Risk Factors for Revictimization

People with a history of childhood maltreatment are two to three times more likely to be victimized again in adulthood compared to people without such a history, a phenomenon called revictimization. Various risk factors such as, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, difficulties with emotion regulation, and risky sex behavior are among important risk factors for revictimization. This dissertation shows that the increased risk of further victimization among the survivors of childhood maltreatment applies to the modern context of online dating as well. In this context, using sex to reduce negative emotions and to boost self-esteem connects maltreatment during childhood to sexual victimization in adulthood. Another finding of the present dissertation was that it is important to understand how the risk factors interact with each other. It seems that childhood maltreatment might develop maladaptive thoughts (e.g., negative thoughts about self and others). These negative thoughts are associated with difficulties with emotion regulation, which in turn might be associated with sexual risk-taking. Finally, the risky sex behavior can enhance the risk of victimization in adulthood. These vulnerabilities reflected in non-verbal cues might be used by perpetrators, particularly the ones with psychopathy, to select potential victims which increases the risk of revictimization. Our knowledge about the underlying mechanisms of revictimization is still in infancy phase since available data is limited mostly to cross-sectional studies conducted on a specific population i.e., Caucasian female university students. Longitudinal research on various populations would help us understand risk factors specific to each population in the years to come

Risk Factors for Revictimization

People with a history of childhood maltreatment are two to three times more likely to be victimized again in adulthood compared to people without such a history, a phenomenon called revictimization. Various risk factors such as, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, difficulties with emotion regulation, and risky sex behavior are among important risk factors for revictimization. This dissertation shows that the increased risk of further victimization among the survivors of childhood maltreatment applies to the modern context of online dating as well. In this context, using sex to reduce negative emotions and to boost self-esteem connects maltreatment during childhood to sexual victimization in adulthood. Another finding of the present dissertation was that it is important to understand how the risk factors interact with each other. It seems that childhood maltreatment might develop maladaptive thoughts (e.g., negative thoughts about self and others). These negative thoughts are associated with difficulties with emotion regulation, which in turn might be associated with sexual risk-taking. Finally, the risky sex behavior can enhance the risk of victimization in adulthood. These vulnerabilities reflected in non-verbal cues might be used by perpetrators, particularly the ones with psychopathy, to select potential victims which increases the risk of revictimization. Our knowledge about the underlying mechanisms of revictimization is still in infancy phase since available data is limited mostly to cross-sectional studies conducted on a specific population i.e., Caucasian female university students. Longitudinal research on various populations would help us understand risk factors specific to each population in the years to come

Predictors of Revictimization in Online Dating

Introduction. While a significant association between childhood maltreatment and sexual victimization in adulthood has been established in previous research, it is unknown whether this also applies to the context of online dating. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether revictimization is common in online users and which mechanisms mediate this risk Method. The participants were 413 heterosexual women aged between 18 and 35 who used mobile dating applications in the year before the assessment. The participants reported information on using mobile dating applications, motives for engaging in casual sex, protective dating strategies and general motives for online dating. Results. Childhood maltreatment severity was positively related to both cyber and in-person sexual victimization severity. Motives related to regulating negative affect and self-esteem mediated the relationship between childhood maltreatment severity and in-person sexual victimization severity in adulthood. Furthermore, those motives moderated the association between cyber and in-person sexual victimization. The effect of cyber victimization on in-person sexual victimization was stronger at higher levels of affect/self-esteem regulatory sex motives compared to lower levels. The affect/self-esteem regulatory sex motives were not related to protective dating strategies. Discussion. The results of the study imply that a history of childhood maltreatment is a risk factor for sexual victimization in adulthood among young heterosexual women who use online dating. One of the factors linking these variables in this population might be affect/self-esteem regulatory sex motives. Future studies should aim at replicating these associations prospectively

Niosomal Doxycycline and Triamcinolone: A Novel Approach to Minimize Cytotoxicity in Endodontic Medicaments

