Psychosocial interventions in the treatment of youth diagnosed or at high-risk for pediatric bipolar disorder: A review of the literature.

PubMed

Frías, Álvaro; Palma, Cárol; Farriols, Núria

2015-01-01

Pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD) has emerged as a research field in which psychosocial treatments have provided a plethora of empirical findings over the last decade. We addressed this issue through a systematic review aimed of establishing their effectiveness and feasibility as adjunctive therapies for youth with PBD or at high-risk for PBD. A comprehensive search of databases was performed between 1990 and September 2014. Overall, 33 studies were specifically related to the issue and 20 of them were original articles. Evidence suggests that both "multi-family psychoeducational psychotherapy' and "family-focused therapy" are possible effective treatments for PBD. Likewise, "child and family-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy" may be characterized as a treatment in its experimental phase. The remaining therapies fail to obtain enough empirical support due to inconsistent findings among clinical trials or data solely based on case reports. Studies of psychosocial treatments provide concluding results concerning their feasibility and acceptability. Larger sample sizes and more randomized controlled trials are mandatory for diminishing methodological shortcomings encountered in the treatments displayed. Copyright © 2014 SEP y SEPB. Published by Elsevier España. All rights reserved.

Time course of recovery showing initial prefrontal cortex changes at 16 weeks, extending to subcortical changes by 3 years in pediatric bipolar disorder.

PubMed

Yang, Hongyu; Lu, Lisa H; Wu, Minjie; Stevens, Michael; Wegbreit, Ezra; Fitzgerald, Jacklynn; Levitan, Bryn; Shankman, Stewart; Pavuluri, Mani N

2013-09-05

Activation changes at the interface of affective and cognitive systems are examined over a 3 year period in pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD). Thirteen participants with PBD and 10 healthy controls (HC) matched on demographics and IQ were scanned at baseline, at 16 weeks, and after 3 years. All patients received pharmacotherapy based on a medication algorithm. A pediatric affective color matching paradigm was used to probe cognitive processing under emotional challenge. At baseline, in response to emotional vs. neutral words, patients with PBD showed greater activation than HC in the right dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and amygdala, ventral lateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC), bilateral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and ventral striatum. Increased activation in DLPFC in the PBD group normalized by 16 weeks. By 3 years, normalization was observed in VLPFC, ACC, amygdala, and striatum. Small sample size renders the present findings preliminary. Greater activation in fronto-striatal and fronto-limbic circuits were observed in unmedicated patients with PBD. Present findings suggest the possibility that DLPFC is most malleable to pharmacological intervention with systematic pharmacotherapy leading to immediate response, which extended to amygdalostriatal and ventral cortical regions at 3 years. The seminal observation from this study is the prolonged length of recovery time in the normalization of subcortical activity along with their interfacing cortical regions. Findings from this proof of concept study need to be replicated in a larger sample. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Expression of beta-defensins pBD-1 and pBD-2 along the small intestinal tract of the pig: lack of upregulation in vivo upon Salmonella typhimurium infection.

PubMed

Veldhuizen, Edwin J A; van Dijk, Albert; Tersteeg, Monique H G; Kalkhove, Stefanie I C; van der Meulen, Jan; Niewold, Theo A; Haagsman, Henk P

2007-01-01

Defensins are antimicrobial peptides that play an important role in the innate immune response in the intestine. Up to date, only one beta-defensin (pBD-1), has been described in pig, which was found to be expressed at low levels in the intestine. We set-up a quantitative PCR method to detect the gene expression of pBD-1 and a newly discovered porcine beta-defensin, pBD-2. Expression of pBD-1 mRNA increased from the proximal to the distal part of the intestine whereas pBD-2 expression decreased. The main gene expression sites for pBD-2 were kidney and liver, whereas pBD-1 was mainly expressed in tongue. The porcine small intestinal segment perfusion (SISP) technique was used to investigate effects of Salmonella typhimurium DT104 on intestinal morphology and pBD-1 and pBD-2 mRNA levels in vivo. The early responses were studied 2, 4 and 8 h post-infection in four separate jejunal and ileal segments. Immunohistochemistry showed invasion of the mucosa by Salmonella and changes in intestinal morphology. However, no concomitant changes in expression of either pBD-1 or pBD-2 were observed. We conclude that at least two defensins are differentially expressed in the intestine of pigs, and that expression of both defensins is not altered by S. typhimurium under these conditions.

Tract-based analysis of white matter integrity in psychotic and nonpsychotic bipolar disorder.

PubMed

Ji, Andrew; Godwin, Douglass; Rutlin, Jerrel; Kandala, Sridhar; Shimony, Joshua S; Mamah, Daniel

2017-02-01

At least 50% of individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) present with psychosis during their lifetime. Psychotic symptoms have sometimes been linked to specific genetic and phenotypic markers. This study aims to explore potential differences between bipolar disorder subtypes by measuring white matter integrity of the brain and relationships with clinical measures. Diffusion tensor imaging and clinical measures were acquired from 102 participants, grouped as psychotic bipolar disorder (PBD) (n=48), non-psychotic bipolar disorder (NBD) (n=24), and healthy controls (n=30). We utilized a powerful, automated tool (TRACULA: Tracts Constrained by Underlying Anatomy) to analyze the fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) of 18 white matter tracts. Decreased FA in numerous tracts was observed in bipolar disorder groups compared to healthy controls: bilateral cingulum-cingulate gyrus bundles, corticospinal tracts, and superior longitudinal fasciculi as well as the right hemisphere cingulum-angular bundle. Only left uncinate fasciculus FA differed between PBD and NPBD groups. We found no group differences in MD. Positive symptoms correlated with FA in the superior (inversely) and inferior (directly) longitudinal fasciculi. Negative symptoms directly correlated with mean FA of the corticospinal tract and cingulum-angular bundle. Neurotropic, mood-stabilizing medication prescribed for individuals with BD may interact with measures of white matter integrity in our BD participants. Our results indicate decreased white matter coherence in BD. Minimal differences in white matter FA between PBD and NPBD participants suggest related underlying neurobiology. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Interaction of Pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) Ligands with Parallel Intermolecular G-Quadruplex Complex Using Spectroscopy and ESI-MS

PubMed Central

Raju, Gajjela; Srinivas, Ragampeta; Santhosh Reddy, Vangala; Idris, Mohammed M.; Kamal, Ahmed; Nagesh, Narayana

2012-01-01

Studies on ligand interaction with quadruplex DNA, and their role in stabilizing the complex at concentration prevailing under physiological condition, has attained high interest. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and spectroscopic studies in solution were used to evaluate the interaction of PBD and TMPyP4 ligands, stoichiometry and selectivity to G-quadruplex DNA. Two synthetic ligands from PBD family, namely pyrene-linked pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine hybrid (PBD1), mixed imine-amide pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimer (PBD2) and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphyrin (TMPyP4) were studied. G-rich single-stranded oligonucleotide d(5′GGGGTTGGGG3′) designated as d(T2G8), from the telomeric region of Tetrahymena Glaucoma, was considered for the interaction with ligands. ESI-MS and spectroscopic methods viz., circular dichroism (CD), UV-Visible, and fluorescence were employed to investigate the G-quadruplex structures formed by d(T2G8) sequence and its interaction with PBD and TMPyP4 ligands. From ESI-MS spectra, it is evident that the majority of quadruplexes exist as d(T2G8)2 and d(T2G8)4 forms possessing two to ten cations in the centre, thereby stabilizing the complex. CD band of PBD1 and PBD2 showed hypo and hyperchromicity, on interaction with quadruplex DNA, indicating unfolding and stabilization of quadruplex DNA complex, respectively. UV-Visible and fluorescence experiments suggest that PBD1 bind externally where as PBD2 intercalate moderately and bind externally to G-quadruplex DNA. Further, melting experiments using SYBR Green indicate that PBD1 unfolds and PBD2 stabilizes the G-quadruplex complex. ITC experiments using d(T2G8) quadruplex with PBD ligands reveal that PBD1 and PBD2 prefer external/loop binding and external/intercalative binding to quadruplex DNA, respectively. From experimental results it is clear that the interaction of PBD2 and TMPyP4 impart higher stability to the quadruplex complex. PMID:22558271

Individualized and institutionalized residential place-based discrimination and self-rated health: a cross-sectional study of the working-age general population in Osaka city, Japan

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Several studies have reported that individualized residential place-based discrimination (PBD) affects residents’ health. However, studies exploring the association between institutionalized PBD and health are scarce, especially in Asian countries including Japan. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with random two-stage sampling of 6191 adults aged 25–64 years in 100 census tracts across Osaka city in 2011. Of 3244 respondents (response rate 52.4%), 2963 were analyzed using multilevel logistic regression to examine the association of both individualized and institutionalized PBD with self-rated health (SRH) after adjustment for individual-level factors such as socioeconomic status (SES). An area-level PBD indicator was created by aggregating individual-level PBD responses in each tract, representing a proxy for institutionalized PBD, i.e., the concept that living in a stigmatized neighborhood affects neighborhood health. 100 tracts were divided into quartiles in order. The health impact of area-level PBD was compared with that of area-level SES indicators (quartile) such as deprivation. Results After adjustment for individual-level PBD, the highest and third area-level PBD quartiles showed odds ratio (OR) 1.57 (95% credible interval: 1.13-2.18) and 1.38 (0.99-1.92), respectively, for poor SRH compared with the lowest area-level PBD quartile. In a further SES-adjusted model, ORs of area-level PBD (highest and third quartile) were attenuated to 1.32 and 1.31, respectively, but remained marginally significant, although those of the highest area-level not-home-owner (census-based indicator) and deprivation index quartiles were attenuated to 1.26 and 1.21, respectively, and not significant. Individual-level PBD showed significant OR 1.89 (1.33-2.81) for poor SRH in an age, sex, PBD and SES-adjusted model. Conclusion Institutionalized PBD may be a more important environmental determinant of SRH than other area-level SES indicators such as deprivation. Although it may have a smaller health impact than individualized PBD, attention should be paid to invisible and unconscious aspects of institutionalized PBD to improve residents’ health. PMID:24885239

Peroxisome Biogenesis Disorders: Biological, Clinical and Pathophysiological Perspectives

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Braverman, Nancy E.; D'Agostino, Maria Daniela; MacLean, Gillian E.

2013-01-01

The peroxisome biogenesis disorders (PBD) are a heterogeneous group of autosomal recessive disorders in which peroxisome assembly is impaired, leading to multiple peroxisome enzyme deficiencies, complex developmental sequelae and progressive disabilities. Mammalian peroxisome assembly involves the protein products of 16 "PEX" genes;…

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Pediatric Bipolar Disorder: Clinical Correlates and Impact on Psychosocial Treatment Outcomes.

PubMed

MacPherson, Heather A; Weinstein, Sally M; West, Amy E

2018-05-01

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in childhood is not well documented, especially among youth with pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD). The current study evaluated prevalence and correlates of NSSI, and its impact on intervention response, in a randomized trial of Child- and Family-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CFF-CBT) versus Treatment As Usual (TAU), adjunctive to pharmacotherapy. This study included 72 children ages 7-13 (58% male) with PBD. NSSI and correlates were assessed at baseline; mood and psychiatric severity were measured longitudinally. NSSI was common: 31% endorsed NSSI behaviors; 10% reported thoughts of NSSI, in the absence of behaviors. Children engaging in NSSI reported higher depression, psychosis, suicidality, and hopelessness; lower self-esteem; and reduced family help-seeking in univariate analyses. In a multivariate logistic regression, high child depression and psychosis, and low family help-seeking, remained significantly associated with baseline NSSI. In mixed-effects regression models, presence of NSSI at baseline did not influence the response of depressive symptoms to treatment. Children who endorsed NSSI experienced steeper response trajectories for psychiatric severity, regardless of treatment group. Youth who denied NSSI showed poorer response to TAU for manic symptoms; mania trajectories in CFF-CBT were similar across youth. Thus, NSSI in PBD is common and associated with impairment. As children might engage in NSSI for different reasons, the function of NSSI should be considered in treatment. Since children without NSSI fared worse in TAU, it may be important to ensure that youth with PBD receive structured, intensive interventions. CFF-CBT was efficacious regardless of NSSI, and thus shows promise for high-risk children with PBD.

Structural brain and neuropsychometric changes associated with pediatric bipolar disorder with psychosis.

PubMed

James, Anthony; Hough, Morgan; James, Susan; Burge, Linda; Winmill, Louise; Nijhawan, Sunita; Matthews, Paul M; Zarei, Mojtaba

2011-02-01

To identify neuropsychological and structural brain changes using a combination of high-resolution structural and diffusion tensor imaging in pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD) with psychosis (presence of delusions and or hallucinations). We recruited 15 patients and 20 euthymic age- and gender-matched healthy controls. All subjects underwent high-resolution structural and diffusion tensor imaging. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM), tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS), and probabilistic tractography were used to analyse magnetic resonance imaging data. The PBD subjects had normal overall intelligence with specific impairments in working memory, executive function, language function, and verbal memory. Reduced gray matter (GM) density was found in the left orbitofrontal cortex, left pars triangularis, right premotor cortex, occipital cortex, right occipital fusiform gyrus, and right crus of the cerebellum. TBSS analysis showed reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) in the anterior corpus callosum. Probabilistic tractography from this cluster showed that this region of the corpus callosum is connected with the prefrontal cortices, including those regions whose density is decreased in PBD. In addition, FA change was correlated with verbal memory and working memory, while more widespread reductions in GM density correlated with working memory, executive function, language function, and verbal memory. The findings suggest widespread cortical changes as well as specific involvement of interhemispheric prefrontal tracts in PBD, which may reflect delayed myelination in these tracts. © 2011 John Wiley and Sons A/S.

Efficacy of preoperative biliary drainage in malignant obstructive jaundice: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

PubMed

Moole, Harsha; Bechtold, Matthew; Puli, Srinivas R

2016-07-11

In patients requiring surgical resection for malignant biliary jaundice, it is unclear if preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) would improve mortality and morbidity by restoration of biliary flow prior to operation. This is a meta-analysis to pool the evidence and assess the utility of PBD in patients with malignant obstructive jaundice. The primary outcome is comparing mortality outcomes in patients with malignant obstructive jaundice undergoing direct surgery (DS) versus PBD. The secondary outcomes include major adverse events and length of hospital stay in both the groups. Studies using PBD in patients with malignant obstructive jaundice were included in this study. For the data collection and extraction, articles were searched in MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials & Database of Systematic Reviews, etc. Pooled proportions were calculated using both Mantel-Haenszel method (fixed effects model) and DerSimonian-Laird method (random effects model). Initial search identified 2230 reference articles, of which 204 were selected and reviewed. Twenty-six studies (N = 3532) for PBD in malignant obstructive jaundice which met the inclusion criteria were included in this analysis. The odds ratio for mortality in PBD group versus DS group was 0.96 (95 % CI = 0.71 to 1.29). Pooled number of major adverse effects was lower in the PBD group at 10.40 (95 % CI = 9.96 to 10.83) compared to 15.56 (95 % CI = 15.06 to 16.05) in the DS group. Subgroup analysis comparing internal PBD to DS group showed lower odds for major adverse events (odds ratio, 0.48 with 95 % CI = 0.32 to 0.74). In patients with malignant biliary jaundice requiring surgery, PBD group had significantly less major adverse effects than DS group. Length of hospital stay and mortality rate were comparable in both the groups.

Risperidone and Divalproex Differentially Engage the Fronto-Striato-Temporal Circuitry in Pediatric Mania: A Pharmacological Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pavuluri, Mani N.; Passarotti, Alessandra M.; Fitzgerald, Jacklynn M.; Wegbreit, Ezra; Sweeney, John A.

2012-01-01

Objective: The current study examined the impact of risperidone and divalproex on affective and working memory circuitry in patients with pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD). Method: This was a six-week, double-blind, randomized trial of risperidone plus placebo versus divalproex plus placebo for patients with mania (n = 21; 13.6 [plus or minus] 2.5…

Cost-effectiveness of preoperative biliary drainage for obstructive jaundice in pancreatic and periampullary cancer

PubMed Central

Morris, Stephen; Gurusamy, Kurinchi S.; Sheringham, Jessica; Davidson, Brian R.

2015-01-01

Background A recent Cochrane Review found that preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) in patients with resectable pancreatic and periampullary cancer undergoing surgery for obstructive jaundice is associated with similar mortality but increased serious morbidity compared with no PBD. Despite this clinical evidence of its lack of effectiveness, PBD is still in use. We considered the economic implications of PBD versus direct surgery for obstructive jaundice in patients with pancreatic and periampullary cancer. Materials and methods Model-based cost-utility analysis estimating mean costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) per patient from the perspective of the UK National Health Service over a 6-month time horizon. A decision tree model was constructed and populated with probabilities, outcomes, and cost data from published sources. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were undertaken. Results PBD was more costly than direct surgery (mean cost per patient £10,775 [$15,616] versus £8221 [$11,914]) and produced fewer QALYs (mean QALYs per patient 0.337 versus 0.343). Not performing PBD would result in cost savings of approximately £2500 ($3623) per patient to the National Health Service. PBD had <10% probability of being cost-effective at a maximum willingness to pay for a QALY of £20,000 ($28,986) to £30,000 ($43,478). Conclusions There are significant cost savings to be gained by avoiding routine PBD in patients with resectable pancreatic and periampullary cancer where PBD is still routinely used in this context; this economic evidence should be used to support the clinical argument for a change in practice. PMID:25172090

Mediators in the Randomized Trial of Child- and Family-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Pediatric Bipolar Disorder

PubMed Central

MacPherson, Heather A.; Weinstein, Sally M.; Henry, David B.; West, Amy E.

2016-01-01

Mediation analyses can identify mechanisms of change in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). However, few studies have analyzed mediators of CBT for youth internalizing disorders; only one trial evaluated treatment mechanisms for youth with mixed mood diagnoses. This study evaluated mediators in the randomized trial of Child- and Family-Focused CBT (CFF-CBT) versus Treatment As Usual (TAU) for pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD), adjunctive to pharmacotherapy. Sixty-nine children ages 7-13 with PBD were randomly assigned to CFF-CBT or TAU. Primary outcomes (child mood, functioning) and candidate mediators (family functioning, parent/child coping) were assessed at baseline and 4-, 8-, 12- (post-treatment), and 39-weeks (follow-up). Compared with TAU, children receiving CFF-CBT exhibited greater improvement in mania, depression, and global functioning. Several parent and family factors significantly improved in response to CFF-CBT versus TAU, and were associated with the CFF-CBT treatment effect. Specifically, parenting skills and coping, family flexibility, and family positive reframing showed promise as mediators of child mood symptoms and global functioning. Main or mediating effects for youth coping were not significant. CFF-CBT may impact children’s mood and functioning by improving parenting skills and coping, family flexibility, and family positive reframing. Findings highlight the importance of parent coping and family functioning in the treatment of PBD. PMID:27567973

Prospective study of outcomes after percutaneous biliary drainage for malignant biliary obstruction

PubMed Central

Robson, P. C.; Heffernan, N.; Gonen, M.; Thornton, R.; Brody, L. A.; Holmes, R.; Brown, K. T.; Covey, A. M.; Fleischer, D.; Getrajdman, G. I.; Jarnagin, W.; Sofocleous, C.; Blumgart, L.; D’Angelica, M.

2015-01-01

Purpose Percutaneous biliary drainage (PBD) is used to relieve malignant bile duct obstruction (MBO) when endoscopic drainage is not feasible. Little is known about the effects of PBD on the quality of life (QoL) in patients with MBO. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in QoL and pruritus after PBD and to explore the variables that impact these changes. Patients and Methods Eligible patients reported their QoL and pruritus before and after PBD using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Hepatobiliary instrument (FACT-HS) and the Visual Analog Scale for Pruritus (VASP). Instruments were completed pre-procedure and at one and four weeks following PBD. Results One hundred and nine (60 male/49 female) patients enrolled, 102 (94%) had unresectable disease. PBD was technically successful (hepatic ducts cannulated at the conclusion of procedure) in all patients. There were two procedure-related deaths. All-cause mortality was 10% (N=11) at 4 weeks and 28% (N=31) at 8 weeks post PBD with a median survival of 4.74 months. The mean FACT-HS scores declined significantly (P<.01) over time (101.3, 94.8, 94.7 at baseline, 1 week, 4 weeks, respectively). The VASP scores showed significant improvement at 1 week with continued improvement at 4 weeks (P<.01). Conclusion PBD improves pruritus but not QoL in patients with MBO and advanced malignancy. There is high early mortality in this population. PMID:20358300

Efficacy of preoperative biliary tract decompression in patients with obstructive jaundice.

PubMed

Gundry, S R; Strodel, W E; Knol, J A; Eckhauser, F E; Thompson, N W

1984-06-01

Fifty consecutive matched patients with benign or malignant biliary tract obstruction were compared to determine the efficacy of preoperative percutaneous biliary drainage (PBD). Twenty-five patients underwent PBD for an average of nine days before operation; 25 patients underwent percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography ( PTHC ) followed immediately by operation. Serum bilirubin levels before PTHC were 16.5 +/- 7.6 mg/dL and 14.9 +/- 7.6 mg/dL in PBD and non-PBD groups, respectively. Serum bilirubin levels decreased to 6.5 +/- 6.2 mg/dL preoperatively in patients having PBD. One week after operation, bilirubin levels were 4.2 +/- 4.3 mg/dL and 9.0 +/- 5.2 mg/dL in the PBD and non-PBD groups, respectively. Major morbidity (sepsis, abscess, renal failure, or bleeding) occurred in two patients (8%) having PBD and in 13 patients (52%) without PBD. One patient (4%) with PBD, and five patients (20%) without PBD, died. The mean hospital stay was shorter for the PBD group. Preoperative PBD reduces operative mortality and morbidity and results in a more rapid resolution of hyperbilirubinemia during the postoperative period.

CBCL Pediatric Bipolar Disorder Profile and ADHD: Comorbidity and Quantitative Trait Loci Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McGough, James J.; Loo, Sandra K.; McCracken, James T.; Dang, Jeffery; Clark, Shaunna; Nelson, Stanley F.; Smalley, Susan L.

2008-01-01

The pediatric bipolar disorder profile of the Child Behavior checklist is used to differentiate patterns of comorbidity and to search for quantitative trait loci in multiple affected ADHD sibling pairs. The CBCL-PBD profiling identified 8 percent of individuals with severe psychopathology and increased rates of oppositional defiant, conduct and…

Effect of base sequence on the DNA cross-linking properties of pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) dimers

PubMed Central

Rahman, Khondaker M.; James, Colin H.; Thurston, David E.

2011-01-01

Pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine (PBD) dimers are synthetic sequence-selective DNA minor-groove cross-linking agents that possess two electrophilic imine moieties (or their equivalent) capable of forming covalent aminal linkages with guanine C2-NH2 functionalities. The PBD dimer SJG-136, which has a C8–O–(CH2)3–O–C8′′ central linker joining the two PBD moieties, is currently undergoing phase II clinical trials and current research is focused on developing analogues of SJG-136 with different linker lengths and substitution patterns. Using a reversed-phase ion pair HPLC/MS method to evaluate interaction with oligonucleotides of varying length and sequence, we recently reported (JACS, 2009, 131, 13 756) that SJG-136 can form three different types of adducts: inter- and intrastrand cross-linked adducts, and mono-alkylated adducts. These studies have now been extended to include PBD dimers with a longer central linker (C8–O–(CH2)5–O–C8′), demonstrating that the type and distribution of adducts appear to depend on (i) the length of the C8/C8′-linker connecting the two PBD units, (ii) the positioning of the two reactive guanine bases on the same or opposite strands, and (iii) their separation (i.e. the number of base pairs, usually ATs, between them). Based on these data, a set of rules are emerging that can be used to predict the DNA–interaction behaviour of a PBD dimer of particular C8–C8′ linker length towards a given DNA sequence. These observations suggest that it may be possible to design PBD dimers to target specific DNA sequences. PMID:21427082

Child- And Family-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Pediatric Bipolar Disorder: Development and Preliminary Results.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pavuluri, Mani N.; Graczyk, Patricia A.; Henry, David B.; Carbray, Julie A.; Heidenreich, Jodi; Miklowitz, David J.

2004-01-01

Objective: To describe child- and family-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (CFF-CBT), a new developmentally sensitive psychosocial intervention for pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD) that is intended for use along with medication. CFF-CBT integrates principles of family-focused therapy with those of CBT. The theoretical framework is based on (1)…

Preoperative biliary drainage in hilar cholangiocarcinoma: When and how?

PubMed Central

Paik, Woo Hyun; Loganathan, Nerenthran; Hwang, Jin-Hyeok

2014-01-01

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma is a tumor of the extrahepatic bile duct involving the left main hepatic duct, the right main hepatic duct, or their confluence. Biliary drainage in hilar cholangiocarcinoma is sometimes clinically challenging because of complexities associated with the level of biliary obstruction. This may result in some adverse events, especially acute cholangitis. Hence the decision on the indication and methods of biliary drainage in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma should be carefully evaluated. This review focuses on the optimal method and duration of preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) in resectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Under certain special indications such as right lobectomy for Bismuth type IIIA or IV hilar cholangiocarcinoma, or preoperative portal vein embolization with chemoradiation therapy, PBD should be strongly recommended. Generally, selective biliary drainage is enough before surgery, however, in the cases of development of cholangitis after unilateral drainage or slow resolving hyperbilirubinemia, total biliary drainage may be considered. Although the optimal preoperative bilirubin level is still a matter of debate, the shortest possible duration of PBD is recommended. Endoscopic nasobiliary drainage seems to be the most appropriate method of PBD in terms of minimizing the risks of tract seeding and inflammatory reactions. PMID:24634710

A PEX6-defective peroxisomal biogenesis disorder with severe phenotype in an infant, versus mild phenotype resembling Usher syndrome in the affected parents.

PubMed

Raas-Rothschild, Annick; Wanders, Ronald J A; Mooijer, Petra A W; Gootjes, Jeannette; Waterham, Hans R; Gutman, Alisa; Suzuki, Yasuyuki; Shimozawa, Nobuyuki; Kondo, Naomi; Eshel, Gideon; Espeel, Marc; Roels, Frank; Korman, Stanley H

2002-04-01

Sensorineural deafness and retinitis pigmentosa (RP) are the hallmarks of Usher syndrome (USH) but are also prominent features in peroxisomal biogenesis defects (PBDs); both are autosomal recessively inherited. The firstborn son of unrelated parents, who both had sensorineural deafness and RP diagnosed as USH, presented with sensorineural deafness, RP, dysmorphism, developmental delay, hepatomegaly, and hypsarrhythmia and died at age 17 mo. The infant was shown to have a PBD, on the basis of elevated plasma levels of very-long- and branched-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs and BCFAs), deficiency of multiple peroxisomal functions in fibroblasts, and complete absence of peroxisomes in fibroblasts and liver. Surprisingly, both parents had elevated plasma levels of VLCFAs and BCFAs. Fibroblast studies confirmed that both parents had a PBD. The parents' milder phenotypes correlated with relatively mild peroxisomal biochemical dysfunction and with catalase immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrating mosaicism and temperature sensitivity in fibroblasts. The infant and both of his parents belonged to complementation group C. PEX6 gene sequencing revealed mutations on both alleles, in the infant and in his parents. This unique family is the first report of a PBD with which the parents are themselves affected individuals rather than asymptomatic carriers. Because of considerable overlap between USH and milder PBD phenotypes, individuals suspected to have USH should be screened for peroxisomal dysfunction.

Development and Application of a Plant-Based Diet Scoring System for Japanese Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

PubMed Central

Chiba, Mitsuro; Nakane, Kunio; Takayama, Yuko; Sugawara, Kae; Ohno, Hideo; Ishii, Hajime; Tsuda, Satoko; Tsuji, Tsuyotoshi; Komatsu, Masafumi; Sugawara, Takeshi

2016-01-01

Context Plant-based diets (PBDs) are a healthy alternative to westernized diets. A semivegetarian diet, a PBD, has been shown to prevent a relapse in Crohn disease. However, there is no way to measure adherence to PBDs. Objective To develop a simple way of evaluating adherence to a PBD for Japanese patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Design PBD scores were assigned according to the frequency of consumption provided on a food-frequency questionnaire, obtained on hospitalization for 159 patients with ulcerative colitis and 70 patients with Crohn disease. Eight items considered to be preventive factors for IBD were scored positively, and 8 items considered to be IBD risk factors were scored negatively. The PBD score was calculated from the sum of plus and minus scores. Higher PBD scores indicated greater adherence to a PBD. The PBD scores were evaluated on hospitalization and 2 years after discharge for 22 patients with Crohn disease whose dietary pattern and prognosis were established. Main Outcome Measure Plant-Based Diet score. Results The PBD scores differed significantly, in descending order, by dietary type: pro-Japanese diet, mixed type, and pro-westernized diet (Wilcoxon/Kruskal-Wallis test). The PBD scores in the ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease groups were 10.9 ± 9.5 and 8.2 ± 8.2, respectively. For patients with Crohn disease, those with long-term remission and normal C-reactive protein concentration were significantly more likely to have PBD scores of 25 or greater than below 25 (χ2). Conclusion The PBD score is a valid assessment of PBD dietary adherence. PMID:27768566

Child Behavior Checklist—Mania Scale (CBCL-MS): Development and Evaluation of a Population-Based Screening Scale for Bipolar Disorder

PubMed Central

Papachristou, Efstathios; Ormel, Johan; Oldehinkel, Albertine J.; Kyriakopoulos, Marinos; Reinares, María; Reichenberg, Abraham; Frangou, Sophia

2013-01-01

Context Early identification of Bipolar Disorder (BD) remains poor despite the high levels of disability associated with the disorder. Objective We developed and evaluated a new DSM orientated scale for the identification of young people at risk for BD based on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and compared its performance against the CBCL-Pediatric Bipolar Disorder (CBCL-PBD) and the CBCL-Externalizing Scale, the two most widely used scales. Methods The new scale, CBCL-Mania Scale (CBCL-MS), comprises 19 CBCL items that directly correspond to operational criteria for mania. We tested the reliability, longitudinal stability and diagnostic accuracy of the CBCL-MS on data from the TRacking Adolescents' Individual Lives Survey (TRAILS), a prospective epidemiological cohort study of 2230 Dutch youths assessed with the CBCL at ages 11, 13 and 16. At age 19 lifetime psychiatric diagnoses were ascertained with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. We compared the predictive ability of the CBCL-MS against the CBCL-Externalising Scale and the CBCL-PBD in the TRAILS sample. Results The CBCL-MS had high internal consistency and satisfactory accuracy (area under the curve = 0.64) in this general population sample. Principal Component Analyses, followed by parallel analyses and confirmatory factor analyses, identified four factors corresponding to distractibility/disinhibition, psychosis, increased libido and disrupted sleep. This factor structure remained stable across all assessment ages. Logistic regression analyses showed that the CBCL-MS had significantly higher predictive ability than both the other scales. Conclusions Our data demonstrate that the CBCL-MS is a promising screening instrument for BD. The factor structure of the CBCL-MS showed remarkable temporal stability between late childhood and early adulthood suggesting that it maps on to meaningful developmental dimensions of liability to BD. PMID:23967059

Metal or plastic stents for preoperative biliary drainage in resectable pancreatic cancer.

PubMed

Tol, J A M G; van Hooft, J E; Timmer, R; Kubben, F J G M; van der Harst, E; de Hingh, I H J T; Vleggaar, F P; Molenaar, I Q; Keulemans, Y C A; Boerma, D; Bruno, M J; Schoon, E J; van der Gaag, N A; Besselink, M G H; Fockens, P; van Gulik, T M; Rauws, E A J; Busch, O R C; Gouma, D J

2016-12-01

In pancreatic cancer, preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) increases complications compared with surgery without PBD, demonstrated by a recent randomised controlled trial (RCT). This outcome might be related to the plastic endoprosthesis used. Metal stents may reduce the PBD-related complications risk. A prospective multicentre cohort study was performed including patients with obstructive jaundice due to pancreatic cancer, scheduled to undergo PBD before surgery. This cohort was added to the earlier RCT (ISRCTN31939699). The RCT protocol was adhered to, except PBD was performed with a fully covered self-expandable metal stent (FCSEMS). This FCSEMS cohort was compared with the RCT's plastic stent cohort. PBD-related complications were the primary outcome. Three-group comparison of overall complications including early surgery patients was performed. 53 patients underwent PBD with FCSEMS compared with 102 patients treated with plastic stents. Patients' characteristics did not differ. PBD-related complication rates were 24% in the FCSEMS group vs 46% in the plastic stent group (relative risk of plastic stent use 1.9, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.2, p=0.011). Stent-related complications (occlusion and exchange) were 6% vs 31%. Surgical complications did not differ, 40% vs 47%. Overall complication rates for the FCSEMS, plastic stent and early surgery groups were 51% vs 74% vs 39%. For PBD in pancreatic cancer, FCSEMS yield a better outcome compared with plastic stents. Although early surgery without PBD remains the treatment of choice, FCSEMS should be preferred over plastic stents whenever PBD is indicated. Dutch Trial Registry (NTR3142). Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

Induced pluripotent stem cell models of Zellweger spectrum disorder show impaired peroxisome assembly and cell type-specific lipid abnormalities.

PubMed

Wang, Xiao-Ming; Yik, Wing Yan; Zhang, Peilin; Lu, Wange; Huang, Ning; Kim, Bo Ram; Shibata, Darryl; Zitting, Madison; Chow, Robert H; Moser, Ann B; Steinberg, Steven J; Hacia, Joseph G

2015-08-29

Zellweger spectrum disorder (PBD-ZSD) is a disease continuum caused by mutations in a subset of PEX genes required for normal peroxisome assembly and function. They highlight the importance of peroxisomes in the development and functions of the central nervous system, liver, and other organs. To date, the underlying bases for the cell-type specificity of disease are not fully elucidated. Primary skin fibroblasts from seven PBD-ZSD patients with biallelic PEX1, PEX10, PEX12, or PEX26 mutations and three healthy donors were transduced with retroviral vectors expressing Yamanaka reprogramming factors. Candidate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were subject to global gene expression, DNA methylation, copy number variation, genotyping, in vitro differentiation and teratoma formation assays. Confirmed iPSCs were differentiated into neural progenitor cells (NPCs), neurons, oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), and hepatocyte-like cell cultures with peroxisome assembly evaluated by microscopy. Saturated very long chain fatty acid (sVLCFA) and plasmalogen levels were determined in primary fibroblasts and their derivatives. iPSCs were derived from seven PBD-ZSD patient-derived fibroblasts with mild to severe peroxisome assembly defects. Although patient and control skin fibroblasts had similar gene expression profiles, genes related to mitochondrial functions and organelle cross-talk were differentially expressed among corresponding iPSCs. Mitochondrial DNA levels were consistent among patient and control fibroblasts, but varied among all iPSCs. Relative to matching controls, sVLCFA levels were elevated in patient-derived fibroblasts, reduced in patient-derived iPSCs, and not significantly different in patient-derived NPCs. All cell types derived from donors with biallelic null mutations in a PEX gene showed plasmalogen deficiencies. Reporter gene assays compatible with high content screening (HCS) indicated patient-derived OPC and hepatocyte-like cell cultures had impaired peroxisome assembly. Normal peroxisome activity levels are not required for cellular reprogramming of skin fibroblasts. Patient iPSC gene expression profiles were consistent with hypotheses highlighting the role of altered mitochondrial activities and organelle cross-talk in PBD-ZSD pathogenesis. sVLCFA abnormalities dramatically differed among patient cell types, similar to observations made in iPSC models of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy. We propose that iPSCs could assist investigations into the cell type-specificity of peroxisomal activities, toxicology studies, and in HCS for targeted therapies for peroxisome-related disorders.

Association between childhood allergic disease, psychological comorbidity, and injury requiring medical attention.

PubMed

Garg, Nitin; Silverberg, Jonathan I

2014-06-01

Children with allergic disease have multiple risk factors for accidental injuries. To determine the prevalence of injuries requiring medical treatment in US children with allergic disease. The authors analyzed data from the 2007 to 2008 National Survey of Children's Health, including a nationally representative sample of 27,556 children 0 to 5 years old. The prevalence (95% confidence interval [CI]) of at least 1 allergic disease was 29.4% (28.0-30.8); 6.6% (5.8-7.4) were diagnosed with asthma, 15.0% (14.0-16.0) with eczema, 11.6% (10.6-12.6) with hay fever, and 6.1% (5.4-6.9) with food allergy. Children with allergic disorders had higher odds of at least 1 comorbid psychiatric and behavioral disorder (PBD; survey logistic regression; odds ratio 2.93, 95% CI 2.13-4.03), including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (4.75, 2.89-7.80), depression (6.03, 1.29-28.27), anxiety (5.54, 2.70-11.37), conduct/oppositional defiant disorder (2.97, 1.88-4.70), and learning delay (2.49, 1.70-3.66), but not autism/Asperger disorder (1.89, 0.98-3.64). The prevalence of injury in the past year requiring medical attention was 10.5% (95% CI 9.5-11.4). The association between allergic disease and injury requiring medical attention was mediated in part by a PBD (Sobel test 0.0021, 95% CI 0.0014-0.0029, P < .0001; bootstrapping approach, indirect effects, odds ratio 1.005, 95% CI 1.003-1.007; Baron-Kenny β(yx,m) = 0.04, P < .0001, R(2) = 0.002). However, children with at least 1 allergic disorder (1.74, 1.23-2.46), including eczema (1.59, 1.01-2.50), asthma (1.91, 1.10-3.31), hay fever (2.05, 1.24-3.39), and food allergies (2.00, 1.10-3.67), had higher odds of sustaining injuries even after controlling for comorbid PBDs and medical disorders. The results suggest that the association between allergic disease and injury is multifactorial, including being secondary to PBD. Copyright © 2014 American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Impact of Preoperative Biliary Drainage on Surgical Outcomes in Periampullary and Hilar Malignancy: A Single-Center Experience.

PubMed

Ito, Yukiko; Nakai, Yousuke; Isayama, Hiroyuki; Tsujino, Takeshi; Hamada, Tsuyoshi; Umefune, Gyotane; Akiyama, Dai; Takagi, Kaoru; Takamoto, Takeshi; Hashimoto, Takuya; Nakata, Ryo; Koike, Kazuhiko; Makuuchi, Masatoshi

2016-04-01

The role of preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) for periampullary and hilar malignancy is still controversial. We retrospectively studied consecutive 144 patients (92 periampullary and 52 hilar malignancy) undergoing surgical resection to evaluate the effects of PBD on surgical outcomes. The rate of PBD was 59% and 56%, and postoperative complications developed in 27% and 19% in periampullary and hilar malignancy, respectively. Risk factors for postoperative complications were overweight [odds ratio (OR), 7.6] and depression (OR, 8.5) in distal malignancy and American society of anesthesiologists score of 3 (OR, 6.6), depression (OR, 13.8), and portal vein embolization (OR, 6.1) in hilar malignancy. PBD was not associated with postoperative complications but reinterventions for PBD were necessary in 43% and 27% in distal and hilar biliary obstruction. In conclusion, PBD in pancreatobiliary surgery was not associated with postoperative complications, but the improvement of PBD is necessary given the high rate of reinterventions.

Influence of air on polybutadiene used in the preparation of stationary phases for high-performance liquid chromatography.

PubMed

Lopes, Nilva P; Collins, Kenneth E; Jardim, Isabel C S F

2004-03-19

A 100 ml bottle of polybutadiene, PBD, was repeatedly exposed to air over a period of 6 months. Samples were taken at time zero (PBD-0), after 3 months (PBD-3) and 6 months (PBD-6). These samples were sorbed onto HPLC silica by an open-air solution-evaporation procedure, which involved exposure to the atmosphere for 6 days. Portions of the three sets of samples were used to compare self-immobilization and the effects of 100 degrees C thermal treatments in air or nitrogen on HPLC performance of the resulting phases. It is concluded that self-immobilization is enhanced by prior exposure of sorbed PBD to air and subsequent heating at 100 degrees C further enhances column performance. The best performance (10(5) plates m(-1)) resulted from 4 h heating of PBD-6 material in nitrogen.

Mucosal perforation during laparoscopic surgery for achalasia: impact of preoperative pneumatic balloon dilation.

PubMed

Souma, Yoshihito; Nakajima, Kiyokazu; Taniguchi, Eiji; Takahashi, Tsuyoshi; Kurokawa, Yukinori; Yamasaki, Makoto; Miyazaki, Yasuhiro; Makino, Tomoki; Hamada, Tetsuhiro; Yasuda, Jun; Yumiba, Takeyoshi; Ohashi, Shuichi; Takiguchi, Shuji; Mori, Masaki; Doki, Yuichiro

2017-03-01

Controversy remains whether preoperative pneumatic balloon dilation (PBD) influences the surgical outcome of laparoscopic esophagocardiomyotomy in patients with esophageal achalasia. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether preoperative PBD represents a risk factor for surgical complications and affects the symptomatic and/or functional outcomes of laparoscopic Heller myotomy with Dor fundoplication (LHD). A retrospective chart review was conducted on a prospectively compiled surgical database of 103 consecutive patients with esophageal achalasia who underwent LHD from November 1994 to September 2014. The following data were compared between the patients with preoperative PBD (PBD group; n = 26) and without PBD (non-PBD group; n = 77): (1) patients' demographics: age, gender, body mass index, duration of symptoms, maximum transverse diameter of esophagus; (2) operative findings: operating time, blood loss, intraoperative complications; (3) postoperative course: complications, clinical symptoms, postoperative treatment; and (4) esophageal functional tests: preoperative and postoperative manometric data and postoperative profile of 24-h esophageal pH monitoring. (1) No significant differences were observed in the patients' demographics. (2) Operative findings were similar between the two groups; however, the incidence of mucosal perforation was significantly higher in the PBD group (n = 8; 30.7 %) compared to the non-PBD group (n = 6; 7.7 %) (p = 0.005). (3) Postoperative complications were not encountered in either group. The differences were not significant for postoperative clinical symptoms, the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease, or necessity of postoperative treatments. (4) Lower esophageal sphincter pressure was effectively reduced in both groups, and no differences were observed in manometric data or 24-h pH monitoring profiles between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative PBD and the maximum transverse diameter of esophagus were significantly associated with intraoperative mucosal perforation. Although postoperative outcomes were not affected, additional caution is recommended in identifying intraoperative mucosal perforation in patients with preoperative PBD when performing LHD.

Bile-pancreatic juice-independent increases in pancreatic proteases and intestinal cholecystokinin by dietary protein in rats.

PubMed

Hara, H; Ochi, Y; Kasai, T

1998-02-01

Luminal bile-pancreatic juice (BPJ) is involved in the induction of pancreatic proteases in rats fed a high-protein diet. Recently, we have demonstrated that a BPJ-independent mechanism is responsible for enhancement of pancreatic secretion after feeding of a dietary protein in chronic BPJ-diverted rats. The aim of the present study was to explore the existence of a BPJ-independent mechanism during adaptation of the exocrine pancreas to dietary protein. Rats, whose BPJ was diverted into the ileum through a common bile-pancreatic duct catheter for 5 days (PBD rat), were fed a fat-free diet containing 25% or 60% casein for 3 days. Messenger RNA levels for pancreatic enzymes, cholecystokinin, and secretin in the jejunal mucosa were evaluated by northern blotting method. Pancreatic trypsin and chymotrypsin activities and mRNA levels of their zymogens were higher in PBD rats than in rats whose diverted BPJ was returned into the duodenum (PBD returned rat). In the PBD groups, pancreatic protease activities were further increased by 3-day feeding of a high-protein diet without changes in mRNA levels of these proteases. Cholecystokinin mRNA was increased after feeding of a high-protein diet in the PBD rats. These results indicate that pancreatic proteases are induced by feeding a high-protein diet by a mechanism independent of luminal BPJ, which is associated with an increase in intestinal cholecystokinin mRNA level.

Dynamic and thermodynamic response of the Ras protein Cdc42Hs upon association with the effector domain of PAK3

PubMed Central

Moorman, Veronica R.; Valentine, Kathleen G.; Bédard, Sabrina; Kasinath, Vignesh; Dogan, Jakob; Love, Fiona M.; Wand, A. Joshua

2014-01-01

Human cell division cycle protein 42 (Cdc42Hs) is a small, Rho-type GTPase involved in multiple cellular processes through its interactions with downstream effectors. The binding domain of one such effector, the actin cytoskeleton-regulating p21 activated kinase 3 (PAK3) is known as PBD46. Nitrogen-15 backbone and carbon-13 methyl NMR relaxation were measured to investigate the dynamical changes in activated GMPPCP•Cdc42Hs upon PBD46 binding. Changes in internal motion of the Cdc42Hs, as revealed by methyl axis order parameters, were observed not only near the Cdc42Hs–PBD46 interface but also in remote sites on the Cdc42Hs molecule. The binding-induced changes in side chain dynamics propagate along the long axis of Cdc42Hs away from the site of PBD46 binding with a sharp distance dependence. Overall, the binding of the PBD46 effector domain on the dynamics of methyl bearing side chains of Cdc42Hs results in a modest rigidification, which is estimated to correspond to an unfavorable change in conformational entropy of approximately −10 kcal mol−1 at 298 K. A cluster of methyl probes closest to the nucleotide-binding pocket of Cdc42Hs become more rigid upon binding of PBD46 and is proposed to slow the catalytic hydrolysis of the γ phosphate moiety. An additional cluster of methyl probes surrounding the guanine ring become more flexible on binding of PBD46, presumably facilitating nucleotide exchange mediated by a guanosine exchange factor. In addition, the Rho insert helix, which is located at a site remote from the PBD46 binding interface, shows a significant dynamic response to PBD46 binding. PMID:25109462

Behavioral change theories can inform the prediction of young adults' adoption of a plant-based diet.

PubMed

Wyker, Brett A; Davison, Kirsten K

2010-01-01

Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Transtheoretical Model (TTM), this study (1) examines links between stages of change for following a plant-based diet (PBD) and consuming more fruits and vegetables (FV); (2) tests an integrated theoretical model predicting intention to follow a PBD; and (3) identifies associated salient beliefs. Cross-sectional. Large public university in the northeastern United States. 204 college students. TPB and TTM constructs were assessed using validated scales. Outcome, normative, and control beliefs were measured using open-ended questions. The overlap between stages of change for FV consumption and adopting a PBD was assessed using Spearman rank correlation analysis and cross-tab comparisons. The proposed model predicting adoption of a PBD was tested using structural equation modeling (SEM). Salient beliefs were coded using automatic response coding software. No association was found between stages of change for FV consumption and following a PBD. Results from SEM analyses provided support for the proposed model predicting intention to follow a PBD. Gender differences in salient beliefs for following a PBD were found. Results demonstrate the potential for effective theory-driven and stage-tailored public health interventions to promote PBDs. Copyright 2010 Society for Nutrition Education. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Mechanical Characterization of Hybrid Vesicles Based on Linear Poly(Dimethylsiloxane-b-Ethylene Oxide) and Poly(Butadiene-b-Ethylene Oxide) Block Copolymers

PubMed Central

Gaspard, Jeffery; Casey, Liam M.; Rozin, Matt; Munoz-Pinto, Dany J.; Silas, James A.; Hahn, Mariah S.

2016-01-01

Poly(dimethylsiloxane-ethylene oxide) (PDMS-PEO) and poly(butadiene-b-ethylene oxide) (PBd-PEO) are two block copolymers which separately form vesicles with disparate membrane permeabilities and fluidities. Thus, hybrid vesicles formed from both PDMS-PEO and PBd-PEO may ultimately allow for systematic, application-specific tuning of vesicle membrane fluidity and permeability. However, given the relatively low strength previously noted for comb-type PDMS-PEO vesicles, the mechanical robustness of the resulting hybrid vesicles must first be confirmed. Toward this end, we have characterized the mechanical behavior of vesicles formed from mixtures of linear PDMS-PEO and linear PBd-PEO using micropipette aspiration. Tension versus strain plots of pure PDMS12-PEO46 vesicles revealed a non-linear response in the high tension regime, in contrast to the approximately linear response of pure PBd33-PEO20 vesicles. Remarkably, the area expansion modulus, critical tension, and cohesive energy density of PDMS12-PEO46 vesicles were each significantly greater than for PBd33-PEO20 vesicles, although critical strain was not significantly different between these vesicle types. PDMS12-PEO46/PBd33-PEO20 hybrid vesicles generally displayed graded responses in between that of the pure component vesicles. Thus, the PDMS12-PEO46/PBd33-PEO20 hybrid vesicles retained or exceeded the strength and toughness characteristic of pure PBd-PEO vesicles, indicating that future assessment of the membrane permeability and fluidity of these hybrid vesicles may be warranted. PMID:26999148

Covalent Bonding of Pyrrolobenzodiazepines (PBDs) to Terminal Guanine Residues within Duplex and Hairpin DNA Fragments

PubMed Central

Mantaj, Julia; Jackson, Paul J. M.; Karu, Kersti; Rahman, Khondaker M.; Thurston, David E.

2016-01-01

Pyrrolobenzodiazepines (PBDs) are covalent-binding DNA-interactive agents with growing importance as payloads in Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs). Until now, PBDs were thought to covalently bond to C2-NH2 groups of guanines in the DNA-minor groove across a three-base-pair recognition sequence. Using HPLC/MS methodology with designed hairpin and duplex oligonucleotides, we have now demonstrated that the PBD Dimer SJG-136 and the C8-conjugated PBD Monomer GWL-78 can covalently bond to a terminal guanine of DNA, with the PBD skeleton spanning only two base pairs. Control experiments with the non-C8-conjugated anthramycin along with molecular dynamics simulations suggest that the C8-substituent of a PBD Monomer, or one-half of a PBD Dimer, may provide stability for the adduct. This observation highlights the importance of PBD C8-substituents, and also suggests that PBDs may bind to terminal guanines within stretches of DNA in cells, thus representing a potentially novel mechanism of action at the end of DNA strand breaks. PMID:27055050

Evaluation of porcine beta defensins-1 and -2 as antimicrobial peptides for liquid-stored boar semen: Effects on bacterial growth and sperm quality.

PubMed

Puig-Timonet, Adrià; Castillo-Martín, Miriam; Pereira, Barbara A; Pinart, Elisabeth; Bonet, Sergi; Yeste, Marc

2018-04-15

The present study evaluated whether two different antimicrobial peptides (AMP): porcine beta defensins-1 (PBD1) and -2 (PBD2) at three concentrations (1.5 μM, 3 μM and 5 μM) could be a suitable alternative to antibiotics in liquid-stored boar semen. Two separate experiments were conducted with liquid-stored boar semen preserved at 17 °C for 9-10 days. In the first one, we evaluated the impact of adding three concentrations of each AMP on the bacterial growth and sperm quality of boar semen stored for 10 days. In the second experiment, the ability of these AMPs to control bacterial growth was determined over a 9-day period, following artificial inoculation with Escherichia coli at 10 7 and 10 8  CFU mL -1 . In both experiments, sperm viability was assessed through flow cytometry, sperm motility was determined with Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) and the inhibitory effect on microbial growth was evaluated by bacteria culture on Luria Bertani agar. PBD1 and PBD2 were found to significantly (P < 0.05) decrease sperm motility at 5 μM (% total motile spermatozoa at day 10, Control: 31.6% ± 1.2% vs. PBD1: 6.5% ± 0.3% and PBD2: 5.6% ± 0.4%). Although the highest inhibitory effect on bacterial growth was observed at 3 μM (day 10, PBD1: 1.4 × 10 6  ± 6.2 × 10 5  CFU mL -1 and PBD2: 9.1 × 10 5  ± 2.4 × 10 5  CFU mL -1 ) and 5 μM (day 10, PBD1: 1.2 × 10 5  ± 5.1 × 10 4  CFU mL -1 ; PBD2: 8.7 × 10 4  ± 2.9 × 10 4  CFU mL -1 ), the control with antibiotic was found to be more effective (day 10, 8.3 × 10 3  ± 1.6 × 10 3  CFU mL -1 ). In conclusion, PBD1 and PBD2 may be added to antibiotic-free extenders for boar semen at a concentration of 3 μM, but do not completely control all bacterial growth. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Metal versus plastic stents for drainage of malignant biliary obstruction before primary surgical resection.

PubMed

Song, Tae Jun; Lee, Jae Hoon; Lee, Sang Soo; Jang, Ji Woong; Kim, Jung Wook; Ok, Tae Jin; Oh, Dong Wook; Park, Do Hyun; Seo, Dong Wan; Lee, Sung Koo; Kim, Myung-Hwan; Kim, Song Cheol; Kim, Chul Nam; Yun, Sung Cheol

2016-11-01

Preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) with stent placement has been commonly used for patients with malignant biliary obstruction. In PBD, the placement of fully covered self-expandable metal stents (FCSEMSs) may provide better patency duration and a lower incidence of cholangitis compared with plastic stents. We aimed to evaluate which type of stent showed better outcomes in PBD. In this multicenter, prospective randomized trial, we compared PBD with FCSEMSs versus plastic stents in 86 patients with malignant biliary obstruction between January 2012 and December 2014. Patients with obstructive jaundice were randomly assigned to undergo PBD either with plastic stents or FCSEMS placement. Baseline characteristics were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Endoscopic stent placement was technically successful in all patients. Procedure-related adverse events were not significantly different between the 2 groups (plastic vs FCSEMS group; 16.3% vs 16.3%, P = 1.0). Reintervention was required in 16.3% of the plastic stent group and 14.0% of the FCSEMS group (P = .763). The interval to surgery after PBD (plastic vs FCSEMS group; 14.2 ± 8.3 vs 12.3 ± 6.9 days, P = .426) was not significantly different between groups. Surgery-related adverse events occurred in 43.6% of the plastic stent group and 40.0% of the FCSEMS group (P = .755). In patients with resectable malignant biliary obstruction, the outcomes of PBD with plastic stents and FCSEMSs were similar. Considering the cost-effectiveness, PBD with plastic stents may be preferable to FCSEMS placement. (Clinical trial registration number: NCT01789502.). Copyright © 2016 American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Inhibition of polo-like kinase 1 by blocking polo-box domain-dependent protein-protein interactions.

PubMed

Reindl, Wolfgang; Yuan, Juping; Krämer, Andrea; Strebhardt, Klaus; Berg, Thorsten

2008-05-01

The serine/threonine kinase Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) is overexpressed in many types of human cancers, and has been implicated as an adverse prognostic marker for cancer patients. Plk1 localizes to its intracellular anchoring sites via its polo-box domain (PBD). Here we show that Plk1 can be inhibited by small molecules which interfere with its intracellular localization by inhibiting the function of the PBD. We report the natural product thymoquinone and, especially, the synthetic thymoquinone derivative Poloxin as inhibitors of the Plk1 PBD. Both compounds inhibit the function of the Plk1 PBD in vitro, and cause Plk1 mislocalization, chromosome congression defects, mitotic arrest, and apoptosis in HeLa cells. Our data validate the Plk1 PBD as an anticancer target and provide a rationale for developing thymoquinone derivatives as anticancer drugs.

The nature of trapping sites and recombination centres in PVK and PVK-PBD electroluminescent matrices seen by spectrally resolved thermoluminescence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Glowacki, Ireneusz; Szamel, Zbigniew

2010-07-01

Two electroluminescent polymer matrices poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) and PVK with 40 wt% of 2-tert-butylphenyl-5-biphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole (PBD) were studied using spectrally resolved thermoluminescence (SRTL) in the temperature range 15-325 K. The comparison of the SRTL results with the electroluminescence (EL) spectra has allowed identification of the localized (trapping) sites and the radiative recombination centres present in the investigated matrices. In the neat PVK films deep traps with a depth about 200 meV, related to triplet excimers dominate, while in the PVK-PBD (40 wt%) blend films the traps that are related to triplet exciplexes formed by the carbazole groups and the PBD molecules dominate. Depth of the traps in the PVK-PBD blend is somewhat lower than that in the neat PVK. An analysis of the EL spectra shows that in the PVK and in the PVK-PBD blend the dominant radiative centres are singlet excimers and singlet exciplexes, respectively. However, in the neat PVK some contributions of the triplet monomer and the triplet excimer states in the EL were also detected.

Preparation of polyclonal antibody against porcine beta defensin 2 and identification of its distribution in tissues of pig.

PubMed

Bao, Y Y; Li, L; Zhang, H; Gao, C Y; Xiao, C B; Li, C L

2015-12-29

Porcine β-defensin 2 (pBD2) is an antimicrobial peptide in pigs that plays an important role in the immune system by preventing bacterial invasion. To produce an anti-pBD2 antibody, which is not commercially available, we expressed and purified a soluble, his-tagged version of pBD2 (his-pBD2). Purified pBD2 was injected into New Zealand white rabbits to generate polyclonal antiserum. Anti-pBD2 antibodies were purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, followed by diethylaminoethyl cellulose ion-exchange chromatography. The purified polyclonal antibody showed high sensitivity, with a titer as high as 204,800 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and it also showed high specificity for both his-pBD2 and native pBD2, as assessed by western blotting. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry analysis using the purified antibody revealed that pBD2 protein is distributed in the tongue, liver, kidney, small intestine, and large intestine of pigs. These results indicate that the prepared polyclonal antibody will be a useful tool for further studies of the function and mechanism of pBD2.

DNA sequence-selective C8-linked pyrrolobenzodiazepine-heterocyclic polyamide conjugates show anti-tubercular-specific activities.

PubMed

Brucoli, Federico; Guzman, Juan D; Basher, Mohammad A; Evangelopoulos, Dimitrios; McMahon, Eleanor; Munshi, Tulika; McHugh, Timothy D; Fox, Keith R; Bhakta, Sanjib

2016-12-01

New chemotherapeutic agents with novel mechanisms of action are in urgent need to combat the tuberculosis pandemic. A library of 12 C8-linked pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine (PBD)-heterocyclic polyamide conjugates (1-12) was evaluated for anti-tubercular activity and DNA sequence selectivity. The PBD conjugates were screened against slow-growing Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guérin and M. tuberculosis H 37 Rv, and fast-growing Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas putida and Rhodococcus sp. RHA1 bacteria. DNase I footprinting and DNA thermal denaturation experiments were used to determine the molecules' DNA recognition properties. The PBD conjugates were highly selective for the mycobacterial strains and exhibited significant growth inhibitory activity against the pathogenic M. tuberculosis H 37 Rv, with compound 4 showing MIC values (MIC=0.08 mg l -1 ) similar to those of rifampin and isoniazid. DNase I footprinting results showed that the PBD conjugates with three heterocyclic moieties had enhanced sequence selectivity and produced larger footprints, with distinct cleavage patterns compared with the two-heterocyclic chain PBD conjugates. DNA melting experiments indicated a covalent binding of the PBD conjugates to two AT-rich DNA-duplexes containing either a central GGATCC or GTATAC sequence, and showed that the polyamide chains affect the interactions of the molecules with DNA. The PBD-C8 conjugates tested in this study have a remarkable anti-mycobacterial activity and can be further developed as DNA-targeted anti-tubercular drugs.

Deficiency in chromosome congression by the inhibition of Plk1 polo box domain-dependent recognition.

PubMed

Watanabe, Nobumoto; Sekine, Tomomi; Takagi, Masatoshi; Iwasaki, Jun-ichi; Imamoto, Naoko; Kawasaki, Hisashi; Osada, Hiroyuki

2009-01-23

Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) is one of the key regulators of mitotic cell division. In addition to an N-terminal protein kinase catalytic domain, Plk1 possesses a phosphopeptide binding domain named polo box domain (PBD) at its C terminus. PBD is postulated to be essential for Plk1 localization and substrate targeting. Here, we developed a high-throughput screening system to identify inhibitors of PBD-dependent binding and screened a chemical library. We isolated a benzotropolone-containing natural compound derived from nutgalls (purpurogallin (PPG)) that inhibited PBD-dependent binding in vitro and in vivo. PPG not only delayed the onset of mitosis but also prolonged the progression of mitosis in HeLa cells. Although apparently normal bipolar spindles were formed even in the presence of PPG, the perturbation of chromosome alignment at metaphase plates activated the spindle assembly checkpoint pathway. These results demonstrate the predominant role of PBD-dependent binding on smooth chromosome congression at metaphase.

The host defense peptide beta-defensin 1 confers protection against Bordetella pertussis in newborn piglets.

PubMed

Elahi, Shokrollah; Buchanan, Rachelle M; Attah-Poku, Sam; Townsend, Hugh G G; Babiuk, Lorne A; Gerdts, Volker

2006-04-01

Innate immunity plays an important role in protection against respiratory infections in humans and animals. Host defense peptides such as beta-defensins represent major components of innate immunity. We recently developed a novel porcine model of pertussis, an important respiratory disease of young children and infants worldwide. Here, we investigated the role of porcine beta-defensin 1 (pBD-1), a porcine defensin homologue of human beta-defensin 2, in conferring protection against respiratory infection with Bordetella pertussis. In this model, newborn piglets were fully susceptible to infection and developed severe bronchopneumonia. In contrast, piglets older than 4 weeks of age were protected against infection with B. pertussis. Protection was associated with the expression of pBD-1 in the upper respiratory tract. In fact, pBD-1 expression was developmentally regulated, and the absence of pBD-1 was thought to contribute to the increased susceptibility of newborn piglets to infection with B. pertussis. Bronchoalveolar lavage specimens collected from older animals as well as chemically synthesized pBD-1 displayed strong antimicrobial activity against B. pertussis in vitro. Furthermore, in vivo treatment of newborn piglets with only 500 mug pBD-1 at the time of challenge conferred protection against infection with B. pertussis. Interestingly, pBD-1 displayed no bactericidal activity in vitro against Bordetella bronchiseptica, a closely related natural pathogen of pigs. Our results demonstrate that host defense peptides play an important role in protection against pertussis and are essential in modulating innate immune responses against respiratory infections.

Limited effectiveness of patent blue dye in addition to isotope scanning for identification of sentinel lymph nodes: Cross-sectional real-life study in 1024 breast cancer patients.

PubMed

Rauch, Philippe; Merlin, Jean-Louis; Leufflen, Lea; Salleron, Julia; Harlé, Alexandre; Olivier, Pierre; Marchal, Frédéric

2016-09-01

Although morbidity is reduced when sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is performed with dual isotopic and blue dye identification, the effectiveness of adding blue dye to radioisotope remains debated because side effects including anaphylactic reactions. Using data from a prospectively maintained database, 1884 lymph node-negative breast cancer patients who underwent partial mastectomy with SLN mapping by a dual-tracer using patent blue dye (PBD) and radioisotope were retrospectively studied between January 2000 and July 2013. Patients with tumors <3 cm and with >1 node detected by one of the two techniques (N = 1024) were included in this real-life cross-sectional study. Among the 1024 patients, 274 had positive SLN detected by isotopic and/or PBD staining. Only 4 patients having no detectable radioactivity in the axilla had SLN identified only by PBD staining (blue-only) while 26 patients had SLN only identified by isotopic detection (hot-only) illustrating failure rates of 9.5% (26/274) and 1.5% (4/274), respectively. Among these four patients, two had negative lymphoscintigraphy. Therefore, the contribution of PBD to metastatic nodes identification was relevant for only 2/274 patients (0.8%). Three patients (0.3%) had an allergic reaction with PBD, and anaphylactic shock occurred in two cases (0.2%). The added-value of PBD to reduce the false-negative rate of SLN mapping is only limited to the rare cases in which no radioactivity is detectable in the axilla (<1%). When a radioisotope mapping agent is available, the use of PBD should be avoided, because it can induce anaphylaxis. Copyright © 2016 IJS Publishing Group Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Spectroscopic study of non-amphiphilic 2-(4-biphenylyl)-5-(4- tert-butylphenyl)-l,3,4-oxadiazole aggregates at air-water interface and in Langmuir-Blodgett films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Acharya, Somobrata; Bhattacharjee, D.; Sarkar, Jyotirmoy; Talapatra, G. B.

2004-07-01

This Letter reports the spectroscopic characteristics of a non-amphiphilic 2-(4-biphenylyl)-5-(4- tert-butylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (buPBD) molecule, in Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films mixed with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) as well as with arachidic acid (AA). The π- A isotherms of buPBD mixed with PMMA/AA at different molefractions show that at very low surface pressure, a phase transition corresponding to a reorientation of the buPBD molecules occur, whereas at high surface pressure, buPBD molecules form aggregates among the hydrophobic tail part of PMMA/AA. Absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic study of the mixed LB films reveal formation of different types of aggregates.

Clinical effect of traditional Chinese spinal orthopedic manipulation in treatment of Functional Abdominal Pain Syndrome.

PubMed

Xing, Liyang; Qu, Liuxin; Chen, Hong; Gao, Song

2017-06-01

To evaluate the clinical effect of Traditional Chinese Spinal Orthopedic Manipulation (TCSOM) in treating Functional Abdominal Pain Syndrome (FAPS) in comparison with Pinaverium Bromide (Dicetel, PBD), and to assess a possible cause for FAPS. 60 cases of FAPS patients were randomly assigned to the TCSOM group and PBD group according to the random number table method. The TCSOM group was treated with thumb pressing manipulation, every other day in the first week, and once every three days in the second week, for 5 times treatments. Patients in the PBD group were instructed to take 50mg 3 times a day, consistently for 2 weeks. The symptoms of pre-treatment and post-treatment were assessed on a visual analog scale (VAS) pain score. A symptom improvement rating (SIR) was implemented in order to evaluate the effects of the treatments, and to statistically compare the two groups. The symptoms of 21 patients of the TCSOM group were resolved soon after the first spinal manipulation treatment and 4 cases were significantly improved. The VAS pain scores in the TCSOM group were significantly lower than those in the PBD group after 2 weeks treatment. According to the SIR based on VAS, the TCSOM research group included 20 cases with excellent results, 8 cases with good, and 2 cases with poor. There were no side effects in the TCSOM group after treatment. Based on VAS, the PBD research group reported 6 cases with excellent results, 8 cases with good and 16 cases with poor. All cases were statistically analyzed, revealing a significant difference (P<0.001) between the two groups. TCSOM group performed much better than PBD group for relief of the symptoms of FAPS. Thumb pressing manipulation on the thoracic and/or lumbar region can correct the displacement of inter-vertebral discs and/or vertebra, resolving the stimuli caused by pressure exerting on the nerves and vessels around the spine. with thumb pressing manipulation on the Back-Shu acupoints, the Jiaji (EX-B2) and the governor vessel acupoint had a very good clinical effect for abdominal pain indicating that it is an effective treatment for FAPS. Copyright © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Effects on Polo-like Kinase 1 Polo-box Domain Binding Affinities of Peptides Incurred by Structural Variation at the Phosphoamino Acid Position

PubMed Central

Qian, Wenjian; Park, Jung-Eun; Liu, Fa; Lee, Kyung S.; Burke, Terrence R.

2012-01-01

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) mediated by the polo-box domain (PBD) of polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) serve important roles in cell proliferation. Critical elements in the high affinity recognition of peptides and proteins by PBD are derived from pThr/pSer-residues in the binding ligands. However, there has been little examination of pThr/pSer mimetics within a PBD context. Our current paper compares the abilities of a variety of amino acid residues and derivatives to serve as pThr/pSer replacements by exploring the role of methyl functionality at the pThr β–position and by replacing the phosphoryl group by phosphonic acid, sulfonic acid and carboxylic acids. This work sheds new light on structure activity relationships for PBD recognition of phosphoamino acid mimetics. PMID:22743087

The phosphatidic acid-binding, polybasic domain is responsible for the differences in the phosphoregulation of lipins 1 and 3.

PubMed

Boroda, Salome; Takkellapati, Sankeerth; Lawrence, Robert T; Entwisle, Samuel W; Pearson, Jennifer M; Granade, Mitchell E; Mullins, Garrett R; Eaton, James M; Villén, Judit; Harris, Thurl E

2017-12-15

Lipins 1, 2, and 3 are Mg 2+ -dependent phosphatidic acid phosphatases and catalyze the penultimate step of triacylglycerol synthesis. We have previously investigated the biochemistry of lipins 1 and 2 and shown that di-anionic phosphatidic acid (PA) augments their activity and lipid binding and that lipin 1 activity is negatively regulated by phosphorylation. In the present study, we show that phosphorylation does not affect the catalytic activity of lipin 3 or its ability to associate with PA in vitro The lipin proteins each contain a conserved polybasic domain (PBD) composed of nine lysine and arginine residues located between the conserved N- and C-terminal domains. In lipin 1, the PBD is the site of PA binding and sensing of the PA electrostatic charge. The specific arrangement and number of the lysines and arginines of the PBD vary among the lipins. We show that the different PBDs of lipins 1 and 3 are responsible for the presence of phosphoregulation on the former but not the latter enzyme. To do so, we generated lipin 1 that contained the PBD of lipin 3 and vice versa. The lipin 1 enzyme with the lipin 3 PBD lost its ability to be regulated by phosphorylation but remained downstream of phosphorylation by mammalian target of rapamycin. Conversely, the presence of the lipin 1 PBD in lipin 3 subjected the enzyme to negative intramolecular control by phosphorylation. These results indicate a mechanism for the observed differences in lipin phosphoregulation in vitro . © 2017 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Structures of Human Golgi-resident Glutaminyl Cyclase and Its Complexes with Inhibitors Reveal a Large Loop Movement upon Inhibitor Binding*

PubMed Central

Huang, Kai-Fa; Liaw, Su-Sen; Huang, Wei-Lin; Chia, Cho-Yun; Lo, Yan-Chung; Chen, Yi-Ling; Wang, Andrew H.-J.

2011-01-01

Aberrant pyroglutamate formation at the N terminus of certain peptides and proteins, catalyzed by glutaminyl cyclases (QCs), is linked to some pathological conditions, such as Alzheimer disease. Recently, a glutaminyl cyclase (QC) inhibitor, PBD150, was shown to be able to reduce the deposition of pyroglutamate-modified amyloid-β peptides in brain of transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer disease, leading to a significant improvement of learning and memory in those transgenic animals. Here, we report the 1.05–1.40 Å resolution structures, solved by the sulfur single-wavelength anomalous dispersion phasing method, of the Golgi-luminal catalytic domain of the recently identified Golgi-resident QC (gQC) and its complex with PBD150. We also describe the high-resolution structures of secretory QC (sQC)-PBD150 complex and two other gQC-inhibitor complexes. gQC structure has a scaffold similar to that of sQC but with a relatively wider and negatively charged active site, suggesting a distinct substrate specificity from sQC. Upon binding to PBD150, a large loop movement in gQC allows the inhibitor to be tightly held in its active site primarily by hydrophobic interactions. Further comparisons of the inhibitor-bound structures revealed distinct interactions of the inhibitors with gQC and sQC, which are consistent with the results from our inhibitor assays reported here. Because gQC and sQC may play different biological roles in vivo, the different inhibitor binding modes allow the design of specific inhibitors toward gQC and sQC. PMID:21288892

Structures of human Golgi-resident glutaminyl cyclase and its complexes with inhibitors reveal a large loop movement upon inhibitor binding.

PubMed

Huang, Kai-Fa; Liaw, Su-Sen; Huang, Wei-Lin; Chia, Cho-Yun; Lo, Yan-Chung; Chen, Yi-Ling; Wang, Andrew H-J

2011-04-08

Aberrant pyroglutamate formation at the N terminus of certain peptides and proteins, catalyzed by glutaminyl cyclases (QCs), is linked to some pathological conditions, such as Alzheimer disease. Recently, a glutaminyl cyclase (QC) inhibitor, PBD150, was shown to be able to reduce the deposition of pyroglutamate-modified amyloid-β peptides in brain of transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer disease, leading to a significant improvement of learning and memory in those transgenic animals. Here, we report the 1.05-1.40 Å resolution structures, solved by the sulfur single-wavelength anomalous dispersion phasing method, of the Golgi-luminal catalytic domain of the recently identified Golgi-resident QC (gQC) and its complex with PBD150. We also describe the high-resolution structures of secretory QC (sQC)-PBD150 complex and two other gQC-inhibitor complexes. gQC structure has a scaffold similar to that of sQC but with a relatively wider and negatively charged active site, suggesting a distinct substrate specificity from sQC. Upon binding to PBD150, a large loop movement in gQC allows the inhibitor to be tightly held in its active site primarily by hydrophobic interactions. Further comparisons of the inhibitor-bound structures revealed distinct interactions of the inhibitors with gQC and sQC, which are consistent with the results from our inhibitor assays reported here. Because gQC and sQC may play different biological roles in vivo, the different inhibitor binding modes allow the design of specific inhibitors toward gQC and sQC.

Plasma Carotenoids and the Risk of Premalignant Breast Disease in Women Aged 50 and Younger: A Nested Case-Control Study

PubMed Central

Cohen, Kevin; Liu, Ying; Luo, Jingqin; Appleton, Catherine M.; Colditz, Graham A.

2017-01-01

Purpose To examine the association of plasma carotenoids, micronutrients in fruits and vegetables, with risk of premalignant breast disease (PBD) in younger women. Methods Blood samples were collected at the Siteman Cancer Center between 2008 and 2012 from 3,537 women aged 50 or younger with no history of cancer or PBD. The analysis included 147 participants diagnosed with benign breast disease or breast carcinoma in situ during a 27-month followup and 293 controls. Cases and controls were matched on age, race/ethnicity, and date of and fasting status at blood draw. Plasma carotenoids were quantified. We used logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and linear regression to assess racial differences in plasma carotenoids. Results The risk reduction between the highest and lowest tertiles varied by carotenoid, with β-cryptoxanthin having the greatest reduction (OR 0.62; 95% CI, 0.62–1.09; Ptrend=0.056) and total carotenoids the least (OR 0.83; 95% CI, 0.48–1.44; Ptrend=0.12). We observed an inverse association between plasma carotenoids and risk of PBD in obese women (BMI≥30 kg/m2; 61 cases and 115 controls) but not lean women (BMI<25 kg/m2; 54 cases and 79 controls), although the interaction was not statistically significant. Compared to white women, black women had lower levels of α and β-carotene and higher levels of β-cryptoxanthin and lutein/zeaxanthin. Conclusions We observed suggestive inverse associations between plasma carotenoids and risk of PBD in younger women , consistent with inverse associations reported for invasive breast cancer. Carotenoids may play a role early in breast cancer development. PMID:28190250

Core microstructure, morphology and chain arrangement of block copolymer self-assemblies as investigated by thermal field-flow fractionation.

PubMed

Muza, U L; Greyling, G; Pasch, H

2018-08-10

The self-assembly of block copolymers (BCPs), as a result of solvent selectivity for one block, has recently received significant attention due to novel applications of BCPs in pharmaceuticals, biomedicine, cosmetics, electronics and nanotechnology. The correlation of BCP microstructure and the structure of the resulting self-assemblies requires advanced analytical methods. However, traditional bulk characterization techniques are limited in the quest of providing detailed information regarding molar mass (M w ), hydrodynamic size (D h ), chemical composition, and morphology for these self-assemblies. In the present study, thermal field-flow fractionation (ThFFF) is utilised to investigate the impact of core microstructure on the resultant solution properties of vesicles prepared from polystyrene-polybutadiene block copolymers (PS-b-PBd) with 1.2- and 1.4-polybutadiene blocks, respectively. As compared to investigations on the impact of the corona microstructure, the impact of core microstructure on micellar properties has largely been neglected in previous work. In N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) these BCPs form vesicles having PS shells and PBd cores. D h , M w , aggregation number, and critical micelle concentration of these micelles are shown to be sensitive to the core microstructure, therefore, demonstrating the potential of microstructural differences to be used for providing tuneable pathways to specific self-assemblies. It is shown that micelles prepared from BCPs of similar PS and PBd block sizes are successfully separated by ThFFF. It is further demonstrated in this study that PS-b-PBd vesicles and PS homopolymers of identical surface chemistry (PS) and comparable D h in DMAc, can be separated by ThFFF. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[The photoluminescence characteristics of organic multilayer quantum wells].

PubMed

Zhao, De-Wei; Song, Shu-Fang; Zhao, Su-Ling; Xu, Zheng; Wang, Yong-Sheng; Xu, Xu-Rong

2007-04-01

By the use of multi-source high-vaccum organic beam deposition system, the authors prepared organic multilayer quantum well structures, which consist of alternate organic small molecule materials PBD and Alq3. Based on 4-period organic quantum wells, different samples with different thickness barriers and wells were prepared. The authors measured the lowest unoccupied molecular orbit (LUMO) and the highest occupied molecular orbit (HOMO) by electrochemistry cyclic voltammetry and optical absorption. From the energy diagrams, it seems like type-I quantum well structures of the inorganic semiconductor, in which PBD is used as a barrier layer and Alq3 as a well layer and emitter. From small angle X-ray diffraction measurements, the results indicate that these structures have high interface quality and uniformity. The photoluminescence characteristics of organic multilayer quantum wells were investigated. The PL peak has a blue-shift with the decrease of the well layer thickness. Meanwhile as the barrier thickness decreases the PL peaks of PBD disappear gradually. And the energy may be effectively transferred from PBD to Alq3, inducing an enhancement of the luminescence of Alq3.

[Phosphorescent effect of Ir (ppy)3 on the luminescent characteristic of Rubrene].

PubMed

Xu, Hong-Hua; Xu, Zheng; Zhang, Fu-Jun; Zhao, Su-Ling; Yuan, Guang-Cai; Chen, Yue-Ning

2008-07-01

Many organic matters including heavy metal ions can validly utilize the singlet and triplet for luminescence owiog to the spin-orbit coupling. As a result, the internal quantum efficiency can easily achieve a value higher than traditional organic light emitting diodes in theory. There is a strong luminescence of PVK in PVK : PBD : Rubrene system. PL spectra excited by 345 nm of PVK : PBD : Rubrene thin film has a 410 nm PVK luminescent peak and a 560 nm Rubrene peak. EL still has a PVK luminescent peak, which should be kept from happening. Excitons can not adequately transferred from the matrix solution to Rubrene. The doping with Ir(ppy)3 improves the PVK : PBD : Rubrene system performance. PL spectra excited by 345 nm of PVK : PBD : Ir(ppy)3 : Rubrene with low concentration of Rubrene has a 510 nm Ir(ppy)3 peak and a new 548 nm one. However, the Ir(ppy)3 peak is smaller and the Rubrene one is bigger in EL spectra. Notably a strong and single luminescence of Rubrene is obtained in EL and PL spectra excited by 345 nm of PVK : PBD : Ir(ppy)3 : Rubrene with high concentration of Rubrene. Meanwhile, the Ir(ppy)3 luminescent peak disappears. The mechanism originates from the phosphorescent effect of Ir (ppy)3. The singlet excitons can basically be transferred from PVK : PBD or Ir(ppy)3 to Rubrene. But most excitons from Ir (ppy)3 can directly tunnel to the fluorescent material and come into being singlet states that can return to ground states and cause luminescence. Rubrene can accept proportional excitons with low concentration. While the concentration of Rubrene is higher, excitons can be entirely accepted by Rubrene. The effect also restricts the luminescent intensity of Ir(ppy)3 and boosts up that of Rubrene. Furthermore, the energy transfer in PVK : PBD : Ir(ppy)3 : Rubrene system is primary the Forester energy transfer. Excitation spectra of Rubrene and emission spectra of Ir(ppy)3 have a large overlap revealing that there is a strong energy transfer and further confirmed the phosphorescent effect of Ir(ppy)3. The doping system with phosphorescence material and small molecules can enhance the brightness and internal quantum efficiency.

Treatment moderators of child- and family-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy for pediatric bipolar disorder.

PubMed

Weinstein, Sally M; Henry, David B; Katz, Andrea C; Peters, Amy T; West, Amy E

2015-02-01

Prior work has demonstrated the efficacy of child- and family-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (CFF-CBT) versus enhanced treatment as usual (TAU; unstructured psychotherapy) for pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD). The current study builds on primary findings by examining baseline child, parent, and family characteristics as moderators of symptom response trajectories. A total of 69 youth aged 7 to 13 years (mean = 9.19 years, SD = 1.61 years) with DSM-IV-TR bipolar I, II, or not otherwise specified (NOS) were randomly assigned, with family members, to CFF-CBT or TAU. Both treatments consisted of 12 weekly sessions and 6 monthly booster sessions. Participants were assessed at baseline, 4, 8, and 12 weeks, and 6-month follow-up on mania and depression symptoms and overall psychiatric severity. Parents and youth also provided self-report data on baseline characteristics. CFF-CBT demonstrated greater efficacy for youth depressive symptoms relative to TAU for parents with higher baseline depressive symptoms and lower income, and marginally for families with higher cohesion. In addition, youth with lower baseline depression and youth with higher self-esteem showed a poorer response to TAU versus CFF-CBT on mania symptom outcomes. Age, sex, baseline mania symptoms, comorbidity, and suicidality did not moderate treatment response. Results indicate that CFF-CBT was relatively immune to the presence of treatment moderators. Findings suggest the need for specialized treatment to address symptoms of PBD in the context of parental symptomatology and financial stress. Copyright © 2015 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Peroxisomal biogenesis is genetically and biochemically linked to carbohydrate metabolism in Drosophila and mouse

PubMed Central

Chao, Yu-Hsin; Giagtzoglou, Nikolaos; Putluri, Nagireddy; Coarfa, Cristian; Donti, Taraka; Faust, Joseph E.; McNew, James A.; Sardiello, Marco; Baes, Myriam; Bellen, Hugo J.

2017-01-01

Peroxisome biogenesis disorders (PBD) are a group of multi-system human diseases due to mutations in the PEX genes that are responsible for peroxisome assembly and function. These disorders lead to global defects in peroxisomal function and result in severe brain, liver, bone and kidney disease. In order to study their pathogenesis we undertook a systematic genetic and biochemical study of Drosophila pex16 and pex2 mutants. These mutants are short-lived with defects in locomotion and activity. Moreover these mutants exhibit severe morphologic and functional peroxisomal defects. Using metabolomics we uncovered defects in multiple biochemical pathways including defects outside the canonical specialized lipid pathways performed by peroxisomal enzymes. These included unanticipated changes in metabolites in glycolysis, glycogen metabolism, and the pentose phosphate pathway, carbohydrate metabolic pathways that do not utilize known peroxisomal enzymes. In addition, mutant flies are starvation sensitive and are very sensitive to glucose deprivation exhibiting dramatic shortening of lifespan and hyperactivity on low-sugar food. We use bioinformatic transcriptional profiling to examine gene co-regulation between peroxisomal genes and other metabolic pathways and we observe that the expression of peroxisomal and carbohydrate pathway genes in flies and mouse are tightly correlated. Indeed key steps in carbohydrate metabolism were found to be strongly co-regulated with peroxisomal genes in flies and mice. Moreover mice lacking peroxisomes exhibit defective carbohydrate metabolism at the same key steps in carbohydrate breakdown. Our data indicate an unexpected link between these two metabolic processes and suggest metabolism of carbohydrates could be a new therapeutic target for patients with PBD. PMID:28640802

Adaptive changes in translation initiation activities for rat pancreatic protein synthesis with feeding of a high-protein diet.

PubMed

Hashi, Masaru; Yoshizawa, Fumiaki; Onozuka, Emi; Ogata, Momoko; Hara, Hiroshi

2005-08-01

We have previously demonstrated that dietary protein induced pancreatic hypergrowth in pancreaticobiliary diverted (PBD) rats. Dietary protein and dietary amino acids stimulate protein synthesis by regulating translation initiation in the rat skeletal muscle and liver. The aim of the present study was to determine whether feeding a high-protein diet induces activation of translation initiation for protein synthesis in the rat pancreas. In PBD rats in which the bile-pancreatic juice was surgically diverted to the upper ileum for 11-13 days, pancreatic dry weight and protein content were doubled compared with those in sham rats and further increased with feeding of a high-protein diet (60% casein diet) for 2 days. These pancreatic growth parameters were maintained at high levels for the next 5 days and were much higher than those of sham rats fed a high-protein diet. In both sham and PBD rats, feeding of a high-protein diet for 2 days induced phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 and 70-kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinase, indicating the activation of the initiation phase of translation for pancreatic protein synthesis. However, this increased phosphorylation returned to normal levels on Day 7 in PBD but not in sham rats. We concluded that feeding a high-protein diet induced pancreatic growth with increases in the translation initiation activities for pancreatic protein synthesis within 2 days and that prolonged feeding of a high-protein diet changed the initiation activities differently in sham and PBD rats.

Behavioral Change Theories Can Inform the Prediction of Young Adults' Adoption of a Plant-Based Diet

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wyker, Brett A.; Davison, Kirsten K.

2010-01-01

Objective: Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Transtheoretical Model (TTM), this study (1) examines links between stages of change for following a plant-based diet (PBD) and consuming more fruits and vegetables (FV); (2) tests an integrated theoretical model predicting intention to follow a PBD; and (3) identifies associated…

Preoperative biliary drainage using a fully covered self-expandable metallic stent for pancreatic head cancer: A prospective feasibility study.

PubMed

Togawa, Osamu; Isayama, Hiroyuki; Kawakami, Hiroshi; Nakai, Yousuke; Mohri, Dai; Hamada, Tsuyoshi; Kogure, Hirofumi; Kawakubo, Kazumichi; Sakamoto, Naoya; Koike, Kazuhiko; Kita, Hiroto

2018-01-01

The role of endoscopic preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) for pancreatic head cancer is controversial because of the high incidence of stent occlusion before surgery. This study was performed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of PBD using a fully covered self-expandable metallic stent (FCSEMS). This multicenter prospective study involved 26 patients treated for pancreatic head cancer with distal bile duct obstruction from April 2011 to March 2013. An FCSEMS was endoscopically placed in 24 patients. Among these, 7 patients were diagnosed with unresectable cancer, and 17 underwent surgery at a median of 18 days after FCSEMS placement. The main outcome measure was preoperative and postoperative adverse events. Two adverse events (cholecystitis and insufficient resolution of jaundice) occurred between FCSEMS placement and surgery (12%). Postoperative adverse events occurred in eight patients (47%). The cumulative incidence of stent-related adverse events 4 and 8 weeks after FCSEMS placement among the 24 patients who underwent this procedure were 19%. PBD using an FCSEMS is feasible in patients with resectable pancreatic head cancer. Placement of an FCSEMS can be an alternative PBD technique when surgery without delay is impossible. A larger randomized controlled trial is warranted.

Assessment of Pneumatic Balloon Dilation in Patients with Symptomatic Relapse after Failed Heller Myotomy: A Single Center Experience.

PubMed

Amani, Mohammad; Fazlollahi, Narges; Shirani, Shapour; Malekzadeh, Reza; Mikaeli, Javad

2016-01-01

BACKGROUND Although Heller myotomy is one of the most effective treatments for achalasia, it may be associated with early or late symptom relapse in some patients. Therefore, additional treatment is required to achieve better control of symptoms. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of pneumatic balloon dilation (PBD) in patients with symptom relapse after Heller myotomy. METHODS Thirty six post-myotomy patients were evaluated from 1993 to 2013. Six patients were excluded from the analysis because of comorbid diseases or epiphrenic diverticula. Thirty patients were treated with PBD. Primary outcome was defined as a decrease in symptom score to 4 or less and a reduction greater than 80% from the baseline in the volume of barium in timed barium esophagogram in 6 weeks. Achalasia symptom score (ASS) was assessed at 1.5, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment and then every six months in all patients and PBD was repeated in case of symptom relapse (ASS>4). RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 45.5±13.9 years (range: 21-73). Primary outcome was observed in 25 patients (83%). The mean ASS of the patients dropped from 7.8 before treatment to 1.3±2.0 at 1.5 months after treatment (p=0.0001). The mean volume and height of barium decreased from 43.1±33.4 and 7.1±4.7 to 6.0±17.1 and 1.1±2.2, respectively (p=0.003, p=0.003). The mean duration of follow-up was 11.8±6.3 years. At the end of the study, 21 patients (70%) reported sustained good response. No major complications such as perforation or gross bleeding were seen. CONCLUSION PBD is an effective and safe treatment option for achalasia in patients with symptom relapse after Heller myotomy.

Effect of preoperative biliary drainage on bacterial flora in bile of patients with periampullary cancer.

PubMed

Scheufele, F; Aichinger, L; Jäger, C; Demir, I E; Schorn, S; Sargut, M; Erkan, M; Kleeff, J; Friess, H; Ceyhan, G O

2017-01-01

Patients with obstructive jaundice due to periampullary tumours may undergo preoperative biliary drainage (PBD). The effect of PBD on the microbiome of the biliary system and on postoperative outcome remains unclear. A single-centre retrospective study of patients with obstructive jaundice due to periampullary cancer, treated between July 2007 and July 2015, was undertaken. Intraoperative bile samples were obtained for microbiological analysis after transection of the common bile duct. Postoperative complications were registered. Of 290 patients treated, intraoperative bile samples were present for 172 patients (59·3 per cent) who had PBD and 118 (40·7 per cent) who did not. Contamination of bile was increased significantly in patients who underwent stenting (97·1 per cent versus 18·6 per cent in those without stenting; P < 0·001). PBD resulted in a shift in the biliary microbiome from Escherichia coli in non-stented patients (45 per cent versus 19·2 per cent in stented patients; P = 0·009) towards increased contamination with Enterococcus faecalis (9 versus 37·7 per cent respectively; P = 0·008) and Enterobacter cloacae (0 versus 20·4 per cent; P = 0·033). This shift was associated with a high incidence of bacterial resistance against ampicillin-sulbactam (63·6 per cent versus 18 per cent in patients with no PBD; P < 0·001), piperacillin-tazobactam (30·1 versus 0 per cent respectively; P = 0·003), ciprofloxacin (28·5 versus 5 per cent; P = 0·047) and imipenem (26·6 versus 0 per cent; P = 0·011). The rate of wound infection was higher in patients with a positive bile culture (21·0 per cent versus 6 per cent in patients with sterile bile; P = 0·002). Regression analysis revealed the presence of Enterococcus faecium (odds ratio 2·83, 95 per cent c.i. 1·17 to 6·84; P = 0·021) and Citrobacter species (odds ratio 5·09, 1·65 to 15·71; P = 0·005) as independent risk factors for postoperative wound infection. There are fundamental differences in the biliary microbiome of patients with periampullary cancer who undergo PBD and those who do not. PBD induces a shift of the biliary microbiome towards a more aggressive and resistant spectrum, which requires a differentiated perioperative antibiotic treatment strategy. © 2017 BJS Society Ltd Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Predicting the Timing of Cherry Blossoms in Washington, DC and Mid-Atlantic States in Response to Climate Change

PubMed Central

Chung, Uran; Mack, Liz; Yun, Jin I.; Kim, Soo-Hyung

2011-01-01

Cherry blossoms, an icon of spring, are celebrated in many cultures of the temperate region. For its sensitivity to winter and early spring temperatures, the timing of cherry blossoms is an ideal indicator of the impacts of climate change on tree phenology. Here, we applied a process-based phenology model for temperate deciduous trees to predict peak bloom dates (PBD) of flowering cherry trees (Prunus×yedoensis ‘Yoshino’ and Prunus serrulata ‘Kwanzan’) in the Tidal Basin, Washington, DC and the surrounding Mid-Atlantic States in response to climate change. We parameterized the model with observed PBD data from 1991 to 2010. The calibrated model was tested against independent datasets of the past PBD data from 1951 to 1970 in the Tidal Basin and more recent PBD data from other locations (e.g., Seattle, WA). The model performance against these independent data was satisfactory (Yoshino: r2 = 0.57, RMSE = 6.6 days, bias = 0.9 days and Kwanzan: r2 = 0.76, RMSE = 5.5 days, bias = −2.0 days). We then applied the model to forecast future PBD for the region using downscaled climate projections based on IPCC's A1B and A2 emissions scenarios. Our results indicate that PBD at the Tidal Basin are likely to be accelerated by an average of five days by 2050 s and 10 days by 2080 s for these cultivars under a mid-range (A1B) emissions scenario projected by ECHAM5 general circulation model. The acceleration is likely to be much greater (13 days for 2050 s and 29 days for 2080s ) under a higher (A2) emissions scenario projected by CGCM2 general circulation model. Our results demonstrate the potential impacts of climate change on the timing of cherry blossoms and illustrate the utility of a simple process-based phenology model for developing adaptation strategies to climate change in horticulture, conservation planning, restoration and other related disciplines. PMID:22087317

Multicenter study of endoscopic preoperative biliary drainage for malignant hilar biliary obstruction: E-POD hilar study.

PubMed

Nakai, Yousuke; Yamamoto, Ryuichi; Matsuyama, Masato; Sakai, Yuji; Takayama, Yukiko; Ushio, Jun; Ito, Yukiko; Kitamura, Katsuya; Ryozawa, Shomei; Imamura, Tsunao; Tsuchida, Kouhei; Hayama, Jo; Itoi, Takao; Kawaguchi, Yoshiaki; Yoshida, Yu; Sugimori, Kazuya; Shimura, Kenji; Mizuide, Masafumi; Iwai, Tomohisa; Nishikawa, Ko; Yagioka, Hiroshi; Nagahama, Masatsugu; Toda, Nobuo; Saito, Tomotaka; Yasuda, Ichiro; Hirano, Kenji; Togawa, Osamu; Nakamura, Kenji; Maetani, Iruru; Sasahira, Naoki; Isayama, Hiroyuki

2018-05-01

Endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD) is often recommended in preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) for hilar malignant biliary obstruction (MBO), but endoscopic biliary stent (EBS) is also used in the clinical practice. We conducted this large-scale multicenter study to compare ENBD and EBS in this setting. A total of 374 cases undergoing PBD including 281 ENBD and 76 EBS for hilar MBO in 29 centers were retrospectively studied. Extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC) accounted for 69.8% and Bismuth-Corlette classification was III or more in 58.8% of the study population. Endoscopic PBD was technically successful in 94.6%, and adverse event rate was 21.9%. The rate of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis was 16.0%, and non-endoscopic sphincterotomy was the only risk factor (odds ratio [OR] 2.51). Preoperative re-intervention was performed in 61.5%: planned re-interventions in 48.4% and unplanned re-interventions in 31.0%. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage was placed in 6.4% at the time of surgery. The risk factors for unplanned procedures were ECC (OR 2.64) and total bilirubin ≥ 10 mg/dL (OR 2.18). In surgically resected cases, prognostic factors were ECC (hazard ratio [HR] 0.57), predraiange magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (HR 1.62) and unplanned re-interventions (HR 1.81). EBS was not associated with increased adverse events, unplanned re-interventions, or a poor prognosis. Our retrospective analysis did not demonstrate the advantage of ENBD over EBS as the initial PBD for resectable hilar MBO. Although the technical success rate of endoscopic PBD was high, its re-intervention rate was not negligible, and unplanned re-intervention was associated with a poor prognosis in resected hilar MBO. © 2017 Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

Amphibian beta diversity in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: contrasting the roles of historical events and contemporary conditions at different spatial scales.

PubMed

da Silva, Fernando Rodrigues; Almeida-Neto, Mário; Arena, Mariana Victorino Nicolosi

2014-01-01

Current patterns of biodiversity distribution result from a combination of historical and contemporary processes. Here, we compiled checklists of amphibian species to assess the roles of long-term climate stability (Quaternary oscillations), contemporary environmental gradients and geographical distance as determinants of change in amphibian taxonomic and phylogenetic composition in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We calculated beta diversity as both variation in species composition (CBD) and phylogenetic differentiation (PBD) among the assemblages. In both cases, overall beta diversity was partitioned into two basic components: species replacement and difference in species richness. Our results suggest that the CBD and PBD of amphibians are determined by spatial turnover. Geographical distance, current environmental gradients and long-term climatic conditions were complementary predictors of the variation in CBD and PBD of amphibian species. Furthermore, the turnover components between sites from different regions and between sites within the stable region were greater than between sites within the unstable region. On the other hand, the proportion of beta-diversity due to species richness difference for both CBD and PBD was higher between sites in the unstable region than between sites in the stable region. The high turnover components from CBD and PBD between sites in unstable vs stable regions suggest that these distinct regions have different biogeographic histories. Sites in the stable region shared distinct clades that might have led to greater diversity, whereas sites in the unstable region shared close relatives. Taken together, these results indicate that speciation, environmental filtering and limited dispersal are complementary drivers of beta-diversity of amphibian assemblages in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.

Preoperative biliary decompression preceding pancreaticoduodenectomy with plastic or self-expandable metallic stent.

PubMed

Haapamäki, C; Seppänen, H; Udd, M; Juuti, A; Halttunen, J; Kiviluoto, T; Sirén, J; Mustonen, H; Kylänpää, L

2015-06-01

The rainage (PBD) prior to pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is controversial. If PBD is required, large bore self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS) are thought to maintain better drainage and have fewer postoperative complications than plastic stents. The confirming evidence is scarce. The aim of the study was to compare outcomes of surgery in patients who underwent PBD with SEMS or plastic stents deployed at endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). This is a retrospective study of 366 patients having had PD during 2000-2009. Preceding endoscopic PBD was performed in 191 patients and nine had had percutaneous transhepatic drainage (PTD). At the time of operation, 163 patients had a plastic stent and 28 had SEMS. Due to stent exchanges, 176 plastic stents and 29 SEMS were placed in all. The stent failure rate was 7.4% for plastic stents and 3.4% for SEMS (p = 0.697). A bilirubin level under 50 µmol/L was reached by 80% of the patients with plastic stents and by 61% of the patients with SEMS (p = 0.058). A postoperative infection complication and/or a pancreatic fistula was found in 26% while using plastic stents and in 25% using SEMS (p = 1.000). In unstented patients with biliary obstruction, the bile juice was sterile significantly more often than in endoscopically stented patients (100% vs 1%, p < 0.001). When the stented and unstented patients were compared regarding postoperative infection complications, there was no significant difference between the groups (p = 0.365). Plastic stents did not differ from SEMS regarding the stent failure rate, bilirubin level decrease, amount of bacteria in the bile juice, or postoperative complications when used for PBD. The significantly higher price of SEMS suggests their use in selected cases only. © The Finnish Surgical Society 2014.

A Clinical Observation of Functional Abdominal Pain Syndrome in Patients Treated by Traditional Chinese Spinal Orthopedic Manipulation.

PubMed

Qu, Liu-Xin; Xing, Li-Yang; Wanda, Norman; Chen, Hong; Li, Ming-Ju; Gao, Song; Li, Ping

2018-02-01

To evaluate the clinical effect of traditional Chinese spinal orthopedic manipulation (TCSOM) in treating patients with functional abdominal pain syndrome (FAPS) in comparison with Pinaverium Bromide (Dicetel, PBD), and to assess a possible cause for FAPS. Eighty patients with FAPS were randomly and equally assigned to the TCSOM group and PBD group according to the random number table. All patients in the TCSOM group were treated with a maximum of 5 times of spinal manipulations. Patients in the PBD group were instructed to take 50 mg 3 times a day, consistently for 2 weeks. The symptoms of pre- and post-treatment were assessed on a visual analog scale (VAS) pain score. A symptom improvement rating (SIR) was implemented to evaluate the effects of the treatments. The symptoms of 27 cases of the TCSOM group were relieved soon after the first TCSOM treatment and 9 cases were significantly improved. The VAS pain scores in the TCSOM group were significantly lower than those in the PBD group after 2 weeks treatment. According to the SIR based on VAS, the TCSOM group included 30 cases with excellent results, 7 cases with good, and 3 cases with poor. Adverse events to the treatment were not reported. Based on VAS, the PBD group reported 8 cases with excellent results, 10 cases with good and 22 cases with poor. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01). The displacement of intervertebral discs and/or vertebra in the thoracic or lumbar region seems to be a contributing factor in the symptoms of FAPS. TCSOM is an effective treatment for FAPS.

Longitudinal study of children with perinatal brain damage in whom early neurohabilitation was applied: Preliminary report.

PubMed

Harmony, Thalía; Barrera-Reséndiz, Jesús; Juárez-Colín, María Elena; Carrillo-Prado, Cristina; Pedraza-Aguilar, M del Consuelo; Asprón Ramírez, Aurora; Hinojosa-Rodríguez, Manuel; Fernández, Thalía; Ricardo-Garcell, Josefina

2016-01-12

The neurohabilitation treatment has been shown to be a successful method for decreasing the sequelae of perinatal brain damage (PBD) in Hungarian population. The goal of this pilot trial was to introduce this procedure by describing the results of its application in infants with PBD as demonstrated by clinical, developmental and MRI studies. As this procedure has proved to be useful, according the declaration of Helsinki, no control clinical trial was permitted. Infants younger than 2 months of corrected age (CA) with prenatal and/or perinatal risk factors for brain damage. Two groups were considered. One group was treated using the "neurohabilitation" method (n=20), and the other was not treated (n=13) because treatment was voluntarily discontinued after the initial evaluation. Evaluations were carried out prior to 2 months of CA and at 6-8 years of age. All children showed abnormal clinical and MRI characteristics in the first study. The treated group had a higher percentage (90%) of children with normal outcome than did the non-treated group (38%; OR=2.37, CI 95%=1.2-4.7; p<0.005). In this latter group, only one out of five (20%) children born at or before 34 weeks of gestational age had a normal outcome. In contrast, eight out of nine treated preterm infants had normal outcomes (8/9=89%, OR=4.45, CI 95%=0.7-26; p=0.017). This pilot trial confirms previous studies suggesting that Neurohabilitation decreases the neurological and cognitive sequelae of preterm and at-term infants with PBD. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

The role of membrane fluidization in the gel-assisted formation of giant polymersomes

DOE PAGES

Greene, Adrienne C.; Henderson, Ian M.; Gomez, Andrew; ...

2016-07-13

Polymersomes are being widely explored as synthetic analogs of lipid vesicles based on their enhanced stability and potential uses in a wide variety of applications in (e.g., drug delivery, cell analogs, etc.). Controlled formation of giant polymersomes for use in membrane studies and cell mimetic systems, however, is currently limited by low-yield production methodologies. Here, we describe for the first time, how the size distribution of giant poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(butadiene) (PEO-PBD) polymersomes formed by gel-assisted rehydration may be controlled based on membrane fluidization. We first show that the average diameter and size distribution of PEO-PBD polymersomes may be readily increased bymore » increasing the temperature of the rehydration solution. Further, we describe a correlative relationship between polymersome size and membrane fluidization through the addition of sucrose during rehydration, enabling the formation of PEO-PBD polymersomes with a range of diameters, including giant-sized vesicles (>100 μm). This correlative relationship suggests that sucrose may function as a small molecule fluidizer during rehydration, enhancing polymer diffusivity during formation and increasing polymersome size. Altogether the ability to easily regulate the size of PEO-PBD polymersomes based on membrane fluidity, either through temperature or fluidizers, has broadly applicability in areas including targeted therapeutic delivery and synthetic biology.« less

Magnetic Nanocomposites and Their Incorporation into Higher Order Biosynthetic Functional Architectures

DOE PAGES

Watt, John; Collins, Aaron M.; Vreeland, Erika C.; ...

2018-01-17

A magnetically active Fe 3O 4/poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(butadiene) (PEO-b-PBD) nanocomposite is formed by the encapsulation of magnetite nanoparticles with a short-chain amphiphilic block copolymer. This material is then incorporated into the self-assembly of higher order polymer architectures, along with an organic pigment, to yield biosynthetic, bifunctional optical and magnetically active Fe 3O 4/bacteriochlorophyll c/PEO-b-PBD polymeric chlorosomes.

High-brightness blue organic light emitting diodes with different types of guest-host systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xiao; Zhang, Jing-shuang; Peng, Cui-yun; Guo, Kun-ping; Wei, Bin; Zhang, Hao

2016-03-01

We demonstrate high-brightness blue organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) using two types of guest-host systems. A series of blue OLEDs were fabricated using three organic emitters of dibenz anthracene (perylene), di(4-fluorophenyl) amino-di (styryl) biphenyl (DSB) and 4,4'-bis[2-(9-ethyl-3-carbazolyl)vinyl]biphenyl (BCzVBi) doped into two hosting materials of 4,4'-bis(9-carbazolyl) biphenyl (CBP) and 2-(4-biphenylyl)-5(4-tert-butyl-phenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (PBD) as blue emitting layers, respectively. We achieve three kinds of devices with colors of deep-blue, pure-blue and sky-blue with the Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.16, 0.10), (0.15, 0.15) and (0.17, 0.24), respectively, by employing PBD as host material. In addition, we present a microcavity device using the PBD guest-host system and achieve high-purity blue devices with narrowed spectrum.

Real-time inextensible surgical thread simulation.

PubMed

Xu, Lang; Liu, Qian

2018-03-27

This paper discusses a real-time simulation method of inextensible surgical thread based on the Cosserat rod theory using position-based dynamics (PBD). The method realizes stable twining and knotting of surgical thread while including inextensibility, bending, twisting and coupling effects. The Cosserat rod theory is used to model the nonlinear elastic behavior of surgical thread. The surgical thread model is solved with PBD to achieve a real-time, extremely stable simulation. Due to the one-dimensional linear structure of surgical thread, the direct solution of the distance constraint based on tridiagonal matrix algorithm is used to enhance stretching resistance in every constraint projection iteration. In addition, continuous collision detection and collision response guarantee a large time step and high performance. Furthermore, friction is integrated into the constraint projection process to stabilize the twining of multiple threads and complex contact situations. Through comparisons with existing methods, the surgical thread maintains constant length under large deformation after applying the direct distance constraint in our method. The twining and knotting of multiple threads correspond to stable solutions to contact and friction forces. A surgical suture scene is also modeled to demonstrate the practicality and simplicity of our method. Our method achieves stable and fast simulation of inextensible surgical thread. Benefiting from the unified particle framework, the rigid body, elastic rod, and soft body can be simultaneously simulated. The method is appropriate for applications in virtual surgery that require multiple dynamic bodies.

Peptoid–Peptide Hybrid Ligands Targeting the Polo Box Domain of Polo-Like Kinase 1k | Center for Cancer Research

Cancer.gov

The cover picture shows the binding of a PLHSpT derivative, 6q, to the polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) polo-box domain (PBD), thereby uncovering a new hydrophobic channel (magnified upper right), which is absent in the unliganded protein (magnified lower left). The authors explain how, as a consequence of the additional interaction with the channel, the peptide binds to the Plk1 PBD

Integrating Taxonomic, Functional and Phylogenetic Beta Diversities: Interactive Effects with the Biome and Land Use across Taxa.

PubMed

Corbelli, Julian Martin; Zurita, Gustavo Andres; Filloy, Julieta; Galvis, Juan Pablo; Vespa, Natalia Isabel; Bellocq, Isabel

2015-01-01

The spatial distribution of species, functional traits and phylogenetic relationships at both the regional and local scales provide complementary approaches to study patterns of biodiversity and help to untangle the mechanisms driving community assembly. Few studies have simultaneously considered the taxonomic (TBD), functional (FBD) and phylogenetic (PBD) facets of beta diversity. Here we analyze the associations between TBD, FBD, and PBD with the biome (representing different regional species pools) and land use, and investigate whether TBD, FBD and PBD were correlated. In the study design we considered two widely used indicator taxa (birds and ants) from two contrasting biomes (subtropical forest and grassland) and land uses (tree plantations and cropfields) in the southern Neotropics. Non-metric multidimensional scaling showed that taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic distances were associated to biome and land use; study sites grouped into four groups on the bi-dimensional space (cropfields in forest and grassland, and tree plantations in forest and grassland), and that was consistent across beta diversity facets and taxa. Mantel and PERMANOVA tests showed that TBD, FBD and PBD were positively correlated for both bird and ant assemblages; in general, partial correlations were also significant. Some of the functional traits considered here were conserved along phylogeny. Our results will contribute to the development of sound land use planning and beta diversity conservation.

Integrating Taxonomic, Functional and Phylogenetic Beta Diversities: Interactive Effects with the Biome and Land Use across Taxa

PubMed Central

Corbelli, Julian Martin; Zurita, Gustavo Andres; Filloy, Julieta; Galvis, Juan Pablo; Vespa, Natalia Isabel; Bellocq, Isabel

2015-01-01

The spatial distribution of species, functional traits and phylogenetic relationships at both the regional and local scales provide complementary approaches to study patterns of biodiversity and help to untangle the mechanisms driving community assembly. Few studies have simultaneously considered the taxonomic (TBD), functional (FBD) and phylogenetic (PBD) facets of beta diversity. Here we analyze the associations between TBD, FBD, and PBD with the biome (representing different regional species pools) and land use, and investigate whether TBD, FBD and PBD were correlated. In the study design we considered two widely used indicator taxa (birds and ants) from two contrasting biomes (subtropical forest and grassland) and land uses (tree plantations and cropfields) in the southern Neotropics. Non-metric multidimensional scaling showed that taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic distances were associated to biome and land use; study sites grouped into four groups on the bi-dimensional space (cropfields in forest and grassland, and tree plantations in forest and grassland), and that was consistent across beta diversity facets and taxa. Mantel and PERMANOVA tests showed that TBD, FBD and PBD were positively correlated for both bird and ant assemblages; in general, partial correlations were also significant. Some of the functional traits considered here were conserved along phylogeny. Our results will contribute to the development of sound land use planning and beta diversity conservation. PMID:25978319

Improved antimicrobial compound production by a new isolate Streptomyces hygroscopicus MTCC 4003 using Plackett-Burman design and response Surface methodology.

PubMed

Singh, Neha; Rai, Vibhuti

2012-01-01

An active strain, isolated from soil of Chhattisgarh, India, showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against various pathogenic bacteria and fungi in glucose soybean meal broth. Strain was characterized as Streptomyces hygroscopicus MTCC 4003 based on 16S rRNA sequencing from Microbial Type culture Collection (MTCC), IMTECH, Chandigarh, India. Identification of the purified antimicrobial compound was done by using Infra-red (IR), Mass, Ultraviolet (UV), 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra. Plackett-Burman design (PBD) and response surface methodology (RSM) methods were used for the optimization of antibiotic production. Effects of the four medium components soybean meal, glucose, CaCO3 and MgSO4 showed positive effect on antibiotic production, were investigated with the help of PBD. The individual and interaction effects of the selected variables were determined by RSM using central composite design (CCD). Applying statistical design, antibiotic production was improved nearly ten times (412 mg/L) compared with unoptimized production medium (37 mg/L).

Ethics and Privacy Implications of Using the Internet and Social Media to Recruit Participants for Health Research: A Privacy-by-Design Framework for Online Recruitment

PubMed Central

Cyr, Alaina B; Arbuckle, Luk; Ferris, Lorraine E

2017-01-01

Background The Internet and social media offer promising ways to improve the reach, efficiency, and effectiveness of recruitment efforts at a reasonable cost, but raise unique ethical dilemmas. We describe how we used social media to recruit cancer patients and family caregivers for a research study, the ethical issues we encountered, and the strategies we developed to address them. Objective Drawing on the principles of Privacy by Design (PbD), a globally recognized standard for privacy protection, we aimed to develop a PbD framework for online health research recruitment. Methods We proposed a focus group study on the dietary behaviors of cancer patients and their families, and the role of Web-based dietary self-management tools. Using an established blog on our hospital website, we proposed publishing a recruitment post and sharing the link on our Twitter and Facebook pages. The Research Ethics Board (REB) raised concern about the privacy risks associated with our recruitment strategy; by clicking on a recruitment post, an individual could inadvertently disclose personal health information to third-party companies engaged in tracking online behavior. The REB asked us to revise our social media recruitment strategy with the following questions in mind: (1) How will you inform users about the potential for privacy breaches and their implications? and (2) How will you protect users from privacy breaches or inadvertently sharing potentially identifying information about themselves? Results Ethical guidelines recommend a proportionate approach to ethics assessment, which advocates for risk mitigation strategies that are proportional to the magnitude and probability of risks. We revised our social media recruitment strategy to inform users about privacy risks and to protect their privacy, while at the same time meeting our recruitment objectives. We provide a critical reflection of the perceived privacy risks associated with our social media recruitment strategy and the appropriateness of the risk mitigation strategies that we employed by assessing their alignment with PbD and by discussing the following: (1) What are the potential risks and who is at risk? (2) Is cancer considered “sensitive” personal information? (3) What is the probability of online disclosure of a cancer diagnosis in everyday life? and (4) What are the public’s expectations for privacy online and their views about online tracking, profiling, and targeting? We conclude with a PbD framework for online health research recruitment. Conclusions Researchers, REBs, ethicists, students, and potential study participants are often unaware of the privacy risks of social media research recruitment and there is no official guidance. Our PbD framework for online health research recruitment is a resource for these wide audiences. PMID:28385682

Actinobacillus succinogenes ATCC 55618 Fermentation Medium Optimization for the Production of Succinic Acid by Response Surface Methodology

PubMed Central

Zhu, Li-Wen; Wang, Cheng-Cheng; Liu, Rui-Sang; Li, Hong-Mei; Wan, Duan-Ji; Tang, Ya-Jie

2012-01-01

As a potential intermediary feedstock, succinic acid takes an important place in bulk chemical productions. For the first time, a method combining Plackett-Burman design (PBD), steepest ascent method (SA), and Box-Behnken design (BBD) was developed to optimize Actinobacillus succinogenes ATCC 55618 fermentation medium. First, glucose, yeast extract, and MgCO3 were identified to be key medium components by PBD. Second, preliminary optimization was run by SA method to access the optimal region of the key medium components. Finally, the responses, that is, the production of succinic acid, were optimized simultaneously by using BBD, and the optimal concentration was located to be 84.6 g L−1 of glucose, 14.5 g L−1 of yeast extract, and 64.7 g L−1 of MgCO3. Verification experiment indicated that the maximal succinic acid production of 52.7 ± 0.8 g L−1 was obtained under the identified optimal conditions. The result agreed with the predicted value well. Compared with that of the basic medium, the production of succinic acid and yield of succinic acid against glucose were enhanced by 67.3% and 111.1%, respectively. The results obtained in this study may be useful for the industrial commercial production of succinic acid. PMID:23093852

Expression and Secretion of Endostar Protein by Escherichia Coli: Optimization of Culture Conditions Using the Response Surface Methodology.

PubMed

Mohajeri, Abbas; Abdolalizadeh, Jalal; Pilehvar-Soltanahmadi, Younes; Kiafar, Farhad; Zarghami, Nosratollah

2016-10-01

Endostar as a specific drug in treatment of the nonsmall cell lung cancer is produced using Escherichia coli expression system. Plackett-Burman design (PBD) and response surface methodology (RSM) are statistical tools for experimental design and optimization of biotechnological processes. This investigation aimed to predict and develop the optimal culture condition and its components for expression and secretion of endostar into the culture medium of E. coli. The synthetic endostar coding sequence was fused with PhoA signal peptide. The nine factors involved in the production of recombinant protein-postinduction temperature, cell density, rotation speed, postinduction time, concentration of glycerol, IPTG, peptone, glycine, and triton X-100-were evaluated using PBD. Four significant factors were selected based on PBD results for optimizing culture condition using RSM. Endostar was purified using cation exchange chromatography and size exclusion chromatography. The maximum level of endostar was obtained under the following condition: 13.57-h postinduction time, 0.76 % glycine, 0.7 % triton X-100, and 4.87 % glycerol. The predicted levels of endostar was significantly correlated with experimental levels (R 2 = 0.982, P = 0.00). The obtained results indicated that PBD and RSM are effective tools for optimization of culture condition and its components for endostar production in E. coli. The most important factors in the enhancement of the protein production are glycerol, glycine, and postinduction time.

Microwave-immobilized polybutadiene stationary phase for reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

PubMed

Lopes, Nilva P; Collins, Kenneth E; Jardim, Isabel C S F

2004-03-19

Polybutadiene (PBD) has been immobilized on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) silica by microwave radiation at various power levels (52-663 W) and actuation times (3-60 min). Columns prepared from these reversed-phase HPLC materials, as well as from similar non-irradiated materials, were tested with standard sample mixtures and characterized by elemental analysis (%C) and infrared spectroscopy. A microwave irradiation of 20 min at 663 W gives a layer of immobilized PBD that presented good performance. Longer irradiation times give thicker immobilized layers having less favorable chromatographic properties.

Simulation-Based Medical Education Is No Better than Problem-Based Discussions and Induces Misjudgment in Self-Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wenk, Manuel; Waurick, Rene; Schotes, David; Wenk, Melanie; Gerdes, Christina; Van Aken, Hugo K.; Popping, Daniel M.

2009-01-01

Simulation-based teaching (SBT) is increasingly used in medical education. As an alternative to other teaching methods there is a lack of evidence concerning its efficacy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potency of SBT in anesthesia in comparison to problem-based discussion (PBD) with students in a randomized controlled setting.…

Emergency braking is affected by the use of cruise control.

PubMed

Jammes, Yves; Behr, Michel; Llari, Maxime; Bonicel, Sarah; Weber, Jean Paul; Berdah, Stephane

2017-08-18

We compared the differences in the braking response to vehicle collision between an active human emergency braking (control condition) and cruise control (CC) or adaptive cruise control (ACC). In 11 male subjects, age 22 to 67 years, we measured the active emergency braking response during manual driving using the accelerator pedal (control condition) or in condition mimicking CC or ACC. In both conditions, we measured the brake reaction time (BRT), delay to produce the peak braking force (PBD), total emergency braking response (BRT + PBD), and peak braking force (PBF). Electromyograms of leg and thigh muscles were recorded during braking. The tonic vibratory response (TVR), Hoffman reflex (HR), and M-waves were recorded in leg muscles to explore the change in sensorimotor control. No difference in PBF, TVR amplitude, HR latency, and H max /M max ratio were found between the control and CC/ACC conditions. On the other hand, BRT and PBD were significantly lengthened in the CC/ACC condition (240 ± 13 ms and 704 ± 70 ms, respectively) compared to control (183 ± 7 ms and 568 ± 36 ms, respectively). BRT increased with the age of participants and the driving experience shortened PBD and increased PBF. In male subjects, driving in a CC/ACC condition significantly delays the active emergency braking response to vehicle collision. This could result from higher amplitude of leg motion in the CC/ACC condition and/or by the age-related changes in motor control. Car and truck drivers must take account of the significant increase in the braking distance in a CC/ACC condition.

Genetic identity of thermosensory relay neurons in the lateral parabrachial nucleus.

PubMed

Geerling, Joel C; Kim, Minjee; Mahoney, Carrie E; Abbott, Stephen B G; Agostinelli, Lindsay J; Garfield, Alastair S; Krashes, Michael J; Lowell, Bradford B; Scammell, Thomas E

2016-01-01

The parabrachial nucleus is important for thermoregulation because it relays skin temperature information from the spinal cord to the hypothalamus. Prior work in rats localized thermosensory relay neurons to its lateral subdivision (LPB), but the genetic and neurochemical identity of these neurons remains unknown. To determine the identity of LPB thermosensory neurons, we exposed mice to a warm (36°C) or cool (4°C) ambient temperature. Each condition activated neurons in distinct LPB subregions that receive input from the spinal cord. Most c-Fos+ neurons in these LPB subregions expressed the transcription factor marker FoxP2. Consistent with prior evidence that LPB thermosensory relay neurons are glutamatergic, all FoxP2+ neurons in these subregions colocalized with green fluorescent protein (GFP) in reporter mice for Vglut2, but not for Vgat. Prodynorphin (Pdyn)-expressing neurons were identified using a GFP reporter mouse and formed a caudal subset of LPB FoxP2+ neurons, primarily in the dorsal lateral subnucleus (PBdL). Warm exposure activated many FoxP2+ neurons within PBdL. Half of the c-Fos+ neurons in PBdL were Pdyn+, and most of these project into the preoptic area. Cool exposure activated a separate FoxP2+ cluster of neurons in the far-rostral LPB, which we named the rostral-to-external lateral subnucleus (PBreL). These findings improve our understanding of LPB organization and reveal that Pdyn-IRES-Cre mice provide genetic access to warm-activated, FoxP2+ glutamatergic neurons in PBdL, many of which project to the hypothalamus.

Mesoscopic modeling of DNA denaturation rates: Sequence dependence and experimental comparison

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dahlen, Oda, E-mail: oda.dahlen@ntnu.no; Erp, Titus S. van, E-mail: titus.van.erp@ntnu.no

Using rare event simulation techniques, we calculated DNA denaturation rate constants for a range of sequences and temperatures for the Peyrard-Bishop-Dauxois (PBD) model with two different parameter sets. We studied a larger variety of sequences compared to previous studies that only consider DNA homopolymers and DNA sequences containing an equal amount of weak AT- and strong GC-base pairs. Our results show that, contrary to previous findings, an even distribution of the strong GC-base pairs does not always result in the fastest possible denaturation. In addition, we applied an adaptation of the PBD model to study hairpin denaturation for which experimentalmore » data are available. This is the first quantitative study in which dynamical results from the mesoscopic PBD model have been compared with experiments. Our results show that present parameterized models, although giving good results regarding thermodynamic properties, overestimate denaturation rates by orders of magnitude. We believe that our dynamical approach is, therefore, an important tool for verifying DNA models and for developing next generation models that have higher predictive power than present ones.« less

Best option for preoperative biliary drainage in Klatskin tumor

PubMed Central

Tang, Zengwei; Yang, Yuan; Meng, Wenbo; Li, Xun

2017-01-01

Abstract The operative treatment combined with preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) has been established as a safe Klatskin tumor (KT) treatment strategy. However, there has always been a dispute for the preferred technique for PBD technique. This meta-analysis was conducted to compare the biliary drainage-related cholangitis, pancreatitis, hemorrhage, and the success rates of palliative relief of cholestasis between percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) and endoscopic biliary drainage (EBD), to identify the best technique in the management of KT. PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science were searched systematically for prospective or retrospective studies reporting the biliary drainage-related cholangitis, pancreatitis, hemorrhage, and the success rates of palliative relief of cholestasis in patients with KT. A meta-analysis was performed, using the fixed or random-effect model, with Review Manager 5.3. PTBD was associated with lower risk of cholangitis (risk ratio [RR] = 0.49, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.36–0.67; P < .00001), particularly in patients with Bismuth-Corlette type II, III, IV KT (RR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.33–0.77; P = .05). Compared with EBD, PTBD was also associated with a lower risk of pancreatitis (RR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.17–0.69; P = 0.003) and with higher successful rates of palliative relief of cholestasis (RR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.10–1.31; P < .0001). The incidence of hemorrhage was similar in these 2 groups (RR 1.29, 95% CI: 0.51–3.27; P = .59). The risk of biliary drainage-related cholangitis (RR = 1.96, 95% CI: 0.96–4.01; P = .06) and pancreatitis (RR = 1.62, 95% CI: 0.76–3.47; P = .21) was similar between endoscopic nasobiliary drainage groups and biliary stenting. In patients with type II or type III or IV KT who need to have PBD, PTBD should be performed as an initial method of biliary drainage in terms of reducing the incidence of procedure related cholangitis, pancreatitis, and improving the rates of palliative relief of cholestasis. Well-conducted randomized controlled trials with a universial criterion for PBD are required to confirm these findings. PMID:29069029

Application of oxime-diversification to optimize ligand interactions within a cryptic pocket of the polo-like kinase 1 polo-box domain.

PubMed

Zhao, Xue Zhi; Hymel, David; Burke, Terrence R

2016-10-15

By a process involving initial screening of a set of 87 aldehydes using an oxime ligation-based strategy, we were able to achieve a several-fold affinity enhancement over one of the most potent previously known polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) polo-box domain (PBD) binding inhibitors. This improved binding may result by accessing a newly identified auxiliary region proximal to a key hydrophobic cryptic pocket on the surface of the protein. Our findings could have general applicability to the design of PBD-binding antagonists. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Preparation of a polybutadiene stationary phase immobilized by gamma radiation for reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

PubMed

Lopes, Nilva P; Collins, Kenneth E; Jardim, Isabel C S F

2003-02-14

Polybutadiene (PBD) has been immobilized on HPLC silica by gamma radiation doses in the range from 5 to 180 kGy. Columns prepared from these reversed-phase materials, as well as from similar non-irradiated materials, were tested with standard sample mixtures and characterized by elemental analysis (% C) and infrared spectroscopy. A low dose of 5 kGy is sufficient to produce a layer of immobilized PBD which functions as an efficient and stable stationary phase. Higher doses give thicker immobilized layers having less favorable chromatographic properties.

A novel, broad-range, CTXΦ-derived stable integrative expression vector for functional studies.

PubMed

Das, Bhabatosh; Kumari, Reena; Pant, Archana; Sen Gupta, Sourav; Saxena, Shruti; Mehta, Ojasvi; Nair, Gopinath Balakrish

2014-12-01

CTXΦ, a filamentous vibriophage encoding cholera toxin, uses a unique strategy for its lysogeny. The single-stranded phage genome forms intramolecular base-pairing interactions between two inversely oriented XerC and XerD binding sites (XBS) and generates a functional phage attachment site, attP(+), for integration. The attP(+) structure is recognized by the host-encoded tyrosine recombinases XerC and XerD (XerCD), which enables irreversible integration of CTXΦ into the chromosome dimer resolution site (dif) of Vibrio cholerae. The dif site and the XerCD recombinases are widely conserved in bacteria. We took advantage of these conserved attributes to develop a broad-host-range integrative expression vector that could irreversibly integrate into the host chromosome using XerCD recombinases without altering the function of any known open reading frame (ORF). In this study, we engineered two different arabinose-inducible expression vectors, pBD62 and pBD66, using XBS of CTXΦ. pBD62 replicates conditionally and integrates efficiently into the dif of the bacterial chromosome by site-specific recombination using host-encoded XerCD recombinases. The expression level of the gene of interest could be controlled through the PBAD promoter by modulating the functions of the vector-encoded transcriptional factor AraC. We validated the irreversible integration of pBD62 into a wide range of pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacteria, such as V. cholerae, Vibrio fluvialis, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Gene expression from the PBAD promoter of integrated vectors was confirmed in V. cholerae using the well-studied reporter genes mCherry, eGFP, and lacZ. Copyright © 2014, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Plasma carotenoids and the risk of premalignant breast disease in women aged 50 and younger: a nested case-control study.

PubMed

Cohen, Kevin; Liu, Ying; Luo, Jingqin; Appleton, Catherine M; Colditz, Graham A

2017-04-01

To examine the association of plasma carotenoids, micronutrients in fruits, and vegetables, with risk of premalignant breast disease (PBD) in younger women. Blood samples were collected at the Siteman Cancer Center between 2008 and 2012 from 3537 women aged 50 or younger with no history of cancer or PBD. The analysis included 147 participants diagnosed with benign breast disease or breast carcinoma in situ during a 27-month follow-up and 293 controls. Cases and controls were matched on age, race/ethnicity, and date of and fasting status at blood draw. Plasma carotenoids were quantified. We used logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and linear regression to assess racial differences in plasma carotenoids. The risk reduction between the highest and lowest tertiles varied by carotenoid, with β-cryptoxanthin having the greatest reduction (OR 0.62; 95% CI, 0.62-1.09; P trend  = 0.056) and total carotenoids the least (OR 0.83; 95% CI, 0.48-1.44; P trend  = 0.12). We observed an inverse association between plasma carotenoids and risk of PBD in obese women (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ; 61 cases and 115 controls) but not lean women (BMI < 25 kg/m 2 ; 54 cases and 79 controls), although the interaction was not statistically significant. Compared to white women, black women had lower levels of α and β-carotene and higher levels of β-cryptoxanthin and lutein/zeaxanthin. We observed suggestive inverse associations between plasma carotenoids and risk of PBD in younger women, consistent with inverse associations reported for invasive breast cancer. Carotenoids may play a role early in breast cancer development.

The use of molecular dynamics simulations to evaluate the DNA sequence-selectivity of G-A cross-linking PBD-duocarmycin dimers.

PubMed

Jackson, Paul J M; Rahman, Khondaker M; Thurston, David E

2017-01-01

The pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) and duocarmycin families are DNA-interactive agents that covalently bond to guanine (G) and adenine (A) bases, respectively, and that have been joined together to create synthetic dimers capable of cross-linking G-G, A-A, and G-A bases. Three G-A alkylating dimers have been reported in publications to date, with defined DNA-binding sites proposed for two of them. In this study we have used molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate preferred DNA-binding sites for the three published molecular types. For the PBD-CPI dimer UTA-6026 (1), our simulations correctly predicted its favoured binding site (i.e., 5'-C(G)AATTA-3') as identified by DNA cleavage studies. However, for the PBD-CI molecule ('Compound 11', 3), we were unable to reconcile the results of our simulations with the reported preferred cross-linking sequence (5'-ATTTTCC(G)-3'). We found that the molecule is too short to span the five base pairs between the A and G bases as claimed, but should target instead a sequence such as 5'-ATTTC(G)-3' with two less base pairs between the reacting G and A residues. Our simulation results for this hybrid dimer are also in accord with the very low interstrand cross-linking and in vitro cytotoxicity activities reported for it. Although a preferred cross-linking sequence was not reported for the third hybrid dimer ('27eS', 2), our simulations predict that it should span two base pairs between covalently reacting G and A bases (e.g., 5'-GTAT(A)-3'). Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Improving Demonstration Using Better Interaction Techniques

DTIC Science & Technology

1997-01-14

Programming by demonstration (PBD) can be used to create tools and methods that eliminate the need to learn difficult computer languages. Gamut is a...do this, Gamut uses advanced interaction techniques that make it easier for a software author to express all needed aspects of one’s program. These...techniques include a simplified way to demonstrate new examples, called nudges, and a way to highlight objects to show they are important. Also, Gamut

Electroluminescence and Photoluminescence from a Fluorescent Cobalt Porphyrin Grafted on Graphene Oxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Janghouri, Mohammad

2017-10-01

A new graphene oxide-cobalt porphyrin (GO-CoTPP) hybrid material has been used as an emissive layer in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Devices with fundamental structure of indium-doped tin oxide (ITO)/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS, 45 nm)/polyvinylcarbazole (PVK):2-(4-biphenyl)-5-(4- t-butylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (PBD):GO-CoTPP (70 nm)/1,3,5-tris( N-phenylbenzimidazol-2-yl)-benzene (TPBI, 20 nm)/Al (150 nm) were fabricated. A red electroluminescence (EL) was obtained from thin-film PVK:PBD:CoTPP at 70 nm thickness. When CoTPP was covalently grafted on graphene oxide (GO) sheets, near-white EL was obtained. The white emission, which was composed of bluish green and red, is attributed to electroplex formation at the GO-CoTPP/PBD interface. Such electroplex emission between electrons and holes is a reason for the low turn-on voltage of the GO-CoTPP-based OLED. Maximum luminance efficiency of 1.43 cd/A with Commission International de l'Eclairage coordinates of 0.33 and 0.40 was achieved at current of 0.02 mA and voltage of 14 V.

Synthesis Al complex and investigating effect of doped ZnO nanoparticles in the electrical and optical efficiency of OLEDS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shahedi, Zahra; Jafari, Mohammad Reza

2017-01-01

In this study, an organometallic complex based on aluminum ions is synthesized. And it is utilized as fluorescent material in the organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The synthesized complex was characterized using XRD, UV-Vis, FT-IR as well as PL spectroscopy analyses. The energy levels of Al complex were determined by cyclic voltammetry measurements. Then, the effects of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate), PEDOT:PSS, on the electrical and optical performance of the organic light-emitting diodes have been investigated. For this purpose, two samples containing ITO/PEDOT:PSS/PVK/Alq3/PBD/Al with two different concentration and two samples containing ITO/PEDOT:PSS:ZnO/PVK/Alq3/PBD/Al with two different concentration were prepared. Then, hole transport, electron transport and emissive layers were deposited by the spin coating method and the cathode layer (Al) was deposited by the thermal evaporation method. The OLED simulation was also done by constructing the model and choosing appropriate parameters. Then, the experimental data were collected and the results interpreted both qualitatively and quantitatively. The results of the simulations were compared with experimental data of the J-V spectra. Comparing experimental data and simulation results showed that the electrical and optical efficiency of the samples with ZnO NPs is appreciably higher than the samples without ZnO NPs.

Training emotional intelligence improves both emotional intelligence and depressive symptoms in inpatients with borderline personality disorder and depression.

PubMed

Jahangard, Leila; Haghighi, Mohammad; Bajoghli, Hafez; Ahmadpanah, Mohammad; Ghaleiha, Ali; Zarrabian, Mohammad Kazem; Brand, Serge

2012-09-01

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is defined as a pervasive pattern of instability in emotion, mood and interpersonal relationships, with a comorbidity between PBD and depressive disorders (DD). A key competence for successful management of interpersonal relationships is emotional intelligence (EI). Given the low EI of patients suffering from BPD, the present study aimed at investigating the effect on both emotional intelligence and depression of training emotional intelligence in patients with BPD and DD. A total of 30 inpatients with BPD and DD (53% females; mean age 24.20 years) took part in the study. Patients were randomly assigned either to the treatment or to the control group. Pre- and post-testing 4 weeks later involved experts' rating of depressive disorder and self-reported EI. The treatment group received 12 sessions of training in components of emotional intelligence. Relative to the control group, EI increased significantly in the treatment group over time. Depressive symptoms decreased significantly over time in both groups, though improvement was greater in the treatment than the control group. For inpatients suffering from BPD and DD, regular skill training in EI can be successfully implemented and leads to improvements both in EI and depression. Results suggest an additive effect of EI training on both EI and depressive symptoms.

