Suicide risk and psychopathology in immigrants: a multi-group confirmatory factor analysis

Background

Immigrants may experience several negative consequences as a result of their migration including discrimination, unsatisfactory economic conditions, and rejection from the host countries, which may contribute to psychiatric illness and vulnerability to suicidal behaviors. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether or not the theorized components of measured dimensions of suicide risk and psychopathology vary across samples of Italians and immigrants.

Methods

We investigated 237 Italians and 234 immigrants, who were administered self-report questionnaires to assess temperament (TEMPS-A), hopelessness (BHS), personality (EPQ-R), and self–other perception (9AP).

Results

Multi-group confirmatory factor analyses were conducted, which yielded a final model with an excellent fit to the data (χ ₍₅₃₎ ²  = 57.56; CFI = 0.994; RMSEA = 0.014). This final model fits significantly better than the previously tested models and indicated that the same pattern of relationships was found between suicide risk and psychopathology across both groups.

Conclusions

Although immigrants represent a unique population and may experience specific stressors contributing to psychopathology and suicide risk, our findings suggest that the samples of Italians and immigrants may be more similar on the study variables under investigation than previously thought. Implications are offered for the improved identification and treatment of immigrants and resident citizens in Europe in general and in Italy in particular.     

Effect of the application of a casein phosphopeptide–amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP–ACP) paste and adhesive systems on bond durability of a fissure sealant

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the previous application of a casein phosphopeptide–amorphous calcium phosphate paste (MI Paste, MI) and adhesive systems on the bond durability of a fissure sealant. Ninety-eight enamel blocks were obtained from proximal surfaces of erupted third molars. Specimens were divided into 14 groups (n = 7) according to the previous application of MI (with and without) and the adhesive systems used (no adhesive system; hydrophobic resin of a three-step etch-and-rinse adhesive system; etch-and-rinse single-bottle adhesive system; all-in-one adhesive system; two-step self-etching adhesive system; additional phosphoric acid conditioning and all-in-one adhesive system; additional phosphoric acid conditioning and two-step self-etching adhesive system). A fissure sealant (Fluroshield) was applied and photoactivated for 20 s. Beams (~0.7 mm²) were prepared for the microtensile bond strength test, which was executed after 24 h or 6 months of water storage. Fractured specimens were analyzed by scanning electronic microscopy. Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA with repeated measures/Tukey’s test (P < 0.05). Groups that received MI application and adhesive systems presented higher means than those groups where MI was not applied. Higher frequency of cohesive failures was observed for groups with MI. Applying a CPP–ACP containing paste on enamel before adhesive systems was an effective method to increase bond durability of the sealant tested.     

Effect of Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 Associated With a Variety of Bone Substitutes on Vertical Guided Bone Regeneration in Rabbit Calvarium

Background: A major challenge for dental implantology is to consistently obtain appropriate bone augmentation before implant placement. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP‐2) associated with bone substitute materials beta‐tricalcium phosphate (β‐TCP), biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP), and bovine bone mineral on vertical guided bone regeneration (GBR) in rabbit calvarium. Methods: Four titanium cylinders were fixed to the calvarium of 22 rabbits. In group 1 (n = 10), three cylinders were randomly filled with one of the test materials, and one cylinder was filled with a blood clot (CL). In group 2 (n = 12), the cylinders were randomly assigned to the same materials and CL but with the addition of rhBMP‐2. Bone labels were injected over the course of 13 weeks, and euthanasia was performed 14 weeks after surgery in both groups. Results: The mean volume and area of tissue growth was greater in group 2 (with rhBMP‐2) than in group 1 (without rhBMP‐2), irrespective of the material used (P <0.001). The mean volume of tissue growth in the CL cylinder was smaller than that observed with all other materials (P <0.001) in both groups. The mean area of regenerated bone in the CL cylinder was smaller than that observed in the β‐TCP cylinder (P = 0.028). The histologic study revealed more lamellar bone in the rhBMP‐2 group, with a greater level of biodegradation of all the bone substitute materials tested. Conclusion: The use of rhBMP‐2/absorbable collagen sponge (ACS) combined with all of the bone substitute materials tested resulted in a greater amount of bone formation than that produced with the bone substitute materials alone or rhBMP‐2/(ACS) and CL using the rabbit calvarium GBR model.     

