An exploratory study on internet addiction, somatic symptoms and emotional and behavioral functioning in school-aged adolescents

Objective: In the last two decades there has been a significant transformation regarding the use of new technologies. Despite growing acknowledgement concerning the different activities and functions of digital technologies, there remains a lack of understanding on how technology overuse may negatively impact both physical and psychosocial well-being. Although researchers have begun to explore the meaning and implications of excessive Internet use in non-clinical populations of children and adolescents, there is still little consistent knowledge on the topic. This study aimed to extend existing knowledge on the excessive use of the Internet among school-aged adolescents, focusing on its association with recurrent somatic symptoms, depressive risk and behavioral and emotional problems. Method: Two hundred and forty adolescents (51.9% females) aged between 10 and 15, participated in this study. Data was collected using the Children’s Somatization Inventory, the Internet Addiction Test, the Children’s Depression Inventory, the Youth Self Report and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Structural Equation Model analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: Approximately 21.8% of participants reported excessive Internet use based on Young’s criteria. Higher levels of Internet use were associated with somatic and depressive symptoms as well as emotional and behavioral problems. Depressive Symptoms predicted both Internet Addiction (b = 0.304, p < 0.001) and Internalizing (b = 0.542, p <0.001) and Externalizing problems (b = 0.484, p < 0.001). Internet Addiction also significantly predicted both Internalizing (b = 0.162, p = 0.02) and Externalizing problems (b = 0.183, p = 0.02). Finally, Structural Equation Modeling showed that the indirect effect of Depressive Symptoms (via Internet Addiction) on Internalizing or Externalizing problems were significant. Conclusions: Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings and to identify the mechanisms linking Internet use, somatic symptoms and adaptive functioning

Superficial angiomyxoma in a pregnant cow

A 3-year-old, pregnant, Alpine Brown cow showed a rapidly growing, pedunculated, skin mass located at the umbilical region, reaching 8 kg in weight over a 3-month period after its initial detection. Six days after parturition, the mass was completely surgically excised. During the follow-up period, the cow remained in good health, without signs of recurrence, and showed increased milk production. Histological examination of the mass revealed a loose proliferation of spindle-shaped or stellate cells, immersed in an abundant myxoid matrix with admixed numerous thin-walled blood vessels. Immunohistochemically, the tumour cells were positive for vimentin, α-smooth muscle actin, and desmin. Gross and histopathological features were compatible with superficial angiomyxoma, a subtype of angiomyxoma rarely described in humans, but not in the veterinary literature. The tumour did not infiltrate into the surrounding tissues, and there was no post-excision recurrence after 3 months. The possibility of hormonal dependence of the tumour during pregnancy is discussed based on such findings in some human cases

Motion Sensor-based Small Cell Sleep Scheduling for 5G Networks

No abstract available

Online measurement of fluence and position for protontherapy beams

Tumour therapy with proton beams has been used for several decades in many centres with very good results in terms of local control and overall survival. Typical pathologies treated with this technique are located in head and neck, eye, prostate and in general at big depths or close to critical organs. The Experimental Physics Department of the University of Turin and the local Section of INFN, in collaboration with INFN Laboratori Nazionali del Sud Catania and Centre de Protontherapie de Orsay Paris, have developed detector systems that allow the measurement of beam position and fluence, obtained in real time during beam delivery. The centre in Catania (CATANA: Centro di AdroTerapia ed Applicazioni Nucleari Avanzate) has been treating patients with eye pathologies since spring 2002 using a superconducting cyclotron accelerating protons up to 62 MeV. This kind of treatments need high-resolution monitor systems and for this reason we have developed a 256-strip segmented ionisation chamber, each strip being 400 μm wide, with a total sensitive area 13 × 13 cm2. The Centre de Protontherapie de Orsay (CPO) has been operational since 1991 and features a synchrocyclotron used for eye and head and neck tumours with proton beams up to 200 MeV. The monitor system has to work on a large surface and for this purpose we have designed a pixel-segmented ionisation chamber, each pixel being 5×5 mm2, for a total active area of 16 × 16 cm2. The results obtained with two prototypes of the pixel and strip chambers demonstrate that the detectors allow the measurement of fluence and centre of gravity as requested by clinical specifications