Cloning of Pf3, a filamentous bacteriophage of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, into the pBD214 vector of Bacillus subtilis.

PubMed Central

Putterman, D G; Gryczan, T J; Dubnau, D; Day, L A

1983-01-01

The genome of Pf3, a filamentous single-stranded DNA bacteriophage of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (a gram-negative organism) was cloned into pBD214, a plasmid cloning vector of Bacillus subtilis (a gram-positive organism). Cloning in the gram-positive organism was done to avoid anticipated lethal effects. The entire Pf3 genome was inserted in each orientation at a unique Bc/I site within a thymidylate synthetase gene (from B. subtilis phage beta 22) on the plasmid. Additional clones were made by inserting EcoRI fragments of Pf3 DNA into a unique EcoRI site within this gene. Images PMID:6306273

Two-photon absorption in oxazole derivatives: An experimental and quantum chemical study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Silva, D. L.; De Boni, L.; Correa, D. S.; Costa, S. C. S.; Hidalgo, A. A.; Zilio, S. C.; Canuto, S.; Mendonca, C. R.

2012-05-01

Experimental and theoretical studies on the two-photon absorption properties of two oxazole derivatives: 2,5-diphenyloxazole (PPO) and 2-(4-biphenylyl)-5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole (PBD) are presented. The two-photon absorption cross-section spectra were determined by means of the Z-scan technique, from 460 up to 650 nm, and reached peak values of 84 GM for PBD and 27 GM for PPO. Density Functional Theory and response function formalism are used to determine the molecular structures and the one- and two-photon absorption properties and to assist in the interpretation of the experimental results. The Polarizable Continuum Model in one-photon absorption calculations is used to estimate solvent effects.

The peroxisomal AAA ATPase complex prevents pexophagy and development of peroxisome biogenesis disorders

PubMed Central

Law, Kelsey B.; Bronte-Tinkew, Dana; Di Pietro, Erminia; Snowden, Ann; Jones, Richard O.; Moser, Ann; Brumell, John H.; Braverman, Nancy

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT Peroxisome biogenesis disorders (PBDs) are metabolic disorders caused by the loss of peroxisomes. The majority of PBDs result from mutation in one of 3 genes that encode for the peroxisomal AAA ATPase complex (AAA-complex) required for cycling PEX5 for peroxisomal matrix protein import. Mutations in these genes are thought to result in a defect in peroxisome assembly by preventing the import of matrix proteins. However, we show here that loss of the AAA-complex does not prevent matrix protein import, but instead causes an upregulation of peroxisome degradation by macroautophagy, or pexophagy. The loss of AAA-complex function in cells results in the accumulation of ubiquitinated PEX5 on the peroxisomal membrane that signals pexophagy. Inhibiting autophagy by genetic or pharmacological approaches rescues peroxisome number, protein import and function. Our findings suggest that the peroxisomal AAA-complex is required for peroxisome quality control, whereas its absence results in the selective degradation of the peroxisome. Thus the loss of peroxisomes in PBD patients with mutations in their peroxisomal AAA-complex is a result of increased pexophagy. Our study also provides a framework for the development of novel therapeutic treatments for PBDs. PMID:28521612

The peroxisomal AAA ATPase complex prevents pexophagy and development of peroxisome biogenesis disorders.

PubMed

Law, Kelsey B; Bronte-Tinkew, Dana; Di Pietro, Erminia; Snowden, Ann; Jones, Richard O; Moser, Ann; Brumell, John H; Braverman, Nancy; Kim, Peter K

2017-05-04

Peroxisome biogenesis disorders (PBDs) are metabolic disorders caused by the loss of peroxisomes. The majority of PBDs result from mutation in one of 3 genes that encode for the peroxisomal AAA ATPase complex (AAA-complex) required for cycling PEX5 for peroxisomal matrix protein import. Mutations in these genes are thought to result in a defect in peroxisome assembly by preventing the import of matrix proteins. However, we show here that loss of the AAA-complex does not prevent matrix protein import, but instead causes an upregulation of peroxisome degradation by macroautophagy, or pexophagy. The loss of AAA-complex function in cells results in the accumulation of ubiquitinated PEX5 on the peroxisomal membrane that signals pexophagy. Inhibiting autophagy by genetic or pharmacological approaches rescues peroxisome number, protein import and function. Our findings suggest that the peroxisomal AAA-complex is required for peroxisome quality control, whereas its absence results in the selective degradation of the peroxisome. Thus the loss of peroxisomes in PBD patients with mutations in their peroxisomal AAA-complex is a result of increased pexophagy. Our study also provides a framework for the development of novel therapeutic treatments for PBDs.

Disentangling the drivers of taxonomic and phylogenetic beta diversities in disturbed and undisturbed subtropical forests

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Jinliang; Qian, Hong; Jin, Yi; Wu, Chuping; Chen, Jianhua; Yu, Shuquan; Wei, Xinliang; Jin, Xiaofeng; Liu, Jiajia; Yu, Mingjian

2016-10-01

Understanding the relative importance of dispersal limitation and environmental filtering processes in structuring the beta diversities of subtropical forests in human disturbed landscapes is still limited. Here we used taxonomic (TBD) and phylogenetic (PBD), including terminal PBD (PBDt) and basal PBD (PBDb), beta diversity indices to quantify the taxonomic and phylogenetic turnovers at different depths of evolutionary history in disturbed and undisturbed subtropical forests. Multiple linear regression model and distance-based redundancy analysis were used to disentangle the relative importance of environmental and spatial variables. Environmental variables were significantly correlated with TBD and PBDt metrics. Temperature and precipitation were major environmental drivers of beta diversity patterns, which explained 7-27% of the variance in TBD and PBDt, whereas the spatial variables independently explained less than 1% of the variation for all forests. The relative importance of environmental and spatial variables differed between disturbed and undisturbed forests (e.g., when Bray-Curtis was used as a beta diversity metric, environmental variable had a significant effect on beta diversity for disturbed forests but had no effect on undisturbed forests). We conclude that environmental filtering plays a more important role than geographical limitation and disturbance history in driving taxonomic and terminal phylogenetic beta diversity.

Percutaneous Balloon Dilatation for the Treatment of Early and Late Ureteral Strictures After Renal Transplantation: Long-Term Follow-Up

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bachar, Gil N.; Mor, E.; Bartal, G.

2004-08-15

We report our experience with percutaneous balloon dilatation (PBD) for the treatment of ureteral strictures in patients with renal allografts. Of the 422 consecutive patients after renal transplantation in our center 10 patients had ureteral strictures. An additional 11 patients were referred from other centers. The 21 patients included 15 men and 6 women aged 16 to 67 years. Strictures were confirmed by sonography and scintigraphy in all cases. Patients underwent 2 to 4 PBDs at 7-10-day intervals. Clinical success was defined as resolution of the stenosis and hydronephrosis on sequential ultrasound and normalization of creatinine levels. Patients were dividedmore » into two groups: those who underwent transplantation more than 3 months previously and those who underwent transplantation less than 3 months previously. PBD was successful in 13 of the 21 patients (62%). There was no statistically significant difference in success rate between the patients with early (n 12) and those with late (n = 9) obstruction: 58.4% and 66%, respectively. No major complications were documented. PBD is a safe and simple tool for treating ureteral strictures and procedure-related morbidity is low. It can serve as an initial treatment in patients with early or late ureteral strictures after renal transplantation.« less

Disentangling the drivers of taxonomic and phylogenetic beta diversities in disturbed and undisturbed subtropical forests

PubMed Central

Liu, Jinliang; Qian, Hong; Jin, Yi; Wu, Chuping; Chen, Jianhua; Yu, Shuquan; Wei, Xinliang; Jin, Xiaofeng; Liu, Jiajia; Yu, Mingjian

2016-01-01

Understanding the relative importance of dispersal limitation and environmental filtering processes in structuring the beta diversities of subtropical forests in human disturbed landscapes is still limited. Here we used taxonomic (TBD) and phylogenetic (PBD), including terminal PBD (PBDt) and basal PBD (PBDb), beta diversity indices to quantify the taxonomic and phylogenetic turnovers at different depths of evolutionary history in disturbed and undisturbed subtropical forests. Multiple linear regression model and distance-based redundancy analysis were used to disentangle the relative importance of environmental and spatial variables. Environmental variables were significantly correlated with TBD and PBDt metrics. Temperature and precipitation were major environmental drivers of beta diversity patterns, which explained 7–27% of the variance in TBD and PBDt, whereas the spatial variables independently explained less than 1% of the variation for all forests. The relative importance of environmental and spatial variables differed between disturbed and undisturbed forests (e.g., when Bray-Curtis was used as a beta diversity metric, environmental variable had a significant effect on beta diversity for disturbed forests but had no effect on undisturbed forests). We conclude that environmental filtering plays a more important role than geographical limitation and disturbance history in driving taxonomic and terminal phylogenetic beta diversity. PMID:27775021

Sequential Optimization Methods for Augmentation of Marine Enzymes Production in Solid-State Fermentation: l-Glutaminase Production a Case Study.

PubMed

Sathish, T; Uppuluri, K B; Veera Bramha Chari, P; Kezia, D

There is an increased l-glutaminase market worldwide due to its relevant industrial applications. Salt tolerance l-glutaminases play a vital role in the increase of flavor of different types of foods like soya sauce and tofu. This chapter is presenting the economically viable l-glutaminases production in solid-state fermentation (SSF) by Aspergillus flavus MTCC 9972 as a case study. The enzyme production was improved following a three step optimization process. Initially mixture design (MD) (augmented simplex lattice design) was employed to optimize the solid substrate mixture. Such solid substrate mixture consisted of 59:41 of wheat bran and Bengal gram husk has given higher amounts of l-glutaminase. Glucose and l-glutamine were screened as a finest additional carbon and nitrogen sources for l-glutaminase production with help of Plackett-Burman Design (PBD). l-Glutamine also acting as a nitrogen source as well as inducer for secretion of l-glutaminase from A. flavus MTCC 9972. In the final step of optimization various environmental and nutritive parameters such as pH, temperature, moisture content, inoculum concentration, glucose, and l-glutamine levels were optimized through the use of hybrid feed forward neural networks (FFNNs) and genetic algorithm (GA). Through sequential optimization methods MD-PBD-FFNN-GA, the l-glutaminase production in SSF could be improved by 2.7-fold (453-1690U/g). © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Bubbles and denaturation in DNA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Erp, T. S.; Cuesta-López, S.; Peyrard, M.

2006-08-01

The local opening of DNA is an intriguing phenomenon from a statistical-physics point of view, but is also essential for its biological function. For instance, the transcription and replication of our genetic code cannot take place without the unwinding of the DNA double helix. Although these biological processes are driven by proteins, there might well be a relation between these biological openings and the spontaneous bubble formation due to thermal fluctuations. Mesoscopic models, like the Peyrard-Bishop-Dauxois (PBD) model, have fairly accurately reproduced some experimental denaturation curves and the sharp phase transition in the thermodynamic limit. It is, hence, tempting to see whether these models could be used to predict the biological activity of DNA. In a previous study, we introduced a method that allows to obtain very accurate results on this subject, which showed that some previous claims in this direction, based on molecular-dynamics studies, were premature. This could either imply that the present PBD model should be improved or that biological activity can only be predicted in a more complex framework that involves interactions with proteins and super helical stresses. In this article, we give a detailed description of the statistical method introduced before. Moreover, for several DNA sequences, we give a thorough analysis of the bubble-statistics as a function of position and bubble size and the so-called l-denaturation curves that can be measured experimentally. These show that some important experimental observations are missing in the present model. We discuss how the present model could be improved.

Preparation and characterization of mono- and multilayer films of polymerizable 1,2-polybutadiene using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique.

PubMed

Hitrik, Maria; Gutkin, Vitaly; Lev, Ovadia; Mandler, Daniel

2011-10-04

The essence of this study is to apply the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique for assembling asymmetric membranes. Accordingly, Langmuir films of a (further) polymerizable polymer, 1,2-polybutadiene (1,2-pbd), were studied and transferred onto different solid supports, such as gold, indium tin oxide (ITO), and silicon. The layers were characterized both at the air/water interface as well as on different substrates using numerous methods including cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy, spectroscopic ellipsometry, atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and reflection-absorption Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The Langmuir films were stable at the air-water interface as long as they were not exposed to UV irradiation. The LB films formed disorganized layers, which gradually blocked the permeation of different species with increasing the number of deposited layers. The thickness was ca. 4-7 Å per layer. Irradiating the Langmuir films caused their cross-linking at the air-water interface. Furthermore, we took advantage of the reactivity of the double bond of the LB films on the solid supports and graft polymerized acrylic acid on top of the 1,2-pbd layers. This approach is the basis of the formation of an asymmetric membrane that requires different porosity on both of its sides. © 2011 American Chemical Society

[Effect of severe burn on growth and development and the level of growth hormone in mice].

PubMed

Wang, Fei; Qiu, Lin; Liu, Cuiping; Tian, Xiaofei; Xiao, Jun

2014-02-01

To analyze the changes in body growth, learning and memory capabilities, exercise capacity, and the level of growth hormone (GH) in mice suffering from severe burn. One hundred and four healthy BALB/c mice aged from 3 to 4 weeks were divided into normal control group (NC, without treatment) , 7 s burn group (inflicted with 20%TBSA deep partial-thickness burn on the back), 10 s burn group (inflicted with 20%TBSA full-thickness burn on the back), and negative control group (simulating the treatment of two burn groups without injury) according to the random number table, with 26 mice in each group. The body weight, body length, and tail length of 8 mice in each group were measured before burn. Respectively 6 mice of two burn groups were sacrificed on post burn day (PBD) 1, 3, and 7 for determination of serum level of GH with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. The remaining 8 mice in each of the two burn groups were raised to adulthood. The body weight, body length, and tail length were measured on PBD 62, and the increased percentages of body weight, body length, and tail length were calculated. Morris water maze tests, including escape latency on PBD 66, 67, and 68, frequency of stepping over the platform location and proportion of staying time in the target quadrant on PBD 69, were used to examine the learning and memory capabilities. The time of loaded swimming and the time of pole-climbing on PBD 70 were used to assess the exercise capacity. Above-mentioned indexes were also determined in the two control groups at the same time points. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance; Welch test was applied when equal variance was not assumed; independent samples t test was applied for paired comparison. (1) The level of GH of mice in 7 s burn group on PBD 1 [(3 021 ± 506) pg/mL] was lower than that of group NC [(3 728 ± 412) pg/mL, t = 2.656, P < 0.05], while on PBD 3 and 7 [(3 098 ± 503) , (3 199 ± 275) pg/mL] they were close to those of group NC [(3 872 ± 785), (3 301 ± 600) pg/mL, with t values respectively 2.033 and 0.379, P values all above 0.05]. The levels of GH of mice in 10 s burn group on PBD 1, 3, and 7 were respectively (2 859 ± 447), (2 707 ± 151) , and (2 666 ± 222) pg/mL, which were lower than those of group NC (with t values respectively 3.504, 3.571, 2.429, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). (2) The increased percentage of body weight, body length, and tail length of mice in group NC, 7 s burn group, and 10 s burn group were respectively (155 ± 22) %, (46 ± 6) %, (63 ± 10)%; (112 ± 57) %, (32 ± 12) %, (40 ± 15) %; (106 ± 36) %, (30 ± 8) %, (32 ± 7) %. The increased percentage of body weight of mice in 7 s burn group was close to that in group NC (t = 1.997, P > 0.05), while the increased percentages of other indexes of mice in the two burn groups were lower than those in group NC (with t values from 3.092 to 6.910, P values all below 0.01). (3) The escape latency values of mice in 10 s burn group on PBD 67 and 68 were respectively (33 ± 12), (33 ± 11) s, which were longer than those of group NC [(20 ± 8), (20 ± 7) s, with t values respectively 2.421 and 2.692, P values all below 0.05]. The frequency of stepping over the platform location of mice in 10 s burn group [(1.6 ± 1.8) times] was close to that of group NC [(3.2 ± 1.5) times, t = 1.989, P > 0.05]. The proportion of retention time in the target quadrant of mice in 10 s burn group [ (28 ± 7) %] was shorter than that of group NC[(48 ± 16)%, t = 3.076, P < 0.01]. The escape latency of mice in 7 s burn group on PBD 67 [(30 ± 7) s] was longer than that of group NC (t = 2.659, P < 0.05). The frequency of stepping over the platform location and the proportion of retention time in the target quadrant of mice in 7 s burn group [(2.0 ± 1.1) times, (36 ± 11) %, respectively] were close to those of group NC (with t values respectively 1.930, 1.670, P values all above 0.05). (4) The time of pole-climbing [(30 ± 11) s] and the time of loaded swimming [(38 ± 39) min] of mice in 10 s burn group were shorter than those of group NC [(47 ± 11) s, (122 ± 74) min, with t values respectively 3.108, 2.868, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01]. The time of loaded swimming of mice in 7 s burn group [(47 ± 12) min] was shorter than that of group NC (t = 2.855, P < 0.05), while the time of pole-climbing [(33 ± 14) s] was close to that of group NC (t = 2.044, P > 0.05). For mice, severe burn can delay body growth, decrease the learning and memory capabilities, decrease exercise capacities, and reduce the serum level of GH.

Synthesis, DNA binding ability and anticancer activity of 2-heteroaryl substituted benzimidazoles linked pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine conjugates.

PubMed

Kamal, Ahmed; Pogula, Praveen Kumar; Khan, Mohammed Naseer Ahmed; Seshadri, Bobburi Naga; Sreekanth, Kokkonda

2013-08-01

As a continuation of our efforts to develop the benzimidazole-PBD conjugates as potential anticancer agents, a series of heteroaryl substituted benzimidazole linked PBD conjugates has been synthesized and evaluated for their anticancer potential in 60 human cancer cell lines. Most of the compounds exhibited promising anticancer activity and interestingly, compounds 4c and 4d displayed significant activity in most of the cell lines tested. Whereas, compound 4e showed selectivity in renal cancer cells with GI50 values of <10 and 70 nM against RXF 393 and UO-31 cell lines, respectively. Further, these compounds also showed significant DNA-binding affinity by thermal denaturation study using duplex form of calf thymus (CT) DNA.

The effect of supplemental enteral glutamine on plasma levels, gut function, and outcome in severe burns: a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial.

PubMed

Zhou, Ye-Ping; Jiang, Zhu-Ming; Sun, Yong-Hua; Wang, Xiu-Rong; Ma, En-Ling; Wilmore, Douglas

2003-01-01

This research was conducted to evaluate the effect of enterally administered glutamine (gln) dipeptide on metabolic, gastrointestinal, and outcome parameters after severe burn injury. Forty thermally injured patients with total body surface burns ranging between 50% and 80%, and third-degree burns ranging between 20% and 40% and without respiratory injuries, were randomized into a prospective, double-blind, controlled clinical trial. One group received gln-enriched enteral nutrition and the other group received the standard enteral formulation. Tube feedings were initiated on postburn day 1 (PBD +1), and isocaloric and isonitrogenous feedings were administered to both groups until PBD +12. The gln was given as the dipeptide of alanyl-gln (Ajinomoto, Tokyo, Japan), which provided 0.35 g gln/kg body weight/d. Plasma amino acid profiles, serum endotoxin concentrations, and the lactulose/mannitol absorption ratio (which reflects gut permeability) were measured at specific times throughout the clinical course. Wound healing at day 30 was assessed, and length of hospital stay and total costs were determined at discharge. The 2 groups were similar in terms of age and extent of injury. Plasma gln concentrations were approximately 300 umol/L in both groups on PBD +1 and remained low in the control group (399 +/- 40 umol/L, mean +/- SD) but increased toward normal in the supplemented group to 591 +/- 74 (p = .048). Lactulose/mannitol ratios were increased above normal on POD +1 (control, 0.221 +/- 0.169; gln, 0.268 +/- 0.202; not significant), reflecting increased intestinal permeability after burn injury. On POD +3, the ratio in the gln group was lower than control (0.025 +/- 0.008 versus 0.049 +/- 0.016; p = .0001), and both groups returned toward normal ratios with time. Endotoxin levels on PBD +1 were elevated in both groups (control, 0.089 +/- 0.023 EU/mL; gln, 0.103 +/- 0.037 EU/mL; NS) but decreased significantly on PBD +3 in the patients receiving gln. Hospital stay was significantly shorter in the gln group than controls (67 +/- 4 days versus 73 +/- 6; p = .026). On day 30, wound healing was 86% +/- 2% complete in the gln group compared with 72% +/- 3% in controls (p = .041). Total cost of hospitalization was 62794 +/- 6178 RMB (dollar 7593 +/- 747 US dollars) in the gln group and 68996 +/- 8620RMB (dollar 8343 +/- 1042, p = .031) in controls, although the cost of the enteral nutrition was higher in the gln-supplemented patients. Enteral gln supplementation using a commercially available dipeptide supported plasma gln levels, improved gut permeability, and initially decreased plasma endotoxin levels in severely thermally injured patients. These alterations were associated with a reduction in the length of hospitalization and lower costs.

The prognostic importance of jaundice in surgical resection with curative intent for gallbladder cancer.

PubMed

Yang, Xin-wei; Yuan, Jian-mao; Chen, Jun-yi; Yang, Jue; Gao, Quan-gen; Yan, Xing-zhou; Zhang, Bao-hua; Feng, Shen; Wu, Meng-chao

2014-09-03

Preoperative jaundice is frequent in gallbladder cancer (GBC) and indicates advanced disease. Resection is rarely recommended to treat advanced GBC. An aggressive surgical approach for advanced GBC remains lacking because of the association of this disease with serious postoperative complications and poor prognosis. This study aims to re-assess the prognostic value of jaundice for the morbidity, mortality, and survival of GBC patients who underwent surgical resection with curative intent. GBC patients who underwent surgical resection with curative intent at a single institution between January 2003 and December 2012 were identified from a prospectively maintained database. A total of 192 patients underwent surgical resection with curative intent, of whom 47 had preoperative jaundice and 145 had none. Compared with the non-jaundiced patients, the jaundiced patients had significantly longer operative time (p < 0.001) and more intra-operative bleeding (p = 0.001), frequent combined resections of adjacent organs (23.4% vs. 2.8%, p = 0.001), and postoperative complications (12.4% vs. 34%, p = 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that preoperative jaundice was the only independent predictor of postoperative complications. The jaundiced patients had lower survival rates than the non-jaundiced patients (p < 0.001). However, lymph node metastasis and gallbladder neck tumors were the only significant risk factors of poor prognosis. Non-curative resection was the only independent predictor of poor prognosis among the jaundiced patients. The survival rates of the jaundiced patients with preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) were similar to those of the jaundiced patients without PBD (p = 0.968). No significant differences in the rate of postoperative intra-abdominal abscesses were found between the jaundiced patients with and without PBD (n = 4, 21.1% vs. n = 5, 17.9%, p = 0.787). Preoperative jaundice indicates poor prognosis and high postoperative morbidity but is not a surgical contraindication. Gallbladder neck tumors significantly increase the surgical difficulty and reduce the opportunities for radical resection. Gallbladder neck tumors can independently predict poor outcome. PBD correlates with neither a low rate of postoperative intra-abdominal abscesses nor a high survival rate.

[Effects of low molecular weight heparin on the inflammatory response and vascular injury in rat after electric burn].

PubMed

Jiang, Nanhong; Xie, Weiguo; Wang, Hui; Jin, Dongmei; Tan, Hong; Zhao, Chaoli

2014-04-01

To observe the effects of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) on the inflammatory response and vascular injury in rat after electric burn. A homemade regulator and transformer apparatus was used to reproduce the model of electric burn (0.5 cm×0.5 cm in size) with depth from full-thickness to full-thickness skin plus muscle and bone on the middle of the inside of right hind limb in 60 Wistar rats. The open wounds were covered with 20 g/L sulfadiazine silver paste immediately after injury. The wound condition was observed every day. The injured rats were divided into group LMWH and control group (C) according to the random number table, with 30 rats in each group. Rats in group LMWH were given subcutaneous injection of LMWH (1 U/g) in abdominal wall, 2 times a day. No other treatment was given in rats in group C. On post burn day (PBD) 3, 5, and 10, 10 rats respectively of two groups were sacrificed. The damaged tissue of wound and that around the wound (1.0 cm×0.5 cm in size) were excised, and heart blood was obtained. The pathological changes and thrombosis in damaged tissue were observed with HE, Masson, and aldehyde fuchsin staining, and the thrombosis rate was calculated. Serum contents of TNF-α and endothelin-1 were determined with ELISA. The mRNA expression of TNF-α in damaged tissue was detected with RT-PCR. Data were processed with Levene homogeneity test, analysis of variance of factorial design, LSD- t test, SNK- q test, and Friedman M nonparametric test. (1) The injured limb of rats was obviously swollen after electric burn, which reached deeply to the muscle and bone. Compared with those of group C, the swelling of rats subsided slightly faster and the inflammatory response was lighter in group LMWH at each time point. (2) The necrosis of damaged tissue and profuse infiltration of inflammatory cells were observed. Dilatation of blood vessels, congestion and thrombosis, and swelling, necrosis, and desquamation of vascular endothelial cells were observed in the damaged tissue. Damaged blood vessel wall, ruptured elastic fiber, loss of internal elastic membrane, and other pathological changes were observed in the damaged tissue of rats in the two groups. Above lesions were improved gradually along with the passage of time, and the improvement was more obvious in rats of group LMWH compared with that of group C on PBD 5 and 10. (3) The thrombosis rates of rats in group LMWH were obviously lower than those of rats in group C (F = 4.921, P < 0.05). The thrombosis rates of rats in group LMWH on PBD 3 and 10 were respectively (0.07 ± 0.11)% and (0.03 ± 0.05)%, which were significantly lower than those of rats in group C [(0.16 ± 0.15)% and (0.13 ± 0.18)%, with t values respectively 2.17 and 2.07, P values below 0.05]. In group LMWH, the thrombosis rate of rats on PBD 10 was obviously lower than that on PBD 3 (t = 3.61, P < 0.05). (4) The serum contents of TNF-α and endothelin-1 of rats in group LMWH were significantly lower than those of rats in group C (F = 47.161, χ(2) = 81.46, P values below 0.01). In group LMWH, TNF-α contents were respectively (71 ± 24), (74 ± 14), (72 ± 20) pg/mL, and endothelin-1 contents were respectively (20.9 ± 3.2), (19.8 ± 5.2), (18.6 ± 1.1) ng/mL on PBD 3, 5, and 10, and they were significantly lower than those of rats in group C [(195 ± 148), (96 ± 20), (159 ± 46) pg/mL and (38.8 ± 15.4), (27.9 ± 3.6), (25.6 ± 7.6) ng/mL, with t values from 3.81 to 8.05, q values from 4.41 to 7.85, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01]. (5) The mRNA expression levels of TNF-α in damaged tissue of rats in group LMWH were significantly lower than those of rats in group C (F = 199.113, P < 0.01). The mRNA expression levels of TNF-α of rats in group LMWH were respectively 0.93 ± 0.10, 1.15 ± 0.12, 1.21 ± 0.11 on PBD 3, 5, and 10, and they were significantly lower than those of group C (1.68 ± 0.15, 1.43 ± 0.12, 1.50 ± 0.13, with t values from 3.75 to 6.12, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). In group LMWH, the mRNA expression level of TNF-α of rats on PBD 10 was obviously higher than that on PBD 3 (t = 3.61, P < 0.05). LMWH intervention can ameliorate vascular injury and inflammatory response of electrically burned wounds in rats, and it decreases thrombosis rate in the vessels of injured limb.

A tricyclic pyrrolobenzodiazepine produced by Klebsiella oxytoca is associated with cytotoxicity in antibiotic-associated hemorrhagic colitis.

PubMed

Tse, Herman; Gu, Qiangshuai; Sze, Kong-Hung; Chu, Ivan K; Kao, Richard Y-T; Lee, Kam-Chung; Lam, Ching-Wan; Yang, Dan; Tai, Sherlock Shing-Chiu; Ke, Yihong; Chan, Elaine; Chan, Wan-Mui; Dai, Jun; Leung, Sze-Pui; Leung, Suet-Yi; Yuen, Kwok-Yung

2017-11-24

Cytotoxin-producing Klebsiella oxytoca is the causative agent of antibiotic-associated hemorrhagic colitis (AAHC). Recently, the cytotoxin associated with AAHC was identified as tilivalline, a known pentacyclic pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) metabolite produced by K. oxytoca Although this assertion of tilivalline's role in AAHC is supported by evidence from animal experiments, some key aspects of this finding appear to be incompatible with toxicity mechanisms of known PBD toxins. We therefore hypothesized that K. oxytoca may produce some other uncharacterized cytotoxins. To address this question, we investigated whether tilivalline alone is indeed necessary and sufficient to induce cytotoxicity or whether K. oxytoca also produces other cytotoxins. LC-MS- and NMR-based metabolomic analyses revealed the presence of an abundant tricyclic PBD, provisionally designated kleboxymycin, in the supernatant of toxigenic K. oxytoca strains. Moreover, by generating multiple mutants with gene deletions affecting tilivalline biosynthesis, we show that a tryptophanase-deficient, tilivalline-negative K. oxytoca mutant induced cytotoxicity in vitro similar to tilivalline-positive K. oxytoca strains. Furthermore, synthetic kleboxymycin exhibited greater than 9-fold higher cytotoxicity than tilivalline in TC 50 cell culture assays. We also found that the biosynthetic pathways for kleboxymycin and tilivalline appear to overlap, as tilivalline is an indole derivative of kleboxymycin. In summary, our results indicate that tilivalline is not essential for inducing cytotoxicity observed in K. oxytoca -associated AAHC and that kleboxymycin is a tilivalline-related bacterial metabolite with even higher cytotoxicity. © 2017 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Pyrrole-Based Macrocyclic Small-Molecule Inhibitors That Target Oocyte Maturation.

PubMed

Gunasekaran, Pethaiah; Lee, So-Rim; Jeong, Seung-Min; Kwon, Jeong-Woo; Takei, Toshiki; Asahina, Yuya; Bang, Geul; Kim, Seongnyeon; Ahn, Mija; Ryu, Eun Kyung; Kim, Hak Nam; Nam, Ki-Yub; Shin, Song Yub; Hojo, Hironobu; Namgoong, Suk; Kim, Nam-Hyung; Bang, Jeong Kyu

2017-04-20

Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) plays crucial roles in various stages of oocyte maturation. Recently, we reported that the peptidomimetic compound AB103-8, which targets the polo box domain (PBD) of PLK1, affects oocyte meiotic maturation and the resumption of meiosis. However, to overcome the drawbacks of peptidic compounds, we designed and synthesized a series of pyrrole-based small-molecule inhibitors and tested them for their effects on the rates of porcine oocyte maturation. Among them, the macrocyclic compound (E/Z)-3-(2,16-dioxo-19-(4-phenylbutyl)-3,19-diazabicyclo[15.2.1]icosa-1(20),6,17-trien-3-yl)propyl dihydrogen phosphate (4) showed the highest inhibitory activity with enhanced inhibition against embryonic blastocyst formation. Furthermore, the addition of this compound to culture media efficiently blocked the maturation of porcine and mouse oocytes, indicating its ability to penetrate the zona pellucida and cell membrane. We investigated mouse oocytes treated with compound 4, and the resulting impairment of spindle formation confirmed PLK1 inhibition. Finally, molecular modeling studies with PLK1 PBD also confirmed the presence of significant interactions between compound 4 and PLK1 PBD binding pocket residues, including those in the phosphate, tyrosine-rich, and pyrrolidine binding pockets. Collectively, these results suggest that the macrocyclic compound 4 may serve as a promising template for the development of novel contraceptive agents. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Quantitative trait locus on chromosome X affects bone loss after maturation in mice.

PubMed

Okudaira, Shuzo; Shimizu, Motoyuki; Otsuki, Bungo; Nakanishi, Rika; Ohta, Akira; Higuchi, Keiichi; Hosokawa, Masanori; Tsuboyama, Tadao; Nakamura, Takashi

2010-09-01

Genetic programming is known to affect the peak bone mass and bone loss after maturation. However, little is known about how polymorphic genes on chromosome X (Chr X) modulate bone loss after maturation. We previously reported a quantitative trait locus (QTL) on Chr X, designated Pbd3, which had a suggestive linkage to bone mass, in male SAMP2 and SAMP6 mice. In this study, we aimed to clarify the effects of Pbd3 on the skeletal phenotype. We generated a congenic strain, P2.P6-X, carrying a 45.6-cM SAMP6-derived Chr X interval on a SAMP2 genetic background. The effects of Pbd3 on the bone phenotype were determined by microcomputed tomography (microCT), whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), serum bone turnover markers, and histomorphometric parameters. Both the bone area fraction (BA/TA) on microCT and whole-body DXA revealed reduced bone loss in P2.P6-X compared with that in SAMP2. The serum concentrations of bone turnover markers at 4 months of age were significantly lower in P2.P6-X than in SAMP2, but did not differ at 8 months of age. These results were observed in female mice, but not in male mice. In conclusion, a QTL within a segregated 45.6-cM interval on Chr X is sex-specifically related to the rate of bone loss after maturation.

Ethics and Privacy Implications of Using the Internet and Social Media to Recruit Participants for Health Research: A Privacy-by-Design Framework for Online Recruitment.

PubMed

Bender, Jacqueline Lorene; Cyr, Alaina B; Arbuckle, Luk; Ferris, Lorraine E

2017-04-06

The Internet and social media offer promising ways to improve the reach, efficiency, and effectiveness of recruitment efforts at a reasonable cost, but raise unique ethical dilemmas. We describe how we used social media to recruit cancer patients and family caregivers for a research study, the ethical issues we encountered, and the strategies we developed to address them. Drawing on the principles of Privacy by Design (PbD), a globally recognized standard for privacy protection, we aimed to develop a PbD framework for online health research recruitment. We proposed a focus group study on the dietary behaviors of cancer patients and their families, and the role of Web-based dietary self-management tools. Using an established blog on our hospital website, we proposed publishing a recruitment post and sharing the link on our Twitter and Facebook pages. The Research Ethics Board (REB) raised concern about the privacy risks associated with our recruitment strategy; by clicking on a recruitment post, an individual could inadvertently disclose personal health information to third-party companies engaged in tracking online behavior. The REB asked us to revise our social media recruitment strategy with the following questions in mind: (1) How will you inform users about the potential for privacy breaches and their implications? and (2) How will you protect users from privacy breaches or inadvertently sharing potentially identifying information about themselves? Ethical guidelines recommend a proportionate approach to ethics assessment, which advocates for risk mitigation strategies that are proportional to the magnitude and probability of risks. We revised our social media recruitment strategy to inform users about privacy risks and to protect their privacy, while at the same time meeting our recruitment objectives. We provide a critical reflection of the perceived privacy risks associated with our social media recruitment strategy and the appropriateness of the risk mitigation strategies that we employed by assessing their alignment with PbD and by discussing the following: (1) What are the potential risks and who is at risk? (2) Is cancer considered "sensitive" personal information? (3) What is the probability of online disclosure of a cancer diagnosis in everyday life? and (4) What are the public's expectations for privacy online and their views about online tracking, profiling, and targeting? We conclude with a PbD framework for online health research recruitment. Researchers, REBs, ethicists, students, and potential study participants are often unaware of the privacy risks of social media research recruitment and there is no official guidance. Our PbD framework for online health research recruitment is a resource for these wide audiences. ©Jacqueline Lorene Bender, Alaina B Cyr, Luk Arbuckle, Lorraine E Ferris. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (http://www.jmir.org), 06.04.2017.

Characterization of a new stationary phase based on microwave immobilized polybutadiene on titanium oxide-modified silica.

PubMed

Morais, Lais S R; Jardim, Isabel C S F

2005-05-06

Titanium oxide-modified silica was prepared by reaction of silica with titanium tetrabutoxide and then was used as support in the preparation of stationary phases with self-immobilized polybutadiene (PBD) and PBD immobilized through microwave radiation. Chromatographic performance of the stationary phases was evaluated in terms of the efficiency (plates/m), asymmetry (A(s)), retention factor (k) and resolution (R(s)) of two standard sample mixtures, one of then containing the basic compound N,N-dimethylaniline. A microwave irradiation of 30 min at 520 W gave the best efficiency (86,500 N m(-1)), greater than that of a 6-day self immobilized phase (69,500 N m(-1)). Self-immobilized stationary phases prepared with bare silica were also studied for comparison. These resulted in lower chromatographic performance, 43,800 N m(-1), when compared to the self-immobilized phase prepared with titanized silica.

Structures of human SRP72 complexes provide insights into SRP RNA remodeling and ribosome interaction

PubMed Central

Becker, Matthias M. M.; Lapouge, Karine; Segnitz, Bernd; Wild, Klemens; Sinning, Irmgard

2017-01-01

Co-translational protein targeting and membrane protein insertion is a fundamental process and depends on the signal recognition particle (SRP). In mammals, SRP is composed of the SRP RNA crucial for SRP assembly and function and six proteins. The two largest proteins SRP68 and SRP72 form a heterodimer and bind to a regulatory site of the SRP RNA. Despite their essential roles in the SRP pathway, structural information has been available only for the SRP68 RNA-binding domain (RBD). Here we present the crystal structures of the SRP68 protein-binding domain (PBD) in complex with SRP72-PBD and of the SRP72-RBD bound to the SRP S domain (SRP RNA, SRP19 and SRP68) detailing all interactions of SRP72 within SRP. The SRP72-PBD is a tetratricopeptide repeat, which binds an extended linear motif of SRP68 with high affinity. The SRP72-RBD is a flexible peptide crawling along the 5e- and 5f-loops of SRP RNA. A conserved tryptophan inserts into the 5e-loop forming a novel type of RNA kink-turn stabilized by a potassium ion, which we define as K+-turn. In addition, SRP72-RBD remodels the 5f-loop involved in ribosome binding and visualizes SRP RNA plasticity. Docking of the S domain structure into cryo-electron microscopy density maps reveals multiple contact sites between SRP68/72 and the ribosome, and explains the role of SRP72 in the SRP pathway. PMID:27899666

Mammalian polo-like kinase 1-dependent regulation of the PBIP1-CENP-Q complex at kinetochores.

PubMed

Kang, Young H; Park, Chi Hoon; Kim, Tae-Sung; Soung, Nak-Kyun; Bang, Jeong K; Kim, Bo Y; Park, Jung-Eun; Lee, Kyung S

2011-06-03

Mammalian polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) plays a pivotal role during M-phase progression. Plk1 localizes to specific subcellular structures through the targeting activity of the C-terminal polo-box domain (PBD). Disruption of the PBD function results in improper bipolar spindle formation, chromosome missegregation, and cytokinesis defect that ultimately lead to the generation of aneuploidy. It has been shown that Plk1 recruits itself to centromeres by phosphorylating and binding to a centromere scaffold, PBIP1 (also called MLF1IP and CENP-U[50]) through its PBD. However, how PBIP1 itself is targeted to centromeres and what roles it plays in the regulation of Plk1-dependent mitotic events remain unknown. Here, we demonstrated that PBIP1 directly interacts with CENP-Q, and this interaction was mutually required not only for their stability but also for their centromere localization. Plk1 did not appear to interact with CENP-Q directly. However, Plk1 formed a ternary complex with PBIP1 and CENP-Q through a self-generated p-T78 motif on PBIP1. This complex formation was central for Plk1-dependent phosphorylation of PBIP1-bound CENP-Q and delocalization of the PBIP1-CENP-Q complex from mitotic centromeres. This study reveals a unique mechanism of how PBIP1 mediates Plk1-dependent phosphorylation event onto a third protein, and provides new insights into the mechanism of how Plk1 and its recruitment scaffold, PBIP1-CENP-Q complex, are localized to and delocalized from centromeres.

Mammalian Polo-like Kinase 1-dependent Regulation of the PBIP1-CENP-Q Complex at Kinetochores*

PubMed Central

Kang, Young H.; Park, Chi Hoon; Kim, Tae-Sung; Soung, Nak-Kyun; Bang, Jeong K.; Kim, Bo Y.; Park, Jung-Eun; Lee, Kyung S.

2011-01-01

Mammalian polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) plays a pivotal role during M-phase progression. Plk1 localizes to specific subcellular structures through the targeting activity of the C-terminal polo-box domain (PBD). Disruption of the PBD function results in improper bipolar spindle formation, chromosome missegregation, and cytokinesis defect that ultimately lead to the generation of aneuploidy. It has been shown that Plk1 recruits itself to centromeres by phosphorylating and binding to a centromere scaffold, PBIP1 (also called MLF1IP and CENP-U[50]) through its PBD. However, how PBIP1 itself is targeted to centromeres and what roles it plays in the regulation of Plk1-dependent mitotic events remain unknown. Here, we demonstrated that PBIP1 directly interacts with CENP-Q, and this interaction was mutually required not only for their stability but also for their centromere localization. Plk1 did not appear to interact with CENP-Q directly. However, Plk1 formed a ternary complex with PBIP1 and CENP-Q through a self-generated p-T78 motif on PBIP1. This complex formation was central for Plk1-dependent phosphorylation of PBIP1-bound CENP-Q and delocalization of the PBIP1-CENP-Q complex from mitotic centromeres. This study reveals a unique mechanism of how PBIP1 mediates Plk1-dependent phosphorylation event onto a third protein, and provides new insights into the mechanism of how Plk1 and its recruitment scaffold, PBIP1-CENP-Q complex, are localized to and delocalized from centromeres. PMID:21454580

Environmental constraints on the compositional and phylogenetic beta-diversity of tropical forest snake assemblages.

PubMed

Moura, Mario R; Costa, Henrique C; Argôlo, Antônio J S; Jetz, Walter

2017-09-01

The ongoing biodiversity crisis increases the importance and urgency of studies addressing the role of environmental variation on the composition and evolutionary history of species assemblages, but especially the tropics and ectotherms remain understudied. In regions with rainy summers, coexistence of tropical ectothermic species may be determined by the partitioning of the climatic niche, as ectotherms can rely on water availability and thermoregulatory behaviour to buffer constraints along their climatic niche. Conversely, tropical ectotherms facing dry summers would have fewer opportunities to climatic niche partitioning and other processes rather than environmental filtering would mediate species coexistence. We used 218 snake assemblages to quantify the compositional (CBD) and phylogenetic (PBD) beta-diversity of snakes in the Atlantic Forest (AF) hotspot, South America. We identify two AF regions with distinct climatological regimes: dry summers in the northern-AF and rainy summers in the southern-AF. While accounting for the influence of multiscale spatial processes, we disentangle the relative contribution of thermal, water-related and topographic conditions in structuring the CBD and PBD of snake assemblages, and determine the extent in which snake assemblages under distinct climatological regimes are affected by environmental filtering. Thermal conditions best explain CBD and PBD of snakes for the whole AF, whereas water-related factors best explain the structure of snake assemblages within a same climatological regime. CBD and PBD patterns are similarly explained by spatial factors but snake assemblages facing dry summers are more affected by spatial processes operating at fine to intermediate spatial scale, whereas those assemblages in regions with rainy summers have a stronger signature of coarse-scale processes. As expected, environmental filtering plays a stronger role in southern-AF than northern-AF, and the synergism between thermal and water-related conditions is the key cause behind this difference. Differences in climatological regimes within the tropics affect processes mediating species coexistence. The influence of broad-scale gradients (e.g. temperature and precipitation) in structuring tropical ectothermic assemblages is greater in regions with rainy summers where climatic niche partitioning is more likely. Our findings highlight the potential stronger role of biotic interactions and neutral processes in structuring ectothermic assemblages facing changes towards warmer and dryer climates. © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Animal Ecology © 2017 British Ecological Society.

Study of the dairy characters of lactating Murrah buffaloes on the basis of body parts measurements

PubMed Central

Dhillod, Sandeep; Kar, Dipankar; Patil, C. S.; Sahu, Subhasish; Singh, Narender

2017-01-01

Aim: The aim of the study was to correlate the milk yield of Murrah buffaloes with certain body parts measurements. Materials and Methods: A total of 70 lactating Murrah buffaloes were selected from Buffalo Farm, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Science, Hisar and were randomly selected in a range from first to fifth parity. Traits studied were 305 days milk yield (MY), body weight (BW), body length (BL), muzzle width (MW), height at wither (HW), abdominal girth (AG), chest girth (CG), body depth fore, body depth rear, hip bone distance (HBD), pin bone distance (PBD), skin thickness (STK), and tail length (TL). Data were collected and statically analyzed by Pearson’s correlation method. Result: The result of this study showed that Murrah buffaloes had the average 2604.8±39.5 kg for MY, 556.1±4.9 kg for BW, and 152.2±0.8 cm for BL. This study showed that buffaloes had positive significant (p<0.05) correlation between MY and BW (0.26). Highly significant (p<0.01) correlation was observed between MY and AG (0.64), MW (0.42). Significant (p<0.01) negative correlation was observed between MY and STK (−0.79). Different body part measurements (BW, BL, HW, AG, CG, MW, TL, BD, PBD, HBD, STK) were significantly correlated with each other. Conclusion: This study can be helpful as a selection tool to enhance and evaluate the production potential by setting standards of Murrah buffalo breed. BW, abdominal growth, muzzle thickness, and STK were found key factors while selecting a dairy Murrah buffalo. PMID:28246443

Time-saving design of experiment protocol for optimization of LC-MS data processing in metabolomic approaches.

PubMed

Zheng, Hong; Clausen, Morten Rahr; Dalsgaard, Trine Kastrup; Mortensen, Grith; Bertram, Hanne Christine

2013-08-06

We describe a time-saving protocol for the processing of LC-MS-based metabolomics data by optimizing parameter settings in XCMS and threshold settings for removing noisy and low-intensity peaks using design of experiment (DoE) approaches including Plackett-Burman design (PBD) for screening and central composite design (CCD) for optimization. A reliability index, which is based on evaluation of the linear response to a dilution series, was used as a parameter for the assessment of data quality. After identifying the significant parameters in the XCMS software by PBD, CCD was applied to determine their values by maximizing the reliability and group indexes. Optimal settings by DoE resulted in improvements of 19.4% and 54.7% in the reliability index for a standard mixture and human urine, respectively, as compared with the default setting, and a total of 38 h was required to complete the optimization. Moreover, threshold settings were optimized by using CCD for further improvement. The approach combining optimal parameter setting and the threshold method improved the reliability index about 9.5 times for a standards mixture and 14.5 times for human urine data, which required a total of 41 h. Validation results also showed improvements in the reliability index of about 5-7 times even for urine samples from different subjects. It is concluded that the proposed methodology can be used as a time-saving approach for improving the processing of LC-MS-based metabolomics data.

Peroral endoscopic myotomy is a viable option for failed surgical esophagocardiomyotomy instead of redo surgical Heller myotomy: a single center prospective study.

PubMed

Onimaru, Manabu; Inoue, Haruhiro; Ikeda, Haruo; Yoshida, Akira; Santi, Esperanza Grace; Sato, Hiroki; Ito, Hiroaki; Maselli, Roberta; Kudo, Shin-ei

2013-10-01

Surgical Heller myotomy has high rates of successful long-term results, but failed cases still remain. Moreover, the treatment strategy in patients with surgical myotomy failure is controversial. Recently, peroral endscopic myotomy (POEM) was reported to be efficient and safe in primary treatment of achalasia. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of POEM for surgical myotomy failure as a rescue second-line treatment, and we discuss the treatment options adapted in achalasia recurrence. A total of 315 consecutive achalasia patients received POEM from September 2008 to December 2012 in our hospital. Eleven (3.5%) patients who had persistent or recurrent achalasia and had received surgical myotomy as a first-line treatment from other hospitals were included in this study. Patient background, barium swallow studies, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), manometry, and symptom scores were prospectively evaluated. In principle, all patients in whom surgical myotomy failed received pneumatic balloon dilatation (PBD) as the first line "rescue" treatment, and only if PBD failed were patients considered for rescue POEM. The PBD alone was effective in 1 patient, and in the remaining 10 patients, rescue POEM was performed successfully without complications. Three months after rescue POEM, significant reduction in lower esophageal sphincter (LES) resting pressures (22.1 ± 6.6 mmHg vs 10.9 ± 4.5 mmHg, p < 0.01) and Eckardt symptom scores (6.5 ± 1.3 vs 1.1 ± 1.3, p < 0.001) were observed. Short-term results of POEM for failed surgical myotomy were excellent. Long-term results are awaited. Copyright © 2013 American College of Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of metal versus plastic stents for preoperative biliary drainage in resectable periampullary or pancreatic head tumors.

PubMed

Crippa, S; Cirocchi, R; Partelli, S; Petrone, M C; Muffatti, F; Renzi, C; Falconi, M; Arcidiacono, P G

2016-09-01

Preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) with stenting increases complications compared with surgery without PBD. Metallic stents are considered superior to plastic stents when considering stent-related complications. Aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis is to compare the rate of endoscopic re-intervention before surgery and postoperative outcomes of metal versus plastic stents in patients with resectable periampullary or pancreatic head neoplasms. We conducted a bibliographic research using the National Library of Medicine's PubMed database, including both randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs. Quantitative synthesis was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using the I(2) tests. One RCT and four non-RCTs were selected, including 704 patients. Of these, 202 patients (29.5%) were treated with metal stents and 502 (70.5%) with plastic stents. The majority of patients (86.4%) had pancreatic cancer. The rate of endoscopic re-intervention after preoperative biliary drainage was significantly lower in the metal stent (3.4%) than in the plastic stent (14.8%) group (p < 0.0001). The rate of postoperative pancreatic fistula was significantly lower in the meta stent group as well (5.1% versus 11.8%, p = 0.04). The rate of post-operative surgical complications and of - post-operative mortality did not differ between the two groups. Although the present systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrates that metal stent are more effective than plastic stents for PBD in patients with resectable periampullary tumors, randomized controlled trials are needed in order to confirm these data with a higher level of evidence. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The function of the yeast molecular chaperone Sse1 is mechanistically distinct from the closely related hsp70 family.

PubMed

Shaner, Lance; Trott, Amy; Goeckeler, Jennifer L; Brodsky, Jeffrey L; Morano, Kevin A

2004-05-21

The Sse1/Hsp110 molecular chaperones are a poorly understood subgroup of the Hsp70 chaperone family. Hsp70 can refold denatured polypeptides via a C-terminal peptide binding domain (PBD), which is regulated by nucleotide cycling in an N-terminal ATPase domain. However, unlike Hsp70, both Sse1 and mammalian Hsp110 bind unfolded peptide substrates but cannot refold them. To test the in vivo requirement for interdomain communication, SSE1 alleles carrying amino acid substitutions in the ATPase domain were assayed for their ability to complement sse1Delta yeast. Surprisingly, all mutants predicted to abolish ATP hydrolysis (D8N, K69Q, D174N, D203N) complemented the temperature sensitivity of sse1Delta and lethality of sse1Deltasse2Delta cells, whereas mutations in predicted ATP binding residues (G205D, G233D) were non-functional. Complementation ability correlated well with ATP binding assessed in vitro. The extreme C terminus of the Hsp70 family is required for substrate targeting and heterocomplex formation with other chaperones, but mutant Sse1 proteins with a truncation of up to 44 C-terminal residues that were not included in the PBD were active. Remarkably, the two domains of Sse1, when expressed in trans, functionally complement the sse1Delta growth phenotype and interact by coimmunoprecipitation analysis. In addition, a functional PBD was required to stabilize the Sse1 ATPase domain, and stabilization also occurred in trans. These data represent the first structure-function analysis of this abundant but ill defined chaperone, and establish several novel aspects of Sse1/Hsp110 function relative to Hsp70.

Toward Enhancing the Enzymatic Activity of a Novel Fungal Polygalacturonase for Food Industry: Optimization and Biochemical Analyses.

PubMed

Shetaia, Yousseria M H; El-Baz, Ashraf F; ElMekawy, Ahmed M

2017-08-11

The review of literature and patents shows that enhancing the PG production and activity are still required to fulfill the increasing demands. A dual optimization process, which involved Plackett-Burman design (PBD), with seven factors, and response surface methodology, was applied to optimize the production of extracellular polygalacturonase (PG) enzyme produced by a novel strain of Aspergillus flavus isolated from rotten orange fruit. The fungal PG was purified and biochemically characterized. Three variables (harvesting time, pH and orange pomace concentration), that were verified to be significant by the PBD analysis, were comprehensively optimized via Box-Behnken design. According to this optimization, the highest PG activity (4073 U/mL) was obtained under pH 7 after 48 h using 40 g/L orange pomace as a substrate, with enhancement in PG activity by 51% compared to the first PBD optimization step. The specific activity of the purified PG was 1608 U/mg with polygalacturonic acid and its molecular weight was 55 kDa. The optimum pH was 5 with relative thermal stability (80%) at 50˚C after 30 min. The PG activity improved in the presence of Cu2+ and Ca2+, while Ba2+, Fe2+ and Zn2+ greatly inhibited the enzyme activity. The obvious Km and Vmax values were 0.8 mg/mL and 2000 µmol/min, respectively. This study is a starting point for initial research in the field of optimization and characterization of A. flavus PG. The statistical optimization of A. flavus PG and its biochemical characterization clearly revealed that this fungal strain can be a potential producer of PG which has a wide range of industrial applications. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Interdomain allosteric regulation of Polo kinase by Aurora B and Map205 is required for cytokinesis

PubMed Central

Kachaner, David; Pinson, Xavier; El Kadhi, Khaled Ben; Normandin, Karine; Talje, Lama; Lavoie, Hugo; Lépine, Guillaume; Carréno, Sébastien; Kwok, Benjamin H.; Hickson, Gilles R.

2014-01-01

Drosophila melanogaster Polo and its human orthologue Polo-like kinase 1 fulfill essential roles during cell division. Members of the Polo-like kinase (Plk) family contain an N-terminal kinase domain (KD) and a C-terminal Polo-Box domain (PBD), which mediates protein interactions. How Plks are regulated in cytokinesis is poorly understood. Here we show that phosphorylation of Polo by Aurora B is required for cytokinesis. This phosphorylation in the activation loop of the KD promotes the dissociation of Polo from the PBD-bound microtubule-associated protein Map205, which acts as an allosteric inhibitor of Polo kinase activity. This mechanism allows the release of active Polo from microtubules of the central spindle and its recruitment to the site of cytokinesis. Failure in Polo phosphorylation results in both early and late cytokinesis defects. Importantly, the antagonistic regulation of Polo by Aurora B and Map205 in cytokinesis reveals that interdomain allosteric mechanisms can play important roles in controlling the cellular functions of Plks. PMID:25332165

InGaAs-based planar barrier diode as microwave rectifier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farhani Zakaria, Nor; Rizal Kasjoo, Shahrir; Zailan, Zarimawaty; Mohamad Isa, Muammar; Arshad, Mohd Khairuddin Md; Taking, Sanna

2018-06-01

In this report, we proposed and simulated a new planar nonlinear rectifying device fabricated using InGaAs substrate and referred to as a planar barrier diode (PBD). Using an asymmetrical inverse-arrowhead-shaped structure between the electrodes, a nonuniform depletion region is developed, which creates a triangular energy barrier in the conducting channel. This barrier is voltage dependent and can be controlled by the applied voltage across the PBD, thus resulting in nonlinear diode-like current–voltage characteristics; thus it can be used as a rectifying device. The PBD’s working principle is explained using thermionic emission theory. Furthermore, by varying the PBD’s geometric design, the asymmetry of the current–voltage characteristics can be optimized to realize superior rectification performance. By employing the optimized structural parameters, the obtained cut-off frequency of the device was approximately 270 GHz with a curvature coefficient peak of 14 V‑1 at a low DC bias voltage of 50 mV.

Failure Is Not an Option: A Root Cause Analysis of Failed Acquisition Programs

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-12-01

Kendall (2012, 2015). ..................................................................................4 Table 3. Description and Decision Authority...Assessment and Program Evaluation DAE Defense Acquisition Executive DAMIR Defense Acquisition Management Information Retrieval DARPA Defense Advanced...and evaluation OTA other transactions authority PARCA performance assessments and root cause analyses PBD program budget decisions PDR preliminary

Study of the dairy characters of lactating Murrah buffaloes on the basis of body parts measurements.

PubMed

Dhillod, Sandeep; Kar, Dipankar; Patil, C S; Sahu, Subhasish; Singh, Narender

2017-01-01

The aim of the study was to correlate the milk yield of Murrah buffaloes with certain body parts measurements. A total of 70 lactating Murrah buffaloes were selected from Buffalo Farm, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Science, Hisar and were randomly selected in a range from first to fifth parity. Traits studied were 305 days milk yield (MY), body weight (BW), body length (BL), muzzle width (MW), height at wither (HW), abdominal girth (AG), chest girth (CG), body depth fore, body depth rear, hip bone distance (HBD), pin bone distance (PBD), skin thickness (STK), and tail length (TL). Data were collected and statically analyzed by Pearson's correlation method. The result of this study showed that Murrah buffaloes had the average 2604.8±39.5 kg for MY, 556.1±4.9 kg for BW, and 152.2±0.8 cm for BL. This study showed that buffaloes had positive significant (p<0.05) correlation between MY and BW (0.26). Highly significant (p<0.01) correlation was observed between MY and AG (0.64), MW (0.42). Significant (p<0.01) negative correlation was observed between MY and STK (-0.79). Different body part measurements (BW, BL, HW, AG, CG, MW, TL, BD, PBD, HBD, STK) were significantly correlated with each other. This study can be helpful as a selection tool to enhance and evaluate the production potential by setting standards of Murrah buffalo breed. BW, abdominal growth, muzzle thickness, and STK were found key factors while selecting a dairy Murrah buffalo.

Mechanical properties of drug loaded diblock copolymer bilayers: A molecular dynamics study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grillo, Damián A.; Albano, Juan M. R.; Mocskos, Esteban E.; Facelli, Julio C.; Pickholz, Mónica; Ferraro, Marta B.

2018-06-01

In this work, we present results of coarse-grained simulations to study the encapsulation of prilocaine (PLC), both neutral and protonated, on copolymer bilayers through molecular dynamics simulations. Using a previously validated membrane model, we have simulated loaded bilayers at different drug concentrations and at low (protonated PLC) and high (neutral PLC) pH levels. We have characterized key structural parameters of the loaded bilayers in order to understand the effects of encapsulation of PLC on the bilayer structure and mechanical properties. Neutral PLC was encapsulated in the hydrophobic region leading to a thickness increase, while the protonated species partitioned between the water phase and the poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(butadiene) (PBD) interface, relaxing the PBD region and leading to a decrease in the thickness. The tangential pressures of the studied systems were calculated, and their components were decomposed in order to gain insights on their compensation. In all cases, it is observed that the loading of the membrane does not significantly decrease the stability of the bilayer, indicating that the system could be used for drug delivery.

Set-up and pilot of a population cohort for the study of the natural history of COPD and OSA: the PULSAIB study.

PubMed

Soriano, Joan B; Yáñez, Aina; Renom, Feliu; de la Peña, Mónica; Gómez, Amalia; Duro, Rosa; Uréndez, Ana; Román, Miguel

2010-06-01

We describe the set-up of a population-based study focussed on respiratory conditions, and describe a pilot study - the PULmons SAns Illes Balears (PULSAIB) study - aimed at investigating the natural history of COPD, obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), and other common chronic diseases. A cross-sectional study was designed to survey two fieldwork areas, one rural and one urban, in the Balearic Islands, Spain. Tests conducted included a questionnaire, spirometry with post-bronchodilator (PBD) test, and portable respiratory polygraphy. We assessed all processes and tools to be used, and piloted them in 175 participants from Bunyola (rural) and 130 participants from the Son Pizà area (urban). Within this first cross-sectional assessment of the Balearic population aged 30 to 80 years, we report the prevalence of airflow limitation defined as a PBD FEV1/FVC ratio <0.7 and the prevalence of OSA defined as an apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) >10/hour. A cohort study in the Balearic population to investigate the natural history of COPD and OSA is feasible.

Mechanical properties of drug loaded diblock copolymer bilayers: A molecular dynamics study.

PubMed

Grillo, Damián A; Albano, Juan M R; Mocskos, Esteban E; Facelli, Julio C; Pickholz, Mónica; Ferraro, Marta B

2018-06-07

In this work, we present results of coarse-grained simulations to study the encapsulation of prilocaine (PLC), both neutral and protonated, on copolymer bilayers through molecular dynamics simulations. Using a previously validated membrane model, we have simulated loaded bilayers at different drug concentrations and at low (protonated PLC) and high (neutral PLC) pH levels. We have characterized key structural parameters of the loaded bilayers in order to understand the effects of encapsulation of PLC on the bilayer structure and mechanical properties. Neutral PLC was encapsulated in the hydrophobic region leading to a thickness increase, while the protonated species partitioned between the water phase and the poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(butadiene) (PBD) interface, relaxing the PBD region and leading to a decrease in the thickness. The tangential pressures of the studied systems were calculated, and their components were decomposed in order to gain insights on their compensation. In all cases, it is observed that the loading of the membrane does not significantly decrease the stability of the bilayer, indicating that the system could be used for drug delivery.

Improving cellulase productivity of Penicillium oxalicum RE-10 by repeated fed-batch fermentation strategy.

PubMed

Han, Xiaolong; Song, Wenxia; Liu, Guodong; Li, Zhonghai; Yang, Piao; Qu, Yinbo

2017-03-01

Medium optimization and repeated fed-batch fermentation were performed to improve the cellulase productivity by P. oxalicum RE-10 in submerged fermentation. First, Plackett-Burman design (PBD) and central composite design (CCD) were used to optimize the medium for cellulase production. PBD demonstrated wheat bran and NaNO 3 had significant influences on cellulase production. The CCD results showed the maximum filter paper activity (FPA) production of 8.61U/mL could be achieved in Erlenmeyer flasks. The maximal FPA reached 12.69U/mL by submerged batch fermentation in a 7.5-L stirred tank, 1.76-fold higher than that on the original medium. Then, the repeated fed-batch fermentation strategy was performed successfully for increasing the cellulase productivity from 105.75U/L/h in batch fermentation to 158.38U/L/h. The cellulase activity and the glucan conversion of delignined corn cob residue hydrolysis had no significant difference between the enzymes sampled from different cycles of the repeated fed-batch fermentation and that from batch culture. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Channel Nucleoporins Recruit PLK-1 to Nuclear Pore Complexes to Direct Nuclear Envelope Breakdown in C. elegans.

PubMed

Martino, Lisa; Morchoisne-Bolhy, Stéphanie; Cheerambathur, Dhanya K; Van Hove, Lucie; Dumont, Julien; Joly, Nicolas; Desai, Arshad; Doye, Valérie; Pintard, Lionel

2017-10-23

In animal cells, nuclear envelope breakdown (NEBD) is required for proper chromosome segregation. Whereas mitotic kinases have been implicated in NEBD, how they coordinate their activity to trigger this event is unclear. Here, we show that both in human cells and Caenorhabditis elegans, the Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK-1) is recruited to the nuclear pore complexes, just prior to NEBD, through its Polo-box domain (PBD). We provide evidence that PLK-1 localization to the nuclear envelope (NE) is required for efficient NEBD. We identify the central channel nucleoporins NPP-1/Nup58, NPP-4/Nup54, and NPP-11/Nup62 as the critical factors anchoring PLK-1 to the NE in C. elegans. In particular, NPP-1, NPP-4, and NPP-11 primed at multiple Polo-docking sites by Cdk1 and PLK-1 itself physically interact with the PLK-1 PBD. We conclude that nucleoporins play an unanticipated regulatory role in NEBD, by recruiting PLK-1 to the NE thereby facilitating phosphorylation of critical downstream targets. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Optimization of the production conditions of the lipase produced by Bacillus cereus from rice flour through Plackett-Burman Design (PBD) and response surface methodology (RSM).

PubMed

Vasiee, Alireza; Behbahani, Behrooz Alizadeh; Yazdi, Farideh Tabatabaei; Moradi, Samira

2016-12-01

In this study, the screening of lipase positive bacteria from rice flour was carried out by Rhodamin B agar plate method. Bacillus cereus was identified by 16S rDNA method. Screening of the appropriate variables and optimization of the lipase production was performed using Plackett-Burman design (PBD) and response surface methodology (RSM). Among the isolated bacteria, an aerobic Bacillus cereus strain was recognized as the best lipase-producing bacteria (177.3 ± 20 U/ml). Given the results, the optimal enzyme production conditions were achieved with coriander seed extract (CSE)/yeast extract ratio of 16.9 w/w, olive oil (OO) and MgCl 2 concentration of 2.37 g/L and 24.23 mM, respectively. In these conditions, the lipase activity (LA) was predicted 343 U/mL that was approximately close to the predicted value (324 U/mL), which was increased 1.83 fold LA compared with the non-optimized lipase. The kinetic parameters of V max and K m for the lipase were measured 0.367 μM/min.mL and 5.3 mM, respectively. The lipase producing Bacillus cereus was isolated and RSM was used for the optimization of enzyme production. The CSE/yeast extract ratio of 16.9 w/w, OO concentration of 2.37 g/L and MgCl 2 concentration of 24.23 mM, were found to be the optimal conditions of the enzyme production process. LA at optimal enzyme production conditions was observed 1.83 times more than the non-optimal conditions. Ultimately, it can be concluded that the isolated B. cereus from rice flour is a proper source of lipase. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Percutaneous biliary drainage effectively lowers serum bilirubin to permit chemotherapy treatment.

