Bovine Colostrum Supplementation During Running Training Increases Intestinal Permeability

Endurance exercise training can increase intestinal permeability which may contribute to the development of gastrointestinal symptoms in some athletes. Bovine colostrum (BC) supplementation reduces intestinal permeability induced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. This study aimed to determine whether BC could also reduce intestinal permeability induced by endurance exercise. Thirty healthy adult males (25.0 ± 4.7 yr; mean ± SD) completed eight weeks of running three times per week for 45 minutes at their lactate threshold while consuming 60 g/day of BC, whey protein (WP) or control (CON). Intestinal permeability was assessed at baseline and after eight weeks by measuring the ratio of urinary lactulose (L) and rhamnose (R) excretion. After eight weeks the L/R ratio increased significantly more in volunteers consuming BC (251 ± 140%) compared with WP (21 ± 35%, P < 0.05) and CON (−7 ± 13%, P < 0.02). The increase in intestinal permeability with BC may have been due to BC inducing greater leakiness of tight junctions between enterocytes or by increasing macromolecular transport as it does in neonatal gut. Further research should investigate the potential for BC to increase intestinal macromolecular transport in adults

Individual differences in emotion elicitation in university examinations: A quasi-experimental study

In a quasi-experimental study, we examined the role of individual differences in the elicitation of emotional states in university examinations. Specifically, we assessed emotional states (a) before the first examination (baseline), (b) after receiving positive or negative feedback, and (c) then, again, before a series of subsequent examinations. We also measured effort in examination preparation and interest for studying. Data were collected during a university course that consisted of seven examinations in one semester; and 94 female students completed the BIS/BAS scales and SPSRQ (to measure sensitivity to punishment, SP, and reward, SR). Results revealed that higher BAS, but not SR, individuals experienced higher positive affect (PA) following positive feedback and they also showed higher levels of interest in studying. More generally, higher BIS and SP individuals experienced higher level of negative affect (NA) and they invested more effort in examination preparation; and both higher levels of SP and SR correlated positively with NA after receiving negative feedback. In addition, following negative feedback, higher BAS individuals experienced lower levels of PA, and higher SR individuals invested less effort in examination preparation. Results are discussed in terms of the reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST) of personality and directions for future research

Trauma-related emotions and radical acceptance in dialectical behavior therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder after childhood sexual abuse

Background: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) related to childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is often associated with a wide range of trauma-related aversive emotions such as fear, disgust, sadness, shame, guilt, and anger. Intense experience of aversive emotions in particular has been linked to higher psychopathology in trauma survivors. Most established psychosocial treatments aim to reduce avoidance of trauma-related memories and associated emotions. Interventions based on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) also foster radical acceptance of the traumatic event. Methods: This study compares individual ratings of trauma-related emotions and radical acceptance between the start and the end of DBT for PTSD (DBT-PTSD) related to CSA. We expected a decrease in trauma-related emotions and an increase in acceptance. In addition, we tested whether therapy response according to the Clinician Administered PTSD-Scale (CAPS) for the DSM-IV was associated with changes in trauma-related emotions and acceptance. The data was collected within a randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of DBT-PTSD, and a subsample of 23 women was included in this secondary data analysis. Results: In a multilevel model, shame, guilt, disgust, distress, and fear decreased significantly from the start to the end of the therapy whereas radical acceptance increased. Therapy response measured with the CAPS was associated with change in trauma-related emotions. Conclusions: Trauma-related emotions and radical acceptance showed significant changes from the start to the end of DBT-PTSD. Future studies with larger sample sizes and control group designs are needed to test whether these changes are due to the treatment. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT0048100

Self-Efficacy og prestasjonsangst to ulike uttrykk for ett og samme begrep?

