Introduction to the special issue: Attachment-based psychoanalytic psychotherapy

Abstract

The unresolved (U) state of mind in parents has been validated by its association with infant attachment disorganization (D), yet all studies show a transmission gap, and a proportion of individuals classified as U have infants who are not D. This paper reports on 31 mothers who showed the characteristic lapses in thinking and reasoning of the unresolved/disorganized state of mind in relation to stillbirth (U_sb), when assessed with the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) in the pregnancy after stillbirth. Seventeen (55%) of their infants were D at 1 year old. We evaluate social, attachment, and psychiatric variables to establish whether there are differences in U_sb individuals that will predict infant D. In this population of U mothers, social and attachment factors did not predict infant D, but U_sb mothers of non-D infants showed significantly higher levels of depression and of intrusive thoughts on the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) scale in pregnancy, and showed higher levels of intrusive thoughts when the infant was 1 year old. We discuss possible interpretations of these findings.     

A Novel Dietary Assessment Method to Measure a Healthy and Sustainable Diet Using the Mobile Food Record: Protocol and Methodology

The world-wide rise in obesity parallels growing concerns of global warming and depleting natural resources. These issues are often considered separately but there may be considerable benefit to raising awareness of the impact of dietary behaviours and practices on the food supply. Australians have diets inconsistent with recommendations, typically low in fruit and vegetables and high in energy-dense nutrient-poor foods and beverages (EDNP). These EDNP foods are often highly processed and packaged, negatively influencing both health and the environment. This paper describes a proposed dietary assessment method to measure healthy and sustainable dietary behaviours using 4-days of food and beverage images from the mobile food record (mFR) application. The mFR images will be assessed for serves of fruit and vegetables (including seasonality), dairy, eggs and red meat, poultry and fish, ultra-processed EDNP foods, individually packaged foods, and plate waste. A prediction model for a Healthy and Sustainable Diet Index will be developed and tested for validity and reliability. The use of the mFR to assess adherence to a healthy and sustainable diet is a novel and innovative approach to dietary assessment and will have application in population monitoring, guiding intervention development, educating consumers, health professionals and policy makers, and influencing dietary recommendations.     

Bacteriorhodopsin''s L550 intermediate contains a C14-C15 s-trans-retinal chromophore.

Conformational changes of the retinal chromophore about the C14-C15 bond in bacteriorhodopsin (BR) have been proposed in models for the mechanism of light-driven proton transport. To determine the C14-C15 conformation in BR's L550 intermediate, we have examined the resonance Raman spectra of BR derivatives regenerated with retinal deuterated at the 14 and 15 positions. Vibrational calculations show that the C14-2H and C15-2H rocking modes form symmetric (A) and antisymmetric (B) combinations in [14,15-2H]retinal chromophores. When there is a trans conformation about the single bond between C14 and C15 (14-s-trans), a small frequency separation or splitting is observed between the A and B modes, which are found at approximately equal to 970 cm-1. In 14-s-cis molecules, the splitting is large, and the Raman-active symmetric A mode is predicted at approximately equal to 850 cm-1. In addition, the monodeuterium rock should appear at an unusually low frequency (920-930 cm-1) in the 14-2H-labeled 14-s-cis molecules. These patterns are insensitive to computational details: similar results are predicted by a modified Urey-Bradley force field and by MNDO (modified neglect of differential overlap) calculations for twisted chromophores and for highly delocalized protonated Schiff base cations. Time-resolved resonance Raman spectra were obtained of BR's L550 intermediate regenerated with [14-2H]-, [15-2H]- and [14,15-2H]retinal. The symmetric A rock in L550 is found at 968 cm-1, within 4 cm-1 of the frequencies for the monodeuterio derivatives, and no scattering is observed between 800 and 940 cm-1. The rocking frequencies of deuterated L550 are within 5 cm-1 of those observed in BR568, which contains a 14-s-trans chromophore. These results show that L550 contains a 14-s-trans chromophore and suggest that only 14-s-trans structures are involved in the proton pumping photocycle of BR.     

Quantitation in gated perfusion SPECT imaging: the Cedars-Sinai approach.

