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The way physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) independently and interactively modify the age‐related decline in physical capacity remains poorly understood. This cross‐sectional study investigated the independent and interactive associations of PA and SB with physical function and performance throughout the adult life course. Data from 499 community‐dwelling adults (63% female) aged 20–92 years, involved in the INSPIRE Human Translational Cohort, were used in this cross‐sectional study. Daily time spent on moderate‐to‐vigorous PA (MVPA, min/day) and SB (h/day) was measured with activPAL triaxial accelerometers. Physical function and performance were assessed through the measurement of the 4‐m usual gait speed (m/s), handgrip strength (kg), lower‐limb strength (isokinetic knee extension torque, N·m), estimated lower‐limb power (five‐time chair‐rise test performance, s) and cardiorespiratory fitness (V̇O2max, mL/kg/min). Confounder‐adjusted multiple linear and curvilinear regressions were performed to investigate how MVPA, SB and their interactions were associated with the physical outcomes (all square root‐transformed except gait speed) throughout the adulthood spectrum. Interaction analyses revealed that the combination of higher levels of MVPA with lower levels of SB favourably reshaped the negative relationship between handgrip strength and age (age2× SB × MVPA: B= −7E‐08, SE = 3E‐08, P< 0.05). In addition, higher levels of MVPA were independently associated with an improved age‐related profile in gait speed (age2× MVPA: B= 3E‐06, SE = 1E‐06, P< 0.05), chair‐rise performance (age × MVPA: B= −9E‐05, SE = 4E‐05, P< 0.05) and V̇O2max (MVPA at 21 years: B= 3E‐02, SE = 7E‐03, P< 0.05; age × MVPA: B= −5E‐04, SE = 2E‐04, P< 0.05). Conversely, the detrimental association of age with lower‐limb muscle strength (age × SB: B= −1E‐04, SE = 6E‐05, P< 0.05) and chair‐rise performance (age × SB: B= 1E‐05, SE = 7E‐06, P< 0.05) was exacerbated with increasing duration of SB, independently of MVPA. Supplementary analyses further revealed that some of these associations were age and sex specific. This cross‐sectional study demonstrated that reduced sedentary time and increased activity duration were independently and synergistically associated with an attenuated age‐related loss in physical capacity. These findings need to be confirmed with longitudinal data but encourage both adopting an active lifestyle and reducing sedentary time as preventive measures against physical aging.

Aging is characterized by several major changes, including altered body composition, which is associated with numerous negative clinical consequences such as sarcopenia, osteoporosis, and frailty. The study is to evaluate body composition parameters depending on age and sex in a population ranging from the young adult to the very old, and to identify break points in the association between body composition and age. In this cross-sectional study, we included the enrolment population of the French INSPIRE-T prospective cohort, accounting for 915 subjects (62% female). Age ranged from 20 to 93 years, median age (years) was 63 (IQR 27). Body composition (lean mass, fat mass, and bone mineral content) was assessed with dual-X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Different break points in the relationship between age and body composition variables in males and females were identified using a segmented regression analysis adjusted on physical activity, nutritional status, educational level, and comorbidities. Lean mass decreased from the age of 55 years for males (CI 95% 44–66) and 31 years for females (CI 95% 23–39). For fat mass, we observed a trend towards an increase with age for males. For females, we observed an increase with age up to age 75 (CI 95% 62–86), followed by a decreasing trend. In this study, we described the relationship between body composition and age as a function of sex, establishing a foundation for further studies on predictive biomarkers of age-related body composition alteration.

La loi du 2 février 2016 créant de nouveaux droits en faveur des malades et des personnes en fin de vie demande aux médecins traitants d’informer leurs patients de leur possibilité de rédiger des directives anticipées et de désigner une personne de confiance. Le but de cette étude était de déterminer comment les médecins traitants envisagent la discussion sur la fin de vie avec leurs patients.

Sarcopenia, the degenerative loss of skeletal muscle mass, quality and strength, lacks early diagnostic tools and new therapeutic strategies to prevent the frailty-to-disability transition often responsible for the medical institutionalization of elderly individuals. Herein we report that production of the endogenous peptide apelin, induced by muscle contraction, is reduced in an age-dependent manner in humans and rodents and is positively associated with the beneficial effects of exercise in older persons. Mice deficient in either apelin or its receptor (APLNR) presented dramatic alterations in muscle function with increasing age. Various strategies that restored apelin signaling during aging further demonstrated that this peptide considerably enhanced muscle function by triggering mitochondriogenesis, autophagy and anti-inflammatory pathways in myofibers as well as enhancing the regenerative capacity by targeting muscle stem cells. Taken together, these findings revealed positive regulatory feedback between physical activity, apelin and muscle function and identified apelin both as a tool for diagnosis of early sarcopenia and as the target of an innovative pharmacological strategy to prevent age-associated muscle weakness and restore physical autonomy.

This study aims to explore the structure of the French meringue using non-conventional baking equipment able to modify the external pressure during baking. A systematic approach with pressure variations (from atmospheric pressure Patm = 101 kPa to absolute pressure Pabs = 41 kPa) was used to determine the meringue structural, microstructural, and mechanical properties. The structural and microstructural parameters were characterized using X-Ray microtomography and compression tests. Observations from microtomography show that as the pressure decreased toward 51 kPa, meringues were less dense with larger cavities. These variations also implied differences in mechanical parameters, allowing the creation of new and innovative textures.

A 2-year-old female crossbreed dog was presented with progressive ataxia and paraparesis. A T3-L3 spinal lesion was determined by neurological examination. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an ovoid-shaped, well-circumscribed mass affecting the spinal cord at the level of the T9 vertebra. A left hemilaminectomy and a durotomy at the level of T9 allowed discovery of an ovoid deformation of the meninges with a cystic appearance. En bloc removal was performed and appeared to be complete. Pathological analysis showed a voluminous cystic lesion lined by a heterogeneous epithelium. Three types of epithelium were present: a pseudostratified columnar epithelium, a stratified squamous epithelium and a transitional epithelium. Mucus production, the morphology of some cells with microvilli at the apical pole and immunohistochemical assays were highly in favor of an endodermal origin of the cyst. The age of the dog, anamnesis, MRI study and histological findings were consistent with an intradural neurenteric cyst as described in humans. Total surgical removal led to a progressive clinical improvement with no recurrence at 18 months. We report an unusual intradural extramedullary cyst, called a neurenteric cyst, in a 2-year-old female crossbreed dog. This type of cyst is well-known in humans but has never been described in dogs. We propose that neurenteric cysts should be included in the differential diagnoses for tumor-like or cystic intradural lesions in the young dog. Prognosis for this type of cyst seems to be good, as total surgical removal led to a progressive clinical improvement with no recurrence at 18 months.

Intervention de sauvetage, l’arthrodèse totale du carpe est une intervention chirurgicale permettant la fusion des os du carpe selon un angle fonctionnel, dont l’objectif est de supprimer une douleur et/ou un dysfonctionnement articulaire. Son succès repose sur le retrait du cartilage de l’ensemble des surfaces articulaires du carpe, la mise en place d’un greffon et la stabilisation rigide de l’articulation à l’aide d’une plaque vissée. Afin de pallier aux complications engendrées par l’utilisation de plaques d’ostéosynthèse standards, des plaques spécifiques ont été conçues, optimisant leur fixation en partie distale et diminuant la tension sur la plaie opératoire. L’immobilisation externe du carpe à l’aide d’un bandage peut être mise en place en postopératoire, mais son utilité est de plus en plus discuter. Malgré une intervention associée à une morbidité importante et à des complications postopératoires fréquentes, le pronostic fonctionnel de l’arthrodèse totale du carpe unilatéral est relativement bon, avec toutefois la persistance d’une boiterie dans un certain nombre de cas. L’usage nous montre cependant que les chiens de chasse et de travail peuvent reprendre leur activité.

Le sarcome rencontré évoque prioritairement une tumeur des gaines nerveuses périphériques qui n’a jamais été décrite à l’étage laryngé chez le chien. De rares informations relatives au comportement clinique et donc au pronostic des sarcomes à cellules fusiformes cutanés canins sont disponibles. Ce cas rare aborde à travers une iconographie abondante la prise en charge en urgence d’une tumeur laryngée obstructive chez un chien. L’endoscopie des voies respiratoires supérieures est la technique d’imagerie médicale de choix pour le diagnostic des tumeurs des voies respiratoires supérieures. En présence d’une tumeur laryngée, l’examen radiographique thoracique permet prioritairement d’exclure la présence de métastases pulmonaires tandis que la tomodensitométrie constitue la méthode d’investigation de choix pour la réalisation d’un bilan d’extension local et à distance. L’apport de l’échographie a été illustré lors d’affections laryngées tumorales ou non. L’exérèse chirurgicale marginale sans radiothérapie ni chimiothérapie est justifiée pour les sarcomes de bas grade indépendamment de la qualité des marges. Les récidives locales (2 à 23 %) et les métastases à distance (3 %) surviennent rarement et la survie à long terme est bonne avec ou sans ces thérapies adjuvantes. Enfin, la caractérisation précise et univoque des sarcomes à cellule fusiforme à l’aide de critères morphologiques et la réalisation d’une étude immunohistochimique demeurent délicates. Ces considérations compliquent à la fois le choix du traitement et l’établissement d’un pronostic.

