Unpleasant Bodily Odour in a Psychoanalytic Treatment: Bridge or Drawbridge to a Troubled Past?

In this paper, I explore the topic of primitive bodily communications and countertransference enactments, with a particular focus on the part played by bodily odour. To explore this topic, I discuss a two-year treatment with a patient who presented with a mix of borderline and narcissistic diagnostic features. I describe meaningful aspects of the difficulties faced in countertransference work when receiving and making sense of the patient's use of primitive defences and I highlight their expression through a very uncomfortable symptom: an extremely unpleasant bodily smell. My thesis is that the smell communicated preverbal and unsymbolized experiences of early physical and emotional neglect, as well as evacuating the toxicity of those experiences. In this way the smell acted both as a bridge, which could help me reconstruct my patient's early traumatic past, and as a drawbridge, to keep me at distance and maintain his past dissociated. The invasive and aversive nature of the smell can also be seen as representing the approach-avoidance dilemma typical of a disorganized attachment state of mind, acting both as a bridge and as a drawbridge to attachment and relating.     

Cell attachment and biocompatibility of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) treated with glow-discharge plasma of mixed ammonia and oxygen

The plasma generated from a gas mixture of NH₃ plus O₂ (NH₃ + O₂) has been used to impart unique chemical and biological characteristics to polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). PTFE treated with NH₃ + O₂ plasma was physiochemically distinct from surfaces treated with plasma of either NH₃ or O₂ alone, as determined by electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA). The contact angle analysis revealed that the PTFE surfaces became less hydrophobic after plasma treatments. ESCA results indicate the presence of oxygen-containing groups and nitrogen-containing groups at the plasma-treated surfaces. PTFE treated with NH₃ + O₂ plasma resisted the attachment of platelets and leukocytes in a manner similar to untreated PTFE; however, the attachment of bovine aorta endothelial cells was substantially increased. Once attached, these cells grew to confluency. The increased endothelial cell attachment was higher than that observed following plasma treatment with each gas used separately, which could be attributed to the considerable amount of CF(OR)₂-CF₂ formed on the NH₃ + O₂ plasma-treated PTFE surface. At 14 days after subcutaneous implantation in rats, the PTFE wafers treated with NH₃ + O₂ plasma demonstrated less encapsulation and lower levels of inflammatory cells compared to controls. Collectively, the results suggest that NH3 + O2 plasma treatment imparts a unique character to PTFE and could be useful in certain in vivo applications.     

Exploring the Importance of the Advisee and Advisor Bond

Advisor/advisee (A/A) mentoring programs are designed to increase student attachment to faculty and school, and to provide support for a student's academic success and personal growth by pairing each student with an adult advisor. Two hypotheses regarding students' bond with their advisor were examined using student data from a suburban middle and high school (N = 304) A/A program. The first hypothesis, that student perceptions of parental involvement, social benefits and academic progress would differ between students who did and did not experience a significant bond with their advisor, was supported. Also supported by the data was the second hypothesis, that students' self-perceived bond with their advisor would be a better predictor of student perceptions of goal attainment through A/A participation than other variables related to A/A participations, such as student perceptions of increased parental involvement and social benefits. Both hypotheses were derived from a theory outlined in the paper, that the nexus between teacher and student is the prevailing influence on student evaluations of A/A program benefits. The overall positive student perceptions of A/A program benefits and structure, if explained according to this model, may be founded on the quality of the advisor/advisee relationship.     

Plasma modification of PMMA films: surface free energy and cell-attachment studies

The surface of a material is the most important part determining the acceptance by and compatibility with the environment. In many cases, although the bulk properties are excellent for a specific application, the surface may require to be modified and engineered in the desired direction. This is especially important for materials used in biological media, since the surface charge, hydophilicity and wettability are important for thrombosis formation, cell attachment or cell proliferation. In this study, poly(methyl methacrylate) films were prepared by solvent casting and their surfaces were modified by oxygen plasma treatment by applying powers of 20, 100 and 300 W. The effects of surface chemistry alterations on hydophilicity, work of adhesion, surface free energy and cell adhesion were examined. Cell attachment and proliferation are especially important for the materials used for tissue-engineering purposes. The results demonstrated that there is an optimum value for hydrophilicity and surface free energy which enhance cell attachment.     

Mentalizing in Clinical Practice: Working with Children Whose Mother is Suffering from Psychotic Symptoms

This paper considers whether the psychotic illness of a mother impacts on the development of the mentalizing capacity of her offspring and the consequences this may have for clinical practice as a child psychotherapist. It focuses on the current theoretical understanding that the secure state of mind of a mother with respect to attachment, as well as her mentalizing ability, influences the development of the child's mentalizing skills. After summarizing and evaluating evidence associated with the attachment behaviour and mentalizing capacity of a psychotic mother, the paper gives evidence that there is a strong association between mothers on the psychotic continuum and insecure-avoidant or disorganized attachment behaviour and impairment of the reflective function. This puts the infant at elevated risk of not fully developing mentalizing abilities. The issue of acquiring hypermentalization or undermentalization patterns is highlighted. In clinical practice, marked mirroring and transparency about the therapist's mental state allow the client to feel seen and to discover his or her own inner experiences in relation to external reality.     

