Co-therapy in Open Dialogue: Transforming therapists’ self in a shared space

The present study aimed to explore co-therapists’ relationship and how therapists’ individual presence influences this relationship in Open Dialogue. Although co-therapy is key in Open Dialogue network meetings, the processes of that relationship remain largely understudied. The study applied thematic analysis to semi-structured interviews with 20 Open Dialogue trained therapists working in public and private sectors internationally. The results indicate that therapists are present in a meeting with their experiencing and professional self. Specific co-therapy processes allow co-therapists to attune to one another verbally and physically, creating a shared space that promotes new common understandings, shared responsibility and ultimately a transformation of each therapist’s self and practice. Trust between co-therapists seems to be a prerequisite for co-therapy to flourish. Results of the present study reveal a dynamic influence of co-therapy practice, in which co-therapy promotes a more dialogical personality and allows the therapists’ own transformation, which in turn enables common understandings and sharing of responsibility. Considering the growing interest in dialogical approaches and Open Dialogue trainings, trainers, supervisors, and practitioners need to be aware of and attend to the dynamics of co-therapy relationship in order to care for themselves, their team and ultimately the networks they collaborate with

Σύνθεση και χαρακτηρισμός στερεών πολυμερικών ηλεκτρολυτών με πολύπλοκες μακρομοριακές δομές

Στην παρούσα εργασία συντέθηκε μια σειρά πολυμερών δυνητικά αξιοποιήσιμων ως πολυηλεκτρολύτες. Πρώτο βήμα, ήταν η σύνθεση του μονομερούς άλατος 3- σουλφονυλ(τριφθορομεθανοσουλφονυλ)ιμυδοπροπυλομεθακρυλικού καλίου (MASTFSIK). Ακολούθησε η σύνθεση του μακροαπαρχητή πολυαιθυλενοξειδίου με χρήση της αντίδρασης αιθεροποίησης Williamson και πρόσδεση ενεργού κέντρου NMP πολυμερισμού στο άκρο της αλυσίδας. Ακολούθησε η σύνθεση της δεύτερης συστάδας τόσο ως ομοπολυμερές PMASTFSIK, όσο και ως τυχαίο συμπολυμερές στυρενίου και μεθακρυλικού άλατος με ζωντανό ελεγχόμενο πολυμερισμό NMP, μεταβάλλοντας τη σύσταση των μονομερών και το χρόνο πολυμερισμού. Στη συνέχεια, συντέθηκε αστεροειδής πολυδραστικός απαρχητής πολυαιθυλενοξειδίου με πυρήνα δικτυωμένου διβινυλοβενζολίου με χρήση της τεχνικής πολυμερισμού NMP. Ο αστεροειδής απαρχητής αξιοποιήθηκε στη σύνθεση δεύτερης γενιάς κλάδων εκκινόμενων από τα ενεργά κέντρα NMP του πυρήνα με αποτέλεσμα τη σύνθεση μικτόκλωνων αστεροειδών συμπολυμερών αποτελούμενων από κλάδους πολυαιθυλενοξειδίου και κλάδους τυχαίων συμπολυμερών P(St-co-MASTFSILi). Τέλος, η αιθεροποίηση Williamson εφαρμόστηκε στη σύνθεση πολυδραστικού NMP απαρχητή β-κυκλοδεξτρίνης από τα ενεργά κέντρα του οποίου εκκινήθηκε στη συνέχεια η σύνθεση πολυστυρενικών κλάδων με NMP πολυμερισμό. Συνεπώς, συντέθηκε σειρά αστεροειδών πολυστυρενίων με πυρήνα β-κυκλοδεξτρίνης. Η επιτυχής σύνθεση του μονομερούς επιβεβαιώθηκε μέσω φασματοσκοπίας NMR ( 1H, 13C, 19F). Με τη χρήση της χρωματογραφίας αποκλεισμού μεγεθών SEC ταυτοποιήθηκαν τα μοριακά χαρακτηριστικά των πολυμερών (μοριακό βάρος και κατανομή μοριακών βαρών) ενώ τα πολυμερή που συντέθηκαν ταυτοποιήθηκαν μέσω φασματοσκοπίας 1H-NMR. Το μοριακό βάρος του αστεροειδούς πολυαιθυλενοξειδίου με πυρήνα DVB ταυτοποιήθηκε με χρήση Στατικής Σκέδασης Φωτός (SLS). Τέλος, πραγματοποιήθηκαν μετρήσεις TGA και DSC.In the present work, a series of polymers potentially useful as polyelectrolytes was synthesized. First step, was the synthesis of potassium 3- sulfonyl(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imidopropyl methacrylate monomer salt (MASTFSIK). This was followed by the synthesis of the polyethylene oxide macroinitiator using the Williamson etherification reaction and attachment of an NMP polymerization active center to the chain end. The second block was then synthesized both as a PMASTFSIK homopolymer and as a random copolymer of styrene and methacrylate salt by living controlled polymerization NMP, varying the monomer composition and polymerization time. Then, star multifunctional polyethylene oxide initiator with crosslinked divinylbenzene core was synthesized using the NMP polymerization technique. The star initiator was exploited in the second-generation synthesis of branches initiated from the core’s NMP active centers resulting in the synthesis of miktoarm star copolymers composed of polyethylene oxide branches and branches of random copolymers P(St-co-MASTFSILi). Finally, Williamson etherification reaction was applied to the synthesis of β-cyclodextrin multifunctional NMP initiator from whose active centers the synthesis of polystyrene branches was subsequently performed. Consequently, a series of β-cyclodextrin core polystyrene star-shaped polymers was synthesized. Successful synthesis of the monomer was confirmed by NMR (1H,13C,19F) spectroscopy. Using SEC size exclusion chromatography the molecular characteristics of the polymers (molecular weight and molecular weight distribution) were identified while the synthesized polymers were identified by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The molecular weight of polyethylene oxide star-shaped structure with cross-linked DVB core was identified with Static Light Spectroscopy (SLS). Finally, TGA and DSC measurements were performed

