Contrast avoidance model of worry and generalized anxiety disorder: A theoretical perspective

The Contrast avoidance model (CAM) suggests that individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) avoid negative emotional contrasts (shifts) by creating and sustaining negative emotions through worry, and the main fear in these individuals is negative emotional contrasts. The purpose of the present study is to review studies on the CAM and its underlying assumptions, studies supporting and criticizing the model, and emotional factors related to the development of contrast avoidance (CA) tendencies with a focus on the transdiagnostic nature of the CAM and respective principles. Moreover, we reviewed a two-pronged treatment method based on the CAM. Finally, we proposed several research suggestions and emphasized on the importance of studying different aspects of the CAM in order to support its applicability to emotional disorders other than GAD

Berberine reinforces Sertoli cells niche and accelerates spermatogonial stem cells renewal in experimentally-induced varicocele condition in rats

Abstract Background Varicocele is present in 10–20% of the male infertile population. Purpose: Present study was done to demonstrate the reinforcing effect of berberine (BBR), as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, on Sertoli cells-related niche and spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) self-renewal in experimentally-induced VCL condition. Study design 50 mature male Wistar rats were divided into control, control-sham, non-treated VCL-induced, 50 mg kg−1 and 100 mg kg−1 BBR-treated VCL-induced groups. Methods The Leydig and Sertoli cells distribution and Leydig cells steroidogenic activity, expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), proto-oncogene Rearranged during Transfection (c-RET) receptor, Ets variant gene 5 (Etv5) and B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/lymphoma 6, member B (Bcl-6b) at mRNA and protein levels were analyzed. The mRNA integrity and DNA fragmentation were assessed. Finally, the serum levels of testosterone, inhibin B and testicular total antioxidant capacity, total thiol molecules, catalase, and malondialdehyde were evaluated. Results Observations revealed that, the BBR significantly enhanced VCL-reduced Leydig and Sertoli cells population, maintained Leydig–Sertoli cells network, enhanced GDNF, c-RET Etv5 and Bcl6b expression, up-regulated testicular antioxidant and endocrine status. Conclusion The BBR by boosting Leydig–Sertoli cells network up-regulates the GDNF, Etv5 and Bcl-6b expression/synthesis in SSCs, which in turn improves SSCs self-renewal activities. Thus, the BBR could be considered as an appropriate agent for antioxidant therapy of VCLs. However, more studies with bigger sample number and focus on BBR-induced effects on other genes involving in the self-renewal process are needed to have more deterministic results. Keywords Varicocele Berberine Spermatogonial stem cells Self-renewa

A novel, eco-friendly and green synthesis of PPAC-ZnO and PPAC-nZVI nanocomposite using pomegranate peel: Cephalexin adsorption experiments, mechanisms, isotherms and kinetics

In the present work, powdered activated carbon coated by nanoparticles ZnO and nZVI was derived from pomegranate peel extracts and finally applied for removal of cephalexin (CEX (from aqueous solutions. This experimental research was conducted discontinuously. The effects of pH of solution, reaction time, PPAC-nZVI and PPAC-ZnO composites dose, and initial concentration of cephalexin and composite recovery on process efficiency were investigated. The removal efficiency in optimal conditions for cephalexin with PPAC-nZVI and PPAC-ZnO (CEX = 50 mg L�1, composite dose = 1.25 g L�1, reaction time = 45 min and pH = 5) was obtained 96.06 and 94.17, respectively. The results of the study of isotherm and absorption kinetics for both composites showed that the absorption process follows Langmuir isotherm and pseudo second-order kinetics. The present study showed that the composites could be used as an effective and bio-friendly absorbent to remove cephalexin from aqueous solutions. © 2020 The Society of Powder Technology Japa

Changes in symptoms of general anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive, social anxiety and generalized anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in college students

