The role of reactive oxygen species in adipogenic differentiation

Interest in reactive oxygen species and adipocyte differentiation/adipose tissue function is steadily increasing. This is due in part to a search for alternative avenues for combating obesity, which results from the excess accumulation of adipose tissue. Obesity is a major risk factor for complex disorders such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. The ability of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) to differentiate into adipocytes is often used as a model for studying adipogenesis in vitro. A key focus is the effect of both intra- and extracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) on adipogenesis. The consensus from the majority of studies is that ROS, irrespective of the source, promote adipogenesis. The effect of ROS on adipogenesis is suppressed by antioxidants or ROS scavengers. Reactive oxygen species are generated during the process of adipocyte differentiation as well as by other cell metabolic processes. Despite many studies in this field, it is still not possible to state with certainty whether ROS measured during adipocyte differentiation are a cause or consequence of this process. In addition, it is still unclear what the exact sources are of the ROS that initiate and/or drive adipogenic differentiation in MSCs in vivo. This review provides an overview of our understanding of the role of ROS in adipocyte differentiation as well as how certain ROS scavengers and antioxidants might affect this process.The South African Medical Research Council in terms of the SAMRC's Flagship Award Project SAMRC-RFA-UFSP-01-2013/STEM CELLS, the SAMRC Extramural Unit for Stem Cell Research and Therapy and the Institute for Cellular and Molecular Medicine of the University of Pretoria.http://www.springer.comseries/5584hj2019GeneticsImmunologyOral Pathology and Oral Biolog

Development and validation of the Working Alliance Inventory Dutch version for use in rehabilitation setting

Background: In rehabilitation, therapeutic alliance is associated with improvements in clinical outcomes. The Working Alliance Inventory (WAI) measures therapeutic alliance and is frequently used in rehabilitation research; however, it has not been validated for rehabilitation. Objectives: To determine content validity, internal consistency and construct validity of the Working Alliance Inventory Rehabilitation Dutch Version (WAI-ReD). Methods: In phase 1, content and face validity of the WAI-ReD was judged by professionals (n = 15) and in phase 2 by patients (n = 22). In phase 3, 14 hypotheses were tested in patients (n = 138) regarding: content validity (i.e., missing items, floor, and ceiling effects); internal consistency; and construct validity (i.e., factor structural testing correlations of WAI-ReD scores with Session Rating Scale (SRS), the Helping Alliance Questionnaire II (HAQ-II), and Visual Analog Scale of Pain (VAS(pain))). Results: After phase 1 and phase 2, the WAI-ReD was formulated and tested. Content validity; missing items were negligible. Ceiling effects were present in all domains. Internal consistency; Cronbach's alpha ranged between 0.804 and 0.927. Construct validity; correlations between WAI-ReD, SRS, HAQ-II, and VAS(pain) fell within the hypothesized ranges. Conclusion: Eleven of the 14 hypotheses were not rejected confirming good clinimetric properties of the WAI-ReD. The WAI-ReD can be used in rehabilitation to measure therapeutic alliance

The Test of Self-Conscious Affect: Internal Structure, Differential Scales and Relationships with Long-Term Affects

Item analyses and confirmatory factor analyses on the Test of Self-Conscious Affect (TOSCA), in a student (N = 723) and an adult (N = 891) sample, supported the theorized four factor structure of proneness to reparation, negative self-evaluation, externalizing blame and unconcern. However, two-fifth of the items did not empirically differentiate between two or more factors. Differential TOSCA scales, including only differentiating TOSCA items, were constructed and related to measures of long-term affect, depression, anxiety, and anger. Both the pattern and size of correlations of the original and the differential TOSCA scales were almost identical. Results of this study, support the interpretation of TOSCA guilt as a measure of a tendency to reparation associated with guilt and TOSCA shame as a measure of a tendency to global negative self-evaluation. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd