The experience of cognitive behavioural therapy in depressed adolescents who are fatigued

Objective: Fatigue is a common and debilitating symptom of major depressive disorder (MDD). Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a recommended psychological treatment for adolescents with moderate to severe depression. This study explored the experience of CBT in fatigued adolescents with MDD. Design: A qualitative study was conducted using existing data from the qualitative arm of a large randomized control trial, the IMPACT study. Methods: Data were obtained from semi-structured interviews conducted after therapy. Participants were 18 adolescents (aged 13–18 years) who reached the clinical threshold for fatigue on diagnostic assessment before starting treatment. The data were analysed using thematic framework analysis. Results: Three themes and seven sub-themes were developed. Adolescents appeared to find taking part in initial sessions, engaging in ongoing sessions and completing homework challenging. Perceiving the therapist as genuine seemed to provide a sense of safety which enabled adolescents to open up in sessions. When the therapist was not perceived as genuine, adolescents appeared to find CBT less helpful. The structure of CBT appeared to enable treatment goals to be set, and facilitated an increase in meaningful activity. Ensuring that tasks were perceived as manageable and goals as achievable seemed important for participation. Cognitive restructuring appeared useful, although some adolescents tended to engage in distraction from thoughts as an alternative strategy. Conclusions: This study provides an initial insight into how fatigued adolescents with MDD experience CBT. Further research is required to establish whether the themes are pervasive and relatedly, how best to treat depression in fatigued adolescents receiving CBT. Practitioner points: Fatigued adolescents with depression found engaging in CBT sessions and therapeutic homework demanding. Establishing a collaborative therapeutic relationship, where the therapist was perceived as genuine, appeared helpful for participation. The structured approach to therapy, combined with flexibility, was experienced as helpful. Adolescents who perceived the pace of sessions to be manageable and therapeutic goals as achievable seemed to find CBT helpful overall. These findings provide insight into how fatigued adolescents with depression experience CBT and highlight the importance of being aware of fatigue and adapting therapy accordingly

Temporal changes in HCV genotype distribution in three different high risk populations in San Francisco, California

Abstract Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype (GT) has become an important measure in the diagnosis and monitoring of HCV infection treatment. In the United States (U.S.) HCV GT 1 is reported as the most common infecting GT among chronically infected patients. In Europe, however, recent studies have suggested that the epidemiology of HCV GTs is changing. Methods We assessed HCV GT distribution in 460 patients from three HCV-infected high risk populations in San Francisco, and examined patterns by birth cohort to assess temporal trends. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess factors independently associated with GT 1 infection compared to other GTs (2, 3, and 4). Results Overall, GT 1 was predominant (72.4%), however younger injection drug users (IDU) had a lower proportion of GT 1 infections (54.7%) compared to older IDU and HIV-infected patients (80.5% and 76.6%, respectively). Analysis by birth cohort showed increasing proportions of non-GT 1 infections associated with year of birth: birth before 1970 was independently associated with higher adjusted odds of GT 1: AOR 2.03 (95% CI: 1.23, 3.34). African-Americans as compared to whites also had higher adjusted odds of GT 1 infection (AOR: 3.37; 95% CI: 1.89, 5.99). Conclusions Although, HCV GT 1 remains the most prevalent GT, especially among older groups, changes in GT distribution could have significant implications for how HCV might be controlled on a population level and treated on an individual level

Man and the Last Great Wilderness: Human Impact on the Deep Sea

The deep sea, the largest ecosystem on Earth and one of the least studied, harbours high biodiversity and provides a wealth of resources. Although humans have used the oceans for millennia, technological developments now allow exploitation of fisheries resources, hydrocarbons and minerals below 2000 m depth. The remoteness of the deep seafloor has promoted the disposal of residues and litter. Ocean acidification and climate change now bring a new dimension of global effects. Thus the challenges facing the deep sea are large and accelerating, providing a new imperative for the science community, industry and national and international organizations to work together to develop successful exploitation management and conservation of the deep-sea ecosystem. This paper provides scientific expert judgement and a semi-quantitative analysis of past, present and future impacts of human-related activities on global deep-sea habitats within three categories: disposal, exploitation and climate change. The analysis is the result of a Census of Marine Life – SYNDEEP workshop (September 2008). A detailed review of known impacts and their effects is provided. The analysis shows how, in recent decades, the most significant anthropogenic activities that affect the deep sea have evolved from mainly disposal (past) to exploitation (present). We predict that from now and into the future, increases in atmospheric CO2 and facets and consequences of climate change will have the most impact on deep-sea habitats and their fauna. Synergies between different anthropogenic pressures and associated effects are discussed, indicating that most synergies are related to increased atmospheric CO2 and climate change effects. We identify deep-sea ecosystems we believe are at higher risk from human impacts in the near future: benthic communities on sedimentary upper slopes, cold-water corals, canyon benthic communities and seamount pelagic and benthic communities. We finalise this review with a short discussion on protection and management methods

Functional Relationship between Skull Form and Feeding Mechanics in Sphenodon, and Implications for Diapsid Skull Development