Au cours de sa présentation, R. Richard a présenté les données observationnelles qui soustendent le développement du concept de seuil ventilatoire, puis a exposé les données actuelles de la science sur lesquelles se basent les approches prônant l’utilisation des seuils ventilatoires comme des indicateurs pour personnaliser le réentraînement en endurance des patients. Si le concept de seuil ventilatoire est basé sur l’identification de zones de variation du débit ventilatoire en fonction de la puissance de l’exercice musculaire, l’origine des stimuli impliqués dans le déclenchement de cette réponse est encore discutée et en particulier, le modèle de compensation ventilatoire d’un état d’acidification métabolique est largement remis en cause. L’association entre les variations objectives du débit ventilatoire et le niveau de dyspnée perçue est également remise en cause. Néanmoins, l’utilisation des seuils ventilatoires, associée à l’utilisation du seuil de dyspnée, reste utile et utilisable pour optimiser la codification et la personnalisation d’un programme de réentraînement à l’exercice musculaire chez des patients porteurs d’une bronchopneumopathie obstructive.

We present a study of the atomic and chemical structure of the surface of a fully strained, TiO2-terminated, ferroelectric BaTiO3(BTO) (001) epitaxial film on a SrTiO3substrate after controlled exposure to water. The epitaxial quality was checked by atomic force microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Quantitative low-energy electron diffraction compared with multiple scattering simulations was used to measure the structure of the first few atomic layers of BTO surface. The surface chemistry was investigated using high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Finally, temperature-programmed desorption measured the desorption energies. We find that water undergoes mainly dissociative adsorption on the polarized BTO(001) surface. There are two competing sites for dissociative adsorption: oxygen vacancies and on-top Ti surface lattice atoms. The Ti on-top site is the dominant site for OH–chemisorption. One fifth of the surface Ti atoms bind to OH–. The concentration of surface oxygen vacancies acts mainly to favor initial physisorption. Before exposure to water, the outward pointing polarization in the BTO film is stabilized by atomic rumpling in the TiO2termination layer. After exposure to water, the chemisorbed OH–species provide the screening, inverting the surface dipole layer and stabilizing the bulk polarization. Molecular adsorption is observed only for high water coverage.

We have investigated the effect of moderate and strenuous exercise on experimental arterial thrombus formation in men. Thrombogenesis was measured in 15 sedentary healthy male volunteers at rest or immediately after two standardized exercise tests performed for 30 min on a bicycle ergometer. The exercises were performed at a constant load corresponding to either 50 or 70% maximal oxygen uptake. Thrombus formation was induced ex vivo by exposing a collagen-coated coverslip in a parallel plate perfusion chamber to native nonanticoagulated blood for 3 min. The shear rate at the collagen surface was 2,600 s−1. Platelet and fibrin deposition was quantified by immunoenzymatic methods. The results show that moderate exercise did not affect arterial thrombus formation. In contrast, platelet thrombus formation on collagen was increased on the average by 20% after 30 min at 70% maximal oxygen uptake (P= 0.03). Fibrin deposition on collagen remained unchanged with exercise, regardless of its intensity. Thus, with the use of a clinically relevant human experimental model of thrombosis, the present study suggests that exercise of heavy intensity may increase the risk for arterial thrombogenesis in sedentary young healthy male volunteers.

Scores on three scales of the Pupil Evaluation Inventory (Aggression, Withdrawal, and Likability) were derived from a sample of 200 regular education and mainstreamed elementary students and were compared with group achievement test results and membership in referral subgroups. Results showed low to moderate correlations of the PEI measures with achievement test scores and indicated some gender differences in the magnitude of the relationships. Groups referred for special ser-vices or gifted programs showed significant differences from regular education students on all of the PEI measures. The PEI holds promise for the further study of the social and behavioral correlates of school success.

