Cross-national variations in reported discrimination among people treated for major depression worldwide: The ASPEN/INDIGO international study

Background: No study has so far explored differences in discrimination reported by people with major depressive disorder (MDD) across countries and cultures. Aims: To (a) compare reported discrimination across different countries, and (b) explore the relative weight of individual and contextual factors in explaining levels of reported discrimination in people with MDD. Method: Cross-sectional multisite international survey (34 countries worldwide) of 1082 people with MDD. Experienced and anticipated discrimination were assessed by the Discrimination and Stigma Scale (DISC). Countries were classified according to their rating on the Human Development Index (HDI). Multilevel negative binomial and Poisson models were used. Results: People living in 'very high HDI' countries reported higher discrimination than those in 'medium/low HDI' countries. Variation in reported discrimination across countries was only partially explained by individual-level variables. The contribution of country-level variables was significant for anticipated discrimination only. Conclusions: Contextual factors play an important role in anticipated discrimination. Country-specific interventions should be implemented to prevent discrimination towards people with MDD

The frequency of premature segregation of centromeres in persons exposed to ionizing radiation

U ovom radu istraživana je učestalost prevremene centromerne deobe (PCD) u metafazama medicinskog osoblja profesionalno izloženog jonizujućem zračenju koji su imali pozitivan nalaz hromozomskih aberacija, u odnosu na kontrolnu grupu koja nije profesionalno izložena efektima pomenutog zračenja. Evaluacija klastogenog efekta izvedena je pomoću Moorchaedove mikrometode te aplikacijom tehnika fluorescentne in situ hibridizacije (FISH). Analizom rezultata zapaženo je da postoji statistički značajna razlika (p lt 0.05) u frekvenciji metafaza PCD na bilo kom od observiranih hromozoma kao i na ukupnom broju hromozoma sa PCD između dve grupe ispitanika (profesionalno izloženi i kontrole). Fluorescentnom in situ hibridizacijom (FISH) praćenje centromerni region hromozoma 18 na metafazama i interfaznim jedrima, što je pokazala da je pojavljivanje PCD na hromozomu 18 bilo 11,19% na metafazama i 10.88% na interfaznim jedrima, dok je kod kontrolne grupe ispitanika pojavljivanje PCD na hromozomu 18 bilo 7,58%, na metafazama, i 7.78% na interfaznim jedrima. Dakle, ovim istraživanjemj e utvrđeno da kod ispitanika profesionalno izloženih jonizujućem zračenju, postoji fenomen PCD verifikovan u metafazama i interfaznim jedrima, u značajno frekventnijem obimu nego što je to slučaj sa kontrolnom grupom ispitanika. Indukcija PCD raznim genotoksičnim agensima upućuje da se PCD sagleda kao parametar genotoksičnog rizika po čoveka i njegovu životu sredinu.The objective of study was to establish the incidence of PCD in metaphases of medical personnel occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation in relation to the controls. Moorchaed's micromethod and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) were used for evaluation of clastogenic effect. The analysis of results revealed statistically significant difference (p lt 0.05) of PCD manifestation in metaphases any chromosome and the control group. In addition, significantly higher values were found in a total number of chromosomes with PCD than in the controls (p lt 0.05). Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to monitor the centromeric region of chromosome 18 in metaphases and interphasic nuclei. Cytogenic analysis showed that the manifestation of PCD in chromosome 18 was 11.19% in metaphases and 10.88% in interphasic nuclei, while in the controls, the presentation of PCD in chromosome 18 was 7.58% in mataphases and 7.78% in interphasic nuclei. The study confirmed that the subjects occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation had PCD phenomenon, wich was verified in metaphases and interphasic nuclei in a significant frequency rate. The induction of PCD by various genotoxic agents directs us to recognize PCD as parametar of genotoxic risk to mankind and its environment

Impact of the poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(dimethylsiloxane)-b-poly(propylene oxide) macrodiols on the surface related properties of polyurethane copolymers

Segmented thermoplastic polyurethane copolymers (PURs) were synthesized using 4,4'-methylenediphenyl diisocyanate and 1,4-butanediol as the hard segment and α,ω-dihydroxy-poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(dimethylsiloxane)-b-poly(propylene oxide) (PPO-PDMS) as the soft segment. The content of incorporated soft segments in PURs varied in the range from 40 to 90 wt.%. The structure, molecular weights and crystallinity of obtained copolymers were monitored by FTIR, 1H, 2D NMR spectroscopy, GPC and DSC analysis, respectively. Surface free energy analysis indicates the presence of hydrophobic (siloxane) groups on the surface, giving highly hydrophobic nature to the obtained PURs films. Water absorption measurements showed that the increase of the hydrophobic PPO-PDMS segment content, led to the decrease of percentage of absorbed water in copolymers. SEM and AFM analysis revealed that copolymers with lower content of PPO-PDMS segments have higher microphase separation between segments. The results obtained in this work indicate that synthesized PURs based on PPO-PDMS, demonstrated proper surface and morphological properties with a great potential for variety of applications such as hydrophobic coatings in biomedicine. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 172062