Physiological COX-2 Expression in Breast Epithelium Associates with COX-2 Levels in Ductal Carcinoma in Situ and Invasive Breast Cancer in Young Women

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) overexpression is implicated in increased risk and poorer outcomes in breast cancer in young women. We investigated COX-2 regulation in normal premenopausal breast tissue and its relationship to malignancy in young women. Quantitative COX-2 immunohistochemistry was performed on adjacent normal and breast cancer tissues from 96 premenopausal women with known clinical reproductive histories, and on rat mammary glands with distinct ovarian hormone exposures. COX-2 expression in the normal breast epithelium varied more than 40-fold between women and was associated with COX-2 expression levels in ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive cancer. Normal breast COX-2 expression was independent of known breast cancer prognostic indicators, including tumor stage and clinical subtype, indicating that factors regulating physiological COX-2 expression may be the primary drivers of COX-2 expression in breast cancer. Ovarian hormones, particularly at pregnancy levels, were identified as modulators of COX-2 in normal mammary epithelium. However, serial breast biopsy analysis in nonpregnant premenopausal women suggested relatively stable baseline levels of COX-2 expression, which persisted independent of menstrual cycling. These data provide impetus to investigate how baseline COX-2 expression is regulated in premenopausal breast tissue because COX-2 levels in normal breast epithelium may prove to be an indicator of breast cancer risk in young women, and predict the chemopreventive and therapeutic efficacy of COX-2 inhibitors in this population.In 2010, approximately 13% of all breast cancers in the United States were diagnosed in women age 45 and younger, accounting for nearly 18,600 cases of invasive breast cancer and 6500 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).¹ Furthermore, the proportion of advanced breast cancers diagnosed in young American women is increasing at a rate of 2% per year, making young women''s breast cancer an emerging concern.² Compared with breast cancer in older women, young breast cancer patients have increased recurrence and lower survival rates.^3–8 Although a delayed diagnosis can contribute to poorer survival in some young patients,^6,9 the primary factor driving poor prognosis is tumor biology. Young women''s breast cancer has increased hormone-receptor negativity, tumor cell proliferation, and lymphovascular invasion compared with postmenopausal cases.^4,6,10 Moreover, young age at the time of breast cancer diagnosis is an independent poor prognostic factor.^4,6,7,11,12 These data provide compelling arguments to develop novel strategies to reduce breast cancer incidence and poor outcomes in young women.One potential target for young women''s breast cancer is cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2),¹³ a key enzyme in the synthesis of homeostatic and proinflammatory prostanoids.¹⁴ In rodent breast cancer models, COX-2 overexpression induces mammary tumorigenesis and is associated with multiple tumor-promotional effects including increased angiogenesis, enhanced tumor cell migration and invasion, and reduced antitumor immunity.^15–20 Conversely, COX-2 inhibition or loss in rodent models reduces mammary tumorigenesis and metastasis.^17,21–23 Clinical data are consistent with similar roles for COX-2 in human breast cancer because COX-2 overexpression in breast cancer is associated with decreased disease-free and overall survival.^24,25 In addition, regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which inhibit the COX family of enzymes, can reduce overall breast cancer risk.^26,27 To date, the function of COX-2 in young women''s breast cancer has not been addressed. In a single study, high COX-2 expression in combination with increased collagen I is reported as a poor prognostic indicator in young-onset breast cancer patients (age, <45 years).¹⁶ One mechanism by which COX-2 may contribute to young-onset breast cancers is through its role in normal breast tissue remodeling. Importantly, windows of active breast tissue remodeling specific to young women, such as those associated with puberty, menstrual cycling, pregnancy, and postpartum breast involution, correlate with an increased risk for incidence and progression of breast cancer.^28,29 Support for this has been shown in rodent models in which postpartum mammary gland involution promotes tissue remodeling, tumor progression, and metastasis, all of which are mitigated by anti–COX-2 treatment.^16,30 Furthermore, COX-2 up-regulation has been observed in rat mammary glands after treatment with the ovarian hormones estrogen and progesterone,³¹ which is consistent with a role for COX-2 in physiological breast tissue remodeling associated with pregnancy and the menstrual cycle.We hypothesized that if COX-2 is involved in breast tissue remodeling, then COX-2 inhibition may represent a particularly efficacious chemoprevention strategy for young women. One important step in addressing this hypothesis is to evaluate COX-2 expression in young women''s breast tissue. We used human and rodent mammary tissues to investigate the effect of pregnancy and ovarian hormones on COX-2 expression in normal tissue as well as to explore the link between COX-2 expression in histologically normal adjacent breast tissue, DCIS, and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) in young-onset cases. We found that COX-2 expression primarily was epithelial and varied greatly between individual women, with evidence of modulation by ovarian hormones. In addition, analysis of COX-2 expression in paired normal adjacent breast epithelium, DCIS, and IDC within breast tissue from the same woman showed that COX-2 expression in the normal epithelium was associated with COX-2 expression in DCIS and IDC. Altogether, these data suggest that factors regulating COX-2 expression in normal breast epithelium influence COX-2 levels in breast cancer, and indicate that further research is warranted into whether women with high COX-2 expression may benefit preferentially from COX-2 inhibition strategies.     

