Treatment for depression following mild traumatic brain injury in adults: A meta-analysis

Primary objective: Development of depression after TBI is linked to poorer outcomes. The aim of this manuscript is to review evidence for the effectiveness of current treatments. Research design: Two meta-analyses were undertaken to examine the effectiveness of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for depression after mild TBI Method and procedures: PubMed, Medline, PsychInfo, Web of Science and Digital Dissertations were searched and 13 studies located. Meta Analyst Beta 3.13 was used to conduct analyses of pre- vs post-effects then to examine treatment group vs control group effects. Main outcomes and results: Studies using a pre–post design produced an overall effect size of 1.89 (95% CI = 1.20–2.58, p < 0.001), suggesting that treatments were effective; however, the overall effect for controlled trials was 0.46 (95% CI = −0.44–1.36, p < 0.001), which favoured the control rather than treatment groups. Conclusions: This study highlights the need for additional large well-controlled trials of effective treatments for depression post-TBI

Further validation of the New Zealand test of adult reading (NZART) as a measure of premorbid IQ in a New Zealand sample

Premorbid IQ estimates are used to determine decline in cognitive functioning following trauma or illness. This study aimed to: 1) further validate the New Zealand Adult Reading Test (NZART) in a New Zealand population and compare its performance to the UK developed National Adult Reading Test, and 2) develop regression formulae for the NZART to estimate Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV (WAIS–IV) IQ scores. The 67 participants (53 females; 16 Māori), aged 16 to 90 years old (mean age = 46.07, SD 23.21) completed the WASI-IV, the NART and the NZART. The NZART predicted Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI) scores slightly better than the NART (r =.63 vs. r = .62) and explained 33% of the variance in FSIQ scores. Reasons for developing regression formulae for the NZART are discussed, regression formulas for the NZART based on the WAIS–IV are included and suggestions of alternate ways of determining premorbid IQ are made

THE PIVOTAL ROLE OF NOTCH SIGNALING IN B-CELL PRECURSOR ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA (B-ALL) CHEMOSENSITIVITY

Growing evidence suggests that Notch signaling pathway can modulate drug response in hematological malignancies including T-ALL, B-CLL and AML. In B-ALL we have previously demonstrated that Notch3 and Notch4 support survival of primary B-ALL cells, suggesting a role for Notch signaling in drug response. Here, we used in vitro, in silico, and in vivo approaches to comprehensively the role of Notch pathway in B-ALL pathogenesis in terms of prognosis, proliferation, survival and drug response. B-ALL cell lines were obtained from ATCC, while B-ALL primary cells were isolated from bone marrow or peripheral blood of 51 B-ALL patients. Flow cytometry and western immunoblotting analyses showed that primary leukemia cells from high-risk patients overexpressed Notch3, Notch4, and Jagged2 while displaying a reduction in expression levels of Notch1-4 following chemotherapy, suggesting that Notch signaling may be critical to drug response in B-ALL. We then analyzed in vitro cell survival of B-ALL cells treated with conventional chemotherapeutic agents (Cytarabine, Ara-C; Dexamethasone, Dexa; Doxorubicin, Doxo) alone or in combination with Notch signaling modulators, including anti-Notch blocking antibodies, gamma secretase inhibitors (GSIs), and Notch transcription factor inhibitor (SAHM1). GSIs and anti-Notch4 were all capable of potentiating drug-induced cell death in B-ALL cells, up-regulating intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that were then capable to modulate pro-survival protein levels such as mTor, Akt, NF\u3ba-B and Erk. In vitro observations were successfully translated in mouse-based xenograft models of B-ALL, obtained by injecting the B-ALL line RS4;11 in NOG mice. The in vivo co-administration of Notch inhibitor GSI-XII or anti-Notch4 with the chemotherapeutic agent Ara-C lowered bone marrow leukemic burden, thus prolonging mouse survival, compared with DMSO or Ara-C alone. Overall, our results highlighted the prognostic value of Notch expression in B-ALL as well as its critical role in B-ALL cell survival and response to chemotherapy in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrated that inhibition of Notch signaling enhances the chemosensitivity of B-ALL cells, improving Ara-C-mediated reduction of blast cells in bone marrow, suggesting that Notch signaling is a possible therapeutic strategy to eradicate the minimal residual disease in B-ALL

Spatially-resolved spectroscopy of narrow-line Seyfert 1 host galaxies

We present optical integral field spectroscopy for five $z<0.062$ narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLS1s) host galaxies, probing their host galaxies at $\gtrsim 2-3$ kpc scales. Emission lines in the nuclear AGN spectra and the large-scale host galaxy are analyzed separately, based on an AGN-host decomposition technique. The host galaxy gas kinematics indicates large-scale gas rotation in all five sources. At the probed scales of $\gtrsim 2-3$ kpc, the host galaxy gas is found to be predominantly ionized by star formation without any evidence of a strong AGN contribution. None of the five objects shows specific star formation rates exceeding the main sequence of low-redshift star forming galaxies. The specific star formation rates for MCG-05-01-013 and WPVS 007 are roughly consistent with the main sequence, while ESO 399-IG20, MS 22549-3712, and TON S180 show lower specific star formation rates, intermediate to the main sequence and red quiescent galaxies. The host galaxy metallicities, derived for the two sources with sufficient data quality (ESO 399-IG20 and MCG-05-01-013), indicate central oxygen abundances just below the low-redshift mass-metallicity relation. Based on this initial case study, we outline a comparison of AGN and host galaxy parameters as a starting point for future extended NLS1 studies with similar methods.Comment: 25 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ on 3 September 201

Computerised tomography indices of raised intracranial pressure and traumatic brain injury severity in a New Zealand sample

