Placental histology and pregnancy complications following intracytoplasmic sperm injection for non-male factor infertility

Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics - To assess obstetric outcomes and placental histology following intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), for non-male infertility. This was a...     

Dynamic modulation of emotional processing

Recent findings suggest the processing of emotional stimuli is prioritized compared to neutral stimuli; however, it is not necessarily automatic and depends on several modulating factors. The current paper highlights three major factors that affect the reactions to emotional stimuli: (i) stimulus properties, (ii) task demands and attention, and (iii) individual characteristics. The evidence reviewed here suggests that individual characteristics shape the structure, function and connectivity within a neural network that is involved in the reactions to emotional stimuli. This neural network includes regions related to emotion and attention, in line with evidence for reciprocal connections between these two processes. Activation in this network further depends on the emotional value of a certain item, as well as physical features of the stimulus. This integrative view can lead to better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of emotional reactions, as well as better therapeutic approaches.     

Proximal and distal determinants of community resilience under threats of terror

Community resilience (CR) is a positive trajectory of adaptation of a commune after a disturbance, stress, or adversity. Previous studies have successfully predicted CR in times of stress by distal factors, such as demographic characteristics of the community members and by their psychological attributes. We submit that since all these variables are distal predictors, which are not directly related to the actual stressful condition, CR would be predicted more readily by proximal factors, which portray people's responses to the investigated adversity (i.e., trust in the community emergency team). A sample of 1,515 adults, living in terror‐stricken border communities in northern Israel has been examined. Their perceived CR has been predicted concurrently by distal and by proximal factors. Results have supported the research hypotheses, indicating the importance of proximal variables in determining and promoting CR.     

The quest for connection in interpersonal and therapeutic relationships

Objective: This paper focuses on the need for connection as a common core theme at the heart of both close relationships and therapeutic relationships and explores ways to connect these two research domains that have evolved as separate fields of study. Bowlby's attachment theory provides a strong conceptual and empirical base for linking human bonds and bonds in psychotherapy. Method: The growing body of research intersecting attachment and psychotherapy (1980–2014) is documented, and meta-analytic studies on attachment–outcome and attachment–alliance links are highlighted. Results: Five ways of studying attachment as a variable in psychotherapy are underscored: as moderator, as mediator, as outcome, client–therapist attachment match, and as process. By integrating conceptualizations and methods in studying relational narratives of client–therapist dyads (Core Conflictual Relationship Theme), measures of alliance, and client attachment to therapist during psychotherapy, we may discover unique client–therapist relational dances. Conclusions: Future fine-grained studies on how to promote core authentic relational relearning are important to clinicians, supervisors and trainers, who all share the common quest to alleviate interpersonal distress and enhance wellbeing. Directions for advancing research on interpersonal and therapeutic relationships are suggested. Learning from each other, both researchers of close relationships and of psychotherapy relationships can gain a deeper and multidimensional understanding of complex relational processes and outcomes.     

Group cognitive behavioral treatment in female soldiers diagnosed with binge/purge eating disorders

ABSTRACT

Cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) is the recommended intervention in bulimia nervosa (BN) and eating disorders not otherwise specified with binge/purge (EDNOS-B/P) symptoms. There are fewer data on its application in a group format. We sought to investigate the effect of group CBT in female soldiers with B/P symptomatology in an open trial design. For this purpose we assessed 64 female soldiers serving in the Israeli Defense Force diagnosed with BN and EDNOS-B/P who participated in a group CBT format of 16 weekly sessions and one follow-up session. In this study, 42 participants (65.6%) completed treatment and 22 participants (34.4%) did not. A total of 39 treatment completers (92.8% of treatment completers) and 19 non-completers (86.4% of treatment non-completers) were assessed around 12 months after treatment. Participants completed at baseline and following treatment questionnaires assessing eating-related symptoms, depression, anxiety, and overall functioning. At follow-up they were assessed for eating-related symptoms. Our findings show only minimal baseline differences between treatment completers and non-completers. Significant improvement from baseline to post-treatment was shown for B/P and restrictive symptoms, depression, anxiety, and overall functioning. At that time, more than a third of treatment completers were abstinent from binging and more than a half from vomiting. The improvement in B/P and restricting symptoms was maintained at 1 year follow-up for treatment completers. At that time around 60% were abstinent from binging and more than 70% from vomiting. Participants not completing treatment were also improved at follow-up but to a lesser extent. The findings of the present study suggest that group CBT may be effective for the treatment of female soldiers with BN and EDNOS-B/P.     

Association of inflammatory markers with hearing loss in young adults

Objectives

To assess the correlation between inflammatory markers (IM) and hearing loss (HL) in a large cohort of apparently healthy individuals.

Design

A cross sectional study.

Setting

Tel-Aviv Medical Center (a tertiary referral center) Inflammatory Survey Participants Individuals who attended the Tel-Aviv Medical Center Inflammatory Survey (TAMCIS) for a routine annual health check.

Results

Out of 2,500 individuals included in the final study cohort, 1,170 (47.3%) had some hearing impairment. Those with a hearing loss in 1 or both ears had significantly higher levels of neutrophils, lymphocytes, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio, and red blood cell counts. There was a difference between low- and high- frequencies losses associated with the inflammatory status.

Conclusions

IM levels were associated with the presence of a HL, supporting a link between inflammatory changes and hearing loss.     

Organ specific neoantigens reactive in the leukocyte adherence inhibition assay: affinity purification of human colon carcinoma antigen and its cross-reactive protein using monoclonal antibodies

A monoclonal antibody (mAb) was prepared against a semipurified preparation of an organ specific neoantigen (OSN) reactive in the leukocyte adherence inhibition (LAI) assay. The mAb (LC20.1) induces a positive LAI response when incubated with leukocytes of normal individuals in the presence of OSN derived from either human colon or lung carcinoma cell lines. Absorption of crude OSN preparations from these cell lines on immobilized LC20.1 mAb eliminates all the LAI reactive material suggesting that the mAb recognizes a common determinant on OSN from both colon and lung carcinomas. The LC20 mAb was used to affinity purify the colon cancer OSN as well as a cross-reactive normal protein from the urine of colon cancer patients and healthy donors, respectively. The colon cancer OSN and normal cross-reactive protein display an apparent molecular weight of 29,000, have a similar linear tryptic peptide map, and are indistinguishable by isoelectric focusing analysis. Regardless of the molecular similarity, only the colon cancer OSN preparation could induce a positive LAI when incubated with leukocytes of colon cancer patients. Seven additional anti-colon cancer OSN mAbs were prepared against purified material. These mAbs can be divided into three groups, each of which recognizes a distinct antigenic determinant that is shared by the colon cancer neoantigen and its cross-reactive normal protein.