• We recruited 51 predominantly homosexual and 50 predominantly heterosexual men as index subjects for a family study of sexual orientation. The sexual orientation of siblings (115 sisters and 123 brothers) was ascertained in two ways: (1) via interview with the index subjects and (2) via interview of and/or mailed questionnaire to the siblings themselves. Index subjects' knowledge of the sexual orientation of their siblings was, for the most part, quite accurate. Moreover, heterosexual index men had about as many homosexual brothers as would be predicted given national prevalence figures for homosexuality, but homosexual index men had about four times as many homosexual brothers, although in both cases most brothers were heterosexual. There was no significant difference between the index groups in number of homosexual sisters. We conclude that there is a significant familial component to male homosexuality.

Two experiments tested whether laboratory stressors induce greater or more variable anxiety in marijuana-intoxicated subjects. In experiment 1, marijuana and placebo subjects were shown a motion picture film depicting dental procedures. In experiment 2, they were subjected to the stress of giving a short videotaped speach. We found no significant difference between marijuana and placebo subjects in anxiety response to these two stressors, as measured by a mood adjective rating scale.

Plasma testosterone levels were measured in 28 homosexual men and correlated with psychological variables. The overall mean testosterone level for the homosexuals was somewhat lower than for a group of heterosexual controls, but the range of values for the two groups showed considerable overlap. Among the homosexuals, the 13 with some heterosexual experience had higher testosterone levels than the 15 with none. Testosterone level was not related to relative masculinity or femininity or to any other psychological variable measured.

Unmarried men aged 25–35 were recruited through newspaper and radio advertisements for a family studyof sexual orientation.Fifty predominantly homosexual and 50 predominantly heterosexual men comprised the index subjects. The test, questionnaire, and interview battery is described. Subjects were asked about the sexual orientations of their relatives. The homosexual index men report a significant excess of homosexual brothers and more distant male relatives but not of homosexual sisters or female relatives. Moreover, the percentage of homosexual brothers increases with the Kinsey rating of the index subjects. Overall, about 25% of brothers of homosexual men are reported also to be homosexual.

AbstractIsocubanite is a cubic polymorph of cubanite CuFe2S3, discovered in the submarine sulphide deposits of the East Pacific Rise (EPR) and the Red Sea, in association with chalcopyrite, pyrrhotine, pyrite, sphaterite or wurtzite and anhydrite. It was previously obtained artificially and mentioned as iss, ‘intermediate solid solution of CuFe2S3composition’. Crystals are cubic with a= 5.303(3) Å and strongest lines in the X-ray powder pattern are 3.059 (10) 111, 1.876 (7) 220, 1.602 (5) 311. Euhedral grains range from a few microns up to 400 µm, with a Vickers microhardness of 175(25) kg/mm2for P = 100 g. Isocubanite is usually intimately intergrown with iron- and zinc-rich chalcopyrite and is opaque with a metallic lustre and a bronze colour. Pinkish brown and isotropic in polished sections; reflectance values (SiC standard) are: 420 nm 22.73%, 460 nm 26.87, 500 nm 31.34, 540 nm 34.79, 580 nm 37.35, 620 nm 39.11,660 nm 40.32, 700 nm 41.33, 740 nm 41.91, 780 nm 42.50. Electron microprobe analyses gave (wt. %): Fe 41.64–42.49, Cu 20.79–21.52, Zn 0.77–1.09, S 35.49–35.82, corresponding to the formula (Cu,Zn)Fe2S3.Isocubanite is characteristic of high-temperature (> 200 °C) present-day submarine sulphide deposits where hot hydrothermal fluids are quenched by seawater as in EPR deposits or by cooler brines as in Atlantis II Deep, in the Red Sea; it is unstable and therefore unusual in fossil ores. This cubic phase was previously observed and described more or less accurately as cubic cubanite, cubanite II, chalcopyrrhotiteand iss; the name isocubanite, proposed in order to clarify the nomenclature, and this new description, were approved by the IMA Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names.

• Homosexual female probands with monozygotic cotwins, dizygotic cotwins, or adoptive sisters were recruited using homophile publications. Sexual orientation of relatives was assessed either by asking relatives directly, or, when this was impossible, by asking the probands. Of the relatives whose sexual orientation could be confidently rated, 34 (48%) of 71 monozygotic cotwins, six (16%) of 37 dizygotic cotwins, and two (6%) of 35 adoptive sisters were homosexual. Probands also reported 10(14%) nontwin biologic sisters to be homosexual, although those sisters were not contacted to confirm their orientations. Heritabilities were significant using a wide range of assumptions about both the base rate of homosexuality in the population and ascertainment bias. The likelihood that a monozygotic cotwin would also be homosexual was unrelated to measured characteristics of the proband such as self-reported history of childhood gender nonconformity. Concordant monozygotic twins reported similar levels of childhood gender nonconformity.