Problemstilling: Studiens formål er å undersøke begrepsmessig korrespondanse mellom akademisk self-efficacy og prestasjonsangst. Litteraturoversikt for begge forskningstradisjoner viser store konseptuelle likheter og et uavklart skille mellom akademisk self-efficacy og prestasjonsangst. Det er usikkert om de representerer to ulike, men relaterte begreper eller overlappende konseptualiseringer av ett og samme fenomen. En alternativ forståelse til den etablerte oppfatningen av skille mellom disse begrepene er at akademisk self-efficacy kan forstås som negasjonen til prestasjonsangst. På bakgrunn av litteraturoversikt ble en bipolar modell bestående av motpolene akademisk self-efficacy og prestasjonsangst undersøkt. En slik problemstilling ser ikke ut til tidligere å ha vært gjenstand for empirisk evaluering eller diskusjon innen de to forskningstradisjonene. Metode:Utforming av problemstilling, konstruksjon av måleinstrumentet akademisk self-efficacy, samt innsamling og analysering av data er gjort på egen hånd. Utvalget består av 456 studenter ved Universitetet i Oslo. Data ble innsamlet rett før studentene skulle avlegge eksamen. Første trinn i begrepsanalysen var å evaluere de psykometriske egenskapene ved måleinstrumentene ved bruk av reliabilitetsanalyse, samt eksplorerende og konfirmerende faktoranalyse. Empirisk evaluering av problemstillingen ble utført ved å sammenligne bipolar faktormodell og tofaktormodell gjennom konfirmerende faktoranalyse. Resultater: Resultatene fra de empiriske analysene viste klar bipolar faktorstruktur med forholdsvis høye faktorladninger. Alle fit-indekser viste imidlertid dårlig modelltilpasning for alle bipolare faktorløsninger og favoriserte konsekvent tofaktormodeller. Konklusjon: Funn fra denne undersøkelsen synes å støtte den etablerte oppfatning om et begrepsmessig skille mellom akademisk self-efficacy og prestasjonsangst. Resultatene kan imidlertid være påvirket av metode-effekter som bør tas hensyn til ved tolkning av resultatene. Det er av den grunn behov for ytterligere undersøkelser for å vurdere problemstillingens aktualitet. En nærmere avklaring av hvorvidt prestasjonsangst og akademisk self-efficacy er sammenfallende begreper vil kunne få følger for forståelsen og behandlingen av prestasjonsangst

Intestinal B cell hyperactivity in AIDS is controlled by highly active antiretroviral therapy

Background: It is well documented that highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) restores systemic immunity to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) but the effect of this treatment on the mucosal immune system is less clear. Aims: Because future preventive or therapeutic vaccines against HIV may be administered by the mucosal route, we wished to evaluate the effect of HAART on the activation level and homeostasis of the intestinal B cell system. Patients and methods: Duodenal biopsy specimens were collected consecutively from infection prone HIV positive adults (n = 31), mostly with advanced AIDS. In situ two colour immunofluorescence staining was performed to quantify mucosal immunoglobulin (Ig) class and subclass producing immunocytes (plasmablasts and plasma cells). Results: HIV positive patients had, on average, duodenal proportions of IgA (74.6%), IgM (19.5%), and IgG (3.4%) immunocytes similar to median values recorded in 11 HIV seronegative healthy controls but the total immunocyte number per mucosal section length unit (500 μm) was significantly increased in patients (median 175 v 120 cells/unit; p<0.008), mainly comprised of IgA (p<0.02) and IgG1 (median 81.8% of total IgG; p<0.02) isotypes. Patients receiving a successful HAART regimen tended to normalise their IgG1 proportion and showed significantly lower total duodenal IgA immunocyte number than those receiving no or insufficient antiretroviral treatment (p<0.005). Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that advanced AIDS patients hyperactivate their intestinal B cell system. HAART could significantly reverse this perturbation, suggesting restored ability of the mucosal immune system to control intestinal infections

Psychometric properties of the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) examined in a Norwegian trauma-exposed clinical sample

Background The International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) is a self-report measure for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), corresponding to the diagnostic criteria in the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11). A 12-item version of the ITQ based on samples from English-speaking countries has been presented, and the wider generalizability to other languages needs to be examined. Objective The current study examines the psychometric properties of scores from a longer, preliminary 22-item version of the ITQ and the current reduced 12-item version by means of generalizability theory (G-theory) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Method The 22-item version of the ITQ was translated into Norwegian and administered to patients in two trauma treatment trials (total N = 202). A generalizability study was used to investigate the psychometric properties of scores reflecting CPTSD. G-theory was also used to investigate alternative measurement designs to optimize the sufficient number of items that provide acceptable generalizability and dependability of scores. Model fit to the theoretical factor structure was then examined by CFA, both for the 22-item version and for the 12-item version of the ITQ. Results The two subscales negative self-concept and relational disturbances had acceptable generalizability coefficients. We found substantial measurement error related to affective dysregulation, mainly attributable to affective hyperactivation. A latent factor structure model with two separate affective dysregulation factors: hyperactivation and deactivation, represented the data well in the 22-item version. The proposed confirmatory structure model for the 12-item short form did not converge in the CFA. Conclusion This study supports the applicability of the ITQ in a non-English-speaking country and provides support for the validity of the Norwegian translation. Further research is needed to improve the psychometric properties of the affective dysregulation subscale

