Looking at substance use disorders through lenses of self psychology and existential psychotherapy : a theoretical study

This theoretical study explored the theoretical frameworks of self psychology and existential psychotherapy in the context of their usefulness for clinical social workers in their therapeutic work with clients with substance use disorders (SUDs). The central guiding question of this thesis was, How can the theoretical lenses of self psychology and existential psychotherapy help clinical social workers and other mental health professionals to better understand SUDs and inform clinicians\u27 work with addicted clients? In this theoretical study, self psychology and existential psychotherapy were examined and employed as a means of understanding the nature of SUDs. In addition, these two theories were used to analyze and interpret the underlying psychological and existential factors that may contribute to the development and persistence of SUDs in some individuals. This study concluded that both self psychology and existential psychotherapy can be useful—separately and even more so together—to clinicians in their work with clients with SUDs. Both of these theories, despite their many differences, share a number of important similarities that make them useful for clinical social work. These include an optimistic view of the potential for growth and healing through treatment; the importance of imperfect attunement and empathic failures between therapist and client during the course of therapy; an emphasis on trying to understand the client\u27s subjective experience; and a genuinely humane and respectful view of all clients, including those struggling with SUDs

Absence of an association of human polyomavirus and papillomavirus infection with lung cancer in China: a nested case–control study

BACKGROUND: Studies of human polyomavirus (HPyV) infection and lung cancer are limited and those regarding the association of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and lung cancer have produced inconsistent results. METHODS: We conducted a nested case–control study to assess the association between incident lung cancer of various histologies and evidence of prior infection with HPyVs and HPVs. We selected serum from 183 cases and 217 frequency matched controls from the Yunnan Tin Miner’s Cohort study, which was designed to identify biomarkers for early detection of lung cancer. Using multiplex liquid bead microarray (LBMA) antibody assays, we tested for antibodies to the VP1 structural protein and small T antigen (ST-Ag) of Merkel cell, KI, and WU HPyVs. We also tested for antibodies against HPV L1 structural proteins (high-risk types 16, 18, 31, 33, 52, and 58 and low-risk types 6 and 11) and E6 and E7 oncoproteins (high risk types 16 and 18). Measures of antibody reactivity were log transformed and analyzed using logistic regression. RESULTS: We found no association between KIV, WUV, and MCV antibody levels and incident lung cancer (P-corrected for multiple comparisons >0.10 for all trend tests). We also found no association with HPV-16, 18, 31, 33, 52, and 58 seropositivity (P-corrected for multiple comparisons >0.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Future studies of infectious etiologies of lung cancer should look beyond HPyVs and HPVs as candidate infectious agents. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12885-016-2381-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Energy‑dense diet triggers changes in gut microbiota, reorganization of gut‑brain vagal communication and increases body fat accumulation

Obesity is associated with consumption of energy‑dense diets and development of systemic inflammation. Gut microbiota play a role in energy harvest and inflammation and can influence the change from lean to obese phenotypes. The nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) is a brain target for gastrointestinal signals modulating satiety and alterations in gut‑brain vagal pathway may promote overeating and obesity. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that high‑fat diet‑induced changes in gut microbiota alter vagal gut‑brain communication associated with increased body fat accumulation. Sprague‑Dawley rats consumed a low energy‑dense rodent diet (LFD; 3.1 kcal/g) or high energy‑dense diet (HFD, 5.24 kcal/g). Minocycline was used to manipulate gut microbiota composition. 16S Sequencing was used to determine microbiota composition. Immunofluorescence against IB4 and Iba1 was used to determine NTS reorganization and microglia activation. Nodose ganglia from LFD rats were isolated and co‑cultured with different bacteria strains to determine neurotoxicity. HFD altered gut microbiota with increases in Firmicutes/Bacteriodetes ratio and in pro‑inflammatory Proteobacteria proliferation. HFD triggered reorganization of vagal afferents and microglia activation in the NTS, associated with weight gain. Minocycline‑treated HFD rats exhibited microbiota profile comparable to LFD animals. Minocycline suppressed HFD‑induced reorganization of vagal afferents and microglia activation in the NTS, and reduced body fat accumulation. Proteobacteria isolated from cecum of HFD rats were toxic to vagal afferent neurons in culture. Our findings show that diet‑induced shift in gut microbiome may disrupt vagal gut‑brain communication resulting in microglia activation and increased body fat accumulation