After traumatic brain injury (TBI) complex cellular and biochemical processes occur¹ including changes in blood flow and oxygenation of the brain; cerebral swelling; and raised intracranial pressure (ICP).² This can dramatically worsen the damage³ and contributes to mortality

Role of mesenchymal stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles in tumour microenvironment

Abstract Stromal cells, deriving from mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), are crucial component of tumour microenvironment and represent key regulators of tumour processes. MSCs can be recruited to the tumour environment and interact with many cellular elements, thus influencing tumour biology. Cell-to-cell communication is in part mediated by the release of extracellular vesicle (EVs). EVs can induce significant molecular changes in recipient cells, delivering bioactive molecules. In this review, we describe the MSC-derived EVs content and discuss their role in different processes related to cancer biology. Furthermore, we summarize chemical or biological EVs modifications aiming to develop more efficient antitumor therapies

Caracterización de saponitas y montmorillonitas beidellitas asociadas a amígdalas de basaltos de la cantera Yofre, provincia de Corrientes

La cantera Yofre (4 km al suroeste de la localidad de Felipe Yofre, provincia de Corrientes) explota parte de las coladas de basalto del Miembro Serra Geral de la Formación Solari del Cretácico Inferior (Turner et al. 1994). La roca en general es masiva, compacta y homogénea. En el piso de la cantera se observa un nivel vesicular expuesto, con abundantes cavidades rellenas de minerales de alteración. En el presente resumen se da a conocer una primera caracterización de los minerales presentes en esas cavidades.Fil: Madsen, Lenís. Universidad Nacional del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Locati, Francisco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; ArgentinaFil: Collo, Gilda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; ArgentinaFil: Marfil, Silvina Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto Geológico del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Geología. Instituto Geológico del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Maiza, Pedro Jose. Universidad Nacional del Sur; Argentin

Model of posttraumatic stress reactions to sexual abuse in females / by Suzanne L. Barker-Collo.

Sexual abuse is identified by the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edition) (DSM-IV, APA, 1994) as a possible precipitator of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). An estimated 50% of sexual abuse survivors will develop PTSD (Kiser, Heston, Millsap, & Pruitt, 1991; O’Neil & Gupta, 1991). Therefore, while exposure to a traumatic stressor such as sexual abuse is necessary in the development of PTSD, it is not sufficient A number of models have been proposed that attempt to describe the process of coping and symptom development associated with PTSD, and to account for individual differences in this process. One such model is Joseph, Williams, and Yule’s (1995) integrative cognitive-behavioural model of response to traumatic stress (see Figure I). The present stucfy evaluated Joseph, et al.’s (1995) model when applied to a sample of 122 female sexual abuse survivors from across Ontario, Canada. Participants completed survey packages which included measures for each of the variables presented in Joseph et al ’s (1995) model. The variable Event Stimuli was measured using the Sexual Experiences Survey (Koss & Orso, 1982; see Appendix A). Personality was measured using Neuroticism items of the NEO-PIR (Costa & McCrae, 1992; see Appendix C). Appraisal of the abuse was measured using a modified version of the Attributional Style Questionnaire (Peterson, Semmel, Baqrer, Abramson, Metalsky, & Seligman, 1982; see Appendix D). Coping and Crisis Support were measured using the Coping Responses Inventory (Moos, 1993; see Appendix E) and the Crisis Support Scale (Joseph, Andrews, Williams, & Yule, 1992; see Appendix F), respectively. Symptom outcomes, as indicated by the model variables Event Cognitions and Emotional States, were assessed by specified items of the Trauma Symptom Checklist- 40 (Elliott & Briere, 1991; see Appendix G). This study makes three main empirical contributions. First, MANOVA results indicate that response to abuse was significantly influenced by ethnicity, age at which abuse first occurred, and the type of mental health services currently being received. Caucasian individuals rated themselves lower on use of problem-focused coping strategies, vulnerability, impulsiveness, and self-blame than individuals of Native American ancestry. Those 15 years of age or less when first abused rated themselves higher on anxiety and lower on social supports while those in older age groups rated themselves in the opposite direction, individuals currently in counselling or on a waiting list rated themselves lower on anxiety, depression, and vulnerability. Conversely, those currently in support groups rated themselves as higher on depression, anxiety, and vulnerability. Those currently in both counselling and a support group and those receiving no clinical services scored moderately on the three variables. Second, path analysis indicated that Joseph et al.’s (1995) model did not fit the data X[superscript 2](9) = 24.81, p .4 (see Figure 7). As hypothesized, one modification that improved the fit of the model was the addition of a path from characteristics of the abuse to engagement of social support In the modified model, the sign of the path from crisis support to appraisals indicated that increased levels of crisis support were associated with maladaptive appraisals (i.e., self-blame). This relationship is opposite to that proposed by Joseph et al. (1995), where increased crisis support is proposed to lead to more adaptive appraisals, but is consistent with the second hypothesized modification to the model. When examined as a single construct, coping strategies was not found to significantly influence any other variables in the model. Finally, relationships between coping, appraisal, neuroticism and symptom subscales were evaluated. Individuals who coped through cognitive avoidance, emotional discharge, acceptance/resignation, and logical analysis following abuse reported more event cognitions, negative emotional states, sexual problems, and somatic complaints. Increased sexual and somatic complaints, negative emotional states, and event cognitions were accompanied by decreased depression, self-consciousness, anxiety, vulnerability, and impulsiveness, in contrast those who engaged in less cognitive avoidance, sought less support from others and engaged in less problem solving behaviours reported fewer sexual or somatic complaints. Reduced symptomatology (i.e., event cognitions, negative emotional states, somatic symptoms) was also associated with increased trait levels of anxiety, depression, and vulnerability and decreased impulsiveness. Implications of the findings for assessment and therapeutic interventions and for future research were explored