Abnormal default system functioning in depression: Implications for emotion regulation

open5noDepression is widely seen as the result of difficulties in regulating emotions. Based on neuroimaging studies on voluntary emotion regulation, neurobiological models have focused on the concept of cognitive control, considering emotion regulation as a shift toward involving controlled processes associated with activation of the prefrontal and parietal executive areas, instead of responding automatically to emotional stimuli. According to such models, the weaker executive area activation observed in depressed patients is attributable to a lack of cognitive control over negative emotions. Going beyond the concept of cognitive control, psychodynamic models describe the development of individuals’ capacity to regulate their emotional states in mother-infant interactions during childhood, through the construction of the representation of the self, others, and relationships. In this mini-review, we link these psychodynamic models with recent findings regarding the abnormal functioning of the default system in depression. Consistently with psychodynamic models, psychological functions associated with the default system include self-related processing, semantic processes, and implicit forms of emotion regulation. The abnormal activation of the default system observed in depression may explain the dysfunctional aspects of emotion regulation typical of the condition, such as an exaggerated negative self-focus and rumination on self-esteem issues. We also discuss the clinical implications of these findings with reference to the therapeutic relationship as a key tool for revisiting impaired or distorted representations of the self and relational objects.openMessina, Irene; Francesca, Bianco; Cusinato, Maria; Calvo, Vincenzo; Sambin, MarcoMessina, Irene; Bianco, Francesca; Cusinato, Maria; Calvo, Vincenzo; Sambin, Marc

Apoptotic epitope-specific CD8+ T cells and interferon signaling intersect in chronic hepatitis C virus infection

CD8(+) T cells specific to caspase-cleaved antigens derived from apoptotic T cells represent a principal player in chronic immune activation (CIA). Here, we found that both apoptotic epitope (AE)-specific and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific CD8(+) T cells were mostly confined within the effector memory (EM) or terminally differentiated EM CD45RA(+) cell subsets expressing a dysfunctional T-helper-1-like signature program in chronic (c)HCV infection. However, AE-specific CD8(+) T cells produced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin-2 at the intrahepatic level significantly more than HCV-specific CD8(+) T cells, despite both populations acquiring high levels of programmed death-1 receptor expression. Contextually, only AE-specific CD8(+) T cells correlated with both interferon-stimulated gene levels in T cells and hepatic fibrosis score. Taken together, these data suggest that AE-specific CD8(+) T cells can sustain CIA by their capacity to produce TNF-α and be resistant to inhibitory signals more than HCV-specific CD8(+) T cells in cHCV infection

The extended unconscious group field and metabolization of pandemic experience: dreaming together to keep cohesion alive

Introduction: Working with dreams in groups allows understanding of unconscious phenomena that characterize it as unity and totality. The dreamer becomes the vehicle of emotions, fantasies,and anxieties that dominate the group at a given moment, allowing them to be understood and processed (Friedman et al., 2002). Recognizing a projected theme in the group generates a change of perspective for the group, which becomes a specific psychic space (Kaës, 2001), a shared psychic field. The analysis of the shared dreams helps the understanding of the emotional concerns related to the Covid 19 and its psychological repercussions. Methods: Six matrices of social dreaming of different groups for analytical purposes were conducted during the Covid pandemic period. The sessions were transcribed and the texts were analyzed by performing a thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) with the support of Atlas.ti software. Results: From the analysis of the results, three main themes were identified: a) “Lately I have more nightmares when I am awake than when I am asleep": Nightmares during the Covid-19 pandemic; b) “Losing one’s senses and losing the sense”: Helplessness and environmental mastery across time and space; c) Do play like a child: Recalling the child-past in the uncertain present. Discussion and conclusions: Through dreams and dream narratives we witness the evolution of group thinking through a progressive growth of the links between individuals and the common and shared field. The members of the group are thus able to identify within dreams the meanings that are useful for the entire group to process the painful experience that unites them

Romantic attachment, infertility-related stress, and positive body image of women dealing with infertility

IntroductionInfertility is a condition that can affect the physical, emotional, social, and relational well-being of women. Women’s bodies seem to assume a crucial relevance as part of the experience of infertility and its treatments. An extended body of literature supports the role of romantic attachment orientations in facing infertility-related stress. However, the association between romantic attachment orientations, infertility-related stress, and women’s body image has not been explored.MethodsThis cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the role of romantic attachment and infertility-related stress concerning positive body image in 113 women dealing with infertility. Data were analyzed with correlation and mediation path analyses.ResultsResults showed that high levels of attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, and infertility-related stress were negatively associated with positive body image. Path analyses indicated that positive body image may be directly associated with romantic attachment anxiety. The negative association of attachment avoidance with body image appeared to be mediated by infertility-related stress.Discussion:Findings suggest that romantic attachment insecurities and infertility-related stress are significantly associated with a worsened body image in infertile women. Implications for future research are discussed

Assessing attitudes towards insulin pump therapy in adults with type 1 diabetes: Italian validation of the Insulin Pump Attitudes Questionnaire (IT-IPA questionnaire)

