The impact of eye movements and tones on disturbing memories involving PTSD and other mental disorders

BackgroundA wide array of experimental studies are supportive of a working memory explanation for the effects of eye movements in EMDR therapy. The working memory account predicts that, as a consequence of competition in working memory, traumatic memories lose their emotional charge.MethodThis study was aimed at investigating (1) the effects of taxing the working memory, as applied in EMDR, during recall of negative memories in 32 patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and 32 patients with other mental disorders, and (2) whether the results would differ between both groups. In a therapeutic session patients were asked to recollect a crucial upsetting memory while, in counterbalanced order (a) performing eye movements, (b) listening to tones and (c) watching a blank wall (‘recall only’), each episode lasting 6 min.ResultsEye movements were found to be more effective in diminishing the emotionality of the memory than ‘recall only’. There was a trend showing that tones were less effective than eye movements, but more effective than ‘recall only’. The majority of patients (64%) preferred tones to continue with. The effects of taxing working memory on disturbing memories did not differ between PTSD patients and those diagnosed with other conditions.ConclusionsThe findings provide further evidence for the value of employing eye movements in EMDR treatments. The results also support the notion that EMDR is a suitable option for resolving disturbing memories underlying a broader range of mental health problems than PTSD alone.     

Quantitative Analysis of Cereulide Toxin from Bacillus cereus in Rice and Pasta Using Synthetic Cereulide Standard and 13C6-Cereulide Standard—A Short Validation Study

A single laboratory validation study of a rapid and sensitive quantitative method for the analysis of cereulide toxin produced by Bacillus cereus using ultra high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry is presented. The analysis of this cyclic peptide toxin was validated for pasta and rice samples using a newly presented synthetic cereulide peptide standard, together with ¹³C₆-cereulide that previously have not been commercially available. The use of cereulide standard was also compared to the most frequently used surrogate standard, the antibiotic valinomycin. The performance of the method was evaluated by analyzing spiked sample pools from different types of rice and pasta, as well as 21 individual rice and pasta samples from differently prepared meals. Inoculation of samples with three cereulide toxin-producing strains of Bacillus cereus was finally used to mimic naturally contaminated foods. The quantification range of the method was 1–500 ng/g (R² = 0.999) and the limits of detection and quantification were 0.1 and 1 ng/g, respectively. The precision varied from 3% to 7% relative standard deviation and the trueness from −2% to +6% relative bias at different concentration levels in cooked rice and pasta.     

Quantitative Analysis of Staphylococcal Enterotoxins A and B in Food Matrices Using Ultra High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS)

A method that uses mass spectrometry (MS) for identification and quantification of protein toxins, staphylococcal enterotoxins A and B (SEA and SEB), in milk and shrimp is described. The analysis was performed using a tryptic peptide, from each of the toxins, as the target analyte together with the corresponding ¹³C-labeled synthetic internal standard peptide. The performance of the method was evaluated by analyzing spiked samples in the quantification range 2.5–30 ng/g (R² = 0.92–0.99). The limit of quantification (LOQ) in milk and the limit of detection (LOD) in shrimp was 2.5 ng/g, for both SEA and SEB toxins. The in-house reproducibility (RSD) was 8%–30% and 5%–41% at different concentrations for milk and shrimp, respectively. The method was compared to the ELISA method, used at the EU-RL (France), for milk samples spiked with SEA at low levels, in the quantification range of 2.5 to 5 ng/g. The comparison showed good coherence for the two methods: 2.9 (MS)/1.8 (ELISA) and 3.6 (MS)/3.8 (ELISA) ng/g. The major advantage of the developed method is that it allows direct confirmation of the molecular identity and quantitative analysis of SEA and SEB at low nanogram levels using a label and antibody free approach. Therefore, this method is an important step in the development of alternatives to the immune-assay tests currently used for staphylococcal enterotoxin analysis.     

Fabrication of an overdenture covering a torus palatinus using a combination of denture base materials: a case report

A maxillary torus provides a challenge when restoring an edentulous arch. Tori tend to have very thin mucosa and can be intolerant of normal pressures from a denture base. The tori tend to have large undercuts and at times extend to the junction with the soft palate, preventing the creation of a good palatal seal. Triple lamination involves combining 3 materials to fabricate a denture base that utilizes the retentive aspects of the torus. The thermoplastic flange provides a measure of flexibility, allowing the denture to seat over the torus. The resilient liner provides a cushion to diffuse the occlusal load, while the rigid acrylic base provides the support for the denture teeth. Using this approach, a very retentive denture was fabricated using the maxillary torus as a key element in anchoring the prosthesis.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharomyces boulardii</Emphasis>fungaemia in an intensive care unit patient treated with caspofungin

We describe a case of Saccharomyces boulardii fugaemia in a critically ill patient with septic shock treated with a probiotic agent containing this yeast. We attributed this fugaemia to gut translocation. Our use of caspofugin yielded excellent results.     

Candida albicans inactivation and cell membrane integrity damage by microwave irradiation

In indicating the microwave irradiation for disinfecting dentures it is necessary to see how this procedure influences Candida albicans integrity and viability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of microwaves to inactivate C. albicans and damage cell membrane integrity. Two 200-ml C. albicans (ATCC 10231) suspensions were obtained. A sterile denture was placed in a beaker containing the Experimental (ES) or the Control suspension (CS). ES was microwaved at 650 W for 6 min. Suspensions were optically counted using methylene blue dye uptake as indicative of membrane-damaged cells; spread on Agar Sabouraud dextrose (ASD) for viability assay; or spectrophotometrically measured at 550 nm. Cell-free solutions were submitted to content analyses of protein (Bradford and Pyrogallol red methods); Ca++ (Cresolftaleine complexone method); DNA (spectrophotometer measurements at 260 nm) and K+ (selective electrode technique). Data were analysed by Student's t- or Wilcoxon z-tests (alpha = 0.05). All ES cells demonstrated cell membrane damage. Viable cells were non-existent in the ES ASD plates. No significant difference in optical density between ES and CS was observed (P=0.272). ES cells released significantly high protein (P<0.001, Bradford; P=0.005, Pyrogallol red), K+ (P<0.001), Ca++ (P=0.012) and DNA (P=0.046) contents. Microwaves inactivated C. albicans and damaged cell membrane integrity.