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Exploring the Role of Religiosity and Spirituality in Amniocentesis Decision-Making Among Latinas

Given the complex array of emotional and medical issues that may arise when making a decision about amniocentesis, women may find that their spiritual and/or religious beliefs can comfort and assist their decision-making process. Prior research has suggested that Latinas’ spiritual and/or religious beliefs directly influence their amniocentesis decision. A more intimate look into whether Latinas utilize their beliefs during amniocentesis decision-making may provide an opportunity to better understand their experience. The overall goal of this study was to describe the role structured religion and spirituality plays in Latinas’ daily lives and to evaluate how religiosity and spirituality influences health care decisions, specifically in prenatal diagnosis. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven women who were invited to describe their religious beliefs and thoughts while considering the option of amniocentesis. All participants acknowledged the influence of religious and/or spiritual beliefs in their everyday lives. Although the women sought comfort and found validation in their beliefs and in their faith in God’s will during their amniocentesis decision-making process, results suggest the risk of procedure-related complications played more of a concrete role than their beliefs.

An assessment of risk understanding in hispanic genetic counseling patients

This study sought to identify if differences existed in risk comprehension and risk format understanding between genetic counseling patients of Hispanic and Caucasian ethnicity. A total of 107 questionnaires were collected, 56 from Hispanic patients, and 51 from Caucasian controls. Of the total population 41.1% (44/107) could not demonstrate sufficient risk understanding, which was 71.4% (40/56) of Hispanics and 7.8% (4/51) of Caucasians. Fractions were the best-understood format for all participants. However, both Hispanics and Caucasians had difficulties with the percentage risk format. Discrepancies were also noted in qualitative word format understanding. Awareness of differences in risk comprehension may affect the selection of counseling techniques and strategies utilized by genetic counselors when educating patients about risk related information.

The histaminase activity of ceruloplasmin.

Summary The plasmas of man and rhesus monkey contain a protein which oxidatively deaminates histamine, but not putrescine, at near physiological pH. Purified ceruloplasmin also gives this histaminase reaction. It migrates as a distinct zone in acrylamide disc electrophoresis except when complexed with anti-ceruloplasmin, indicating its identity with that copper-bearing protein. It is not yet established whether or not the histaminase activity of ceruloplasmin represents all or only part of the histaminase activity of plasma.

Effects of desensitization on the responses of WI-38 and S49 cells to hormones

Experiments with intact cells were used to quantitate the effects of hormone desensitization on the cAMP accumulation in cultured fibroblasts (WI-38) and lymphoma cells (S49). Desensitization of WI-38 cells to prostaglandin E1 and epinephrine and of S49 cells to epinephrine was associated with a shift in the ED50 in each case to higher hormone concentrations. This led to the situation where cells under continuous stimulation by low concentrations of hormone demonstrated a greater relative decline in cAMP synthesis with time than the same cells treated with high hormone concentrations. Therefore, any general attempt to quantitate desensitization in terms of cAMP accumulation in these cells must take the hormone concentration of the assay into account.

Hormone and methylxanthine action on breast epithelial cells

Human mammary carcinoma cells and normal mouse breast epithelial cells desensitized as the result of treatment with beta-adrenergic agonists. Accumulation of cAMP in the same cells was affected only slightly by caffeine and there was no detectable desensitization or hypersensitization as a result of that treatment. However, as in many other cell types, caffeine was an effective inhibitor of adenosine action. These observations do not support the hypothesis made by Minton and his co-workers (1), that treatment of breast epithelial cells with agents that increase cAMP accumulation leads to hypersensitization rather than desensitization.