PubMed

Levy, Jennifer L; Sudheendra, Deepak; Dagli, Mandeep; Mondschein, Jeffrey I; Stavropoulos, S William; Shlansky-Goldberg, Richard D; Trerotola, Scott O; Teitelbaum, Ursina; Mick, Rosemarie; Soulen, Michael C

2016-02-01

For digestive tract cancers, the bilirubin threshold for administration of systemic chemotherapy can be 5 or 2 mg/dL (85.5 or 34.2 μmol/L) depending upon the regimen. We examined the ability of percutaneous biliary drainage (PBD) in patients with malignant biliary obstruction to achieve these clinically relevant endpoints. 106 consecutive patients with malignant biliary obstruction and a baseline serum bilirubin >2 mg/dL underwent PBD. Time to achieve a bilirubin of 5 mg/dL (85.5 μmol/L), 2 mg/dL (34.2 μmol/L), and survival was estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Potential technical and clinical prognostic factors were subjected to univariate and multivariate analysis. Categorical variables were analyzed by the log rank test. Hazard ratios were calculated for continuous variables. Median survival was 100 days (range 1-3771 days). Among 88 patients with a pre-drainage bilirubin >5 mg/dL, 62% achieved a serum bilirubin ≤5 mg/dL within 30 days and 84% within 60 days, median 21 days. Among 106 patients with a pre-drainage bilirubin >2 mg/dL, 37% achieved a serum bilirubin ≤2 mg/dL by 30 days and 70% within 60 days, median 43 days. None of the technical or clinical factors evaluated, including pre-drainage bilirubin, were significant predictors of time to achieve a bilirubin ≤2 mg/dL (p = 0.51). Size and type of biliary device were the only technical variables found to affect time to bilirubin of 5 mg/dL (p = 0.016). PBD of malignant obstruction achieves clinically relevant reduction in serum bilirubin in the majority of patients within 1-2 months, irrespective of the pre-drainage serum bilirubin, sufficient to allow administration of systemic chemotherapy. However, the decision to undergo this procedure for this indication alone must be considered in the context of patients' prognosis and treatment goals.

QSRR modeling for diverse drugs using different feature selection methods coupled with linear and nonlinear regressions.

PubMed

Goodarzi, Mohammad; Jensen, Richard; Vander Heyden, Yvan

2012-12-01

A Quantitative Structure-Retention Relationship (QSRR) is proposed to estimate the chromatographic retention of 83 diverse drugs on a Unisphere poly butadiene (PBD) column, using isocratic elutions at pH 11.7. Previous work has generated QSRR models for them using Classification And Regression Trees (CART). In this work, Ant Colony Optimization is used as a feature selection method to find the best molecular descriptors from a large pool. In addition, several other selection methods have been applied, such as Genetic Algorithms, Stepwise Regression and the Relief method, not only to evaluate Ant Colony Optimization as a feature selection method but also to investigate its ability to find the important descriptors in QSRR. Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) and Support Vector Machines (SVMs) were applied as linear and nonlinear regression methods, respectively, giving excellent correlation between the experimental, i.e. extrapolated to a mobile phase consisting of pure water, and predicted logarithms of the retention factors of the drugs (logk(w)). The overall best model was the SVM one built using descriptors selected by ACO. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Pharmacological Regulation of Peroxisome Number in Glia

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-09-01

histone deacetylase HDL high - density lipoprotein LXR liver X receptor NPC Niemann Pick type C disease PBD peroxisome...transporters ABCA1 and ABCG1 with lipoproteins in the extracellular space, such as apoE; transportation to the liver occurs via high density lipoprotein ...mechanisms involved in the athero-protective effect of high density lipoproteins . Journal of internal medicine, 263, 256-273. Tobin, K. A., Steineger, H

Ceftaroline efficacy against high-MIC clinical Staphylococcus aureus isolates in an in vitro hollow-fibre infection model.

PubMed

Singh, Renu; Almutairi, Mashal; Alm, Richard A; Lahiri, Sushmita D; San Martin, Maryann; Chen, April; Ambler, Jane E

2017-10-01

The current CLSI and EUCAST clinical susceptible breakpoint for 600 mg q12h dosing of ceftaroline (active metabolite of ceftaroline fosamil) for Staphylococcus aureus is ≤1 mg/L. Efficacy data for S. aureus infections with ceftaroline MIC ≥2 mg/L are limited. This study was designed to generate in-depth pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) understanding of S. aureus isolates inhibited by ≥ 2 mg/L ceftaroline using an in vitro hollow-fibre infection model (HFIM). The PK/PD target of ceftaroline was investigated against 12 diverse characterized clinical MRSA isolates with ceftaroline MICs of 2 or 4 mg/L using q8h dosing for 24 h. These isolates carried substitutions in the penicillin-binding domain (PBD) and/or the non-PBD. Additionally, PD responses of mutants with ceftaroline MICs ranging from 2 to 32 mg/L were evaluated against the mean 600 mg q8h human-simulated dose over 72 h. The mean stasis, 1 log10-kill and 2 log10-kill PK/PD targets were 29%, 32% and 35% f T>MIC, respectively. In addition, these data suggest that the PK/PD target for MRSA is not impacted by the presence of substitutions in the non-PBD commonly found in isolates with ceftaroline MIC values of ≤ 2 mg/L. HFIM studies with 600 mg q8h dosing demonstrated a sustained long-term bacterial suppression for isolates with ceftaroline MICs of 2 and 4 mg/L. Overall, efficacy was demonstrated against a diverse collection of clinical isolates using HFIM indicating the utility of 600 mg ceftaroline fosamil for S. aureus isolates with MIC ≤4 mg/L using q8h dosing. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Discharge Characteristics of Series Surface/Packed-Bed Discharge Reactor Diven by Bipolar Pulsed Power

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Jian; Jiang, Nan; Li, Jie; Shang, Kefeng; Lu, Na; Wu, Yan; Mizuno, Akira

2016-03-01

The discharge characteristics of the series surface/packed-bed discharge (SSPBD) reactor driven by bipolar pulse power were systemically investigated in this study. In order to evaluate the advantages of the SSPBD reactor, it was compared with traditional surface discharge (SD) reactor and packed-bed discharge (PBD) reactor in terms of the discharge voltage, discharge current, and ozone formation. The SSPBD reactor exhibited a faster rising time and lower tail voltage than the SD and PBD reactors. The distribution of the active species generated in different discharge regions of the SSPBD reactor was analyzed by optical emission spectra and ozone analysis. It was found that the packed-bed discharge region (3.5 mg/L), rather than the surface discharge region (1.3 mg/L) in the SSPBD reactor played a more important role in ozone generation. The optical emission spectroscopy analysis indicated that more intense peaks of the active species (e.g. N2 and OI) in the optical emission spectra were observed in the packed-bed region. supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51177007), the Joint Funds of National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. U1462105), and Dalian University of Technology Fundamental Research Fund of China (No. DUT15RC(3)030)

Optimization of cold-adapted lysozyme production from the psychrophilic yeast Debaryomyces hansenii using statistical experimental methods.

PubMed

Wang, Quanfu; Hou, Yanhua; Yan, Peisheng

2012-06-01

Statistical experimental designs were employed to optimize culture conditions for cold-adapted lysozyme production of a psychrophilic yeast Debaryomyces hansenii. In the first step of optimization using Plackett-Burman design (PBD), peptone, glucose, temperature, and NaCl were identified as significant variables that affected lysozyme production, the formula was further optimized using a four factor central composite design (CCD) to understand their interaction and to determine their optimal levels. A quadratic model was developed and validated. Compared to the initial level (18.8 U/mL), the maximum lysozyme production (65.8 U/mL) observed was approximately increased by 3.5-fold under the optimized conditions. Cold-adapted lysozymes production was first optimized using statistical experimental methods. A 3.5-fold enhancement of microbial lysozyme was gained after optimization. Such an improved production will facilitate the application of microbial lysozyme. Thus, D. hansenii lysozyme may be a good and new resource for the industrial production of cold-adapted lysozymes. © 2012 Institute of Food Technologists®

[Clinical research of the effect of shengmai injection on the management of "shock heart " after burns].

PubMed

Zhang, Xi-lian; Huang, Yue-sheng; Dang, Yong-ming; Zhang, Jia-ping

2006-08-01

To investigate the effect of Shengmai injection on the management of "shock heart" after burns. Twenty patients with severe burns were enrolled in the study and randomly divided into two groups according to the clinical research method, i.e. treatment group (n= 10, with intravenous infusion of 40 ml Shengmai injection together with 250ml 50 g/L glucose solution for 3 days, 1 time/ per day) and control group(n = 10, with intravenous infusion of 290 ml 50 g/L glucose injection liquid for 3 days, 1 time/per day). Beside the venous line used for routine fluid resuscitation for burn shock, another venous line was set up after hospitalization for the administration of the drug. Blood samples were obtained from the femoral vein in both groups at 12 post-burn hour( PBH) , and on 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 post burn days (PBD) for the determination of serum contents of creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI). The changes in hepatic and renal function, as well as coagulability were determined before drug infusion and on 1 , 2, 3, 5 and 7 PSDs. The serum content of CK-MB, LDH and cTnI reached the peak at 12 PBH in both groups[ (52+/-20)U/L, (5.9+/-1.3) micromol x s(-1) L(-1), (0. 274+/-0. 231) microg/L in treatment group and [(9+/-31)U/L, (8.5+/-1l.8) micromol x s(-1) x L(-1) , (0. 584+/-0. 192) microg/L in control group]. All of them decreased with the passage of time, but in the treatment group they decreased more markedly within 2 or 3 PBD compared with those in control group ( P < 0.05). Early administration of Shengmai intravenously is beneficial to the protection of myocardial cells and in the management of the "shock heart" damage.

Inflammation, negative nitrogen balance, and outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

PubMed Central

Monahan, Aimee; Carpenter, Amanda; Zimmerman, Jacqueline; Schmidt, J. Michael; Claassen, Jan; Connolly, E. Sander; Mayer, Stephan A.; Karmally, Wahida; Seres, David

2015-01-01

Objective: To analyze the impact of inflammation and negative nitrogen balance (NBAL) on nutritional status and outcomes after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Methods: This was a prospective observational study of SAH patients admitted between May 2008 and June 2012. Measurements of C-reactive protein (CRP), transthyretin (TTR), resting energy expenditure (REE), and NBAL (g/day) were performed over 4 preset time periods during the first 14 postbleed days (PBD) in addition to daily caloric intake. Factors associated with REE and NBAL were analyzed with multivariable linear regression. Hospital-acquired infections (HAI) were tracked daily for time-to-event analyses. Poor outcome at 3 months was defined as a modified Rankin Scale score ≥4 and assessed by multivariable logistic regression. Results: There were 229 patients with an average age of 55 ± 15 years. Higher REE was associated with younger age (p = 0.02), male sex (p < 0.001), higher Hunt Hess grade (p = 0.001), and higher modified Fisher score (p = 0.01). Negative NBAL was associated with lower caloric intake (p < 0.001), higher body mass index (p < 0.001), aneurysm clipping (p = 0.03), and higher CRP:TTR ratio (p = 0.03). HAIs developed in 53 (23%) patients on mean PBD 8 ± 3. Older age (p = 0.002), higher Hunt Hess (p < 0.001), lower caloric intake (p = 0.001), and negative NBAL (p = 0.04) predicted time to first HAI. Poor outcome at 3 months was associated with higher Hunt Hess grade (p < 0.001), older age (p < 0.001), negative NBAL (p = 0.01), HAI (p = 0.03), higher CRP:TTR ratio (p = 0.04), higher body mass index (p = 0.03), and delayed cerebral ischemia (p = 0.04). Conclusions: Negative NBAL after SAH is influenced by inflammation and associated with an increased risk of HAI and poor outcome. Underfeeding and systemic inflammation are potential modifiable risk factors for negative NBAL and poor outcome after SAH. PMID:25596503

Set-Based Design: Fleet Architecture and Design 2030-2035

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-12-01

choose any quantity between 250 - 350 HP for the final system design without suffering the same consequences in PBD. Figure 2 visually compares SBD... comparing the coverages in 2035 to those in 2017. This report does not advocate for a larger or smaller domain grid factor for overall fleet design , as...Distribution is unlimited. SET-BASED DESIGN : FLEET ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN 2030–2035 by David Alessandria, Isa Al-Jawder, Eric Clow, Carlos

Authorities and Options for Funding USSOCOM Operations

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-01-01

Operations and Maintenance funds to anticipate emergent SOF sup- port funding requirements. The MILDEPs have some flexibility to make “fact of life ...but does not direct a specific funding pathway) USSOCOM directs a stop to use of MFP-11 funding for TSOC HQ suport . PBD realigns MFP-11 and MFP-2...planning advances relatively quickly, while the search for funding lags. The planning also has a dynamic quality, so the Statement of Requirements

Percutaneous Embolization of Transhepatic Tracks for Biliary Intervention

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lyon, Stuart M.; Terhaar, Olaf; Given, Mark F.

2006-12-15

Significant pain can occur after removing transhepatic catheters from biliary access tracks, after percutaneous biliary drainage (PBD) or stenting. We undertook a randomized prospective study to ascertain whether track embolization decreases the amount of pain or analgesic requirement after PBD. Fifty consecutive patients (M:F, 22:28; age range:29-85 years; mean age: 66.3 years) undergoing PBD were randomized to receive track embolization or no track embolization after removal of biliary drainage catheters. A combination of Lipoidol and n-butyl cyanoacrylate were used to embolize transhepatic tracks using an 8F dilator. The patients who did not have track embolization performed had biliary drainage cathetersmore » removed over a guide wire. A visual analog scoring (VAS) system was used to grade pain associated with catheter removal, 24 h afterward. A required analgesic score (RAS) was devised to tabulate the analgesia required. No analgesia had a score of 0, oral or rectal nonopiate analgesics had a score of 1, oral opiates had a score of 2, and parenteral opiates had a score of 3. The average VAS and RAS for both groups were calculated and compared.Seven patients were excluded for various reasons, leaving 43 patients in the study group. Twenty-one patients comprised the embolization group and 22 patients comprised the nonembolization group. The mean biliary catheter dwell time was not significantly different (p > 0.05) between the embolization group and nonembolization (mean: 5.4 days vs 6.9 days, respectively). In the nonembolization group, the mean VAS was 3.4. Eight patients required parenteral opiates, three patients required oral opiates, and five patients required oral or rectal analgesics, yielding a mean RAS of 1.6. In the embolization group, the mean VAS was 0.9. No patient required parenteral opiates, six patients required oral opiates, and two patients had oral analgesia. The average RAS was 0.6. Both the VAS and the RAS were significantly lower in the embolization group compared with the nonembolization group (p < 0.0023 and p < 0.002, respectively). No complications were seen related to track embolization. Percutaneous track embolization after removal of biliary drainage catheters decreases patient's perception of pain and decreases the amount of required analgesia. In particular, the amount of opiate analgesia required is considerably less.« less

A DC-81-indole conjugate agent suppresses melanoma A375 cell migration partially via interrupting VEGF production and stromal cell-derived factor-1{alpha}-mediated signaling

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hsieh, Ming-Chu; Hu, Wan-Ping; Yu, Hsin-Su

2011-09-01

Pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine (PBD) chemicals are antitumor antibiotics inhibiting nucleic acid synthesis. An indole carboxylate-PBD hybrid with six-carbon spacer structure (IN6CPBD) has been previously demonstrated to induce melanoma cell apoptosis and reduce metastasis in mouse lungs. This study aimed at investigating the efficacy of the other hybrid compound with four-carbon spacer (IN4CPBD) and elucidating its anti-metastatic mechanism. Human melanoma A375 cells with IN4CPBD treatment underwent cytotoxicity and apoptosis-associated assays. Transwell migration assay, Western blotting, and ELISA were used for mechanistic study. IN4CPBD exhibited potent melanoma cytotoxicity through interrupting G1/S cell cycle progression, increasing DNA fragmentation and hypodipoidic DNA contents, and reducing mitochondrialmore » membrane potential. Caspase activity elevation suggested that both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways were involved in IN4CPBD-induced melanoma apoptosis. IN4CPBD up-regulated p53 and p21, thereby concomitantly derailing the equilibrium between Bcl-2 and Bax levels. Transwell migration assay demonstrated that stromal cell-derived factor-1{alpha} (SDF-1{alpha}) stimulated A375 cell motility, while kinase inhibitors treatment confirmed that Rho/ROCK, Akt, ERK1/2, and p38 MAPK pathways were involved in SDF-1{alpha}-enhanced melanoma migration. IN4CPBD not only abolished the SDF-1{alpha}-enhanced chemotactic motility but also suppressed constitutive MMP-9 and VEGF expression. Mechanistically, IN4CPBD down-regulated Akt, ERK1/2, and p38 MAPK total proteins and MYPT1 phosphorylation. In conclusion, beyond the fact that IN4CPBD induces melanoma cell apoptosis at cytotoxic dose, the interruption in the VEGF expression and the SDF-1{alpha}-related signaling at cytostatic dose may partially constitute the rationale for its in vivo anti-metastatic potency. - Research Highlights: > A novel carboxylate-PBD hybrid as anti-melanoma drug. > IN4CPBD interrupts melanoma cell cycle progression and induces apoptosis. > IN4CPBD suppresses SDF-1{alpha}-enhanced signaling and melanoma migration. > IN4CPBD abolishes angiogenic factor production and chemotactic effect of SDF-1{alpha}. > This drug is clinically applicable to melanoma therapy.« less

Thermal cis-trans isomerization of cis,cis-3,7-decadiene - A model for cis-1,4-polybutadiene

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Golub, M. A.; Lee, W. M.

1983-01-01

The thermal cis-trans isomerization of cis,cis-3,7-decadiene (DD), a model compound for cis-PBD, is reported. It is demonstrated that the rather low E for the polyalkenamer isomerizations compared with that for the 2-olefins is not an artifact of the solid polymer structures, but rather is characteristic of both small and large molecules possessing pairs of nonconjugated vinylene double bonds in a suitable arrangement.

In vitro expressed GPCR inserted in polymersome membranes for ligand-binding studies.

PubMed

May, Sylvia; Andreasson-Ochsner, Mirjam; Fu, Zhikang; Low, Ying Xiu; Tan, Darren; de Hoog, Hans-Peter M; Ritz, Sandra; Nallani, Madhavan; Sinner, Eva-Kathrin

2013-01-07

The dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2), a G-protein coupled receptor is expressed into PBd(22)-PEO(13) and PMOXA(20)-PDMS(54)-PMOXA(20) block copolymer vesicles. The conformational integrity of the receptor is confirmed by antibody- and ligand-binding assays. Replacement of bound dopamine is demonstrated on surface-immobilized polymersomes, thus making this a promising platform for drug screening. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Burn Center Treatment of Patients With Severe Anhydrous Ammonia Injury: Case Reports and Literature Review

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-12-01

ABSTRACT unclassified c. THIS PAGE unclassified Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8-98) Prescribed by ANSI Std Z39-18 ostomy was performed; heparin and...albuterol were given by nebulization. After removal of the trache- ostomy tube on PBD 15, he complained of dyspha- gia, odynophagia, and hoarseness...the lower airway is mostly spared, there is not likely to be extensive sloughing of mucosa and therefore trache- ostomy may be deferred, as laryngeal

ATPase domain and interdomain linker play a key role in aggregation of mitochondrial Hsp70 chaperone Ssc1.

PubMed

Blamowska, Marta; Sichting, Martin; Mapa, Koyeli; Mokranjac, Dejana; Neupert, Walter; Hell, Kai

2010-02-12

The co-chaperone Hep1 is required to prevent the aggregation of mitochondrial Hsp70 proteins. We have analyzed the interaction of Hep1 with mitochondrial Hsp70 (Ssc1) and the determinants in Ssc1 that make it prone to aggregation. The ATPase and peptide binding domain (PBD) of Hsp70 proteins are connected by a linker segment that mediates interdomain communication between the domains. We show here that the minimal Hep1 binding entity of Ssc1 consists of the ATPase domain and the interdomain linker. In the absence of Hep1, the ATPase domain with the interdomain linker had the tendency to aggregate, in contrast to the ATPase domain with the mutated linker segment or without linker, and in contrast to the PBD. The closest homolog of Ssc1, bacterial DnaK, and a Ssc1 chimera, in which a segment of the ATPase domain of Ssc1 was replaced by the corresponding segment from DnaK, did not aggregate in Delta hep1 mitochondria. The propensity to aggregate appears to be a specific property of the mitochondrial Hsp70 proteins. The ATPase domain in combination with the interdomain linker is crucial for aggregation of Ssc1. In conclusion, our results suggest that interdomain communication makes Ssc1 prone to aggregation. Hep1 counteracts aggregation by binding to this aggregation-prone conformer.

ATPase Domain and Interdomain Linker Play a Key Role in Aggregation of Mitochondrial Hsp70 Chaperone Ssc1*

PubMed Central

Blamowska, Marta; Sichting, Martin; Mapa, Koyeli; Mokranjac, Dejana; Neupert, Walter; Hell, Kai

2010-01-01

The co-chaperone Hep1 is required to prevent the aggregation of mitochondrial Hsp70 proteins. We have analyzed the interaction of Hep1 with mitochondrial Hsp70 (Ssc1) and the determinants in Ssc1 that make it prone to aggregation. The ATPase and peptide binding domain (PBD) of Hsp70 proteins are connected by a linker segment that mediates interdomain communication between the domains. We show here that the minimal Hep1 binding entity of Ssc1 consists of the ATPase domain and the interdomain linker. In the absence of Hep1, the ATPase domain with the interdomain linker had the tendency to aggregate, in contrast to the ATPase domain with the mutated linker segment or without linker, and in contrast to the PBD. The closest homolog of Ssc1, bacterial DnaK, and a Ssc1 chimera, in which a segment of the ATPase domain of Ssc1 was replaced by the corresponding segment from DnaK, did not aggregate in Δhep1 mitochondria. The propensity to aggregate appears to be a specific property of the mitochondrial Hsp70 proteins. The ATPase domain in combination with the interdomain linker is crucial for aggregation of Ssc1. In conclusion, our results suggest that interdomain communication makes Ssc1 prone to aggregation. Hep1 counteracts aggregation by binding to this aggregation-prone conformer. PMID:20007714

Dynamics of Charge Transfer in DNA Wires: A Proton-Coupled Approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Behnia, Sohrab; Fathizadeh, Samira; Ziaei, Javid; Akhshani, Afshin

2017-12-01

The advent of molecular electronics has fueled interest in studying DNA as a nanowire. The well-known Peyrard-Bishop-Dauxois (PBD) model, which was proposed for the purpose of understanding the mechanism of DNA denaturation, has a limited number of degrees of freedom. In addition, considering the Peyrard-Bishop-Holstein (PBH) model as a means of studying the charge transfer effect, in which the dynamical motion is described via the PBD model, may apply limitations on observing all the phenomena. Therefore, we have attempted to add the mutual interaction of a proton and electron in the form of proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) to the PBH model. PCET has been implicated in a variety of oxidative processes that ultimately lead to mutations. When we have considered the PCET approach to DNA based on a proton-combined PBH model, we were able to extract the electron and proton currents independently. In this case, the reciprocal influence of electron and proton current is considered. This interaction does not affect the general form of the electronic current in DNA, but it changes the threshold of the occurrence of phenomena such as negative differential resistance. It is worth mentioning that perceiving the structural properties of the attractors in phase space via the Rényi dimension and concentrating on the critical regions through a scalogram can present a clear picture of the critical points in such phenomena.

Data Fusion Based on Optical Technology for Observation of Human Manipulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Falco, Pietro; De Maria, Giuseppe; Natale, Ciro; Pirozzi, Salvatore

2012-01-01

The adoption of human observation is becoming more and more frequent within imitation learning and programming by demonstration approaches (PbD) to robot programming. For robotic systems equipped with anthropomorphic hands, the observation phase is very challenging and no ultimate solution exists. This work proposes a novel mechatronic approach to the observation of human hand motion during manipulation tasks. The strategy is based on the combined use of an optical motion capture system and a low-cost data glove equipped with novel joint angle sensors, based on optoelectronic technology. The combination of the two information sources is obtained through a sensor fusion algorithm based on the extended Kalman filter (EKF) suitably modified to tackle the problem of marker occlusions, typical of optical motion capture systems. This approach requires a kinematic model of the human hand. Another key contribution of this work is a new method to calibrate this model.

Mild Zellweger syndrome due to a novel PEX6 mutation: correlation between clinical phenotype and in silico prediction of variant pathogenicity.

PubMed

Rydzanicz, Małgorzata; Stradomska, Teresa Joanna; Jurkiewicz, Elżbieta; Jamroz, Ewa; Gasperowicz, Piotr; Kostrzewa, Grażyna; Płoski, Rafał; Tylki-Szymańska, Anna

2017-11-01

Zellweger syndrome (ZS) is a consequence of a peroxisome biogenesis disorder (PBD) caused by the presence of a pathogenic mutation in one of the 13 genes from the PEX family. ZS is a severe multisystem condition characterized by neonatal appearance of symptoms and a shorter life. Here, we report a case of ZS with a mild phenotype, due to a novel PEX6 gene mutation. The patient presented subtle craniofacial dysmorphic features and slightly slower psychomotor development. At the age of 2 years, he was diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency, hypoacusis, and general deterioration. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a symmetrical hyperintense signal in the frontal and parietal white matter. Biochemical tests showed elevated liver transaminases, elevated serum very long chain fatty acids, and phytanic acid. After the death of the child at the age of 6 years, molecular diagnostics were continued in order to provide genetic counseling for his parents. Next generation sequencing (NGS) analysis with the TruSight One™ Sequencing Panel revealed a novel homozygous PEX6 p.Ala94Pro mutation. In silico prediction of variant severity suggested its possible benign effect. To conclude, in the milder phenotypes, adrenal insufficiency, hypoacusis, and leukodystrophy together seem to be pathognomonic for ZS.

Classification method, spectral diversity, band combination and accuracy assessment evaluation for urban feature detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Erener, A.

2013-04-01

Automatic extraction of urban features from high resolution satellite images is one of the main applications in remote sensing. It is useful for wide scale applications, namely: urban planning, urban mapping, disaster management, GIS (geographic information systems) updating, and military target detection. One common approach to detecting urban features from high resolution images is to use automatic classification methods. This paper has four main objectives with respect to detecting buildings. The first objective is to compare the performance of the most notable supervised classification algorithms, including the maximum likelihood classifier (MLC) and the support vector machine (SVM). In this experiment the primary consideration is the impact of kernel configuration on the performance of the SVM. The second objective of the study is to explore the suitability of integrating additional bands, namely first principal component (1st PC) and the intensity image, for original data for multi classification approaches. The performance evaluation of classification results is done using two different accuracy assessment methods: pixel based and object based approaches, which reflect the third aim of the study. The objective here is to demonstrate the differences in the evaluation of accuracies of classification methods. Considering consistency, the same set of ground truth data which is produced by labeling the building boundaries in the GIS environment is used for accuracy assessment. Lastly, the fourth aim is to experimentally evaluate variation in the accuracy of classifiers for six different real situations in order to identify the impact of spatial and spectral diversity on results. The method is applied to Quickbird images for various urban complexity levels, extending from simple to complex urban patterns. The simple surface type includes a regular urban area with low density and systematic buildings with brick rooftops. The complex surface type involves almost all kinds of challenges, such as high dense build up areas, regions with bare soil, and small and large buildings with different rooftops, such as concrete, brick, and metal. Using the pixel based accuracy assessment it was shown that the percent building detection (PBD) and quality percent (QP) of the MLC and SVM depend on the complexity and texture variation of the region. Generally, PBD values range between 70% and 90% for the MLC and SVM, respectively. No substantial improvements were observed when the SVM and MLC classifications were developed by the addition of more variables, instead of the use of only four bands. In the evaluation of object based accuracy assessment, it was demonstrated that while MLC and SVM provide higher rates of correct detection, they also provide higher rates of false alarms.

Application of oxime-diversification to optimize ligand interactions within a cryptic pocket of the polo-like kinase 1 polo-box domain | Center for Cancer Research

Cancer.gov

By a process involving initial screening of a set of 87 aldehydes using an oxime ligation-based strategy, we were able to achieve a several-fold affinity enhancement over one of the most potent previously known polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) polo-box domain (PBD) binding inhibitors. This improved binding may result by accessing a newly identified auxiliary region proximal to a key

Multilayer polymer light-emitting diodes by blade coating method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tseng, Shin-Rong; Meng, Hsin-Fei; Lee, Kuan-Chen; Horng, Sheng-Fu

2008-10-01

Multilayer polymer light-emitting diodes fabricated by blade coating are presented. Multilayer of polymers can be easily deposited by blade coating on a hot plate. The multilayer structure is confirmed by the total thickness and the cross section view in the scanning electron microscope. The film thickness variation is only 3.3% in 10cm scale and the film roughness is about 0.3nm in the micron scale. The efficiency of single layer poly(para-phenylene vinylene) copolymer Super Yellow and poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) (PFO, deep blue) devices are 9 and 1.7cd/A, respectively, by blade coating. The efficiency of the PFO device is raised to 2.9cd/A with a 2-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-5-(4-biphenylyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (PBD) hole-blocking layer and to 2.3cd/A with a poly[(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-co-(4,4'-(N-(4-sec-butylphenyl))diphenylamine)] elec-tron-blocking layer added by blade coating.

Optimization and design of ibuprofen-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers using a hybrid-design approach for ocular drug delivery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rathod, Vishal

The objective of the present project was to develop the Ibuprofen-loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carrier (IBU-NLCs) for topical ocular delivery based on substantial pre-formulation screening of the components and understanding the interplay between the formulation and process variables. The BCS Class II drug: Ibuprofen was selected as the model drug for the current study. IBU-NLCs were prepared by melt emulsification and ultrasonication technique. Extensive pre-formulation studies were performed to screen the lipid components (solid and liquid) based on drug's solubility and affinity as well as components compatibility. The results from DSC & XRD assisted in selecting the most suitable ratio to be utilized for future studies. DynasanRTM 114 was selected as the solid lipid & MiglyolRTM 840 was selected as the liquid lipid based on preliminary lipid screening. The ratio of 6:4 was predicted to be the best based on its crystallinity index and the thermal events. As there are many variables involved for further optimization of the formulation, a single design approach is not always adequate. A hybrid-design approach was applied by employing the Plackett Burman design (PBD) for preliminary screening of 7 critical variables, followed by Box-Behnken design (BBD), a sub-type of response surface methodology (RSM) design using 2 relatively significant variables from the former design and incorporating Surfactant/Co-surfactant ratio as the third variable. Comparatively, KolliphorRTM HS15 demonstrated lower Mean Particle Size (PS) & Polydispersity Index (PDI) and KolliphorRTM P188 resulted in Zeta Potential (ZP) < -20 mV during the surfactant screening & stability studies. Hence, Surfactant/Cosurfactant ratio was employed as the third variable to understand its synergistic effect on the response variables. We selected PS, PDI, and ZP as critical response variables in the PBD since they significantly influence the stability & performance of NLCs. Formulations prepared using BBD were further characterized and evaluated concerning PS, PDI, ZP and Entrapment Efficiency (EE) to identify the multi-factor interactions between selected formulation variables. In vitro release studies were performed using Spectra/por dialysis membrane on Franz diffusion cell and Phosphate Saline buffer (7.4 pH) as the medium. Samples for assay, EE, Loading Capacity (LC), Solubility studies & in-vitro release were filtered using Amicon 50K and analyzed via UPLC system (Waters) at a detection wavelength of 220 nm. Significant variables were selected through PBD, and the third variable was incorporated based on surfactant screening & stability studies for the next design. Assay of the BBD based formulations was found to be within 95-104% of the theoretically calculated values. Further studies were investigated for PS, PDI, ZP & EE. PS was found to be in the range of 103-194 nm with PDI ranging from 0.118 to 0.265. The ZP and EE were observed to be in the range of -22.2 to -11 mV & 90 to 98.7 % respectively. Drug release of 30% was observed from the optimized formulation in the first 6 hr of in-vitro studies, and the drug release showed a sustained release of ibuprofen thereafter over several hours. These values also confirm that the production method, and all other selected variables, effectively promoted the incorporation of ibuprofen in NLC. Quality by Design (QbD) approach was successfully implemented in developing a robust ophthalmic formulation with superior physicochemical and morphometric properties. NLCs as the nanocarrier demonstrated promising perspective for topical delivery of poorly water-soluble drugs.

Melting of genomic DNA: Predictive modeling by nonlinear lattice dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Theodorakopoulos, Nikos

2010-08-01

The melting behavior of long, heterogeneous DNA chains is examined within the framework of the nonlinear lattice dynamics based Peyrard-Bishop-Dauxois (PBD) model. Data for the pBR322 plasmid and the complete T7 phage have been used to obtain model fits and determine parameter dependence on salt content. Melting curves predicted for the complete fd phage and the Y1 and Y2 fragments of the ϕX174 phage without any adjustable parameters are in good agreement with experiment. The calculated probabilities for single base-pair opening are consistent with values obtained from imino proton exchange experiments.

Synthesis of Ferrite Nickel Nano-particles and Its Role as a p-Dopant in the Improvement of Hole Injection of an Organic Light-Emitting Diode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noori, Maryam; Jafari, Mohammad Reza; Hosseini, Sayed Mohsen; Shahedi, Zahra

2017-07-01

We fabricated an organometallic complex based on zinc ions using zinc complex as a fluorescent in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Also, the nano-particles of ferrite nickel were produced in a simple aqueous system prepared by mixing Ni (NO3)2, Fe (NO3)3 and deionized water solutions. The synthesized zinc bis (8-hydroxyquinoline) (Znq2) complex and NiFe2O4 nano-particles were characterized by using x-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) as well as photoluminescence spectroscopy analysis. Their energy level was also determined by some cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements. The maximum green photoluminescence was observed at 565 nm. The nano-particles of ferrite nickel were utilized in preparation of OLEDs by blending of the magnetic nano-particles with PEDOT:PSS and Zn-complex solutions. The electrical and optical performance of prepared OLEDs with/without doped nano-particle was studied. The samples were configured into two structures: (1) Indium Tin Oxide (ITO)/ poly(3,4-ethylenedi-oxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)/Znq2/(2-4-biphenylyl)-5-phenyl-oxadiazole (PBD)/aluminum (Al) and (2) ITO/PEDOT:PSS:NiFe2O4(NPs)/Znq2/PBD/Al. Obtained results showed that the current density and electroluminescence efficiency were increased and the turn-on voltage decreased (about 3 V) by using nano-particles into a PEDOT:PSS layer (Hole transport layer). Also, the electroluminescence efficiency was decreased by incorporating magnetic nano-particles into a Zn-complex layer (emissive layer). It was found that utilizing NiFe2O4 nano-particles caused an increase of hole-injection layer conductivity effectively and a decrease of the turn-on voltage.

Parametric binary dissection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bokhari, Shahid H.; Crockett, Thomas W.; Nicol, David M.

1993-01-01

Binary dissection is widely used to partition non-uniform domains over parallel computers. This algorithm does not consider the perimeter, surface area, or aspect ratio of the regions being generated and can yield decompositions that have poor communication to computation ratio. Parametric Binary Dissection (PBD) is a new algorithm in which each cut is chosen to minimize load + lambda x(shape). In a 2 (or 3) dimensional problem, load is the amount of computation to be performed in a subregion and shape could refer to the perimeter (respectively surface) of that subregion. Shape is a measure of communication overhead and the parameter permits us to trade off load imbalance against communication overhead. When A is zero, the algorithm reduces to plain binary dissection. This algorithm can be used to partition graphs embedded in 2 or 3-d. Load is the number of nodes in a subregion, shape the number of edges that leave that subregion, and lambda the ratio of time to communicate over an edge to the time to compute at a node. An algorithm is presented that finds the depth d parametric dissection of an embedded graph with n vertices and e edges in O(max(n log n, de)) time, which is an improvement over the O(dn log n) time of plain binary dissection. Parallel versions of this algorithm are also presented; the best of these requires O((n/p) log(sup 3)p) time on a p processor hypercube, assuming graphs of bounded degree. How PBD is applied to 3-d unstructured meshes and yields partitions that are better than those obtained by plain dissection is described. Its application to the color image quantization problem is also discussed, in which samples in a high-resolution color space are mapped onto a lower resolution space in a way that minimizes the color error.

Effects of Formulation Variables on the Particle Size and Drug Encapsulation of Imatinib-Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles.

PubMed

Gupta, Biki; Poudel, Bijay Kumar; Pathak, Shiva; Tak, Jin Wook; Lee, Hee Hyun; Jeong, Jee-Heon; Choi, Han-Gon; Yong, Chul Soon; Kim, Jong Oh

2016-06-01

Imatinib (IMT), an anticancer agent, inhibits receptor tyrosine kinases and is characterized by poor aqueous solubility, extensive first-pass metabolism, and rapid clearance. The aims of the current study are to prepare imatinib-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (IMT-SLN) and study the effects of associated formulation variables on particle size and drug encapsulation on IMT-SLN using an experimental design. IMT-SLN was optimized by use of a "combo" approach involving Plackett-Burman design (PBD) and Box-Behnken design (BBD). PBD screening resulted in the determination of organic-to-aqueous phase ratio (O/A), drug-to-lipid ratio (D/L), and amount of Tween® 20 (Tw20) as three significant variables for particle size (S z), drug loading (DL), and encapsulation efficiency (EE) of IMT-SLN, which were used for optimization by BBD, yielding an optimized criteria of O/A = 0.04, D/L = 0.03, and Tw20 = 2.50% w/v. The optimized IMT-SLN exhibited monodispersed particles with a size range of 69.0 ± 0.9 nm, ζ-potential of -24.2 ± 1.2 mV, and DL and EE of 2.9 ± 0.1 and 97.6 ± 0.1% w/w, respectively. Results of in vitro release study showed a sustained release pattern, presumably by diffusion and erosion, with a higher release rate at pH 5.0, compared to pH 7.4. In conclusion, use of the combo experimental design approach enabled clear understanding of the effects of various formulation variables on IMT-SLN and aided in the preparation of a system which exhibited desirable physicochemical and release characteristics.

Expanding Role of Third Space Endoscopy in the Management of Esophageal Diseases.

PubMed

Yang, Dennis; Draganov, Peter V

2018-03-01

OPINION STATEMENT: "Third space" endoscopy, also commonly referred as submucosal endoscopy, is founded on the principle that the deeper layers of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract can be accessed by tunneling in the submucosal space without compromising the integrity of the overlying mucosa. Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM), endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), and submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection (STER) are innovative techniques within the field of third space endoscopy in the management of esophageal disorders. POEM has become an accepted minimally invasive therapy for achalasia and related motility disorders with excellent short-term results, with early studies yielding similar efficacy to surgical myotomy and increased durability when compared to pneumatic balloon dilation (PBD). Data are needed to establish long-term outcomes with POEM, with particular interest on the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux, which appears to be higher than initially anticipated. ESD, a mature endoscopic resection technique in Asia, has recently gained traction in the West as a viable option for the management of early Barrett's esophagus (BE) neoplasia. Compared to standard endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), ESD allows the en bloc resection of lesions irrespective of size, which may facilitate histological interpretation and reduce recurrence rates. Large prospective randomized controlled trials are needed to validate the efficacy and safety of this technique and to further define its role in the endoscopic armamentarium in early BE neoplasia. STER is an attractive technique that theoretically permits the resection of subepithelial esophageal tumors (SETs) arising from the deeper GI layers. Initial studies from highly experienced endoscopic centers support its technical feasibility and safety, although these results should be interpreted with caution due to variability arising from small numbers and heterogeneity among studies. Overall, third space endoscopy is an expanding field within endoscopic therapeutics for the treatment of esophageal diseases. While initial results have been very promising, large prospective studies, long-term data, and structured training programs with the establishment of competency parameters are needed before third space endoscopy can be advocated outside of highly specialized centers.

Spectrophotometric determination of fluoxetine by molecularly imprinted polypyrrole and optimization by experimental design, artificial neural network and genetic algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nezhadali, Azizollah; Motlagh, Maryam Omidvar; Sadeghzadeh, Samira

2018-02-01

A selective method based on molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) solid-phase extraction (SPE) using UV-Vis spectrophotometry as a detection technique was developed for the determination of fluoxetine (FLU) in pharmaceutical and human serum samples. The MIPs were synthesized using pyrrole as a functional monomer in the presence of FLU as a template molecule. The factors that affecting the preparation and extraction ability of MIP such as amount of sorbent, initiator concentration, the amount of monomer to template ratio, uptake shaking rate, uptake time, washing buffer pH, take shaking rate, Taking time and polymerization time were considered for optimization. First a Plackett-Burman design (PBD) consists of 12 randomized runs were applied to determine the influence of each factor. The other optimization processes were performed using central composite design (CCD), artificial neural network (ANN) and genetic algorithm (GA). At optimal condition the calibration curve showed linearity over a concentration range of 10- 7-10- 8 M with a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.9970. The limit of detection (LOD) for FLU was obtained 6.56 × 10- 9 M. The repeatability of the method was obtained 1.61%. The synthesized MIP sorbent showed a good selectivity and sensitivity toward FLU. The MIP/SPE method was used for the determination of FLU in pharmaceutical, serum and plasma samples, successfully.

Denoising Algorithm for CFA Image Sensors Considering Inter-Channel Correlation.

PubMed

Lee, Min Seok; Park, Sang Wook; Kang, Moon Gi

2017-05-28

In this paper, a spatio-spectral-temporal filter considering an inter-channel correlation is proposed for the denoising of a color filter array (CFA) sequence acquired by CCD/CMOS image sensors. Owing to the alternating under-sampled grid of the CFA pattern, the inter-channel correlation must be considered in the direct denoising process. The proposed filter is applied in the spatial, spectral, and temporal domain, considering the spatio-tempo-spectral correlation. First, nonlocal means (NLM) spatial filtering with patch-based difference (PBD) refinement is performed by considering both the intra-channel correlation and inter-channel correlation to overcome the spatial resolution degradation occurring with the alternating under-sampled pattern. Second, a motion-compensated temporal filter that employs inter-channel correlated motion estimation and compensation is proposed to remove the noise in the temporal domain. Then, a motion adaptive detection value controls the ratio of the spatial filter and the temporal filter. The denoised CFA sequence can thus be obtained without motion artifacts. Experimental results for both simulated and real CFA sequences are presented with visual and numerical comparisons to several state-of-the-art denoising methods combined with a demosaicing method. Experimental results confirmed that the proposed frameworks outperformed the other techniques in terms of the objective criteria and subjective visual perception in CFA sequences.

Inflammation, negative nitrogen balance, and outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

PubMed

Badjatia, Neeraj; Monahan, Aimee; Carpenter, Amanda; Zimmerman, Jacqueline; Schmidt, J Michael; Claassen, Jan; Connolly, E Sander; Mayer, Stephan A; Karmally, Wahida; Seres, David

2015-02-17

To analyze the impact of inflammation and negative nitrogen balance (NBAL) on nutritional status and outcomes after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). This was a prospective observational study of SAH patients admitted between May 2008 and June 2012. Measurements of C-reactive protein (CRP), transthyretin (TTR), resting energy expenditure (REE), and NBAL (g/day) were performed over 4 preset time periods during the first 14 postbleed days (PBD) in addition to daily caloric intake. Factors associated with REE and NBAL were analyzed with multivariable linear regression. Hospital-acquired infections (HAI) were tracked daily for time-to-event analyses. Poor outcome at 3 months was defined as a modified Rankin Scale score ≥ 4 and assessed by multivariable logistic regression. There were 229 patients with an average age of 55 ± 15 years. Higher REE was associated with younger age (p = 0.02), male sex (p < 0.001), higher Hunt Hess grade (p = 0.001), and higher modified Fisher score (p = 0.01). Negative NBAL was associated with lower caloric intake (p < 0.001), higher body mass index (p < 0.001), aneurysm clipping (p = 0.03), and higher CRP:TTR ratio (p = 0.03). HAIs developed in 53 (23%) patients on mean PBD 8 ± 3. Older age (p = 0.002), higher Hunt Hess (p < 0.001), lower caloric intake (p = 0.001), and negative NBAL (p = 0.04) predicted time to first HAI. Poor outcome at 3 months was associated with higher Hunt Hess grade (p < 0.001), older age (p < 0.001), negative NBAL (p = 0.01), HAI (p = 0.03), higher CRP:TTR ratio (p = 0.04), higher body mass index (p = 0.03), and delayed cerebral ischemia (p = 0.04). Negative NBAL after SAH is influenced by inflammation and associated with an increased risk of HAI and poor outcome. Underfeeding and systemic inflammation are potential modifiable risk factors for negative NBAL and poor outcome after SAH. © 2015 American Academy of Neurology.

Isoform-specific functions of Mud/NuMA mediate binucleation of Drosophila male accessory gland cells.

PubMed

Taniguchi, Kiichiro; Kokuryo, Akihiko; Imano, Takao; Minami, Ryunosuke; Nakagoshi, Hideki; Adachi-Yamada, Takashi

2014-12-20

In standard cell division, the cells undergo karyokinesis and then cytokinesis. Some cells, however, such as cardiomyocytes and hepatocytes, can produce binucleate cells by going through mitosis without cytokinesis. This cytokinesis skipping is thought to be due to the inhibition of cytokinesis machinery such as the central spindle or the contractile ring, but the mechanisms regulating it are unclear. We investigated them by characterizing the binucleation event during development of the Drosophila male accessory gland, in which all cells are binucleate. The accessory gland cells arrested the cell cycle at 50 hours after puparium formation (APF) and in the middle of the pupal stage stopped proliferating for 5 hours. They then restarted the cell cycle and at 55 hours APF entered the M-phase synchronously. At this stage, accessory gland cells binucleated by mitosis without cytokinesis. Binucleating cells displayed the standard karyokinesis progression but also showed unusual features such as a non-round shape, spindle orientation along the apico-basal axis, and poor assembly of the central spindle. Mud, a Drosophila homolog of NuMA, regulated the processes responsible for these three features, the classical isoform Mud(PBD) and the two newly characterized isoforms Mud(L) and Mud(S) regulated them differently: Mud(L) repressed cell rounding, Mud(PBD) and Mud(S) oriented the spindle along the apico-basal axis, and Mud(S) and Mud(L) repressed central spindle assembly. Importantly, overexpression of Mud(S) induced binucleation even in standard proliferating cells such as those in imaginal discs. We characterized the binucleation in the Drosophila male accessory gland and examined mechanisms that regulated unusual morphologies of binucleating cells. We demonstrated that Mud, a microtubule binding protein regulating spindle orientation, was involved in this binucleation. We suggest that atypical functions exerted by three structurally different isoforms of Mud regulate cell rounding, spindle orientation and central spindle assembly in binucleation. We also propose that Mud(S) is a key regulator triggering cytokinesis skipping in binucleation processes.

Adaptation of an L-proline adenylation domain to use 4-propyl-L-proline in the evolution of lincosamide biosynthesis.

PubMed

Kadlčík, Stanislav; Kučera, Tomáš; Chalupská, Dominika; Gažák, Radek; Koběrská, Markéta; Ulanová, Dana; Kopecký, Jan; Kutejová, Eva; Najmanová, Lucie; Janata, Jiří

2013-01-01

Clinically used lincosamide antibiotic lincomycin incorporates in its structure 4-propyl-L-proline (PPL), an unusual amino acid, while celesticetin, a less efficient related compound, makes use of proteinogenic L-proline. Biochemical characterization, as well as phylogenetic analysis and homology modelling combined with the molecular dynamics simulation were employed for complex comparative analysis of the orthologous protein pair LmbC and CcbC from the biosynthesis of lincomycin and celesticetin, respectively. The analysis proved the compared proteins to be the stand-alone adenylation domains strictly preferring their own natural substrate, PPL or L-proline. The LmbC substrate binding pocket is adapted to accommodate a rare PPL precursor. When compared with L-proline specific ones, several large amino acid residues were replaced by smaller ones opening a channel which allowed the alkyl side chain of PPL to be accommodated. One of the most important differences, that of the residue corresponding to V306 in CcbC changing to G308 in LmbC, was investigated in vitro and in silico. Moreover, the substrate binding pocket rearrangement also allowed LmbC to effectively adenylate 4-butyl-L-proline and 4-pentyl-L-proline, substrates with even longer alkyl side chains, producing more potent lincosamides. A shift of LmbC substrate specificity appears to be an integral part of biosynthetic pathway adaptation to the PPL acquisition. A set of genes presumably coding for the PPL biosynthesis is present in the lincomycin--but not in the celesticetin cluster; their homologs are found in biosynthetic clusters of some pyrrolobenzodiazepines (PBD) and hormaomycin. Whereas in the PBD and hormaomycin pathways the arising precursors are condensed to another amino acid moiety, the LmbC protein is the first functionally proved part of a unique condensation enzyme connecting PPL to the specialized amino sugar building unit.

A Comprehensive Review of the Literature Supporting Recommendations From the Canadian Diabetes Association for the Use of a Plant-Based Diet for Management of Type 2 Diabetes.

PubMed

Rinaldi, Sylvia; Campbell, Emily E; Fournier, John; O'Connor, Colleen; Madill, Janet

2016-10-01

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is considered one of the fastest growing diseases in Canada, representing a serious public health concern. Thus, clinicians have begun targeting modifiable risk factors to manage type 2 diabetes, including dietary patterns such as a plant-based diets (PBDs). The Canadian Diabetes Association has included PBDs among the recommended dietary patterns to be used in medical nutrition therapy for persons with type 2 diabetes. To support knowledge translation, this review summarizes the current literature relating to PBDs and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, its clinical applications and its acceptability in the management of type 2 diabetes as well as its application in community settings. This comprehensive review seeks to close the literature gap by providing background and rationale to support the use of PBDs as medical nutrition therapy. Within this review is support from large observational studies, which have shown that PBDs were associated with lower prevalence of type 2 diabetes. As well, intervention studies have shown that PBDs were just as effective, if not more effective, than other diabetes diets in improving body weight, cardiovascular risk factors, insulin sensitivity, glycated hemoglobin levels, oxidative stress markers and renovascular markers. Furthermore, patient acceptability was comparable to other diabetes diets, and PBDs reduced the need for diabetes medications. Diabetes education centres in Canada could improve patients' perceptions of PBDs by developing PBD-focused education and support as well as providing individualized counselling sessions addressing barriers to change. The development of more standardized and user-friendly PBD practice guidelines could overcome the disparity in recommendations and, thereby, increase how frequently practitioners recommend PBDs. Based on current published research, PBDs lend support in the management of type 2 diabetes. Crown Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Numerical simulation of optical and electronic properties for multilayer organic light-emitting diodes and its application in engineering education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Shu-Hsuan; Chang, Yung-Cheng; Yang, Cheng-Hong; Chen, Jun-Rong; Kuo, Yen-Kuang

2006-02-01

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) have been extensively developed in the past few years. The OLED displays have advantages over other displays, such as CRT, LCD, and PDP in thickness, weight, brightness, response time, viewing angle, contrast, driving power, flexibility, and capability of self-emission. In this work, the optical and electronic properties of multilayer OLED devices are numerically studied with an APSYS (Advanced Physical Model of Semiconductor Devices) simulation program. Specifically, the emission and absorption spectra of the Alq 3, DCM, PBD, and SA light-emitting layers, and energy band diagrams, electron-hole recombination rates, and current-voltage characteristics of the simulated OLED devices, typically with a multilayer structure of metal/Alq 3/EML/TPD/ITO constructed by Lim et al., are investigated and compared to the experimental results. The physical models utilized in this work are similar to those presented by Ruhstaller et al. and Hoffmann et al. The simulated results indicate that the emission spectra of the Alq 3, DCM, PBD, and SA light-emitting layers obtained in this study are in good agreement with those obtained experimentally by Zugang et al. Optimization of the optical and electronic performance of the multilayer OLED devices are attempted. In order to further promote the research results, the whole numerical simulation process for optimizing the design of OLED devices has been applied to a project-based course of OLED device design to enhance the students' skills in photonics device design at the Graduate Institute of Photonics of National Changhua University of Education in Taiwan. In the meantime, the effectiveness of the course has been proved by various assessments. The application of the results is a useful point of reference for the research on photonics device design and engineering education. Therefore, it proffers a synthetic effect between innovation and practical application.

Spectrophotometric determination of fluoxetine by molecularly imprinted polypyrrole and optimization by experimental design, artificial neural network and genetic algorithm.

PubMed

Nezhadali, Azizollah; Motlagh, Maryam Omidvar; Sadeghzadeh, Samira

2018-02-05

A selective method based on molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) solid-phase extraction (SPE) using UV-Vis spectrophotometry as a detection technique was developed for the determination of fluoxetine (FLU) in pharmaceutical and human serum samples. The MIPs were synthesized using pyrrole as a functional monomer in the presence of FLU as a template molecule. The factors that affecting the preparation and extraction ability of MIP such as amount of sorbent, initiator concentration, the amount of monomer to template ratio, uptake shaking rate, uptake time, washing buffer pH, take shaking rate, Taking time and polymerization time were considered for optimization. First a Plackett-Burman design (PBD) consists of 12 randomized runs were applied to determine the influence of each factor. The other optimization processes were performed using central composite design (CCD), artificial neural network (ANN) and genetic algorithm (GA). At optimal condition the calibration curve showed linearity over a concentration range of 10 -7 -10 -8 M with a correlation coefficient (R 2 ) of 0.9970. The limit of detection (LOD) for FLU was obtained 6.56×10 -9 M. The repeatability of the method was obtained 1.61%. The synthesized MIP sorbent showed a good selectivity and sensitivity toward FLU. The MIP/SPE method was used for the determination of FLU in pharmaceutical, serum and plasma samples, successfully. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Production of a cellulase-free alkaline xylanase from Bacillus pumilus MTCC 5015 by submerged fermentation and its application in biobleaching.

PubMed

Thomas, Leya; Sindhu, Raveendran; Binod, Parameswaran; Pandey, Ashok

2015-06-01

Here, we described the production of a cellulase-free alkaline xylanase from Bacillus pumilus MTCC 5015 by submerged fermentation and its application in biobleaching. Various process parameters affecting xylanase production by B. pumilus were optimized by adopting a Plackett-Burman design (PBD) as well as Response surface methodology (RSM). These statistical methods aid in improving the enzyme yield by analysing the individual crucial components of the medium. Maximum production was obtained with 4% yeast extract, 0.08% magnesium sulphate, 30 h of inoculum age, incubation temperature of 33.5 degrees C and pH 9.0. Under optimized conditions, the xylanase activity was 372 IU/ml. Media engineering improved a 5-fold increase in the enzyme production. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed significant changes on the surface of xylanase treated pulps as a result of xylan hydrolysis. Increased roughness of paper carton fibres was apparent in scanning electron micrograph due to opening of the micro fibrils present on the surface by xylanase action. The untreated pulp did not show any such change. These results demonstrated that the B. pumilus MTCC 5015 xylanase was effective in bio-bleaching of paper carton.

Ligandless surfactant mediated solid phase extraction combined with Fe₃O₄ nano-particle for the preconcentration and determination of cadmium and lead in water and soil samples followed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry: multivariate strategy.

PubMed

Jalbani, N; Soylak, M

2014-04-01

In the present study, a microextraction technique combining Fe3O4 nano-particle with surfactant mediated solid phase extraction ((SM-SPE)) was successfully developed for the preconcentration/separation of Cd(II) and Pb(II) in water and soil samples. The analytes were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The effective variables such as the amount of adsorbent (NPs), the pH, concentration of non-ionic (TX-114) and centrifugation time (min) were investigated by Plackett-Burman (PBD) design. The important variables were further optimized by central composite design (CCD). Under the optimized conditions, the detection limits (LODs) of Cd(II) and Pb(II) were 0.15 and 0.74 µg/L, respectively. The validation of the proposed procedure was checked by the analysis of certified reference materials of TMDA 53.3 fortified water and GBW07425 soil. The method was successfully applied for the determination of Cd(II) and Pb(II) in water and soil samples. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Computational design and multivariate optimization of an electrochemical metoprolol sensor based on molecular imprinting in combination with carbon nanotubes.

PubMed

Nezhadali, Azizollah; Mojarrab, Maliheh

2016-06-14

This work describes the development of an electrochemical sensor based on a new molecularly imprinted polymer for detection of metoprolol (MTP) at ultra-trace level. The polypyrrole (PPy) was electrochemically synthesized on the tip of a pencil graphite electrode (PGE) which modified whit functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The fabrication process of the sensor was characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and the measurement process was carried out by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). A computational approach was used to screening functional monomers and polymerization solvent for rational design of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). Based on computational results, pyrrole and water were selected as functional monomer and polymerization solvent, respectively. Several significant parameters controlling the performance of the MIP sensor were examined and optimized using multivariate optimization methods such as Plackett-Burman design (PBD) and central composite design (CCD). Under the selected optimal conditions, MIP sensor was showed a linear range from 0.06 to 490 μmol L(-1) MTP, a limit of detection of 2.88 nmol L(-1), a highly reproducible response (RSD 3.9%) and a good selectivity in the presence of structurally related molecules. Furthermore, the applicability of the method was successfully tested with determination of MTP in real samples (tablet, and serum). Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The impact of fluorescent dyes on the performances of polystyrene-based plastic scintillators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Jun; Deng, Cheng; Jiang, Huimin; Zheng, Zhanlong; Gong, Rui; Bi, Yutie; Zhang, Lin; Lin, Runxiong

2016-11-01

To investigate the influence of both the first luminescent additive and the wavelength-shifter on the performance of plastic scintillator, a series of polystyrene-based scintillator had been prepared by thermal polymerization. Three first luminescent additives (PPO, p-TP and b-PBD) and four wavelength-shifters (POPOP, Bis-MSB, Me-MSB and DPA) were added to the scintillators respectively. The comparison results showed that PPO and POPOP were the most adequate fluorescent dyes for the polystyrene-based plastic scintillator. Moreover, with the increase of the concentration of PPO and POPOP, the fluorescence intensity and light yield were increased firstly and then decreased. The plastic scintillator containing 2% PPO and 0.02% POPOP had the highest fluorescence intensity and light yield.

Arsenic species determination in human scalp hair by pressurized hot water extraction and high performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Morado Piñeiro, Andrés; Moreda-Piñeiro, Jorge; Alonso-Rodríguez, Elia; López-Mahía, Purificación; Muniategui-Lorenzo, Soledad; Prada-Rodríguez, Darío

2013-02-15

Analytical methods for the determination of total arsenic and arsenic species (mainly As(III) and As(V)) in human scalp hair have been developed. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to ICP-MS have been used for total arsenic and arsenic species determination, respectively. The proposed methods include a "green", fast, high efficient and automated species leaching procedure by pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE). The operating parameters for PHWE including modifier concentration, extraction temperature, static time, extraction steps, pressure, mean particle size, diatomaceous earth (DE) mass/sample mass ratio and flush volume were studied using design of experiments (Plackett-Burman design PBD). Optimum condition implies a modifier concentration (acetic acid) of 150 mM and powdered hair samples fully mixed with diatomaceous earth (DE) as a dispersing agent at a DE mass/sample mass ratio of 5. The extraction has been carried out at 100°C and at an extraction pressure of 1500 psi for 5 min in four extraction step. Under optimised conditions, limits of quantification of 7.0, 6.3 and 50.3 ng g(-1) for total As, As(III) and As(V), respectively were achieved. Repeatability of the overall procedure (4.4, 7.2 and 2.1% for total As, As(III) and As(V), respectively) was achieved. The analysis of GBW-07601 (human hair) certified reference material was used for validation. The optimised method has been finally applied to several human scalp hair samples. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Novel synthesis of nanocomposite for the extraction of Sildenafil Citrate (Viagra) from water and urine samples: Process screening and optimization.

PubMed

Asfaram, Arash; Ghaedi, Mehrorang; Purkait, Mihir Kumar

2017-09-01

A sensitive analytical method is investigated to concentrate and determine trace level of Sildenafil Citrate (SLC) present in water and urine samples. The method is based on a sample treatment using dispersive solid-phase micro-extraction (DSPME) with laboratory-made Mn@ CuS/ZnS nanocomposite loaded on activated carbon (Mn@ CuS/ZnS-NCs-AC) as a sorbent for the target analyte. The efficiency was enhanced by ultrasound-assisted (UA) with dispersive nanocomposite solid-phase micro-extraction (UA-DNSPME). Four significant variables affecting SLC recovery like; pH, eluent volume, sonication time and adsorbent mass were selected by the Plackett-Burman design (PBD) experiments. These selected factors were optimized by the central composite design (CCD) to maximize extraction of SLC. The results exhibited that the optimum conditions for maximizing extraction of SLC were 6.0 pH, 300μL eluent (acetonitrile) volume, 10mg of adsorbent and 6min sonication time. Under optimized conditions, virtuous linearity of SLC was ranged from 30 to 4000ngmL -1 with R 2 of 0.99. The limit of detection (LOD) was 2.50ngmL -1 and the recoveries at two spiked levels were ranged from 97.37 to 103.21% with the relative standard deviation (RSD) less than 4.50% (n=15). The enhancement factor (EF) was 81.91. The results show that the combination UAE with DNSPME is a suitable method for the determination of SLC in water and urine samples. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Precipitation of thin-film organic single crystals by a novel crystal growth method using electrospray and ionic liquid film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ueda, Hiroyuki; Takeuchi, Keita; Kikuchi, Akihiko

2018-04-01

We report an organic single crystal growth technique, which uses a nonvolatile liquid thin film as a crystal growth field and supplies fine droplets containing solute from the surface of the liquid thin film uniformly and continuously by electrospray deposition. Here, we investigated the relationships between the solute concentration of the supplied solution and the morphology and size of precipitated crystals for four types of fluorescent organic low molecule material [tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum (Alq3), 2-(4-biphenylyl)-5-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (PBD), N,N‧-bis(3-methylphenyl)-N,N‧-diphenylbenzidine (TPD), and N,N-bis(naphthalene-1-yl)-N,N-diphenyl-benzidine (NPB)] using an ionic liquid as the nonvolatile liquid. As the concentration of the supplied solution decreased, the morphology of precipitated crystals changed from dendritic or leaf shape to platelike one. At the solution concentration of 0.1 mg/ml, relatively large platelike single crystals with a diagonal length of over 100 µm were obtained for all types of material. In the experiment using ionic liquid and dioctyl sebacate as nonvolatile liquids, it was confirmed that there is a clear positive correlation between the maximum volume of the precipitated single crystal and the solubility of solute under the same solution supply conditions.

Programming with BIG data in R: Scaling analytics from one to thousands of nodes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schmidt, Drew; Chen, Wei -Chen; Matheson, Michael A.

Here, we present a tutorial overview showing how one can achieve scalable performance with R. We do so by utilizing several package extensions, including those from the pbdR project. These packages consist of high performance, high-level interfaces to and extensions of MPI, PBLAS, ScaLAPACK, I/O libraries, profiling libraries, and more. While these libraries shine brightest on large distributed platforms, they also work rather well on small clusters and often, surprisingly, even on a laptop with only two cores. Our tutorial begins with recommendations on how to get more performance out of your R code before considering parallel implementations. Because Rmore » is a high-level language, a function can have a deep hierarchy of operations. For big data, this can easily lead to inefficiency. Profiling is an important tool to understand the performance of an R code for both serial and parallel improvements.« less

Combined Papillated Bowen Disease and Clear Cell Atypical Fibroxanthoma

PubMed Central

Suárez-Vilela, Dimas; Izquierdo-García, Francisco; Domínguez-Iglesias, Francisco; Méndez-Álvarez, Jose Ramón

2010-01-01

We describe a case of papillated Bowen disease (PBD), associated with a clear cell atypical fibroxanthoma (CCAFXA). The epidermal lesion showed a bowenoid papillomatous growth pattern with histologic features suggestive of infection by human papilloma virus (HPV). In the dermis a neoplasm made up by spindled or polygonal cells with wide clear cytoplasm and moderate nuclear pleomorphism was found. Immunohistochemical characteristics of these two lesions were clearly different. The atypical cells of the intraepidermal proliferation were positive for AE1-AE3 anticytokeratin antibody, EMA, p16, p53 and p63. The dermal tumor was positive for vimentin, CD10, CD68, CD99, alpha-1-antitrypsin and c-kit. Histological features and immunohistochemical profile of the dermal tumor corresponded to a CCAFXA, a very uncommon neoplasm of which only 10 cases have been reported. In situ hybridization for numerous types of HPVs was negative in both lesions. PMID:21103191

Programming with BIG data in R: Scaling analytics from one to thousands of nodes

DOE PAGES

Schmidt, Drew; Chen, Wei -Chen; Matheson, Michael A.; ...

2016-11-09

Here, we present a tutorial overview showing how one can achieve scalable performance with R. We do so by utilizing several package extensions, including those from the pbdR project. These packages consist of high performance, high-level interfaces to and extensions of MPI, PBLAS, ScaLAPACK, I/O libraries, profiling libraries, and more. While these libraries shine brightest on large distributed platforms, they also work rather well on small clusters and often, surprisingly, even on a laptop with only two cores. Our tutorial begins with recommendations on how to get more performance out of your R code before considering parallel implementations. Because Rmore » is a high-level language, a function can have a deep hierarchy of operations. For big data, this can easily lead to inefficiency. Profiling is an important tool to understand the performance of an R code for both serial and parallel improvements.« less

Probabilistic performance-based design for high performance control systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Micheli, Laura; Cao, Liang; Gong, Yongqiang; Cancelli, Alessandro; Laflamme, Simon; Alipour, Alice

2017-04-01

High performance control systems (HPCS) are advanced damping systems capable of high damping performance over a wide frequency bandwidth, ideal for mitigation of multi-hazards. They include active, semi-active, and hybrid damping systems. However, HPCS are more expensive than typical passive mitigation systems, rely on power and hardware (e.g., sensors, actuators) to operate, and require maintenance. In this paper, a life cycle cost analysis (LCA) approach is proposed to estimate the economic benefit these systems over the entire life of the structure. The novelty resides in the life cycle cost analysis in the performance based design (PBD) tailored to multi-level wind hazards. This yields a probabilistic performance-based design approach for HPCS. Numerical simulations are conducted on a building located in Boston, MA. LCA are conducted for passive control systems and HPCS, and the concept of controller robustness is demonstrated. Results highlight the promise of the proposed performance-based design procedure.