• Homosexual male probands with monozygotic cotwins, dizygotic cotwins, or adoptive brothers were recruited using homophile publications. Sexual orientation of relatives was assessed either by asking relatives directly, or when this was impossible, asking the probands. Of the relatives whose sexual orientation could be rated, 52% (29/56) of monozygotic cotwins, 22% (12/54) of dizygotic cotwins, and 11% (6/57) of adoptive brothers were homosexual. Heritabilities were substantial under a wide range of assumptions about the population base rate of homosexuality and ascertainment bias. However, the rate of homosexuality among nontwin biological siblings, as reported by probands, 9.2% (13/142), was significantly lower than would be predicted by a simple genetic hypothesis and other published reports. A proband's self-reported history of childhood gender nonconformity did not predict homosexuality in relatives in any of the three subsamples. Thus, childhood gender nonconformity does not appear to be an indicator of genetic loading for homosexuality. Cotwins from concordant monozygotic pairs were very similar for childhood gender nonconformity.

Many researchers interested in sexual orientation can be separated into two camps: The “lumpers,” who try to reduce sexual classifications to as small a number of categories as possible, and the “splitters,” who try to show differences among groups and individuals that make classification schemes increasingly difficult and/or intricate. We report factor analyses of the Klein Grid (a questionnaire with 21 sexual orientation items) to see how many factors emerge in two samples of strikingly different origins. In both samples, the first factor to emerge loaded substantially on all of the Klein Grid's 21 items. This factor accounted for a majority of the variance. In both samples, a second, correlated factor emerged which indexed a separation between most of the items and those having to do with social and/or emotional preferences. In both samples, a third correlated factor also emerged, but this factor differed between the two populations: one refined the social/emotional distinction and the other distinguished ideal behavior from past and current behavior. We conclude on the basis of our analysis that both the lumpers and the splitters are correct.

We asked whether homosexual and heterosexual men and women differ on standard measures of cognitive ability. Subjects were adults recruited for a family study of sexual orientation. They completed the Fy Scale of the California Psychological Inventory, a self-administered measure of psychological “femininity,” and were given subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and the Primary Mental Abilities test which had been previously shown to discriminate between the sexes. We predicted that homosexual subjects would score significantly in the gender-atypical direction on the Fy scale. We also predicted that they would achieve scores on the tests of cognitive abilities significantly in the direction of the other gender. Comparisons were made between homosexual and heterosexual individuals within gender. Also, comparisons were made between heterosexual men and women to see if our results replicate differences typically found between the genders. As predicted, both homosexual men and women were strongly gender-atypical on the Fy scale relative to their heterosexual counterparts. However, neither differed from heterosexuals on any of the measures of cognitive abilities. Heterosexual men did better than women on the Primary Mental Abilities spatial relations test. We conclude that sexual orientation is not related to specific cognitive abilities.

This report summarizes evidence that sexual orientation is familial. Family studies report that homosexual subjects have more homosexual siblings than do heterosexual subjects and more than would be expected given population frequencies. Twin studies find in general a higher concordance in sexual orientation among monozygotic than among dizygotic twins. Evidence for associated psychopathology in homosexual subjects or their relatives is inconclusive. Possible sources of bias in these reports are discussed and a suggestion is offered that family studies should be undertaken in which the sexual orientation of relatives would be directly ascertained by interview.

Malgré l’intérêt démontré de pratiquer une activité physique régulière chez le patient porteur d’une bronchopneumopathie chronique obstructive (BPCO), la mise en application de cette recommandation demeure aléatoire, freinée par des facteurs intrapersonnels, interpersonnels, sociaux et environnementaux. Le nombre de pas quotidiens déclaré par les patients souffrant d’une BPCO est médian par rapport à celui relevé chez d’autres patients porteurs d’une autre pathologie chronique. Pour faciliter la mise en application des recommandations d’activité physique, l’environnement des patients peut être modifié et proposer des solutions de recours pratiques pour la pratique d’une activité physique. La voie de la stimulation peut être également être utilisée au cours d’un entretien motivationnel et en appliquant une approche cognitivo-comportementaliste ayant pour objectif d’augmenter les connaissances et les compétences de l’individu de façon à amener celui-ci à élaborer lui-même une stratégie qui le conduira à un changement de comportement alors qualifié d’actif. Les objectifs du programme d’activité physique devront être définis en respectant les notions de faisabilité et de compliance, en instaurant une perspective de progression individuelle par étapes à partir d’indicateur de l’intensité des séances d’exercice musculaire, sans délaisser le caractère ludique de l’activité physique, et en programmant des évaluations itératives de la mise en application des recommandations.

