Psychometric Comparison of Dissociative Experiences Scales II and C: A Weak Trauma-Dissociation Link

The debate regarding the relationship between dissociation and trauma has raised questions regarding the validity of measures of dissociation. Dalenberg et al.\u27s (2012) meta-analysis included studies using the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES II), but excluded the DES-Comparison (DES-C) scale, claiming that it lacked validity as a measure of dissociation. Lynn et al. (2014) contended that omitting those studies might have skewed the results. In the current study, we compared the psychometric properties of both measures in two nonclinical US adult (student, general population) samples to evaluate the convergent and discriminant validity of the scales. We found support for the DES-II as a measure of dissociation as well as the validity and reliability of the DES-C, which compares well to the DES II. Compared with studies in Dalenberg et al., we found lower correlations between trauma and dissociation. No empirical basis exists to exclude studies using the DES-C in literature reviews. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

A systematic review and secondary data analysis of the interactions between the serotonin transporter 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and environmental and psychological factors in eating disorders

Objectives: to summarize and synthesize the growing gene x environment (GxE) research investigating the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) in the eating disorders (ED) field, and overcome the common limitation of low sample size, by undertaking a systematic review followed by a secondary data meta-analysis of studies identified by the review. Method: a systematic review of articles using PsycINFO, PubMed, and EMBASE was undertaken to identify studies investigating the interaction between 5-HTTLPR and an environmental or psychological factor, with an ED-related outcome variable. Seven studies were identified by the systematic review, with complete data sets of five community (n = 1750, 64.5% female) and two clinical (n = 426,100% female) samples combined to perform four secondary-data analyses: 5-I-M1PR x Traumatic Life Events to predict ED status (n = 909), 5-HTTLPR x Sexual and Physical Abuse to predict bulimic symptoms (n = 1097), 5-HTTLPR x Depression to predict bulimic symptoms (n = 1256), and 5-HTTLPRx Impulsiveness to predict disordered eating (n = 1149). Results: under a multiplicative model, the low function (s) allele of 5-HTTLPR interacted with traumatic life events and experiencing both sexual and physical abuse (but not only one) to predict increased likelihood of an ED and bulimic symptoms, respectively. However, under an additive model there was also an interaction between sexual and physical abuse considered independently and 5-HTTLPR, and no interaction with traumatic life events. No other GxE interactions were significant. Conclusion: early promising results should be followed-up with continued cross-institutional collaboration in order to achieve the large sample sizes necessary for genetic research

Validation of the Body Concealment Scale for Scleroderma (BCSS): Replication in the Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network (SPIN) Cohort

© 2016 Elsevier Ltd Body concealment is an important component of appearance distress for individuals with disfiguring conditions, including scleroderma. The objective was to replicate the validation study of the Body Concealment Scale for Scleroderma (BCSS) among 897 scleroderma patients. The factor structure of the BCSS was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis and the Multiple-Indicator Multiple-Cause model examined differential item functioning of SWAP items for sex and age. Internal consistency reliability was assessed via Cronbach's alpha. Construct validity was assessed by comparing the BCSS with a measure of body image distress and measures of mental health and pain intensity. Results replicated the original validation study, where a bifactor model provided the best fit. The BCSS demonstrated strong internal consistency reliability and construct validity. Findings further support the BCSS as a valid measure of body concealment in scleroderma and provide new evidence that scores can be compared and combined across sexes and ages

The effect of bromine scanning around the phenyl group of 4-phenyl-quinolone derivatives

Three quinolone compounds were synthesized and crystallized in an effort to study the structure-activity relationship of these calcium-channel antagonists. In all three quinolones, viz. ethyl 4-(4-bromo-phenyl)-2,7,7-trimethyl-5-oxo-1, 4,5,6,7,8-hexa-hydro-quinoline-3-carboxyl-ate, (I), ethyl 4-(3-bromo-phenyl)-2, 7,7-trimethyl-5-oxo-1,4,5,6,7,8-hexa-hydro-quinoline-3-car-box-yl-ate, (II), and ethyl 4-(2-bromo-phenyl)-2,7,7-trimethyl-5-oxo-1,4,5,6,7,8-hexa-hydro- quinoline-3-carboxyl-ate, (III), all C21H24BrNO3, common structural features such as a flat boat conformation of the 1,4-di-hydro-pyridine (1,4-DHP) ring, an envelope conformation of the fused cyclo-hexa-none ring and a bromo-phenyl ring at the pseudo-axial position and orthogonal to the 1,4-DHP ring are retained. However, due to the different packing inter-actions in each compound, halogen bonds are observed in (I) and (III). Compound (III) crystallizes with two molecules in the asymmetric unit. All of the prepared derivatives satisfy the basic structural requirements to possess moderate activity as calcium-channel antagonists. © 2014

Diethyl 4-(biphenyl-4-yl)-2,6-dimethyl-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate

The title compound, C25H27NO4, has a flattened dihydropyridine ring. The benzene and phenyl rings are synclinal to one another, forming a dihedral angle of 49.82 (8)°; the axis of the biphenyl rings makes an 81.05 (9)° angle to the plane of the dihydropyridine ring. In the crystal, N—H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into chain motifs running along the a-axis direction. The chains are cross-linked by C—H...O interactions, forming sheet motifs running slightly off the (110) plane, together with an intermolecular interaction between head-to tail biphenyl groups, thus making the whole crystal packing a three-dimensional network. Intramolecular C—H...O hydrogen bonds are also observed

Structural magnetic resonance imaging in eating disorders:a systematic review of voxel-based morphometry studies

This systematic review summarises and critically appraises the literature on structural magnetic resonance imaging in people with a current or past eating disorder. Studies using voxel-based morphometry image analysis were included. Ten studies reported on a total of 236 people with a current or past eating disorder and 257 healthy controls. Sample heterogeneity prohibited a meta-analytic approach. The findings do not unequivocally indicate grey or white matter volume abnormalities in people with an eating disorder. Nevertheless, these preliminary data suggest that, compared with healthy controls, people with anorexia nervosa have decreased grey matter in a range of brain regions and that those with bulimia nervosa have increased grey matter volumes in frontal and ventral striatal areas. Research in the recovery phase and longitudinal studies suggest that potential brain tissue abnormalities may recover with clinical improvement. Overall, as the available data are inconclusive, further efforts in this field are warranted