Quantitative Modeling of Entangled Polymer Rheology: Experiments, Tube Models and Slip-Link Simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Desai, Priyanka Subhash

Rheology properties are sensitive indicators of molecular structure and dynamics. The relationship between rheology and polymer dynamics is captured in the constitutive model, which, if accurate and robust, would greatly aid molecular design and polymer processing. This dissertation is thus focused on building accurate and quantitative constitutive models that can help predict linear and non-linear viscoelasticity. In this work, we have used a multi-pronged approach based on the tube theory, coarse-grained slip-link simulations, and advanced polymeric synthetic and characterization techniques, to confront some of the outstanding problems in entangled polymer rheology. First, we modified simple tube based constitutive equations in extensional rheology and developed functional forms to test the effect of Kuhn segment alignment on a) tube diameter enlargement and b) monomeric friction reduction between subchains. We, then, used these functional forms to model extensional viscosity data for polystyrene (PS) melts and solutions. We demonstrated that the idea of reduction in segmental friction due to Kuhn alignment is successful in explaining the qualitative difference between melts and solutions in extension as revealed by recent experiments on PS. Second, we compiled literature data and used it to develop a universal tube model parameter set and prescribed their values and uncertainties for 1,4-PBd by comparing linear viscoelastic G' and G" mastercurves for 1,4-PBds of various branching architectures. The high frequency transition region of the mastercurves superposed very well for all the 1,4-PBds irrespective of their molecular weight and architecture, indicating universality in high frequency behavior. Therefore, all three parameters of the tube model were extracted from this high frequency transition region alone. Third, we compared predictions of two versions of the tube model, Hierarchical model and BoB model against linear viscoelastic data of blends of 1,4-PBd star and linear melts. The star was carefully synthesized and characterized. We found massive failures of tube models to predict the terminal relaxation behavior of the star/linear blends. In addition, these blends were also tested against a coarse-grained slip-link model, the "Cluster Fixed Slip-link Model (CFSM)" of Schieber and coworkers. The CFSM with only two parameters gave excellent agreement with all experimental data for the blends.

Rapid ultrasound-assisted magnetic microextraction of gallic acid from urine, plasma and water samples by HKUST-1-MOF-Fe3O4-GA-MIP-NPs: UV-vis detection and optimization study.

PubMed

Asfaram, Arash; Ghaedi, Mehrorang; Dashtian, Kheibar

2017-01-01

Magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles (NPs)) HKUST-1 metal organic framework (MOF) composite as a support was used for surface imprinting of gallic acid imprinted polymer (HKUST-1-MOF-Fe 3 O 4 -GA-MIP) using vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMOS) as the cross-linker. Subsequently, HKUST-1-MOF-Fe 3 O 4 -NPs-GA-MIP characterized by FT-IR, XRD and FE-SEM analysis and applied for fast and selective and sensitive ultrasound assisted dispersive magnetic solid phase microextraction of gallic acid (GA) by UV-Vis (UA-DMSPME-UV-Vis) detection method. Plackett-Burman design (PBD) and central composite design (CCD) according to desirability function (DF) indicate the significant variables among the extraction factors vortex (mixing) time (min), sonication time (min), temperature (°C), eluent volume (L), pH and HKUST-1-MOF-Fe 3 O 4 -NPs-GA-MIP mass (mg) and their contribution on the response. Optimum conditions and values correspond to pH, HKUST-1-MOF-Fe 3 O 4 -NPs-GA-MIP mass, sonication time and the eluent volume were set as follow 3.0, 1.6mg, 4.0min and 180μL, respectively. The average recovery (ER%) of GA was 98.13% with desirability of 0.997, while the present method has best operational performance like wide linear range 8-6000ngmL -1 with a Limit of detection (LOD) of 1.377ngmL -1 , limit of quantification (LOQ) 4.591ngmL -1 and precision (<3.50% RSD). The recovery of GA in urine, human plasma and water samples within the range of 92.3-100.6% that strongly support high applicability of present method for real samples analysis, which candidate this method as promise for further application. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

In matrix derivatization of trichloroethylene metabolites in human plasma with methyl chloroformate and their determination by solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-electron capture detector.

PubMed

Mudiam, Mohana Krishna Reddy; Jain, Rajeev; Varshney, Meenu; Ch, Ratnasekhar; Chauhan, Abhishek; Goyal, Sudhir Kumar; Khan, Haider A; Murthy, R C

2013-04-15

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a common industrial chemical that has been widely used as metal degreaser and for many industrial purposes. In humans, TCE is metabolized into dichloroacetic acid (DCA), trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and trichloroethanol (TCOH). A simple and rapid method has been developed for the quantitative determination of TCE metabolites. The procedure involves the in situ derivatization of TCE metabolites with methyl chloroformate (MCF) directly in diluted plasma samples followed by extraction and analysis with solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to gas chromatography-electron capture detector (GC-ECD). Factors which can influence the efficiency of derivatization such as amount of MCF and pyridine (PYR), ratio of water/methanol were optimized. The factors which can affect the extraction efficiencies of SPME were screened using 2(7-4) Placket-Burman Design (PBD). A central composite design (CCD) was then applied to further optimize the most significant factors for optimum SPME extraction. The optimum factors for the SPME extraction were found to be 562.5mg of NaCl, pH at 1 and an extraction time of 22 min. Recoveries and detection limits of all three analytes in plasma were found to be in the range of 92.69-97.55% and 0.036-0.068 μg mL(-1) of plasma, respectively. The correlation coefficients were found to be in the range of 0.990-0.995. The intra- and inter-day precisions for TCE metabolites were found to be in the range of 2.37-4.81% and 5.13-7.61%, respectively. The major advantage of this method is that MCF derivatization allows conversion of TCE metabolites into their methyl esters in very short time (≤30 s) at room temperature directly in the plasma samples, thus makes it a solventless analysis. The method developed was successfully applied to the plasma samples of humans exposed to TCE. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

From in vitro to in vivo: Integration of the virtual cell based assay with physiologically based kinetic modelling.

PubMed

Paini, Alicia; Sala Benito, Jose Vicente; Bessems, Jos; Worth, Andrew P

2017-12-01

Physiologically based kinetic (PBK) models and the virtual cell based assay can be linked to form so called physiologically based dynamic (PBD) models. This study illustrates the development and application of a PBK model for prediction of estragole-induced DNA adduct formation and hepatotoxicity in humans. To address the hepatotoxicity, HepaRG cells were used as a surrogate for liver cells, with cell viability being used as the in vitro toxicological endpoint. Information on DNA adduct formation was taken from the literature. Since estragole induced cell damage is not directly caused by the parent compound, but by a reactive metabolite, information on the metabolic pathway was incorporated into the model. In addition, a user-friendly tool was developed by implementing the PBK/D model into a KNIME workflow. This workflow can be used to perform in vitro to in vivo extrapolation and forward as backward dosimetry in support of chemical risk assessment. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Independent Orbiter Assessment (IOA): Analysis of the mechanical actuation subsystem

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bacher, J. L.; Montgomery, A. D.; Bradway, M. W.; Slaughter, W. T.

1987-01-01

The results of the Independent Orbiter Assessment (IOA) of the Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Critical Items List (CIL) are presented. The IOA approach features a top-down analysis of the hardware to determine failure modes, criticality, and potential critical items. To preserve independence, this analysis was accomplished without reliance upon the results contained within the NASA FMEA/CIL documentation. This report documents the independent analysis results corresponding to the Orbiter Mechanical Actuation System (MAS) hardware. Specifically, the MAS hardware consists of the following components: Air Data Probe (ADP); Elevon Seal Panel (ESP); External Tank Umbilical (ETU); Ku-Band Deploy (KBD); Payload Bay Doors (PBD); Payload Bay Radiators (PBR); Personnel Hatches (PH); Vent Door Mechanism (VDM); and Startracker Door Mechanism (SDM). The IOA analysis process utilized available MAS hardware drawings and schematics for defining hardware assemblies, components, and hardware items. Each level of hardware was evaluated and analyzed for possible failure modes and effects. Criticality was assigned based upon the severity of the effect for each failure mode.

Percutaneous biliary drainage for high obstruction.

PubMed

Barth, K H

1990-11-01

PBD is the preferred route of palliative drainage for patients with high biliary obstruction. The frequency of bifurcational obstruction in this setting requires familiarity with drainages from both the right and the left transhepatic approach. The preferred right transhepatic approach is fluoroscopically guided; on the left, ultrasonography is the guidance of choice. Large caliber drainage catheters are required, and dilatation of the necessary transhepatic tracts is extremely painful unless adequate inhalation anesthesia or, preferably, epidural anesthesia, is provided. Long-term biliary drainage requires a choice between internal-external external drainage catheters and endoprostheses that is made by considering the patient's life expectancy and his or her adjustment to a stent extending to the outside. The feasibility of corrective procedures if an internal-external drainage catheter or an endoprosthesis becomes blocked needs to be considered before definitive placement. The interventional radiologist becomes intimately involved in the follow-up care of patients and frequently has to direct appropriate patient evaluation. Familiarity with antibiotic regimens is important.

Real-time simulation of soft tissue deformation and electrocautery procedures in laparoscopic rectal cancer radical surgery.

PubMed

Sui, Yuan; Pan, Jun J; Qin, Hong; Liu, Hao; Lu, Yun

2017-12-01

Laparoscopic surgery (LS), also referred to as minimally invasive surgery, is a modern surgical technique which is widely applied. The fulcrum effect makes LS a non-intuitive motor skill with a steep learning curve. A hybrid model of tetrahedrons and a multi-layer triangular mesh are constructed to simulate the deformable behavior of the rectum and surrounding tissues in the Position-Based Dynamics (PBD) framework. A heat-conduction based electric-burn technique is employed to simulate the electrocautery procedure. The simulator has been applied for laparoscopic rectum cancer surgery training. From the experimental results, trainees can operate in real time with high degrees of stability and fidelity. A preliminary study was performed to evaluate the realism and usefulness. This prototype simulator has been tested and verified by colorectal surgeons through a pilot study. They believed both the visual and the haptic performance of the simulation are realistic and helpful to enhance laparoscopic skills. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The prevalence and causes of blindness in the Sultanate of Oman: the Oman Eye Study (OES)

PubMed Central

Khandekar, R; Mohammed, A J; Negrel, A D; Al Riyami, A

2002-01-01

Aims: To estimate the magnitude and the causes of blindness through a community based nationwide survey in Oman. This was conducted in 1996–7. Methods: A stratified cluster random sampling procedure was used to select 12 400 people. The WHO/PBD standardised survey methodology was used, with suitable adaptation. The major causes of blindness were identified among those found blind. Results: A total of 11 417 people were examined (response rate 91.8%) The prevalence of blindness in the Omani population was estimated to be 1.1% (95% CI 0.9 to 1.3), blindness being defined according to the WHO Tenth Revision of the International Classification of Diseases. Prevalence of blindness was clearly related to increasing age, with estimates of 0.08% for the 0–14 age group, 0.1% for the 15–39 age group, 2.3% for the 40–59 age group, and 16.8% for the group aged 60 +. There was a statistically significant difference between the prevalence in females (1.4%) and males (0.8%). The northern and central regions had a higher prevalence of blindness (1.3% to 3%). The major causes of blindness were unoperated cataract (30.5%), trachomatous corneal opacities (23.7%), and glaucoma (11.5%) Conclusions: Despite an active eye healthcare programme, blindness due to cataract and trachoma remains a public health problem of great concern in several regions of the sultanate. These results highlight the need, when planning effective intervention strategies, to target the eye healthcare programme to the ageing population, with special emphasis on women. PMID:12185115

First-principles quantum transport method for disordered nanoelectronics: Disorder-averaged transmission, shot noise, and device-to-device variability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Jiawei; Wang, Shizhuo; Xia, Ke; Ke, Youqi

2017-03-01

Because disorders are inevitable in realistic nanodevices, the capability to quantitatively simulate the disorder effects on electron transport is indispensable for quantum transport theory. Here, we report a unified and effective first-principles quantum transport method for analyzing effects of chemical or substitutional disorder on transport properties of nanoelectronics, including averaged transmission coefficient, shot noise, and disorder-induced device-to-device variability. All our theoretical formulations and numerical implementations are worked out within the framework of the tight-binding linear muffin tin orbital method. In this method, we carry out the electronic structure calculation with the density functional theory, treat the nonequilibrium statistics by the nonequilbrium Green's function method, and include the effects of multiple impurity scattering with the generalized nonequilibrium vertex correction (NVC) method in coherent potential approximation (CPA). The generalized NVC equations are solved from first principles to obtain various disorder-averaged two-Green's-function correlators. This method provides a unified way to obtain different disorder-averaged transport properties of disordered nanoelectronics from first principles. To test our implementation, we apply the method to investigate the shot noise in the disordered copper conductor, and find all our results for different disorder concentrations approach a universal Fano factor 1 /3 . As the second test, we calculate the device-to-device variability in the spin-dependent transport through the disordered Cu/Co interface and find the conductance fluctuation is very large in the minority spin channel and negligible in the majority spin channel. Our results agree well with experimental measurements and other theories. In both applications, we show the generalized nonequilibrium vertex corrections play a determinant role in electron transport simulation. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of the first-principles generalized CPA-NVC for atomistic analysis of disordered nanoelectronics, extending the capability of quantum transport simulation.

An Open Conversation on Using Eye-Gaze Methods in Studies of Neurodevelopmental Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Venker, Courtney E.; Kover, Sara T.

2015-01-01

Purpose: Eye-gaze methods have the potential to advance the study of neurodevelopmental disorders. Despite their increasing use, challenges arise in using these methods with individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders and in reporting sufficient methodological detail such that the resulting research is replicable and interpretable. Method: This…

Direct microbial conversion of wheat straw into lipid by a cellulolytic fungus of Aspergillus oryzae A-4 in solid-state fermentation.

PubMed

Lin, Hui; Cheng, Wan; Ding, Hai-tao; Chen, Xue-jiao; Zhou, Qi-fa; Zhao, Yu-hua

2010-10-01

Direct microbial conversion of wheat straw into lipid by a cellulolytic fungus of Aspergillus oryzae A-4 in solid-state fermentation (SSF) was investigated. In submerged fermentation, A. oryzae A-4 accumulated lipid to 15-18.15% of biomass when pure cellulose was utilized as the sole substrate. In SSF of the wheat straw and bran mixture, A. oryzae A-4 yielded lipid of 36.6mg/g dry substrate (gds), and a cellulase activity of 1.82 FPU/gds with 25.25% of holocellulose utilization in the substrates were detected on the 6th day. The lipid yield reached 62.87 mg/gds in SSF on the 6th day under the optimized conditions from Plackett-Burman design (PBD). Cellulase secretion of A. oryzae A-4 was found to influence the lipid yield. Dilute acid pretreatment of the straw and addition of some agro-industrial wastes to the straw could enhance lipid production of A. oryzae A-4. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Novel pathway of 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid formation in limazepine biosynthesis reveals evolutionary relation between phenazines and pyrrolobenzodiazepines.

PubMed

Pavlikova, Magdalena; Kamenik, Zdenek; Janata, Jiri; Kadlcik, Stanislav; Kuzma, Marek; Najmanova, Lucie

2018-05-17

Natural pyrrolobenzodiazepines (PBDs) form a large and structurally diverse group of antitumour microbial metabolites produced through complex pathways, which are encoded within biosynthetic gene clusters. We sequenced the gene cluster of limazepines and proposed their biosynthetic pathway based on comparison with five available gene clusters for the biosynthesis of other PBDs. Furthermore, we tested two recombinant proteins from limazepine biosynthesis, Lim5 and Lim6, with the expected substrates in vitro. The reactions monitored by LC-MS revealed that limazepine biosynthesis involves a new way of 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid formation, which we refer to as the chorismate/DHHA pathway and which represents an alternative to the kynurenine pathway employed for the formation of the same precursor in the biosynthesis of other PBDs. The chorismate/DHHA pathway is presumably also involved in the biosynthesis of PBD tilivalline, several natural products unrelated to PBDs, and its part is shared also with phenazine biosynthesis. The similarities between limazepine and phenazine biosynthesis indicate tight evolutionary links between these groups of compounds.

High-resolution passive sampling of dissolved methane in the water column of lakes in Greenland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goldman, A. E.; Cadieux, S. B.; White, J. R.; Pratt, L. M.

2013-12-01

Arctic lakes are important participants in the global carbon cycle, releasing methane in a warming climate and contributing to a positive feedback to climate change. In order to yield detailed methane budgets and understand the implications of warming on methane dynamics, high-resolution profiles revealing methane behavior within the water column need to be obtained. Single day sampling using disruptive techniques has the potential to result in biases. In order to obtain high-resolution, undisturbed profiles of methane concentration and isotopic composition, this study evaluates a passive sampling method over a multi-day equilibration period. Selected for this study were two small lakes (<1km2) within a narrow valley stretching between Russells Glacier and Søndre Strømfjord in southwestern Greenland, which are part of an ongoing study of a series of seven lakes. Commercially available, 150 mL, polyethylene Passive Diffusion Bags (PDB's) were deployed in July 2013 for five days at 0.5-meter depth intervals. PDB samples were compared to samples collected with a submersible, electric pump taken immediately before PBD deployment. Preliminary CH4 concentrations and carbon isotopes for one lake were obtained in the field using a Los Gatos Research Methane Carbon Isotope Analyzer. PDB sampling and pump sampling resulted in statistically similar concentrations (R2=0.89), ranging from 0.85 to 135 uM from PDB and 0.74 to 143 uM from pump sampling. In anoxic waters of the lake, where concentrations were high enough to yield robust isotopic results on the LGR MCIA, δ13C were also similar between the two methods, yielding -73‰ from PDB and -74‰ from pump sampling. Further investigation will produce results for a second lake and methane carbon and hydrogen isotopic composition for both lakes. Preliminary results for this passive sampling method are promising. We envision the use of this technique in future studies of dissolved methane and expect that it will provide a more finely resolved vertical profile, allowing for a more complete understanding of lacustrine methane dynamics.

A YinYang bipolar fuzzy cognitive TOPSIS method to bipolar disorder diagnosis.

PubMed

Han, Ying; Lu, Zhenyu; Du, Zhenguang; Luo, Qi; Chen, Sheng

2018-05-01

Bipolar disorder is often mis-diagnosed as unipolar depression in the clinical diagnosis. The main reason is that, different from other diseases, bipolarity is the norm rather than exception in bipolar disorder diagnosis. YinYang bipolar fuzzy set captures bipolarity and has been successfully used to construct a unified inference mathematical modeling method to bipolar disorder clinical diagnosis. Nevertheless, symptoms and their interrelationships are not considered in the existing method, circumventing its ability to describe complexity of bipolar disorder. Thus, in this paper, a YinYang bipolar fuzzy multi-criteria group decision making method to bipolar disorder clinical diagnosis is developed. Comparing with the existing method, the new one is more comprehensive. The merits of the new method are listed as follows: First of all, multi-criteria group decision making method is introduced into bipolar disorder diagnosis for considering different symptoms and multiple doctors' opinions. Secondly, the discreet diagnosis principle is adopted by the revised TOPSIS method. Last but not the least, YinYang bipolar fuzzy cognitive map is provided for the understanding of interrelations among symptoms. The illustrated case demonstrates the feasibility, validity, and necessity of the theoretical results obtained. Moreover, the comparison analysis demonstrates that the diagnosis result is more accurate, when interrelations about symptoms are considered in the proposed method. In a conclusion, the main contribution of this paper is to provide a comprehensive mathematical approach to improve the accuracy of bipolar disorder clinical diagnosis, in which both bipolarity and complexity are considered. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Pharmacological and Nonpharmacological Methods of Treatment for Fragile X Syndrome

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-02-01

disorders, mental retardation, or autism spectrum disorders. We seek to address the most effective methods of treatment (pharmacological and behavioral... dental so that families can obtain these services from specific professionals with an interest in FX syndrome. School liaison services for school aged...Affected males may suffer learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders, mental retardation, and autism spectrum disorder. The Child Development

Onto-clust--a methodology for combining clustering analysis and ontological methods for identifying groups of comorbidities for developmental disorders.

PubMed

Peleg, Mor; Asbeh, Nuaman; Kuflik, Tsvi; Schertz, Mitchell

2009-02-01

Children with developmental disorders usually exhibit multiple developmental problems (comorbidities). Hence, such diagnosis needs to revolve on developmental disorder groups. Our objective is to systematically identify developmental disorder groups and represent them in an ontology. We developed a methodology that combines two methods (1) a literature-based ontology that we created, which represents developmental disorders and potential developmental disorder groups, and (2) clustering for detecting comorbid developmental disorders in patient data. The ontology is used to interpret and improve clustering results and the clustering results are used to validate the ontology and suggest directions for its development. We evaluated our methodology by applying it to data of 1175 patients from a child development clinic. We demonstrated that the ontology improves clustering results, bringing them closer to an expert generated gold-standard. We have shown that our methodology successfully combines an ontology with a clustering method to support systematic identification and representation of developmental disorder groups.

Generalized non-equilibrium vertex correction method in coherent medium theory for quantum transport simulation of disordered nanoelectronics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Jiawei; Ke, Youqi

In realistic nanoelectronics, disordered impurities/defects are inevitable and play important roles in electron transport. However, due to the lack of effective quantum transport method, the important effects of disorders remain poorly understood. Here, we report a generalized non-equilibrium vertex correction (NVC) method with coherent potential approximation to treat the disorder effects in quantum transport simulation. With this generalized NVC method, any averaged product of two single-particle Green's functions can be obtained by solving a set of simple linear equations. As a result, the averaged non-equilibrium density matrix and various important transport properties, including averaged current, disordered induced current fluctuation and the averaged shot noise, can all be efficiently computed in a unified scheme. Moreover, a generalized form of conditionally averaged non-equilibrium Green's function is derived to incorporate with density functional theory to enable first-principles simulation. We prove the non-equilibrium coherent potential equals the non-equilibrium vertex correction. Our approach provides a unified, efficient and self-consistent method for simulating non-equilibrium quantum transport through disorder nanoelectronics. Shanghaitech start-up fund.

Enzymatic hydrolysis optimization of microwave alkali pretreated wheat straw and ethanol production by yeast.

PubMed

Singh, Anita; Bishnoi, Narsi R

2012-03-01

Microwave alkali pretreated wheat straw was used for in-house enzyme production by Aspergillusflavus and Trichodermareesei. Produced enzymes were concentrated, pooled and assessed for the hydrolysis of pretreated wheat straw. Factors affecting hydrolysis were screened out by Placket-Burman design (PBD) and most significant factors were further optimized by Box-Behnken design (BBD). Under optimum conditions, 82% efficiency in hydrolysis yield was observed. After the optimization by response surface methodology (RSM), a model was proposed to predict the optimum value confirmed by the experimental results. The concentrated enzymatic hydrolyzate was fermented for ethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pichia stipitis and co-culture of both. The yield of ethanol was found to be 0.48 g(p)/g(s), 0.43 g(p)/g(s) and 0.40 g(p)/g(s) by S. cerevisiae, P. stipitis and by co-culture, respectively, using concentrated enzymatic hydrolyzate. During anaerobic fermentation 42.31 μmol/mL, 36.69 μmol/mL, 43.35 μmol/mL CO(2) was released by S. cerevisiae, P. stipitis and by co-culture, respectively. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

NCN-Coordinating Ligands based on Pyrene Structure with Potential Application in Organic Electronics.

PubMed

Zych, Dawid; Kurpanik, Aneta; Slodek, Aneta; Maroń, Anna; Pająk, Michał; Szafraniec-Gorol, Grażyna; Matussek, Marek; Krompiec, Stanisław; Schab-Balcerzak, Ewa; Kotowicz, Sonia; Siwy, Mariola; Smolarek, Karolina; Maćkowski, Sebastian; Danikiewicz, Witold

2017-11-07

Five novel derivatives of pyrene, substituted at positions 1,3,6,8 with 4-(2,2-dimethylpropyloxy)pyridine (P1), 4-decyloxypyridine (P2), 4-pentylpyridine (P3), 1-decyl-1,2,3-triazole (P4), and 1-benzyl-1,2,3-triazole (P5), are obtained through a Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction or Cu I -catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction, respectively, and characterized thoroughly. TGA measurements reveal the high thermal stability of the compounds. Pyrene derivatives P1-P5 all show photoluminescence (PL) quantum yields (Φ) of approximately 75 % in solution. Solid-state photo- and electroluminescence characteristics of selected compounds as organic light-emitting diodes are tested. In the guest-host configuration, two matrixes, that is, poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) and a binary matrix consisting of PVK and 2-tert-butylphenyl-5-biphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole (PBD) (50:50 wt %), are applied. The diodes show red, green, or blue electroluminescence, depending on both the compound chemical structure and the actual device architecture. In addition, theoretical studies (DFT and TD-DFT) provide a deeper understanding of the experimental results. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Investigation of thioglycerol stabilized ZnS quantum dots in electroluminescent device performance

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ethiraj, Anita Sagadevan, E-mail: anita.ethiraj@vit.ac.in; Center for Nanotechnology Research, VIT University, Vellore, TamilNadu-632014; Rhen, Dani

2016-05-06

The present work is focused on the investigation of thioglycerol (TG) stabilized Zinc Sulfide Quantum dots (ZnS QDs) in the hybrid electroluminescence (EL) device. Optical absorption spectroscopy clearly indicates the formation of narrow size distributed ZnS in the quantum confinement regime. X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Photoluminescence (PL), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) data supports the same. The hybrid EL device with structure of ITO (indium tin oxide)//PEDOT:PSS ((poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrene sulfonate)//HTL (α NPD- N,N′-diphenyl-N,N′-bis(1-naphthyl)-(1,1′-phenyl)-4,4′-diamine// PVK:ZnS QDs//ETL(PBD- 2-tert-butylphenyl- 5-biphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole)//LiF:Al (Device 1) was fabricated. Reference device without the ZnS QDs were also prepared (Device 2). The results show that the ZnS QDs based device exhibitedmore » bright electroluminescence emission of 24 cd/m{sup 2} at a driving voltage of 16 Volts under the forward bias conditions as compared to the reference device without the ZnS QDs, which showed 6 cd/m{sup 2} at ∼22 Volts.« less

Optimization of critical medium components using response surface methodology for phenazine-1-carboxylic acid production by Pseudomonas sp. M-18Q.

PubMed

Yuan, Li-Li; Li, Ya-Qian; Wang, Yi; Zhang, Xue-Hong; Xu, Yu-Quan

2008-03-01

The optimal flask-shaking batch fermentation medium for phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA) production by Pseudomonas sp. M-18Q, a qscR chromosomal inactivated mutant of the strain M18 was studied using statistical experimental design and analysis. The Plackett-Burman design (PBD) was used to evaluate the effects of eight medium components on the production of PCA, which showed that glucose and soytone were the most significant ingredients (P<0.05). The steepest ascent experiment was adopted to determine the optimal region of the medium composition. The optimum composition of the fermentation medium for maximum PCA yield, as determined on the basis of a five-level two-factor central composite design (CCD), was obtained by response surface methodology (RSM). The high correlation between the predicted and observed values indicated the validity of the model. A maximum PCA yield of 1240 mg/l was obtained at 17.81 g/l glucose and 11.47 g/l soytone, and the production was increased by 65.3% compared with that using the original medium, which was at 750 mg/l.

Physico-chemical pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of cotton stalk for ethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

PubMed

Singh, Anita; Bajar, Somvir; Bishnoi, Narsi R

2017-11-01

The aim of this work was to study the physico-chemical pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of cotton stalk for ethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Firstly, factors affecting pretreatment were screened out by Plackett-Burman design (PBD) and most significant factors were further optimized by Box-Behnken design (BBD). As shown by experimental study, most significant factors were FeCl 3 concentration (FC), irradiation time (IT) and substrate concentration (SC) affecting pretreatment of cotton stalk among all studied factors. Under optimum conditions of pretreatment FC 0.15mol/l, IT 20min and SC 55g/l, the release of reducing sugar was 6.6g/l. Hydrolysis of pretreated cotton stalk was done by crude on-site produced enzymes and hydrolysate was concentrated. Ethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae using concentrated cotton stalk hydrolysate was 9.8g p /l, with ethanol yield 0.37g p /g s on consumed sugars. The data indicated that microwave FeCl 3 pretreated cotton stalk hydrolyses by crude unprocessed enzyme cocktail was good, and ethanol can be produced by fermentation of hydrolysate. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Improved Tumor Targeting of Polymer-based Nanovesicles Using Polymer-Lipid Blends

PubMed Central

Cheng, Zhiliang; Elias, Drew R.; Kamat, Neha P.; Johnston, Eric D.; Poloukhtine, Andrei; Popik, Vladimir; Hammer, Daniel A.; Tsourkas, Andrew

2011-01-01

Block copolymer-based vesicles have recently garnered a great deal of interest as nanoplatforms for drug delivery and molecular imaging applications due to their unique structural properties. These nanovesicles have been shown to direct their cargo to disease sites either through enhanced permeability and retention or even more efficiently via active targeting. Here we show that the efficacy of nanovesicle targeting can be significantly improved when prepared from polymer-lipid blends compared with block copolymer alone. Polymer-lipid hybrid nanovesicles were produced from the aqueous co-assembly of the diblock copolymer, poly(ethylene oxide)-block-polybutadiene (PEO-PBD), and the phospholipid, hydrogenated soy phosphatidylcholine (HSPC). The PEG-based vesicles, 117 nm in diameter, were functionalized with either folic acid or anti-HER2/neu affibodies as targeting ligands to confer specificity for cancer cells. Our results revealed that nanovesicles prepared from polymer-lipid blends led to significant improvement in cell binding compared to nanovesicles prepared from block copolymer alone in both in vitro cell studies and murine tumor models. Therefore, it is envisioned that nanovesicles composed of polymer-lipid blends may constitute a preferred embodiment for targeted drug delivery and molecular imaging applications. PMID:21899335

Co-administration of Bacillus subtilis RJGP16 and Lactobacillus salivarius B1 strongly enhances the intestinal mucosal immunity of piglets.

PubMed

Deng, Jun; Li, Yunfeng; Zhang, Jinhua; Yang, Qian

2013-02-01

Probiotics, including Bacillus spp. and Lactobacillus, are potential replacements for low dose in-feed antibiotics for pig. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the co-administration of Bacillus subtilis RJGP16 and Lactobacillus salivarius B1 as potential probiotics to stimulate local immune responses. Thirty two newborn piglets were divided into four groups and orally administrated with different combination of probiotics (none; RJGP16; B1; RJGP16 and B1) at the age of 0, 7 and 11 days. We analysed the parameters of the mucosal immunity of piglets a week after weaning. Our results showed that the gene expression of interleukin (IL)-6 in the duodenum and ileum, porcine beta-defensins (pBD)-2 in the duodenum were significantly increased (p<0.01) with co-administration of the RJGP16 and B1. Also the expression and release of TLR-2 and the number of immunoglobulin (Ig) A producing cells were increased (p<0.01). The results demonstrate that the co-administration of the two bacteria stimulate a more intense mucosal immunity than the administration of each bacterium alone. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Independent Orbiter Assessment (IOA): Assessment of the mechanical actuation subsystem, volume 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bradway, M. W.; Slaughter, W. T.

1988-01-01

The results of the Independent Orbiter Assessment (IOA) of the Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Critical Items List (CIL) are presented. The IOA approach features a top-down analysis of the hardware to determine draft failure modes, criticality, and potential critical items. To preserve independence, this analysis was accomplished without reliance upon the results contained within the NASA FMEA/CIL documentation. The IOA results were then compared to the proposed Post 51-L NASA FMEA/CIL baseline that was available. A resolution of each discrepancy from the comparison was provided through additional analysis as required. These discrepancies were flagged as issues, and recommendations were made based on the FMEA data available at the time. This report documents the results of that comparison for the Orbiter Mechanical Actuation System (MAS) hardware. Specifically, the MAS hardware consists of the following components: Air Data Probe (ADP); Elevon Seal Panel (ESP); External Tank Umbilical (ETU); Ku-Band Deploy (KBD); Payload Bay Doors (PBD); Payload Bay Radiators (PBR); Personnel Hatches (PH); Vent Door Mechanism (VDM); and Startracker Door Mechanism (SDM). Criticality was assigned based upon the severity of the effect for each failure mode.

The burden of mental disorders: a comparison of methods between the Australian burden of disease studies and the Global Burden of Disease study.

PubMed Central

Vos, T.; Mathers, C. D.

2000-01-01

The national and Victorian burden of disease studies in Australia set out to examine critically the methods used in the Global Burden of Disease study to estimate the burden of mental disorders. The main differences include the use of a different set of disability weights allowing estimates in greater detail by level of severity, adjustments for comorbidity between mental disorders, a greater number of mental disorders measured, and modelling of substance use disorders, anxiety disorders and bipolar disorder as chronic conditions. Uniform age-weighting in the Australian studies produces considerably lower estimates of the burden due to mental disorders in comparison with age-weighted disability-adjusted life years. A lack of follow-up data on people with mental disorders who are identified in cross-sectional surveys poses the greatest challenge in determining the burden of mental disorders more accurately. PMID:10885161

Suicide means used by Chinese rural youths: a comparison between those with and without mental disorders.

PubMed

Zhang, Jie; Li, Ziyao

2011-06-01

Reports on Chinese rural youth suicide indicated patterns different from those of the West. Only about 30% to 70% young victims had had diagnoses of psychiatric illnesses (Phillips et al., Lancet 359:835-840, 2002; Xiao et al., Chin J Psychiatry 36:129-131, 2003), and more than 60% of them used pesticides as suicide means (Wang et al., Lancet 372:1765-1773, 2008). To prevent suicides in rural China, it is important to know the choice of means by Chinese young suicide victims with and without mental disorders. Data on suicide cases in China's rural areas gathered from a big psychological autopsy study were studied for demographic characteristics, suicide methods, and the presence of mental disorders. The findings in the suicide victims with and without mental disorders showed significant differences in suicide method selecting. Victims with mental disorders tended to select violent methods compared with those without mental disorders (31.4% vs. 16.2%). Hanging is method more likely chosen by the mentally disordered victims (13.3%) than those without a mental disorder (7.8%). Mental status affects the means choice among the Chinese rural young suicide victims. Among them, the female victims without mental disorders tended to act on impulsivity and used nonviolent means such as pesticide consumption for suicide. This study informs suicide prevention measures in both China and rest of the world.

Play-Based Interventions for Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gallo-Lopez, Loretta, Ed.; Rubin, Lawrence C., Ed.

2012-01-01

"Play-Based Interventions for Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders" explores the most recognized, researched, and practical methods for using play therapy with the increasing number of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), and shows clinicians how to integrate these methods into their practices. Using a…

[Study on depressive disorder and related factors in surgical inpatients].

PubMed

Ge, Hong-min; Liu, Lan-fen; Han, Jian-bo

2008-03-01

To investigate the prevalence and possible influencing factors of depressive disorder in surgical inpatients. Two hundred and sixty-six surgical inpatients meeting the inclusion criteria were first screened with the self rating depression scale (SDS), and then the subjects screened positive and 20% of those screened negative were evaluated with Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID) as a gold standard for diagnosis of depressive disorder. Possible influencing factors were also analyzed by experienced psychiatrists. The standard score of SDS in the surgical inpatients were significantly higher than those in the Chinese norm, and the incidence of depressive disorder in the surgical inpatients was 37.2%. Unvaried analysis showed that depressive disorder were associated with gender, education, economic condition, variety of diseases, hospitalization duration, and treatment methods. Logistic regression analysis revealed that gender, economic condition, treatment methods and previous history were the main influencing factors. The incidence of depressive disorder in the surgical inpatients is high, and it is mainly influenced by gender, economic condition, treatment methods and previous history.

CLASSIFICATION OF IRANIAN NURSES ACCORDING TO THEIR MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES USING GHQ-12 QUESTIONNAIRE: A COMPARISON BETWEEN LATENT CLASS ANALYSIS AND K-MEANS CLUSTERING WITH TRADITIONAL SCORING METHOD

PubMed Central

Jamali, Jamshid; Ayatollahi, Seyyed Mohammad Taghi

2015-01-01

Background: Nurses constitute the most providers of health care systems. Their mental health can affect the quality of services and patients’ satisfaction. General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) is a general screening tool used to detect mental disorders. Scoring method and determining thresholds for this questionnaire are debatable and the cut-off points can vary from sample to sample. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of mental disorders among Iranian nurses using GHQ-12 and also compare Latent Class Analysis (LCA) and K-means clustering with traditional scoring method. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Fars and Bushehr provinces of southern Iran in 2014. Participants were 771 Iranian nurses, who filled out the GHQ-12 questionnaire. Traditional scoring method, LCA and K-means were used to estimate the prevalence of mental disorder among Iranian nurses. Cohen’s kappa statistic was applied to assess the agreement between the LCA and K-means with traditional scoring method of GHQ-12. Results: The nurses with mental disorder by scoring method, LCA and K-mean were 36.3% (n=280), 32.2% (n=248), and 26.5% (n=204), respectively. LCA and logistic regression revealed that the prevalence of mental disorder in females was significantly higher than males. Conclusion: Mental disorder in nurses was in a medium level compared to other people living in Iran. There was a little difference between prevalence of mental disorder estimated by scoring method, K-means and LCA. According to the advantages of LCA than K-means and different results in scoring method, we suggest LCA for classification of Iranian nurses according to their mental health outcomes using GHQ-12 questionnaire PMID:26622202

CLASSIFICATION OF IRANIAN NURSES ACCORDING TO THEIR MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES USING GHQ-12 QUESTIONNAIRE: A COMPARISON BETWEEN LATENT CLASS ANALYSIS AND K-MEANS CLUSTERING WITH TRADITIONAL SCORING METHOD.

PubMed

Jamali, Jamshid; Ayatollahi, Seyyed Mohammad Taghi

2015-10-01

Nurses constitute the most providers of health care systems. Their mental health can affect the quality of services and patients' satisfaction. General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) is a general screening tool used to detect mental disorders. Scoring method and determining thresholds for this questionnaire are debatable and the cut-off points can vary from sample to sample. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of mental disorders among Iranian nurses using GHQ-12 and also compare Latent Class Analysis (LCA) and K-means clustering with traditional scoring method. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Fars and Bushehr provinces of southern Iran in 2014. Participants were 771 Iranian nurses, who filled out the GHQ-12 questionnaire. Traditional scoring method, LCA and K-means were used to estimate the prevalence of mental disorder among Iranian nurses. Cohen's kappa statistic was applied to assess the agreement between the LCA and K-means with traditional scoring method of GHQ-12. The nurses with mental disorder by scoring method, LCA and K-mean were 36.3% (n=280), 32.2% (n=248), and 26.5% (n=204), respectively. LCA and logistic regression revealed that the prevalence of mental disorder in females was significantly higher than males. Mental disorder in nurses was in a medium level compared to other people living in Iran. There was a little difference between prevalence of mental disorder estimated by scoring method, K-means and LCA. According to the advantages of LCA than K-means and different results in scoring method, we suggest LCA for classification of Iranian nurses according to their mental health outcomes using GHQ-12 questionnaire.

In-depth study of personality disorders in first-admission patients with substance use disorders

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Assessment of comorbid personality disorders (PDs) in patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) is challenging due to symptom overlap, additional mental and physical disorders, and limitations of the assessment methods. Our in-depth study applied methods to overcome these difficulties. Method A complete catchment area sample of 61 consecutively admitted patients with SUDs, with no previous history of specialized treatment (addiction clinics, psychiatry) were studied, addressing PDs and associated clinical and demographic variables. The thorough assessments included the Psychiatric Research Interview for Substance and Mental Disorders and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Personality Disorders. Results Forty-six percent of the SUD patients had at least one PD (16% antisocial [males only]; 13% borderline; and 8% paranoid, avoidant, and obsessive-compulsive, respectively). Cluster C disorders were as prevalent as Cluster B disorders. SUD patients with PDs were younger at the onset of their first SUD and at admission; used more illicit drugs; had more anxiety disorders, particularly social phobia; had more severe depressive symptoms; were more distressed; and less often attended work or school. Conclusion The psychiatric comorbidity and symptom load of SUD patients with PDs differed from those of SUD patients without PDs, suggesting different treatment needs, and stressing the value of the assessment of PDs in SUD patients. PMID:23107025

Complementary and alternative medicine used by persons with functional gastrointestinal disorders to alleviate symptom distress.

PubMed

Stake-Nilsson, Kerstin; Hultcrantz, Rolf; Unge, Peter; Wengström, Yvonne

2012-03-01

The aim of this study was to describe the complementary and alternative medicine methods most commonly used to alleviate symptom distress in persons with functional gastrointestinal disorders. People with functional gastrointestinal disorders face many challenges in their everyday lives, and each individual has his/her own way of dealing with this illness. The experience of illness often leads persons with functional gastrointestinal disorders to complementary and alternative medicine as a viable healthcare choice. Quantitative and describing design. A study-specific complementary and alternative medicine questionnaire was used, including questions about complementary and alternative medicine methods used and the perceived effects of each method. Efficacy assessments for each method were preventive effect, partial symptom relief, total symptom relief or no effect. A total of 137 persons with functional gastrointestinal disorders answered the questionnaire, 62% (n = 85) women and 38% (n = 52) men. A total of 28 different complementary and alternative medicine methods were identified and grouped into four categories: nutritional, drug/biological, psychological activity and physical activity. All persons had tried at least one method, and most methods provided partial symptom relief. Persons with functional gastrointestinal disorders commonly use complementary and alternative medicine methods to alleviate symptoms. Nurses have a unique opportunity to expand their roles in this group of patients. Increased knowledge of complementary and alternative medicine practices would enable a more comprehensive patient assessment and a better plan for meaningful interventions that meet the needs of individual patients. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

The assessment of personality disorders: implications for cognitive and behavior therapy.

PubMed

Van Velzen, C J; Emmelkamp, P M

1996-08-01

This article reviews the comorbidity of personality disorders (PDs) and Axis I disorders and discusses implications for assessment and treatment. Pros and cons of various assessment methods are discussed. The co-occurrence of PDs with Axis I disorders is considerable; roughly half of patients with anxiety disorders, depressive disorders or eating disorders received a PD diagnosis. Comorbidity models are discussed and implications for assessment and treatment are provided. Regarding the impact of PDs on cognitive-behavioral treatment outcome for Axis I disorders, conflicting results are found due to differences in assessment methods, treatment strategies, and patient samples. It is argued that additional Axis I pathology should be taken into account when studying the impact of PDs on treatment outcome for the target Axis I disorders. Finally, it is argued that the interpersonal behavior of the PD patient and the therapeutic relationship deserve more attention in the assessment and treatment of patients with PDs.

Generalized nonequilibrium vertex correction method in coherent medium theory for quantum transport simulation of disordered nanoelectronics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Jiawei; Ke, Youqi

2016-07-01

Electron transport properties of nanoelectronics can be significantly influenced by the inevitable and randomly distributed impurities/defects. For theoretical simulation of disordered nanoscale electronics, one is interested in both the configurationally averaged transport property and its statistical fluctuation that tells device-to-device variability induced by disorder. However, due to the lack of an effective method to do disorder averaging under the nonequilibrium condition, the important effects of disorders on electron transport remain largely unexplored or poorly understood. In this work, we report a general formalism of Green's function based nonequilibrium effective medium theory to calculate the disordered nanoelectronics. In this method, based on a generalized coherent potential approximation for the Keldysh nonequilibrium Green's function, we developed a generalized nonequilibrium vertex correction method to calculate the average of a two-Keldysh-Green's-function correlator. We obtain nine nonequilibrium vertex correction terms, as a complete family, to express the average of any two-Green's-function correlator and find they can be solved by a set of linear equations. As an important result, the averaged nonequilibrium density matrix, averaged current, disorder-induced current fluctuation, and averaged shot noise, which involve different two-Green's-function correlators, can all be derived and computed in an effective and unified way. To test the general applicability of this method, we applied it to compute the transmission coefficient and its fluctuation with a square-lattice tight-binding model and compared with the exact results and other previously proposed approximations. Our results show very good agreement with the exact results for a wide range of disorder concentrations and energies. In addition, to incorporate with density functional theory to realize first-principles quantum transport simulation, we have also derived a general form of conditionally averaged nonequilibrium Green's function for multicomponent disorders.

Improving protein disorder prediction by deep bidirectional long short-term memory recurrent neural networks.

PubMed

Hanson, Jack; Yang, Yuedong; Paliwal, Kuldip; Zhou, Yaoqi

2017-03-01

Capturing long-range interactions between structural but not sequence neighbors of proteins is a long-standing challenging problem in bioinformatics. Recently, long short-term memory (LSTM) networks have significantly improved the accuracy of speech and image classification problems by remembering useful past information in long sequential events. Here, we have implemented deep bidirectional LSTM recurrent neural networks in the problem of protein intrinsic disorder prediction. The new method, named SPOT-Disorder, has steadily improved over a similar method using a traditional, window-based neural network (SPINE-D) in all datasets tested without separate training on short and long disordered regions. Independent tests on four other datasets including the datasets from critical assessment of structure prediction (CASP) techniques and >10 000 annotated proteins from MobiDB, confirmed SPOT-Disorder as one of the best methods in disorder prediction. Moreover, initial studies indicate that the method is more accurate in predicting functional sites in disordered regions. These results highlight the usefulness combining LSTM with deep bidirectional recurrent neural networks in capturing non-local, long-range interactions for bioinformatics applications. SPOT-disorder is available as a web server and as a standalone program at: http://sparks-lab.org/server/SPOT-disorder/index.php . j.hanson@griffith.edu.au or yuedong.yang@griffith.edu.au or yaoqi.zhou@griffith.edu.au. Supplementary data is available at Bioinformatics online. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com

Treatment of Early-Onset Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (TEOSS): Rationale, Design, and Methods

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McClellan, Jon; Sikich, Linmarie; Findling, Robert L.; Frazier, Jean A.; Vitiello, Benedetto; Hlastala, Stefanie A.; Williams, Emily; Ambler, Denisse; Hunt-Harrison, Tyehimba; Maloney, Ann E.; Ritz, Louise; Anderson, Robert; Hamer, Robert M.; Lieberman, Jeffrey A.

2007-01-01

Objective: The Treatment of Early Onset Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders Study is a publicly funded clinical trial designed to compare the therapeutic benefits, safety, and tolerability of risperidone, olanzapine, and molindone in youths with early-onset schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The rationale, design, and methods of the Treatment of Early…

Establishing the severity of personality disorder.

PubMed

Tyrer, P; Johnson, T

1996-12-01

The authors developed a simplified method of rating the severity of personality disorder. The new rating method is based on four levels of severity: no personality disorder, personality difficulty, simple personality disorder, and diffuse personality disorder. The new method was applied to different diagnostic systems and was then compared with an old rating system based on six severity levels. Data were derived from a longitudinal study in which 163 patients with anxiety and depressive disorders had initial assessments of personality status and were followed up over 2 years. Ratings of psychiatric symptoms were made by using the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale over this period. The results were analyzed with special attention to linear and quadratic trends. The new system was clinically useful in separating patients' initial assessments and outcomes. Patients with no personality disorder had the lowest initial symptom scores and the best outcomes, and those with diffuse personality disorder had the highest initial levels of symptoms and improved least over the 2 years. When the patients were separated by the old classification system, 72% of the variation between groups was accounted for by linear and quadratic trends; the comparable percentage was 97% when the patients were categorized by the new system. The new system of rating severity of personality disturbance is an improvement on existing methods and allows ratings to be made easily from DSM-IV and ICD-10.

Heart Rate and Treatment Effect in Children with Disruptive Behavior Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stadler, Christina; Grasmann, Dorte; Fegert, Jorg M.; Holtmann, Martin; Poustka, Fritz; Schmeck, Klaus

2008-01-01

Objective: To examine whether children with disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs; hyperkinetic conduct disorder, conduct disorder, hyperkinetic disorder) characterized by low heart rate profit less from an intensive cognitive behavioral intervention aimed at reducing impulsive, oppositional and aggressive behavior problems. Method: Basal heart rate…

Modeling disordered protein interactions from biophysical principles

PubMed Central

Christoffer, Charles; Terashi, Genki

2017-01-01

Disordered protein-protein interactions (PPIs), those involving a folded protein and an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP), are prevalent in the cell, including important signaling and regulatory pathways. IDPs do not adopt a single dominant structure in isolation but often become ordered upon binding. To aid understanding of the molecular mechanisms of disordered PPIs, it is crucial to obtain the tertiary structure of the PPIs. However, experimental methods have difficulty in solving disordered PPIs and existing protein-protein and protein-peptide docking methods are not able to model them. Here we present a novel computational method, IDP-LZerD, which models the conformation of a disordered PPI by considering the biophysical binding mechanism of an IDP to a structured protein, whereby a local segment of the IDP initiates the interaction and subsequently the remaining IDP regions explore and coalesce around the initial binding site. On a dataset of 22 disordered PPIs with IDPs up to 69 amino acids, successful predictions were made for 21 bound and 18 unbound receptors. The successful modeling provides additional support for biophysical principles. Moreover, the new technique significantly expands the capability of protein structure modeling and provides crucial insights into the molecular mechanisms of disordered PPIs. PMID:28394890

Pharmacological and Nonpharmacological Methods of Treatment for Fragile

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-02-01

deficit disorders, mental retardation, or autism spectrum disorders. We seek to address the most effective methods of treatment (pharmacological and...ophthalmology and dental so that families can obtain these services from specific professionals with an interest in FX syndrome. School liaison...aberrant behavioral responses to stress. Affected males may suffer learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders, mental retardation, and autism

Joubert Syndrome

MedlinePlus

... developing methods of treatment and prevention. NINDS, in conjunction with the NIH Office of Rare Disorders, sponsored ... developing methods of treatment and prevention. NINDS, in conjunction with the NIH Office of Rare Disorders, sponsored ...

Study of multiband disordered systems using the typical medium dynamical cluster approximation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Yi; Terletska, Hanna; Moore, C.

We generalize the typical medium dynamical cluster approximation to multiband disordered systems. Using our extended formalism, we perform a systematic study of the nonlocal correlation effects induced by disorder on the density of states and the mobility edge of the three-dimensional two-band Anderson model. We include interband and intraband hopping and an intraband disorder potential. Our results are consistent with those obtained by the transfer matrix and the kernel polynomial methods. We also apply the method to K xFe 2-ySe 2 with Fe vacancies. Despite the strong vacancy disorder and anisotropy, we find the material is not an Anderson insulator.more » Moreover our results demonstrate the application of the typical medium dynamical cluster approximation method to study Anderson localization in real materials.« less

Study of multiband disordered systems using the typical medium dynamical cluster approximation

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Yi; Terletska, Hanna; Moore, C.; ...

2015-11-06

We generalize the typical medium dynamical cluster approximation to multiband disordered systems. Using our extended formalism, we perform a systematic study of the nonlocal correlation effects induced by disorder on the density of states and the mobility edge of the three-dimensional two-band Anderson model. We include interband and intraband hopping and an intraband disorder potential. Our results are consistent with those obtained by the transfer matrix and the kernel polynomial methods. We also apply the method to K xFe 2-ySe 2 with Fe vacancies. Despite the strong vacancy disorder and anisotropy, we find the material is not an Anderson insulator.more » Moreover our results demonstrate the application of the typical medium dynamical cluster approximation method to study Anderson localization in real materials.« less

Approach to risk identification in undifferentiated mental disorders

PubMed Central

Silveira, José; Rockman, Patricia; Fulford, Casey; Hunter, Jon

2016-01-01

Abstract Objective To provide primary care physicians with a novel approach to risk identification and related clinical decision making in the management of undifferentiated mental disorders. Sources of information We conducted a review of the literature in PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar using the search terms diagnostic uncertainty, diagnosis, risk identification, risk assessment/methods, risk, risk factors, risk management/methods, cognitive biases and psychiatry, decision making, mental disorders/diagnosis, clinical competence, evidence-based medicine, interviews as topic, psychiatry/education, psychiatry/methods, documentation/methods, forensic psychiatry/education, forensic psychiatry/methods, mental disorders/classification, mental disorders/psychology, violence/prevention and control, and violence/psychology. Main message Mental disorders are a large component of practice in primary care and often present in an undifferentiated manner, remaining so for prolonged periods. The challenging search for a diagnosis can divert attention from risk identification, as diagnosis is commonly presumed to be necessary before treatment can begin. This might inadvertently contribute to preventable adverse events. Focusing on salient aspects of the patient presentation related to risk should be prioritized. This article presents a novel approach to organizing patient information to assist risk identification and decision making in the management of patients with undifferentiated mental disorders. Conclusion A structured approach can help physicians to manage the clinical uncertainty common to risk identification in patients with mental disorders and cope with the common anxiety and cognitive biases that affect priorities in risk-related decision making. By focusing on risk, functional impairments, and related symptoms using a novel framework, physicians can meet their patients’ immediate needs while continuing the search for diagnostic clarity and long-term treatment. PMID:27965330

Approach to risk identification in undifferentiated mental disorders.

PubMed

Silveira, José; Rockman, Patricia; Fulford, Casey; Hunter, Jon

2016-12-01

To provide primary care physicians with a novel approach to risk identification and related clinical decision making in the management of undifferentiated mental disorders. We conducted a review of the literature in PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar using the search terms diagnostic uncertainty, diagnosis, risk identification, risk assessment/methods, risk, risk factors, risk management/methods, cognitive biases and psychiatry, decision making, mental disorders/diagnosis, clinical competence, evidence-based medicine, interviews as topic, psychiatry/education, psychiatry/methods, documentation/methods, forensic psychiatry/education, forensic psychiatry/methods, mental disorders/classification, mental disorders/psychology, violence/prevention and control, and violence/psychology. Mental disorders are a large component of practice in primary care and often present in an undifferentiated manner, remaining so for prolonged periods. The challenging search for a diagnosis can divert attention from risk identification, as diagnosis is commonly presumed to be necessary before treatment can begin. This might inadvertently contribute to preventable adverse events. Focusing on salient aspects of the patient presentation related to risk should be prioritized. This article presents a novel approach to organizing patient information to assist risk identification and decision making in the management of patients with undifferentiated mental disorders. A structured approach can help physicians to manage the clinical uncertainty common to risk identification in patients with mental disorders and cope with the common anxiety and cognitive biases that affect priorities in risk-related decision making. By focusing on risk, functional impairments, and related symptoms using a novel framework, physicians can meet their patients' immediate needs while continuing the search for diagnostic clarity and long-term treatment. Copyright© the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

A Systematic Evaluation of ADHD and Comorbid Psychopathology in a Population-Based Twin Sample

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Volk, Heather E.; Neuman, Rosalind J.; Todd, Richard D.

2005-01-01

Objective: Clinical and population samples demonstrate that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) occurs with other disorders. Comorbid disorder clustering within ADHD subtypes is not well studied. Method: Latent class analysis (LCA) examined the co-occurrence of DSM-IV ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder (CD),…

Annual Research Review: Infant Development, Autism, and ADHD--Early Pathways to Emerging Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Mark H.; Gliga, Teodora; Jones, Emily; Charman, Tony

2015-01-01

Background: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are two of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders, with a high degree of co-occurrence. Methods: Prospective longitudinal studies of infants who later meet criteria for ASD or ADHD offer the opportunity to determine whether the two disorders share…

ADHD with Comorbid Oppositional Defiant Disorder or Conduct Disorder: Discrete or Nondistinct Disruptive Behavior Disorders?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Connor, Daniel F.; Doerfler, Leonard A.

2008-01-01

Objective: In children with ADHD who have comorbid disruptive behavior diagnoses distinctions between oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD) remain unclear. The authors investigate differences between ODD and CD in a large clinical sample of children with ADHD. Method: Consecutively referred and systematically assessed male…

A Comparison of Interview and Self-Report Methods for the Assessment of Borderline Personality Disorder Criteria

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hopwood, Christopher J.; Morey, Leslie C.; Edelen, Maria Orlando; Shea, M. Tracie; Grilo, Carlos M.; Sanislow, Charles A.; McGlashan, Thomas H.; Daversa, Maria T.; Gunderson, John G.; Zanarini, Mary C.; Markowitz, John C.; Skodol, Andrew E.

2008-01-01

Interview methods are widely regarded as the standard for the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD), whereas self-report methods are considered a time-efficient alternative. However, the relative validity of these methods has not been sufficiently tested. The current study used data from the Collaborative Longitudinal Personality…

78 FR 69324 - Revised Medical Criteria for Evaluating Hematological Disorders

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-19

.... ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of three methods--Internet, fax, or mail. Do not submit the same comments multiple times or by more than one method. Regardless of which method you choose, please state... hematological disorder. In proposed sections 7.00B1 and B2, we provide two methods for establishing the...

The Australian Defence Force Mental Health Prevalence and Wellbeing Study: design and methods

PubMed Central

Hooff, Miranda Van; McFarlane, Alexander C.; Davies, Christopher E.; Searle, Amelia K.; Fairweather-Schmidt, A. Kate; Verhagen, Alan; Benassi, Helen; Hodson, Stephanie E.

2014-01-01

Background The Australian Defence Force (ADF) Mental Health Prevalence and Wellbeing Study (MHPWS) is the first study of mental disorder prevalence in an entire military population. Objective The MHPWS aims to establish mental disorder prevalence, refine current ADF mental health screening methods, and identify specific occupational factors that influence mental health. This paper describes the design, sampling strategies, and methodology used in this study. Method At Phase 1, approximately half of all regular Navy, Army, and Air Force personnel (n=24,481) completed self-report questionnaires. At Phase 2, a stratified sub-sample (n=1,798) completed a structured diagnostic interview to detect mental disorder. Based on data from non-responders, data were weighted to represent the entire ADF population (n=50,049). Results One in five ADF members met criteria for a 12-month mental disorder (22%). The most common disorder category was anxiety disorders (14.8%), followed by affective (9.5%) and alcohol disorders (5.2%). At risk ADF sub-groups were Army personnel, and those in the lower ranks. Deployment status did not have an impact on mental disorder rates. Conclusion This study has important implications for mental health service delivery for Australian and international military personnel as well as contemporary veterans. PMID:25206944

A Mixed-Method Evaluation of the Feasibility and Acceptability of a Telehealth-Based Parent-Mediated Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pickard, Katherine E.; Wainer, Allison L.; Bailey, Kathryn M.; Ingersoll, Brooke R.

2016-01-01

Research within the autism spectrum disorder field has called for the use of service delivery models that are able to more efficiently disseminate evidence-based practices into community settings. This study employed telehealth methods in order to deliver an Internet-based, parent training intervention for autism spectrum disorder, ImPACT Online.…

A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial of a School-Based Resilience Intervention to Prevent Depressive Symptoms for Young Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Mixed Methods Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mackay, Bethany A.; Shochet, Ian M.; Orr, Jayne A.

2017-01-01

Despite increased depression in adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), effective prevention approaches for this population are limited. A mixed methods pilot randomised controlled trial (N = 29) of the evidence-based Resourceful Adolescent Program-Autism Spectrum Disorder (RAP-A-ASD) designed to prevent depression was conducted in…

Quantitative Evaluation of the Use of Actigraphy for Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

PubMed Central

Song, Yu; Kwak, Shin; Yoshida, Sohei; Yamamoto, Yoshiharu

2014-01-01

Quantitative and objective evaluation of disease severity and/or drug effect is necessary in clinical practice. Wearable accelerometers such as an actigraph enable long-term recording of a patient's movement during activities and they can be used for quantitative assessment of symptoms due to various diseases. We reviewed some applications of actigraphy with analytical methods that are sufficiently sensitive and reliable to determine the severity of diseases and disorders such as motor and nonmotor disorders like Parkinson's disease, sleep disorders, depression, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) for vascular dementia (VD), seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and stroke, as well as the effects of drugs used to treat them. We believe it is possible to develop analytical methods to assess more neurological or psychopathic disorders using actigraphy records. PMID:25214709

The effectiveness of psychoanalytic-interactional psychotherapy in borderline personality disorder.

PubMed

Leichsenring, Falk; Masuhr, Oliver; Jaeger, Ulrich; Dally, Andreas; Streeck, Ulrich

2010-01-01

Different methods are available for the psychotherapeutic treatment of patients with severe personality disorders. In Germany, a special form of dynamically oriented therapy called psychoanalytic-interactional psychotherapy or method (PiM) has been clinically applied for many years. PiM was derived from psychoanalytic therapy and has been specifically adapted for the treatment of severely disordered patients, for example, patients with borderline personality disorders, prepsychotic disorders, addictions, and perversions. In a naturalistic study, the effectiveness of PiM was tested in a sample of patients with borderline personality disorders (N = 132). The patients were treated in the Clinic Tiefenbrunn near Göettingen. Standardized, reliable, and valid diagnostic instruments were used to study the treatment effects. According to the results, PiM achieved significant improvements in target symptoms, general symptoms, interpersonal problems, and contentedness with life. The results are discussed with regard to the treatment of severely disordered patients.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Erroneously Diagnosed and Treated as Bipolar Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Atmaca, Murad; Ozler, Sinan; Topuz, Mehtap; Goldstein, Sam

2009-01-01

Objective: There is a dearth of literature on patients erroneously diagnosed and treated for bipolar disorder. Method: The authors report a case of an adult with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder erroneously diagnosed and treated for bipolar disorder for 6 years. At that point, methylphenidate was initiated. The patient was judged to be a…

Methylphenidate and Comorbid Anxiety Disorder in Children with both Chronic Multiple Tic Disorder and ADHD

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gadow, Kenneth D.; Nolan, Edith E.

2011-01-01

Objective: To determine if comorbid anxiety disorder is associated with differential response to immediate release methylphenidate (MPH-IR) in children with both ADHD and chronic multiple tic disorder (CMTD). Method: Children with (n = 17) and without (n = 37) diagnosed anxiety disorder (ANX) were evaluated in an 8-week, placebo-controlled trial…

Course of Subthreshold Bipolar Disorder in Youth: Diagnostic Progression from Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Axelson, David A.; Birmaher, Boris; Strober, Michael A.; Goldstein, Benjamin I.; Ha, Wonho; Gill, Mary Kay; Goldstein, Tina R.; Yen, Shirley; Hower, Heather; Hunt, Jeffrey I.; Liao, Fangzi; Iyengar, Satish; Dickstein, Daniel; Kim, Eunice; Ryan, Neal D.; Frankel, Erica; Keller, Martin B.

2011-01-01

Objective: To determine the rate of diagnostic conversion from an operationalized diagnosis of bipolar disorder not otherwise specified (BP-NOS) to bipolar I disorder (BP-I) or bipolar II disorder (BP-II) in youth over prospective follow-up and to identify factors associated with conversion. Method: Subjects were 140 children and adolescents…

Personality Differences in Children and Adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Conduct Disorder, and Controls

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cukrowicz, Kelly C.; Taylor, Jeanette; Schatschneider, Chris; Iacono, William G.

2006-01-01

Background: Differences in personality profiles were examined between children who differed in their co-morbidity of externalizing disorders: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and conduct disorder (CD). Methods: 11- and 17-year-old male and female twins from a community sample were categorized as ADHD only, CD only, co-morbid…

Neuropsychological Functioning in Specific Learning Disorders--Reading, Writing and Mixed Groups

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kohli, Adarsh; Kaur, Manreet; Mohanty, Manju; Malhotra, Savita

2006-01-01

Aim: The study compared the pattern of deficits, intelligence and neuropsychological functioning in subcategories of learning disorders. Methods: Forty-six children (16 with reading disorders, 11 with writing disorders and 19 with both reading and writing disorders--mixed group) in the age range of 7-14 years were assessed using the NIMHANS Index…

Killing Two Birds with One Stone: Exposure Simultaneously Addressing Panic Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reinecke, Andrea; Hoyer, Juergen

2010-01-01

Massed exposure has gained acceptance as an effective method to treat anxiety disorders. When using this intervention in patients presenting with more than one anxiety disorder, specific treatment options need to be discussed. Should exposure be applied in sequential order for each of the comorbid disorders? Or can exposure sessions also be…

Adolescent Male Conduct-Disordered Patients in Substance Use Disorder Treatment: Examining the "Limited Prosocial Emotions" Specifier.

PubMed

Sakai, Joseph T; Mikulich-Gilbertson, Susan K; Young, Susan E; Rhee, Soo Hyun; McWilliams, Shannon K; Dunn, Robin; Salomonsen-Sautel, Stacy; Thurstone, Christian; Hopfer, Christian J

2016-01-01

To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the DSM-5-defined conduct disorder (CD) with limited prosocial emotions (LPE) among adolescents in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, despite the high rates of CD in this population. We tested previously published methods of LPE categorization in a sample of male conduct-disordered patients in SUD treatment (n=196). CD with LPE patients did not demonstrate a distinct pattern in terms of demographics or co-morbidity regardless of the categorization method utilized. In conclusion, LPE, as operationalized here, does not identify a distinct subgroup of patients based on psychiatric comorbidity, SUD diagnoses, or demographics.

Conversion Disorder- Mind versus Body: A Review.

PubMed

Ali, Shahid; Jabeen, Shagufta; Pate, Rebecca J; Shahid, Marwah; Chinala, Sandhya; Nathani, Milankumar; Shah, Rida

2015-01-01

In this article, the authors accentuate the signs and symptoms of conversion disorder and the significance of clinical judgment and expertise in order to reach the right diagnosis. The authors review the literature and provide information on the etiology, prevalence, diagnostic criteria, and the treatment methods currently employed in the management of conversion disorder. Of note, the advancements of neuropsychology and brain imaging have led to emergence of a relatively sophisticated picture of the neuroscientific psychopathology of complex mental illnesses, including conversion disorder. The available evidence suggests new methods with which to test hypotheses about the neural circuits underlying conversion symptoms. In context of this, the authors also explore the neurobiological understanding of conversion disorder.

Anxiety and depressive disorders in people with epilepsy: A meta-analysis.

PubMed

Scott, Amelia J; Sharpe, Louise; Hunt, Caroline; Gandy, Milena

2017-06-01

Comorbid anxiety and depressive disorders in people with epilepsy (PWE) are highly prevalent and associated with various adverse outcomes. However, the prevalence of anxiety disorders in PWE across studies is highly variable. Our aim was to estimate the prevalence and moderating factors of anxiety and depressive disorders in PWE. Following prospective registration (PROSPERO; CRD42015027101), electronic databases were searched for studies that reported the prevalence of both anxiety and depressive disorders in samples of PWE up until July 2016. Data extracted included the prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders, and moderators of interest (e.g., method of diagnosis, prevalence of drug-resistant epilepsy). Meta-analysis of the overall pooled prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders was conducted. The search yielded 8,636 unique articles, with 27 studies meeting final inclusion criteria (3,221 PWE). The pooled prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders was 20.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 15.3-26.0%) and 22.9% (95% CI 18.2-28.4%), respectively. Method of diagnosis significantly moderated anxiety disorder prevalence (Q statistic with one degree of freedom [Q 1 ] = 36.29, p < 0.0001); the prevalence of anxiety disorders based on unstructured clinician assessment was 8.1% (95% CI 5.7-11.4%), compared to a prevalence of 27.3% (95% CI 22.1-33.3%) based on a structured clinical interview. There were no significant moderators of depressive disorder diagnosis. Findings suggest the prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders in PWE are equivalent, and variability in prevalence of anxiety disorders across studies can be attributed partly to the method of diagnosis. These findings also challenge widely held assumptions that psychiatric comorbidity is more common in people with drug-resistant epilepsy. Future research should aim to improve the detection and management of these comorbidities in PWE, particularly anxiety disorders, which have remained relatively neglected. Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2017 International League Against Epilepsy.