Cedars-Sinai's approach to the automation of gated perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging is based on the identification of key procedural steps (processing, quantitation, reporting), each of which is then implemented, in completely automated fashion, by use of mathematic algorithms and logical rules combined into expert systems. Our current suite of software applications has been designed to be platform- and operating system-independent, and every algorithm is based on the same 3-dimensional sampling scheme for the myocardium. The widespread acceptance of quantitative software by the nuclear cardiology community (QGS alone is used at over 20,000 locations) has provided the opportunity for extensive validation of quantitative measurements of myocardial perfusion and function, in our opinion, helping to make nuclear cardiology the most accurate and reproducible modality available for the assessment of the human heart.     

Intestinal pseudo-obstruction as an initial presentation of systemic sclerosis in two children

Two children are reported in whom intestinal pseudo-obstruction was the initial manifestation of systemic sclerosis. Gastrointestinal symptoms and skin changes resolved or improved in both children following treatment with prednisone and penicillamine (case 1) or methotrexate (case 2), although radiological changes of the gastrointestinal tract persisted at 3 and 2 yr of follow-up, respectively.      

Preclinical to Clinical Translation of CNS Transporter Occupancy of TD-9855, a Novel Norepinephrine and Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor

Background:

Monoamine reuptake inhibitors exhibit unique clinical profiles that reflect distinct engagement of the central nervous system (CNS) transporters.

Methods:

We used a translational strategy, including rodent pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in humans, to establish the transporter profile of TD-9855, a novel norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibitor.

Results:

TD-9855 was a potent inhibitor of norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin 5-HT uptake in vitro with an inhibitory selectivity of 4- to 10-fold for NE at human and rat transporters. TD-9855 engaged norepinephrine transporters (NET) and serotonin transporters (SERT) in rat spinal cord, with a plasma EC₅₀ of 11.7ng/mL and 50.8ng/mL, respectively, consistent with modest selectivity for NET in vivo.Accounting for species differences in protein binding, the projected human NET and SERT plasma EC₅₀ values were 5.5ng/mL and 23.9ng/mL, respectively. A single-dose, open-label PET study (4–20mg TD-9855, oral) was conducted in eight healthy males using the radiotracers [¹¹C]-3-amino-4- [2-[(di(methyl)amino)methyl]phenyl]sulfanylbenzonitrile for SERT and [¹¹C]-(S,S)-methylreboxetine for NET. The long pharmacokinetic half-life (30–40h) of TD-9855 allowed for sequential assessment of SERT and NET occupancy in the same subject. The plasma EC₅₀ for NET was estimated to be 1.21ng/mL, and at doses of greater than 4mg the projected steady-state NET occupancy is high (>75%). After a single oral dose of 20mg, SERT occupancy was 25 (±8)% at a plasma level of 6.35ng/mL.

Conclusions:

These data establish the CNS penetration and transporter profile of TD-9855 and inform the selection of potential doses for future clinical evaluation.     

Commercial ‘ready‐to‐feed’ infant foods in the UK: macro‐nutrient content and composition

Quantitative analyses of the macronutrient content of eight popular commercial ‘ready‐to‐feed’ baby meals for 6–9‐month old infants in the UK market have been undertaken in order to ascertain their nutritional suitability in relation to the total daily dietary intake as well as nutritional profiling of the products. The chemical analyses conducted included Kjeldhal for protein, acid hydrolysis and extraction for fat, phenol sulphuric acid for carbohydrate and Association of Official Analytical Chemists 985.29 for fibre. The only difference found between different varieties (meat‐ and vegetable‐based) was with respect to the protein content (P = 0.04) per 100 g of food. The experimentally determined concentrations of macronutrients (g/100 kcal) were compared with the declared values provided by the manufacturers on the product labels and, despite some variations, the values obtained comply with regulatory requirements (Commission Directive 2006/125/EC). The total daily intake of fat (27.0 g per day) – based on the menu composed from commercial complementary food – is suggested to exceed the daily recommended values for fat (31%), if the intake of snacks and desserts are incorporated. These findings imply that the formulation of recipes, based on a standard commercial menu, is an important consideration in relation to the nutritional quality of the diet of infants.