Subharmonic and Endoscopic Contrast Imaging of Pancreatic Masses: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVES: To use subharmonic imaging (SHI) to depict the vascularity of pancreatic masses compared to contrast-enhanced endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and pathologic results. METHODS: Sixteen patients scheduled for biopsy of a pancreatic mass were enrolled in an Institutional Review Board-approved study. Pulse-inversion SHI (transmitting/receiving at 2.5/1.25 MHz) was performed on a LOGIQ 9 system (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI) with a 4C transducer, whereas contrast harmonic EUS (transmitting/receiving at 4.7/9.4 MHz) was performed with a radial endoscope (GF-UTC180; Olympus Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) connected to a ProSound SSD α-10 scanner (Hitachi Aloka, Tokyo, Japan). Two injections of the contrast agent Definity (Lantheus Medical Imaging, North Billerica, MA) were administrated (0.3-0.4 and 0.6-0.8 mL for EUS and SHI, respectively). Contrast-to-tissue ratios (CTRs) in the mass and an adjacent vessel were calculated. Four physicians independently scored the images (benign to malignant) for diagnostic accuracy and inter-reader agreement. RESULTS: One patient dropped out before imaging, leaving 11 adenocarcinomas, 1 gastrointestinal stromal tumor with pancreatic infiltration, and 3 benign masses. Marked subharmonic signals were obtained in all patients, with intratumoral blood flow clearly visualized with SHI. Significantly greater CTRs were obtained in the masses with SHI than with EUS (mean ± SD, 1.71 ± 1.63 versus 0.63 ± 0.89; P = .016). There were no differences in the CTR in the surrounding vessels or when grouped by pathologic results (P \u3e .60). The accuracies for contrast EUS and SHI were low (\u3c53%), albeit with a greater κ value for SHI (0.34) than for EUS (0.13). CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic accuracy of contrast EUS and transabdominal SHI for assessment of pancreatic masses was quite low in this pilot study. However, SHI had improved tumoral CTRs relative to contrast EUS

The role of pride in women with anorexia nervosa : a grounded theory study

Objective: Theory and clinical literature suggest that pride may play an important role in the maintenance of restrictive eating disorders. A grounded theory study explored experiences of, and reflections on, pride among women with a current or past diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. Design: This is a qualitative study using grounded theory. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 women recruited from an eating disorders unit in England, and from a UK self-help organization. Grounded theory from a constructivist lens was used. Analysis involved coding, constant comparison and memo-writing. Results: Pride evolves over the course of anorexia. Two overarching conceptual categories were identified: ‘Pride becoming intertwined with anorexia’ and ‘Pride during the journey towards recovery’. These categories encompassed different forms of pride: ‘alluring pride’, ‘toxic pride’, ‘pathological pride’, ‘anorexia pride’, ‘shameful pride’, ‘recovery pride’ and ‘resilient pride’. Initially, pride contributed to self-enhancement and buffered negative emotions. As the condition progressed, pride became a challenge to health and interfered with motivation to change. During recovery, perceptions of pride altered as a healthy approach to living ensued. Conclusions: The evolving nature of pride plays a central role in development, maintenance, and treatment of anorexia. Understanding of pride and its role in psychotherapeutic work with this client group may increase motivation to change and promote recovery. Future work should investigate if tackling pride in eating disorders increases treatment efficacy and reduces the risk of relapsing

Investigating service users’ perspectives of eating disorder services: A meta-synthesis

Objective: Despite a number of qualitative studies published from the perspective of eating disorder (ED) service users, there has been no attempt to exclusively synthesise their views to gain a fuller understanding of their ED service experiences. It is important to understand this perspective, since previous research highlights the difficulties ED healthcare professionals report when working with this client group. Method: A systematic search of the literature was conducted to identify qualitative studies focusing on experiences of ED services from the perspective of service users. Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria and underwent a quality appraisal check using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool for qualitative research. These were then synthesised using a meta-synthesis approach. Results: Four overarching themes were generated: ‘Treatment: Focus on physical vs. psychological symptoms’; ‘Service Environment: The role of control within services’; ‘Staff: Experiences with staff and the value of rapport’; and ‘Peer Influence: Camaraderie vs. comparison’. Service users expressed a desire for more psychological input to tackle underlying difficulties relating to their ED. A complex relationship with feelings of control was described, with some feeling over-controlled by service providers, while others retrospectively recognised the need for control to be taken away. Staff values, knowledge and trust played a significant role in treatment and recovery. Peers with an ED were described to be a valuable source of understanding and empathy, but some found peer influence to perpetuate comparison and competitiveness. Discussion: The results portray some of the conflicts and complexities that service users encounter in ED services. A running thread throughout is the perceived importance of adopting an individualised approach within these services