Symptoms of Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and Callous-Unemotional Traits as Unique Predictors of Psychosocial Maladjustment in Boys: Advancing an Evidence Base for DSM-V

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pardini, Dustin A.; Fite, Paula J.

2010-01-01

Objective: The incremental utility of symptoms of conduct disorder (CD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and callous-unemotional (CU) traits for predicting psychosocial outcomes across multiple domains was examined in a community sample of 1,517 boys. Method: Several outcomes were assessed…

The use of EEG Biofeedback/Neurofeedback in psychiatric rehabilitation.

PubMed

Markiewcz, Renata

2017-12-30

The aim of the systematic review was to evaluate the use of EEG Biofeedback/Neurofeedback in patients treated for mental disorders. The review covered publications analyzing influences and effects of therapy in patients receiving psychiatric treatment based on EEG Biofeedback/Neurofeedback. Selection of publications was made by searching PubMed and Scopus databases. 328 records concerning applications of the presented method were identified in total, including 84 records for patients diagnosed with mental disorders. The analysis of studies indicates that EEG Biofeedback/Neurofeedback is used for treatment of neurological, somatic and mental disorders. Its psychiatric applications for clinically diagnosed disorders include treatmentof depression, anorexia, dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADD, ADHD, schizophrenia, abuse of substances, neuroses, PTSD, and Alzheimer's disease. Research results imply that the neuromodulating effect of the therapy positively influences cognitive processes, mood, and anxiety levels. Positive effects of EEG Biofeedback confirm usefulness of this method as a main or auxiliary method in treatment of people with mental disorders. On the basis of conducted studies, it is worthwhile to consider inclusion of this method into the comprehensive neurorehabilitation activities.

Extensions to the Speech Disorders Classification System (SDCS)

PubMed Central

Shriberg, Lawrence D.; Fourakis, Marios; Hall, Sheryl D.; Karlsson, Heather B.; Lohmeier, Heather L.; McSweeny, Jane L.; Potter, Nancy L.; Scheer-Cohen, Alison R.; Strand, Edythe A.; Tilkens, Christie M.; Wilson, David L.

2010-01-01

This report describes three extensions to a classification system for pediatric speech sound disorders termed the Speech Disorders Classification System (SDCS). Part I describes a classification extension to the SDCS to differentiate motor speech disorders from speech delay and to differentiate among three subtypes of motor speech disorders. Part II describes the Madison Speech Assessment Protocol (MSAP), an approximately two-hour battery of 25 measures that includes 15 speech tests and tasks. Part III describes the Competence, Precision, and Stability Analytics (CPSA) framework, a current set of approximately 90 perceptual- and acoustic-based indices of speech, prosody, and voice used to quantify and classify subtypes of Speech Sound Disorders (SSD). A companion paper, Shriberg, Fourakis, et al. (2010) provides reliability estimates for the perceptual and acoustic data reduction methods used in the SDCS. The agreement estimates in the companion paper support the reliability of SDCS methods and illustrate the complementary roles of perceptual and acoustic methods in diagnostic analyses of SSD of unknown origin. Examples of research using the extensions to the SDCS described in the present report include diagnostic findings for a sample of youth with motor speech disorders associated with galactosemia (Shriberg, Potter, & Strand, 2010) and a test of the hypothesis of apraxia of speech in a group of children with autism spectrum disorders (Shriberg, Paul, Black, & van Santen, 2010). All SDCS methods and reference databases running in the PEPPER (Programs to Examine Phonetic and Phonologic Evaluation Records; [Shriberg, Allen, McSweeny, & Wilson, 2001]) environment will be disseminated without cost when complete. PMID:20831378

Application of the Response Surface Methodology to Optimize the Fermentation Parameters for Enhanced Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) Production by Thraustochytrium sp. ATCC 26185.

PubMed

Wu, Kang; Ding, Lijian; Zhu, Peng; Li, Shuang; He, Shan

2018-04-22

The aim of this study was to determine the cumulative effect of fermentation parameters and enhance the production of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) by Thraustochytrium sp. ATCC 26185 using response surface methodology (RSM). Among the eight variables screened for effects of fermentation parameters on DHA production by Plackett-Burman design (PBD), the initial pH, inoculum volume, and fermentation volume were found to be most significant. The Box-Behnken design was applied to derive a statistical model for optimizing these three fermentation parameters for DHA production. The optimal parameters for maximum DHA production were initial pH: 6.89, inoculum volume: 4.16%, and fermentation volume: 140.47 mL, respectively. The maximum yield of DHA production was 1.68 g/L, which was in agreement with predicted values. An increase in DHA production was achieved by optimizing the initial pH, fermentation, and inoculum volume parameters. This optimization strategy led to a significant increase in the amount of DHA produced, from 1.16 g/L to 1.68 g/L. Thraustochytrium sp. ATCC 26185 is a promising resource for microbial DHA production due to the high-level yield of DHA that it produces, and the capacity for large-scale fermentation of this organism.

Neurobiological findings related to Internet use disorders.

PubMed

Park, Byeongsu; Han, Doug Hyun; Roh, Sungwon

2017-07-01

In the last 10 years, numerous neurobiological studies have been conducted on Internet addiction or Internet use disorder. Various neurobiological research methods - such as magnetic resonance imaging; nuclear imaging modalities, including positron emission tomography and single photon emission computed tomography; molecular genetics; and neurophysiologic methods - have made it possible to discover structural or functional impairments in the brains of individuals with Internet use disorder. Specifically, Internet use disorder is associated with structural or functional impairment in the orbitofrontal cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and posterior cingulate cortex. These regions are associated with the processing of reward, motivation, memory, and cognitive control. Early neurobiological research results in this area indicated that Internet use disorder shares many similarities with substance use disorders, including, to a certain extent, a shared pathophysiology. However, recent studies suggest that differences in biological and psychological markers exist between Internet use disorder and substance use disorders. Further research is required for a better understanding of the pathophysiology of Internet use disorder. © 2016 The Authors. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Mediational Significance of PTSD in the Relationship of Sexual Trauma and Eating Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Holzer, Sarah R.; Uppala, Saritha; Wonderlich, Stephen A.; Crosby, Ross D.; Simonich, Heather

2008-01-01

Objective: To examine the mediational significance of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the development of eating disorder symptomatology following sexually traumatic experiences. Method: Seventy-one victims of sexual trauma and 25 control subjects completed interviews and questionnaires assessing eating disorder psychopathology and…

Development of an integrated cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and opioid use disorder: Study protocol and methods.

PubMed

McHugh, R Kathryn; Votaw, Victoria R; Barlow, David H; Fitzmaurice, Garrett M; Greenfield, Shelly F; Weiss, Roger D

2017-09-01

Opioid use disorder is a highly disabling psychiatric disorder, and is associated with both significant functional disruption and risk for negative health outcomes such as infectious disease and fatal overdose. Even among those who receive evidence-based pharmacotherapy for opioid use disorder, many drop out of treatment or relapse, highlighting the importance of novel treatment strategies for this population. Over 60% of those with opioid use disorder also meet diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder; however, efficacious treatments for this common co-occurrence have not be established. This manuscript describes the rationale and methods for a behavioral treatment development study designed to develop and test an integrated cognitive-behavioral therapy for those with co-occurring opioid use disorder and anxiety disorders. The aims of the study are (1) to develop and pilot test a new manualized cognitive behavioral therapy for co-occurring opioid use disorder and anxiety disorders, (2) to test the efficacy of this treatment relative to an active comparison treatment that targets opioid use disorder alone, and (3) to investigate the role of stress reactivity in both prognosis and recovery from opioid use disorder and anxiety disorders. Our overarching aim is to investigate whether this new treatment improves both anxiety and opioid use disorder outcomes relative to standard treatment. Identifying optimal treatment strategies for this population are needed to improve outcomes among those with this highly disabling and life-threatening disorder. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Fluoxetine for the Treatment of Childhood Anxiety Disorders: Open-Label, Long-Term Extension to a Controlled Trial

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clark, Duncan B.; Birmaher, Boris; Axelson, David; Monk, Kelly; Kalas, Catherine; Ehmann, Mary; Bridge, Jeffrey; Wood, D. Scott; Muthen, Bengt; Brent, David

2005-01-01

Objective: To assess the efficacy of fluoxetine for the long-term treatment of children and adolescents with anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, and/or social phobia. Method: Children and adolescents (7-17 years old) with anxiety disorders were studied in open treatment for 1 year after they…

Relationship between suicidality and impulsivity in bipolar I disorder: a diffusion tensor imaging study

PubMed Central

Mahon, Katie; Burdick, Katherine E; Wu, Jinghui; Ardekani, Babak A; Szeszko, Philip R

2012-01-01

Background Impulsivity is characteristic of individuals with bipolar disorder and may be a contributing factor to the high rate of suicide in patients with this disorder. Although white matter abnormalities have been implicated in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder, their relationship to impulsivity and suicidality in this disorder has not been well-investigated. Methods Diffusion tensor imaging scans were acquired in 14 bipolar disorder patients with a prior suicide attempt, 15 bipolar disorder patients with no prior suicide attempt, and 15 healthy volunteers. Bipolar disorder patients received clinical assessments including measures of impulsivity, depression, mania, and anxiety. Images were processed using the Tract-Based Spatial Statistics method in the FSL software package. Results Bipolar disorder patients with a prior suicide attempt had lower fractional anisotropy (FA) within the left orbital frontal white matter (p < 0.05, corrected) and higher overall impulsivity compared to patients without a previous suicide attempt. Among patients with a prior suicide attempt, FA in the orbital frontal white matter region correlated inversely with motor impulsivity. Conclusions Abnormal orbital frontal white matter may play a role in impulsive and suicidal behavior among patients with bipolar disorder. PMID:22329475

Influence of Psychiatric Comorbidity on Recovery and Recurrence in Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, and Panic Disorder: A 12-Year Prospective Study

PubMed Central

Bruce, Steven E.; Yonkers, Kimberly A.; Otto, Michael W.; Eisen, Jane L.; Weisberg, Risa B.; Pagano, Maria; Shea, M. Tracie; Keller, Martin B.

2012-01-01

Objective The authors sought to observe the long-term clinical course of anxiety disorders over 12 years and to examine the influence of comorbid psychiatric disorders on recovery from or recurrence of panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social phobia. Method Data were drawn from the Harvard/Brown Anxiety Disorders Research Program, a prospective, naturalistic, longitudinal, multicenter study of adults with a current or past history of anxiety disorders. Probabilities of recovery and recurrence were calculated by using standard survival analysis methods. Proportional hazards regression analyses with time-varying covariates were conducted to determine risk ratios for possible comorbid psychiatric predictors of recovery and recurrence. Results Survival analyses revealed an overall chronic course for the majority of the anxiety disorders. Social phobia had the smallest probability of recovery after 12 years of follow-up. Moreover, patients who had prospectively observed recovery from their intake anxiety disorder had a high probability of recurrence over the follow-up period. The overall clinical course was worsened by several comorbid psychiatric conditions, including major depression and alcohol and other substance use disorders, and by comorbidity of generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder with agoraphobia. Conclusions These data depict the anxiety disorders as insidious, with a chronic clinical course, low rates of recovery, and relatively high probabilities of recurrence. The presence of particular comorbid psychiatric disorders significantly lowered the likelihood of recovery from anxiety disorders and increased the likelihood of their recurrence. The findings add to the understanding of the nosology and treatment of these disorders. PMID:15930067

Preconceptional and Prenatal Supplementary Folic Acid and Multivitamin Intake and Autism Spectrum Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Virk, Jasveer; Liew, Zeyan; Olsen, Jørn; Nohr, Ellen A.; Catov, Janet M.; Ritz, Beate

2016-01-01

Objective: To evaluate whether early folic acid supplementation during pregnancy prevents diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders in offspring. Methods: Information on autism spectrum disorder diagnosis was obtained from the National Hospital Register and the Central Psychiatric Register. We estimated risk ratios for autism spectrum disorders for…

Emotional Face Identification in Youths with Primary Bipolar Disorder or Primary Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Seymour, Karen E.; Pescosolido, Matthew F.; Reidy, Brooke L.; Galvan, Thania; Kim, Kerri L.; Young, Matthew; Dickstein, Daniel P.

2013-01-01

Objective: Bipolar disorder (BD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are often comorbid or confounded; therefore, we evaluated emotional face identification to better understand brain/behavior interactions in children and adolescents with either primary BD, primary ADHD, or typically developing controls (TDC). Method: Participants…

A Comparison of Pure and Comorbid CD/ODD and Depression

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ezpeleta, Lourdes; Domenech, Josep M.; Angold, Adrian

2006-01-01

Background: We studied the symptomatology of conduct/oppositional defiant disorder and major depression/dysthymic disorder in "pure" and comorbid presentations. Method: The sample comprised 382 children of 8 to 17 years of age attending for psychiatric outpatient consultation. Ninety-two had depressive disorders without conduct disorders, 165…

Melatonin in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rossignol, Daniel A.; Frye, Richard E.

2011-01-01

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate melatonin-related findings in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), including autistic disorder, Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorders, not otherwise specified. Method: Comprehensive searches were conducted in the PubMed, Google Scholar, CINAHL, EMBASE, Scopus, and ERIC…

Psychosocial Factors in Children and Adolescents with Conversion Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sharma, I.; Giri, D.; Dutta, Anna; Mazumder, P.

2005-01-01

Introduction: In view of the limited studies on the psychosocial environment of children presenting with conversion disorders, the present study was carried out to study the psychosocial factors in children with conversion disorders. Method: 40 patients of Conversion Disorder, who presented with "pseudo seizures" and were diagnosed…

Evaluation of the diagnostic yield of dental radiography and cone-beam computed tomography for the identification of dental disorders in small to medium-sized brachycephalic dogs.

PubMed

Döring, Sophie; Arzi, Boaz; Hatcher, David C; Kass, Philip H; Verstraete, Frank J M

2018-01-01

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the diagnostic yield of dental radiography (Rad method) and cone-beam CT (CBCT) methods for the identification of 31 predefined dental disorders in brachycephalic dogs. ANIMALS 19 client-owned brachycephalic dogs admitted for evaluation and treatment of dental disease. PROCEDURES 31 predefined dental disorders were evaluated separately and scored by use of dental radiography and 3 CBCT software modules (serial CBCT slices and custom cross sections, tridimensional rendering, and reconstructed panoramic views). A qualitative scoring system was used. Dental disorders were grouped into 10 categories for statistical analysis. Point of reference for presence or absence of a dental disorder was determined as the method that could be used to clearly identify the disorder as being present. Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated with the McNemar χ 2 test of marginal homogeneity of paired data. RESULTS When all 3 CBCT methods were used in combination, the diagnostic yield of CBCT was significantly higher than that of dental radiography for 4 of 10 categories (abnormal eruption, abnormally shaped roots, periodontitis, and tooth resorption) and higher, although not significantly so, for all categories, except for 1 (loss of tooth integrity). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE CBCT provided more detailed information than did dental radiography. Therefore, CBCT would be better suited for use in diagnosing dental disorders in brachycephalic dogs.

Using experience sampling methods/ecological momentary assessment (ESM/EMA) in clinical assessment and clinical research: introduction to the special section.

PubMed

Trull, Timothy J; Ebner-Priemer, Ulrich W

2009-12-01

This article introduces the special section on experience sampling methods and ecological momentary assessment in clinical assessment. We review the conceptual basis for experience sampling methods (ESM; Csikszentmihalyi & Larson, 1987) and ecological momentary assessment (EMA; Stone & Shiffman, 1994). Next, we highlight several advantageous features of ESM/EMA as applied to psychological assessment and clinical research. We provide a brief overview of the articles in this special section, each of which focuses on 1 of the following major classes of psychological disorders: mood disorders and mood dysregulation (Ebner-Priemer & Trull, 2009), anxiety disorders (Alpers, 2009), substance use disorders (Shiffman, 2009), and psychosis (Oorschot, Kwapil, Delespaul, & Myin-Germeys, 2009). Finally, we discuss prospects, future challenges, and limitations of ESM/EMA.

Link prediction boosted psychiatry disorder classification for functional connectivity network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Weiwei; Mei, Xue; Wang, Hao; Zhou, Yu; Huang, Jiashuang

2017-02-01

Functional connectivity network (FCN) is an effective tool in psychiatry disorders classification, and represents cross-correlation of the regional blood oxygenation level dependent signal. However, FCN is often incomplete for suffering from missing and spurious edges. To accurate classify psychiatry disorders and health control with the incomplete FCN, we first `repair' the FCN with link prediction, and then exact the clustering coefficients as features to build a weak classifier for every FCN. Finally, we apply a boosting algorithm to combine these weak classifiers for improving classification accuracy. Our method tested by three datasets of psychiatry disorder, including Alzheimer's Disease, Schizophrenia and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The experimental results show our method not only significantly improves the classification accuracy, but also efficiently reconstructs the incomplete FCN.

Stability of Motor Problems in Young Children with or at Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD, and or Developmental Coordination Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

van Waelvelde, Hilde; Oostra, Ann; DeWitte, Griet; van den Broeck, Christine; Jongmans, Marian J.

2010-01-01

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the stability of motor problems in a clinically referred sample of children with, or at risk of, autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and/or developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Method: Participants were 49 children (39 males, 10 females; mean age 5y…

Epidemiology, neurobiology and pharmacological interventions related to suicide deaths and suicide attempts in bipolar disorder: Part I of a report of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders Task Force on Suicide in Bipolar Disorder

PubMed Central

Schaffer, Ayal; Isometsä, Erkki T; Tondo, Leonardo; Moreno, Doris H; Sinyor, Mark; Kessing, Lars Vedel; Turecki, Gustavo; Weizman, Abraham; Azorin, Jean-Michel; Ha, Kyooseob; Reis, Catherine; Cassidy, Frederick; Goldstein, Tina; Rihmer, Zoltán; Beautrais, Annette; Chou, Yuan-Hwa; Diazgranados, Nancy; Levitt, Anthony J; Zarate, Carlos A; Yatham, Lakshmi

2016-01-01

Objectives Bipolar disorder is associated with elevated risk of suicide attempts and deaths. Key aims of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders Task Force on Suicide included examining the extant literature on epidemiology, neurobiology and pharmacotherapy related to suicide attempts and deaths in bipolar disorder. Methods Systematic review of studies from 1 January 1980 to 30 May 2014 examining suicide attempts or deaths in bipolar disorder, with a specific focus on the incidence and characterization of suicide attempts and deaths, genetic and non-genetic biological studies and pharmacotherapy studies specific to bipolar disorder. We conducted pooled, weighted analyses of suicide rates. Results The pooled suicide rate in bipolar disorder is 164 per 100,000 person-years (95% confidence interval = [5, 324]). Sex-specific data on suicide rates identified a 1.7:1 ratio in men compared to women. People with bipolar disorder account for 3.4–14% of all suicide deaths, with self-poisoning and hanging being the most common methods. Epidemiological studies report that 23–26% of people with bipolar disorder attempt suicide, with higher rates in clinical samples. There are numerous genetic associations with suicide attempts and deaths in bipolar disorder, but few replication studies. Data on treatment with lithium or anticonvulsants are strongly suggestive for prevention of suicide attempts and deaths, but additional data are required before relative anti-suicide effects can be confirmed. There were limited data on potential anti-suicide effects of treatment with antipsychotics or antidepressants. Conclusion This analysis identified a lower estimated suicide rate in bipolar disorder than what was previously published. Understanding the overall risk of suicide deaths and attempts, and the most common methods, are important building blocks to greater awareness and improved interventions for suicide prevention in bipolar disorder. Replication of genetic findings and stronger prospective data on treatment options are required before more decisive conclusions can be made regarding the neurobiology and specific treatment of suicide risk in bipolar disorder. PMID:26185269

Localization of phonons in mass-disordered alloys: A typical medium dynamical cluster approach

DOE PAGES

Jarrell, Mark; Moreno, Juana; Raja Mondal, Wasim; ...

2017-07-20

The effect of disorder on lattice vibrational modes has been a topic of interest for several decades. In this article, we employ a Green's function based approach, namely, the dynamical cluster approximation (DCA), to investigate phonons in mass-disordered systems. Detailed benchmarks with previous exact calculations are used to validate the method in a wide parameter space. An extension of the method, namely, the typical medium DCA (TMDCA), is used to study Anderson localization of phonons in three dimensions. We show that, for binary isotopic disorder, lighter impurities induce localized modes beyond the bandwidth of the host system, while heavier impuritiesmore » lead to a partial localization of the low-frequency acoustic modes. For a uniform (box) distribution of masses, the physical spectrum is shown to develop long tails comprising mostly localized modes. The mobility edge separating extended and localized modes, obtained through the TMDCA, agrees well with results from the transfer matrix method. A reentrance behavior of the mobility edge with increasing disorder is found that is similar to, but somewhat more pronounced than, the behavior in disordered electronic systems. Our work establishes a computational approach, which recovers the thermodynamic limit, is versatile and computationally inexpensive, to investigate lattice vibrations in disordered lattice systems.« less

Localization of phonons in mass-disordered alloys: A typical medium dynamical cluster approach

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jarrell, Mark; Moreno, Juana; Raja Mondal, Wasim

The effect of disorder on lattice vibrational modes has been a topic of interest for several decades. In this article, we employ a Green's function based approach, namely, the dynamical cluster approximation (DCA), to investigate phonons in mass-disordered systems. Detailed benchmarks with previous exact calculations are used to validate the method in a wide parameter space. An extension of the method, namely, the typical medium DCA (TMDCA), is used to study Anderson localization of phonons in three dimensions. We show that, for binary isotopic disorder, lighter impurities induce localized modes beyond the bandwidth of the host system, while heavier impuritiesmore » lead to a partial localization of the low-frequency acoustic modes. For a uniform (box) distribution of masses, the physical spectrum is shown to develop long tails comprising mostly localized modes. The mobility edge separating extended and localized modes, obtained through the TMDCA, agrees well with results from the transfer matrix method. A reentrance behavior of the mobility edge with increasing disorder is found that is similar to, but somewhat more pronounced than, the behavior in disordered electronic systems. Our work establishes a computational approach, which recovers the thermodynamic limit, is versatile and computationally inexpensive, to investigate lattice vibrations in disordered lattice systems.« less

Comparison of Saliva Collection Methods in Children with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders: Acceptability and Recovery of Cortisol

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Putnam, Susan K.; Lopata, Christopher; Fox, Jeffery D.; Thomeer, Marcus L.; Rodgers, Jonathan D.; Volker, Martin A.; Lee, Gloria K.; Neilans, Erik G.; Werth, Jilynn

2012-01-01

This study compared cortisol concentrations yielded using three saliva collection methods (passive drool, salivette, and sorbette) in both in vitro and in vivo conditions, as well as method acceptability for a sample of children (n = 39) with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders. No cortisol concentration differences were observed between…

A Comparison of Methods for Teaching Receptive Labeling to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Replication

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grow, Laura L.; Kodak, Tiffany; Carr, James E.

2014-01-01

Previous research has demonstrated that the conditional-only method (starting with a multiple-stimulus array) is more efficient than the simple-conditional method (progressive incorporation of more stimuli into the array) for teaching receptive labeling to children with autism spectrum disorders (Grow, Carr, Kodak, Jostad, & Kisamore, 2011).…

ADHD and Method Variance: A Latent Variable Approach Applied to a Nationally Representative Sample of College Freshmen

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Konold, Timothy R.; Glutting, Joseph J.

2008-01-01

This study employed a correlated trait-correlated method application of confirmatory factor analysis to disentangle trait and method variance from measures of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder obtained at the college level. The two trait factors were "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition" ("DSM-IV")…

Method of treating depression

DOEpatents

Henn, Fritz [East Patchogue, NY

2012-01-24

Methods for treatment of depression-related mood disorders in mammals, particularly humans are disclosed. The methods of the invention include administration of compounds capable of enhancing glutamate transporter activity in the brain of mammals suffering from depression. ATP-sensitive K.sup.+ channel openers and .beta.-lactam antibiotics are used to enhance glutamate transport and to treat depression-related mood disorders and depressive symptoms.

Method of treating depression

DOEpatents

Henn, Fritz

2013-04-09

Methods for treatment of depression-related mood disorders in mammals, particularly humans are disclosed. The methods of the invention include administration of compounds capable of enhancing glutamate transporter activity in the brain of mammals suffering from depression. ATP-sensitive K.sup.+ channel openers and .beta.-lactam antibiotics are used to enhance glutamate transport and to treat depression-related mood disorders and depressive symptoms.

Unplanned versus planned suicide attempters, precipitants, methods, and an association with mental disorders in a Korea-based community sample.

PubMed

Jeon, Hong Jin; Lee, Jun-Young; Lee, Young Moon; Hong, Jin Pyo; Won, Seung-Hee; Cho, Seong-Jin; Kim, Jin-Yeong; Chang, Sung Man; Lee, Hae Woo; Cho, Maeng Je

2010-12-01

Studies have consistently reported that a considerable proportion of suicidal attempts are unplanned. We have performed the first direct comparison between planned and unplanned attempts including associated methods and precipitants. A total of 6510 adults, who had been randomly selected through a one-person-per-household method, completed interviews (response rate 81.7%). All were interviewed using the K-CIDI and a questionnaire for suicide. Two hundred and eight subjects reported a suicide attempt in their lifetime, one-third of which had been unplanned. These individuals exhibited a lower level of education; however, no significant differences were found with regard to age, gender, marital and economic status. Further, 84.0% of unplanned attempters experienced previous suicidal ideation, experiencing their first attempt 1.9 years before ideation. Additionally, 94.4% of unplanned attempters had precipitants for attempts such as familial conflict and it was also found that methods such as the use of chemical agents or falling were three times more common in unplanned than planned attempters. With respect to unplanned attempters, they exhibited a significant association with alcohol use disorder, major depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and bipolar disorder. In particular, bipolar disorder was found to be 3.5 times higher in these individuals. Results have revealed that unplanned suicide attempters experience suicidal ideation and precipitants prior to their attempt. Further, attempts were associated with affective and alcohol use disorders. Therefore, in order to reduce the number of suicidal attempts, it may be useful to evaluate suicidal ideation concurrent to the treatment of existing mental disorders. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Family Histories of Anxiety in Overweight Men and Women with Binge Eating Disorder: A Preliminary Investigation

PubMed Central

Blomquist, Kerstin K.; Grilo, Carlos M.

2015-01-01

Objective A preliminary examination of the significance of family histories of anxiety in the expression of binge eating disorder (BED) and associated functioning. Methods Participants were 166 overweight patients with BED assessed using diagnostic interviews. Participants were administered a structured psychiatric history interview about their first-degree relatives (parents, siblings, children) (N=897) to determine lifetime diagnoses of DSM-IV anxiety disorders and completed a battery of questionnaires assessing current and historical eating and weight variables and associated psychological functioning (depression). Results BED patients with a family history of anxiety disorder were significantly more likely than BED patients without a family history of anxiety disorder to have lifetime diagnoses of anxiety disorders and mood disorders but not substance use disorders. A family history of anxiety was not significantly associated with timing or sequencing of age at onset of anxiety disorder, binge eating, dieting, or obesity, or with variability in current levels of binge eating, eating disorder psychopathology, or psychological functioning. Conclusions Although replication with direct interview method is needed, our preliminary findings suggest that a family history of anxiety confers greater risk for comorbid anxiety and mood disorders but is largely unrelated to the development of binge eating, dieting, or obesity and unrelated to variability in eating disorder psychopathology or psychological functioning in overweight patients with BED. PMID:26343481

Individual Characteristics, Familial Experience, and Psychopathology in Children of Mothers with Borderline Personality Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barnow, Sven; Spitzer, Carsten; Grabe, Hans J.; Kessler, Christoph; Freyberger, Harald J.

2006-01-01

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine individual characteristics, familial experience, and psychopathology of children of mothers with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Method: Children of mothers with BPD were compared to children of mothers (1) with depressive disorders, (2) with cluster C personality disorders, and (3) without…

Efficacy and Safety of Atomoxetine in Childhood Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder with Comorbid Oppositional Defiant Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kaplan, S.; Heiligenstein, J.; West, S.; Busner, J.; Harder, D.; Dittmann, R.; Casat, C.; Wernicke, J. F.

2004-01-01

Objective: To compare the safety and efficacy of atomoxetine, a selective inhibitor of the norepinephrine transporter, versus placebo in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) patients with comorbid Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). Methods: A subset analysis of 98 children from two identical, multi-site, double-blind, randomized,…

Oppositional Defiant Disorder: An Overview and Strategies for Educators

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, Sara H.

2018-01-01

Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a behavioral disorder that affects approximately 3.3% of the population across cultures. In this article, the author discusses symptoms, methods of diagnosis, and treatments for the disorder. Although most empirically supported treatments of ODD are based on parent--child training and therapy, there are some…

Child and Adolescent Behaviorally Based Disorders: A Critical Review of Reliability and Validity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mallett, Christopher A.

2014-01-01

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the historical construction and empirical support of two child and adolescent behaviorally based mental health disorders: oppositional defiant and conduct disorders. Method: The study utilized a historiography methodology to review, from 1880 to 2012, these disorders' inclusion in…

A Comprehensive Investigation of Memory Impairment in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rhodes, Sinead M.; Park, Joanne; Seth, Sarah; Coghill, David R.

2012-01-01

Background: We conducted a comprehensive and systematic assessment of memory functioning in drug-naive boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). Methods: Boys performed verbal and spatial working memory (WM) component (storage and central executive) and verbal and spatial storage load tasks,…

Ethnic Disparities in School-Based Behavioral Health Service Use for Children with Psychiatric Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Locke, Jill; Kang-Yi, Christina D.; Pellecchia, Melanie; Marcus, Steven; Hadley, Trevor; Mandell, David S.

2017-01-01

Background: We examined racial/ethnic disparities in school-based behavioral health service use for children with psychiatric disorders. Methods: Medicaid claims data were used to compare the behavioral healthcare service use of 23,601 children aged 5-17 years by psychiatric disorder (autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD],…

Randomized, Controlled Trial of Atomoxetine for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adolescents with Substance Use Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thurstone, Christian; Riggs, Paula D.; Salomonsen-Sautel, Stacy; Mikulich-Gilbertson, Susan K.

2010-01-01

Objective: To evaluate the effect of atomoxetine hydrochloride versus placebo on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and substance use disorder (SUD) in adolescents receiving motivational interviewing/cognitive behavioral therapy (MI/CBT) for SUD. Method: This single-site, randomized, controlled trial was conducted between December…

Face-Emotion Processing in Offspring at Risk for Panic Disorder.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pine, Daniel S.; Klein, Rachel G.; Mannuzza, Salvatore; Moulton, John L., III; Lissek, Shmuel; Guardino, Mary; Woldehawariat, Girma

2005-01-01

Objective: Panic disorder (PD) has been linked to perturbed processing of threats. This study tested the hypotheses that offspring of parents with PD and offspring with anxiety disorders display relatively greater sensitivity and attention allocation to fear provocation. Method: Offspring of adults with PD, major depressive disorder (MDD), or no…

Sleep Disorders as a Risk to Language Learning and Use. EBP Briefs. Volume 10, Issue 1

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McGregor, Karla K.; Alper, Rebecca M.

2015-01-01

Clinical Question: Are people with sleep disorders at higher risk for language learning deficits than healthy sleepers? Method: Scoping Review. Study Sources: PubMed, Google Scholar, Trip Database, ClinicalTrials.gov. Search Terms: sleep disorders AND language AND learning; sleep disorders language learning--deprivation--epilepsy; sleep disorders…

Enhancing the thermoelectric performance of gamma-graphyne nanoribbons by introducing edge disorder.

PubMed

Cui, Xiao; Ouyang, Tao; Li, Jin; He, Chaoyu; Tang, Chao; Zhong, Jianxin

2018-03-07

Structure disorder especially edge disorder is unavoidable during the fabrication of nanomaterials. In this paper, using the non-equilibrium Green's function method, we investigate the influence of edge disorder on the thermoelectric performance of gamma(γ)-graphyne nanoribbons (GYNRs). Our results show that the high Seebeck coefficient in pristine γ-GYNR could still be preserved although edge disorder is introduced into the structure. Meanwhile, in these edge-disordered nanoribbons the suppression of thermal conductance including electronic and phononic contributions outweighs the reduction of electronic conductance. These two positive effects combine together, and finally boost the thermoelectric conversion efficiency of γ-GYNRs. The thermoelectric figure of merit ZT in the edge-disordered γ-GYNRs (the length and width are about 55.68 and 1.41 nm) could approach 2.5 at room temperature, and can even reach as high as 4.0 at 700 K, which is comparable to the efficiency of conventional energy conversion methods. The findings in this paper indicate that the edge-disordered γ-GYNRs are a promising candidate for efficient thermoelectric energy conversion and thermal management of nanodevices.

Some aspects of the DSM-III personality disorders illustrated by a consecutive sample of hospitalized patients.

PubMed

Dahl, A A

1986-01-01

The main innovations of DSM-III concerning the personality disorders are the assignment of a separate axis and definitions of diagnostic criteria for these disorders. Even with these improvements, diagnosis of the personality disorders shows only moderate interrater reliability. Reasons for this are discussed. Data from a consecutive sample of hospitalized patients are used to illustrate the prevalence of the personality disorders, the coexistence of axis I disorders, and the overlap within the personality disorders. The method of conditional probabilities is presented as a way to get better separation of these disorders.

Screening for anxiety disorders in children.

PubMed

Simon, Ellin; Bögels, Susan Maria

2009-10-01

Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent and have negative consequences on individual and societal level. This study examined the usefulness of screening for anxiety disorders in primary school children. More specifically, the value of the screening method to discriminate between and to predict anxiety disorders was studied. Children and their parents were selected if the children had self-reported scores on the screening questionnaire Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders-71 (SCARED-71) within the top-15% (High-anxious) or from two points below to two points above the median (Median-anxious). Of the selected children, 183 high-anxious children and their parents, and 80 median-anxious children and their parents took part in a diagnostic interview, the Anxiety Disorder Interview Schedule (ADIS). Of the high-anxious children, 60% had an anxiety disorder versus 23% of the median-anxious children, whereas groups did not differ on rates of dysthymia/depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The diagnoses separation anxiety disorder, social phobia and specific phobia were specifically predicted by the corresponding subscales of the screening questionnaire, while the diagnosis generalised anxiety disorder was not predicted by any of the subscales. The screening method has proven its utility for discriminating between children with and without anxiety disorders when applying the top-15% cut-off. Moreover, separation anxiety disorder, social phobia, and specific phobia, all known to be prevalent and debilitating childhood anxiety disorders, can be predicted by the corresponding subscale of the screening instrument.

Nanomedicine in Central Nervous System (CNS) Disorders: A Present and Future Prospective

PubMed Central

Soni, Shringika; Ruhela, Rakesh Kumar; Medhi, Bikash

2016-01-01

Purpose: For the past few decades central nervous system disorders were considered as a major strike on human health and social system of developing countries. The natural therapeutic methods for CNS disorders limited for many patients. Moreover, nanotechnology-based drug delivery to the brain may an exciting and promising platform to overcome the problem of BBB crossing. In this review, first we focused on the role of the blood-brain barrier in drug delivery; and second, we summarized synthesis methods of nanomedicine and their role in different CNS disorder. Method: We reviewed the PubMed databases and extracted several kinds of literature on neuro nanomedicines using keywords, CNS disorders, nanomedicine, and nanotechnology. The inclusion criteria included chemical and green synthesis methods for synthesis of nanoparticles encapsulated drugs and, their in-vivo and in-vitro studies. We excluded nanomedicine gene therapy and nanomaterial in brain imaging. Results: In this review, we tried to identify a highly efficient method for nanomedicine synthesis and their efficacy in neuronal disorders. SLN and PNP encapsulated drugs reported highly efficient by easily crossing BBB. Although, these neuro-nanomedicine play significant role in therapeutics but some metallic nanoparticles reported the adverse effect on developing the brain. Conclusion: Although impressive advancement has made via innovative potential drug development, but their efficacy is still moderate due to limited brain permeability. To overcome this constraint,powerful tool in CNS therapeutic intervention provided by nanotechnology-based drug delivery methods. Due to its small and biofunctionalization characteristics, nanomedicine can easily penetrate and facilitate the drug through the barrier. But still, understanding of their toxicity level, optimization and standardization are a long way to go. PMID:27766216

Measurement and Analysis of Olfactory Responses with the Aim of Establishing an Objective Diagnostic Method for Central Olfactory Disorders

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uno, Tominori; Wang, Li-Qun; Miwakeichi, Fumikazu; Tonoike, Mitsuo; Kaneda, Teruo

In order to establish a new diagnostic method for central olfactory disorders and to identify objective indicators, we measured and analyzed brain activities in the parahippocampal gyrus and uncus, region of responsibility for central olfactory disorders. The relationship between olfactory stimulation and brain response at region of responsibility can be examined in terms of fitted responses (FR). FR in these regions may be individual indicators of changes in brain olfactory responses. In the present study, in order to non-invasively and objectively measure olfactory responses, an odor oddball task was conducted on four healthy volunteers using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and a odorant stimulator with blast-method. The results showed favorable FR and activation in the parahippocampal gyrus or uncus in all subjects. In some subjects, both the parahippocampal gyrus and uncus were activated. Furthermore, activation was also confirmed in the cingulate gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, superior temporal gyrus and insula. The hippocampus and uncus are known to be involved in the olfactory disorders associated with early-stage Alzheimer's disease and other olfactory disorders. In the future, it will be necessary to further develop the present measurement and analysis method to clarify the relationship between central olfactory disorders and brain activities and establish objective indicators that are useful for diagnosis.

Working postures of dental students: ergonomic analysis using the Ovako Working Analysis System and rapid upper limb assessment.

PubMed

Petromilli Nordi Sasso Garcia, Patrícia; Polli, Gabriela Scatimburgo; Campos, Juliana Alvares Duarte Bonini

2013-01-01

As dentistry is a profession that demands a manipulative precision of hand movements, musculoskeletal disorders are among the most common occupational diseases. This study estimated the risk of musculoskeletal disorders developing in dental students using the Ovako Working Analysis System (OWAS) and Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) methods, and estimated the diagnostic agreement between the 2 methods. Students (n = 75), enrolled in the final undergraduate year at the Araraquara School of Dentistry--UNESP--were studied. Photographs were taken of students while performing diverse clinical procedures (n = 283) using a digital camera, which were assessed using OWAS and RULA. A risk score was attributed following each procedure performed by the student. The prevalence of the risk of musculoskeletal disorders was estimated per point and for a 95% CI. To assess the agreement between the 2 methods, Kappa statistics with linear weighting were used. The level of significance adopted was 5%. There was a high prevalence of the mean score for risk of musculoskeletal disorders in the dental students evaluated according to the OWAS method (p = 97.88%; 95% CI: 96.20-99.56%), and a high prevalence of the high score (p = 40.6; 95% CI: 34.9-46.4%) and extremely high risk (p = 59.4%; 95% CI: 53.6-65.1%) according to RULA method Null agreement was verified (k = 0) in the risk di agnosis of the tested methods. The risk of musculoskeletal disorders in dental students estimated by the OWAS method was medium, whereas the same risk by the RULA method was extremely high. There was no diagnostic agreement between the OWAS and RULA methods.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder-Specific Stimulant Misuse, Mood, Anxiety, and Stress in College-Age Women at High Risk for or with Eating Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gibbs, Elise L.; Kass, Andrea E.; Eichen, Dawn M.; Fitzsimmons-Craft, Ellen E.; Trockel, Mickey; Wilfley, Denise E.; Taylor, C. Barr

2016-01-01

Objective: To examine the misuse of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-specific stimulants in a college population at high risk for or with clinical or subclinical eating disorders. Participants: Four hundred forty-eight college-age women aged 18-25 at high risk for or with a clinical or subclinical eating disorder. Methods:…

Musculoskeletal disorder survey for pond workers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maryani, A.; Partiwi, S. G.; Dewi, H. N. F.

2018-04-01

Mucsuloskeletal disorder will affect worker performance and become serious injury when ignored, so that workers cannot work normally. Therefore, an effective strategy plan is needed to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorder. A pond worker is profession with high risk of physical complain. Four main activities are ponds preparation, seed distribution, pond maintenance, and harvesting. The methods employed in this current musculoskeletal disorder survey are questionnaire and interview. The result from 73 questionnaires shown that most of pond workers were working for 7 days a week. Prevalence physical complain are on neck, shoulders, upper back, lower back, and knees. The level of perceived complaint is moderate pain. However, most of them do not contact therapists or physicians. Therefore it is necessary to improve the working methods to be able to reduce physical complains due to musculoskeletal disorder.

Knowledge of Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder of Behavior Modification Methods and Their Training Needs Accordingly

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Deeb, Raid Mousa Al-Shaik

2016-01-01

The study aimed at identifying knowledge of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder of behavior modification methods and their training needs accordingly. The sample of the study consisted of (98) parents in Jordan. A scale of behavior modification methods was constructed, and then validated. The results of the study showed that the…

Methods of treating Parkinson's disease using viral vectors

DOEpatents

Bankiewicz, Krys; Cunningham, Janet

2012-11-13

Methods of delivering viral vectors, particularly recombinant AAV virions, to the central nervous system (CNS) are provided for the treatment of CNS disorders, particularly those disorders which involve the neurotransmitter dopamine. The methods entail providing rAAV virions that comprise a transgene encoding aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) and administering the virions to the brain of a mammal using a non-manual pump.

Interest and limitations of projective techniques in the assessment of personality disorders.

PubMed

Petot, J M

2000-06-01

Assessing personality disorders (PD) remains a difficult task because of persistent problems linked to concurrent validity of existing instruments, which are all structured interviews or self-report inventories. It has been advocated that indirect methods, projective techniques in particular, can strengthen PD assessment methods. The thematic apperception test (TAT) may be a significant adjuvant method of PD assessment.

Onset of Alcohol or Substance Use Disorders Following Treatment for Adolescent Depression

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Curry, John; Silva, Susan; Rohde, Paul; Ginsburg, Golda; Kennard, Betsy; Kratochvil, Christopher; Simons, Anne; Kirchner, Jerry; May, Diane; Mayes, Taryn; Feeny, Norah; Albano, Anne Marie; Lavanier, Sarah; Reinecke, Mark; Jacobs, Rachel; Becker-Weidman, Emily; Weller, Elizabeth; Emslie, Graham; Walkup, John; Kastelic, Elizabeth; Burns, Barbara; Wells, Karen; March, John

2012-01-01

Objective: This study tested whether positive response to short-term treatment for adolescent major depressive disorder (MDD) would have the secondary benefit of preventing subsequent alcohol use disorders (AUD) or substance use disorders (SUD). Method: For 5 years, we followed 192 adolescents (56.2% female; 20.8% minority) who had participated in…

Speech-Sound Disorders and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lewis, Barbara A.; Short, Elizabeth J.; Iyengar, Sudha K.; Taylor, H. Gerry; Freebairn, Lisa; Tag, Jessica; Avrich, Allison A.; Stein, Catherine M.

2012-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the association of speech-sound disorders (SSD) with symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by the severity of the SSD and the mode of transmission of SSD within the pedigrees of children with SSD. Participants and Methods: The participants were 412 children who were enrolled…

Atomoxetine Treatment in Children and Adolescents with Attention-Deficit/hyperactivity Disorder and Comorbid Oppositional Defiant Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Newcorn, Jeffrey H.; Spencer, Thomas J.; Biederman, Joseph; Milton, Denai R.; Michelson, David

2005-01-01

Objective: To examine (1) moderating effects of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treatment response and (2) responses of ODD symptoms to atomoxetine. Method: Children and adolescents (ages 8-18) with ADHD were treated for approximately 8 weeks with placebo or atomoxetine (fixed dosing: 0.5,…

Homotypic versus Heterotypic Continuity of Anxiety Symptoms in Young Adolescents: Evidence for Distinctions between DSM-IV Subtypes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ferdinand, Robert F.; Dieleman, Gwen; Ormel, Johan; Verhulst, Frank C.

2007-01-01

Objective: To investigate homotypic and heterotypic longitudinal patterns of symptoms of separation anxiety disorder (SAD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social phobia (SoPh), panic disorder (PD), and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in young adolescents from the Dutch general population. Method: 2,067 individuals (51.4% girls) from a…

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adult Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Is ADHD a Vulnerability Factor?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Adler, L. A.; Kunz, M.; Chua, H. C.; Rotrosen, J.; Resnick, S. G.

2004-01-01

Objective: There is limited evidence suggesting a link between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This study examined the association between PTSD and ADHD using retrospective and current clinical evaluations. Method: Twenty-five male veterans with PTSD and 22 male veterans with panic …

Comparative Study of Children with ADHD Only, Autism Spectrum Disorder + ADHD, and Chronic Multiple Tic Disorder + ADHD

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gadow, Kenneth D.; DeVincent, Carla J.; Schneider, Jayne

2009-01-01

Objective: Identification of differences among children with ADHD only, autism spectrum disorder (ASD)+ADHD, and chronic multiple tic disorder (CMTD)+ADHD may lead to better understanding of clinical phenotypes. Method: Children were evaluated using the parent- and teacher-completed questionnaires. Results: All three groups were highly similar in…

Psychopathology in a Swedish Population of School Children with Tic Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Khalifa, Najah; Von Knorring, Anne-Liis

2006-01-01

Objective: To examine patterns of psychiatric comorbid disorders and associated problems in a school population of children with tic disorders. Method: From a total population of 4,479 children, 25 with Tourette's disorder (TD), 34 with chronic motor tics (CMT), 24 with chronic vocal tics (CVT), and 214 with transient tics (TT) during the past…

Metapragmatic Explicitation and Social Attribution in Social Communication Disorder and Developmental Language Disorder: A Comparative Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Adams, Catherine; Lockton, Elaine; Collins, Anna

2018-01-01

Purpose: The purposes of this study are to investigate metapragmatic (MP) ability in 6-11-year-old children with social communication disorder (SCD), developmental language disorder (DLD), and typical language development and to explore factors associated with MP explicitation and social understanding (SU). Method: In this cross-sectional study,…

Disparities in Treatment for Substance Use Disorders and Co-Occurring Disorders for Ethnic/Racial Minority Youth

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alegria, Margarita; Carson, Nicholas J.; Goncalves, Marta; Keefe, Kristen

2011-01-01

Objective: To review the literature on racial and ethnic disparities in behavioral health services and present recent data, focusing on services for substance use disorders (SUD) and comorbid mental health disorders for children and adolescents. Method: A literature review was conducted of behavioral health services for minority youth. Articles…

Risk of Substance Use Disorders in Adolescents with Bipolar Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilens, Timothy E.; Biederman, Joseph; Kwon, Anne; Ditterline, Jeffrey; Forkner, Peter; Moore, Hadley; Swezey, Allison; Snyder, Lindsey; Henin, Aude; Wozniak, Janet; Faraone, Stephen V.

2004-01-01

Objective: Previous work in adults and youths has suggested that juvenile onset bipolar disorder (BPD) is associated with an elevated risk of substance use disorders (SUD). Considering the public health importance of this issue, the authors now report on a controlled study of adolescents with and without BPD to evaluate the risk of SUD. Method:…

Evaluating Physical Activity Using Accelerometry in Children at Risk of Developmental Coordination Disorder in the Presence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baerg, Sally; Cairney, John; Hay, John; Rempel, Lynn; Mahlberg, Nadilein; Faught, Brent E.

2011-01-01

Physical activity (PA) is compromised in children and adolescents with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Approximately half of all children with DCD suffer from attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD); a cohort often considered more physically active than typically developing youth. Accelerometry is an effective method of assessing…

Simultaneous Genotype Calling and Haplotype Phasing Improves Genotype Accuracy and Reduces False-Positive Associations for Genome-wide Association Studies

PubMed Central

Browning, Brian L.; Yu, Zhaoxia

2009-01-01

We present a novel method for simultaneous genotype calling and haplotype-phase inference. Our method employs the computationally efficient BEAGLE haplotype-frequency model, which can be applied to large-scale studies with millions of markers and thousands of samples. We compare genotype calls made with our method to genotype calls made with the BIRDSEED, CHIAMO, GenCall, and ILLUMINUS genotype-calling methods, using genotype data from the Illumina 550K and Affymetrix 500K arrays. We show that our method has higher genotype-call accuracy and yields fewer uncalled genotypes than competing methods. We perform single-marker analysis of data from the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium bipolar disorder and type 2 diabetes studies. For bipolar disorder, the genotype calls in the original study yield 25 markers with apparent false-positive association with bipolar disorder at a p < 10−7 significance level, whereas genotype calls made with our method yield no associated markers at this significance threshold. Conversely, for markers with replicated association with type 2 diabetes, there is good concordance between genotype calls used in the original study and calls made by our method. Results from single-marker and haplotypic analysis of our method's genotype calls for the bipolar disorder study indicate that our method is highly effective at eliminating genotyping artifacts that cause false-positive associations in genome-wide association studies. Our new genotype-calling methods are implemented in the BEAGLE and BEAGLECALL software packages. PMID:19931040

Contraceptive use and method choice among women with opioid and other substance use disorders: A systematic review.

PubMed

Terplan, Mishka; Hand, Dennis J; Hutchinson, Melissa; Salisbury-Afshar, Elizabeth; Heil, Sarah H

2015-11-01

To systematically review the literature on contraceptive use by women with opioid and other substance use disorders in order to estimate overall contraceptive use and to examine method choice given the alarmingly high rate of unintended pregnancy in this population. Pubmed (1948-2014) and PsycINFO (1806-2014) databases were searched for peer-reviewed journal articles using a systematic search strategy. Only articles published in English and reporting contraceptive use within samples of women with opioid and other substance use disorders were eligible for inclusion. Out of 580 abstracts reviewed, 105 articles were given a full-text review, and 24 studies met the inclusion criteria. The majority (51%) of women in these studies reported using opioids, with much smaller percentages reporting alcohol and cocaine use. Across studies, contraceptive prevalence ranged widely, from 6%-77%, with a median of 55%. Results from a small subset of studies (N=6) suggest that women with opioid and other substance use disorders used contraception less often than non-drug-using comparison populations (56% vs. 81%, respectively). Regarding method choice, condoms were the most prevalent method, accounting for a median of 62% of contraceptives used, while use of more effective methods, especially implants and intrauterine devices (IUDs), was far less prevalent 8%. Women with opioid and other substance use disorders have an unmet need for contraception, especially for the most effective methods. Offering contraception services in conjunction with substance use treatment and promoting use of more effective methods could help meet this need and reduce unintended pregnancy in this population. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Patient preferences for medicine administration for acute agitation: results from an internet-based survey of patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia in two Nordic countries.

PubMed

Jørgensen, Tine Rikke; Emborg, Charlotte; Dahlen, Karianne; Bøgelund, Mette; Carlborg, Andreas

2018-01-01

The objective was to elicit patient preferences for medicine administration method in the management of acute agitation episodes among patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. The patients' experiences of acute agitation episodes and their management of episodes were also explored. Data were collected via an anonymous, internet-based survey of residents in Denmark or Sweden with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (October 2014 to December 2014). Inclusion criteria were having a diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, and being above 18 years of age. The questionnaire included questions about preferences for medication attributes, experiences with pharmacological treatment for agitation and involvement in treatment plans. A total of 237 diagnosed patients (61 with schizophrenia; 176 with bipolar disorder) completed the questionnaire. Agitation episodes were experienced by 90% of the respondents. In total, 83% of the respondents reported having received treatment with tablets. When patients were presented with the attributes of an inhalation method, respondents stated that the fast onset of action, low risk of adverse reactions and least invasive form of drug delivery were positive attributes of treatment with inhalation. Inhalation is a new delivery route for treatment of acute agitation in patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Inhalation is the preferred treatment method for acute agitation among Danish and Swedish patients with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

Contraceptive use and method choice among women with opioid and other substance use disorders: A systematic review

PubMed Central

Terplan, Mishka; Hand, Dennis J.; Hutchinson, Melissa; Salisbury-Afshar, Elizabeth; Heil, Sarah H.

2016-01-01

Aim To systematically review the literature on contraceptive use by women with opioid and other substance use disorders in order to estimate overall contraceptive use and to examine method choice given the alarmingly high rate of unintended pregnancy in this population. Method Pubmed (1948–2014) and PsycINFO (1806–2014) databases were searched for peer-reviewed journal articles using a systematic search strategy. Only articles published in English and reporting contraceptive use within samples of women with opioid and other substance use disorders were eligible for inclusion. Results Out of 580 abstracts reviewed, 105 articles were given a full-text review, and 24 studies met the inclusion criteria. The majority (51%) of women in these studies reported using opioids, with much smaller percentages reporting alcohol and cocaine use. Across studies, contraceptive prevalence ranged widely, from 6%–77%, with a median of 55%. Results from a small subset of studies (N = 6) suggest that women with opioid and other substance use disorders used contraception less often than non-drug-using comparison populations (56% vs. 81%, respectively). Regarding method choice, condoms were the most prevalent method, accounting for a median of 62% of contraceptives used, while use of more effective methods, especially implants and intrauterine devices (IUDs), was far less prevalent 8%. Conclusions Women with opioid and other substance use disorders have an unmet need for contraception, especially for the most effective methods. Offering contraception services in conjunction with substance use treatment and promoting use of more effective methods could help meet this need and reduce unintended pregnancy in this population. PMID:25900803

Brief Psychotherapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorders.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brom, Daniel; And Others

1989-01-01

Examined the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic methods for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorders. Compared trauma desensitization, hypnotherapy, psychodynamic therapy and control condition for 112 persons suffering from serious disorders resulting from traumatic events in the past 5 years. Results indicated that treated cases were…

Interactive Video Usage on Autism Spectrum Disorder Training in Medical Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Taslibeyaz, Elif; Dursun, Onur Burak; Karaman, Selcuk

2017-01-01

This study aimed to compare the effects of interactive and non-interactive videos concerning the autism spectrum disorder on medical students' achievement. It also evaluated the relation between the interactive videos' interactivity and the students' decision-making process. It used multiple methods, including quantitative and qualitative methods.…

Neurofeedback in Autism Spectrum Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Holtmann, Martin; Steiner, Sabina; Hohmann, Sarah; Poustka, Luise; Banaschewski, Tobias; Bolte, Sven

2011-01-01

Aim: To review current studies on the effectiveness of neurofeedback as a method of treatment of the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Method: Studies were selected based on searches in PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, ERIC, and CINAHL using combinations of the following keywords: "Neurofeedback" OR "EEG Biofeedback" OR "Neurotherapy"…

Child-Parent Interventions for Childhood Anxiety Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brendel, Kristen Esposito; Maynard, Brandy R.

2014-01-01

Objective: This study compared the effects of direct child-parent interventions to the effects of child-focused interventions on anxiety outcomes for children with anxiety disorders. Method: Systematic review methods and meta-analytic techniques were employed. Eight randomized controlled trials examining effects of family cognitive behavior…

Recent Developments in the Assessment and Treatment of Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berman, Noah C.; Abramowitz, Jonathan S.

2010-01-01

Although tremendous strides have recently been made in the development of assessment and treatment methods for pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), more accurate methods for diagnosis, more effective treatments, and more refined instruments for monitoring progress during therapy are still needed. The present commentary highlights the…

Multi-Method Assessment of Feeding Problems among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sharp, William G.; Jaquess, David L.; Lukens, Colleen T.

2013-01-01

Estimates suggest that atypical eating is pervasive among children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD); however, much remains unknown regarding the nature and prevalence of feeding problems in this population due to methodological limitations, including lack of adequate assessment methods and empirical evaluation of existing measures. In the…

Autism Spectrum Disorder and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Part I: A Comparison of Parenting Stress

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Watson, Shelley L.; Coons, Kelly D.; Hayes, Stephanie A.

2013-01-01

Background: There is a long history of research on parents of children with disabilities, but to the authors' knowledge, no study has compared the stress of parents of children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) to parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Method: Twenty-five parents of children with ASD and 25 parents of…

Randomized Controlled Trial of Osmotic-Release Methylphenidate with Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in Adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Substance Use Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Riggs, Paula D.; Winhusen, Theresa; Davies, Robert D.; Leimberger, Jeffrey D.; Mikulich-Gilbertson, Susan; Klein, Constance; Macdonald, Marilyn; Lohman, Michelle; Bailey, Genie L.; Haynes, Louise; Jaffee, William B.; Haminton, Nancy; Hodgkins, Candace; Whitmore, Elizabeth; Trello-Rishel, Kathlene; Tamm, Leanne; Acosta, Michelle C.; Royer-Malvestuto, Charlotte; Subramaniam, Geetha; Fishman, Marc; Holmes, Beverly W.; Kaye, Mary Elyse; Vargo, Mark A.; Woody, George E.; Nunes, Edward V.; Liu, David

2011-01-01

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of osmotic-release methylphenidate (OROS-MPH) compared with placebo for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and the impact on substance treatment outcomes in adolescents concurrently receiving cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for substance use disorders (SUD). Method: This was a…

Examining the Stability of "DSM-IV" and Empirically Derived Eating Disorder Classification: Implications for "DSM-5"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peterson, Carol B.; Crow, Scott J.; Swanson, Sonja A.; Crosby, Ross D.; Wonderlich, Stephen A.; Mitchell, James E.; Agras, W. Stewart; Halmi, Katherine A.

2011-01-01

Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to derive an empirical classification of eating disorder symptoms in a heterogeneous eating disorder sample using latent class analysis (LCA) and to examine the longitudinal stability of these latent classes (LCs) and the stability of DSM-IV eating disorder (ED) diagnoses. Method: A total of 429…

Efficacy of Atomoxetine in Children with Severe Autistic Disorders and Symptoms of ADHD: An Open-Label Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Charnsil, Chawanun

2011-01-01

Objective: This study aims to examine the efficacy of atomoxetine in treating symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children with severe autistic disorder. Method: Children with severe autistic disorder who had symptoms of ADHD were given atomoxetine for 10 weeks. The efficacy of atomoxetine was evaluated by using the…

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Interventions Relevant for Young Offenders with Mood Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, or Self-Harm

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Townsend, Ellen; Walker, Dawn-Marie; Sargeant, Sally; Vostanis, Panos; Hawton, Keith; Stocker, Olivia; Sithole, Jabulani

2010-01-01

Background: Mood and anxiety disorders, and problems with self-harm are significant and serious issues that are common in young people in the Criminal Justice System. Aims: To examine whether interventions relevant to young offenders with mood or anxiety disorders, or problems with self-harm are effective. Method: Systematic review and…

Mother-Child Touch Patterns in Infant Feeding Disorders: Relation to Maternal, Child, and Environmental Factors.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Feldman, Ruth; Keren, Miri; Gross-Rozval, Orna; Tyano, Sam

2004-01-01

Objective: To examine mother and child's touch patterns in infant feeding disorders within a transactional framework. Method: Infants (aged 9-34 months) referred to a community-based clinic were diagnosed with feeding disorders (n = 20) or other primary disorder (n = 27) and were case matched with nonreferred controls (n = 47). Mother-child play…

Patterns and Correlates of Tic Disorder Diagnoses in Privately and Publicly Insured Youth

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olfson, Mark; Crystal, Stephen; Gerhard, Tobias; Huang, Cecilia; Walkup, James T.; Scahill, Lawrence; Walkup, John T.

2011-01-01

Objective: This study examined the prevalence and demographic and clinical correlates of children diagnosed with Tourette disorder, chronic motor or vocal tic disorder, and other tic disorders in public and private insurance plans over the course of a 1-year period. Method: Claims were reviewed of Medicaid (n = 10,247,827) and privately (n =…

Family Health and Characteristics in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Emotional Disorders of Childhood.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rangel, Luiza; Garralda, M. Elena; Jeffs, Jim; Rose, Gillian

2005-01-01

Objective: To compare family health and characteristics in children with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), and emotional disorders. Method: Parents of 28 children and adolescents aged 11 to 18 years with CFS, 30 with JRA, and 27 with emotional disorders (i.e., anxiety and/or depressive disorders) were…

A One-Session Human Immunodeficiency Virus Risk-Reduction Intervention in Adolescents with Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thurstone, Christian; Riggs, Paula D.; Klein, Constance; Mikulich-Gilbertson, Susan K.

2007-01-01

Objective: To explore change in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk among teens in outpatient treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs). Method: From December 2002 to August 2004, 50 adolescents (13-19 years) with major depressive disorder, conduct disorder, and one or more non-nicotine SUD completed the Teen Health Survey (THS) at the…

The Australian Defence Force Mental Health Prevalence and Wellbeing Study: design and methods.

PubMed

Hooff, Miranda Van; McFarlane, Alexander C; Davies, Christopher E; Searle, Amelia K; Fairweather-Schmidt, A Kate; Verhagen, Alan; Benassi, Helen; Hodson, Stephanie E

2014-01-01

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) Mental Health Prevalence and Wellbeing Study (MHPWS) is the first study of mental disorder prevalence in an entire military population. The MHPWS aims to establish mental disorder prevalence, refine current ADF mental health screening methods, and identify specific occupational factors that influence mental health. This paper describes the design, sampling strategies, and methodology used in this study. At Phase 1, approximately half of all regular Navy, Army, and Air Force personnel (n=24,481) completed self-report questionnaires. At Phase 2, a stratified sub-sample (n=1,798) completed a structured diagnostic interview to detect mental disorder. Based on data from non-responders, data were weighted to represent the entire ADF population (n=50,049). One in five ADF members met criteria for a 12-month mental disorder (22%). The most common disorder category was anxiety disorders (14.8%), followed by affective (9.5%) and alcohol disorders (5.2%). At risk ADF sub-groups were Army personnel, and those in the lower ranks. Deployment status did not have an impact on mental disorder rates. This study has important implications for mental health service delivery for Australian and international military personnel as well as contemporary veterans.

Prevalence and Correlates of DSM-5 Cannabis Use Disorder, 2012–2013: Findings from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions – III

PubMed Central

Hasin, Deborah S.; Kerridge, Bradley T.; Saha, Tulshi D.; Huang, Boji; Pickering, Roger; Smith, Sharon M.; Jung, Jeesun; Zhang, Haitao; Grant, Bridget F.

2016-01-01

Objective Attitudes towards marijuana are changing, the prevalence of DSM-IV cannabis use disorder has increased, and DSM-5 modified the diagnostic criteria for cannabis use disorders. Therefore, updated information is needed on the prevalence, demographic characteristics, psychiatric comorbidity, disability and treatment for DSM-5 cannabis use disorders in the US adult population. Method In 2012–2013, a nationally representative sample of 36,309 participants ≥18 years were interviewed in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III (NESARC-III). Psychiatric and substance use disorders were assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorders and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule-5. Results Prevalence of 12-month and lifetime marijuana use disorder was 2.5% and 6.3%. Among those with 12-month and lifetime marijuana use disorder, marijuana use was frequent; mean days used per year was 225.3 (SE=5.69) and 274.2 (SE=3.76). Odds of 12-month and lifetime marijuana use disorder were higher for men, Native Americans, those unmarried, with low incomes, and young adults, (e.g., OR=7.2, 95% CI 5.5–9.5 for 12-month disorder among those 18–24 years compared to those ≥45 years). Marijuana use disorder was associated with other substance disorders, affective, anxiety and personality disorders. Twelve-month marijuana use disorder was associated with disability. As disorder severity increased, virtually all associations became stronger. Only 24.3% with lifetime marijuana use disorder participated in 12-step programs or professional treatment. Conclusions DSM-5 marijuana use disorder is prevalent, associated with comorbidity and disability, and often untreated. Findings suggest the need to improve prevention methods, and educate the public, professionals and policy makers about the harms associated with marijuana use disorders and available interventions. PMID:26940807

An Investigation into the Roles of Theory of Mind, Emotion Regulation, and Attachment Styles in Predicting the Traits of Borderline Personality Disorder

PubMed Central

Ghiasi, Hamed; Mohammadi, Abolalfazl; Zarrinfar, Pouria

2016-01-01

Objective: Borderline personality disorder is one of the most complex and prevalent personality disorders. Many variables have so far been studied in relation to this disorder. This study aimed to investigate the role of emotion regulation, attachment styles, and theory of mind in predicting the traits of borderline personality disorder. Method: In this study, 85 patients with borderline personality disorder were selected using convenience sampling method. To measure the desired variables, the questionnaires of Gross emotion regulation, Collins and Read attachment styles, and Baron Cohen's Reading Mind from Eyes Test were applied. The data were analyzed using multivariate stepwise regression technique. Results: Emotion regulation, attachment styles, and theory of mind predicted 41.2% of the variance criterion altogether; among which, the shares of emotion regulation, attachment styles and theory of mind to the distribution of the traits of borderline personality disorder were 27.5%, 9.8%, and 3.9%, respectively.‎‎ Conclusion: The results of the study revealed that emotion regulation, attachment styles, and theory of mind are important variables in predicting the traits of borderline personality disorder and that these variables can be well applied for both the treatment and identification of this disorder. PMID:28050180

An Investigation into the Roles of Theory of Mind, Emotion Regulation, and Attachment Styles in Predicting the Traits of Borderline Personality Disorder.

PubMed

Ghiasi, Hamed; Mohammadi, Abolalfazl; Zarrinfar, Pouria

2016-10-01

Objective: Borderline personality disorder is one of the most complex and prevalent personality disorders. Many variables have so far been studied in relation to this disorder. This study aimed to investigate the role of emotion regulation, attachment styles, and theory of mind in predicting the traits of borderline personality disorder. Method: In this study, 85 patients with borderline personality disorder were selected using convenience sampling method. To measure the desired variables, the questionnaires of Gross emotion regulation, Collins and Read attachment styles, and Baron Cohen's Reading Mind from Eyes Test were applied. The data were analyzed using multivariate stepwise regression technique. Results: Emotion regulation, attachment styles, and theory of mind predicted 41.2% of the variance criterion altogether; among which, the shares of emotion regulation, attachment styles and theory of mind to the distribution of the traits of borderline personality disorder were 27.5%, 9.8%, and 3.9%, respectively.‎‎ Conclusion : The results of the study revealed that emotion regulation, attachment styles, and theory of mind are important variables in predicting the traits of borderline personality disorder and that these variables can be well applied for both the treatment and identification of this disorder.

Noninvasive metabolic profiling for painless diagnosis of human diseases and disorders.