A mouse model for spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita with secondary osteoarthritis due to a Col2a1 mutation

Progeny of mice treated with the mutagen N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) revealed a mouse, designated Longpockets (Lpk), with short humeri, abnormal vertebrae, and disorganized growth plates, features consistent with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (SEDC). The Lpk phenotype was inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. Lpk/+ mice were viable and fertile and Lpk/Lpk mice died perinatally. Lpk was mapped to chromosome 15 and mutational analysis of likely candidates from the interval revealed a Col2a1 missense Ser1386Pro mutation. Transient transfection of wild-type and Ser1386Pro mutant Col2a1 c-Myc constructs in COS-7 cells and CH8 chondrocytes demonstrated abnormal processing and endoplasmic reticulum retention of the mutant protein. Histology revealed growth plate disorganization in 14-day-old Lpk/+ mice and embryonic cartilage from Lpk/+ and Lpk/Lpk mice had reduced safranin-O and type-II collagen staining in the extracellular matrix. The wild-type and Lpk/+ embryos had vertical columns of proliferating chondrocytes, whereas those in Lpk/Lpk mice were perpendicular to the direction of bone growth. Electron microscopy of cartilage from 18.5 dpc wild-type, Lpk/+, and Lpk/Lpk embryos revealed fewer and less elaborate collagen fibrils in the mutants, with enlarged vacuoles in the endoplasmic reticulum that contained amorphous inclusions. Micro-computed tomography (CT) scans of 12-week-old Lpk/+ mice revealed them to have decreased bone mineral density, and total bone volume, with erosions and osteophytes at the joints. Thus, an ENU mouse model with a Ser1386Pro mutation of the Col2a1 C-propeptide domain that results in abnormal collagen processing and phenotypic features consistent with SEDC and secondary osteoarthritis has been established.     

Effects of sugar cross-linking agents and thermal treatment on the culture of fibroblasts in vitro on a (PEG/chitosan) membrane

The influences of sugar and a thermal treatment process on the properties of a PEG/chitosan membrane were investigated in this study. With increasing thermal treatment temperature, the cross-linking density was increased and the crystal structure was distorted in the sugar-mediated polyblend. The coloration of the samples intensified from yellow or brown to dark brown during the heat exposure, indicating that a Schiff base was formed. The presence of cross-linking was determined from the FTIR spectrum, a solubility test, and water uptake. The C N bonding shown in the FTIR spectrum indicates that a Maillard reaction occurred in the sugar-mediated polyblend. The water uptake ability of the samples tested was in the following sequence: sucrose > glucose > D-fructose, which was inverse to the trend of the cross-linking density. The compatibility of the polyblend and the sugar-mediated polyblend with fibroblasts was demonstrated. The thermal treatment has an insignificant effect on cell attachment on chitosan and the other polyblends, but different types of sugar and the cross-linking density changed the cell behavior. Consequently, chitosan/PEG6K cross-linked with sucrose at a concentration of 10 wt% and 120°C thermal treatment shows potential for biomedical applications.     

BHK cell attachment and growth on EDA-plasma-modified poly(L-lactide/ε-caprolactone) biodegradable films

In this study, attachment and growth of Baby Hamster Kidney (BHK) cells on ethylene diamine (EDA)-plasma-treated poly(L-lactide/ε-caprolactone) biodegradable copolymer films were investigated. The co-polymer (M_w: 58 000; M_n: 35 000 and PI 1.60) was synthesised by ring-opening polymerization of the respective dimers with using stannous octoate as the catalyst. The final ratio of L-lactide to ε-caprolactone obtained by ¹H-NMR was 87 :13. The co-polymer films were treated with the EDA-plasma in a glow-discharge apparatus. The BHK-30 cell line was cultured on plain and EDA-plasma-treated films and their pre-wetted forms (with ethanol and/or cell culture medium before use). Cell attachment and growth were followed. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and glucose uptake in cell culture medium were also investigated. There was no attachment in the first 12 h. Glow-discharge treatment increased significantly the attachment and growth. Pre-wetting with ethanol and cell culture medium was also increase significantly both the attachment and growth.     

Thermoresponsible Cell Adhesion/Detachment on Transparent Nanocomposite Films Consisting of Poly(2-Methoxyethyl Acrylate) and Clay

Soft, transparent and mechanically tough nanocomposite (M-NC) films composed of poly(2-methoxyethyl acrylate) (PMEA) and inorganic clay (hectorite) were studied as substrates for a living cell harvest system. It was found that five cell types could all be cultivated to confluence on the surface of M-NC n films with clay content (n = 10–23 wt%), although the cells hardly cultivated on the surface of chemically-cross-linked PMEA and linear PMEA films. Further, it was found that the cells cultured on the surfaces of M-NC films can be detached, without any enzymatic digestion, by decreasing the medium temperature and/or simultaneously using gentle pipetting. The detached cell was obtained as a single cell or a contiguous cell sheet, both of which were viable and recultured. From the compositions and surface properties, it was estimated that the cell culture and subsequent cell detachment were attributed to the unique PMEA/clay network. The new soft nanocomposite is potentially a very promising substrate for tissue engineering.     

Cell attachment to PET films coated with a thermo-sensitive block co-polymer with different chemical composition

This objective of this study is to characterize the surface of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) films coated with the thermo-sensitive di-block co-polymers of 2-ethoxyethyl vinyl ether and 2-phenoxyethyl vinyl ether segments (EOVE-b-PhOVE) with a high polydispersity and evaluate the behavior of cell attachment on them at different temperatures. The EOVE segment possessed a low critical solution temperature at 20°C while the hydrophobic PhOVE segment functioned as the site to allow the co-polymer to adsorb onto the PET films. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and contact angle measurements revealed that the PET film was coated with the EOVE-b-PhOVE co-polymers. The density of co-polymers coated increased with the concentration of co-polymers used for coating. Irrespective of the co-polymer type, 3T3L1 cells attached on the surface of coated films at 37°C, while the cells showed a spread shape, which is similar to that of cells attached on the original non-coated film. However, when the temperature decreased from 37 to 4°C, the cell shape changed to be round, in contrast to that of the original PET film. The percent increase of round cells depended on the coating density and the polymerization degree of EOVE segment.