Exploring Anger Among Offenders: The Role of Emotion Dysregulation and Alexithymia

This study tests whether specific dimensions of emotion dysregulation predict maladaptive anger expression among offenders from Italy and Australia. In particular, it examines the unique associations among emotion dysregulation dimensions and different aspects of anger expression and control, in both inmates and offenders on parole. Multiple regression analyses reveal that difficulties controlling impulsive behaviour when distressed are related to state anger, trait anger, and chronic anger expression. On the other hand, alexithymia predicts the maladaptive expression of anger inwardly directed. Finally, lack of emotional awareness and limited access to emotion regulation (ER) strategies are negatively related to anger control, suggesting that they may represent useful treatment targets. Interestingly, incarcerated offenders reported significantly higher levels of state anger and lower levels of anger control out (i.e. seeking support from others) than offenders living on parole in the community, highlighting the importance of contextual influences in the emotional life of offenders.     

Benzoyl peroxide: Percutaneous penetration and metabolic disposition. II. Effect of concentration

The effect of drug concentrations of 2.5%, 5%, and 10% upon the transepidermal penetration of 14C-benzoyl peroxide in a lotion vehicle was assessed in excised human skin and in vivo in the rhesus monkey. In vitro, penetration of benzoyl peroxide was concentration-dependent, both as to rate and to amount, as measured by the hourly recovery of the metabolite, benzoic acid, from the dermal side of the model. In vivo, the higher the concentration of benzoyl peroxide applied, the greater the amount absorbed, as indicated by the urinary excretion of 14C-benzoic acid. Metabolic disposition of benzoyl peroxide, in turn, was unaffected by drug concentration. In all instances, the benzoyl peroxide absorbed was excreted rapidly in urine as benzoic acid; no hippuric acid was detected at any time. We conclude that (1) use of the excised human skin model for this compound can provide useful data in studies of the effects of vehicle and concentration on topical drug delivery, (2) the transepidermal delivery of benzoyl peroxide, but not its metabolic disposition, is concentration-dependent, and (3) the renal clearance of the systemically absorbed drug is so rapid that it precludes passage through the liver--therefore, no systemic toxicity due to drug accumulation can be expected.     

A conserved region of the herpes simplex virus type 1 tegument protein VP22 facilitates interaction with the cytoplasmic tail of glycoprotein E (gE)

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) virions, contain a proteinaceous layer termed the tegument that lies between the nucleocapsid and viral envelope. Current evidence suggests that viral glycoprotein tails play a role in the recruitment of tegument-coated capsids to the site of final envelopment; vesicles derived from the trans-Golgi network. We have identified an interaction between VP22, an abundant tegument protein and the cytoplasmic tail of glycoprotein E (gE). This interaction was identified by coimmunoprecipitation studies and confirmed by a glutathione-S-transferase (GST) pulldown from infected cell lysates. Truncation mutagenesis suggests that residues 165-270 of VP22 facilitate the interaction with the cytoplasmic tail of gE. In fact, this region of VP22 is sufficient to bind to gE in the absence of additional viral proteins. Using a transfection/infection-based virion incorporation assay, residues 165-270 of VP22 fused to GFP competed efficiently with wild-type VP22 for packaging into assembling virus particles.     

The HSV-1 tegument protein pUL46 associates with cellular membranes and viral capsids

The molecular mechanisms responsible for the addition of tegument proteins into nascent herpesvirus particles are poorly understood. To better understand the tegumentation process of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) virions, we initiated studies that showed the tegument protein pUL46 (VP11/12) has a similar cellular localization to the membrane-associated tegument protein VP22. Using membrane flotation analysis we found that pUL46 associates with membranes in both the presence and absence of other HSV-1 proteins. However, when purified virions were stripped of their envelope, the majority of pUL46 was found to associate with the capsid fraction. This strong affinity of pUL46 for capsids was confirmed by an in vitro capsid pull-down assay in which purified pUL46-GST was able to interact specifically with capsids purified from the nuclear fraction of HSV-1 infected cells. These results suggest that pUL46 displays a dynamic interaction between cellular membranes and capsids.     