Reassortant Avian Influenza A(H9N2) viruses in chickens in retail poultry shops, Pakistan, 2009-2010

Phylogenetic analysis of influenza viruses collected during December 2009–February 2010 from chickens in live poultry retail shops in Lahore, Pakistan, showed influenza A(H9N2) lineage polymerase and nonstructural genes generate through inter- and intrasubtypic reassortments. Many amino acid signatures observed were characteristic of human isolates; hence, their circulation could enhance inter- or intrasubtypic reassortment

Evolution of infectious bronchitis virus in the field after homologous vaccination introduction

International audienceAbstractDespite the fact that vaccine resistance has been typically considered a rare phenomenon, some episodes of vaccine failure have been reported with increasing frequency in intensively-raised livestock. Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is a widespread avian coronavirus, whose control relies mainly on extensive vaccine administration. Unfortunately, the continuous emergence of new vaccine-immunity escaping variants prompts the development of new vaccines. In the present work, a molecular epidemiology study was performed to evaluate the potential role of homologous vaccination in driving IBV evolution. This was undertaken by assessing IBV viral RNA sequences from the ORF encoding the S1 portion of viral surface glycoprotein (S) before and after the introduction of a new live vaccine on broiler farms in northern-Italy. The results of several biostatistics analyses consistently demonstrate the presence of a higher pressure in the post-vaccination period. Natural selection was detected essentially on sites located on the protein surface, within or nearby domains involved in viral attachment or related functions. This evidence strongly supports the action of vaccine-induced immunity in conditioning viral evolution, potentially leading to the emergence of new vaccine-escape variants. The great plasticity of rapidly-evolving RNA-viruses in response to human intervention, which extends beyond the poultry industry, is demonstrated, claiming further attention due to their relevance for animal and especially human health

The creatine kinase system and pleiotropic effects of creatine

The pleiotropic effects of creatine (Cr) are based mostly on the functions of the enzyme creatine kinase (CK) and its high-energy product phosphocreatine (PCr). Multidisciplinary studies have established molecular, cellular, organ and somatic functions of the CK/PCr system, in particular for cells and tissues with high and intermittent energy fluctuations. These studies include tissue-specific expression and subcellular localization of CK isoforms, high-resolution molecular structures and structure–function relationships, transgenic CK abrogation and reverse genetic approaches. Three energy-related physiological principles emerge, namely that the CK/PCr systems functions as (a) an immediately available temporal energy buffer, (b) a spatial energy buffer or intracellular energy transport system (the CK/PCr energy shuttle or circuit) and (c) a metabolic regulator. The CK/PCr energy shuttle connects sites of ATP production (glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation) with subcellular sites of ATP utilization (ATPases). Thus, diffusion limitations of ADP and ATP are overcome by PCr/Cr shuttling, as most clearly seen in polar cells such as spermatozoa, retina photoreceptor cells and sensory hair bundles of the inner ear. The CK/PCr system relies on the close exchange of substrates and products between CK isoforms and ATP-generating or -consuming processes. Mitochondrial CK in the mitochondrial outer compartment, for example, is tightly coupled to ATP export via adenine nucleotide transporter or carrier (ANT) and thus ATP-synthesis and respiratory chain activity, releasing PCr into the cytosol. This coupling also reduces formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inhibits mitochondrial permeability transition, an early event in apoptosis. Cr itself may also act as a direct and/or indirect anti-oxidant, while PCr can interact with and protect cellular membranes. Collectively, these factors may well explain the beneficial effects of Cr supplementation. The stimulating effects of Cr for muscle and bone growth and maintenance, and especially in neuroprotection, are now recognized and the first clinical studies are underway. Novel socio-economically relevant applications of Cr supplementation are emerging, e.g. for senior people, intensive care units and dialysis patients, who are notoriously Cr-depleted. Also, Cr will likely be beneficial for the healthy development of premature infants, who after separation from the placenta depend on external Cr. Cr supplementation of pregnant and lactating women, as well as of babies and infants are likely to be of benefit for child development. Last but not least, Cr harbours a global ecological potential as an additive for animal feed, replacing meat- and fish meal for animal (poultry and swine) and fish aqua farming. This may help to alleviate human starvation and at the same time prevent over-fishing of oceans

