The psychoeducational aspects of the psychiatric rehabilitation aproach

Psychiatric Rehabilitation is an approach which utilizes the principles of physical rehabilitation with psychotherapeutic techniques. It incorporates both psychoeducational techniques (skill development) and environmental modification (resource development). It includes a complex variety of didactic, modeling, experimental, follow-up activities in the context of a strong interpersonal relationship that permits a systematic intervention to be delivered in a flexible, highly individualized manner. The Psychiatric rehabilitation approach begins and ends the client's perspective and partnership. The psychoeducational aspect enhances this philosophy by providing the basis for growth-oriented techniques in the context of a teacher-adult learner relationship even for those persons who have the most severe psychiatric disabilities.RESUMO: A Reabilitação Psiquiátrica é uma abordagem que utiliza princípios de reabilitação física associadas às técnicas psicoterapêuticas. Incorpora técnicas psicoeducacionais (desenvolvimento de habilidades) e modificação ambiental (desenvolvimento de recursos). Inclui uma variedade complexa de actividades didácticas, de modelação, experienciais e de seguimento no contexto de uma forte relação interpessoal, permitindo que uma intervencão sistemática seja feita de uma forma flexível e altamente individualizada. A abordagem da Reabilitação Psiquiátrica começa e acaba com a perspectiva do cliente. OS aspectos psicoeducacionais acentuam esta filosofia, fornecendo a base para técnicas orientadas para o desenvolvimento no contexto de uma relação professor-adulto em aprendizagem, mesmo para aqueles com as mais graves dificuldades psiquiátricas

Peptid markerek a fehérje allergia előrejelzésében = Peptide markers to predict food allergy

Az allergiás esetek száma világszerte növekszik és gyakran járványszerű méreteket is ölt. Az élelmiszerek közül a legtöbb megbetegedést a tojás, mogyoró, tej, diófélék, hal, kagyló és rák, búza és szója fogyasztása okozza érzékeny egyénekben. A pályázat keretében a búzafehérjék vizsgálatára proteomikai módszereket alkalmaztunk, ami a kétdimenziós elektroforézissel történő elválasztásból, a víz- és sóoldható fehérjék immun reaktivitásának detektálásából, és tömegspektroszkópiai - LC/MS és adatbázis alkalmazása - azonosításból állt. A búza víz- és sóoldható fehérjéi között összesen 13 allergén fehérjét - alfa-amiláz inhibitort, alfa-amiláz inhibitor prekurzort, 27 K fehérjét és egyéb fehérjét - azonosítottunk a 30 kDa-nál kisebb molekulatömegű tartományban. Az allergének epitopjainak megismerésén kívül fontos feladat különböző élelmiszerekből való detektálásuk. A pékasztmának nevezett betegségben szerepet játszó alfa-amiláz inhibitor család allergén fehérjéinek elválasztásához anioncserélő kromatográfiát, illetve szervetlen adszorbenst alkalmaztunk és a nagy alfa-amiláz inhibitor aktivitású frakciókat gyűjtöttük. Az inhibitorokban gazdag frakció gyors és egyszerű előállítása lehetővé teszi az allergén búzafehérjékből LC/MS eljárással kapott peptidtérkép alapján peptid markerek kiválasztását és ezek mérésével a búza allergének detektálását élelmiszerekben. | The number of allergic occurrence increases worldwide and often reaches epidemic proportions. Eggs, peanuts, milk, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat and soy are sources of allergenic food proteins, the consumption of which leads to malfunctioning of the immune system in sensitive individuals. Within the framework of the application we applied proteomic approach, namely two-dimensional electrophoresis, immunoblotting, LC-MS/MS and databank accession, to identification of allergenic albumins/globulins of wheat. Of water- and salt soluble proteins of wheat, 13 have been identified - alfa-amylase inhibitors, alfa-amylase inhibitor precursors, 27 K protein, and others ? in the range of less than 30 kDa molecular mass. In addition to the explanation of the epitop structure, detection of allergens in various foodstuffs is a task of primary importance, too. To separate allergenic proteins of alfa-amylase inhibitor family, that cause bakers asthma, we used anion exchange chromatography as well as inorganic adsorbent, and fractions of high inhibitor activity were collected. A simple and quick preparation of inhibitor rich protein fraction makes it feasible to choose peptid markers on the basis of peptid mass mapping obtained by LC-MS/MS and accession to databank supply, by use of which detection of wheat allergens in food products is possible