Introduction: Despite the negative consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic on mental health, our knowledge of the changes in the severity of symptoms of psychological disorders during the pandemic is insufficient. Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the symptoms of anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety, and generalized anxiety in the student population during the covid-19 pandemic. Method: This study is a longitudinal descriptive study in terms of data collection. A sample of 376 people was selected with the convenience sampling method from the Zanjan University of Medical Sciences and Zanjan National University undergraduate students using an online research platform (Porsal). The sample was evaluated in 4 stages at 6-month intervals from April 2020 to September 2021. BDI-II, BAI, GAD-7, OCI-R, and SPIN were used for data collection. The data were analyzed by repeated measure ANOVA using SPSS version 26, and R software. Results: During the Covid-19 pandemic, the intensity of symptoms of anxiety (p=0.008), obsessive-compulsive (p=0.023) and generalized anxiety (p=0.052) had an increasing trend, and with the subsidence of the pandemic conditions, the intensity of these symptoms has also been reduced. However, the intensity of depression was continuously increasing (p=0.001), and the intensity of social anxiety also had slight changes (p=0.964). Conclusion: Covid-19 pandemic has caused a significant increase in the severity of the symptoms of psychological disorders; therefore, it is necessary to investigate the underlying factors of these changes and other psychological consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic by conducting more extensive studies

Keeping thinning-derived deadwood logs on forest floor improves soil organic carbon, microbial biomass, and enzyme activity in a temperate spruce forest

Deadwood is a key component of forest ecosystems, but there is limited information on how it influences forest soils. Moreover, studies on the effect of thinning-derived deadwood logs on forest soil properties are lacking. This study aimed to investigate the impact of thinning-derived deadwood logs on the soil chemical and microbial properties of a managed spruce forest on a loamy sand Podzol in Bavaria, Germany, after about 15 years. Deadwood increased the soil organic carbon contents by 59% and 56% at 0–4 cm and 8–12 cm depths, respectively. Under deadwood, the soil dissolved organic carbon and carbon to nitrogen ratio increased by 66% and 15% at 0–4 cm depth and by 55% and 28% at 8–12 cm depth, respectively. Deadwood also induced 71% and 92% higher microbial biomass carbon, 106% and 125% higher microbial biomass nitrogen, and 136% and 44% higher β-glucosidase activity in the soil at 0–4 cm and 8–12 cm depths, respectively. Many of the measured variables significantly correlated with soil organic carbon suggesting that deadwood modified the soil biochemical processes by altering soil carbon storage. Our results indicate the potential of thinned spruce deadwood logs to sequester carbon and improve the fertility of Podzol soils. This could be associated with the slow decay rate of spruce deadwood logs and low biological activity of Podzols that promote the accumulation of soil carbon. We propose that leaving thinning-derived deadwood on the forest floor can support soil and forest sustainability as well as carbon sequestration

Evaluation of the serum sex hormones levels and alkaline phosphatase activity in rats� testis after administering of berberine in experimental varicocele

Current study was aimed to investigate the protective effect of berberine (BB) on the serum gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), inhibin B (INHB), testosterone (T) and alkaline phosphatase (Alk-p) activity in the testis of experimental varicocele-induced animals. For the current objective, 30 mature-male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control (n = 6 rats), control-sham (n = 6 rats) and experimental groups (n = 18 rats). The animals in the experimental groups were undergone experimental varicocele and simple laparotomy was conducted in control-sham group. 60 days after varicocele (VCL) induction the experimental group subdivided into: non-treated VCL-induced and 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg BB-treated groups (intra-peritoneally). Following 60 days, the animals were euthanized and serum levels of testosterone and testicular activity of alkaline phosphatase were measured. Non-treated VCL-induced animals indicated a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in serum levels of T and INHB and a remarkable (P < 0.05) increase in GnRH, FSH, LH and Alk-p activity compared to control and control-sham groups. Insignificant changes were found between control and control-sham groups. Meanwhile, each BB administered group showed a remarkable (P < 0.05) increase in serum levels of T and INHB and a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in GnRH, FSH, LH and alkaline phosphatase activity in testis tissue. According to the current findings, BB by increasing serum levels of testosterone and INHB increases the testicular endocrine capacity and protects Leydig cell against inflammatory and oxidant injury of varicocele. In addition, BB by inhibiting GnRH, FSH, LH and alkaline phosphatase activity, regulate the levels of serum sex hormones in experimental varicocele and reduces varicocele-induced inflammatory reactions. © 2019, Institute of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University