Alexithymia and personality disorders in the adolescent Non-suicidal self injury: preliminary results

The aim of the present study was to describe the characteristics of repetitive self-injurious behaviour and related personality functioning as well as to explore the relationship between NSSI and alexithymia in a sample of NSSI adolescents (mean age= 16.1 yrs) within therapeutic communities. The results showed a representation of Cluster B personality features and personality disorders (e.g., borderline, narcissistic, antisocial). A significant association between NSSI behaviours and alexithymia was found. Additionally, the data supported the use of SWAP-200-A as an instrument for assessing personality functioning and personality pathology in adolescents who self-injure. Future research will be necessary to confirm these results

Autolesività non suicidaria e percezione della qualità dell’attaccamento verso i genitori e i pari in preadolescenza. Nonsuicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) and perception of quality of attachment with both parents and peers in preadolescence

Obiettivo del lavoro è stato quello di esaminare le caratteristiche dell’Autolesività Non Suicidaria (ANS), incluse frequenza, metodo di autoferimento e differenze di genere in una popolazione non clinica di preadolescenti. È stata, inoltre, analizzata la relazione tra ANS, percezione della qualità dell’attaccamento ai genitori e ai pari e life events. Metodo: Nel presente studio sono stati coinvolti 690 preadolescenti (Età media = 12.58; DS = 1.06) frequentanti la scuola secondaria di I grado. A tutti i partecipanti sono stati somministrati i seguenti questionari: Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory (DSHI); Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA); Life Stressor Checklist-Revised (LSCR). Risultati: I risultati hanno evidenziato che il 70.5% del campione dichiara di non aver mai messo in atto condotte autolesive, il 28.1% riferisce di aver attaccato intenzionalmente il proprio corpo da una a quattro volte nel corso della vita, mentre l’1.4% afferma di averlo fatto cinque o più volte. È stata osservata, inoltre, una correlazione statisticamente significativa tra il DSHI, l’IPPA e il LSCR. Conclusioni: L’associazione rilevata tra una più debole percezione della qualità di attaccamento ai genitori e ai pari, esperienze stressanti e/o traumatiche sperimentate nel corso della vita e una più alta frequenza di ANS, evidenzia l’importanza di implementare gli studi per valutare tale associazione nella prospettiva di fornire informazioni utili per la pianificazione di interventi preventivi anche nella popolazione più giovane.The aim of this study was to examine the characteristics of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) including frequency, method of self-injury and gender differences in a community sample of preadolescents. Additionally, the relationship between NSSI, parents and peers attachment and life events was explored. Little empirical research has directly focused on this topic. Method: The sample consisted of 690 preadolescents (Mean age = 12.58; SD = 1.06) attending public middle schools in the centre of Italy (Lazio). Participants were asked to complete the Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory (DSHI), the Life Stressor Checklist-Revised (LSCR) and the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA). Results: Consistent with other studies, findings indicated that NSSI is moderately prevalent among preadolescent non-clinical population.Specifically, 70.5% of youth participants did not declared NSSI behaviour, 28.1% reported one or more lifetime histories of NSSI behaviours (< 5) while 1.4% reported engaging in repetitive NSSI (five or more lifetime episodes) using different methods. However, while a history of childhood trauma have been reported as a common risk factor for NSSI, the role of family, peer relationships and attachment has been little explored.Results provide evidence that a higher frequency of NSSI is associated with a greater number of negative life events. Moreover, preadolescents who engaged in NSSI showed a poor perception of quality of attachment with both parents and peers. This is consistent with literature indicating that early attachment relationships have important implications for mental health later in life. Conclusions: These findings add further information to little existing literature of NSSI and its relationships with attachment and life events. There is, therefore, a need for a more data to better understand this association in order to provide useful information for the planning of preventive interventions in younger populations