The biosynthesis of aflatoxin B1 and G1 during the growth of the mould Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL 2999 in pure and mixed culture at various temperatures of cultivation

Istražen je utjecaj temperature inkubacije na biosintezu aflatoksina B1 i G1 s pomoću plijesni Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL 2999 tijekom njezina rasta u čistoj i u mješovitoj kulturi s plijesnima koje ne sintetiziraju aflatoksine. Dokazano je da se maksimalna količina obaju istraživanih toksina sintetizira pri 28 °C. Maksimum biosinteze aflatoksina B1 postignut je nakon 14, a aflatoksina G1 nakon 21 dan. Temperatura uzgoja od 35 °C pogoduje bujnijem rastu biomase, ali inhibira sintezu aflatoksina. Nakon 42 dana uzgoja biomasa mješovite kulture plijesni reducira koncentraciju aflatoksina B1 na 60%, a koncentraciju aflatoksina G1 na 55% maksimalne vrijednosti što je dobivena u procesu biosinteze. U istim uvjetima uzgoja, biomasa čiste kulture A. parasiticus NRRL 2999 reducira koncentraciju aflatoksina B1 na 75%, a koncentraciju aflatoksina G1 na 65% maksimalne vrijednosti.The influence of incubation temperature on the biosynthesis of aflatoxins B1 and G1 has been investigated with the mould A. parasiticus NRRL 2999 during growth in pure culture and in mixed culture containing moulds which do not synthesize aflatoxins. The highest rate of the biosynthesis of aflatoxin B1 was observed at 28 °C after 14 days of cultivation, whereas the biosynthesis of aflatoxin G1 reached its maximum after 21 days. The cultivation temperature of 35 °C favoured a rank mycelium growth, though it inhibited the synthesis of both investigated toxins. After·42 days of cultivation the biomass of the mixed mould culture decreased the concentration of aflatoxin B1 to 60% and the concentration of aflatoxin G1 to 55% of the highest values obtained in the process of biosynthesis. Under equal conditions of cultivation, the biomass of A. parasiticus NRRL 2999 grown in pure culture decreased the concentration of aflatoxin B1 to 75%, and the concentration of aflatoxin G1 to 65% of the highest values obtained

Interview investigation of insecure attachment styles as mediators between poor childhood care and schizophrenia-spectrum phenomenology

Background Insecure attachment styles have received theoretical attention and some initial empirical support as mediators between childhood adverse experiences and psychotic phenomena; however, further specificity needs investigating. The present interview study aimed to examine (i) whether two forms of poor childhood care, namely parental antipathy and role reversal, were associated with subclinical positive and negative symptoms and schizophrenia-spectrum personality disorder (PD) traits, and (ii) whether such associations were mediated by specific insecure attachment styles. Method A total of 214 nonclinical young adults were interviewed for subclinical symptoms (Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States), schizophrenia-spectrum PDs (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Disorders), poor childhood care (Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse Interview), and attachment style (Attachment Style Interview). Participants also completed the Beck Depression Inventory-II and all the analyses were conducted partialling out the effects of depressive symptoms. Results Both parental antipathy and role reversal were associated with subclinical positive symptoms and with paranoid and schizotypal PD traits. Role reversal was also associated with subclinical negative symptoms. Angry-dismissive attachment mediated associations between antipathy and subclinical positive symptoms and both angry-dismissive and enmeshed attachment mediated associations of antipathy with paranoid and schizotypal PD traits. Enmeshed attachment mediated associations of role reversal with paranoid and schizotypal PD traits. Conclusions Attachment theory can inform lifespan models of how adverse developmental environments may increase the risk for psychosis. Insecure attachment provides a promising mechanism for understanding the development of schizophrenia-spectrum phenomenology and may offer a useful target for prophylactic intervention

Childhood trauma and schizotypy:a systematic literature review

Background.Schizotypy is a complex concept, commonly defined as a genetic vulnerability to schizophrenia that falls on a continuum between healthy variation and severe mental illness. There is a growing body of evidence supporting an association between childhood trauma and increased psychotic experiences and disorders. However, the evidence as to whether there is a similar association with schizotypy has yet to be systematically synthesized and assessed.Method.We conducted a systematic search of published articles on the association between childhood trauma and schizotypy in four major databases. The search covered articles from 1806 to 1 March 2013 and resulted in 17 003 articles in total. Twenty-five original research studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in this review.Results.All 25 studies supported the association between at least one type of trauma and schizotypy, with odds ratios (ORs) ranging between 2.01 and 4.15. There was evidence supporting the association for all types of trauma, with no differential effects. However, there was some variability in the quality of the studies, with most using cross-sectional designs. Individuals who reported adverse experiences in childhood scored significantly higher on positive and negative/disorganized schizotypy compared to those who did not report such experiences.Conclusions.All forms of childhood trauma and other stressful events (e.g. bullying) were found to be associated with schizotypy, with especially strong associations with positive schizotypy. However, because of the methodological limitations of several studies and a lack of further exploration of different possible mechanistic pathways underlying this association, more research is required.</jats:sec

The politics of vulnerable masculinity in couple therapy

Couple therapy and related literature has problematized men's emotional inexpressiveness as constraining for men and as contributing to men's privileged and dominating position vis-à-vis women. Fostering men's emotionality in and outside of therapy has been proposed as a way to improve men's well-being and relationships and promote gender equality. Critical masculinity scholars have noted that many men now enact vulnerable (“softer”) and emotional forms of masculinity. Yet, there is lack of insight into how such enactment may intersect with gender inequality. This article presents a critical thematic analysis of 30 transcribed videotaped couple therapy sessions focusing on the performance of men's affective masculinities and the political dimensions of men's increasing emotionality within couple therapy. The study shows that vulnerable masculinities, although argued as bearing the potential to foster relational and social change, may also obscure continuing commitment to dominant masculinity norms. Implications for practice are discussed. © 2021 American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

Denials of Responsibility in Couple Therapy

Although minimization of blaming and denials of responsibility are key components of many approaches to couple therapy, there has been little attention paid to how partners absolve themselves of responsibility and counter attributions of blame. In this study, we used thematic analysis to examine 40 videorecorded sessions of couple therapy. The study shows that injuring partners denied responsibility for harm by shifting it to sources outside of themselves, thereby justifying their own actions and minimizing negative consequences. More subtle ways of deflecting responsibility—partial or qualified admission of fault—were also observed. The implications for couple therapy are discussed. © 2021 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC