Can alexithymia be assessed through an interview in adolescents? The Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia: Reliability, concurrent validity, discriminant validity, and relationships with emotional-behavioral symptoms

Alexithymia is connected to adolescents' psychopathology, but the current methods of assessment present limitations. The Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia (TSIA) was developed to overcome the limits of the main used self-rating scale in adults, but no studies investigated its feasibility with adolescents. This study involved 95 community adolescents aged 12-19 years. Adolescents were assessed with the TSIA, the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Verbal Comprehension Index of the WISC-IV for verbal skills, and the Child Behavior Checklist and Youth Self Report for emotional-behavioral symptoms. The aims were to investigate the TSIA internal consistency, concurrent validity with the TAS-20, discriminant validity with participants' verbal skills, and relationships with emotional-behavioral symptoms. TSIA showed good internal consistency, concurrent validity with the TAS-20 (except for factor DDF), and independence by participants' verbal skills, but few relationships with emotional-behavioral symptoms. In conclusion, TSIA showed some good psychometric proprieties but little convergence with research findings obtained with the TAS-20, suggesting the need for further research to check the feasibility of using the TSIA with adolescents. Meanwhile, a precautionary multi-method assessment of alexithymia is recommended

Screening for developmental disorders in 3- and 4-year-old italian children: a preliminary study

BACKGROUND: The "Osserviamo" project, coordinated by the Municipality of Rome and the Department of Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatry of Sapienza University, aimed to validate an Italian version of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire-3 and to collect, for the first time in Italy, data on developmental disorders in a sample of 4,000 children aged 3 and 4 years. The present paper presents the preliminary results of the "Osserviamo" project. METHODS: 600 parents of children between 39 and 50 months of age (divided in two age stages: 42 and 48 months) were contacted from 15 kindergarden schools. RESULTS: 23.35% of the whole sample scored in the risk range of at least one developmental area of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire-3rd Edition (ASQ-3) and 7.78% scored in the clinical range. Specifically, 23.97% of the children in the 42-month age stage scored in the risk range and 5.79% scored in the clinical range. Males scored lower than females in the fine motor skills and personal-social development domains. Moreover, 22.79% of the children in the 48-month age stage scored in the risk range, while 9.55% scored in the clinical range. Males scored lower than females in fine motor skills. CONCLUSION: Italian validation of the ASQ-3 and recruitment of all 4,000 participants will allow these data on the distribution of developmental disorders to be extended to the general Italian pediatric population. One main limitation of the study is the lack of clinical confirmation of the data yielded by the screening programme, which the authors aim to obtain in later stages of the study

From emotional mutual to self-regulation in attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder: A pilot study on a sample of preschool-age children and their parents

The present study aimed to verify the relationship between parent-child interaction characteristics and the ability of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to self-regulate their emotions. The sample included 60 participants: 20 mothers, 20 fathers, and 20 preschool-age males with a diagnosis of ADHD. Parents completed the 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale. The Child Emotional Abilities Task was administered to the child and Autobiographical Emotional Events Dialogues were administered to mother-child and father-child dyads. Several characteristics of parent-child interactions, such as maternal ability to accept an active role of the child during the task, correlated with the child’s ability to identify and describe his own feelings. Parental abilities to involve the child in a reciprocal narrative and avoid boundary dissolution also correlated with the individual capability of the child in imaginative processes. In conclusion, parental emotional abilities were related to the ways in which parents interacted with their children with ADHD during an emotional task. The characteristics of these interactions were related to child emotional self-regulation abilities

Apparent diffusion coefficient assessment of brain development in normal fetuses and ventriculomegaly

Diffusion neuro-MRI has benefited significantly from sophisticated pre-processing procedures aimed at improving image quality and diagnostic. In this work, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was used with artifact correction and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was quantified to investigate fetal brain development. The DWI protocol was designed in order to limit the acquisition time and to estimate ADC without perfusion bias. The ADC in normal fetal brains was compared to cases with isolated ventriculomegaly (VM), a common fetal disease whose DWI studies are still scarce. DWI was performed in 58 singleton fetuses (Gestational age (GA) range: 19–38w) at 1.5T. In 31 cases, VM was diagnosed on ultrasound. DW-Spin Echo EPI with b-values = 50, 200, 700 s/mm2 along three orthogonal axes was used. All images were corrected for noise, Gibbs-ringing, and motion artifacts. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was calculated and the ADC was measured with a linear least-squared algorithm. A multi-way ANOVA was used to evaluate differences in ADC between normal and VM cases and between second and third trimester in different brain regions. Correlation between ADC and GA was assessed with linear and quadratic regression analysis. Noise and artifact correction considerably increased SNR and the goodness-of-fit. ADC measurements were significantly different between second and third trimester in centrum semiovale, frontal white matter, thalamus, cerebellum and pons of both normal and VM brains (p ≤ 0.03). ADC values were significantly different between normal and VM in centrum semiovale and frontal white matter (p ≤ 0.02). ADC values in centrum semiovale, thalamus, cerebellum and pons linearly decreased with GA both in normal and VM brains, while a quadratic relation with GA was found in basal ganglia and occipital white matter of normal brains and in frontal white matter of VM (p ≤ 0.02). ADC values in all fetal brain regions were lower than those reported in literature where DWI with b = 0 was performed. Conversely, they were in agreement with the results of other authors who measured perfusion and diffusion contributions separately. By optimizing our DWI protocol we achieved an unbiased quantification of brain ADC in reasonable scan time. Our findings suggested that ADC can be a useful biomarker of brain abnormalities associated with VM

Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Assessment of Brain Development in Normal Fetuses and Ventriculomegaly

Diffusion neuro-MRI has benefited significantly from sophisticated pre-processing procedures aimed at improving image quality and diagnostic. In this work, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was used with artifact correction and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was quantified to investigate fetal brain development. The DWI protocol was designed in order to limit the acquisition time and to estimate ADC without perfusion bias. The ADC in normal fetal brains was compared to cases with isolated ventriculomegaly (VM), a common fetal disease whose DWI studies are still scarce. DWI was performed in 58 singleton fetuses (Gestational age (GA) range: 19–38w) at 1.5T. In 31 cases, VM was diagnosed on ultrasound. DW-Spin Echo EPI with b-values = 50, 200, 700 s/mm2 along three orthogonal axes was used. All images were corrected for noise, Gibbs-ringing, and motion artifacts. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was calculated and the ADC was measured with a linear least-squared algorithm. A multi-way ANOVA was used to evaluate differences in ADC between normal and VM cases and between second and third trimester in different brain regions. Correlation between ADC and GA was assessed with linear and quadratic regression analysis. Noise and artifact correction considerably increased SNR and the goodness-of-fit. ADC measurements were significantly different between second and third trimester in centrum semiovale, frontal white matter, thalamus, cerebellum and pons of both normal and VM brains (p ≤ 0.03). ADC values were significantly different between normal and VM in centrum semiovale and frontal white matter (p ≤ 0.02). ADC values in centrum semiovale, thalamus, cerebellum and pons linearly decreased with GA both in normal and VM brains, while a quadratic relation with GA was found in basal ganglia and occipital white matter of normal brains and in frontal white matter of VM (p ≤ 0.02). ADC values in all fetal brain regions were lower than those reported in literature where DWI with b = 0 was performed. Conversely, they were in agreement with the results of other authors who measured perfusion and diffusion contributions separately. By optimizing our DWI protocol we achieved an unbiased quantification of brain ADC in reasonable scan time. Our findings suggested that ADC can be a useful biomarker of brain abnormalities associated with VM

Nomophobia in healthcare: an observational study between nurses and students

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The abuse of technical devices can be considered a form of addiction that is defined in current literature as Nomophobia. The phenomenon appears to be quite widespread among nurses and nursing students, and nomophobic behaviours of professionals can lead to a reduction in the quality of the care provided. The aim of this study is to investigate the situation in a University and in a hospital in northern Italy and evaluate the levels of nomophobia among nurses and students. METHODS: An observational study was conducted with a questionnaire using a sample of nursing students and nurses.  Both of the studies had the common goal of investigating the levels of nomophobia and   evaluate the comparison between the two groups. RESULTS: In general, neither nurses nor students seem to demonstrate nomophobia's critical levels. The comparison of the daily use of the smartphone between nurses and students shows that the frequent use of students is balanced by the nurses' daily trend line that progressively decreases. Both nurses and students affirm to use their smartphones at work with a certain frequency although, especially among the students, it is usually for appropriate and justified reasons. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to consider the development of an educational project that regulates the use of smartphones, explaining the meaning of nomophobia, right from the first year of the University experience so as to correctly address the students'  (and future professionals') behaviours  to make them aware of the misuse of mobile phones, especially in the clinical setting that can easily cause distractions and consequently irreversible  errors

Specific Protein 1 and p53 Interplay Modulates the Expression of the KCTD-Containing Cullin3 Adaptor Suppressor of Hedgehog 2