Selective effects of upper respiratory tract infection on cognition, mood and emotion processing: a prospective study

Observational and experimentally induced infection studies show that upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) affect mood and cognition. This study tested the effects of naturally occurring URTI on cognition, mood and emotional processing, using a prospective design, with a broader array of tests than previous research, and with well matched control participants. Eighty participants (42 younger, M age 20.3 years; 38 older, M age 64.3 years) underwent neuropsychological assessment at baseline. Once a participant had URTI symptoms, s/he and a healthy, matched participant were retested. The Cognitive Drug Research computerised assessment battery was used to assess Power and Continuity of Attention, Quality of Episodic and Working Memory, Speed of Memory, and mood. Additionally, emotional processing was measured on matching of emotionally-negative faces with faces and faces with labels. Forty-two of 80 participants were matched (21 well, 21 ill). Well participants improved in Speed of Memory and face-label reaction time. Despite a lack of fever, ill participants demonstrated significantly smaller improvements. Older participants reported feeling less alert if ill, and less stressed if well, than at baseline. All ill participants reported less contentment than at baseline than well participants. Severity of URTI symptoms correlated with changes in Speed of Memory and mood. Even without fever, infectious disease produces large disturbances in speed of cognitive processing, particularly that reflecting retrieval from memory, and these effects are more marked in older participants. URTIs also affect mood. Future studies need to examine the role of inflammatory molecules and the brain regions implicated in mediating these findings.     

Neuropsychological prediction of conversion to dementia from questionable dementia: statistically significant but not yet clinically useful

BACKGROUND: Verbal memory impairment, one of the earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease (AD), may help identify people with cognitive impairment, insufficient for a diagnosis of dementia (questionable dementia: QD), at risk of developing AD. Other cognitive parameters have been found that may indicate which people with QD will go on to develop dementia. Nevertheless, some researchers have reported only partial success in differentiating between mild AD and age related cognitive impairment. OBJECTIVES: To discover if there are early, pre-clinical cognitive markers that could help identify patients attending our memory clinic who were at risk of developing dementia. METHODS: Multidisciplinary assessment of a consecutive sample of 195 patients with QD seen in a National Health Service hospital outpatient clinic; 135 seen for a mean follow up of 24.5 months. RESULTS: Conversion rate to dementia was 27.4% (37 of 135). A diagnosis of probable or possible AD was made in 15.6% (21 of 135) of cases. Despite statistically significant differences in some cognitive tasks between those who did and those who did not go on to dement, Cox regression analyses failed to improve prediction rates markedly above base rates and were unstable. CONCLUSION: A large number of studies claim good prediction of conversion to dementia using cognitive test scores. Although this study produced similarly good sensitivity and specificity values, proper consideration of the statistical analyses and their clinical significance suggested that these prediction methods are currently too imprecise for clinical use. Use of cognitive indicators combined with neuroradiological, neuropathological, and genetic factors for predicting conversion to dementia might prove more reliable but may be beyond the scope of many geriatric services.     

Vitamin B12 deficiency in dementia and cognitive impairment: the effects of treatment on neuropsychological function

BACKGROUND: Vitamin B12 assay is part of the routine investigation of dementia, although few studies have investigated the effects of treatment on cognition. We examined the effects of B12 treatment on neuropsychological function and disease progression in patients presenting with dementia or cognitive impairment. METHODS: From 1432 patients who were assessed at the Bristol Memory Disorders Clinic, 125 patients with low serum B12 were identified. Sixty-six patients presenting with dementia, and 22 with cognitive impairment were seen for a second assessment after treatment. Changes in neuropsychological test scores were compared with those of patients with normal serum B12, matched by age and diagnosis. RESULTS: The majority of patients with low serum B12 had normal Hb and MCV values. We found no cases of reversible B12 deficiency dementia. The B12 treatment patients who presented with dementia showed no significant improvement, and no less deterioration, in their neuropsychological function than their matched group. However, a treatment effect was demonstrated among the patients presenting with cognitive impairment. These improved significantly compared to matched patients on the verbal fluency test (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: All patients with cognitive impairment should be investigated for B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 treatment may improve frontal lobe and language function in patients with cognitive impairment, but rarely reverses dementia.