Distinguishing PTSD, Complex PTSD, and Borderline Personality Disorder: A latent class analysis

Background: There has been debate regarding whether Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (Complex PTSD) is distinct from Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) when the latter is comorbid with PTSD. Objective: To determine whether the patterns of symptoms endorsed by women seeking treatment for childhood abuse form classes that are consistent with diagnostic criteria for PTSD, Complex PTSD, and BPD. Method: A latent class analysis (LCA) was conducted on an archival dataset of 280 women with histories of childhood abuse assessed for enrollment in a clinical trial for PTSD. Results: The LCA revealed four distinct classes of individuals: a Low Symptom class characterized by low endorsements on all symptoms; a PTSD class characterized by elevated symptoms of PTSD but low endorsement of symptoms that define the Complex PTSD and BPD diagnoses; a Complex PTSD class characterized by elevated symptoms of PTSD and self-organization symptoms that defined the Complex PTSD diagnosis but low on the symptoms of BPD; and a BPD class characterized by symptoms of BPD. Four BPD symptoms were found to greatly increase the odds of being in the BPD compared to the Complex PTSD class: frantic efforts to avoid abandonment, unstable sense of self, unstable and intense interpersonal relationships, and impulsiveness. Conclusions: Findings supported the construct validity of Complex PTSD as distinguishable from BPD. Key symptoms that distinguished between the disorders were identified, which may aid in differential diagnosis and treatment planning

Phase diagrams in nonlocal PNJL models constrained by Lattice QCD results

Based on lattice QCD-adjusted SU(2) nonlocal Polyakov--Nambu--Jona-Lasinio (PNJL) models, we investigate how the location of the critical endpoint in the QCD phase diagram depends on the strenght of the vector meson coupling, as well as the Polyakov-loop (PL) potential and the form factors of the covariant model. The latter are constrained by lattice QCD data for the quark propagator. The strength of the vector coupling is adjusted such as to reproduce the slope of the pseudocritical temperature for the chiral phase transition at low chemical potential extracted recently from lattice QCD simulations. Our study supports the existence of a critical endpoint in the QCD phase diagram albeit the constraint for the vector coupling shifts its location to lower temperatures and higher baryochemical potentials than in the case without it.Comment: 23 pages, 10 figures. Version accepted in Phys. Part. Nucl. Lett. (to appear), references adde

Improving health-related quality of life and reducing suicide in primary care: Can social problem–solving abilities help?

Problem-solving deficits and poor health–related quality of life are associated with suicide risk; yet, little is known about the interrelations between these variables. In 220 primary care patients, we examined the potential mediating role of physical and mental health–related quality of life on the relation between social problem–solving ability and suicidal behavior. Participants completed the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised, Social Problem Solving Inventory-Revised, and Short-Form 36 Health Survey. Utilizing bootstrapped mediation, our hypotheses were partially supported; mediating effects were found for mental health–related quality of life on the relation between social problem-solving and suicidal behavior. Physical health–related quality of life was not a significant mediator. Greater social problem–solving ability is associated with better mental health–related quality of life and, in turn, to less suicidal behavior. Interventions promoting social problem–solving ability may increase quality of life and reduce suicide risk in primary care patients

Combining New Classes of Drugs for HFrEF: from Trials to Clinical Practice

Pharmacological approach to heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is evolving, as recently published large randomized clinical trials have implemented the disposal of HFrEF treatments with four new classes of drugs, namely angiotensin receptor/neprilysin inhibitor, sodium-glucose co-transporters 2 inhibitors, soluble guanylate cyclase modulators and myosin activators, which have proved to further improve patients’ quality of life and long-term outcomes. As these novel drugs target additional pathways not already intercepted by the guideline-directed medical therapy, integration of them in the management of HFrEF is desirable. This review paper aims to provide an overview of the current evolving concepts of HFrEF therapy joining the most recent evidences and to furnish practical suggestions for the use of these new classes of drugs in clinical practic

Single wall carbon nanohorns coated with anatase titanium oxide

Single wall carbon nanohorns (SWCNHs) were coated with anatase titanium oxide thin films by metal-organic chemical vapour deposition with titanium tetraisopropoxide Ti(OiPr)4 as the precursor. The pristine SWCNHs and the new hybrid material SWCNHs/ TiO2 were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric thermal analysis and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, showing that the deposition process does not alter the typical structures of the SWCNHs. Finally, it is shown how the hydrophilic properties of the titanium oxide coating allowed a stable dispersion of SWCNHs/TiO2 in water, opening new perspectives for water based nanofluids, biological sensing or drug delivery systems

Acute appendicitis: what is the gold standard of treatment?

cBurney's procedure represented the gold-standard for acute appendicitis until 1981, but nowadays the number of laparoscopic appendectomies has progressively increased since it has been demonstrated to be a safe procedure, with excellent cosmetic results and it also allows a shorter hospitalization, a quicker and less painful postoperative recovery. The aim of this editorial was to perform a review of the literature in order to address controversial issues in the treatment of acute appendicitis