Training psychotherapists in attributes of "mind" from Zen and psychoanalytic perspectives, Part I: Core principles, emptiness, impermanence, and paradox

This paper outlines the principles of a conceptual foundation for an innovative approach to the training of the modern psychotherapist, using certain technical and philosophical percepts found in the practice of Zen, divorced from its usual role as a form of Buddhism and/or a religious belief. A set of core principles derived from Zen and embedded in psychoanalytic theory are listed. Specific values are embodied in the day to day practice of the psychotherapist. The first of these values is the understanding of the true nature of emptiness in relation to the self and the non-Cartesian universe. Then the concept of impermanence and the centrality of paradox to the practice of Zen and psychotherapy is described. The basis of this approach to the education of the psychotherapist is grounded in the assumption that the usual training format with its focus on training in technical skills, with personal treatment being an additional requirement for many psychodynamic therapists, is insufficient for a complete educational experience. The training of the mind itself is an often forgotten and yet essential component of the training process.     

Moxifloxacin modifies corneal fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation

Background and Purpose

Fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation is associated with scarring, an important issue in corneal surgery. Moxifloxacin (MOX), commonly applied to prevent post-operative infection, would benefit more if it modifies fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation other than antimicrobial activity. Our purpose was to explore whether MOX has anti-fibrotic effect in human corneal fibroblasts (HCFs).

Experimental Approach

HCFs were incubated in MOX-containing medium concurrently with TGF-β1 (co-treatment), before (pretreatment) or after (post-treatment) adding TGF-β1. HCF contractility was evaluated with a type I collagen gel contraction assay. Expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), Smad2, phospho-Smad2-Ser467, Smad4 and Smad7 was determined by immunoblotting. Formation of α-SMA-positive filaments and distribution of active Smad2 were observed under confocal microscopy. Expression of TGF-β receptor types I (TGFBR1) and II (TGFBR2) was assessed with flow cytometry.

Key Results

MOX did not affect gel contractility or α-SMA filament formation in HCFs without TGF-β1 stimulation. MOX did, however, retard HCF-containing gel contractility and α-SMA filament formation following TGF-β1 stimulation in the pretreatment and co-treatment groups but not in the post-treatment group. MOX blocked the expression of Smad2, phospho-Smad2-Ser467 and TGFBR1 under TGF-β1 incubation. Additionally, MOX enhanced Smad7 expression in TGF-β1-incubated HCFs, but did not interfere with TGF-β-triggered Smad2 nuclear translocation or Smad4 expression.

Conclusions and Implications

MOX inhibited TGF-β-induced fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation via blocking TGFBR1 and enhancing Smad7 expression. MOX should be used before or during surgery to achieve these effects. These results suggest a de novo mechanism by which MOX participates in corneal wound healing.     

借助伸腱装置动力结构变化的肌腱移植矫正钮扣状畸形

目的:介绍一种矫正纽扣状畸形方法,认识该术式特点。方法:选择1995-01/2005-12在北华大学第一临床医学院手外科进行指背腱膜中央束重建的患者20例,男15例,女5例;年龄18~46岁。将伤指的外侧腱沿其纵轴分为两部分,其中背侧半(内侧束)在中节以远切断,掌侧半(外侧束)在近指根部水平切断。移位外侧腱的外侧束通过Cleland's韧带及部分屈肌腱鞘在远侧指间关节伸直条件下缝合固定。采用掌长肌腱之一半腱束游离移植。在中节指骨基底偏背侧用克氏针横行钻一骨孔,使掌长肌腱通过,移植腱在背侧交叉后,将移植腱与中央腱及两侧束编织缝合,使侧束、中央束及移植腱三者融为一体重建近侧指间关节的伸指功能。采用Caroli评定标准评估疗效,分3级:优、良、可。采用外侧腱外侧束的腱固定术来维持远侧指间关节关节的伸直位,在中央腱止点利用移植腱与中央腱、侧束近端缝合重建近侧指间关节的伸指功能。结果:本组共20例,按Caroli评定标准,优15例,良4例,可1例,优良率为95%。结论:该术式的最大特点是将伸腱装置复杂的动力结构变得简单化,易于掌握,是肌腱组织移植矫正创伤后钮扣状畸形的一种有效方法。     

Successful carotid endarterectomy in a patient with an aberrant branch from the common carotid artery

We report a patient who had an 80% asymptomatic stenosis in the distal right common carotid artery with an incidental finding of an aberrant branch arising from the right common carotid artery. He underwent an elective right carotid endarterectomy with an uneventful recovery. This is the first case in the literature of a successful endarterectomy in a patient with a common carotid anomaly and it emphasises the importance of careful dissection for unexpected anatomy.     