Psychometric Properties of the General Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) Scale in a Heterogeneous Psychiatric Sample

The GAD-7 is commonly used as a measure of general anxiety symptoms across various settings and populations. However, there has been disagreement regarding the factor structure of the GAD-7, and there is a need for larger studies investigating the psychometric properties of the measure. Patients undergoing treatment (N = 1201), both inpatient and outpatient patients, completed the GAD-7 at pre- and post-treatment. Measures of depression, well-being, and other anxiety measures were also completed, making it possible to investigate convergent and divergent validity. Internal consistency and convergent validity were excellent for the total sample, and there was acceptable variation related to treatment groups. We conducted an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on a random sample (50%) of the patients at intake and then conducted a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to confirm the factor structure in the other part of the sample at intake. The EFA indicated a clear one-factor solution, but the one-factor solution with CFA provided a poor fit to the data. Correlating the residuals among items assessing somatic symptoms led to a good fit in a respecified CFA solution. The GAD-7 has excellent internal consistency, and the one-factor structure in a heterogeneous clinical population was supported

Plasma Cytokine Profiles in Long-Term Strenuous Exercise

The open window theory indicates altered immunity 3 to 72 hours after exercise. The J-curve describes the risk of illness in response to exercise. The aim of this study was to examine the secretion of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines before and after long-term strenuous exercise. Fourteen marathon and 16 half-marathon runners and 10 military cadets participating in a military ranger-training course were recruited to this study. Within-subject design was used measuring levels of plasma cytokines before, during, and after exercise. Plasma cytokines were measured using Luminex multiplex technology and ELISA. Comparing pre/post plasma levels both the marathon- and the half-marathon runners showed heavily increased levels of IL-6, IL-10, and IL-8 (P<0.001). LPS stimulation among the half-marathon runners decreased the postrace levels of IL-6, IL-1b, and TNFα by 45%, 24%, and 43%, respectively (P<0.01). During the ranger training course the spontaneous and LPS-stimulated levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-1b, and TNFα changed in a similar fashion as in the half-marathon runners although the fluctuations were smaller. Our study supports the open window and the J-curve theory; the immune system is more activated and the subjects are more threatened to infectious pathogens after intensive physical activity and in the period after exercise

The temporal dynamics of symptoms during exposure therapies of PTSD: a network approach.

Background: Analysis of dynamic (temporal) networks allows an identification of important targets of treatment. Objective: This study examined the dynamic network of symptoms in patients diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during exposure therapy. Method: Patients (n = 65) were randomized to either standard prolonged exposure, which includes imaginal exposure to the traumatic memory, or modified prolonged exposure, where imagery re-scripting of the memory replaced imaginal exposure, in a 10-week residential program. They completed a measure of DSM-IV PTSD symptoms weekly. The multilevel vector autoregressive (mlVAR) model was used to analyse the data, producing a temporal (dynamic), contemporaneous, and between-person network. Results: Physiological reactivity to reminders in a given week was positively related to distress reactivity and to flashbacks the subsequent week. Hypervigilance one week was positively related to startle response and external avoidance the subsequent week. In addition, sleep problems were positively predicted by previous week internal avoidance and negatively predicted by previous week flashbacks. Hypervigilance and physiological reactivation had the highest out-strength, indicating that they were the most predictive of other symptoms. Conclusions: The present within-person results make a preliminaryrect basis for the recommendation to monitor and facilitate change in physiological reactivation and hypervigilance in the treatment of PTSD. Future studies should examine the replicability of our temporal PTSD network and also include causal variables beyond symptoms