Do online positive psychology interventions work equally well in distressed and non-distressed users?

Past research suggests distress level may differentiate users of online positive psychology interventions (OPPIs). Non-distressed users are moderately happy and use OPPIs as a self-improvement tool to maximize their sense of well-being. Distressed users experience high levels of negative affect and use OPPIs to relieve their suffering and unhappiness. The present study was designed to explore whether distressed and non-distressed individuals experience different outcomes after practising an OPPI. Demographic and psychological well-being information was collected from two large international samples (combined N = 6856) for up to 6 months following completion of a variety of brief positive psychology interventions (e.g. cultivating gratitude, self-compassion, optimism). Using cluster analysis to subgroup OPPI users, Study 1 found a two cluster solution for classifying OPPI users based on distress level, replicating the findings first observed by Parks, Della Porta, Pierce, Zilca, and Lyubomirsky (2012). Study 2 explored differences in well-being outcomes between these two clusters. The distressed cluster reported greater decreases in depressive symptoms and increases in life satisfaction over time than the non-distressed cluster. Previous experience with psychotherapy was associated with greater long-term improvements in life satisfaction for the distressed cluster, although attrition rates were higher for the distressed cluster in one sample. Based on these findings, distress level appears to distinguish both who uses OPPIs and who stands to benefit most. Distressed individuals experienced the greatest gains, although they were also more likely to have difficulty with regular participation. The high attrition rate and limited scope of outcome measures of well-being were discussed as limitations. Future research was encouraged to clarify the different mechanisms in effect for distressed and non-distressed OPPI users and to develop interventions more resistant to attrition

A Comparison of Teachers Perceptions, Misconceptions, and Teaching of Students with Dyslexia

Teachers commonly work with students with dyslexia. They may not have been aware that the reason a student struggled with many academic tasks, was due to challenges with mental processing associated with the dyslexia. Dyslexia tends to be difficult to recognize. However, the commonly associated behaviors such as acting out, withdrawing, or simply trying and failing are readily noticeable. Because of the hidden nature of dyslexia, many teachers may attribute students’ lack of academic success to other easily explainable issues, such as attention deficit disorder or issues with family function. Students’ academic and potentially life-long success, could be influenced by the lack of teacher awareness or ability to recognize the executive functioning issues of students with dyslexia. Thus, there is a need for teachers at all levels to understand what dyslexia is, hold accurate conceptions of dyslexia, and know how to effectively support the learning of students with dyslexia. Given the critical role teachers play in working with students with dyslexia and the potential teachers have to support or hinder students long term success, there is warrant for examining the perceptions, attitudes, misconceptions, and practice of teachers working with students with dyslexia

Novel translocation responses of cytosolic phospholipase A2α fluorescent proteins

AbstractCytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2)α responds to the rise in cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) attending cell stimulation by moving to intracellular membranes, releasing arachidonic acid (AA) from these membranes, and thereby initiating the synthesis of various lipid mediators. Under some conditions, however, cPLA2α translocation occurs without any corresponding changes in [Ca2+]i. The signal for such responses has not been identified. Using confocal microscopy to track fluorescent proteins fused to cPLA2α or cPLA2α's C2 domain, we find that AA mimics Ca2+ ionophores in stimulating cPLA2α translocations to the perinuclear ER and to a novel site, the lipid body. Unlike the ionophores, AA acted independently of [Ca2+]i rises and did not translocate the proteins to the Golgi. AA's action did not involve its metabolism to eicosanoids or acylation into cellular lipids. Receptor agonists also stimulated translocations targeting lipid bodies. We propose that AA is a signal for Ca2+-independent cPLA2α translocation and that lipid bodies are common targets of cPLA2α and contributors to stimulus-induced lipid mediator synthesis

LTC4 synthase polymorphism modifies efficacy of botanical seed oil combination in asthma

Botanical seed oils reduce the generation of leukotrienes in patients with asthma. Our objective was to determine the efficacy of a botanical seed oil combination against airflow obstruction in asthma, and to determine the pharmacogenomic effect of the leukotriene C4 synthase (LTC4S) polymorphism A-444C. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over clinical trial in mild to moderate asthmatics to determine the change in FEV1 after 6 weeks of therapy with borage and echium seed oils versus corn oil placebo. We also examined the effect of the variant LTC4S -444C allele on the change in lung function. We did not identify a difference in FEV1 in the study cohort as a whole (n = 28), nor in the group of A homozygotes. In the C allele carriers (n = 9), FEV1 improved by 3% after treatment with borage and echium seed oils and declined by 4% after placebo corn oil (p = 0.02). All 9 C allele carriers demonstrated an improvement in their FEV1 on active treatment compared to placebo as compared to only 7 out of 19 A allele homozygotes (p = 0.007). We observed transient differences in ex vivo leukotriene generation from circulating basophils and granulocytes. We did not observe significant differences in urinary LTE4 levels. We conclude that compared to corn oil, a combination of borage and echium seed oils improves airflow obstruction in mild to moderate asthmatics who carry the variant allele in the LTC4S gene (A-444C). Botanical oil supplementation may have therapeutic potential in asthma if used in a personalized manner. Trial registration: This trial was registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00806442

Impact of botanical oils on polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism and leukotriene generation in mild asthmatics