Attachment of APAM to mineral particles in seawater

Polymer injection is used in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) when an oil field ages and the pressure in the reservoir decreases, or for oil fields with heavy oil. By polymer injection, the viscosity of the water injected for pressure support is increased by mixing with a high concentration of a polymer solution. Polymers used in EOR operations are often high molecular weight polyacrylamides, including anionic polyacrylamide (APAM), which may subsequently enter the marine environment with produced water releases. Since seawater (SW) contains mineral particles (MPs) in low concentrations, and polymers like APAM are known to flocculate MPs, we investigated if APAM at different concentrations (0.5–10 mg/L) would attach and flocculate MPs, when these occurred in concentrations relevant for oceanic SW (1 mg/L). Two types of MPs, diatomaceous earth and kaolin, were exposed to fluorescence-tagged APAM (APAM-TAG). A low-energy carousel system with natural seawater (SW) was used for incubation of MPs and APAM-TAG at a temperature relevant for the Norwegian Continental Shelf (13 °C). Attachment to MPs and aggregates of these were analysed by fluorometry and fluorescence microscopy. Particle analyses showed that only minor fractions of the MPs aggregated. When samples were separated in steel filter with a mesh size of 20 μm, APAM-TAG was mainly measured in the flow-through fraction (<20 μm), and the results therefore showed that the polymer mainly remained in the water-phase, or was attached to small particles (<20 μm). For the small fraction of APAM attaching to aggregated MPs, attraction to kaolin was higher than to diatomaceous earth, and fluorescence microscopy analyses confirmed the presence of fluorescent particles at the higher APAM concentrations. MPs at concentrations relevant for oceanic SW are therefore not expected to significantly contribute to sedimentation of APAM dissolved in the water column.publishedVersio

Psychometric evaluation of the Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery (QPR)

Background: Supporting recovery is the aim of national mental health policy in many countries, including England. There is a need for standardised measures of recovery, to assess policy implementation and inform clinical practice. Only one measure of recovery has been developed in England: the Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery (QPR) which measures recovery from the perspective of adult mental health service users with a psychosis diagnosis. Aims: To independently evaluate the psychometric properties of the 15-item and 22-item versions of QPR. Method: Two samples were used: Dataset 1 (n=88) involved assessment of QPR at baseline, two weeks and three months. Dataset 2 (n=399; ISRCTN02507940) involved assessment of QPR at baseline and one year. Results: For the 15-item version, internal consistency was 0.89, convergent validity was 0.73, test-retest reliability was 0.74 and sensitivity to change was 0.40. Confirmatory factor analysis showed the 15-item version offered a good fit. For the 22 item version comprising two sub-scales, the Interpersonal sub-scale was found to under-perform and the Intrapersonal sub-scale overlaps substantially with the 15 item version. Conclusions: Both the 15-item and the Intrapersonal sub-scale of the 22-item versions of the QPR demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties. The 15-item version is slightly more robust and also less burdensome, so it can be recommended for use in research and clinical practice. Declaration of interest: None

The Glutamine Transporter Slc38a1 Regulates GABAergic Neurotransmission and Synaptic Plasticity

GABA signaling sustains fundamental brain functions, from nervous system development to the synchronization of population activity and synaptic plasticity. Despite these pivotal features, molecular determinants underscoring the rapid and cell-autonomous replenishment of the vesicular neurotransmitter GABA and its impact on synaptic plasticity remain elusive. Here, we show that genetic disruption of the glutamine transporter Slc38a1 in mice hampers GABA synthesis, modifies synaptic vesicle morphology in GABAergic presynapses and impairs critical period plasticity. We demonstrate that Slc38a1-mediated glutamine transport regulates vesicular GABA content, induces high-frequency membrane oscillations and shapes cortical processing and plasticity. Taken together, this work shows that Slc38a1 is not merely a transporter accumulating glutamine for metabolic purposes, but a key component regulating several neuronal functions

Occurrence, characterisation and fate of (nano)particulate Ti and Ag in two Norwegian wastewater treatment plants

Due to their widespread application in consumer products, elemental titanium (e.g., titanium dioxide, TiO2) and silver (Ag), also in nanoparticulate form, are increasingly released from households and industrial facilities to urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). A seven-day sampling campaign was conducted in two full-scale WWTPs in Trondheim (Norway) employing only primary treatment. We assessed the occurrence and elimination of Ti and Ag, and conducted size-based fractionation using sequential filtration of influent samples to separate particulate, colloidal and dissolved fractions. Eight-hour composite influent samples were collected to assess diurnal variations in total Ti and Ag influx. Measured influent Ti concentrations (up to 290 μg L−1) were significantly higher than Ag (0.7 μm). Removal efficiencies ≥70% were observed for both elements, requiring for one WWTP to account for the high Ti content (∼2 g L−1) in the flocculant. Nano- and micron-sized Ti particles were observed with scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) in influent, effluent and biosolids, while Ag nanoparticles were detected in biosolids only. Diurnal profiles of influent Ti were correlated to flow and pollutant concentration patterns (especially total suspended solids), with peaks during the morning and/or evening and minima at night, indicating household discharges as predominant source. Irregular profiles were exhibited by influent Ag, with periodic concentration spikes suggesting short-term discharges from one or few point sources (e.g., industry). Influent Ti and Ag dynamics were reproduced using a disturbance scenario generator model, and we estimated per capita loads of Ti (42–45 mg cap−1 d−1) and Ag (0.11 mg cap−1 d−1) from households as well as additional Ag load (14–22 g d−1) from point discharge. This is the first study to experimentally and mathematically describe short-term release dynamics and dry-weather sources of emissions of Ti and Ag in municipal WWTPs and receiving environments