The vertebrate skull evolved to protect the brain and sense organs, but with the appearance of jaws and associated forces there was a remarkable structural diversification. This suggests that the evolution of skull form may be linked to these forces, but an important area of debate is whether bone in the skull is minimised with respect to these forces, or whether skulls are mechanically “over-designed” and constrained by phylogeny and development. Mechanical analysis of diapsid reptile skulls could shed light on this longstanding debate. Compared to those of mammals, the skulls of many extant and extinct diapsids comprise an open framework of fenestrae (window-like openings) separated by bony struts (e.g., lizards, tuatara, dinosaurs and crocodiles), a cranial form thought to be strongly linked to feeding forces. We investigated this link by utilising the powerful engineering approach of multibody dynamics analysis to predict the physiological forces acting on the skull of the diapsid reptile Sphenodon. We then ran a series of structural finite element analyses to assess the correlation between bone strain and skull form. With comprehensive loading we found that the distribution of peak von Mises strains was particularly uniform throughout the skull, although specific regions were dominated by tensile strains while others were dominated by compressive strains. Our analyses suggest that the frame-like skulls of diapsid reptiles are probably optimally formed (mechanically ideal: sufficient strength with the minimal amount of bone) with respect to functional forces; they are efficient in terms of having minimal bone volume, minimal weight, and also minimal energy demands in maintenance

Genetically modified organisms in agriculture : can regulations work?

Genetically modified (GM) crops have been recognised to be economically beneficial to subsistence farmers and have been projected as essential tools for addressing challenges in hunger, environmental sustainability and international development. Yet the uncertainty of their effects on human health and the undesirable ecological consequences of these organisms have raised concerns on the rapid pace of their production. Regulating the release of these organisms is a critical environmental issue. The Cartagena protocol on bio-safety, the principle legal arrangement for the regulation of these organisms, has ratifications from only 157 countries and has proven to be a weak regulator. Countries like India and Brazil have seen the proliferation of unapproved stealth GM varieties which make regulation even more difficult. In this paper, we explore the debate surrounding the introduction of GM organisms and analyse the effectiveness of existing legal regimes to regulate their use

Estudo radiológico do valor angular da cifose torácica em adolescentes Estudio radiológico del valor angular de la cifosis torácica en adolescentes Radiological study of the angular value of thoracic kyphosis in adolescents

OBJETIVO: determinar a diferença dos valores angulares da cifose torácica utilizando como vértebra terminal cranial diferentes níveis (T2 a T5). MÉTODOS: foram avaliadas radiografias em perfil de cem adolescentes voluntários saudáveis da Escola Industrial do Serviço Social da Indústria (SESI) de Ribeirão Preto (SP), com prévia autorização dos pais ou responsáveis. Foram excluídas as radiografias de dez indivíduos por falhas na qualidade. Os parâmetros avaliados foram: mensuração da cifose torácica pelo método de Cobb, utilizando T2, T3, T4 ou T5 como vértebra terminal cranial e T12 como vértebra terminal caudal. RESULTADOS: foram avaliados 90 indivíduos (46 do sexo masculino e 44 do feminino), com idade variando de 13 a 15 anos (média 14±6). O valor angular da cifose torácica nos diferentes níveis variou entre 45º (T2-T12) e 35º (T5-T12) no sexo masculino, e valor angular entre 43º(T2-T12) e 30º (T5-T12) no sexo feminino. CONCLUSÃO: foi observada diferença constante de aproximadamente 5º quando comparados os valores angulares da cifose torácica utilizando diferentes níveis (T2 a T5) como vértebra terminal cranial.<br>OBJETIVO: determinar la diferencia de los valores angulares de la cifosis torácica usando como vértebra terminal craneal, diferentes niveles (T2 a T5). MÉTODOS: fueron evaluadas radiografías en perfil de cien adolescentes voluntarios saludables de la Escola Industrial do Serviço Social da Indústria (SESI) de Ribeirão Preto (SP), con previa autorización de sus padres o responsables. Fueron excluidas radiografías de diez individuos por fallas de resolución. Los parámetros evaluados fueron: la medida de la cifosis torácica por el método de Cobb, usando T2,T3,T4 y T5 como vértebra terminal craneal y T12 como vértebra terminal caudal. RESULTADOS: fueron evaluados 90 individuos (46 hombres y 44 mujeres), con edades que varían de 13 a 15 años (media 14±6). El valor angular de la cifosis torácica en los diferentes niveles fue de 45º (T2-T12) y 35º (T5-T12) en el sexo masculino, y valor angular de 43º (T2-T12) y 30º (T5-T12) en el sexo femenino. CONCLUSIÓN: fue observada una diferencia constante de aproximadamente 5º cuando los valores angulares de la cifosis torácica fueron comparados, usando diferentes niveles (T2 a T5) como vértebra terminal craneal.<br>OBJECTIVE: to determine the difference of the thoracic kyphosis angular values using different levels (T2 a T5) as a terminal cranial vertebra. METHODS: sagittal radiographies of one hundred healthy adolescent volunteers, who study at Escola Industrial do Serviço Social da Indústria (SESI) in Ribeirão Preto SP), were evaluated the sagittal radiographies of one hundred health volunteers adolescent, that studies at Escola Industrial do SESI in Ribeirão Preto (SP), with parents consent. Ten adolescents were excluded because of flaws in the quality. The studied parameters were: the measurement of thoracic kyphosis by the Cobb method, using T2, T3, T4, T5 as a terminal proximal vertebra and T12 as a distal final vertebra. RESULTS: Ninety individuals (46 men and 44 women), aged from 13 to 15 (average of 14±6), were evaluated. The angular value of thoracic kyphosis in the different levels varied from 46º (T2 - T12) to 35º (T5 - T12) in men, and from 44º (T2- T12) to 30º (T5 - T12) in women. CONCLUSION: A constant difference of approximately 5º was observed when comparing the angular values of thoracic kyphosis using different levels (T2 - T5) as a terminal cranial vertebra