Building capacity to provide innovative interventions for early psychosis in mental health professionals

Abstract Despite international guidelines, cognitive behavioural therapy for early psychosis (CBTep) is still under-used in daily clinical practice, mainly due to the lack of specific skills among mental health professionals. The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a CBTep training course and to investigate the impact of trainees' variables on the level of skills acquisition. An intensive and graded CBTep training programme consisting of 112 hours of plenary lectures, 30 hours of group supervision and 3 months of practical training was offered to mental health professionals of 65 Italian community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs). CBT expert psychologists were used as the comparison group. Participants underwent pre-planned exams to test the level of skills acquisition and were requested to complete a satisfaction survey. The vast majority of participants (93%) completed the training with medium–high evaluation scores and reported to be highly satisfied with the course. CMHCs staff members achieved high scores in the examinations and no major differences between them and CBT expert psychologists were found in most of the final exam scores. Our results support the feasibility and the efficacy of the training to build specific CBTep capacity in a large cohort of professionals working in Italian Generalist Mental Health Services. Key learning aims (1) To understand the capacity building of a short training programme in CBT for early psychosis dedicated to community mental health professionals. (2) To consider the optimal characteristics of a CBT training programme for early psychosis. (3) To reflect on the feasibility of a CBT training programme for early psychosis in the context of Italian Community Mental Health Services

Tuberomics: a molecular profiling for the adaption of edible fungi (Tuber magnatum Pico) to different natural environments

Background: Truffles are symbiotic fungi that develop underground in association with plant roots, forming ectomycorrhizae. They are primarily known for the organoleptic qualities of their hypogeous fruiting bodies. Primarily, Tuber magnatum Pico is a greatly appreciated truffle species mainly distributed in Italy and Balkans. Its price and features are mostly depending on its geographical origin. However, the genetic variation within T. magnatum has been only partially investigated as well as its adaptation to several environments. Results: Here, we applied an integrated omic strategy to T. magnatum fruiting bodies collected during several seasons from three different areas located in the North, Center and South of Italy, with the aim to distinguish them according to molecular and biochemical traits and to verify the impact of several environments on these properties. With the proteomic approach based on two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) followed by mass spectrometry, we were able to identify proteins specifically linked to the sample origin. We further associated the proteomic results to an RNA-seq profiling, which confirmed the possibility to differentiate samples according to their source and provided a basis for the detailed analysis of genes involved in sulfur metabolism. Finally, geographical specificities were associated with the set of volatile compounds produced by the fruiting bodies, as quantitatively and qualitatively determined through proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) and gas-chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In particular, a partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model built from the latter data was able to return high confidence predictions of sample source. Conclusions: Results provide a characterization of white fruiting bodies by a wide range of different molecules, suggesting the role for specific compounds in the responses and adaptation to distinct environments

Long-term experience with early single Mitomycin C instillations in patients with low-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: prospective, single-centre randomised trial

To study the benefits of a single, early, intravesical instillation of mitomycin C(MMC) after transurethral bladder resection (TURB) in patients with low-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). In this prospective randomised single-centre trial, 211 patients with primary and low-risk tumours were enrolled between 2000 and 2009. Patients were randomly allocated to receive MMC intravesically within 24 h of TUR or no further treatment. The primary end point was recurrence rate reduction. A total of 202 patients (97 in the MMC group and 105 in the control group) remained for analysis after exclusions. Median age was 61 years (IQR 42-78), and median follow-up was 90 months (IQR 3-112). No significant differences for patients' characteristics were observed between the two groups. During the study period, 10% (10/97) of the patients in the MMC group and 43% (46/105) in the control group experienced a recurrence (P = 0.0001). Four patients in the MMC group and 11 (P = 0.008) in the control group experienced an early recurrence (within 2 years). One patient in the control group presented a tumour progression (T2G3). MMC treatment was associated with a 31% absolute risk reduction of recurrence and a 3.26 numbers needed to treat to prevent one recurrence. In this single-centre, long-term follow-up, experience a single, early instillation of MMC after TUR for low-risk NMIBC is associated with a significant reduction in risk of early and late recurrences

Propiedades psicométricas del tapqol 2 para la medición de la calidad de vida en niños preescolares colombianos