Introduction: Mechanical root canal preparations and irrigation solutions are essential for reducing microbial counts in the root canal system. However, these methods do not completely eliminate microorganisms. Intracanal medicaments are used to further decrease microbial counts. This study aims to assess the cytotoxicity of various intracanal medicaments. Materials and methods: In this in vitro study, murine fibroblast cell lines (L929) were cultured in a controlled environment. The MTT assay was employed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of different medicament combinations, including calcium hydroxide and triamcinolone (D1), niosomal doxycycline and triamcinolone (D2), calcium hydroxide (D3), and a combination of doxycycline and triamcinolone (D4). Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and Dunnett’s test. Results: The results indicated that D1 and D2 had lower cytotoxicity, while D4 exhibited the highest cytotoxicity. D1 was found to be non-cytotoxic up to a concentration of 500 µg/mL over a period of 72 hours. D2 and D3 showed similar effects up to concentrations of 250 µg/mL and 100 µg/mL, respectively, for 72 hours. In contrast, D4 exhibited cytotoxicity at concentrations above 75 µg/mL at 72 hours. Conclusion: This study suggests that encapsulating doxycycline in niosomal structures (D2) reduces cytotoxicity in murine fibroblast cell lines (L929) for at least 24 and 48 hours. These findings offer promising implications for the development of endodontic medicaments with improved biocompatibility

Childhood maltreatment and adulthood victimization:An evidence-based model

There is ample evidence showing that childhood maltreatment increases two to three fold the risk of victimization in adulthood. Various risk factors, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, dissociation, self-blame, and alcohol abuse are related to revictimization. Although previous research examined associations between risk factors for revictimization, the evidence is limited and the proposed models mostly include a handful of risk factors. Therefore, it is critical to investigate a more comprehensive model explaining the link between childhood maltreatment and adulthood (re)victimization. Accordingly, this study tested a data-driven theoretical path model consisting of 33 variables (and their associations) that could potentially enhance understanding of factors explaining revictimization. Cross-sectional data derived from a multi-wave study were used for this investigation. Participants (N = 2156, age mean = 19.94, SD = 2.89) were first-year female psychology students in the Netherlands and New Zealand, who responded to a battery of questionnaires and performed two computer tasks. The path model created by structural equation modelling using modification indices showed that peritraumatic dissociation, PTSD symptoms, trauma load, loneliness, and drug use were important mediators. Attachment styles, maladaptive schemas, meaning in life, and sex motives connected childhood maltreatment to adulthood victimization via other factors (i.e., PTSD symptoms, risky sex behavior, loneliness, emotion dysregulation, and sex motives). The model indicated that childhood maltreatment was associated with cognitive patterns (e.g., anxious attachment style), which in turn were associated with emotional factors (e.g., emotion dysregulation), and then with behavioral factors (e.g., risky sex behavior) resulting in revictimization. The findings of the study should be interpreted in the light of the limitations. In particular, the cross-sectional design of the study hinders us from ascertaining that the mediators preceded the outcome variable.</p

Gender differences in response to vitamin E and C in gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats

Background: Nephrotoxicity is the most recognized side effect of gentamicin. Vitamin E and vitamin C demonstrate their effective role in the prevention of nephrotoxicity. Likewise, previous studies have suggested that women have low risk of end-stage renal disease at premenopausal period. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the possibility of any gender difference in response to antioxidant effects vitamins E and C in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. Materials and Methods: Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 6 groups each including both male and female rats. The first and second groups received saline (control group) and almond oil, the third group received gentamicin. The fourth group received a regular dose of gentamicin + vitamin E. Similarly, the fifth group received a regular dose of gentamicin + vitamin C. The sixth group received a dose of gentamicin + vitamin C and E simultaneously constantly. This protocol continued for 9 days. Results: Gentamicin increased significantly urea, creatinine (Cr) and malondialdehyde (MDA), but it decreased superoxidase dismutase (SOD) level (P < 0.05). Treatment with antioxidant vitamins improved urea, creatinine, MDA, and SOD serum level significantly in both genders (P <0.05). Likewise, kidney MDA level enhanced significantly (P <0.05) and treatment with antioxidant vitamins reduced MDA level too (P <0.05). Gentamicin decreased kidney SOD activity in male and female rats (P <0.05). However, treatment with antioxidant vitamins did not improve its level in male rats, while in female rats, vitamins E and C compensated for kidney SOD activity. Conclusions: Antioxidant vitamins modified gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in both genders, with some difference in response to vitamins E and C between the genders, that was higher in female rats