Negative childhood events and the development of the anorexic voice: A grounded theory

Abstract: Background: Many individuals diagnosed with anorexia nervosa (AN) describe their disorder as being represented by an internal ‘anorexic voice’ (AV). Previous studies have identified associations between eating psychopathology and multifarious forms of adverse life experiences. Aims: This study explores the relationship between adverse experiences in childhood and the development of the AV. Materials and Methods: Twelve women who had the experience of the AV in the context of a diagnosis of AN took part in semi‐structured interviews. The interview data were analysed using a constructivist grounded theory methodology. Results: Participants recalled feeling unsafe in a variety of relationships and a theory was constructed in which the AV provides a sense of conditional safety, becoming increasingly hostile and belittling when it is disobeyed, revealing similar characteristics to abusers and bullies in childhood. Discussion: Findings are related to the broader literature on the link between trauma and eating disorders, and to existing theories of internal voices. Conclusions: The findings have implications for a trauma‐focused approach when working with the AV

Phosphorylation of the actin binding protein Drebrin at S647 and is regulated by neuronal activity and PTEN

Defects in actin dynamics affect activity-dependent modulation of synaptic transmission and neuronal plasticity, and can cause cognitive impairment. A salient candidate actin-binding protein linking synaptic dysfunction to cognitive deficits is Drebrin (DBN). However, the specific mode of how DBN is regulated at the central synapse is largely unknown. In this study we identify and characterize the interaction of the PTEN tumor suppressor with DBN. Our results demonstrate that PTEN binds DBN and that this interaction results in the dephosphorylation of a site present in the DBN C-terminus - serine 647. PTEN and pS647-DBN segregate into distinct and complimentary compartments in neurons, supporting the idea that PTEN negatively regulates DBN phosphorylation at this site. We further demonstrate that neuronal activity increases phosphorylation of DBN at S647 in hippocampal neurons in vitro and in ex vivo hippocampus slices exhibiting seizure activity, potentially by inducing rapid dissociation of the PTEN:DBN complex. Our results identify a novel mechanism by which PTEN is required to maintain DBN phosphorylation at dynamic range and signifies an unusual regulation of an actin-binding protein linked to cognitive decline and degenerative conditions at the CNS synapse

"The last thing you feel is the self-disgust”. the role of self-directed disgust in men who have attempted suicide: a grounded theory study

Objective Globally, suicide affects more men than women. Emotional pain underpins many theoretical accounts of suicidality, yet little is known about the role of disgust in suicide. Self-directed disgust, whereby aspects of the self-serve as an object of disgust, has been hypothesised to factor in suicide. This research aimed to explore the processes which link self-disgust to attempted suicide in males. Method Nine men who had attempted suicide completed semi-structured interviews. The interview data were analysed using a constructivist grounded theory methodology. Results Three concepts emerged out of the analysis: (1) self-disgust; (2) worthlessness; and (3) the endured emotional distress of ‘the abyss’” – these concepts interweaved, leading the men to experience hopelessness, disconnection and an inability to cope, leading ultimately to their suicide attempt. Throughout this journey, various disgust-related processes worsened men's distress and increased their suicidal risk. Historic adversities prevailed across the data, as did the men's difficulties in understanding their emotions. Conclusion Self-disgust was an important emotion in the men's experiences of suicide and shaped their views of themselves and their lives. The distancing and repellent properties of self-disgust, in addition to the fear of having their ‘disgustingness’ exposed, increased suicidal risk. Self-disgust appeared more pervasive in the suicidality of men with a history of multiple childhood adversities. The limitations of this research are discussed as implications for clinical practice and directions for future research

Mental health in UK Biobank - development, implementation and results from an online questionnaire completed by 157 366 participants: a reanalysis

