Efficacy of the Common Elements Treatment Approach (CETA) for Unhealthy Alcohol Use Among Adults with HIV in Zambia: Results from a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

AIDS and Behavior - This randomized controlled trial tested the efficacy of a multi-session, evidence-based, lay counselor-delivered transdiagnostic therapy, the Common Elements Treatment Approach...     

The effects of high-fat diet on exercise-induced changes in metabolic parameters in Zucker fa/fa rats

The objectives of this study were to document the effects of moderate aerobic exercise on insulin secretion and other metabolic indices in fa/fa rats and to determine if a high-fat (HF) diet altered these effects. Six-week-old fa/fa and lean Zucker rats were either sedentary or exercised by daily swimming for 4 weeks. Half of the exercised and sedentary rats were fed a diet with 16% fat and 44% carbohydrate, while the control groups were fed a diet with 4.5% fat and 49% carbohydrate. At the end of 4 weeks, caloric intake, weight gain, plasma hormone and nutrient levels, and oral glucose tolerance were measured. The pancreatic islet beta-cell function was assessed by measuring glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, glucose phosphorylating activity, and free fatty acid (FFA) oxidation in cultured islets. In fa/fa rats fed the control diet, exercise reduced weight gain, caloric intake, and fasting plasma triglyceride (TG) concentrations without affecting fasting glucose and insulin concentrations. HF diet blocked the effects of exercise on weight gain and food intake and worsened insulin resistance of fa/fa rats. In vitro, neither exercise nor HF diet alone affected islet beta-cell function. However, in combination, exercise and high dietary fat reduced glucokinase sensitivity to glucose and increased islet cell response to mannoheptulose inhibitory actions. We conclude that beneficial effects of moderate exercise on metabolism are not mediated by effects on pancreatic beta cells. Diets elevated in fat decrease the beneficial effects of exercise on metabolic indices in vivo.     

Wound protectors mitigate superficial surgical site infections after pancreatoduodenectomy

Background

Whether the choice of antibiotic prophylaxis, the type of incision, or the use of wound protectors decreases surgical site infections (SSIs) in patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) remains unknown.

Studies of serum C-reactive protein in systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels to other indicators of disease activity during the course of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: In 124 patients serum CRP was measured retrospectively by ELISA and in some instances by radial immunodiffusion. Serum CRP levels were compared to laboratory, clinical, and radiographic assessments of disease activity. In many patients, serial CRP levels were measured over months or years to determine whether elevations of serum CRP reflected apparent changes in other disease activity variables. CRP was also measured in lyophilized aliquots of 24 h urine samples from SLE patients and controls with other renal disorders. Parallel determinations of interleukin 6 (IL-6) were made by ELISA in healthy controls and SLE patients. RESULTS: Of the 124 SLE patients studied, most showed elevations in serum CRP levels in the course of their disease. No inverse or direct correlation was noted between serum CRP and levels of nucleosome antigen or serum IgM or IgG anti-DNA antibody. In patients with renal involvement and proteinuria, CRP was often detected in 24-h urine samples. A strong correlation (p < 0.001) was noted between CRP and IL-6 levels in healthy subjects, but no correlation was recorded between serum CRP and IL-6 in SLE. CONCLUSION: Contrary to previous reports, most patients with SLE in our study showed elevations of serum CRP during the course of their illness, and extremely high serum CRP was recorded in some patients. CRP was also found in concentrated urine samples from patients with renal involvement and often paralleled elevated serum levels. In patients, no correlation was seen between CRP serum levels and serum IL-6, whereas a strong correlation between CRP level and IL-6 was recorded in healthy subjects.     

Targeting NF-kappaB in Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia

The nuclear factor-B (NF-B) path-way has been implicated in tumor B-cell survival, growth, and resistance to therapy. Because tumor cells overcome single-agent antitumor activity, we hypothesized that combination of agents that target differentially NF-B pathway will induce significant cytotoxicity. Therapeutic agents that target proteasome and Akt pathways should induce significant activity in B-cell malignancies as both pathways impact NF-B activity. We demonstrated that perifosine and bortezomib both targeted NF-B through its recruitment to the promoter of its target gene IB using chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. This combination led to synergistic cytotoxicity in Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) cells that was mediated through a combined reduction of the PI3K/Akt and ERK signaling pathways, found to be critical for survival of WM cells. Moreover, a combination of these drugs with the CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab further increased their cytotoxic activity. Thus, effective WM therapy may require combination regimens targeting the NF-B pathway.      

Affective temperaments: Unique constructs or dimensions of normal personality by another name?

Background

Current models theorize that affective temperaments underlie the development and expression of mood psychopathology. Recent studies support the construct validity of affective temperaments in clinical and non-clinical samples. However, one concern is that affective temperaments may be describing characteristics that are better captured by models of normal personality. We conducted two studies examining: (a) the association of affective temperaments with domains and facets of normal personality, and (b) whether affective temperaments accounted for variance in mood symptoms and disorders, impairment, and daily-life experiences over-and-above variance accounted for by normal personality.

Methods

Study 1 included 522 young adults who completed the TEMPS-A and the NEO-PI-3. Study 2 included 145 participants who were administered the TEMPS-A, NEO-FFI, interviews assessing psychopathology and impairment, and an assessment of daily life experiences.

Results

Study 1 revealed that personality domains and facets accounted for one-third to one-half of the variance in affective temperaments. However, study 2 demonstrated that affective temperaments accounted for unique variance in measures of psychopathology, impairment, and daily-life experiences after partialling variance associated with personality domains. Specifically, cyclothymic/irritable temperament predicted bipolar disorders, impairment, borderline personality traits, urgency, and anger in daily life. Hyperthymic temperament predicted hypomanic episodes, grandiosity, sensation seeking, and increased activity in daily life.

Limitations

The study was limited by the fact that only domain, not facet-level, measures of FFM were available in study 2.

Conclusions

The findings support the validity of hyperthymic and cyclothymic/irritable temperaments as indicators of clinical psychopathology and indicate that they provide information beyond normal personality.     

Examining Relations Between Obsessive-Compulsive Features,Substance-Use Disorders,and Antisocial Personality Disorder in the Vietnam Era Twin Cohort

Classes of obsessive-compulsive features differing both quantitatively and qualitatively have been linked to gambling disorder. This secondary data analysis sought to extend this line of investigation to examine the extent to which previously reported latent obsessive-compulsive classes may relate to externalizing conditions in a sample of 1675 twin male veterans recruited and surveyed for studies of gambling behaviors/disorder. Using latent class analysis and multivariate regression, we found that participants who reported the highest levels of obsessive-compulsive features were more likely to meet criteria for cannabis abuse and dependence and antisocial personality disorder. When adjusting for co-occurring disorders, the relationship with antisocial personality disorder remained significant whereas those for cannabis use disorders did not. These results highlight the potential utility of considering obsessive-compulsive features within a transdiagnostic framework and suggest that specific externalizing disorders have important links to obsessive-compulsive features. Future research is needed to extend these findings to other samples.