Aims: The aim of the study was to adapt the German version of the insulin pump therapy (IPA) questionnaire to Italian (IT-IPA) and to evaluate its psychometric properties in adults with type 1 diabetes. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study, data were collected through an online survey. In addition to IT-IPA, questionnaires evaluating depression, anxiety, diabetes distress, self-efficacy, and treatment satisfaction were administered. The six factors identified in the IPA German version were assessed using confirmatory factor analysis; psychometric testing included construct validity and internal consistency. Results: The online survey was compiled by 182 individuals with type 1 diabetes: 45.6% continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) users and 54.4% multiple daily insulin injection users. The six-factor model had a very good fit in our sample. The internal consistency was acceptable (Cronbach's α = 0.75; 95% IC [0.65-0.81]). Diabetes treatment satisfaction was positively correlated with a positive attitude towards CSII therapy (Spearman's rho = 0.31; p < 0.01), less Technology Dependency, higher Ease of Use, and less Impaired Body Image. Furthermore, less Technology Dependency was associated with lower diabetes distress and depressive symptoms. Conclusions: The IT-IPA is a valid and reliable questionnaire evaluating attitudes towards insulin pump therapy. The questionnaire can be used for clinical practice during consultations for shared decision-making to CSII therapy

Genetic modifiers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and dilated cardiomyopathy

OBJECTIVE: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a major complication and leading cause of death in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). DCM onset is variable, suggesting modifier effects of genetic or environmental factors. We aimed to determine if polymorphisms previously associated with age at loss of independent ambulation (LoA) in DMD (rs28357094 in the SPP1 promoter, rs10880 and the VTTT/IAAM haplotype in LTBP4) also modify DCM onset. METHODS: A multicentric cohort of 178 DMD patients was genotyped by TaqMan assays. We performed a time-to-event analysis of DCM onset, with age as time variable, and finding of left ventricular ejection fraction 70 mL/m2 as event (confirmed by a previous normal exam < 12 months prior); DCM-free patients were censored at the age of last echocardiographic follow-up. RESULTS: Patients were followed up to an average age of 15.9 \ub1 6.7 years. Seventy-one/178 patients developed DCM, and median age at onset was 20.0 years. Glucocorticoid corticosteroid treatment (n = 88 untreated; n = 75 treated; n = 15 unknown) did not have a significant independent effect on DCM onset. Cardiological medications were not administered before DCM onset in this population. We observed trends towards a protective effect of the dominant G allele at SPP1 rs28357094 and recessive T allele at LTBP4 rs10880, which was statistically significant in steroid-treated patients for LTBP4 rs10880 (< 50% T/T patients developing DCM during follow-up [n = 13]; median DCM onset 17.6 years for C/C-C/T, log-rank p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: We report a putative protective effect of DMD genetic modifiers on the development of cardiac complications, that might aid in risk stratification if confirmed in independent cohorts

Resting state functional connectivity alterations in primary lateral sclerosis

n/

Paleomagnetismo y mineralogia magnetica en las unidades del Mesozoico de Bucaramanga y Macizo de Floresta

Análisis de paleomagnetismo y de mineralogía magnética en rocas del Jurásico y Cretácico Inferior del área de Bucaramanga (Fms. Bocas, Jordán, Girón y Los Santos), y del sur del Macizo de Floresta (Fms. Girón y Tibasosa) permitieron determinar componentes característicos y secundarios de magnetización, y establecer el mineral asociado a dicho componente magnético. Componentes secundarios con una dirección paralela a la dirección del campo magnético actual fueron aislados en todas las unidades y en rango de temperaturas bajas a intermedias ( 4 km) entre estas dos áreas soporta la posibilidad de rotación y/o basculamiento de bloques tectónicos previos a los eventos de magnetización de la Fm. Girón. Los componentes magnéticos característicos (primarios) aislados en ambos sectores muestran una clara diferencia entre las paleolatitudes del Jurásico Temprano- Cretácico Temprano con las determinadas para unidades de edad similar en el cratón, sugiriendo así posibles movimientos translacionales de bloques con respecto a la margen occidental del Cratón Suramericano.Paleomagnetic and magnetic mineralogy analyses from Jurassic – Lower Cretaceous rocks (Bocas, Jordán, Girón, Los Santos Fms) in the Bucaramanga area and in the southern segment of the Floresta Massif (Girón and Tibasosa Fms.) allow to determine characteristic (primary) and secondary magnetic components and to identify the carrying minerals. Secondary components have directions parallel to the current magnetic field direction; they were isolated in all the units and in unblocking temperature below 620ºC or by Alternating Field. Characterisitc (primary) components were isolated at unblocking temperatures ranging between 550º and 700ºC, with exception of limestones of the Tibasosa Formation that had unblocking temperatures between 300º and 500ºC. The relative time of magnetization was constrained from fold, conglomerate, unconformity, and baked contact tests. The characteristic component isolated in the Middle(?) Jurassic Jordan Fm. constrains 96±16º counterclockwise rotation of fault-bounded blocks at La Mesa de Los Santos area with respect to the Rionegro area. In addition, abrupt thickness change in the Girón Fm. from 100m to >4 km between those areas support the possibility of rotation and/or tilting of tectonic blocks, previous to the time of magnetization of the Girón Fm. The characteristic (primary) magnetic components isolated in both areas show a noticeable difference among the Early Jurassic-Early Cretaceous paleolatitudes and paleolatitudes calculated by other authors in rocks of the same age in the stable craton, suggesting possible translations of these blocks with respect to the western plate margin of South America.Fil: Ayala Calvo, Rosa Carolina. Corporación Geológica ARES; ColombiaFil: Veloza Fajardo, Gabriel Eduardo. Corporación Geológica ARES; ColombiaFil: Bayona, Germán. Corporación Geológica ARES; ColombiaFil: Gomez Casallas, Mayeli. Ministerio de Minas y Energía. Servicio Geológico Colombiano; ColombiaFil: Rapalini, Augusto Ernesto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Costanzo-Alvarez, Vincenzo. Universidad Simón Bolivar; VenezuelaFil: Aldana, Milagrosa. Universidad Simón Bolivar; VenezuelaFil: Cortés, Martín. Corporación Geológica ARES; Colombi