Structural, thermal and surface characterization of thermoplastic polyurethanes based on poly(dimethylsiloxane)

In this study, the synthesis, structure and physical properties of two series of thermoplastic polyurethanes based on hydroxypropyl terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (HP-PDMS) or hydroxyethoxy propyl terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (EO-PDMS) as a soft segment, and 4,4’-methylenediphenyl diisocyanate and 1,4-butanediol as a hard segment were investigated. Each series is composed of samples prepared with a different soft segment. The polyurethanes were synthesized by two-step polyaddition in solution. The effects of the type and content of PDMS segments on the structure, thermal and surface properties of copolymers were studied by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and two-dimensional NMR (HMBC and ROESY) spectroscopy, GPC, DSC, TGA, WAXS, SEM, water contact angle and water absorption measurements. Thermal properties investigated by DSC indicated that the presence of soft PDMS segments lowers the glass transition and melting temperatures of the hard phase as well as the degree of crystallinity. SEM analysis of copolymers with a lower soft segment content confirmed the presence of spherulite superstructures, which arise from the crystallization of the hard segments. When compared with polyurethanes prepared from HP-PDMS, copolymers synthesized from EO-PDMS with the same content of the soft segments have higher degree of crystallinity, better thermal stability and less hydrophobic surface. Our results show that the synthesized polyurethanes have good thermal and surface properties, which could be further modified by changing the type or content of the soft segments

Perceived Stigma Among Serbian Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Children with Physical Disabilities: Validation of a New Instrument

Limited research has been done to explore parental perception of stigma. The present study developed the Parental Perceptions of Public Attitudes Scale to examine perceived stigma among Serbian parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and children with physical disabilities (PD). The convenience sample consisted of 82 participants. A confirmatory factor analysis was done to validate the scale and a 9-item solution clustered into two factors proved to be the best model. Overall, the parents reported a low-to-moderate level of perceived stigma. Parents of children with ASD reported higher degree of perceived stigma compared to the parents of children with PD. The scale was useful in measuring parental perceived stigma and could be used in other Eastern European countries

Global pattern of experienced and anticipated discrimination reported by people with major depressive disorder : a cross sectional survey

Depression is the third leading contributor to the worldwide burden of disease. We assessed the nature and severity of experienced and anticipated discrimination reported by adults with major depressive disorder worldwide. Moreover, we investigated whether experienced discrimination is related to clinical history, provision of health care, and disclosure of diagnosis and whether anticipated discrimination is associated with disclosure and previous experiences of discrimination. In a cross-sectional survey, people with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder were interviewed in 39 sites (35 countries) worldwide with the discrimination and stigma scale (version 12; DISC-12). Other inclusion criteria were ability to understand and speak the main local language and age 18 years or older. The DISC-12 subscores assessed were reported discrimination and anticipated discrimination. Multivariable regression was used to analyse the data. 1082 people with depression completed the DISC-12. Of these, 855 (79%) reported experiencing discrimination in at least one life domain. 405 (37%) participants had stopped themselves from initiating a close personal relationship, 271 (25%) from applying for work, and 218 (20%) from applying for education or training. We noted that higher levels of experienced discrimination were associated with several lifetime depressive episodes (negative binomial regression coefficient 0·20 [95% CI 0·09–0·32], p=0·001); at least one lifetime psychiatric hospital admission (0·29 [0·15–0·42], p=0·001); poorer levels of social functioning (widowed, separated, or divorced 0·10 [0·01–0·19], p=0·032; unpaid employed 0·34 [0·09–0·60], p=0·007; looking for a job 0·26 [0·09–0·43], p=0·002; and unemployed 0·22 [0·03–0·41], p=0·022). Experienced discrimination was also associated with lower willingness to disclose a diagnosis of depression (mean discrimination score 4·18 [SD 3·68] for concealing depression vs 2·25 [2·65] for disclosing depression; p<0·0001). Anticipated discrimination is not necessarily associated with experienced discrimination because 147 (47%) of 316 participants who anticipated discrimination in finding or keeping a job and 160 (45%) of 353 in their intimate relationships had not experienced discrimination. Discrimination related to depression acts as a barrier to social participation and successful vocational integration. Non-disclosure of depression is itself a further barrier to seeking help and to receiving effective treatment. This finding suggests that new and sustained approaches are needed to prevent stigmatisation of people with depression and reduce the effects of stigma when it is already established. Funding European Commission, Directorate General for Health and Consumers, Public Health Executive Agency