Recollections of Parental Rejection,Self-Criticism and Depression in Suicidality

The present study examines whether self-criticism and depressive symptoms mediate the relationship between recollections of parental rejection and suicidality. A community sample of 200 Portuguese adults completed, in counterbalanced order, a socio-demographic questionnaire, the short form of the Inventory for Assessing Memories of Parental Rearing Behaviour (EMBU), the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and reports of any suicide intention and/or ideation and suicide attempts. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) indicated that recollections of parental rejection are significantly associated with depressive symptoms and suicidality. Recollections of parental rejection are indirectly associated with depressive symptoms and suicidality through self-criticism. The association between self-criticism and suicidality is mediated by depressive symptoms. In addition to a significant direct association between recollections of parental rejection and suicidality, the final model indicated that recollections of parental rejection are significantly associated with self-criticism. That same self-criticism is significantly associated with depressive symptoms which, in turn, are significantly associated with suicidality. Individuals with recollections of parental rejection are at greater risk for suicide ideation and behavior, possibly because such experiences predispose them to intense self-criticism which is a risk factor for depression associated with suicidal ideation and behavior.     

Personality,Cognition, and Adaptability to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Associations with Loneliness,Distress, and Positive and Negative Mood States

The current research examined personality and individual difference factors associated with the perceived ability to adapt to the significant challenges accompanying the ongoing public health crisis concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional study investigated the associations among self-reported adaptability to the pandemic and personality predispositions (dependency, self-criticism, mattering, and self-esteem), cognitive factors (positive, negative, and loneliness automatic thoughts), loneliness, distress, and mood states. A sample of 462 college students from Israel completed an online questionnaire after 10 weeks of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results confirmed that personality vulnerability factors underscored by a negative sense of self (i.e., self-criticism and dependency) and individual difference factors reflecting self-esteem, feelings of mattering, and fear of not mattering are associated in meaningful ways with adaptability to the pandemic, loneliness, distress, negative mood states, and positive mood states. Most notably, higher self-reported adaptability to the pandemic is associated with lower dependency, self-criticism, and fear of not mattering, and higher levels of self-esteem and mattering. The findings attest to the central role of adaptability and related individual difference factors in acclimatizing to the numerous changes and challenges associated with the COVID-19 crisis. The theoretical and practical implications of our findings are discussed.

     

Rat melanin concentrating hormone does not modify the release of CRH-41 from rat hypothalamus or ACTH from the anterior pituitary in vitro

It has been suggested that melanin concentrating hormone (MCH) possesses potent corticotrophin (ACTH) inhibitory activity, on the basis of the inhibitory effects displayed by salmon MCH on ACTH release from either trout or rat isolated pituitary fragments. Recently, rat MCH has been characterised, and this prompted us to investigate the putative inhibitory activity of synthetic rat MCH on basal and stimulated ACTH secretion from freshly-dispersed rat pituitary cells or incubated rat pituitary fragments, as well on KCl (28 mmol/l) or noradrenaline-evoked release of corticotrophin releasing hormone-41 (CRH-41) from rat hypothalamic explants in vitro. There were no effects of rat MCH on either CRH-41 or ACTH release in vitro.     

Results of a phase I/II trial of recombinant human granulocyte- macrophage colony-stimulating factor in very low birthweight neonates: significant induction of circulatory neutrophils, monocytes, platelets, and bone marrow neutrophils

Neonates, especially those of very low birthweight (VLBW), have an increased risk of nosocomial infections secondary to deficiencies in development. We previously demonstrated that granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) production and mRNA expression from stimulated neonatal mononuclear cells are significantly less than that from adult cells. Recombinant murine GM-CSF administration to neonatal rats has resulted in neutrophilia, increased neutrophil production, and increased survival of pups during experimental Staphylococcus aureus sepsis. In the present study, we sought to determine the safety and biologic response of recombinant human (rhu) GM-CSF in VLBW neonates. Twenty VLBW neonates (500 to 1,500 g), aged < 72 hours, were randomized to receive either placebo (n = 5) or rhuGM-CSF at 5.0 micrograms/kg once per day (n = 5), 5.0 micrograms/kg twice per day (n = 5), or 10 micrograms/kg once per day (n = 5) given via 2-hour intravenous infusion for 7 days. Complete blood counts, differential, and platelet counts were obtained, and tibial bone marrow aspirate was performed on day 8. Neutrophil C3bi receptor expression was measured at 0 and 24 hours. GM-CSF levels were measured by a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 hours after the first dose of rhuGM-CSF. At all doses, rhuGM-CSF was well tolerated, and there was no evidence of grade III or IV toxicity. Within 48 hours of administration, there was a significant increase in the circulating absolute neutrophil count (ANC) at 5.0 micrograms/kg twice per day and 10.0 micrograms/kg once per day, which continued for at least 24 hours after discontinuation of rhuGM-CSF. When the ANC was normalized for each patient's first ANC, there was a significant increase in the ANC on days 6 and 7 at each dose level. By day 7, all tested doses of rhuGM- CSF resulted in an increase in the absolute monocyte count (AMC) compared with placebo-treated neonates. In those receiving rhuGM-CSF 5.0 micrograms/kg twice per day, there was additionally a significant increase in the day 7 and 8 platelet count. Tibial bone marrow aspirates demonstrated a significant increase in the bone marrow neutrophil storage pool (BM NSP) at 5.0 micrograms/kg twice per day and 10.0 micrograms/kg once per day. Neutrophil C3bi receptor expression was significantly increased 24 hours after the first dose of rhuGM-CSF at 5.0 micrograms/kg once per day. The elimination half-life (T1/2) of rhuGM-CSF was 1.4 +/- 0.8 to 3.9 +/- 2.8 hours.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Molecular analysis of relapse in chronic myeloid leukemia after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Four patients with Philadelphia (Ph') positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) were studied before, after, and on relapse following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Southern analysis of DNA from cells collected before and at relapse after BMT was performed in order to investigate the origin of the leukemia at relapse. Using minisatellite probes we showed that the relapse occurred in cells of host origin in all four patients and this was confirmed with a Y chromosome specific probe in two male patients who had a female donor. Furthermore, using two probes for the breakpoint cluster region (bcr) on chromosome 22, we showed that leukemic cells at relapse bore identical rearrangements to those in the disease at time of presentation of each patient. We conclude that relapse in all four patients is due to re-emergence of the original leukemic clone.     

Winter peaks in web-based public inquiry into epistaxis

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Epistaxis represents the most frequent ear, nose, throat-related emergency symptom. Seasonal variation in epistaxis incidence, with peaks during winter...