Emotion Regulation and Psychological Dependence on Pain Medication among Hospital Outpatients with Chronic Spinal Pain: The Influence of Rumination about Pain and Alexithymia

Objective: To examine the extent to which pain acceptance, pain catastrophising and alexithymia moderate associations between pain intensity and psychological pain medication dependence. Methods: Participants (106 hospital outpatients with chronic spinal pain) completed the Leeds Dependence Questionnaire (LDQ) to measure psychological dependence on pain medication, and the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire-8 (CPAQ-8), the Pain Catastrophising Scale (PCS) and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20), plus the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Results: Multiple linear regression showed that degree of psychological dependence (measured dimensionally across the range of LDQ scores) was associated with TAS subscale difficulty identifying feelings (DIF) (β = 0.249, p = <0.002) and PCS subscale rumination (β = 0.193, p = 0.030), independently of pain intensity and risk behaviors for medication misuse. The effect of pain intensity was moderated by rumination, with pain intensity more strongly associated with dependence when rumination was high (interaction β = 0.192, p = 0.004). Logistic regression showed that the effect of pain intensity on severe dependence (measured categorically as LDQ score ≥ 20) was moderated by alexithymia, so that severe dependence was independently associated with the combination of intense pain and high alexithymia (interaction odds ratio = 7.26, 95% CIs = 1.63–32.42, p = 0.009). Conclusions: Rumination and alexithymia moderated the associations between pain intensity and psychological pain medication dependence, consistent with emotion regulation theory. This raises the possibility that specifically targeting rumination about pain and symptoms of alexithymia could potentially improve the effectiveness of psychological interventions for chronic pain and help people to avoid or reduce their psychological dependence on pain medication

An Exploration of Successful Psychosocial Adjustment to Long-Term In-Centre Haemodialysis

Objectives: Haemodialysis extends life for people with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) worldwide, but it imposes significant psychosocial burdens and there is little evidence about successful adjustment. This study aimed to improve understanding of successful psychosocial adjustment to in-centre haemodialysis (ICHD; dialysis in a hospital or satellite unit). Methods: Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 18 people with ESKD who had all received in-centre haemodialysis in the UK for at least 90 days in the last two years. An inductive thematic analysis was employed to identify themes from the verbatim interview transcripts. Results: There were four themes: 1) reaching a state of acceptance, which described the importance of accepting the necessity of dialysis; 2) taking an active role in treatment, which described how being actively involved in treatment gave participants greater feelings of autonomy and control; 3) utilising social support networks, which described the benefits of instrumental and emotional support; and 4) building emotional resilience, which described the importance of optimism and positivity. Conclusions: The themes demonstrated elements of successful adjustment that could be targeted by interventions to promote psychological flexibility and positive adjustment among people receiving in-centre haemodialysis worldwide

The diterpenoids of erythroxylon Monogynum - I. Monogynol

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Chemical transformation of (+)-hibaene into (-)-kaurene

This article does not have an abstract

The diterpenoids of Erythroxylon Monogynum-III further constituents, the absolute stereochemistry of monogynol, and hydroxymonogynol

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Studies on the effect of silane coupling agent (2.0 per cent) on the mechanical properties of flyash filled polybutadiene rubber

603-609Flyash, a waste product of thermal power stations, generated in huge quantities has been posing problems of its disposal.As such it contains a variety of inorganic oxides and is available in finely powdered form. Attempts have been made for its utilization, as filler in elastomers and plastics. It is important to note that, flyash in untreated form does not contribute in enhancing mechanical properties of composites significantly. In this work, flyash treated with silane coupling agent (Si-69) is used as a filler in PBR. The comparison of properties of composites filled with treated and untreated flyash revealed that the composites with treated flyash showed better reinforcing properties. Flyash treated with silane coupling agent gave greater reinforcement than untreated flyash. The treatment resulted in enhancement of mechanical properties of composites of the said rubber. In this work, properties of composites filled with treated and untreated flyash (separately) are compared. The properties under consideration were tensile strength, modulus at 100 per cent, and 400 per cent, Young’s modulus, hardness, etc. Tensile strength was improved by 193 per cent while modulus at 400 per cent was improved by 700 per cent. Young’s modulus was also improved by 170 per cent

Ring opening polymerization of ethylene carbonate with base as initiator

364-366The study presents synthesis of industrially important polymer, polyethylene ether carbonate, via ring opening polymerization of ethylene carbonate using KOH as initiator at 200°C for 7 h. The molecular weight (1200-3400) and yield (40-80%) of the polymer were determined. The structure analysis using IR and NMR techniques showed the presence of carbonate and ether linkages in the polymer

Thermal reorganisation reactions-I: Thermal cyclization of eleostearates

Intramolecular thermal cyclization of methyl α- (or β)-eleostearate has been achieved in good yield by the tactical use of sulphur as catalyst. Under relatively mild conditions (~160°), the primary cyclic monomer (methyl cycloeleostearate-I) has been obtained and unambiguously shown to be methyl 5-butyl-1,3-cyclohexadiene-6-caprylate (IV). Under more energetic conditions (~240°) isomers V and VI are formed at the expense of the primary cyclic monomer (IV)

Studies on effect of titanate coupling agents on the mechanical properties of clay and talc filled styrene butadiene rubber

679-683Effect of titanate coupling agent on clay and talc has been studied with polybutadiene as a matrix. Tensile properties were measured on a computerized UTM using ASTM procedure. Comparison of properties of composites filled with treated and untreated fillers established that treatment of fillers imparts better reinforcing properties. The properties under consideration were tensile strength, modulus (100% & 400%), Young’s modulus, hardness, etc. Improvement in properties for clay and talc respectively were as follows: Tensile strength, 14, 19; Modulus (400%), 140, 90%; and Young’s modulus, 275, 25%.</b

The diterpenoids of Erythroxylon monogynum - V atisirene, isoatisirene and devadarene

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