Effects of repetitive superficial chemical peels on facial sebum secretion in acne patients

BACKGROUND: Glycolic acid and Jessner's solution are popular superficial chemical peel agents for the treatment of facial acne, and increased sebum secretion is one of the major aetiological factors of acne. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of 30% glycolic acid peels and Jessner's solution peels on sebum secretion in facial acne patients. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with mild to moderate facial acne were included. Twenty-seven patients were treated with 30% glycolic acid peels and 11 patients with Jessner's solution peels. Each peel was performed twice with an interval of 2 weeks. Before and 2 weeks after each peel, sebum levels of forehead, nose, chin and cheeks were measured by using a Sebumeter (SM810 Courage & Khazaka, Cologne, Germany). RESULTS: The sebum levels were not significantly changed by two peels treatments of 30% glycolic acid peels or Jessner's solution peels on the facial skins of patients with facial acne. CONCLUSIONS: The two types of peels, 30% glycolic acid peels and Jessner's solution peels, did not affect sebum secretion of the facial skins of patients with facial acne after the two peels treatments. The accumulative effects of more than two peels treatments using these modalities need further evaluation.     

Recurrent DICER1 hotspot mutations in endometrial tumours and their impact on microRNA biogenesis

DICER1 plays a critical role in microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis. Recurrent somatic 'hotspot' mutations at the four metal‐binding sites within the RNase IIIb domain of DICER1 were identified in ovarian sex cord‐stromal tumours and have since been described in other paediatric tumours. In this study, we screened the RNase IIIb domain of DICER1 in 290 endometrial tumours and identified six cases with hotspot mutations, including two cases affected by an atypical G1809R mutation directly adjacent to a metal‐binding site. Using Illumina and Sanger targeted resequencing, we observed and validated biallelic DICER1 mutations in several cases with hotspot mutations. Through in vitro DICER1 cleavage assays, small RNA deep sequencing and real‐time PCR, we demonstrated that mutations adding a positively charged side chain to residue 1809 have similar detrimental effects on 5p miRNA production to mutations at the metal‐binding sites. As expected, 5p miRNAs were globally reduced in tumours and cell lines with hotspot mutations. Pathway analysis of gene expression profiles indicated that genes de‐repressed due to loss of 5p miRNAs are strongly associated with pathways regulating the cell cycle. Using a Dicer1‐null mouse cell line model, we found that expression of DICER1 hotspot mutants promoted cell proliferation, whereas wild‐type (WT) DICER1 inhibited cell proliferation. Furthermore, targets of let‐7 family miRNAs are enriched among the up‐regulated genes, suggesting that loss of let‐7 may be impacting downstream pathways. Our results reveal that DICER1 hotspot mutations are implicated in common malignancies and may constitute a unique oncogenic pathway. Copyright © 2015 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The anemia of chronic disorders: studies of marrow regulation and iron metabolism

Marrow regulation and iron metabolism were evaluated in 17 patients with mild or moderate anemia associated with chronic disorders. In addition, whole blood P50 and red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG) levels were measured. The study group consisted of seven patients with non-hematologic malignancies, nine with infection or inflammation, and one with idiopathic hypoproliferative anemia. The mean whole blood P50 and DPG levels were elevated to 28.5 +/- 1.9 mm Hg and 7.03 +/- 0.83 mumole/ml packed RBC, respectively, as compared to normal values of 26.6 +/- 0.6 mm Hg and 4.83 +/- 0.33 mumole/ml packed RBC. Erythropoietin (ESF) excretion was variable (1.1-28.7 IRP U, day), clearly elevated above normal in only three patients and, within the study group, bore no relation to hematocrit. While nine of the 17 subjects had ESF excretion rates within the 95% limits predicted by hematocrit, the remaining eight had lower than expected values. No significant differences in ferrokinetics, ESF excretion, or hematologic profile were found between patients with malignancy and those with inflammation. Marrow transit times correlated inversely with both serum and urine ESF activity (r = -0.57, p less than 0.02; and r = -0.63, p less than 0.01, respectively), indicating that the marrow reticulocyte release response to ESF stimulation was unimpaired. Erythroid iron turnovers were unrelated to serum or urinary ESF activity but were significantly correlated with serum iron levels expressed as microgram/100 ml whole blood (r = 0.56, p less than 0.02). These studies suggest that there is an intraerythrocytic response to the anemia in this group of patients, document that reduced ESF production is not a uniform finding with the anemia of chronic disorders, and provide evidence that the marrow proliferative response to anemia is limited in many patients primarily by the availability of iron.     

Automated diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome using 3D facial image analysis

OBJECTIVES: Use three-dimensional (3D) facial laser scanned images from children with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and controls to develop an automated diagnosis technique that can reliably and accurately identify individuals prenatally exposed to alcohol. METHODS: A detailed dysmorphology evaluation, history of prenatal alcohol exposure, and 3D facial laser scans were obtained from 149 individuals (86 FAS; 63 Control) recruited from two study sites (Cape Town, South Africa and Helsinki, Finland). Computer graphics, machine learning, and pattern recognition techniques were used to automatically identify a set of facial features that best discriminated individuals with FAS from controls in each sample. RESULTS: An automated feature detection and analysis technique was developed and applied to the two study populations. A unique set of facial regions and features were identified for each population that accurately discriminated FAS and control faces without any human intervention. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that computer algorithms can be used to automatically detect facial features that can discriminate FAS and control faces.