Background UK Biobank is a well-characterised cohort of over 500 000 participants including genetics, environmental data and imaging. An online mental health questionnaire was designed for UK Biobank participants to expand its potential. Aims Describe the development, implementation and results of this questionnaire. Method An expert working group designed the questionnaire, using established measures where possible, and consulting a patient group. Operational criteria were agreed for defining likely disorder and risk states, including lifetime depression, mania/hypomania, generalised anxiety disorder, unusual experiences and self-harm, and current post-traumatic stress and hazardous/harmful alcohol use. Results A total of 157 366 completed online questionnaires were available by August 2017. Participants were aged 45–82 (53% were ≥65 years) and 57% women. Comparison of self-reported diagnosed mental disorder with a contemporary study shows a similar prevalence, despite respondents being of higher average socioeconomic status. Lifetime depression was a common finding, with 24% (37 434) of participants meeting criteria and current hazardous/harmful alcohol use criteria were met by 21% (32 602), whereas other criteria were met by less than 8% of the participants. There was extensive comorbidity among the syndromes. Mental disorders were associated with a high neuroticism score, adverse life events and long-term illness; addiction and bipolar affective disorder in particular were associated with measures of deprivation. Conclusions The UK Biobank questionnaire represents a very large mental health survey in itself, and the results presented here show high face validity, although caution is needed because of selection bias. Built into UK Biobank, these data intersect with other health data to offer unparalleled potential for crosscutting biomedical research involving mental health

Hyperglycaemia aversion in type 1 diabetes: A grounded theory study

Objective: Very little is known about the circumstances under which hyperglycaemia aversion develops and is maintained. The present study aimed to identify psychological factors involved in the process of hyperglycaemia aversion and to understand how it affects people's self‐management of type 1 diabetes. Design: Qualitative, in‐depth interviews were used. Methods: A constructivist grounded theory study, using semi‐structured participant interviews, was undertaken to build a theoretical model of the process of hyperglycaemia aversion. Results: Eighteen participants were interviewed. Fifteen were considered hyperglycaemia averse and included in the analysis. A theoretical model was developed to describe and explain processes involved in hyperglycaemia aversion. Many participants held very high standards for themselves and often had a strong preference for control. While some participants described anxiety associated with higher blood glucose, the most proximal driver of their approach was self‐criticism and frustration associated with not meeting their own high standards for blood glucose. A number of attentional processes and beliefs, mostly related to hypoglycaemia, maintained and reinforced their blood glucose preference. Diabetes technology served as an enabler, raiser of standards, and additional critical judge of participants' hyperglycaemia aversion. Conclusions: The trans‐diagnostic concept of emotional over‐control is used to understand the proposed model of processes of hyperglycaemia aversion. The present study offers new insight which will aid clinicians in identifying and supporting those who may be at risk of psychological distress and harm associated with a preference for avoidance of higher blood glucose levels

The relationship between shame, perfectionism and Anorexia Nervosa: a grounded theory study

Objectives The aim of this study was to explore the potential relationship between shame, perfectionism and Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and their impact on recovery from AN. Method Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 people currently accessing services for AN. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using constructivist-grounded theory methodology. Results A model was developed which found a vicious cycle between shame and perfectionism. Participants tried to alleviate their feelings of shame by striving for perfectionism, however failing caused them more shame. Participants who disclosed childhood trauma believed their shame preceded their perfectionism. Participants who did not disclose trauma either believed their perfectionism preceded shame or they were unsure of which occurred first. Participants' responses suggested the following pathways from perfectionism to AN: needing goals; the need for a perfect life including a perfect body and AN being something they could be perfect at. The pathways identified between shame and AN entailed mechanisms via which AN could be used to escape shame, either by seeking pride through AN, seeking to numb shame through AN, seeking to escape body shame and punishing the self. AN was found to feed back into shame in two ways: when people had AN they felt ashamed when they broke their dietary rules, and also simultaneously people felt ashamed of their AN as they were not able to recover. Shame and perfectionism influenced one another in a cyclical pattern, in which shame drove perfectionism and not attaining high standards led to shame. Shame and perfectionism also impacted on recovery in several ways. AN functioned to numb participants' emotions, becoming part of their identity over time. AN also brought respite from a constant striving towards perfectionism. The need for a perfect recovery also influenced their motivation to engage in treatment, and fear of a return of strong emotions was another deterrent to recovery. Conclusion The findings of this paper show perfectionism and shame to both be important in the aetiology and maintenance of AN and to have an impact on recovery from AN