Does alexithymia have a mediating effect between impulsivity and emotional-behavioral functioning in adolescents with binge eating disorder?

Objective: Binge eating Disorder (BeD) has recently been included in the Dsm-5. like many other eating disorder symptoms, BED is often present in adolescence. No studies have specifically investigated the influence of impulsivity and alexithymia on the emotional-behavioural functioning of adolescents diagnosed with BeD. Method: in this study, we recruited n = 162 adolescents (age range: 14-18) and divided them into two groups: 78 adolescents diagnosed with BeD, according to the Dsm-5 criteria (group A), and 84 healthy controls (group B). participants completed the youth self-report (ysr/11-18), the toronto Alexithymia scale (tAs-20) and the Barratt impulsiveness scale (Bis-11). Results: the results showed that group A had higher scores of alexithymia, impulsivity and maladaptive emotionalbehavioural functioning than Group B. Furthermore, alexithymia had a mediating effect on the relationship between impulsivity and emotional-behavioural functioning. Conclusions: These results allow us to hypothesise that alexithymia is a key variable influencing the emotional and behavioural problems of adolescents affected by BED. Our data confirms the previous studies underlining the association of impulsivity and alexithymia with the diagnosis of BeD in adolescents, and our study contributes to the previous literature, emphasising the central role of alexithymia in the mediating effect between impulsivity and emotional and behavioural problems. these results suggest the importance of promoting prevention and treatment polices focused on alexithymia

Diagnosis of Lingual Atrophic Conditions: Associations with Local and Systemic Factors. A Descriptive Review

Abstract: Atrophic glossitis is a condition characterised by absence of filiform or fungiform papillae on the dorsal surface of the tongue. Consequently, the ordinary texture and appearance of the dorsal tongue, determined by papillary protrusion, turns into a soft and smooth aspect. Throughout the years, many factors, both local and systemic, have been associated with atrophic glossitis as the tongue is currently considered to be a mirror of general health. Moreover, various tongue conditions were wrongly diagnosed as atrophic glossitis. Oral involvement can conceal underlying systemic conditions and, in this perspective, the role of clinicians is fundamental. Early recognition of oral signs and symptoms, through a careful examination of oral anatomical structures, plays a crucial role in providing patients with a better prognosis

In Vitro Evaluation of Enterococcus faecalis Adhesion on Various Endodontic Medicaments

E. faecalis in endodontic infection represents a biofilm type of disease, which explains the bacteria’s resistance to various antimicrobial compounds and the subsequent failure after endodontic treatment. The purpose of this study was to compare antimicrobial activities and bacteria kinetic adhesion in vitro for three endodontic medicaments with a clinical isolate of E. faecalis. We devised a shake culture which contained the following intracanalar preparations: CPD, Endoidrox (EIX), PulpCanalSealer (PCS); these were immersed in a liquid culture medium inoculated with the microorganism. The shake system velocity was able to prevent non-specific bacteria adhesion and simulated the salivary flow. Specimens were collected daily (from both the medium and medicaments) for 10 days; the viable cells were counted by plate count, while the adhesion index AI° [E. faecalis fg DNA] /mm2 was evaluated in the pastes after DNA extraction, by quantitative real time PCR for the 16S rRNA gene. A partial growth inhibition, during the first 24 hours, was observed in the liquid medium and on the medicaments for EIX and subsequently for CPD (six logs). EIX showed the lowest adhesion coefficient (5*102 [fg DNA]/mm2) for nine days and was similar to the control. PCS showed no antimicrobial/antibiofilm properties. This showed that “calcium oxide” base compounds could be active against biofilm progression and at least in the short term (2-4 days) on E. faecalis cells growing in planktonic cultures

Evaluating intersubjectivity: an overview of the use of Thermal Infrared Imaging in the assessment of emotional states

Intersubjectivity represents one of the most challenging psychological issue. In this field, the assessment of interlocutors’ psychophysiological and emotional states has become more and more relevant, also thanks to the collection of physiological and psychophysiological information. In the last decade, in the field of psychological research activities, innovative instrumental measures of psychophysiological and affective states have been developed, with relevant implication in the frontier of interpersonal relationships and communication. Nowadays, among the most relevant measurements of psychophysiological responses, autonomic nervous activity and emotional states, Thermal infrared (IR) imaging has been acknowledged as a very useful non-invasive technology for evaluating emotional states in social interactions. This tool allows to take over various physiological information and could then be used to infer about affective and emotional states. In this line, it is particularly employed in the investigation of various psychological issues, such as the early interactions between mother and infants, empathy, and other emotional relational conditions (stress, fear, trauma, guilt….), offering relevant information also about relational risk and psychopathological conditions. Thus, the international literature in applied psychophysiology based on the use of Thermal infrared (IR) imaging in social conditions highlights an increasing interest in this technique, especially for the contribution to advancing neuroscience and human–machine interaction studies. The present study intends to give a theoretical overview of the investigation of affective and emotional states through the tool of the Thermal infrared (IR) imaging, specifically focusing on the principal achievements in the issue of caregiver-infant relationship, and also stressing potentialities and limits of psychophysiological researches. The review of international literature was made through researches in university libraries on paper material, and telematics systems research. Particularly useful database were ProQuest, PsyArticles, PsyInfo, PubMed, together with the use of Scopus index to verify the papers’ scientific relevance. As proved by the great number of international empirical studies assessing the emotional and affective states of the interlocutor, the Thermal infrared imaging (IR) represents a very innovative advancement in the knowledge of neurophysiological bases of emotions and of the link between psychophysiological responses and affective conditions. The state of art of international research showed the relevance of the empirical studies which used the tool of Thermal infrared imaging in the understanding of empathy and social interactions. Indeed, many studies highlighted the capability of thermal IR imaging to catch emotional states in many everyday life scenarios. Compared to classical technology for assessing autonomic activity, Thermal infrared imaging represents a non-invasively, ecologically, and contact free tool, bringing in itself positive implications for individual compliance and participations in research. Investigating affective and psychophysiological states of individuals is crucial to address the social and relational issue in environmental conditions, also in term of potential risk and protective factors in relationships and setting any intervention plans. The attribution of psychological valence to neurophysiological measurements such as Thermal infrared imaging (IR) nurtures the debate on "thermal imprint" of emotion, and poses new and constant considerations on healthy socio-emotional interactions. Given the international relevance of the research field of intersubjectivity, such as mothers–child interactions, it should be recommended to further investigate the topic of psychophysiological assessment by an empirical way in Italian samples. This would end to better understanding the individual and relational emotional states, its clinical features and anticipate the intervention strategies. As a last resort, the physiological research on the emotional arena will shed more and more light on computational evaluation and human artificial agent interaction

Prevalence of Mental Disorders in Adolescent Victims of Motor-Vehicle Collisions

Background: The scientific literature highlighted the relevance of psychopathological symptoms and psychiatric disordersamong the victims of accidents. The research that focused on non-fatal injuries has paid limited attention to mental disorders in adolescent victims of motor vehicle collisions (MVCs). However, adolescents' emotional-behavioural functioning and psychopathological risk can be related to their likability of being victims of road accidents. Objectives: This study aimed to synthesize data gathered in an Italian emergency department, specifically focusing on adolescents attending the service for the physical consequences of a motor vehicle collision. Methods: An ad hoc anamnestic self-report questionnaire was administered to 410 adolescents involved in MVCs. Results and Conclusions: This preliminary report shows that non-fatal injuries are very common among adolescents, being particularly related to poor mental health