The protective effect of coenzyme Q10 and berberine on sperm parameters, with and without varicocelectomy in rats with surgically induced varicoceles

The current study aimed to investigate the protective effects of coenzyme Q10 (Co Q10) and berberine (BB) with and without varicocelectomy on sperm parameters in postoperative varicocele rats. For the current purpose, a total of 60 mature male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control (n = 6 rats), control-sham (n = 6 rats), and experimental (n = 6 rats) groups. The animals in the experimental groups were undergone experimental varicocele, and simple laparotomy was performed in control-sham group. The experimental group was subdivided into the following groups 60 days after varicocele (VCL) induction: non-treated VCL-induced rats (n = 6 rats), VCL-induced rats administered 100 mg (kg per day) BB (n = 6 rats), VCL-induced rats administered Co Q10 75 mg (kg per day) (n = 6 rats), VCL-induced rats administered 100 mg (kg per day) BB + Co Q10 75 mg (kg per day) (n = 6 rats), varicocelectomy rats (n = 6 rats), varicocelectomy rats administered 100 mg (kg per day) BB (n = 6 rats), varicocelectomy rats administered Co Q10 75 mg (kg per day) (n = 6 rats), varicocelectomy rats administered 100 mg (kg per day) BB + Co Q10 75 mg (kg per day) (n = 6 rats). Following 60 days, the animals were euthanized and sperm parameters were evaluated. Non-treated VCL-induced animals indicated a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in sperm parameters and a significant (P < 0.05) increase in sperm DNA damage compared to control and control-sham groups. Insignificant changes were found between control and control-sham groups. Meanwhile, each treatment group showed a remarkable (P < 0.05) increase in sperm parameters as well as a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in sperm DNA damage. Based on current results, BB and Co Q10 alone and/or together could improve sperm parameters and reduce sperm DNA damage in varicocele-induced rats compared to control and control-sham groups. Varicocelectomy alone will improve sperm parameters, but this recovery will be greater when combined with Co Q10 and BB. © 2018, Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature

Contrast avoidance model of worry and generalized anxiety disorder: A theoretical perspective

The Contrast avoidance model (CAM) suggests that individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) avoid negative emotional contrasts (shifts) by creating and sustaining negative emotions through worry, and the main fear in these individuals is negative emotional contrasts. The purpose of the present study is to review studies on the CAM and its underlying assumptions, studies supporting and criticizing the model, and emotional factors related to the development of contrast avoidance (CA) tendencies with a focus on the transdiagnostic nature of the CAM and respective principles. Moreover, we reviewed a two-pronged treatment method based on the CAM. Finally, we proposed several research suggestions and emphasized on the importance of studying different aspects of the CAM in order to support its applicability to emotional disorders other than GAD

Persian Versions of Contrast Avoidance Questionnaires (CAQs)

Persian versions of Contrast avoidance questionnaires are provided below to research the contrast avoidance model (CAM) on Persian-speaking samples

Psychometric Properties of the Iranian Version of Contrast Avoidance Questionnaires: Could Contrast Avoidance be a New Transdiagnostic Construct?

Persian version of the Contrast Avoidance questionnaires (CAQs)THIS DATASET IS ARCHIVED AT DANS/EASY, BUT NOT ACCESSIBLE HERE. TO VIEW A LIST OF FILES AND ACCESS THE FILES IN THIS DATASET CLICK ON THE DOI-LINK ABOV