Si bien hay antecedentes empíricos acerca de la medición de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (cvrs) en niños, no hay evidencia de estudios similares en Colombia. Por tal motivo, el objetivo de la investigación fue describir las propiedades psicométricas iniciales de la versión en español del tapqol 2 en una muestra de 229 cuidadores de niños preescolares entre tres y seis años de edad, de ambos sexos, residentes en el departamento de Córdoba, Colombia. Se realizó un análisis factorial con extracción de componentes principales y rotación Varimax, así como un análisis de consistencia interna por alfa de Cronbach para la escala general y cada factor obtenido, corre­laciones inter-elemento y estadísticos total-elemento. Los resultados mostraron que el cuestionario tapqol 2 presenta un alfa de Cronbach de 0.81, explica una varianza acumulada del 66.44% y correlaciones positivas entre todos los reactivos. Con relación al instrumento original, el cuestionario tapqol 2 mantiene 12 factores, pero se diferencia en que se fusionan los factores emociones positivas y vitalidad, mientras que emerge un nuevo factor relacionado con el control comportamental del niño. Se encuentra que los indicadores psicométricos del cuestionario son consistentes con investigaciones previas sobre los componentes del bienestar en los niños

Propiedades psicométricas del TAPQOL 2 para la medición de la calidad de vida en niños preescolares colombianos

While there are empirical antecedents in the measurement of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) in children, there is no evidence of similar studies in Colombia. For this reason, the objective of this investigation is to describe the initial psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the TAPQOL 2 in a sample of 229 caregivers for preschool children of both sexes between three and six years of age who reside in the department of Córdoba, Colombia. A factorial analysis was carried out with extraction of the main components and Varimax rotation, as well as internal consistency analysis by means of the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the general scale and for every obtained factor, inter-element correlations and total-element statistics. Results showed that the TAPQOL 2 questionnaire presents a Cronbach's alpha of 0.81, explains a cumulative variance of 66.44%, and presents positive correlations across all items. In relation to the original instrument, the TAPQOL 2 questionnaire keeps 12 factors, but it differs in that the positive emotions and vitality factors are merged in the same factor, while a new factor related to the behavioral control of the child emerges. It was found that the psychometric indicators of the questionnaire are consistent with previous research on the components of child wellbeing.Si bien hay antecedentes empíricos acerca de la medición de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS) en niños, no hay evidencia de estudios similares en Colombia. Por tal motivo, el objetivo de la investigación fue describir las propiedades psicométricas iniciales de la versión en español del TAPQOL 2 en una muestra de 229 cuidadores de niños preescolares entre tres y seis años de edad, de ambos sexos, residentes en el departamento de Córdoba, Colombia. Se realizó un análisis factorial con extracción de componentes principales y rotación Varimax, así como un análisis de consistencia interna por alfa de Cronbach para la escala general y cada factor obtenido, correlaciones inter-elemento y estadísticos total-elemento. Los resultados mostraron que el cuestionario TAPQOL 2 presenta un alfa de Cronbach de 0.81, explica una varianza acumulada del 66.44% y correlaciones positivas entre todos los reactivos. Con relación al instrumento original, el cuestionario TAPQOL 2 mantiene 12 factores, pero se diferencia en que se fusionan los factores emociones positivas y vitalidad, mientras que emerge un nuevo factor relacionado con el control comportamental del niño. Se encuentra que los indicadores psicométricos del cuestionario son consistentes con investigaciones previas sobre los componentes del bienestar en los niños

Tuberomics: a molecular profiling for the adaption of edible fungi (Tuber magnatum Pico) to different natural environments

Background Truffles are symbiotic fungi that develop underground in association with plant roots, forming ectomycorrhizae. They are primarily known for the organoleptic qualities of their hypogeous fruiting bodies. Primarily, Tuber magnatum Pico is a greatly appreciated truffle species mainly distributed in Italy and Balkans. Its price and features are mostly depending on its geographical origin. However, the genetic variation within T. magnatum has been only partially investigated as well as its adaptation to several environments. Results Here, we applied an integrated omic strategy to T. magnatum fruiting bodies collected during several seasons from three different areas located in the North, Center and South of Italy, with the aim to distinguish them according to molecular and biochemical traits and to verify the impact of several environments on these properties. With the proteomic approach based on two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) followed by mass spectrometry, we were able to identify proteins specifically linked to the sample origin. We further associated the proteomic results to an RNA-seq profiling, which confirmed the possibility to differentiate samples according to their source and provided a basis for the detailed analysis of genes involved in sulfur metabolism. Finally, geographical specificities were associated with the set of volatile compounds produced by the fruiting bodies, as quantitatively and qualitatively determined through proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) and gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In particular, a partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model built from the latter data was able to return high confidence predictions of sample source. Conclusions Results provide a characterization of white fruiting bodies by a wide range of different molecules, suggesting the role for specific compounds in the responses and adaptation to distinct environments