The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in normal embryonic development and adult tissue homeostasis. On the other end, dysregulated Hh signaling triggers a prolonged mitogenic response that may prompt abnormal cell proliferation, favoring tumorigenesis. Indeed, about 30% of medulloblastomas (MBs), the most common malignant childhood cerebellar tumors, exhibit improper activation of the Hh signaling. The oncosuppressor KCASH2 has been described as a suppressor of the Hh signaling pathway, and low KCASH2 expression was observed in Hh-dependent MB tumor. Therefore, the study of the modulation of KCASH2 expression may provide fundamental information for the development of new therapeutic approaches, aimed to restore physiological KCASH2 levels and Hh inhibition. To this end, we have analyzed the TATA-less KCASH2 proximal promoter and identified key transcriptional regulators of this gene: Sp1, a TF frequently overexpressed in tumors, and the tumor suppressor p53. Here, we show that in WT cells, Sp1 binds KCASH2 promoter on several putative binding sites, leading to increase in KCASH2 expression. On the other hand, p53 is involved in negative regulation of KCASH2. In this context, the balance between p53 and Sp1 expression, and the interplay between these two proteins determine whether Sp1 acts as an activator or a repressor of KCASH2 transcription. Indeed, in p53–/– MEF and p53 mutated tumor cells, we hypothesize that Sp1 drives promoter methylation through increased expression of the DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) and reduces KCASH2 transcription, which can be reversed by Sp1 inhibition or use of demethylating agents. We suggest therefore that downregulation of KCASH2 expression in tumors could be mediated by gain of Sp1 activity and epigenetic silencing events in cells where p53 functionality is lost. This work may open new venues for novel therapeutic multidrug approaches in the treatment of Hh-dependent tumors carrying p53 deficiency

Human and animal integrated influenza surveillance: a novel sampling approach for an additional transmission way in the aquatic bird reservoir.

Background: infectious low pathogenic avian influenza viruses (LPAIVs) have been recently detected on feathers of wild ducks. Laboratory trial results suggested that the preen oil gland secretion, covering waterbirds\u2019 feathers, may attract and concentrate virus particles from AIV-contaminated waters to birds\u2019 bodies. We evaluated whether ducks can become infected by the ingestion of preen oil-associated viral particles, experimentally smeared on their plumage. In addition, we compared virologic and serologic results obtained from mallards whose feathers were experimentally infected, with those from wild mallards naturally carrying AIVs on feathers. Methods: we experimentally coated 7 mallards (Anas plathyrynchos) using preen oil mixed with a LPAIV (H10N7 subtype), and housed them for 45 days with a control, uncoated duck. Cloacal, oropharyngeal and feather swabs were collected from all birds and examined for AIV molecular detection and isolation. Blood samples were also taken to detect influenza specific antibodies. In addition, sera from 10 wild mallards, carrying on feathers infectious LPAIV H10N7, were examined. Results: virologic and serologic results indicated that through self- and allopreening all the birds experimentally coated with the preen oil/AIV mix and the control duck ingested viruses covering feathers and became infected. Virus isolation from feathers was up to 32 days post-coating treatment. One out of 8 wild mallards showing antibodies against type A influenza virus was seropositive for H10 subtype too. Conclusions: our experimental and field results show evidences suggesting that uninfected birds carrying viruses on their feathers, including immune ones, might play an active role in spreading AIV infection in nature. For this reason, routine AIV surveillance programs, aimed at detecting intestinal and/or respiratory viruses, should include the collection of samples, such as feather swabs, enabling the detection of viruses sticky to preened birds\u2019 bodies

Molecular analysis of avian H7 influenza viruses circulating in Eurasia in 1999-2005: detection of multiple reassortant virus genotypes.

Avian influenza infections by high and low pathogenicity H7 influenza viruses have caused several outbreaks in European poultry in recent years, also resulting in human infections. Although in some cases the source of H7 strains from domestic poultry was shown to be the viruses circulating in the wild bird reservoir, a thorough characterization of the entire genome of H7 viruses from both wild and domestic Eurasian birds, and their evolutionary relationships, has not been conducted. In our study, we have analysed low pathogenicity H7 influenza strains isolated from wild and domestic ducks in Italy and southern China and compared them with those from reared terrestrial poultry such as chicken and turkey. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the H7 haemagglutinin genes were all closely related to each other, whereas the remaining genes could be divided into two or more phylogenetic groups. Almost each year different H7 reassortant viruses were identified and in at least two different years more than one H7 genotype co-circulated. A recent precursor in wild waterfowl was identified for most of the gene segments of terrestrial poultry viruses. Our data suggest that reassortment allows avian influenza viruses, in their natural reservoir, to increase their genetic diversity. In turn this might help avian influenza viruses colonize a wider range of hosts, including domestic poultry