A Systematic Review of Common and Brain-Disease-Specific RNA Editing Alterations Providing Novel Insights into Neurological and Neurodegenerative Disease Manifestations

RNA editing contributes to transcriptome diversification through RNA modifications in relation to genome-encoded information (RNA–DNA differences, RDDs). The deamination of Adenosine (A) to Inosine (I) or Cytidine (C) to Uridine (U) is the most common type of mammalian RNA editing. It occurs as a nuclear co- and/or post-transcriptional event catalyzed by ADARs (Adenosine deaminases acting on RNA) and APOBECs (apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide-like genes). RNA editing may modify the structure, stability, and processing of a transcript. This review focuses on RNA editing in psychiatric, neurological, neurodegenerative (NDs), and autoimmune brain disorders in humans and rodent models. We discuss targeted studies that focus on RNA editing in specific neuron-enriched transcripts with well-established functions in neuronal activity, and transcriptome-wide studies, enabled by recent technological advances. We provide comparative editome analyses between human disease and corresponding animal models. Data suggest RNA editing to be an emerging mechanism in disease development, displaying common and disease-specific patterns. Commonly edited RNAs represent potential disease-associated targets for therapeutic and diagnostic values. Currently available data are primarily descriptive, calling for additional research to expand global editing profiles and to provide disease mechanistic insights. The potential use of RNA editing events as disease biomarkers and available tools for RNA editing identification, classification, ranking, and functional characterization that are being developed will enable comprehensive analyses for a better understanding of disease(s) pathogenesis and potential cures

Oral Drug Delivery Systems Based on Ordered Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Modulating the Release of Aprepitant

Two different types of ordered mesoporous nanoparticles, namely MCM-41 and MCM-48, with similar pore sizes but different pore connectivity, were loaded with aprepitant via a passive diffusion method. The percentage of the loaded active agent, along with the encapsulation efficiency, was evaluated using High-performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis complemented by Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). The determination of the pore properties of the mesoporous particles before and after the drug loading revealed the presence of confined aprepitant in the pore structure of the particles, while Powder X-ray Diffractometry(pXRD), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and FTIR experiments indicated that the drug is in an amorphous state. The release profiles of the drug from the two different mesoporous materials were studied in various release media and revealed an aprepitant release up to 45% when sink conditions are applied. The cytocompatibility of the silica nanoparticles was assessed in Caco-2 cell monolayers, in the presence and absence of the active agent, suggesting that they can be used as carriers of aprepitant without presenting any toxicity in vitro