Background: Dietary supplementation with botanical oils that contain n-6 and n-3 eighteen carbon chain (18C)-PUFA such as γ linolenic acid (GLA, 18:3n-6), stearidonic acid (SDA, 18:4n-3) and α linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n-3) have been shown to impact PUFA metabolism, alter inflammatory processes including arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism and improve inflammatory disorders. Methods: The diet of mild asthmatics patients was supplemented for three weeks with varying doses of two botanical seed oils (borage oil [Borago officinalis, BO] and echium seed oil [Echium plantagineum; EO]) that contain SDA, ALA and GLA. A three week wash out period followed. The impact of these dietary manipulations was evaluated for several biochemical endpoints, including in vivo PUFA metabolism and ex vivo leukotriene generation from stimulated leukocytes. Results: Supplementation with several EO/BO combinations increased circulating 20–22 carbon (20–22C) PUFAs, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and dihommo-gammalinolenic acid (DGLA), which have been shown to inhibit AA metabolism and inflammation without impacting circulating AA levels. BO/EO combinations also inhibited ex vivo leukotriene generation with some combinations attenuating cysteinyl leukotriene generation in stimulated basophils by >50% and in stimulated neutrophils by >35%. Conclusions: This study shows that dietary supplementation with BO/EO alters 20–22C PUFA levels and attenuates leukotriene production in a manner consistent with a reduction in inflammation

Pseudomonas aeruginosa Psl polysaccharide reduces neutrophil phagocytosis and the oxidative response by limiting complement-mediated opsonization: Psl and the innate immune response towards P. aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes chronic lung infections in the airways of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Psl is an extracellular polysaccharide expressed by non-mucoid P. aeruginosa strains, which are believed to be initial colonizers. We hypothesized that Psl protects P. aeruginosa from host defences within the CF lung prior to their conversion to the mucoid phenotype. We discovered that serum opsonization significantly increased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by neutrophils exposed to a psl-deficient mutant, compared with wild-type (WT) and Psl overexpressing strains (Psl++). Psl-deficient P. aeruginosa were internalized and killed by neutrophils and macrophages more efficiently than WT and Psl++ variants. Deposition of complement components C3, C5 and C7 was significantly higher on psl-deficient strains compared with WT and Psl++ bacteria. In an in vivo pulmonary competition assay, there was a 4.5-fold fitness advantage for WT over psl-deficient P. aeruginosa. Together, these data show that Psl inhibits efficient opsonization, resulting in reduced neutrophil ROS production, and decreased killing by phagocytes. This provides a survival advantage in vivo. Since phagocytes are critical in early recognition and control of infection, therapies aimed at Psl could improve the quality of life for patients colonized with P. aeruginosa

The impact of FADS genetic variants on ω6 polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism in African Americans

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Arachidonic acid (AA) is a long-chain omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) synthesized from the precursor dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) that plays a vital role in immunity and inflammation. Variants in the Fatty Acid Desaturase (<it>FADS</it>) family of genes on chromosome 11q have been shown to play a role in PUFA metabolism in populations of European and Asian ancestry; no work has been done in populations of African ancestry to date.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this study, we report that African Americans have significantly higher circulating levels of plasma AA (p = 1.35 × 10^-48) and lower DGLA levels (p = 9.80 × 10^-11) than European Americans. Tests for association in N = 329 individuals across 80 nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the Fatty Acid Desaturase (<it>FADS</it>) locus revealed significant association with AA, DGLA and the AA/DGLA ratio, a measure of enzymatic efficiency, in both racial groups (peak signal p = 2.85 × 10^-16in African Americans, 2.68 × 10^-23in European Americans). Ancestry-related differences were observed at an upstream marker previously associated with AA levels (rs174537), wherein, 79-82% of African Americans carry two copies of the G allele compared to only 42-45% of European Americans. Importantly, the allelic effect of the G allele, which is associated with <it>enhanced </it>conversion of DGLA to AA, on enzymatic efficiency was similar in both groups.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We conclude that the impact of <it>FADS </it>genetic variants on PUFA metabolism, specifically AA levels, is likely more pronounced in African Americans due to the larger proportion of individuals carrying the genotype associated with increased FADS1 enzymatic conversion of DGLA to AA.</p

Physicians and Drug Representatives: Exploring the Dynamics of the Relationship

BACKGROUND: Interactions between physicians and drug representatives are common, even though research shows that physicians understand the conflict of interest between marketing and patient care. Little is known about how physicians resolve this contradiction. OBJECTIVE: To determine physicians’ techniques for managing cognitive inconsistencies within their relationships with drug representatives. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Six focus groups were conducted with 32 academic and community physicians in San Diego, Atlanta, and Chicago. MEASUREMENTS: Qualitative analysis of focus group transcripts to determine physicians’ attitudes towards conflict of interest and detailing, their beliefs about the quality of information conveyed and the impact on prescribing, and their resolution of the conflict between detailers’ desire to sell product and patient care. RESULTS: Physicians understood the concept of conflict of interest and applied it to relationships with detailers. However, they maintained favorable views of physician–detailer exchanges. Holding these mutually contradictory attitudes, physicians were in a position of cognitive dissonance. To resolve the dissonance, they used a variety of denials and rationalizations: They avoided thinking about the conflict of interest, they disagreed that industry relationships affected physician behavior, they denied responsibility for the problem, they enumerated techniques for remaining impartial, and they reasoned that meetings with detailers were educational and benefited patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although physicians understood the concept of conflict of interest, relationships with detailers set up psychological dynamics that influenced their reasoning. Our findings suggest that voluntary guidelines, like those proposed by most major medical societies, are inadequate. It may be that only the prohibition of physician–detailer interactions will be effective