PubMed

Mal, Mainak

2016-06-01

Metabolic profiling provides a powerful diagnostic tool complementary to genomics and proteomics. The pain, discomfort and probable iatrogenic injury associated with invasive or minimally invasive diagnostic methods, render them unsuitable in terms of patient compliance and participation. Metabolic profiling of biomatrices like urine, breath, saliva, sweat and feces, which can be collected in a painless manner, could be used for noninvasive diagnosis. This review article covers the noninvasive metabolic profiling studies that have exhibited diagnostic potential for diseases and disorders. Their potential applications are evident in different forms of cancer, metabolic disorders, infectious diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, rheumatic diseases and pulmonary diseases. Large scale clinical validation of such diagnostic methods is necessary in future.

Noninvasive metabolic profiling for painless diagnosis of human diseases and disorders

PubMed Central

Mal, Mainak

2016-01-01

Metabolic profiling provides a powerful diagnostic tool complementary to genomics and proteomics. The pain, discomfort and probable iatrogenic injury associated with invasive or minimally invasive diagnostic methods, render them unsuitable in terms of patient compliance and participation. Metabolic profiling of biomatrices like urine, breath, saliva, sweat and feces, which can be collected in a painless manner, could be used for noninvasive diagnosis. This review article covers the noninvasive metabolic profiling studies that have exhibited diagnostic potential for diseases and disorders. Their potential applications are evident in different forms of cancer, metabolic disorders, infectious diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, rheumatic diseases and pulmonary diseases. Large scale clinical validation of such diagnostic methods is necessary in future. PMID:28031956

Conversion Disorder— Mind versus Body: A Review

PubMed Central

Jabeen, Shagufta; Pate, Rebecca J.; Shahid, Marwah; Chinala, Sandhya; Nathani, Milankumar; Shah, Rida

2015-01-01

In this article, the authors accentuate the signs and symptoms of conversion disorder and the significance of clinical judgment and expertise in order to reach the right diagnosis. The authors review the literature and provide information on the etiology, prevalence, diagnostic criteria, and the treatment methods currently employed in the management of conversion disorder. Of note, the advancements of neuropsychology and brain imaging have led to emergence of a relatively sophisticated picture of the neuroscientific psychopathology of complex mental illnesses, including conversion disorder. The available evidence suggests new methods with which to test hypotheses about the neural circuits underlying conversion symptoms. In context of this, the authors also explore the neurobiological understanding of conversion disorder. PMID:26155375

A New Disability-related Health Care Needs Assessment Tool for Persons With Brain Disorders

PubMed Central

Kim, Yoon; Eun, Sang June; Kim, Wan Ho; Lee, Bum-Suk; Leigh, Ja-Ho; Kim, Jung-Eun

2013-01-01

Objectives This study aimed to develop a health needs assessment (HNA) tool for persons with brain disorders and to assess the unmet needs of persons with brain disorders using the developed tool. Methods The authors used consensus methods to develop a HNA tool. Using a randomized stratified systematic sampling method adjusted for sex, age, and districts, 57 registered persons (27 severe and 30 mild cases) with brain disorders dwelling in Seoul, South Korea were chosen and medical specialists investigated all of the subjects with the developed tools. Results The HNA tool for brain disorders we developed included four categories: 1) medical interventions and operations, 2) assistive devices, 3) rehabilitation therapy, and 4) regular follow-up. This study also found that 71.9% of the subjects did not receive appropriate medical care, which implies that the severity of their disability is likely to be exacerbated and permanent, and the loss irrecoverable. Conclusions Our results showed that the HNA tool for persons with brain disorders based on unmet needs defined by physicians can be a useful method for evaluating the appropriateness and necessity of medical services offered to the disabled, and it can serve as the norm for providing health care services for disabled persons. Further studies should be undertaken to increase validity and reliability of the tool. Fundamental research investigating the factors generating or affecting the unmet needs is necessary; its results could serve as basis for developing policies to eliminate or alleviate these factors. PMID:24137530

The effect of the medicine administration route on health-related quality of life: Results from a time trade-off survey in patients with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia in 2 Nordic countries.

PubMed

Jørgensen, Tine Rikke; Emborg, Charlotte; Dahlen, Karianne; Bøgelund, Mette; Carlborg, Andreas

2016-07-16

Agitation episodes are common among patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Oral and intramuscular administration methods are commonly used in pharmacological treatment of acute agitation. Recently, an innovative inhalation product with loxapine(Adasuve®)has become available for treatment of acute agitation episodes associated with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. The objective for the present study was to investigate the impact of the pharmacological treatment's administration methods on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia in Denmark and Sweden using a time trade-off (TTO) approach. The TTO methodology was used to examine the HRQoL impact of administration method of pharmacological treatment of acute agitation. Data were collected via an internet-based survey, using an existing panel of respondents with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Respondents considered living with schizophrenia/ bipolar disorder, having one yearly agitation episode treated with inhaler better than living with the same conditions and receiving treatment with tablet or injection. The utility value was 0.762 for inhalable treatment, 0.707 for injection and 0.734 for tablet treatment. Patients' preference for treatment delivery options showed that inhalation was associated with a significant utility gain when compared to injection or tablets. Inhalable loxapine may be a new tool for control of agitation episodes for strengthening the patient provider alliance when taking patient's preference for delivery method into consideration.

Discrete Molecular Dynamics Can Predict Helical Prestructured Motifs in Disordered Proteins

PubMed Central

Han, Kyou-Hoon; Dokholyan, Nikolay V.; Tompa, Péter; Kalmár, Lajos; Hegedűs, Tamás

2014-01-01

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) lack a stable tertiary structure, but their short binding regions termed Pre-Structured Motifs (PreSMo) can form transient secondary structure elements in solution. Although disordered proteins are crucial in many biological processes and designing strategies to modulate their function is highly important, both experimental and computational tools to describe their conformational ensembles and the initial steps of folding are sparse. Here we report that discrete molecular dynamics (DMD) simulations combined with replica exchange (RX) method efficiently samples the conformational space and detects regions populating α-helical conformational states in disordered protein regions. While the available computational methods predict secondary structural propensities in IDPs based on the observation of protein-protein interactions, our ab initio method rests on physical principles of protein folding and dynamics. We show that RX-DMD predicts α-PreSMos with high confidence confirmed by comparison to experimental NMR data. Moreover, the method also can dissect α-PreSMos in close vicinity to each other and indicate helix stability. Importantly, simulations with disordered regions forming helices in X-ray structures of complexes indicate that a preformed helix is frequently the binding element itself, while in other cases it may have a role in initiating the binding process. Our results indicate that RX-DMD provides a breakthrough in the structural and dynamical characterization of disordered proteins by generating the structural ensembles of IDPs even when experimental data are not available. PMID:24763499

Concordance of DSM-IV Axis I and II diagnoses by personal and informant's interview.

PubMed

Schneider, Barbara; Maurer, Konrad; Sargk, Dieter; Heiskel, Harald; Weber, Bernhard; Frölich, Lutz; Georgi, Klaus; Fritze, Jürgen; Seidler, Andreas

2004-06-30

The validity and reliability of using psychological autopsies to diagnose a psychiatric disorder is a critical issue. Therefore, interrater and test-retest reliability of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I and Personality Disorders and the usefulness of these instruments for the psychological autopsy method were investigated. Diagnoses by informant's interview were compared with diagnoses generated by a personal interview of 35 persons. Interrater reliability and test-retest reliability were assessed in 33 and 29 persons, respectively. Chi-square analysis, kappa and intraclass correlation coefficients, and Kendall's tau were used to determine agreement of diagnoses. Kappa coefficients were above 0.84 for substance-related disorders, mood disorders, and anxiety and adjustment disorders, and above 0.65 for Axis II disorders for interrater and test-retest reliability. Agreement by personal and relative's interview generated kappa coefficients above 0.79 for most Axis I and above 0.65 for most personality disorder diagnoses; Kendall's tau for dimensional individual personality disorder scores ranged from 0.22 to 0.72. Despite of a small number of psychiatric disorders in the selected population, the present results provide support for the validity of most diagnoses obtained through the best-estimate method using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I and Personality Disorders. This instrument can be recommended as a tool for the psychological autopsy procedure in post-mortem research. Copyright 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

A comparative analysis of ethnomedicinal practices for treating gastrointestinal disorders used by communities living in three national parks (Korea).

PubMed

Kim, Hyun; Song, Mi-Jang; Brian, Heldenbrand; Choi, Kyoungho

2014-01-01

The purpose of this study is to comparatively analyze the ethnomedicinal practices on gastrointestinal disorders within communities in Jirisan National Park, Gayasan National Park, and Hallasan National Park of Korea. Data was collected through participant observations and indepth interviews with semistructured questionnaires. Methods for comparative analysis were accomplished using the informant consensus factor, fidelity level, and internetwork analysis. A total of 490 ethnomedicinal practices recorded from the communities were classified into 110 families, 176 genera, and 220 species that included plants, animals, fungi, and alga. The informant consensus factor values in the disorder categories were enteritis, and gastralgia (1.0), followed by indigestion (0.94), constipation (0.93), and abdominal pain and gastroenteric trouble (0.92). In terms of fidelity levels, 71 plant species showed fidelity levels of 100%. The internetwork analysis between disorders and all medicinal species are grouped in the center by the four categories of indigestion, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and gastroenteric trouble, respectively. Regarding the research method of this study, the comparative analysis methods will contribute to the availability of orally transmitted ethnomedicinal knowledge. Among the methods of analysis, the use of internetwork analysis as a tool for analysis in this study provides imperative internetwork maps between gastrointestinal disorders and medicinal species.

CONVULSIVE DISORDERS IN CHILDREN WITH REFERENCE TO TREATMENT WITH KETOGENIC DIET.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

KEITH, HADDOW M.

WRITTEN FOR THE MEDICAL PROFESSION, THIS BOOK PROVIDES INFORMATION ON CHILDHOOD CONVULSIONS (EPILEPSY) AND METHODS OF TREATMENT. VARIOUS CONVULSIVE DISORDERS, INCLUDING HYPSARHYTHMIA, AUTONOMIC SEIZURES, SYMPTOM COMPLEXES, FEBRILE CONVULSIONS, AND "PHOTOGENIC" DISORDERS, ARE DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, AND TREATMENT.…

Practitioner Review: Early Adversity and Developmental Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Taylor, Eric; Rogers, Jody Warner

2005-01-01

Background: Knowledge of genetic influences, on developmental disorders such as autism spectrum, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and learning disabilities, has increased the opportunities for understanding the influences of the early environment. Methods: This paper provides a selective, narrative review for clinicians of the effects of…

A Clinical Study of Phenomenology and Comorbidity of Paediatric Bipolar Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gupta, Pavan Kumar; T., Sivakumar; Agarwal, Vivek; Sitholey, Prabhat

2012-01-01

Background: Considerable controversy exists regarding clinical presentation, diagnosis, and comorbidities especially with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), in paediatric Bipolar Disorder (BPD). Aims and objectives: To describe phenomenology and comorbidities of paediatric BPD. Method: 78 Subjects (6-16 years) attending child and…

Sleep-disordered breathing in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder.

PubMed

Jaoude, Philippe; Vermont, Leah N; Porhomayon, Jahan; El-Solh, Ali A

2015-02-01

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) are shared by many patients. They both affect sleep and the quality of life of affected subjects. A critical review of the literature supports an association between the two disorders in both combat-related and non-combat-related PTSD. The exact mechanism linking PTSD and SDB is not fully understood. A complex interplay between sleep fragmentation and neuroendocrine pathways is suggested. The overlap of symptoms between PTSD and SDB raises diagnostic challenges that may require a novel approach in the methods used to diagnose the coexisting disorders. Similar therapeutic challenges face patients and providers when treating concomitant PTSD and SDB. Although continuous positive airway pressure therapy imparts a mitigating effect on PTSD symptomatology, lack of both acceptance and adherence are common. Future research should focus on ways to improve adherence to continuous positive airway pressure therapy and on the use of alternative therapeutic methods for treating SDB in patients with PTSD.

The role of psychiatrists in diagnosing conversion disorder: a mixed-methods analysis.

PubMed

Kanaan, Richard A; Armstrong, David; Wessely, Simon

2016-01-01

Since DSM-5 removed the requirement for a psychosocial formulation, neurologists have been able to make the diagnosis of conversion disorder without psychiatric input. We sought to examine whether neurologists and specialist psychiatrists concurred with this approach. We used mixed methods, first surveying all the neurologists in the UK and then interviewing the neuropsychiatrists in a large UK region on the role of psychiatrists in diagnosing conversion disorder. Of the surveyed neurologists, 76% did not think that psychiatrists were essential for the diagnosis and 71% thought that psychiatrists did not even consider conversion disorder when referred a case. The neuropsychiatrists who were interviewed held complex models of conversion disorder. They believed all cases could be explained psychosocially in theory, but the nature of the diagnostic encounter often prevented it in practice; all felt that psychosocial formulation could be very helpful and some felt that it was essential to diagnosis. Although neurologists do not think psychiatrists are required for diagnosing conversion disorder, specialist psychiatrists disagree, at least in some cases.

[Review of assessment methods used to evaluate feeding for children with pervasive developmental disorder].

PubMed

Nadon, G; Ehrmann Feldman, D; Gisel, E

2008-08-01

Current evaluations used by occupational therapists to assess and treat feeding problems derive mainly from the domain of dysphagia. The purpose of this article is to familiarize the reader with tools used, in research, for children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) and to determine if any of these meet the needs of occupational therapists. The following data bases were searched: Medline, CINAHL, HAPI and PsyINFO, using the terms pervasive developmental disorder, autism, Asperger syndrome, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified, eating behavior, eating disorder, food preference, food selectivity, feeding disorders, picky eater and child. All articles published between 1980 and 2006 (n=27) were reviewed. A total of 20 studies met our selection criteria. Assessment methods are compared using the Disability Creation Model (DCP). The DCP is the Quebec alternative to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). None of the evaluation tools reviewed met all factors that may influence eating in children with PDD. Implications for research and practice in occupational therapy are discussed.

The Harvard/Brown Anxiety Research Project – Phase II (HARP-II): Rationale, methods, and features of the sample at intake

PubMed Central

Weisberg, Risa B.; Beard, Courtney; Dyck, Ingrid; Keller, Martin B.

2012-01-01

We describe the rationale, method, and intake demographic and clinical findings of the Harvard/Brown Anxiety Research Project-Phase II (HARP-II). HARP-II is the first prospective, observational, longitudinal study to describe the characteristics and course of anxiety in African American, Latino, and Non-Latino White individuals. Participants met criteria for at least one of the following disorders: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, Panic Disorder with or without Agoraphobia, Agoraphobia without history of Panic Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Initial intake data, collected between 2004 and 2011, are presented for 165 African American, 150 Latino, and 172 Non-Latino White participants. Participants evidenced substantial psychiatric comorbidity (mean number of Axis I disorders = 3.4), and moderate to severe symptoms and functional impairment. HARP-II will examine clinical course, in the context of potential socio-cultural and individual moderators (e.g., discrimination, acculturation, negative affect). Results should lead to improved understanding, prognostics, and treatment of anxiety in diverse populations. PMID:22410095

Saccadic eye movement applications for psychiatric disorders

PubMed Central

Bittencourt, Juliana; Velasques, Bruna; Teixeira, Silmar; Basile, Luis F; Salles, José Inácio; Nardi, Antonio Egídio; Budde, Henning; Cagy, Mauricio; Piedade, Roberto; Ribeiro, Pedro

2013-01-01

Objective The study presented here analyzed the patterns of relationship between oculomotor performance and psychopathology, focusing on depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and anxiety disorder. Methods Scientific articles published from 1967 to 2013 in the PubMed/Medline, ISI Web of Knowledge, Cochrane, and SciELO databases were reviewed. Results Saccadic eye movement appears to be heavily involved in psychiatric diseases covered in this review via a direct mechanism. The changes seen in the execution of eye movement tasks in patients with psychopathologies of various studies confirm that eye movement is associated with the cognitive and motor system. Conclusion Saccadic eye movement changes appear to be heavily involved in the psychiatric disorders covered in this review and may be considered a possible marker of some disorders. The few existing studies that approach the topic demonstrate a need to improve the experimental paradigms, as well as the methods of analysis. Most of them report behavioral variables (latency/reaction time), though electrophysiological measures are absent. PMID:24072973

The DSM-5 Dimensional Anxiety Scales in a Dutch non-clinical sample: psychometric properties including the adult separation anxiety disorder scale.

PubMed

Möller, Eline L; Bögels, Susan M

2016-09-01

With DSM-5, the American Psychiatric Association encourages complementing categorical diagnoses with dimensional severity ratings. We therefore examined the psychometric properties of the DSM-5 Dimensional Anxiety Scales, a set of brief dimensional scales that are consistent in content and structure and assess DSM-5-based core features of anxiety disorders. Participants (285 males, 255 females) completed the DSM-5 Dimensional Anxiety Scales for social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobia, agoraphobia, and panic disorder that were included in previous studies on the scales, and also for separation anxiety disorder, which is included in the DSM-5 chapter on anxiety disorders. Moreover, they completed the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders Adult version (SCARED-A). The DSM-5 Dimensional Anxiety Scales demonstrated high internal consistency, and the scales correlated significantly and substantially with corresponding SCARED-A subscales, supporting convergent validity. Separation anxiety appeared present among adults, supporting the DSM-5 recognition of separation anxiety as an anxiety disorder across the life span. To conclude, the DSM-5 Dimensional Anxiety Scales are a valuable tool to screen for specific adult anxiety disorders, including separation anxiety. Research in more diverse and clinical samples with anxiety disorders is needed. © 2016 The Authors International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. © 2016 The Authors International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Automatic detection of articulation disorders in children with cleft lip and palate.

PubMed

Maier, Andreas; Hönig, Florian; Bocklet, Tobias; Nöth, Elmar; Stelzle, Florian; Nkenke, Emeka; Schuster, Maria

2009-11-01

Speech of children with cleft lip and palate (CLP) is sometimes still disordered even after adequate surgical and nonsurgical therapies. Such speech shows complex articulation disorders, which are usually assessed perceptually, consuming time and manpower. Hence, there is a need for an easy to apply and reliable automatic method. To create a reference for an automatic system, speech data of 58 children with CLP were assessed perceptually by experienced speech therapists for characteristic phonetic disorders at the phoneme level. The first part of the article aims to detect such characteristics by a semiautomatic procedure and the second to evaluate a fully automatic, thus simple, procedure. The methods are based on a combination of speech processing algorithms. The semiautomatic method achieves moderate to good agreement (kappa approximately 0.6) for the detection of all phonetic disorders. On a speaker level, significant correlations between the perceptual evaluation and the automatic system of 0.89 are obtained. The fully automatic system yields a correlation on the speaker level of 0.81 to the perceptual evaluation. This correlation is in the range of the inter-rater correlation of the listeners. The automatic speech evaluation is able to detect phonetic disorders at an experts'level without any additional human postprocessing.

Can bipolar disorder be viewed as a multi-system inflammatory disease?

PubMed Central

Leboyer, Marion; Soreca, Isabella; Scott, Jan; Frye, Mark; Henry, Chantal; Tamouza, Ryad; Kupfer, David J.

2012-01-01

Background Patients with bipolar disorder are known to be at high risk of premature death. Comorbid cardio-vascular diseases are a leading cause of excess mortality, well above the risk associated with suicide. In this review, we explore comorbid medical disorders, highlighting evidence that bipolar disorder can be effectively conceptualized as a multi-systemic inflammatory disease. Methods We conducted a systematic PubMed search of all English-language articles recently published with bipolar disorder cross-referenced with the following terms: mortality and morbidity, cardio-vascular, diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, inflammation, auto-antibody, retro-virus, stress, sleep and circadian rhythm. Results Evidence gathered so far suggests that the multi-system involvement is present from the early stages, and therefore requires proactive screening and diagnostic procedures, as well as comprehensive treatment to reduce progression and premature mortality. Exploring the biological pathways that could account for the observed link show that dysregulated inflammatory background could be a common factor underlying cardio-vascular and bipolar disorders. Viewing bipolar disorder as a multi-system disorder should help us to re-conceptualize disorders of the mind as “disorders of the brain and the body”. Limitations The current literature substantially lacks longitudinal and mechanistic studies, as well as comparison studies to explore the magnitude of the medical burden in bipolar disorder compared to major mood disorders as well as psychotic disorders. It is also necessary to look for subgroups of bipolar disorder based on their rates of comorbid disorders. Conclusions Comorbid medical illnesses in bipolar disorder might be viewed not only as the consequence of health behaviors and of psychotropic medications, but rather as an early manifestation of a multi-systemic disorder. Medical monitoring is thus a critical component of case assessment. Exploring common biological pathways of inflammation should help biomarkers discovery, ultimately leading to innovative diagnostic tools, new methods of prevention and personalized treatments. PMID:22497876

A quantitative and qualitative evaluation of trainee opinions of four methods of personality disorder diagnosis.

PubMed

Nelson, Sharon M; Huprich, Steven K; Shankar, Sneha; Sohnleitner, Aimee; Paggeot, Amy V

2017-07-01

Four methods of how to assess and diagnose personality disorders have received much attention within the literature: the Shedler-Westen Assessment Procedure (Shedler & Westen, 1998), the DSM-5 Section III Personality Disorders section (APA, 2011), the DSM-5 Section III trait model (APA, 2013), and the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual (PDM; PDM Task Force, 2006) descriptions of 15 personality disorders. Given that much of the debate has been driven by clinician concerns, it is important to consider clinical utility when evaluating the usefulness of each method. The present study compares the 4 models on ratings of several dimensions of clinical utility provided by 329 graduate student clinicians and psychology interns from across the United States. Findings suggest that participants rated the DSM-5 trait model significantly higher in most clinical utility domains. Additionally, qualitative analyses of the open-ended responses provided by participants indicated that each method had strengths and weaknesses. Most notably, participants commented positively on the PDM's level of comprehensiveness and appreciated the SWAP-II's inclusion of a health category, despite the ease of use not being as highly rated for these methods. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

An Archetype of the Collaborative Efforts of Psychotherapy and Psychopharmacology in Successfully Treating Dissociative Identity Disorder with Comorbid Bipolar Disorder

PubMed Central

Lakshmanan, Manu N.; Meier, Stacey L. Colton; Meier, Robert S.

2010-01-01

We present a case where dissociative identity disorder was effectively treated with memory retrieval psychotherapy. However, the patient’s comorbid bipolar disorder contributed to the patient’s instability and fortified the amnesiac barriers that exist between alter personality states in dissociative identity disorder, which made memory retrieval difficult to achieve. Implications from this case indicate that a close collaboration between psychologist and psychiatrist focused on carefully diagnosing and treating existing comorbid conditions may be the most important aspect in treating dissociative identity disorder. We present our experience of successfully treating a patient with dissociative identity disorder and bipolar disorder using this collaborative method. PMID:20805917

An archetype of the collaborative efforts of psychotherapy and psychopharmacology in successfully treating dissociative identity disorder with comorbid bipolar disorder.

PubMed

Lakshmanan, Manu N; Meier, Stacey L Colton; Meier, Robert S; Lakshmanan, Ramaswamy

2010-07-01

We present a case where dissociative identity disorder was effectively treated with memory retrieval psychotherapy. However, the patient's comorbid bipolar disorder contributed to the patient's instability and fortified the amnesiac barriers that exist between alter personality states in dissociative identity disorder, which made memory retrieval difficult to achieve. Implications from this case indicate that a close collaboration between psychologist and psychiatrist focused on carefully diagnosing and treating existing comorbid conditions may be the most important aspect in treating dissociative identity disorder. We present our experience of successfully treating a patient with dissociative identity disorder and bipolar disorder using this collaborative method.

Influential Factors for and Outcomes of Hospitalized Patients with Suicide-Related Behaviors: A National Record Study in Taiwan from 1997–2010

PubMed Central

Lin, Yu-Wen; Huang, Hui-Chuan; Lin, Mei-Feng; Shyu, Meei-Ling; Tsai, Po-Li; Chang, Hsiu-Ju

2016-01-01

Background Investigating the factors related to suicide is crucial for suicide prevention. Psychiatric disorders, gender, socioeconomic status, and catastrophic illnesses are associated with increased risk of suicide. Most studies have typically focused on the separate influences of physiological or psychological factors on suicide-related behaviors, and have rarely used national data records to examine and compare the effects of major physical illnesses, psychiatric disorders, and socioeconomic status on the risk of suicide-related behaviors. Objectives To identify the characteristics of people who exhibited suicide-related behaviors and the multiple factors associated with repeated suicide-related behaviors and deaths by suicide by examining national data records. Design This is a cohort study of Taiwan’s national data records of hospitalized patients with suicide-related behaviors from January 1, 1997, to December 31, 2010. Participants The study population included all people in Taiwan who were hospitalized with a code indicating suicide or self-inflicted injury (E950–E959) according to the International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification. Results Self-poisoning was the most common method of self-inflicted injury among hospitalized patients with suicide-related behaviors who used a single method. Those who were female, had been hospitalized for suicide-related behaviors at a younger age, had a low income, had a psychiatric disorder (i.e., personality disorder, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcohol-related disorder, or adjustment disorder), had a catastrophic illness, or had been hospitalized for suicide-related behaviors that involved two methods of self-inflicted injury had a higher risk of hospitalization for repeated suicide-related behaviors. Those who were male, had been hospitalized for suicide-related behaviors at an older age, had low income, had schizophrenia, showed repeated suicide-related behaviors, had a catastrophic illness, or had adopted a single lethal method had an increased risk of death by suicide. Conclusions High-risk factors should be considered when devising suicide-prevention strategies. PMID:26900930

Identifying Loci for the Overlap between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder Using a Genome-Wide QTL Linkage Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nijmeijer, Judith S.; Arias-Vasquez, Alejandro; Rommelse, Nanda N. J.; Altink, Marieke E.; Anney, Richard J. L.; Asherson, Philip; Banaschewski, Tobias; Buschgens, Cathelijne J. M.; Fliers, Ellen A.; Gill, Michael; Minderaa, Ruud B.; Poustka, Luise; Sergeant, Joseph A.; Buitelaar, Jan K.; Franke, Barbara; Ebstein, Richard P.; Miranda, Ana; Mulas, Fernando; Oades, Robert D.; Roeyers, Herbert; Rothenberger, Aribert; Sonuga-Barke, Edmund J. S.; Steinhausen, Hans-Christoph; Faraone, Stephen V.; Hartman, Catharina A.; Hoekstra, Pieter J.

2010-01-01

Objective: The genetic basis for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was addressed using a genome-wide linkage approach. Method: Participants of the International Multi-Center ADHD Genetics study comprising 1,143 probands with ADHD and 1,453 siblings were analyzed. The total and…

Diagnostic Classification of Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents: How Does DSM-IV-TR Compare to Empirically-Derived Categories?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eddy, Kamryn T.; Le Grange, Daniel; Crosby, Ross D.; Hoste, Renee Rienecke; Doyle, Angela Celio; Smyth, Angela; Herzog, David B.

2010-01-01

Objective: The purpose of this study was to empirically derive eating disorder phenotypes in a clinical sample of children and adolescents using latent profile analysis (LPA), and to compare these latent profile (LP) groups to the DSM-IV-TR eating disorder categories. Method: Eating disorder symptom data collected from 401 youth (aged 7 through 19…

Mental Illness in Persons with Mental Retardation: ARC Facts.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weber, Linda R.; Wimmer, Sharon

This brief factsheet presents information on mental illness in mentally retarded persons. The most prevalent disorders found in this population are schizophrenia, organic brain syndrome, adjustment disorders, personality disorders, depression, and behavioral problems. Few standardized methods of assessment exist for the diagnosis of mental illness…

Disorder effect on the Friedel oscillations in a one-dimensional Mott insulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weiss, Y.; Goldstein, M.; Berkovits, R.

2007-07-01

The Friedel oscillations resulting from coupling a quantum dot to one edge of a disordered one-dimensional wire in the Mott insulator regime are calculated numerically using the density matrix renormalization group method. By investigating the influence of a constant weak disorder on the Friedel oscillations decay we find that the effect of disorder is reduced by increasing the interaction strength. This behavior is opposite to the recently reported influence of disorder in the Anderson insulator regime.

The Relationship bBetween Health and Fitness Magazine Reading and Eating-Disordered Weight-Loss Methods among High School Girls.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thomsen, Steven R.; Weber, Michele M.; Brown, Lora Beth

2001-01-01

Investigated the relationship between reading women's health and fitness magazines and using eating disordered diet methods (laxatives, appetite suppressants/diet pills, vomiting, and over-restricting calories) among adolescent high school girls. Student surveys found positive associations between reading frequency and use of unhealthy weight…

A Proposal for a Dimensional Classification System Based on the Shared Features of the DSM-IV Anxiety and Mood Disorders: Implications for Assessment and Treatment

PubMed Central

Brown, Timothy A.; Barlow, David H.

2010-01-01

A wealth of evidence attests to the extensive current and lifetime diagnostic comorbidity of the DSM-IV anxiety and mood disorders. Research has shown that the considerable cross-sectional covariation of DSM-IV emotional disorders is accounted for by common higher-order dimensions such as neuroticism/behavioral inhibition (N/BI) and low positive affect/behavioral activation. Longitudinal studies have indicated that the temporal covariation of these disorders can be explained by changes in N/BI and in some cases, initial levels of N/BI are predictive of the temporal course of emotional disorders. Moreover, the marked phenotypal overlap of the DSM-IV anxiety and mood disorder constructs is a frequent source of diagnostic unreliability (e.g., temporal overlap in the shared features of generalized anxiety disorder and mood disorders, situation specificity of panic attacks in panic disorder and specific phobia). Although dimensional approaches have been considered as a method to address the drawbacks associated with the extant prototypical nosology (e.g., inadequate assessment of individual differences in disorder severity), these proposals do not reconcile key problems in current classification such as modest reliability and high comorbidity. The current paper considers an alternative approach that emphasizes empirically supported common dimensions of emotional disorders over disorder-specific criteria sets. The selection and assessment of these dimensions are discussed along with how these methods could be implemented to promote more reliable and valid diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment planning. For instance, the advantages of this classification system are discussed in context of current transdiagnostic treatment protocols that are efficaciously applied to a variety of disorders by targeting their shared features. PMID:19719339

Comparison of Memory Function and MMPI-2 Profile between Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Adjustment Disorder after a Traffic Accident

PubMed Central

Bae, Sung-Man; Hyun, Myoung-Ho

2014-01-01

Objective Differential diagnosis between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and adjustment disorder (AD) is rather difficult, but very important to the assignment of appropriate treatment and prognosis. This study investigated methods to differentiate PTSD and AD. Methods Twenty-five people with PTSD and 24 people with AD were recruited. Memory tests, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2 (MMPI-2), and Beck's Depression Inventory were administered. Results There were significant decreases in immediate verbal recall and delayed verbal recognition in the participants with PTSD. The reduced memory functions of participants with PTSD were significantly influenced by depressive symptoms. Hypochondriasis, hysteria, psychopathic deviate, paranoia, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder scale of MMPI-2 classified significantly PTSD and AD group. Conclusion Our results suggest that verbal memory assessments and the MMPI-2 could be useful for discriminating between PTSD and AD. PMID:24851120

[The effectiveness of psychoanalytic-interactional therapy in borderline personality disorder: a study of clinical data].

PubMed

Leichsenring, Falk; Masuhr, Oliver; Jaeger, Ulrich; Dally, Andreas; Streeck, Ulrich

2007-01-01

Different methods are available for the psychotherapeutic treatment of patients with severe structural mental disorders. Psychoanalytic-interactional therapy is among those methods which have been clinically proven to be effective for many years. Psychoanalytic-interactional therapy was derived from analytic psychotherapy specifically to allow for the treatment of severely disturbed patients, e.g. patients with borderline personality disorders, prepsychotic disorders, addictions and perversions. In a naturalistic study, the effectiveness of psychoanalytic-interactional therapy was tested in a sample of patients with borderline personality disorders (N = 132). The patients were treated at the Clinic Tiefenbrunn near Goettingen, Germany. Standardized, reliable and valid diagnostic instruments were used to study the treatment effects. Psychoanalytic-interactional therapy was found to significantly improve target symptoms, general symptoms, interpersonal problems and life satisfaction. The results are discussed with regard to the treatment of severely disturbed patients.

A Study of the Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders in Patients with Methamphetamine-Induced Psychosis

PubMed Central

Eslami-Shahrbabaki, Mahin; Fekrat, Alireza; Mazhari, Shahrzad

2015-01-01

Background The abuse of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances such as amphetamines and ecstasy has had a growing trend. Tachycardia, increased blood pressure, hallucinations, panic attacks, and psychosis are the negative effects of methamphetamine abuse. The present study aimed to assess psychiatric disorders associated with methamphetamine-induced psychotic disorder. Methods This cross-sectional study was performed from October 2013 to March 2014 on 165 patients hospitalized at Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kerman, Iran, and diagnosed with psychosis induced by methamphetamine abuse within the previous 6 months. Study subjects were selected via census method. Based on the exclusion criteria and due to the lack of cooperation of some patients, 121 patients were enrolled in the study. Research data were gathered using clinical interviews, the Yale-Brown obsessive compulsive scale (Y-BOCS), Hamilton anxiety scale (HAM-A) and Hamilton rating scale for depression (HRSD), Young mania rating scale (YMRS), substance dependence severity scale (SDSS), positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS), and clinical global impression (CGI) scale. The data analysis was performed using SPSS software, descriptive statistics, and ANOVA. Findings Among the 121 patients of the sample group, 4 patients (3.3%) had anxiety, 58 patients (47.9%) depression, 30 patients (24.8%) obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), 20 patients (16.5%) bipolar mood disorder (BMD), 8 patients (6.6%) persistent psychotic symptoms, 85 patients (70.2%) personality disorder, and 36 patients (29.8%) had no personality disorders. The highest prevalence was related to borderline personality disorder (35.5%). However, 45 patients (37.2%) had no impairment associated with methamphetamine-induced psychosis. Conclusion It seems that there is comorbidity between psychiatric disorders, including mood disorders, especially depressive disorder, childhood history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, and personality disorders such as borderline personality disorder, and antisocial personality disorders, and methamphetamine abuse. PMID:26322209

Early Evidence for the Extensive Heat Treatment of Silcrete in the Howiesons Poort at Klipdrift Shelter (Layer PBD, 65 ka), South Africa

PubMed Central

Douze, Katja; Wurz, Sarah; Bellot-Gurlet, Ludovic; Conard, Nicholas J.; Nickel, Klaus G.; van Niekerk, Karen L.; Henshilwood, Christopher S.

2016-01-01

Heating stone to enhance its flaking qualities is among the multiple innovative adaptations introduced by early modern human groups in southern Africa, in particular during the Middle Stone Age Still Bay and Howiesons Poort traditions. Comparatively little is known about the role and impact of this technology on early modern human behaviors and cultural expressions, due, in part, to the lack of comprehensive studies of archaeological assemblages documenting the heat treatment of stone. We address this issue through an analysis of the procedure used for heating and a technological analysis of a lithic assemblage recovered from one Howiesons Poort assemblage at Klipdrift Shelter (southern Cape, South Africa). The resulting data show extensive silcrete heat treatment, which adds a new dimension to our understanding of fire-related behaviors during the Howiesons Poort, highlighting the important role played by a heat treatment stage in the production of silcrete blades. These results are made possible by our new analytical procedure that relies on the analysis of all silcrete artifacts. It provides direct evidence of a controlled use of fire which took place during an early stage of core exploitation, thereby impacting on all subsequent stages of the lithic chaîne opératoire, which, to date, has no known equivalent in the Middle Stone Age or Middle Paleolithic record outside of southern Africa. PMID:27760210

Independent Orbiter Assessment (IOA): Assessment of the mechanical actuation subsystem, volume 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bradway, M. W.; Slaughter, W. T.

1988-01-01

The results of the Independent Orbiter Assessment (IOA) of the Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Critical Items List (CIL) are presented. The IOA approach features a top-down analysis of the hardware to determine draft failure modes, criticality, and potential critical items. To preserve independence, this analysis was accomplished without reliance upon the results contained within the NASA FMEA/CIL documentation. The IOA results were then compared to the proposed Post 51-L NASA FMEA/CIL baseline that was available. A resolution of each discrepancy from the comparison was provided through additional analysis as required. These discrepancies were flagged as issues, and recommendations were made based on the FMEA data available at the time. This report documents the results of that comparison for the Orbiter Mechanical Actuation System (MAS) hardware. Specifically, the MAS hardware consists of the following components: Air Data Probe (ADP); Elevon Seal Panel (ESP); External Tank Umbilical (ETU); Ku-Band Deploy (KBD); Payload Bay Doors (PBD); Payload Bay Radiators (PBR); Personnel Hatches (PH); Vent Door Mechanism (VDM); and Startracker Door Mechanism (SDM). Criticality was assigned based upon the severity of the effect for each failure mode. Volume 2 continues the presentation of IOA analysis worksheets and contains the potential critical items list, detailed analysis, and NASA FMEA/CIL to IOA worksheet cross reference and recommendations.

Major Depressive Disorder in Adolescence: The Role of Subthreshold Symptoms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Georgiades, Katholiki; Lewinsohn, Peter M.; Monroe, Scott M.; Seeley, John R.

2006-01-01

Objective: To examine the longitudinal association between individual subthreshold symptoms and onset of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adolescence. Method: Data for analysis come from the Oregon Adolescent Depression Project, a prospective epidemiological study of psychological disorders among adolescents, ages 14 to 18 years, from the…

Comorbidity of Auditory Processing, Language, and Reading Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sharma, Mridula; Purdy, Suzanne C.; Kelly, Andrea S.

2009-01-01

Purpose: The authors assessed comorbidity of auditory processing disorder (APD), language impairment (LI), and reading disorder (RD) in school-age children. Method: Children (N = 68) with suspected APD and nonverbal IQ standard scores of 80 or more were assessed using auditory, language, reading, attention, and memory measures. Auditory processing…

Consequences of Co-Occurring Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder on Children's Language Impairments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Redmond, Sean M.; Ash, Andrea C.; Hogan, Tiffany P.

2015-01-01

Purpose: Co-occurring attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and communication disorders represent a frequently encountered challenge for school-based practitioners. The purpose of the present study was to examine in more detail the clinical phenomenology of co-occurring ADHD and language impairments (LIs). Method: Measures of nonword…

The Validity of a Personality Disorder Diagnosis for People with an Intellectual Disability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moreland, Jessica; Hendy, Steve; Brown, Freddy

2008-01-01

Background: It has long been appreciated that people with intellectual disabilities experience mental health problems. Studies into the prevalence of personality disorder in the population of people with an intellectual disability indicate significant variations, which have no clear explanation. Method: Work on personality disorder and personality…

Neurocognitive Outcomes in the Treatment of Early-Onset Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Frazier, Jean A.; Giuliano, Anthony J.; Johnson, Jacqueline L.; Yakutis, Lauren; Youngstrom, Eric A.; Breiger, David; Sikich, Linmarie; Findling, Robert L.; McClellan, Jon; Hamer, Robert M.; Vitiello, Benedetto; Lieberman, Jeffrey A.; Hooper, Stephen R.

2012-01-01

Objective: To assess neurocognitive outcomes following antipsychotic intervention in youth enrolled in the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded Treatment of Early-Onset Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (TEOSS). Method: Neurocognitive functioning of youth (ages 8 to 19 years) with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder was evaluated…

Genetic Overlap between Measures of Hyperactivity/Inattention and Mood in Children and Adolescents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cole, James; Ball, Harriet A.; Martin, Neilson C.; Scourfield, Jane; McGuffin, Peter

2009-01-01

Objective: Evidence suggests that there is substantial comorbidity between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and major depressive disorder in childhood and adolescence. This study aims to investigate the degree to which etiological factors are shared between the symptoms of these significantly heritable disorders. Method: A twin…

Examining Teachers' Understanding of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Guerra, Federico; Tiwari, Ashwini; Das, Ajay; Cavazos Vela, Javier; Sharma, Manisha

2017-01-01

The aim of this study was to examine teachers' knowledge, misconceptions and concerns about students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This mixed methods study involved 173 school teachers from five elementary schools. Knowledge of Attention Deficit Disorders Scale (KADDS) was used to measure teachers' knowledge and…

Three-Dimensional Mapping of Hippocampal Anatomy in Adolescents with Bipolar Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bearden, Carrie E.; Soares, Jair C.; Klunder, Andrea D.; Nicoletti, Mark; Dierschki, Nicole; Hayashi, Kiralee M.; Narr, Katherine L.; Bhrambilla, Paolo; Sassi, Roberto B.; Axelson, David; Ryan, Neal; Birmaher, Boris; Thompson, Paul M.

2008-01-01

The article discusses the use of three-dimensional mapping methods in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder to find out if localized alterations in hippocampal structure are exhibited. It also explores the developmental differences where the patient with bipolar disorder showed increasing hippocampal size with increasing age.

A Comparison of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Sertraline, and Their Combination for Adolescent Depression

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Melvin, Glenn A.; Tonge, Bruce J.; King, Neville J.; Heyne, David; Gordon, Michael S.; Klimkeit, Ester

2006-01-01

Objective: To evaluate cognitive-behavioral therapy, antidepressant medication alone, and combined CBT and antidepressant medication in the treatment of depressive disorders in adolescents. Method: Seventy-three adolescents (ages 12-18 years) with a primary diagnosis of DSM-IV major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, or depressive disorder…

Evidence for Auditory-Motor Impairment in Individuals with Hyperfunctional Voice Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stepp, Cara E.; Lester-Smith, Rosemary A.; Abur, Defne; Daliri, Ayoub; Noordzij, J. Pieter; Lupiani, Ashling A.

2017-01-01

Purpose: The vocal auditory-motor control of individuals with hyperfunctional voice disorders was examined using a sensorimotor adaptation paradigm. Method: Nine individuals with hyperfunctional voice disorders and 9 individuals with typical voices produced sustained vowels over 160 trials in 2 separate conditions: (a) while experiencing gradual…

Respiratory and Laryngeal Function during Spontaneous Speaking in Teachers with Voice Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lowell, Soren Y.; Barkmeier-Kraemer, Julie M.; Hoit, Jeannette D.; Story, Brad H.

2008-01-01

Purpose: To determine if respiratory and laryngeal function during spontaneous speaking were different for teachers with voice disorders compared with teachers without voice problems. Method: Eighteen teachers, 9 with and 9 without voice disorders, were included in this study. Respiratory function was measured with magnetometry, and laryngeal…

Epidemiology: Informing Clinical Practice and Research on Language Disorders in Children.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lubker, Bobbie Boyd; Tomblin, J. Bruce

1998-01-01

Describes the discipline of epidemiology and the application of epidemiologic methods to the study of children's language disorders. Epidemiology is described as the study of the distributions and determinants of disease, disorders, disabilities, and desirable health events in populations. Common epidemiologic research designs are discussed.…

Positive Childhood Experiences: Resilience and Recovery from Personality Disorder in Early Adulthood

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Skodol, Andrew E.; Bender, Donna S.; Pagano, Maria E.; Shea, M. Tracie; Yen, Shirley; Sanislow, Charles A.; Grilo, Carlos M.; Daversa, Maria T.; Stout, Robert L.; Zanarini, Mary C.; McGlashan, Thomas H.; Gunderson, John G.

2009-01-01

Objective--Recent follow-along studies of personality disorders have shown significant improvement in psychopathology over time. The purpose of this study was to prospectively investigate the association between positive childhood experiences related to resiliency and remission from personality disorder. Method--Five hundred twenty patients with…

Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Referred Children and Adolescents.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Masi, Gabriele; Millepiedi, Stefania; Mucci, Maria; Poli, Paola; Bertini, Nicoletta; Milantoni, Luca

2004-01-01

Objective: There are insufficient data on generalized anxiety disorder in children and adolescents. Symptoms and comorbidity of generalized anxiety disorder are described as a function of age, gender, and comorbidity in a consecutive series of referred children and adolescents. Method: One hundred fifty-seven outpatients (97 males and 60 females,…

Means and methods of physical conditioning of man in long space flights

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stepantsov, V. I.; Yeremin, A. V.; Tikhonov, M. A.

1975-01-01

Methods of prophylaxis for disorders caused predominantly by reduction or absence of hydrostatic blood pressure in weightlessness and in experimental stimulation of it (readjustment of the watersalt metabolism, relative dehydration, disruption of competence of the cardiovascular system with respect to orthostatic loads, etc.), are adequately substantiated. Two theoretically possible approaches to prophylaxis of this type of disorder are examined: The use of methods of simulation of the effect of hydrostatic blood pressure in flight and the decrease in the gravitational redistribution of blood to the lower part of the body in the postflight period. In particular, the method of negative pressure in the lower region of the body gave favorable results. A significant decrease in orthostatic disorders after completion of such experiments was achieved by use of g-suits or other types of special clothing.

Somatoform and dissociative disorders in children and adolescents: A comparative study

PubMed Central

Malhotra, Savita; Singh, Gagandeep; Mohan, Ashwin

2005-01-01

Background: Somatoform and dissociative (conversion) disorders in adults have been reported to have a close relationship because of a diagnostic overlap and comparable aetiological models. The literature on these disorders in children and adolescents is scarce. Aim: The present study attempted to compare these two disorders in children and adolescents since antecedents of these disorders are said to be laid in childhood. Methods: Case files of 118 patients (69 of somatoform disorders and 49 of dissociative disorders) were reviewed and the two groups were compared with respect to sociodemographic profile, clinical profile, neurotic traits, behavioural problems, temperament, intelligence and family dysfunction. Results: Age at presentation and intelligence were significantly higher in those with somatoform disorders than in those with dissociative disorders. Patients with dissociative disorders had a significantly higher number of co-morbid somatoform symptoms. Conclusion: Somatoform and dissociative disorders are closely linked.

Structural disorder in the decagonal Al-Co-Ni. II. Modeling

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kobas, Miroslav; Weber, Thomas; Steurer, Walter

2005-06-01

The hydrodynamic theory of phasonic and phononic disorder is applied successfully to describe the short-range disordered structure of a decagonal Al{sub 71.5}Co{sub 14.6}Ni{sub 13.9} quasicrystal (Edagawa phase, superstructure type I). Moreover, model calculations demonstrate that the main features of diffuse scattering can be equally well described by phasonic disorder and fivefold orientational disorder of clusters. The calculations allow us to distinguish the different cluster types published so far and the best agreement with experimental data could be achieved with the mirror-symmetric Abe cluster. Modeling of phason diffuse scattering associated with the S1 and S2 superstructure reflections indicate disorder of superclusters.more » The former show basically intercluster correlations inside quasiperiodic layers, while the latter exhibit intra- and inter-cluster correlations, both between adjacent and inside quasiperiodic layers. The feasibility, potential, and limits of the Patterson method in combination with the punch-and-fill method employed is shown on the example of a phasonic disordered rhombic Penrose tiling. A variation of the elastic constants does not change qualitatively the way phasonic disorder is realized in the local quasicrystalline structure. For the same model system it is also shown that phasonic fluctuations of the atomic surfaces yield average clusters in the cut space, which correspond to fivefold orientationally disordered clusters.« less

Hierarchical screening for multiple mental disorders.

PubMed

Batterham, Philip J; Calear, Alison L; Sunderland, Matthew; Carragher, Natacha; Christensen, Helen; Mackinnon, Andrew J

2013-10-01

There is a need for brief, accurate screening when assessing multiple mental disorders. Two-stage hierarchical screening, consisting of brief pre-screening followed by a battery of disorder-specific scales for those who meet diagnostic criteria, may increase the efficiency of screening without sacrificing precision. This study tested whether more efficient screening could be gained using two-stage hierarchical screening than by administering multiple separate tests. Two Australian adult samples (N=1990) with high rates of psychopathology were recruited using Facebook advertising to examine four methods of hierarchical screening for four mental disorders: major depressive disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder and social phobia. Using K6 scores to determine whether full screening was required did not increase screening efficiency. However, pre-screening based on two decision tree approaches or item gating led to considerable reductions in the mean number of items presented per disorder screened, with estimated item reductions of up to 54%. The sensitivity of these hierarchical methods approached 100% relative to the full screening battery. Further testing of the hierarchical screening approach based on clinical criteria and in other samples is warranted. The results demonstrate that a two-phase hierarchical approach to screening multiple mental disorders leads to considerable increases efficiency gains without reducing accuracy. Screening programs should take advantage of prescreeners based on gating items or decision trees to reduce the burden on respondents. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Randomized Double-Blind Study of Atomoxetine versus Placebo for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harfterkamp, Myriam; van de Loo-Neus, Gigi; Minderaa, Ruud B.; van der Gaag, Rutger-Jan; Escobar, Rodrigo; Schacht, Alexander; Pamulapati, Sireesha; Buitelaar, Jan K.; Hoekstra, Pieter J.

2012-01-01

Objective: The efficacy of atomoxetine as treatment of symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has not been established. Method: In this study, 97 patients aged 6 to 17 years with ADHD and ASD were randomly assigned to double-blind treatment with 1.2 mg/kg/day atomoxetine or…

Prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among cancer patients – hospital-based, cross-sectional survey

PubMed Central

Gopalan, Mohan Roy; Karunakaran, Vidhukumar; Prabhakaran, Anil; Jayakumar, Krishnannair Lalithamma

2016-01-01

Aim: To study the prevalence of Psychiatric disorders in cancer patients and to find out the factors associated with Psychiatric disorders in Cancer Patients. Settings and Design: Department of Radiotherapy, Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, cross sectional survey design was used. Methods and Material: Adult patients (18 years of age and above), having a diagnosis of carcinoma were selected by consecutive sampling method.A questionnaire which included back ground data, socio economic variables, treatment variables like type of malignancy, exposure to radiation & chemotherapy prior to the evaluation and current treatment, co occurring medical illness & treatment and past & family history of psychiatric illness was used to collect data. Delirium rating scale and MINI International neuropsychiatric interview were used to assess Psychiatric disorders and delirium. Statistical Analysis Used: Chi square and logistics regression tests were used for analysis. Results: Of the 384 assessed, 160(41.7%) had psychiatric disorders. Adjustment disorders were seen in 22.6%. 10.9% of subjects had major depressive disorder. Thus a total of 33.5% of patients had a diagnosis of either anxiety or depressive disorder. Proportion of patients having delirium was 6.5%. Hypomania was seen in small (1.6%) of patients. Multivariate analysis for various parameters for psychiatric disorders showed that age, past history of chemotherapy, past history of radiotherapy, & surgical treatment of carcinomas are significant predictors of psychiatric disorders. Conclusions: Psychiatric disorders are seen in a significant proportion of Psychiatric patients. PMID:28066004

Auditory brainstem response as a diagnostic tool for patients suffering from schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and bipolar disorder: protocol.

PubMed

Wahlström, Viktor; Åhlander, Fredrik; Wynn, Rolf

2015-02-12

Psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and bipolar disorder, may sometimes be difficult to diagnose. There is a great need for a valid and reliable diagnostic tool to aid clinicians in arriving at the diagnoses in a timely and accurate manner. Prior studies have suggested that patients suffering from schizophrenia and ADHD may process certain sound stimuli in the brainstem in an unusual manner. When these patient groups have been examined with the electrophysiological method of brainstem audiometry, some studies have found illness-specific aberrations. Such aberrations may also exist for patients suffering from bipolar disorder. In this study, we will examine whether the method of brainstem audiometry can be used as a diagnostic tool for patients suffering from schizophrenia, ADHD, and bipolar disorder. The method includes three steps: (1) auditory stimulation with specific sound stimuli, (2) simultaneous measurement of brainstem activity, and (3) automated interpretation of the resulting brain stem audiograms with data-based signal analysis. We will compare three groups of 12 individuals with confirmed diagnoses of schizophrenia, ADHD, or bipolar disorder with 12 healthy subjects under blinded conditions for a total of 48 participants. The extent to which the method can be used to reach the correct diagnosis will be investigated. The project is now in a recruiting phase. When all patients and controls have been recruited and the measurements have been performed, the data will be analyzed according to a previously arranged algorithm. We expect the recruiting phase and measurements to be completed in early 2015, the analyses to be performed in mid-2015, and the results of the study to be published in early 2016. If the results support previous findings, this will lend strength to the idea that brainstem audiometry can offer objective diagnostic support for patients suffering from schizophrenia, ADHD, and bipolar disorder. A positive result from the study could imply that brainstem audiometry could become an important supportive tool for clinicians in their efforts to diagnose patients with these disorders in a timely and accurate manner. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01629355; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01629355 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6VBfTwx5H).

Neurotic Disorders of General Medical Outpatients in Xi’an, China: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Help-Seeking Preferences

PubMed Central

Ni, Chunping; Ma, Lihua; Wang, Bo; Yan, Yongping; Huang, Yueqin; Wallen, Gwenyth R.; Li, Lu; Lang, Hongjuan; Hua, Qianzhen

2014-01-01

Objective This study assessed knowledge of neurotic disorders, and attitudes and preferences toward professional help and treatment for them, among general medical outpatients in general hospitals in Xi’an, China. Methods General medical outpatients (N=372) from general hospitals in China were recruited by using a stratified cluster sampling method between June and September 2010. In face-to-face interviews, participants age 16 years or older were assessed for their knowledge, attitudes, and help-seeking preferences in regard to neurotic disorders (obsessive-compulsive disorder, social phobia, and panic disorder). Demographic data were also collected. Results Lack of insight into neurotic disorders was common among medical outpatients in general hospitals of Xi’an, China. Twenty-four percent to 58% of the outpatients had some knowledge of the symptoms and treatment of neurotic disorders. Only 11% of the outpatients would reveal to others that they or a family member suffered from neurotic disorders. When faced with the problem of neurotic disorders, the preference of the respondents was to visit a psychiatrist in a general hospital (44%), and only 17% would visit a physician in a psychiatric hospital. Major ways for the outpatients to obtain knowledge regarding neurotic disorders were via radio and television (36%), and only 18%223% of outpatients obtained knowledge about neurotic disorders through printed public health materials and by attending lectures. Conclusions Study results underscore the need for information campaigns aimed at improving the mental health literacy of general medical outpatients. Such campaigns must consider culturally relevant beliefs to facilitate the development of specific educational programs. PMID:24733481

Two-Year Course of Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia in a Sample of Latino Adults

PubMed Central

Bjornsson, Andri S.; Sibrava, Nicholas J.; Beard, Courtney; Moitra, Ethan; Weisberg, Risa B.; Pérez Benítez, Carlos I.; Keller, Martin B.

2014-01-01

Objective It is imperative to study the clinical course of anxiety disorders among Latinos, given the implications for culturally-sensitive treatment in this population. The current study is the first prospective, observational, longitudinal study of anxiety disorders among Latinos. Method Data are reported on 139 adult Latinos (mean age 34.65, SD =10.98, 70.5% female) diagnosed with social anxiety disorder (SAD, n = 86), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD, n = 90) or panic disorder with agoraphobia (PDA, n = 62). The participants were interviewed with standardized clinical interviews at intake and annually over two years of follow-up. Probabilities of recovery were calculated using standard survival analysis methods. Results The two-year recovery rates in this study were 0.07 for SAD, 0.14 for GAD, 0.03 for PDA, and 0.50 for major depressive disorder (MDD). Overall functioning, social adjustment and life satisfaction in this sample were poor. Conclusions The recovery rates for anxiety disorders in this Latino sample were markedly low. Although caution must be used in comparing these data with prior longitudinal studies, these recovery rates seem to be much lower than in non-Latino White samples. However, the clinical course of MDD in this sample was similar to its course among non-Latino Whites, invoking the pressing question of whether there is something about the experience of anxiety disorders (but not MDD) among Latinos that makes them more impairing and persistent. The answer to that question should inform future treatment development for this population. PMID:24731232

Molecular Diagnosis of Thalassemias and Hemoglobinopathies: An ACLPS Critical Review.

PubMed

Sabath, Daniel E

2017-07-01

To describe the use of molecular diagnostic techniques for patients with hemoglobin disorders. A clinical scenario is presented in which molecular diagnosis is important for genetic counseling. Globin disorders, techniques for their diagnosis, and the role of molecular genetic testing in managing patients with these disorders are described in detail. Hemoglobin disorders, including thalassemias and hemoglobinopathies, are among the commonest genetic diseases, and the clinical laboratory is essential for the diagnosis of patients with these abnormalities. Most disorders can be diagnosed with protein-based techniques such as electrophoresis and chromatography. Since severe syndromes can result due to inheritance of combinations of globin genetic disorders, genetic counseling is important to prevent adverse outcomes. Protein-based methods cannot always detect potentially serious thalassemia disorders; in particular, α-thalassemia may be masked in the presence of β-thalassemia. Deletional forms of β-thalassemia are also sometimes difficult to diagnose definitively with standard methods. Molecular genetic testing serves an important role in identifying individuals carrying thalassemia traits that can cause adverse outcomes in offspring. Furthermore, prenatal genetic testing can identify fetuses with severe globin phenotypes. © American Society for Clinical Pathology, 2017. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com

The Twilight Zone between Protein Order and Disorder

PubMed Central

Szilágyi, A.; Györffy, D.; Závodszky, P.

2008-01-01

The amino acid composition of intrinsically disordered proteins and protein segments characteristically differs from that of ordered proteins. This observation forms the basis of several disorder prediction methods. These, however, usually perform worse for smaller proteins (or segments) than for larger ones. We show that the regions of amino acid composition space corresponding to ordered and disordered proteins overlap with each other, and the extent of the overlap (the “twilight zone”) is larger for short than for long chains. To explain this finding, we used two-dimensional lattice model proteins containing hydrophobic, polar, and charged monomers and revealed the relation among chain length, amino acid composition, and disorder. Because the number of chain configurations exponentially grows with chain length, a larger fraction of longer chains can reach a low-energy, ordered state than do shorter chains. The amount of information carried by the amino acid composition about whether a protein or segment is (dis)ordered grows with increasing chain length. Smaller proteins rely more on specific interactions for stability, which limits the possible accuracy of disorder prediction methods. For proteins in the “twilight zone”, size can determine order, as illustrated by the example of two-state homodimers. PMID:18441033

The twilight zone between protein order and disorder.

PubMed

Szilágyi, A; Györffy, D; Závodszky, P

2008-08-01

The amino acid composition of intrinsically disordered proteins and protein segments characteristically differs from that of ordered proteins. This observation forms the basis of several disorder prediction methods. These, however, usually perform worse for smaller proteins (or segments) than for larger ones. We show that the regions of amino acid composition space corresponding to ordered and disordered proteins overlap with each other, and the extent of the overlap (the "twilight zone") is larger for short than for long chains. To explain this finding, we used two-dimensional lattice model proteins containing hydrophobic, polar, and charged monomers and revealed the relation among chain length, amino acid composition, and disorder. Because the number of chain configurations exponentially grows with chain length, a larger fraction of longer chains can reach a low-energy, ordered state than do shorter chains. The amount of information carried by the amino acid composition about whether a protein or segment is (dis)ordered grows with increasing chain length. Smaller proteins rely more on specific interactions for stability, which limits the possible accuracy of disorder prediction methods. For proteins in the "twilight zone", size can determine order, as illustrated by the example of two-state homodimers.

Prevalence of neuroleptic-induced movement disorders in chronic schizophrenia inpatients.

PubMed

Janno, Sven; Holi, Matti; Tuisku, Katinka; Wahlbeck, Kristian

2004-01-01

Since most of the world's schizophrenia patients are treated with conventional antipsychotics, the authors evaluated various methods for establishing the prevalence of neuroleptic-induced movement disorders in these patients. DSM-IV criteria and established score thresholds on a movement disorder rating scale were used to identify cases of neuroleptic-induced movement disorder in a representative Estonian patient sample of 99 chronic institutionalized schizophrenia patients, 18-65 years old, treated with conventional neuroleptics (79.8%) or clozapine (20.2%). Neuroleptic-induced movement disorders according to DSM-IV criteria were found in 61.6% of the group: 31.3% had neuroleptic-induced akathisia, 23.2% had neuroleptic-induced parkinsonism, and 32.3% had neuroleptic-induced tardive dyskinesia. Prevalence rates for akathisia and tardive dyskinesia were similar when either DSM-IV criteria or rating scale scores were used, but the prevalence rate for parkinsonism was much lower per DSM-IV criteria than according to rating scale score. Nearly two-thirds of chronic schizophrenia patients suffered from a neuroleptic-induced movement disorder. Globally, extrapyramidal adverse effects still impose a huge burden on the majority of neuroleptic-treated individuals with schizophrenia. The discrepancy between the standard identification methods for neuroleptic-induced movement disorder indicate the need for further research.

Black patients with binge-eating disorder: Comparison of different assessment methods.

PubMed

Lydecker, Janet A; White, Marney A; Grilo, Carlos M

2016-10-01

The Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) is a well-established assessment instrument, but requires substantial training and administration time. The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) is the corresponding self-report survey, which does not have these demands. Research has shown concordance between these 2 assessment methods, but samples have lacked racial diversity. The current study examined the concordance of the EDE-Q and EDE in a sample of Black patients with binge-eating disorder (BED) and a matched sample of White patients. Participants were 238 (Black n = 119, White n = 119) treatment-seeking adults with DSM-IV-TR-defined BED. Participants completed the EDE-Q, and trained doctoral-level clinicians assessed participants for BED and eating-disorder psychopathology using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Disorders and the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) interview. The EDE-Q and EDE yielded significantly correlated frequencies of binge eating and eating-disorder psychopathology subscales. The EDE-Q yielded significantly lower frequencies of binge eating and higher scores on 3 of 4 subscales (not dietary restraint). Similar patterns of concordance between the EDE-Q and EDE were found for an alternative brief version of the instruments. Patterns of convergence and divergence between the EDE-Q and EDE observed in Black patients with BED are generally consistent with findings derived from the matched White sample: overall, scores are correlated but higher on the self-report compared with interview assessment methods. Clinicians assessing patients with BED should be aware of this overall pattern, and be aware that this pattern is similar in Black patients with BED with the notable exception of dietary restraint. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

Explanation of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder on the Basis of Thought-Action Fusion

PubMed Central

Ghamari Kivi, Hossein; Mohammadipour Rik, Ne’mat; Sadeghi Movahhed, Fariba

2013-01-01

Objective: Thought-action fusion (TAF) refers to the tendency to assume incorrect causal relationship between one’s own thoughts and external reality, in which, thoughts and actions are treated as equivalents. This construct is present to development and maintenance of many psychological disorders. The aim of the present study was to predict obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and its types, and major depressive disorder (MDD) with TAF and its levels. Methods: Two groups, included 50 persons with OCD and MDD, respectively, were selected by convenience sampling method in private and governmental psychiatric centers in Ardabil, Iran. Then, they responded to Beck Depression Inventory, Padua Inventory and TAF scale. Data were analysed using multiple regressions analysis by stepwise method. Results: TAF or its subtypes (moral TAF, likelihood-self TAF and likelihood-others TAF) can explain 14% of MDD variance (p < 0.01), 15% of OCD variance (p < 0.01), and 8-21% of OCD types variance (p < 0.05). Moral TAF had high levels in OCD and MDD. Conclusion: The construct of TAF is not specific factor for OCD, and it is present in MDD, too. Declaration of interest: None. PMID:24644509

Method and apparatus for measuring the NMR spectrum of an orientationally disordered sample

DOEpatents

Pines, Alexander; Samoson, Ago

1990-01-01

An improved NMR probe and method are described which substantially improve the resolution of NMR measurements made on powdered or amorphous or otherwise oreintationally disordered samples. The apparatus mechanically varies the orientation of the sample such that the time average of two or more sets of spherical harmonic functions is zero.

Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Second Year: Stability and Change in Syndrome Expression

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chawarska, Katarzyna; Klin, Ami; Paul, Rhea; Volkmar, Fred

2007-01-01

Objectives: Increasing numbers of young children referred for a differential diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) necessitates better understanding of the early syndrome expression and the utility of the existing state-of-the art diagnostic methods in this population. Method: Out of 31 infants under the age of 2 years referred for a…

Examining DIR/Floortime™ as a Treatment for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Review of Research and Theory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mercer, Jean

2017-01-01

Purpose: To review and assess theory and research supporting DIR/Floortime™, a method proposed for treatment of young children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Methods: Published materials describing the principles of DIR/Floortime™were evaluated. Published outcome research articles were assessed for the adequacy of their design and…

Teaching Methods and Strategies Used in a Christian High School for Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cappiello, Leslie Williams

2013-01-01

The findings from the case study research demonstrated that the high school students at the Christian academy who have emotional and behavioral disorders are successful in teaching, retaining, and graduating this population of students. Their teaching methods and strategies included a strong biblical foundation to develop emotional and behavioral…

Current Methods of Evaluating Speech-Language Outcomes for Preschoolers with Communication Disorders: A Scoping Review Using the ICF-CY

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cunningham, Barbara Jane; Washington, Karla N.; Binns, Amanda; Rolfe, Katelyn; Robertson, Bernadette; Rosenbaum, Peter

2017-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this scoping review was to identify current measures used to evaluate speech-language outcomes for preschoolers with communication disorders within the framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health-Children and Youth Version (ICF-CY; World Health Organization, 2007). Method: The review…

The potential impact of recruitment method on sample characteristics and treatment outcomes in a psychosocial trial for women with co-occurring substance use disorder and PTSD.

PubMed

Winhusen, Theresa; Winstanley, Erin L; Somoza, Eugene; Brigham, Gregory

2012-01-01

Recruitment method can impact the sample composition of a clinical trial and, thus, the generalizability of the results, but the importance of recruitment method in substance use disorder trials has received little attention. The present paper sought to address this research gap by evaluating the association between recruitment method and sample characteristics and treatment outcomes in a substance use disorder trial. In a multi-site trial evaluating Seeking Safety (SS), relative to Women's Health Education (WHE), for women with co-occurring PTSD (either sub-threshold or full PTSD) and substance use disorders, one site assessed the method by which each participant was recruited. Data from this site (n=106), which recruited participants from newspaper advertising and clinic intakes, were analyzed. Participants recruited through advertising, relative to those from the clinic, had significantly higher levels of baseline drug use and higher rates of meeting DSM-IV-TR criteria for full PTSD. Results suggest that the effectiveness of SS in decreasing PTSD symptoms was greater for participants recruited through advertising relative to those recruited from the clinic. Conversely, the results revealed a significant treatment effect in the clinic-recruited participants, not seen in the advertising-recruited participants, with SS, relative to WHE, participants being more likely to report past week drug use during the follow-up phase. Recruitment method may impact sample composition and treatment effects. Replication of this finding would have important implications for substance use disorder efficacy trials which often utilize advertising to recruit participants. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Use of Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Borderline Personality Disorder: A View from Residency

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sharma, Binali; Dunlop, Boadie W.; Ninan, Philip T.; Bradley, Rebekah

2007-01-01

Objective: The authors describe the use of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) in treating borderline personality disorder during psychiatry residency, and assess the status of DBT education within psychiatry residencies in the United States. Method: The authors present a patient with borderline personality disorder treated by a resident using DBT,…

Conduct Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder in a National Sample: Developmental Epidemiology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maughan, Barbara; Rowe, Richard; Messer, Julie; Goodman, Robert; Meltzer, Howard

2004-01-01

Background: Despite an expanding epidemiological evidence base, uncertainties remain over key aspects of the epidemiology of the "antisocial" disorders in childhood and adolescence. Methods: We used cross-sectional data on a nationally representative sample of 10,438 5-15-year-olds drawn from the 1999 British Child Mental Health Survey…

Shared Genetic Influences on Negative Emotionality and Major Depression/Conduct Disorder Comorbidity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tackett, Jennifer L.; Waldman, Irwin D.; Van Hulle, Carol A.; Lahey, Benjamin B.

2011-01-01

Objective: To investigate whether genetic contributions to major depressive disorder and conduct disorder comorbidity are shared with genetic influences on negative emotionality. Method: Primary caregivers of 2,022 same- and opposite-sex twin pairs 6 to 18 years of age comprised a population-based sample. Participants were randomly selected across…

Children's Perceived Parent-Child Relationships and Family Functioning in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ghanizadeh, Ahmad; Shams, Fatemeh

2007-01-01

Objective: To compare Children's Perceived Parent-Child Relationships (PCR) and family functioning in children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and a general population sample. Method: A total of 49 ADHD subjects and 51 subjects without any psychiatric disorder were matched for age, sex, educational level, family income, level…

Predictive Validity of DSM-IV and ICD-10 Criteria for ADHD and Hyperkinetic Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Soyoung I.; Schachar, Russell J.; Chen, Shirley X.; Ornstein, Tisha J.; Charach, Alice; Barr, Cathy; Ickowicz, Abel

2008-01-01

Background: The goal of this study was to compare the predictive validity of the two main diagnostic schemata for childhood hyperactivity--attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual"-IV) and hyperkinetic disorder (HKD; "International Classification of Diseases"-10th Edition). Methods: Diagnostic criteria for…

Development of Anxiety Disorders in a Traumatized Pediatric Population: A Preliminary Longitudinal Evaluation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cortes, Adriana M.; Saltzman, Kassey M.; Weems, Carl F.; Regnault, Heather P.; Reiss, Allan L.; Carrion, Victor G.

2005-01-01

Objective: The current study was conducted to determine if post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology predicted later development of non-PTSD anxiety disorders in children and adolescents victimized by interpersonal trauma. Methods: Thirty-four children with a history of interpersonal trauma and no initial diagnosis of anxiety disorder…

Parent and Child Agreement on Anxiety Disorder Symptoms Using the DISC Predictive Scales

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weems, Carl F.; Feaster, Daniel J.; Horigian, Viviana E.; Robbins, Michael S.

2011-01-01

Growing recognition of the negative impact of anxiety disorders in the lives of youth has made their identification an important clinical task. Multiple perspective assessment (e.g., parents, children) is generally considered a preferred method in the assessment of anxiety disorder symptoms, although it has been generally thought that disagreement…

Rage Attacks in Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Phenomenology and Clinical Correlates

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Storch, Eric A.; Jones, Anna M.; Lack, Caleb W.; Ale, Chelsea M.; Sulkowski, Michael L.; Lewin, Adam B.; De Nadai, Alessandro S.; Murphy, Tanya K.

2012-01-01

Objective: Rage attacks have been documented in youth with varied psychiatric disorders, but few data have been reported on the clinical characteristics and correlates of rage attacks among children with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Method: Participants were 86 children (ages 6-16 years) with a primary diagnosis of OCD. Patients and their…

Naming the Enemy: An Art Therapy Intervention for Children with Bipolar and Comorbid Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Henley, David

2007-01-01

Treatment and diagnosis for the pediatric form of bipolar disorder presents a clinical challenge given the differences from its adult counterpart and the various comorbid forms that complicate presentation and developmental course. This article discusses manifestations of early onset bipolar disorder and offers a method for implementing art…

A Description of Disordered Eating Behaviors in Latino Males

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reyes-Rodriguez, Mae Lynn; Sala, Margarita; Von Holle, Ann; Unikel, Claudia; Bulik, Cynthia M.; Camara-Fuentes, Luis; Suarez-Torres, Alba

2011-01-01

Objective: To explore disordered eating and eating disorders (EDs) in Latino males. Participants: Participants are 722 male college students from a larger prevalence study conducted in the University of Puerto Rico system. Methods: Participants were selected from a list of sections of required courses for first-year students on each campus.…

Treatment of Early-Onset Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (TEOSS): Demographic and Clinical Characteristics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Frazier, Jean A.; McClellan, Jon; Findling, Robert L.; Vitiello, Benedetto; Anderson, Robert; Zablotsky, Benjamin; Williams, Emily; McNamara, Nora K.; Jackson, Joseph A.; Ritz, Louise; Hlastala, Stefanie A.; Pierson, Leslie; Varley, Jennifer A.; Puglia, Madeline; Maloney, Ann E.; Ambler, Denisse; Hunt-Harrison, Tyehimba; Hamer, Robert M.; Noyes, Nancy; Lieberman, Jeffrey A.; Sikich, Linmarie

2007-01-01

Objective: We examined baseline demographic and clinical profiles of youths enrolled from 2001 to 2006 in the publicly funded multicenter, randomized controlled trial Treatment of Early-Onset Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders. Method: Youths (8-19 years) with schizophrenia (SZ) and schizoaffective disorder were recruited at four academic sites.…

Treating Adolescents with Social Anxiety Disorder in School: An Attention Control Trial

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Warner, Carrie Masia; Fisher, Paige H.; Shrout, Patrick E.; Rathor, Snigdha; Klein, Rachel G.

2007-01-01

Background: Anxiety disorders are often undetected and untreated in adolescents. This study evaluates the relative efficacy of a school-based, cognitive-behavioral intervention compared to an educational-supportive treatment for adolescents with social anxiety disorder. Methods: Thirty-six students (30 females), ages 14 to 16, were randomized to a…

Imagery Rescripting in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hackmann, Anne

2011-01-01

This article provides an overview of methods of working with imagery to change meanings and ameliorate posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It opens with a description of phenomenology in this disorder, usually characterized by a small number of recurrent images of the trauma, each representing a moment that warned of a threat to the physical or…

Open-Label, Prospective Trial of Olanzapine in Adolescents with Subaverage Intelligence and Disruptive Behavioral Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Handen, Benjamin L.; Hardan, Antonio Y.

2006-01-01

Objective: Olanzapine, an atypical antipsychotic, has been shown to be efficacious for treatment of psychotic and mood disorders in adults. This prospective, open-label study was conducted to examine the safety and usefulness of olanzapine in treating disruptive behavior disorders in adolescents with subaverage intelligence. Method: Sixteen…

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for PANDAS-Related Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Findings From A Preliminary Waitlist Controlled Open Trial

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Storch, Eric A.; Murphy, Tanya K.; Geffken, Gary R.; Mann, Giselle; Adkins, Jennifer; Merlo, Lisa J.; Duke, Danny; Munson, Melissa; Swaine, Zoe; Goodman, Wayne K.

2006-01-01

Objective: To provide preliminary estimates of the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in treating pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) of the pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcus (PANDAS) subtype. Method: Seven children with OCD of the PANDAS subtype (range 9-13 years) were treated…

The New Alternative DSM-5 Model for Personality Disorders: Issues and Controversies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Porter, Jeffrey S.; Risler, Edwin

2014-01-01

Purpose: Assess the new alternative "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders", fifth edition (DSM-5) model for personality disorders (PDs) as it is seen by its creators and critics. Method: Follow the DSM revision process by monitoring the American Psychiatric Association website and the publication of pertinent journal…

Rates and Predictors of Adherence to Psychotropic Medications in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Logan, Sarah L.; Carpenter, Laura; Leslie, R. Scott; Hunt, Kelly S.; Garrett-Mayer, Elizabeth; Charles, Jane; Nicholas, Joyce S.

2014-01-01

Medication adherence in children is poor, particularly among those with chronic or mental health disorders. However, adherence has not been fully assessed in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). The validated proportion of days covered method was used to quantify adherence to psychotropic medication in Medicaid-eligible children who met diagnostic…

A Systematic Chart Review of Inpatient Population with Childhood Dissociative Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Prabhuswamy, Mukesh; Jairam, Rajeev; Srinath, Shoba; Girimaji, Satish; Seshadri, Shekhar P.

2006-01-01

Objective: To study the socio-demographic factors, clinical characteristics, and long-term outcome of dissociative disorders in inpatient children and adolescents. Methods: Chart data of forty-four subjects (8-15 years) with a diagnosis of dissociative disorder admitted to a specialist Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) unit between September…

Conversion Disorder in Australian Pediatric Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kozlowska, Kasia; Nunn, Kenneth P.; Rose, Donna; Morris, Anne; Ouvrier, Robert A.; Varghese, John

2007-01-01

Objectives: To describe the incidence and clinical features of children presenting to Australian child health specialists with conversion disorder. Method: Active, national surveillance of conversion disorder in children younger than 16 years of age during 2002 and 2003. Results: A total of 194 children were reported on. The average age was 11.8…

Gene-Environment Interplay in Internalizing Disorders: Consistent Findings across Six Environmental Risk Factors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hicks, Brian M.; Dirago, Ana C.; Iacono, William G.; McGue, Matt

2009-01-01

Background: Behavior genetic methods can help to elucidate gene-environment (G-E) interplay in the development of internalizing (INT) disorders (i.e., major depression and anxiety disorders). To date, however, no study has conducted a comprehensive analysis examining multiple environmental risk factors with the purpose of delineating general…

Substance Use Disorder and ADHD: Is ADHD a Particularly "Specific" Risk Factor?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kousha, Maryam; Shahrivar, Zahra; Alaghband-rad, Javad

2012-01-01

Objective: To assess the pattern of substance use disorder (SUD) in adolescents with and without history of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) using an Iranian sample in the context of a cultural background and drug availability is differing from Western countries. Method: In this case-control study, the participants were interviewed…

Autism Spectrum Disorder and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Part II: A Qualitative Comparison of Parenting Stress

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Watson, Shelley L.; Hayes, Stephanie A.; Coons, Kelly D.; Radford-Paz, Elisa

2013-01-01

Background: Researchers investigating the impact of parenting children with disabilities suggest that regardless of the specific diagnosis, parents experience increased levels of stress. However, particular disabilities may be associated with distinct stressors and strains. Method: Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and…

Perceived Neighborhood Social Disorder and Residents' Attitudes toward Reporting Child Physical Abuse

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gracia, Enrique; Herrero, Juan

2006-01-01

Objective: This study aimed to explore the relationship between perceived neighborhood social disorder and attitudes toward reporting child physical abuse. Method: Data from a national probabilistic sample (N = 9,759) were used. Responses about the perception of neighborhood social disorder, perceived frequency of child physical abuse in Spanish…

Motor Profile of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Combined Type

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goulardins, Juliana B.; Marques, Juliana C. Bilhar; Casella, Erasmo B.; Nascimento, Roseane O.; Oliveira, Jorge A.

2013-01-01

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the motor profile of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), combined type. Method: The case group consisted of 34 treatment-naive, male patients, aged 7-11 years, who had been diagnosed with ADHD, combined type, without comorbidities (except oppositional defiant disorder). The…

Childhood Abuse and Neglect in Body Dysmorphic Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Didie, Elizabeth R.; Tortolani, Christina C.; Pope, Courtney G.; Menard, William; Fay, Christina; Phillips, Katharine A.

2006-01-01

Objective: No published studies have examined childhood abuse and neglect in body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). This study examined the prevalence and clinical correlates of abuse and neglect in individuals with this disorder. Methods: Seventy-five subjects (69.3% female, mean age = 35.4 +/- 12.0) with DSM-IV BDD completed the Childhood Trauma…

Risperidone Augmentation for Treatment-Resistant Aggression in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Armenteros, Jorge L.; Lewis, John E.; Davalos, Marisabel

2007-01-01

Objective: To evaluate the effects of risperidone augmentation for treatment-resistant aggression in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Method: Twenty-five children (ages 7-12 years) with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) and significant aggressive behaviors were randomized to risperidone or placebo for 4…

Sequential Pharmacotherapy for Children with Comorbid Attention-Deficit/hyperactivity and Anxiety Disorders.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abikoff, Howard; McGough, James; Vitiello, Benedetto; McCracken, James; Davies, Mark; Walkup, John; Riddle, Mark; Oatis, Melvin; Greenhill, Laurence; Skrobala, Anne; March, John; Gammon, Pat; Robinson, James; Lazell, Robert; McMahon, Donald J.; Ritz, Louise

2005-01-01

Objective: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often accompanied by clinically significant anxiety, but few empirical data guide treatment of children meeting full DSM-IV criteria for ADHD and anxiety disorders (ADHD/ANX). This study examined the efficacy of sequential pharmacotherapy for ADHD/ANX children. Method: Children, age 6…

The Prevalence of Speech Disorders among University Students in Jordan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alaraifi, Jehad Ahmad; Amayreh, Mousa Mohammad; Saleh, Mohammad Yusef

2014-01-01

Problem: There are no available studies on the prevalence, and distribution of speech disorders among Arabic speaking undergraduate students in Jordan. Method: A convenience sample of 400 undergraduate students at the University of Jordan was screened for speech disorders. Two spontaneous speech samples and an oral reading of a passage were…

Perceptual and Acoustic Reliability Estimates for the Speech Disorders Classification System (SDCS)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shriberg, Lawrence D.; Fourakis, Marios; Hall, Sheryl D.; Karlsson, Heather B.; Lohmeier, Heather L.; McSweeny, Jane L.; Potter, Nancy L.; Scheer-Cohen, Alison R.; Strand, Edythe A.; Tilkens, Christie M.; Wilson, David L.

2010-01-01

A companion paper describes three extensions to a classification system for paediatric speech sound disorders termed the Speech Disorders Classification System (SDCS). The SDCS uses perceptual and acoustic data reduction methods to obtain information on a speaker's speech, prosody, and voice. The present paper provides reliability estimates for…

Validating the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Scale with Persons Who Have Severe Mental Illnesses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O'Hare, Thomas; Shen, Ce; Sherrer, Margaret

2007-01-01

Objective: Interview data collected from 275 clients with severe mental illnesses are used to test the construct and criterion validity of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Scale (PSS). Method: First, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses are used to test whether the scale reflects the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom…

Practitioner Review: The Assessment of Bipolar Disorder in Children and Adolescents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baroni, Argelinda; Lunsford, Jessica R.; Luckenbaugh, David A.; Towbin, Kenneth E.; Leibenluft, Ellen

2009-01-01

Background: An increasing number of youth are being diagnosed with, and treated for, bipolar disorder (BD). Controversy exists about whether youth with non-episodic irritability and symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) should be considered to have a developmental presentation of mania. Method: A selective review of the…

Practitioner Review: Reading Disorders--What Are the Effective Interventions and How Should They Be Implemented and Evaluated?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Duff, Fiona J.; Clarke, Paula J.

2011-01-01

Background: Two developmental reading disorders, dyslexia and reading comprehension impairment, are identified by different behavioural characteristics and traced back to different underlying cognitive impairments. Thus, reading interventions designed to address each of these reading disorders differ in content. Method: This review summarises the…

Working Memory Functioning in Children with Learning Disorders and Specific Language Impairment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schuchardt, Kirsten; Bockmann, Ann-Katrin; Bornemann, Galina; Maehler, Claudia

2013-01-01

Purpose: On the basis of Baddeley's working memory model (1986), we examined working memory functioning in children with learning disorders with and without specific language impairment (SLI). We pursued the question whether children with learning disorders exhibit similar working memory deficits as children with additional SLI. Method: In…

Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders in Preschoolers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wichstrom, Lars; Berg-Nielsen, Turid Suzanne; Angold, Adrian; Egger, Helen Link; Solheim, Elisabet; Sveen, Trude Hamre

2012-01-01

Background: Many disorders in childhood and adolescence were already present in the preschool years. However, there is little empirical research on the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in young children. A true community study using structured diagnostic tools has yet to be published. Methods: All children born in 2003 or 2004 in the city of…

School Climate and Continuity of Adolescent Personality Disorder Symptoms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kasen, Stephanie; Cohen, Patricia; Chen, Henian; Johnson, Jeffrey G.; Crawford, Thomas N.

2009-01-01

Background: Schools are key social contexts for shaping development and behavior in youths; yet, little is known of their influence on adolescent personality disturbance. Method: A community-based sample of 592 adolescents was assessed for family and school experiences, Axis I psychiatric disorders, and Axis II personality disorder (PD) symptoms,…

Psychopathology in the Adolescent Offspring of Parents with Panic Disorder and Depression

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bhat, Amritha S.; Srinivasan, K.

2006-01-01

Aim: To study the prevalence of psychiatric diagnosis and psychopathology in adolescent offspring of parents with panic disorder, depression and normal controls. Methods: Adolescent offspring (11-16 years) of parents with a diagnosis of panic disorder and major depression, and normal controls were interviewed using Missouri Assessment of Genetics…

Voice Disorders in Teachers and Their Associations with Work-Related Factors: A Systematic Review

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cutiva, Lady Catherine Cantor; Vogel, Ineke; Burdorf, Alex

2013-01-01

Purpose: To provide a quantitative assessment of the occurrence of voice disorders among teachers and to identify associated work-related and individual factors in the teaching profession. Method: A systematic review was conducted using three computerized databases on the occurrence of voice disorders among teachers and their associations with…

Practitioner Review: Adolescent Alcohol Use Disorders--Assessment and Treatment Issues

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perepletchikova, Francheska; Krystal, John H.; Kaufman, Joan

2008-01-01

Background: Alcohol use disorders in adolescents are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Over the past decade, there has been a burgeoning of research on adolescent alcohol use disorders. Methods: A summary of the alcohol assessment tools is provided, and randomized studies reviewed and synthesized to provide an overview of state…

A Preliminary Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Study of Cortical Inhibition and Excitability in High-Functioning Autism and Asperger Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Enticott, Peter G.; Rinehart, Nicole J.; Tonge, Bruce J.; Bradshaw, John L.; Fitzgerald, Paul B.

2010-01-01

Aim: Controversy surrounds the distinction between high-functioning autism (HFA) and Asperger disorder, but motor abnormalities are associated features of both conditions. This study examined motor cortical inhibition and excitability in HFA and Asperger disorder using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Method: Participants were diagnosed by…

The Prevalence of Sleep Disorders in College Students: Impact on Academic Performance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gaultney, Jane F.

2010-01-01

Objective: To examine the prevalence of risk for sleep disorders among college students by gender and age, and their associations with grade point average (GPA). Participants: Participants were 1,845 college students at a large, southeastern public university. Methods: A validated sleep disorder questionnaire surveyed sleep data during the…

Speech and Language Skills of Parents of Children with Speech Sound Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lewis, Barbara A.; Freebairn, Lisa A.; Hansen, Amy J.; Miscimarra, Lara; Iyengar, Sudha K.; Taylor, H. Gerry

2007-01-01

Purpose: This study compared parents with histories of speech sound disorders (SSD) to parents without known histories on measures of speech sound production, phonological processing, language, reading, and spelling. Familial aggregation for speech and language disorders was also examined. Method: The participants were 147 parents of children with…

Saliva DHEAS Changes in Patients Suffering from Psychopathological Disorders Arising from Bullying at Work

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lac, Gerard; Dutheil, Frederic; Brousse, Georges; Triboulet-Kelly, Celine; Chamoux, Alain

2012-01-01

Background: Psychological disorders arising from bullying at work (BW) are common. The relationship between these disorders and putative markers is not well established. Aims: To measure saliva dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and saliva cortisol as putative markers in individuals suffering from BW. Methods: Forty one subjects suffering…

Childhood-Onset Bipolar Disorder: Evidence for Increased Familial Loading of Psychiatric Illness

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rende, Richard; Birmaher, Boris; Axelson, David; Strober, Michael; Gill, Mary Kay; Valeri, Sylvia; Chiappetta, Laurel; Ryan, Neal; Leonard, Henrietta; Hunt, Jeffrey; Iyengar, Satish; Keller, Martin

2007-01-01

Objective: To determine whether childhood-onset bipolar disorder (BP) is associated with an increased psychiatric family history compared with adolescent-onset BP. Method: Semistructured psychiatric interviews were conducted for 438 youth with BP spectrum disorders. To evaluate the effects of age at onset and psychiatric family history, the sample…

The Harvard/Brown Anxiety Research Project-Phase II (HARP-II): rationale, methods, and features of the sample at intake.

PubMed

Weisberg, Risa B; Beard, Courtney; Dyck, Ingrid; Keller, Martin B

2012-05-01

We describe the rationale, method, and intake demographic and clinical findings of the Harvard/Brown Anxiety Research Project-Phase II (HARP-II). HARP-II is the first prospective, observational, longitudinal study to describe the characteristics and course of anxiety in African American, Latino, and Non-Latino White individuals. Participants met criteria for at least one of the following disorders: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, Panic Disorder with or without Agoraphobia, Agoraphobia without history of Panic Disorder, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Initial intake data, collected between 2004 and 2011, are presented for 165 African American, 150 Latino, and 172 Non-Latino White participants. Participants evidenced substantial psychiatric comorbidity (mean number of Axis I disorders=3.4), and moderate to severe symptoms and functional impairment. HARP-II will examine clinical course, in the context of potential socio-cultural and individual moderators (e.g., discrimination, acculturation, negative affect). Results should lead to improved understanding, prognostics, and treatment of anxiety in diverse populations. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The role of psychiatrists in diagnosing conversion disorder: a mixed-methods analysis

PubMed Central

Kanaan, Richard A; Armstrong, David; Wessely, Simon

2016-01-01

Objective Since DSM-5 removed the requirement for a psychosocial formulation, neurologists have been able to make the diagnosis of conversion disorder without psychiatric input. We sought to examine whether neurologists and specialist psychiatrists concurred with this approach. Design We used mixed methods, first surveying all the neurologists in the UK and then interviewing the neuropsychiatrists in a large UK region on the role of psychiatrists in diagnosing conversion disorder. Results Of the surveyed neurologists, 76% did not think that psychiatrists were essential for the diagnosis and 71% thought that psychiatrists did not even consider conversion disorder when referred a case. The neuropsychiatrists who were interviewed held complex models of conversion disorder. They believed all cases could be explained psychosocially in theory, but the nature of the diagnostic encounter often prevented it in practice; all felt that psychosocial formulation could be very helpful and some felt that it was essential to diagnosis. Conclusion Although neurologists do not think psychiatrists are required for diagnosing conversion disorder, specialist psychiatrists disagree, at least in some cases. PMID:27274253

Transplantation of Human Chorion-Derived Cholinergic Progenitor Cells: a Novel Treatment for Neurological Disorders.

PubMed

Mohammadi, Alireza; Maleki-Jamshid, Ali; Sanooghi, Davood; Milan, Peiman Brouki; Rahmani, Arash; Sefat, Farshid; Shahpasand, Koorosh; Soleimani, Mansoureh; Bakhtiari, Mehrdad; Belali, Rafie; Faghihi, Faezeh; Joghataei, Mohammad Taghi; Perry, George; Mozafari, Masoud

2018-03-16

A neurological disorder is any disorder or abnormality in the nervous system. Among different neurological disorders, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is recognized as the sixth leading cause of death globally. Considerable research has been conducted to find pioneer treatments for this devastating disorder among which cell therapy has attracted remarkable attentions over the last decade. Up to now, targeted differentiation into specific desirable cell types has remained a major obstacle to clinical application of cell therapy. Also, potential risks including uncontrolled growth of stem cells could be disastrous. In our novel protocol, we used basal forebrain cholinergic progenitor cells (BFCN) derived from human chorion-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hC-MSCs) which made it possible to obtain high-quality population of cholinergic neurons and in vivo in much shorter time period than previous established methods. Remarkably, the transplanted progenitors fully differentiated to cholinergic neurons which in turn integrated in higher cortical networks of host brains, resulting in significant improvement in cognitive assessments. This method may have profound implications in cell therapies for any other neurodegenerative disorders. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

Errors Using Observational Methods for Ergonomics Assessment in Real Practice.

PubMed

Diego-Mas, Jose-Antonio; Alcaide-Marzal, Jorge; Poveda-Bautista, Rocio

2017-12-01

The degree in which practitioners use the observational methods for musculoskeletal disorder risks assessment correctly was evaluated. Ergonomics assessment is a key issue for the prevention and reduction of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in workplaces. Observational assessment methods appear to be better matched to the needs of practitioners than direct measurement methods, and for this reason, they are the most widely used techniques in real work situations. Despite the simplicity of observational methods, those responsible for assessing risks using these techniques should have some experience and know-how in order to be able to use them correctly. We analyzed 442 risk assessments of actual jobs carried out by 290 professionals from 20 countries to determine their reliability. The results show that approximately 30% of the assessments performed by practitioners had errors. In 13% of the assessments, the errors were severe and completely invalidated the results of the evaluation. Despite the simplicity of observational method, approximately 1 out of 3 assessments conducted by practitioners in actual work situations do not adequately evaluate the level of potential musculoskeletal disorder risks. This study reveals a problem that suggests greater effort is needed to ensure that practitioners possess better knowledge of the techniques used to assess work-related musculoskeletal disorder risks and that laws and regulations should be stricter as regards qualifications and skills required by professionals.

Psychiatric Comorbidity in Patients from the Addictive Disorders Assistance Units of Galicia: The COPSIAD Study

PubMed Central

Pereiro, César; Pino, Carlos; Flórez, Gerardo; Arrojo, Manuel; Becoña, Elisardo

2013-01-01

The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity in patients under treatment within the addictive disorders assistance units of Galicia (Spain). Material and Methods A total of 64 healthcare professionals performed clinical diagnosis of mental disorders (on DSM IV-TR criteria) in 2300 patients treated throughout March 2010 in 21 addictive disorders assistance units. Results 56.3% of patients with substance abuse/dependency also showed some other mental disorder, 42.2% of patients suffering from at least an Axis I condition and 20.2% from some Axis II condition. Mood and anxiety disorders and borderline and antisocial personality disorders were the most frequent disorders in both axes. Conclusions A high comorbidity was found between mental and substance use disorders (SUD) in patients seen at the addictive disorders assistance units of Galicia. PMID:23823135

[Somatization disorders of the urogenital tract].

PubMed

Günthert, E A

2002-11-01

Diffuse symptoms in the urogenital region can frequently be explained by somatization disorders. Since they cannot be proven either by laboratory tests or with common technical diagnostic methods, somatization disorders should always be taken into consideration. Somatization disorders are to be considered functional disorders. Since somatization disorders due to muscular tension prevail in the urogenital region, the functional disturbance can be explained by the muscular tension. Subsequently, muscular tension causes the pathophysiological development of symptoms. As a rule they appear as myofascial pain or disorder. Muscular tension can have a psychic origin. The absence of urological findings is typical. Males and females between the ages of 16 and 75 can be affected by somatization disorders in the urogenital region. Somatization disorders due to muscular tension belong to the large group of symptoms due to tension. Diagnostic and therapeutic procedures as well as the pathophysiology of somatization disorders due to muscular tension are illustrated by two detailed case-reports.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders: an update on the empirical evidence

PubMed Central

Kaczkurkin, Antonia N.; Foa, Edna B.

2015-01-01

A large amount of research has accumulated on the efficacy and effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders including posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobia. The purpose of the current article is to provide an overview of two of the most commonly used CBT methods used to treat anxiety disorders (exposure and cognitive therapy) and to summarize and discuss the current empirical research regarding the usefulness of these techniques for each anxiety disorder. Additionally, we discuss the difficulties that arise when comparing active CBT treatments, and we suggest directions for future research. Overall, CBT appears to be both efficacious and effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders, but dismantling studies are needed to determine which specific treatment components lead to beneficial outcomes and which patients are most likely to benefit from these treatment components. PMID:26487814

Pituitary gland in psychiatric disorders: a review of neuroimaging findings.

PubMed

Atmaca, Murad

2014-08-01

In this paper, it was reviewed neuroimaging results of the pituitary gland in psychiatric disorders, particularly schizophrenia, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and somatoform disorders. The author made internet search in detail by using PubMed database including the period between 1980 and 2012 October. It was included in the articles in English, Turkish and French languages on pituitary gland in psychiatric disorders through structural or functional neuroimaging results. After searching mentioned in the Methods section in detail, investigations were obtained on pituitary gland neuroimaging in a variety of psychiatric disorders. There have been so limited investigations on pituitary neuroimaging in psychiatric disorders including major psychiatric illnesses like schizophrenia and mood disorders. Current findings are so far from the generalizability of the results. For this reason, it is required to perform much more neuroimaging studies of pituitary gland in all psychiatric disorders to reach the diagnostic importance of measuring it.

[The role of shame in development of the mental disorders II. Measurement of shame and relationship].

PubMed

Vizin, Gabriella; Unoka, Zsolt

2015-01-01

Our review is an overview of research literature aimed at evaluating the differential association of shame with various mental disorders. In the first part of this review, we present questionnaire and experimental methods applied in clinical trials for measuring shame. In the second part of our review, we review research that investigated the association between shame, and shame induced behavioral and emotional reactions, as well as the following mental disorders: anxiety disorders (social phobia, PTSD, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobias, OCD), mood disorders (unipolar depression, bipolar disorder), suicide attempts, self-harm behavior, eating disorders, somatization, personality disorders, aggression, addictions, autism and paranoia. The results of the reviewed studies suggest that this excessive emotional state associated with negative self-esteem on global self plays a central role in mental disorders, although shame is very rarely applied as diagnostic criterion in DSM.

Behavioral Addictions as Mental Disorders: To Be or Not To Be?

PubMed

Petry, Nancy M; Zajac, Kristyn; Ginley, Meredith K

2018-05-07

Should excessive and problematic engagement in nonsubstance use behaviors be mental disorders? The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) repositioned gambling disorder in the substance use disorders section and introduced Internet gaming disorder in the research appendix; the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) is also considering it. This article outlines pros and cons of considering behavioral addictions as mental disorders and also reviews the DSM-5 decision-making processes. It focuses on three conditions: gambling disorder, Internet gaming disorder (IGD), and Internet addiction (IA). We detail assessment methods and prevalence rates for these conditions and outline psychiatric comorbidities, demographic and biological risk factors, and promising treatment approaches. We also briefly discuss other putative behavioral addictions: eating/food, sex, exercise, shopping, and tanning "addictions." Overall, data are inconclusive, and consistent terminology and methodology are needed to define and evaluate these conditions more fully prior to considering them mental disorders.

ROLE OF YOGA IN THE TREATMENT OF NEUROTIC DISORDERS: CURRENT STATUS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

PubMed Central

Grover, Poonam; Varma, V.K.; Pershad, D.; Verma, S.K.

1994-01-01

A large number of studies have consistently demonstrated the potential of yoga, not only in the treatment of psychiatric and psychosomatic disorder but also in promoting positive physical and mental health. This paper reviews various studies on the treatment of neurosis with techniques derived from yoga. A few lacunae have been identified and possible directions for future research are outlined. It is hoped that research along these lines will develop a standardized method of yoga therapy which can be utilized and integrated within the existing methods of treatment of neurotic disorders. PMID:21743694

First-principles studiesy of the order-disorder phase transition in FeCo using Wang-Landau Monte-Carlo method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pei, Zongrui; Eisenbach, Markus; Stocks, G. Malcolm

Simulating order-disorder phase transitions in magnetic materials requires the accurate treatment of both the atomic and magnetic interactions, which span a vast configuration space. Using FeCo as a prototype system, we demonstrate that this can be addressed by combining the Locally Self-consistent Multiple Scattering (LSMS) method with the Wang-Landau (WL) Monte-Carlo algorithm. Fe-Co based materials are interesting magnetic materials but a reliable phase diagram of the binary Fe-Co system is still difficult to obtain. Using the combined WL-LSMS method we clarify the existence of the disordered A2 phase and predict the Curie temperature between it and the ordered B2 phase. The WL-LSMS method is readily applicable to the study of second-order phase transitions in other binary and multi-component alloys, thereby providing a means to the direct simulation of order-disorder phase transitions in complex alloys without need of intervening classical model Hamiltonians. We also demonstrate the capability of our method to guide the design of new magnetic materials. This research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences, Materials Science and Engineering Division and it used Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility resources at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Autonomy-connectedness mediates sex differences in symptoms of psychopathology

PubMed Central

Bekker, Marrie H. J.; van Assen, Marcel A. L. M.

2017-01-01

Objectives This study aimed to examine if autonomy-connectedness, capacity for self-governance under the condition of connectedness, would mediate sex differences in symptoms of various mental disorders (depression, anxiety, eating disorders, antisocial personality disorder). Method Participants (N = 5,525) from a representative community sample in the Netherlands filled out questionnaires regarding the variables under study. Results Autonomy-connectedness (self-awareness, SA; sensitivity to others, SO; capacity for managing new situations, CMNS) fully mediated the sex differences in depression and anxiety, and partly in eating disorder -(drive for thinness, bulimia, and body dissatisfaction) and anti-social personality disorder characteristics. The mediations followed the expected sex-specific patterns. SO related positively to the internalizing disorder indices, and negatively to the anti-social personality disorder. SA related negatively to all disorder indices; and CMNS to all internalizing disorder indices, but positively to the anti-social personality disorder. Conclusion Treatment of depression, anxiety, but also eating disorders and the antisocial personality disorder may benefit from a stronger focus on autonomy strengthening. PMID:28771498

Bipolar Disorder Center for Pennsylvanians: Implementing an Effectiveness Trial to Improve Treatment for At-Risk Patients

PubMed Central

Kupfer, David J.; Friedman, Edward S.; Reynolds, Charles F.; Axelson, David A.; Grochocinski, Victoria J.; Stofko, Mary G.; Birmaher, Boris; Houck, Patricia R.; Swartz, Holly A.; Brown, Charlotte; Kilbourne, Amy M.; Thase, Michael E.; Curet, David E.; Mulsant, Benoit H.; Turkin, Scott R.; Fagiolini, Andrea; Pollock, Bruce G.; Whyte, Ellen M.; Frank, Ellen

2012-01-01

Objective Adolescents, elderly persons, African Americans, and rural residents with bipolar disorder are less likely than their middle-aged, white, urban counterparts to be diagnosed, receive adequate treatment, remain in treatment once identified, and have positive outcomes. The Bipolar Disorder Center for Pennsylvanians (BDCP) study was designed to address these disparities. This report highlights the methods used to recruit, screen, and enroll a cohort of difficult-to-recruit individuals with bipolar disorder. Methods Study sites included three specialty clinics for bipolar disorder in a university setting and a rural behavioral health clinic. Study operations were standardized, and all study personnel were trained in study procedures. Several strategies were used for recruitment. Results It was possible to introduce the identical assessment and screening protocol in settings regardless of whether they had a history of implementing research protocols. This protocol was also able to be used across the age spectrum, in urban and rural areas, and in a racially diverse cohort of participants. Across the four sites 515 individuals with bipolar disorder were enrolled as a result of these methods (69 African Americans and 446 non–African Americans). Although clinical characteristics at study entry did not differ appreciably between African Americans and non–African Americans, the pathways into treatment differed significantly. Conclusions Rigorous recruitment and assessment procedures can be successfully introduced in different settings and with different patient cohorts, thus facilitating access to high-quality treatment for individuals who frequently do not receive appropriate care for bipolar disorder. PMID:19564218

Using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale to Screen for Depression in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

PubMed Central

Julian, Laura J.; Gregorich, Steven E.; Tonner, Chris; Yazdany, Jinoos; Trupin, Laura; Criswell, Lindsey A.; Yelin, ED; Katz, Patricia P.

2013-01-01

Objective Identifying persons with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at risk for depression would facilitate the identification and treatment of an important comorbidity conferring additional risk for poor outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine the utility of a brief screening measure, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), in detecting mood disorders in persons with SLE. Methods This cross-sectional study examined 150 persons with SLE. Screening cut points were empirically derived using threshold selection methods, and receiver operating characteristic curves were estimated. The empirically derived cut points of the CES-D were used as the screening measures and were compared to other commonly used CES-D cut points in addition to other commonly used methods to screen for depression. Diagnoses of major depressive disorder or other mood disorders were determined using a “gold standard” structured clinical interview. Results Of the 150 persons with SLE, 26% of subjects met criteria for any mood disorder and 17% met criteria for major depressive disorder. Optimal threshold estimations suggested a CES-D cut score of 24 and above, which yielded adequate sensitivity and specificity in detecting major depressive disorder (88% and 93%, respectively) and correctly classified 92% of participants. To detect the presence of any mood disorder, a cut score of 20 and above was suggested, yielding sensitivity and specificity of 87% and correctly classifying 87%. Conclusion These results suggest the CES-D may be a useful screening measure to identify patients at risk for depression. PMID:21312347

Panic disorder phenomenology in urban self-identified Caucasian-Non-Hispanics and Caucasian-Hispanics.

PubMed

Hollifield, Michael; Finley, M Rosina; Skipper, Betty

2003-01-01

The epidemiology of panic disorder is well known, but data about some phenomenological aspects are sparse. The symptom criteria for panic disorder were developed largely from rational expert consensus methods and not from empirical research. This fact calls attention to the construct validity of the panic disorder diagnosis, which may affect accuracy of epidemiological findings. Seventy self-identified Non-Hispanic-Caucasian (Anglo) and Hispanic-Caucasian (Hispanic) people who were diagnosed with DSM-III-R panic disorder with or without agoraphobia were invited to complete a Panic Phenomenological Questionnaire (PPQ), which was constructed for this study from the Hamilton Anxiety Scale Items and The DSM-III-R panic symptoms. Fifty (71%) subjects agreed to participate, and there was no response bias detected. Seven symptoms on the PPQ that are not in the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria were reported to occur with a high prevalence in this study. Furthermore, many symptoms that occurred with a high frequency and were reported to be experienced as severe are also not included in current nosology. A few of the DSM-IV criterion symptoms occurred with low prevalence, frequency, and severity. Cognitive symptoms were reported to occur with higher frequency and severity during attacks than autonomic or other symptoms. There were modest differences between ethnic groups with regard to panic attack phenomena. Further research using multiple empirical methods aimed at improving the content validity of the panic disorder diagnosis is warranted. This includes utilizing consistent methods to collect data that will allow for rational decisions about how to construct valid panic disorder criteria across cultures. Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Using cluster ensemble and validation to identify subtypes of pervasive developmental disorders.

PubMed

Shen, Jess J; Lee, Phil-Hyoun; Holden, Jeanette J A; Shatkay, Hagit

2007-10-11

Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impairments in social interaction, communication and behavior. Given the diversity and varying severity of PDD, diagnostic tools attempt to identify homogeneous subtypes within PDD. Identifying subtypes can lead to targeted etiology studies and to effective type-specific intervention. Cluster analysis can suggest coherent subsets in data; however, different methods and assumptions lead to different results. Several previous studies applied clustering to PDD data, varying in number and characteristics of the produced subtypes. Most studies used a relatively small dataset (fewer than 150 subjects), and all applied only a single clustering method. Here we study a relatively large dataset (358 PDD patients), using an ensemble of three clustering methods. The results are evaluated using several validation methods, and consolidated through an integration step. Four clusters are identified, analyzed and compared to subtypes previously defined by the widely used diagnostic tool DSM-IV.

Using Cluster Ensemble and Validation to Identify Subtypes of Pervasive Developmental Disorders

PubMed Central

Shen, Jess J.; Lee, Phil Hyoun; Holden, Jeanette J.A.; Shatkay, Hagit

2007-01-01

Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impairments in social interaction, communication and behavior.1 Given the diversity and varying severity of PDD, diagnostic tools attempt to identify homogeneous subtypes within PDD. Identifying subtypes can lead to targeted etiology studies and to effective type-specific intervention. Cluster analysis can suggest coherent subsets in data; however, different methods and assumptions lead to different results. Several previous studies applied clustering to PDD data, varying in number and characteristics of the produced subtypes19. Most studies used a relatively small dataset (fewer than 150 subjects), and all applied only a single clustering method. Here we study a relatively large dataset (358 PDD patients), using an ensemble of three clustering methods. The results are evaluated using several validation methods, and consolidated through an integration step. Four clusters are identified, analyzed and compared to subtypes previously defined by the widely used diagnostic tool DSM-IV.2 PMID:18693920

Core Training in Low Back Disorders: Role of the Pilates Method.

PubMed

Joyce, Andrew A; Kotler, Dana H

The Pilates method is a system of exercises developed by Joseph Pilates, which emphasizes recruitment and strengthening of the core muscles, flexibility, and breathing, to promote stability and control of movement. Its focus bears similarity to current evidence-based exercise programs for low back disorders. Spinal stability is a function of three interdependent systems, osseoligamentous, muscular, and neural control; exercise addresses both the muscular and neural function. The "core" typically refers to the muscular control required to maintain functional stability. Prior research has highlighted the importance of muscular strength and recruitment, with debate over the importance of individual muscles in the wider context of core control. Though developed long before the current evidence, the Pilates method is relevant in this setting and clearly relates to current evidence-based exercise interventions. Current literature supports the Pilates method as a treatment for low back disorders, but its benefit when compared with other exercise is less clear.

Parent psychopathology and offspring mental disorders: results from the WHO World Mental Health Surveys

PubMed Central

McLaughlin, Katie A.; Gadermann, Anne M.; Hwang, Irving; Sampson, Nancy A.; Al-Hamzawi, Ali; Andrade, Laura Helena; Angermeyer, Matthias C.; Benjet, Corina; Bromet, Evelyn J.; Bruffaerts, Ronny; Caldas-de-Almeida, José Miguel; de Girolamo, Giovanni; de Graaf, Ron; Florescu, Silvia; Gureje, Oye; Haro, Josep Maria; Hinkov, Hristo Ruskov; Horiguchi, Itsuko; Hu, Chiyi; Karam, Aimee Nasser; Kovess-Masfety, Viviane; Lee, Sing; Murphy, Samuel D.; Nizamie, S. Haque; Posada-Villa, José; Williams, David R.; Kessler, Ronald C.

2012-01-01

Background Associations between specific parent and offspring mental disorders are likely to have been overestimated in studies that have failed to control for parent comorbidity. Aims To examine the associations of parent with respondent disorders. Method Data come from the World Health Organization (WHO) World Mental Health Surveys (n = 51 507). Respondent disorders were assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview and parent disorders with informant-based Family History Research Diagnostic Criteria interviews. Results Although virtually all parent disorders examined (major depressive, generalised anxiety, panic, substance and antisocial behaviour disorders and suicidality) were significantly associated with offspring disorders in multivariate analyses, little specificity was found. Comorbid parent disorders had significant sub-additive associations with offspring disorders. Population-attributable risk proportions for parent disorders were 12.4% across all offspring disorders, generally higher in high- and upper-middle- than low-/lower-middle-income countries, and consistently higher for behaviour (11.0-19.9%) than other (7.1-14.0%) disorders. Conclusions Parent psychopathology is a robust non-specific predictor associated with a substantial proportion of offspring disorders. PMID:22403085

Response inhibition and cognitive appraisal in clients with acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder.

PubMed

Abolghasemi, Abass; Bakhshian, Fereshteh; Narimani, Mohammad

2013-08-01

The purpose of the present study was to compare response inhibition and cognitive appraisal in clients with acute stress disorder, clients with posttraumatic stress disorder, and normal individuals. This was a comparative study. The sample consisted of 40 clients with acute stress disorder, 40 patients with posttraumatic stress disorder, and 40 normal individuals from Mazandaran province selected through convenience sampling method. Data were collected using Composite International Diagnostic Interview, Stroop Color-Word Test, Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory, and the Impact of Event Scale. Results showed that individuals with acute stress disorder are less able to inhibit inappropriate responses and have more impaired cognitive appraisals compared to those with posttraumatic stress disorder. Moreover, results showed that response inhibition and cognitive appraisal explain 75% of the variance in posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and 38% of the variance in posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. The findings suggest that response inhibition and cognitive appraisal are two variables that influence the severity of posttraumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder symptoms. Also, these results have important implications for pathology, prevention, and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder.

Using the mood disorder questionnaire and bipolar spectrum diagnostic scale to detect bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder among eating disorder patients

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Screening scales for bipolar disorder including the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) and Bipolar Spectrum Diagnostic Scale (BSDS) have been plagued by high false positive rates confounded by presence of borderline personality disorder. This study examined the accuracy of these scales for detecting bipolar disorder among patients referred for eating disorders and explored the possibility of simultaneous assessment of co-morbid borderline personality disorder. Methods Participants were 78 consecutive female patients who were referred for evaluation of an eating disorder. All participants completed the mood and eating disorder sections of the SCID-I/P and the borderline personality disorder section of the SCID-II, in addition to the MDQ and BSDS. Predictive validity of the MDQ and BSDS was evaluated by Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis of the Area Under the Curve (AUC). Results Fifteen (19%) and twelve (15%) patients fulfilled criteria for bipolar II disorder and borderline personality disorder, respectively. The AUCs for bipolar II disorder were 0.78 (MDQ) and 0.78 (BDSD), and the AUCs for borderline personality disorder were 0.75 (MDQ) and 0.79 (BSDS). Conclusions Among patients being evaluated for eating disorders, the MDQ and BSDS show promise as screening questionnaires for both bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder. PMID:23443034

Multimethod Investigation of Interpersonal Functioning in Borderline Personality Disorder

PubMed Central

Stepp, Stephanie D.; Hallquist, Michael N.; Morse, Jennifer Q.; Pilkonis, Paul A.

2011-01-01

Even though interpersonal functioning is of great clinical importance for patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD), the comparative validity of different assessment methods for interpersonal dysfunction has not yet been tested. This study examined multiple methods of assessing interpersonal functioning, including self- and other-reports, clinical ratings, electronic diaries, and social cognitions in three groups of psychiatric patients (N=138): patients with (1) BPD, (2) another personality disorder, and (3) Axis I psychopathology only. Using dominance analysis, we examined the predictive validity of each method in detecting changes in symptom distress and social functioning six months later. Across multiple methods, the BPD group often reported higher interpersonal dysfunction scores compared to other groups. Predictive validity results demonstrated that self-report and electronic diary ratings were the most important predictors of distress and social functioning. Our findings suggest that self-report scores and electronic diary ratings have high clinical utility, as these methods appear most sensitive to change. PMID:21808661

Principals' Opinions on the Role of Speech-Language Pathologists Serving Students with Communication Disorders Involved in Violence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ritzman, Mitzi J.; Sanger, Dixie

2007-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to survey the opinions of principals concerning the role of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) serving students with communication disorders who have been involved in violence. Method: A mixed methods design involving 678 questionnaires was mailed to elementary, middle, and high school principals in a…

The Genetics of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Tourette Syndrome: An Epidemiological and Pathway-Based Approach for Gene Discovery

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grados, Marco A.

2010-01-01

Objective: To provide a contemporary perspective on genetic discovery methods applied to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and Tourette syndrome (TS). Method: A review of research trends in genetics research in OCD and TS is conducted, with emphasis on novel approaches. Results: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are now in progress in OCD…

Method and sample spinning apparatus for measuring the NMR spectrum of an orientationally disordered sample

DOEpatents

Pines, Alexander; Samoson, Ago

1990-01-01

An improved NMR apparatus and method are described which substantially improve the resolution of NMR measurements made on powdered or amorphous or otherwise orientationally disordered samples. The apparatus spins the sample about an axis. The angle of the axis is mechanically varied such that the time average of two or more Legendre polynomials are zero.

Impairment in Children with and without ADHD: Contributions from Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Callous-Unemotional Traits

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brammer, Whitney A.; Lee, Steve S.

2012-01-01

Objective: To ascertain the association of childhood ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) on functional impairment and to test the moderating influence of callous-unemotional (CU) traits. Method: Ethnically diverse 6- to 9-year-old children with (n = 59) and without (n = 47) ADHD were ascertained using multiple methods (i.e., rating scales…

Self-Reported Eating Disorders of Black, Low-Income Adolescents: Behavior, Body Weight Perceptions, and Methods of Dieting.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Balentine, Margaret; And Others

1991-01-01

Study identified African-American low-income adolescents who thought they had bulimia or anorexia nervosa, identified common behaviors, and compared actual and perceived body weight and dieting methods. About 12 percent suspected an eating disorder and perceived themselves as heavier more often than their peers. Fasting was the most common dieting…

Investigation of time-dependent risk of mental disorders after infertility diagnosis, through survival analysis and data mining: a nationwide cohort study.

PubMed

Wang, Jong-Yi; Chen, Jen-De; Huang, Chun-Chi; Liu, Chiu-Shong; Chung, Tsai-Fang; Hsieh, Ming-Hong; Wang, Chia-Woei

2018-06-01

Infertile patients are vulnerable to mental disorders. However, a time-dependent model predicting the onset of mental disorders specific to infertile patients is lacking. This study examined the risk factors for the development of mental disorders in infertile patients and measured the duration until the occurrence of mental disorders after a diagnosis of infertility. A total of 13,317 infertile patients in the 2002-2013 Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database were observed. The 11 independent variables included in the hypothesised model, together with the dates of infertility and mental disorder diagnoses, were analysed using Cox proportional hazards. Data-mining methods using C5.0 and Apriori supplemented the statistical analyses. The total prevalence rate of mental disorders among infertile patients in Taiwan was 12.41%, including anxiety (4.66%), depression (1.81%) and other mental disorders (5.94%). The average time interval for onset of mental illness identified using survival analysis was 1.67 years. Income, occupation, treatment method, co-morbidity, region and hospital level and ownership were significant predictors of development of mental illness (all p < .05). The four categories of factors associated with time-dependent onset were demographics, health, health care provider and geographical characteristics. Certain patient characteristics may predict a higher likelihood of onset of a specific mental disorder. Clinical practitioners may use the findings to identify high-risk patients and make timely health interventions.

Discriminant of validity the Wender Utah rating scale in Iranian adults.

PubMed

Farokhzadi, Farideh; Mohammadi, Mohammad Reza; Salmanian, Maryam

2014-01-01

The aim of this study is the normalization of the Wender Utah rating scale which is used to detect adults with Attention-Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Available sampling method was used to choose 400 parents of children (200 parents of children with ADHD as compared to 200 parents of normal children). Wender Utah rating scale, which has been designed to diagnose ADHD in adults, is filled out by each of the parents to most accurately diagnose of ADHD in parents. Wender Utah rating scale was divided into 6 sub scales which consist of dysthymia, oppositional defiant disorder; school work problems, conduct disorder, anxiety, and ADHD were analyzed with exploratory factor analysis method. The value of (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin) KMO was 86.5% for dysthymia, 86.9% for oppositional defiant disorder, 77.5% for school related problems, 90.9% for conduct disorder, 79.6% for anxiety and 93.5% for Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, also the chi square value based on Bartlett's Test was 2242.947 for dysthymia, 2239.112 for oppositional defiant disorder, 1221.917 for school work problems, 5031.511 for conduct, 1421.1 for anxiety, and 7644.122 for ADHD. Since mentioned values were larger than the chi square critical values (P<0.05), it found that the factor correlation matrix is appropriate for factor analysis. Based on the findings, we can conclude that Wender Utah rating scale can be appropriately used for predicting dysthymia, oppositional defiant disorder, school work problems, conduct disorder, anxiety, in adults with ADHD.

Clinical utility of a single-item test for DSM-5 alcohol use disorder among outpatients with anxiety and depressive disorders.

PubMed

Bartoli, Francesco; Crocamo, Cristina; Biagi, Enrico; Di Carlo, Francesco; Parma, Francesca; Madeddu, Fabio; Capuzzi, Enrico; Colmegna, Fabrizia; Clerici, Massimo; Carrà, Giuseppe

2016-08-01

There is a lack of studies testing accuracy of fast screening methods for alcohol use disorder in mental health settings. We aimed at estimating clinical utility of a standard single-item test for case finding and screening of DSM-5 alcohol use disorder among individuals suffering from anxiety and mood disorders. We recruited adults consecutively referred, in a 12-month period, to an outpatient clinic for anxiety and depressive disorders. We assessed the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) single-item test, using the Mini- International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), plus an additional item of Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) for craving, as reference standard to diagnose a current DSM-5 alcohol use disorder. We estimated sensitivity and specificity of the single-item test, as well as positive and negative Clinical Utility Indexes (CUIs). 242 subjects with anxiety and mood disorders were included. The NIAAA single-item test showed high sensitivity (91.9%) and specificity (91.2%) for DSM-5 alcohol use disorder. The positive CUI was 0.601, whereas the negative one was 0.898, with excellent values also accounting for main individual characteristics (age, gender, diagnosis, psychological distress levels, smoking status). Testing for relevant indexes, we found an excellent clinical utility of the NIAAA single-item test for screening true negative cases. Our findings support a routine use of reliable methods for rapid screening in similar mental health settings. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Anatomical brain images alone can accurately diagnose chronic neuropsychiatric illnesses.

PubMed

Bansal, Ravi; Staib, Lawrence H; Laine, Andrew F; Hao, Xuejun; Xu, Dongrong; Liu, Jun; Weissman, Myrna; Peterson, Bradley S

2012-01-01

Diagnoses using imaging-based measures alone offer the hope of improving the accuracy of clinical diagnosis, thereby reducing the costs associated with incorrect treatments. Previous attempts to use brain imaging for diagnosis, however, have had only limited success in diagnosing patients who are independent of the samples used to derive the diagnostic algorithms. We aimed to develop a classification algorithm that can accurately diagnose chronic, well-characterized neuropsychiatric illness in single individuals, given the availability of sufficiently precise delineations of brain regions across several neural systems in anatomical MR images of the brain. We have developed an automated method to diagnose individuals as having one of various neuropsychiatric illnesses using only anatomical MRI scans. The method employs a semi-supervised learning algorithm that discovers natural groupings of brains based on the spatial patterns of variation in the morphology of the cerebral cortex and other brain regions. We used split-half and leave-one-out cross-validation analyses in large MRI datasets to assess the reproducibility and diagnostic accuracy of those groupings. In MRI datasets from persons with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Schizophrenia, Tourette Syndrome, Bipolar Disorder, or persons at high or low familial risk for Major Depressive Disorder, our method discriminated with high specificity and nearly perfect sensitivity the brains of persons who had one specific neuropsychiatric disorder from the brains of healthy participants and the brains of persons who had a different neuropsychiatric disorder. Although the classification algorithm presupposes the availability of precisely delineated brain regions, our findings suggest that patterns of morphological variation across brain surfaces, extracted from MRI scans alone, can successfully diagnose the presence of chronic neuropsychiatric disorders. Extensions of these methods are likely to provide biomarkers that will aid in identifying biological subtypes of those disorders, predicting disease course, and individualizing treatments for a wide range of neuropsychiatric illnesses.

A Cross-sectional Survey of Disability Attributed to Mental Disorders and Service Use in China

PubMed Central

Shang, Li-Li; Huang, Yue-Qin; Liu, Zhao-Rui; Chen, Hong-Guang

2017-01-01

Background: Mental disorders are strongly associated with disabilities. National survey on disability could provide a reliable basis for policymaking in care and rehabilitation of disabled persons. This study aimed to describe the disability prevalence rates attributed to mental disorders, their distribution by sociodemographic factors, and utilizations of service. Methods: This study is a secondary data analysis of the Second National Sample Survey on Disability in 2006. The disability and severity were assessed using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0. Mental disorders were diagnosed according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision Classification of Mental and Behavioral Disorders. Using descriptive and analytic epidemiological methods, prevalence rates of disability attributed to mental disorders and service use were calculated. Results: Data of 2,526,145 respondents were analyzed. The disability prevalence rate attributed to mental disorders in China was 6.3‰, accounting for 9.9% of all disabled people. Regarding disability prevalence attributed to mental disorders, it showed that gender, residential area, marital status, education level, and economic area were related to the prevalence distributions. The proportions of mild disability were highest in the disabled people with onset age of 18–64 years, while the proportion of extremely severe disability was highest in the disabled people with onset age of 65 years and above. Only 58.6% of disabled people attributed to mental disorders used some of the services. Conclusions: There are statistical differences of disability prevalence attributed to mental disorders by people and region in China. Service use in disabled people with mental disorders is insufficient. PMID:28584207

Prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders among youth with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Maïano, Christophe; Coutu, Sylvain; Tracey, Danielle; Bouchard, Stéphane; Lepage, Geneviève; Morin, Alexandre J S; Moullec, Grégory

2018-04-06

The purpose of this meta-analytic study was to determine the pooled prevalence estimates of anxiety and depressive disorders among children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities (ID) and to assess the extent to which these pooled prevalence rates differed according to studies' characteristics. A systematic literature search was performed in nine databases and 21 studies, published between 1975 and 2015, met the inclusion criteria. The resulting pooled prevalence estimates of combined subtypes of anxiety and depressive disorders were respectively (a) 5.4% and 2.8% across samples; (b) 1.2% and 0.03% among children; and (c) 7.9% and 1.4% among adolescents. Pooled prevalence estimates for specific subtypes of anxiety disorders ranged from (a) 0.2% to 11.5% across samples; (b) 0.7% to 17.6% among children; and (c) 0.6% to 19.8% among adolescents. Pooled prevalence estimates of dysthymic disorder and major depressive disorder were respectively (a) 3.4% and 2.5% across samples; (b) 2.1% and 3.2% among children; and (c) 6.9% and 5.7% among adolescents. Finally, subgroup analyses showed significant variations in the pooled prevalence estimates of combined subtypes of anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder; and combined subtypes of depressive disorders. The present findings of this meta-analysis should be interpreted with caution given several limitations related to the characteristics of the populations, diagnostic method and sampling method. Findings provide recommendations for future studies investigating psychological disorders among youth with ID, as well as how clinicians and policy makers can improve diagnostic practices and support for youth with ID. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Reliability of criteria for borderline personality disorder: a comparison of DSM-III and the Diagnostic Interview for Borderline Patients.

PubMed

Frances, A; Clarkin, J F; Gilmore, M; Hurt, S W; Brown, R

1984-09-01

The authors compared the reliability of two methods of distinguishing borderline personality disorder--DSM-III and the Diagnostic Interview for Borderline Patients. The reference group, outpatients with other personality disorders and without major axis I pathology, was more difficult to distinguish from the patients with borderline personality disorder than such groups used in previous samples. The sensitivity and specificity of the Diagnostic Interview for Borderline Patients were calculated, with DSM-III used as a criterion. The findings confirm considerable overlap between borderline and schizotypal personality disorders, more impairment in functioning in borderline patients than in those with other personality disorders, and the high reliability with which borderline personality disorder can be diagnosed.

Recent Advances in Resting-State Electroencephalography Biomarkers for Autism Spectrum Disorder-A Review of Methodological and Clinical Challenges.

PubMed

Heunis, Tosca-Marie; Aldrich, Chris; de Vries, Petrus J

2016-08-01

Electroencephalography (EEG) has been used for almost a century to identify seizure-related disorders in humans, typically through expert interpretation of multichannel recordings. Attempts have been made to quantify EEG through frequency analyses and graphic representations. These "traditional" quantitative EEG analysis methods were limited in their ability to analyze complex and multivariate data and have not been generally accepted in clinical settings. There has been growing interest in identification of novel EEG biomarkers to detect early risk of autism spectrum disorder, to identify clinically meaningful subgroups, and to monitor targeted intervention strategies. Most studies to date have, however, used quantitative EEG approaches, and little is known about the emerging multivariate analytical methods or the robustness of candidate biomarkers in the context of the variability of autism spectrum disorder. Here, we present a targeted review of methodological and clinical challenges in the search for novel resting-state EEG biomarkers for autism spectrum disorder. Three primary novel methodologies are discussed: (1) modified multiscale entropy, (2) coherence analysis, and (3) recurrence quantification analysis. Results suggest that these methods may be able to classify resting-state EEG as "autism spectrum disorder" or "typically developing", but many signal processing questions remain unanswered. We suggest that the move to novel EEG analysis methods is akin to the progress in neuroimaging from visual inspection, through region-of-interest analysis, to whole-brain computational analysis. Novel resting-state EEG biomarkers will have to evaluate a range of potential demographic, clinical, and technical confounders including age, gender, intellectual ability, comorbidity, and medication, before these approaches can be translated into the clinical setting. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Intra- and extra-familial child homicide in Sweden 1992-2012: A population-based study.

PubMed

Hedlund, Jonatan; Masterman, Thomas; Sturup, Joakim

2016-04-01

Previous studies have shown decreasing child homicide rates in many countries - in Sweden mainly due to a drop in filicide-suicides. This study examines the rate of child homicides during 21 years, with the hypothesis that a decline might be attributable to a decrease in the number of depressive filicide offenders (as defined by a proxy measure). In addition, numerous characteristics of child homicide are presented. All homicide incidents involving 0-14-year-old victims in Sweden during 1992-2012 (n = 90) were identified in an autopsy database. Data from multiple registries, forensic psychiatric evaluations, police reports, verdicts and other sources were collected. Utilizing Poisson regression, we found a 4% annual decrease in child homicides, in accordance with prior studies, but no marked decrease regarding the depressive-offender proxy. Diagnoses from forensic psychiatric evaluations (n = 50) included substance misuse (8%), affective disorders (10%), autism-spectrum disorders (18%), psychotic disorders (28%) and personality disorders (30%). Prior violent offences were more common among offenders in filicides than filicide-suicides (17.8% vs. 6.9%); and about 20% of offenders in each group had previously received psychiatric inpatient care. Aggressive methods of filicide predominated among fathers. Highly lethal methods of filicide (firearms, fire) were more commonly followed by same-method suicide than less lethal methods. Interestingly, a third of the extra-familial offenders had an autism-spectrum disorder. Based on several findings, e.g., the low rate of substance misuse, the study concludes that non-traditional risk factors for violence must be highlighted by healthcare providers. Also, the occurrence of autism-spectrum disorders in the present study is a novel finding that warrants further investigation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.

Selective layer disordering in III-nitrides with a capping layer

DOEpatents

Wierer, Jr., Jonathan J.; Allerman, Andrew A.

2016-06-14

Selective layer disordering in a doped III-nitride superlattice can be achieved by depositing a dielectric capping layer on a portion of the surface of the superlattice and annealing the superlattice to induce disorder of the layer interfaces under the uncapped portion and suppress disorder of the interfaces under the capped portion. The method can be used to create devices, such as optical waveguides, light-emitting diodes, photodetectors, solar cells, modulators, laser, and amplifiers.

Psychiatric disorders and clinical correlates of suicidal patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Tokyo

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background Patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital with suicidal behavior (SB) are considered to be especially at high risk of suicide. However, the number of studies that have addressed this patient population remains insufficient compared to that of studies on suicidal patients in emergency or medical settings. The purpose of this study is to seek features of a sample of newly admitted suicidal psychiatric patients in a metropolitan area of Japan. Method 155 suicidal patients consecutively admitted to a large psychiatric center during a 20-month period, admission styles of whom were mostly involuntary, were assessed using Structured Clinical Interviews for DSM-IV Axis I and II Disorders (SCID-I CV and SCID-II) and SB-related psychiatric measures. Associations of the psychiatric diagnoses and SB-related characteristics with gender and age were examined. Results The common DSM-IV axis I diagnoses were affective disorders 62%, anxiety disorders 56% and substance-related disorders 38%. 56% of the subjects were diagnosed as having borderline PD, and 87% of them, at least one type of personality disorder (PD). SB methods used prior to admission were self-cutting 41%, overdosing 32%, self-strangulation 15%, jumping from a height 12% and attempting traffic death 10%, the first two of which were frequent among young females. The median (range) of the total number of SBs in the lifetime history was 7 (1-141). Severity of depressive symptomatology, suicidal intent and other symptoms, proportions of the subjects who reported SB-preceding life events and life problems, and childhood and adolescent abuse were comparable to those of the previous studies conducted in medical or emergency service settings. Gender and age-relevant life-problems and life events were identified. Conclusions Features of the studied sample were the high prevalence of affective disorders, anxiety disorders and borderline PD, a variety of SB methods used prior to admission and frequent SB repetition in the lifetime history. Gender and age appeared to have an influence on SB method selection and SB-preceding processes. The findings have important implications for assessment and treatment of psychiatric suicidal patients. PMID:21144041

Gene-Environment Interplay in Internalizing Disorders: Consistent Findings across Six Environmental Risk Factors

PubMed Central

Hicks, Brian M.; DiRago, Ana C.; Iacono, William G.; McGue, Matt

2009-01-01

Background Newer behavior genetic methods can better elucidate gene-environment (G-E) interplay in the development of internalizing (INT) disorders (i.e., major depression and anxiety disorders). However, no study to date has conducted a comprehensive analysis examining multiple environmental risks with the purpose of delineating how general G-E mechanisms influence the development of INT disorders. Methods The sample consisted of 1315 male and female twin pairs participating in the age 17 assessment of the Minnesota Twin Family Study. Quantitative G-E interplay models were used to examine how genetic and environmental risk for INT disorders changes as a function of environmental context. Multiple measures and informants were employed to construct composite measures of INT disorders and 6 environmental risk factors including: stressful life events, mother-child and father-child relationship problems, antisocial and prosocial peer affiliation, and academic achievement and engagement. Results Significant moderation effects were detected between each environmental risk factor and INT such that in the context of greater environmental adversity, nonshared environmental factors became more important in the etiology of INT symptoms. Conclusion Our results are consistent with the interpretation that environmental stressors have a causative effect on the emergence of INT disorders. The consistency of our results suggests a general mechanism of environmental influence on INT disorders regardless of the specific form of environmental risk. PMID:19594836

CBT for Childhood Anxiety Disorders: Differential Changes in Selective Attention between Treatment Responders and Non-Responders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Legerstee, Jeroen S.; Tulen, Joke H. M.; Dierckx, Bram; Treffers, Philip D. A.; Verhulst, Frank C.; Utens, Elisabeth M. W. J.

2010-01-01

Background: This study examined whether treatment response to stepped-care cognitive-behavioural treatment (CBT) is associated with changes in threat-related selective attention and its specific components in a large clinical sample of anxiety-disordered children. Methods: Ninety-one children with an anxiety disorder were included in the present…