Can direct change in state of consciousness through specific mental techniques extend human life and reverse age-related declines? To address this question, 73 residents of 8 homes for the elderly (mean age = 81 years) were randomly assigned among no treatment and 3 treatments highly similar in external structure and expectations: the Transcendental Meditation (TM) program, mindfulness training (MF) in active distinction making, or a relaxation (low mindfulness) program. A planned comparison indicated that the "restful alert" TM group improved most, followed by MF, in contrast to relaxation and no-treatment groups, on paired associate learning; 2 measures of cognitive flexibility; mental health; systolic blood pressure; and ratings of behavioral flexibility, aging, and treatment efficacy. The MF group improved most, followed by TM, on perceived control and word fluency. After 3 years, survival rate was 100% for TM and 87.5% for MF in contrast to lower rates for other groups.

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A simple semiquantitative enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the rapid estimation of IgE levels in specimens of human blood, plasma or serum is described. The test requires little labour input and does not require highly trained personnel or instrumentation. By using two monoclonal antibodies of different anti-IgE specificities it is possible, with a single incubation of 20 min at ambient temperature, to detect elevated IgE levels (≥ 33 IU/ml) within a total test time of 25 min, and low levels of IgE (≤ 10 IU/ml) within 35 min. For diagnosis of elevated/normal IgE levels only, a single incubation of 10 min. at ambient temperature may be used with a total test time of less than 20 min. The EIA system utilizes glass capillary tubes and urease-labelled antibodies, a system that has proven satisfactory in other applications.

We describe a solid-phase immunochromatographic serologic test, FlexSure® HP, to detect IgG antibodies against Helicobacter pylori. H. pylori colonize the stomach and proximal duodenum, cause ulcer disease and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, and have a role in the development of other disorders, including gastric adenocarcinoma. FlexSure HP consists of a test strip, conjugate pad, and absorbent pad, in a novel reverse-flow chromatography format. In these studies, FlexSure HP was demonstrated to be specific for IgG antibodies against H. pylori. The reactive cutoff of the test was consistent with [13C]urea breath test and commercially available ELISAs. FlexSure HP had 94% sensitivity, 88% specificity, and 91% accuracy relative to [13C]urea breath test; and 95% sensitivity, 94% specificity, and 95% overall agreement relative to high-molecular-mass cell-associated protein enzyme immunoassay (HM-CAP EIA). FlexSure HP is a simple-to-perform, visually read test requiring no specialized training, equipment, or instrumentation, and yields rapid, accurate, qualitative results.

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