'Bad boys don’t cry': a thematic analysis of interpersonal dynamics in interview narratives of young offenders with psychopathic traits

Most discussions of the social and interpersonal styles in individuals with strong psychopathic traits focus on their dangerousness or their affective and interpersonal deficiencies. This study has a different focus, and starts from the idea that such focus on the threat emanating from individuals with a psychopathic style might blind us from the logic inherent to their way of relating with the world. By means of a qualitative analysis (thematic analysis) of narratives from a Lacanian talking therapy, this study examines how 15 youngsters with strong psychopathic traits make sense of interpersonal events and relations. The main recurring theme across these narratives was that others in general are fundamentally distrustful antagonists that they have to protect themselves from. Especially the father figure, with whom identification seems to take place, is seen as a violent actor. Consequently, these youngsters develop multiple strategies of dealing with the threat they experience in relation to (significant) others. These relationship patterns also emerged within the therapeutic relationship, resulting in frequent testing of the therapist's trustworthiness. The results of this study, discussed in terms of Lacanian theory, might help therapists to develop treatment approaches that better fit with the interpersonal orientation of individuals with strong psychopathic traits

Down-regulation of myopodin expression reduces invasion and motility of PC-3 prostate cancer cells

Enhanced motility of cancer cells by remodelling of the actin cytoskeleton is crucial in the process of cancer cell invasion and metastasis. Although several studies propose a tumor suppressor role for the actin bundling protein myopodin, it was also shown previously that overexpression of mouse myopodin promotes invasion in vitro. In the present study, the role of myopodin in human cancer cell motility and invasion was explored using RNA interference with siRNA duplexes designed to down-regulate all human myopodin isoforms currently identified. We show that down-regulation of myopodin expression in human cancer cells significantly reduces the invasive properties of these cells both in collagen type I and in Matrigel (R). Furthermore, the motile characteristics of cancer cells are also curbed by reduced myopodin expression whereas cell-cell contacts are reinforced. These results point to a role for myopodin as tumor activator. While these findings are at variance with the suggested tumor suppressor role for myopodin, we hypothesize that the subcellular localization of the protein is involved in its suppressor or activator function in tumorigenesis

A Lacanian view on Balint group meetings : a qualitative analysis of two case presentations

Background: GPs'subjectivity is an intrinsic instrument in their daily work. By offering GPs a platform to present and discuss difficult interactions with patients, Balint group work be might provide them an opportunity to explore and articulate aspects of their subjectivity. In order to get a more profound understanding of what participation in a Balint group can offer, we focused on the process of change that can be observed during Balint group meetings. To that end, this study scrutinized two Balint group case discussions on a micro-level. Method: Two cases were selected from a larger data set of 68 audio-taped case discussions in four Balint groups. In order to shed light on the type of change that characterizes the presenter's narrative, we used Lacan's theoretical distinction between imaginary and symbolic modes of relating to the other. Results: In both case discussions, the GPs presenting the case initially appeared to be stuck in a fixed image of a situation, referred to as ` imaginary relating to the other.'Through a range of interactions with the group, the presenters were encouraged to explore different subject positions, which allowed them to broaden their initial image of the situation and to discover other issues at stake. This was referred to as a more symbolic way of relating to the other. Conclusion: This study throws light on the type of change Balint group participation allows for and on the way this might be achieved. We conclude that Balint group work is potentially beneficial to the participating GPs as well as to the relationship with their patients

A monopartite nuclear localization sequence regulates nuclear targeting of the actin binding protein myopodin

Myopodin is an actin bundling protein that shuttles between nucleus and cytoplasm in response to cell stress or during differentiation. Here, we show that the myopodin sequence (58)KKRRRRARK(66), when tagged to either enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) or to enhanced cyan fluorescent protein-CapG (ECFPCapG), is able to target these proteins to the nucleolus in HeLa or H-EK293T cells. By contrast, (KKRR61)-K-58 ECFP-CapG accumulates in the nucleus. Mutation of (58)KKRRRRARK(66) into alanine residues blocks myopodin nuclear import and promotes formation of cytoplasmic actin filaments. A second putative nuclear localization sequence, (612)KTSKKKGKK(620), displays much weaker activity in a heterologous context, and appears not to be functional in the full length protein. Thus myopodin nuclear translocation is dependent on a monopartite nuclear localization sequence

A new survivin tracer tracks, delocalizes and captures endogenous survivin at different subcellular locations and in distinct organelles

Survivin, the smallest member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family, plays a central role during mitosis and exerts a cytoprotective function. Survivin is highly expressed in most cancer types and contributes to multiple facets of carcinogenesis. The molecular mechanisms underlying its highly diverse functions need to be extensively explored, which is crucial for rational design of future personalized therapeutics. In this study, we have generated an alpaca survivin nanobody (SVVNb8) that binds with low nanomolar affinity to its target. When expressed as an intrabody in HeLa cells, SVVNb8 faithfully tracks survivin during different phases of mitosis without interfering with survivin function. Furthermore, coupling SVVNb8 with a subcellular delocalization tag efficiently redirects endogenous survivin towards the nucleus, the cytoplasm, peroxisomes and even to the intermembrane space of mitochondria where it presumably interacts with resident mitochondrial survivin. Based on our findings, we believe that SVVNb8 is an excellent instrument to further elucidate survivin biology and topography, and can serve as a model system to investigate mitochondrial and peroxisomal (survivin) protein import

Regards sur le sexe

If sex is and has always been pointed out, if it carries a lot of fertile speech, it is also and perhaps paradoxically hidden, denigrated or even hypocritically forgotten. But this is an essential organ for all life. Its necessity but also the secrets that surround it give it a mysterious character filled with strength and fragility, multiple pleasures and pains. Fruit of the conference "Show this sex that I can not see! This volume takes an essentially historical look at sex, enriched by a film analysis. This meeting highlights how the delimitation of what is sexual organ or not varies in time, space and body, physical and psychic. More than the establishment of a geography of the sexual, the important thing is what the organs relate on the relations between, on the one hand, the models of sexuation and functioning of the sexuality and, on the other hand, the regulation social relations