Exhaustive Exercise With Different Rest Periods Changes the Collagen Content and MMP‐2 Activation on the Calcaneal Tendon

Tendons adapt to different mechanical stimuli through a remodeling process involving metalloproteinases (MMPs) and collagen synthesis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the activities of MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 and the collagen content in tendons after exhaustive acute exercise sessions over the course of 1, 3, or 6 days, with 1‐hr or 3‐hr rest periods between each session. Wistar rats were grouped into control (C), trained with 1‐hr (groups 1d1h, 3d1h, and 6d1h) and trained with 3‐hr (groups 1d3h, 3d3h and 6d3h) groups with rest periods between the treadmill running sessions, for 1, 3, and 6 days. The analysis of MMP‐2 showed a larger presence of the latent isoform in the 1d3h group and a larger presence of the active isoform in the 6d3h group compared to the control. No differences were detected for MMP‐9. A lower concentration of hydroxyproline was found in the 6d3h group compared to the 6d1h group. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis showed more prominent collagen bands in the 6d3h group, which was confirmed by Western blotting for collagen type I. A higher concentration of glycosaminoglycans was observed in the 3d3h group compared to the 3d1h group, and the 6d3h group presented the highest value for non‐collagenous proteins compared to other groups. In conclusion, different rest periods between exercise sessions had different effects on the composition of the calcaneal tendon because a greater activation of MMP‐2 and a reduction of total collagen were observed on day 6 of exercise with 3‐hr rest periods compared to 1‐hr rest periods. Anat Rec, 297:281–288, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Fractal dimension and mandibular cortical width in normal and osteoporotic men and women

Objective

To verify whether fractal dimensions (FD) on the mandibular trabecular and cortical bone and mandibular cortical width (MCW) differ between patients with normal bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporosis.

Study design

In this retrospective study, 133 dental panoramic radiographs from men aged >60 years and postmenopausal women with a bone densitometry report of the lumbar spine and hip classified as either normal or osteoporotic were selected. Fractal dimensions of five standardized trabecular and cortical mandibular regions of interest and mandibular cortical width were measured on the panoramic radiographs by an experienced oral radiologist, blinded to the densitometric diagnosis. The following statistical analyses were performed: ANOVA and a forward logistic stepwise regression to verify associations between dental panoramic measurements and the densitometric diagnosis. P values less than .05 indicated statistical significance.

Main outcome measures

Fractal dimension and mandibular cortical width.

Results

Differences were found in the FD values on mandibular cortical bone and MCW between patients with normal BMD and with osteoporosis, but not in the FD values of trabecular bone. The odds of having lower mean values of MCW and FD on cortical bone were 2.16, 3125 and 1005 times in osteoporotic patients, respectively, compared with patients with normal BMD.

Conclusion

The values of FD analysis on mandibular cortical bone and MCW were lower in women with osteoporosis. A well-adjusted logistic regression model showed that cortical bone measurements might be considered as auxiliary tools to referring patients for DXA exam.     

The distribution of ephrin-B1 and PNA-positive glycoconjugates is correlated with atypical melanoblast migration in Japanese Silky fowl embryos

Melanoblasts are positively stimulated to migrate in the dorsolateral pathway of the avian embryo by ephrins, but are inhibited by PNA-binding glycoconjugates. We analyzed the potential role of these molecules in the Japanese Silky fowl, which displays intense internal pigmentation. The distribution of ephrin ligands was analyzed using Eph receptor-human Fc fusion proteins. Glycoconjugates were labeled using PNA-FITC. In Japanese Silky embryos, ventral areas, including the anterior- and posterior-half somites, expressed ephrin-B1 in a pattern that correlates with the atypical migratory pathways taken by Japanese Silky melanoblasts. White Leghorn embryos displayed little to no ephrin-Bs in the ventral paths. Conversely, PNA-binding barrier tissues, proposed to prevent melanoblasts from migrating ventrally in White Leghorn, are missing or have significant gaps in Japanese Silky embryos. Thus, studies of a naturally occurring pigmentation mutant confirm that a combination of cues regulates melanoblast migration in the chick embryo.     

Effect of caries infiltration technique and fluoride therapy on microhardness of enamel carious lesions

Enamel white spot subsurface lesions compromise esthetics and precede cavitation; therefore, they must be halted. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a caries infiltration technique and fluoride therapy on the microhardness of enamel carious lesions. Subsurface carious lesions were produced in 60 bovine specimens with polished enamel surfaces. The specimens were divided into four groups (n=15), according to the treatment used: CON, control-immersion in artificial saliva; DF, daily 0.05% fluoride solution; WF, weekly 2% fluoride gel; and IC, resin infiltration (Icon). The specimens were kept in artificial saliva and evaluated for microhardness at five points: baseline, after caries production, after four and eight weeks of treatment, and a final evaluation after being submitted to a new acid challenge. The repeated-measures analysis of variance showed significant differences according to the type of treatment (TREAT; p=0.001) and time of evaluation (EV; p=0.001). The results of the Tukey test were TREAT: CON = 45.18 (±29.17)a, DF = 107.75 (±67.38)b, WF = 83.25 (±51.17)c, and IC = 160.83 (±91.11)d. Analysis of correlation between the TREAT and EV factors showed no significant differences for DF (138.63 ± 38.94) and IC (160.99 ± 46.13) after the new acid challenge. The microhardness results in decreasing order after eight weeks were IC > DF > WF > CON. It was concluded that the microhardness of carious lesions increased with the infiltration of resin, while the final microhardness after a new acid challenge was similar for DF and IC.