

published_or_final_version / Public Administration / Master / Master of Social Sciences

Thesis (M.S.)--Wisconsin. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 29-87).

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