Chez les patients porteurs d’une bronchopneumopathie chronique obstructive, le risque de morbi-mortalité est inversement corrélé au niveau d’activité physique. Par ailleurs, la pratique d’une activité physique par ces patients permet d’obtenir des bénéfices sur le plan psychologique, d’améliorer la capacité inspiratoire, d’améliorer la tolérance à la dyspnée, d’améliorer la tolérance musculaire à l’exercice, de réduire le nombre d’exacerbations et d’améliorer la qualité de vie. Les recommandations d’activité physique spécifient que le réentraînement en endurance au seuil de dyspnée et durant 30 à 45 minutes est la modalité d’exercice musculaire la plus utilisée en réhabilitation respiratoire, que le réentraînement intermittent peut aussi être proposé, que les exercices en résistance peuvent être utiles (en particulier chez les patients présentant une diminution de la masse musculaire), et que le réentraînement des muscles inspiratoires devrait être proposé de même que l’électrostimulation musculaire.

INTRODUCTION THIS study was designed to demonstrate a method for evaluating the differential effects of drugs on ambulatory patients. The method consists of use of observation controls, quantified scores for observations, and sequential analysis of data. Specifically, this aim was exemplified by a test of whether an anti-depressant medication, pargyline hydrochloride (Eutonyl), is more effective in reducing the manifest symptoms of depression than is an inert placebo.Pargyline is a nonhydrazine monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAO) chemically identified as N-benzyl-N methyl-2 propynylamine hydrochloride. Previous studies of this agent as a psychic energizer have been for the most part uncontrolled clinical observations. For example, Saunders5 reported on his experience with pargyline using 59 female hospitalized patients as subjects. Kline4 reported his experience with 50 subjects in private practice who had been unsuccessfully treated with other means. With this difficult group of patients

The role of dreaming in the assimilation and mastery of new experiences was examined in this study. Previous work had shown that a film of an autopsy can evoke measurable psychologic and physiologic indices of anxiety. Adaptation to the experience was indicated by lower levels of anxiety during a second viewing of the film. We examined the effect of dream Stage REM deprivation on adaptation to the second viewing. Between the first and second viewings, 9 subjects were dream deprived, 5 had normal sleep and 6 were awakened from nonREM sleep. For those who showed a significant anxiety response to the first viewing, the dream deprived group showed significantly less adaptation to the second viewing than the other two groups. These results support the hypothesis that dreaming aids adaptation to anxietyprovoking stimuli.

Subjective feelings of 272 dental clinic patients who were awaiting examination were evaluated. Their anxiety exceeded that of a resting student group but was less than that of patients awaiting psychiatric evaluation. Past and present anxieties experienced in the dental office were related, but no relationship was found between recollections of pain suffered in dental procedures and present anxiety.

To test the hypothesis that emotional responses can be affected by prior experience, three groups of subjects were prepared in three different ways. One group saw an anxiety-evoking autopsy film, one group saw a relaxing travel film, and the third group saw no film. Then all groups saw the stress film, Subincision. Subjects who saw the travel film showed the greatest anxiety response to Subincision, subjects who saw the autopsy film showed the least response, and no-treatment subjects fell between. This “contrast effect” is discussed in terms of Helson’s adaptation level theory.

Subjective feelings of 272 dental clinic patients who were awaiting examination were evaluated. Their anxiety exceeded that of a resting student group but was less than that of patients awaiting psychiatric evaluation. Past and present anxieties experienced in the dental office were related, but no relationship was found between recollections of pain suffered in dental procedures and present anxiety.

Normal college students were given a single dose of chlordiazepoxide, secobarbital or placebo 85 min before being shown an anxiety-inducing film. Measures of sedation and of subjective anxiety were taken before and after the film. Results indicate that chlordiazepoxide and secobarbital had a measurable sedative action compared with placebo. Neither medication showed a significant anti-anxiety effect.