Role of state and trait attachment dimensions on involvement in a close relationship

The aim of the study was to investigate the association between trait and state attachment features and involvement in a couple-relationship. Eighty-four participants of different nationalities completed Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ), Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R), State Adult Attachment Measure (SAAM) and a personal questionnaire focused on involvement and amount of time spent in a couple-relationship. Results of the study showed that trait attachment features predicted involvement in a close relationship and the presence of a couple relationship predicted attachment state dimensions. Correlation analyses showed that the involvement in couple relationship was associated to CTQ Physical Neglect and SAAM Anxiety while participants without a partner had higher scores on CTQ Emotional Abuse, ECR- R Avoidance and SAAM Avoidance. Regression analyses showed that trait attachment features predicted time spent in a close relationship, while time spent in relationship predicted state attachment dimensions. Moreover, regression analysis showed that SAAM Security was predicted by ECR-R scales only in the sample of participants involved in a couple relationship

Psychological, emotional and social impairments are associated with adherence and healthcare spending in type 2 diabetic patients: an observational study

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to assess the association among anxiety, depression, stress, social support and emotional abilities with adherence and healthcare spending in type 2 diabetic patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-four patients were enrolled and completed: Interpersonal Processes of Care (IPC), 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Rapid Stress Assessment Scale (RSAS), Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-4), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)-Short Form and a socio-anamnestic questionnaire regarding also the healthcare spending. RESULTS: Mathematical linear regressions models were performed showing the predictive effects of: anxiety and social support scores (RSAS) on adherence levels (respectively p =. 019; p =. 016); adherence levels on anxiolytic use (p =.04); aggressiveness scores (RSAS) on the number of general check-ups (p =.031); TAS-20 and physician-patient communication (IPC) on the number of hospitalization days (respectively p=.001; p=.008); physician patient decision making (IPC) scores on physical activity (IPAQ) levels (p=.025); physical activity (IPAQ) on the number of medical examinations (p=.039). CONCLUSIONS: An association among psychosocial impairment, adherence and health- care spending was found. Future studies should investigate the effect of a brief psychological intervention in increasing adherence levels and reducing the healthcare spending in this clinical population

Beads of acryloylated polyaminoacidic matrices containing 5-Fluorouracil for drug delivery.

Spherical polymeric microparticles have been prepared by a reverse phase suspension polymerization technique. The starting polymer was alpha,beta-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-DL-aspartamide (PHEA), partially derivatized with glycidylmethacrylate (GMA). PHEA-GMA copolymer (PHG) was crosslinked in the presence of N,N'-dimethylacrylamide (DMAA) or N,N'-ethylenebisacrylamide (EBA). 5-fluorouracil was incorporated into PHG-DMAA or PHG-EBA beads both during and after the crosslinking process. Swelling studies revealed a high affinity toward aqueous medium, influenced by the presence of 5-fluorouracil. The in vitro release study showed that the release rate depends on the chemical structure of the beads and the procedure adopted to incorporate 5-fluorouracil into the microparticles

Reasons why HIV-positive women do not want to have a child: the questionnaire-based DIDI study

Given that the majority of HIV‐positive women are of reproductive age, it is necessary to understand the interaction between HIV and family planning, especially as antiretroviral medications allow to live longer, healthier lives. Aim of this analysis form the DIDI study was to assess prevalence of motherhood desire in current years and to identify variables associated pregnancy decision‐making in HIV‐infected women. DIDI is an Italian, 16‐center, questionnaire‐based survey performed in 585 HIV‐positive women between Nov. 2010 and Feb. 2011. The items covered in the self‐administered questionnaire included: socio‐demographic characteristics, sexual and gynecological health, motherhood desire, strategies adopted to become pregnant, reasons for not wanting a child, partnership, HIV disclosure, physical and mental health, ART adherence, drug use. For the present analysis only women aged<45 years and engaged in a partnership were included. Absence of motherhood desire was defined by a negative answer at the question whether the women at present would like to have a child. 178 women were included: mean age 39 (IQR, 33–42), HIV transmission heterosexual 75%, IVDU 11%, heterosexual/IVDU 2.5%, not known 7.5%; mean CD4 and HIV‐RNA were 552/mmc (+252) and 3.85 c/ml (+4.7), respectively. Absence of motherhood desire was found in 61% of women; 50% of women declared that HIV negatively affected motherhood desire, and 22% declared a decrease in desire after start of ART. The probability of vertical transmission was estimated higher than 50% by 19% of women, even when adopting all preventive measures. Not wanting a child was associated with: fear of vertical transmission (p<0.001), fear of not being able to raise the child (p<0.001), decline in motherhood desire after HIV (p=0.007), unstable partnership (p=0.02). At multivariable analysis, variables found to be significantly associated with negative pregnancy decision‐making were: fear of vertical transmission (AOR 3.75; 95%CI 1.18–11.89), economic restrictions (AOR 0.28; 95% CI 0.10–0.76 In conclusion, absent motherhood desire in HIV‐positive women with child‐bearing potential is frequent and essential information on vertical HIV transmission is lacking. HIV‐positive women of childbearing age may benefit from counseling interventions sensitive to factors that influence infected women's pregnancy decisions

Neural correlates of outcome of cognitive therapy compared to psychodynamic therapy in affective disorders. a meta-analysis

Anxiety and depression disorders are commonly associated with structural and functional changes in the fronto-limbic brain areas. However, it is still unexplored how different psychotherapeutic approaches affect the functional brain. The present meta-analysis aims to compare the neurobiological outcome of the cognitive therapies compared to the psychodynamic therapies in anxiety and depression disorders

Chikungunya: an emerging and spreading arthropod-borne viral disease

The infection caused by the virus Chikungunya is known since the last 50 years, but since the disease was mainly diffuse in geographical areas located in developing countries, a few research work have been made available until the appearance of an important epidemiological outbreak in 2005 in the island of La Reunion, that is part of metropolitan France even if located in the Southern Eastern part of the Indian Ocean. In 2007, a smaller outbreak of Chikungunya developed in the Northern Eastern part of Italy, where the local transmission has been made possible by the enormous population of Aedes albopictus and the presence of a viremic patient coming from the Indian Ocean area. Nowadays, Chikungunya is spreading in Southeast Asia countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. This paper reviews different aspects of the disease caused by Chikungunya virus, including: history, epidemiology, biological and pathogenetic aspects, clinical pictures, diagnosis and treatment

Uso de Eugenol para anestesia de Oreochromis niloticus : Use of Eugenol for anesthesia of Oreochromis niloticus

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o eugenol como anestésico para a tilápia do Nilo nas operações de manejo. Trinta peixes (29,48±5g) foram submetidos a ( T1=50,T2=60 e T3=70mg/L), sendo 10 peixes por tratamento ,onde foram mantidos até o estágio de anestesia profunda, sendo logo recuperados em um aquário contendo água livre de eugenol .O eugenol mostrou- se eficiente em juvenis de tilápia e nas diferentes concentrações, influenciando significativamente na indução dos peixes. O tratamento T1= 50mg/L é o mais recomendado para o manejo, pois apresenta rápida indução e uma longa recuperação, sendo espaço de tempo que se pode realizar procedimento de manejo com o baixo gasto do anestésico

Uso de branchonetas (Dendrocephalus brasiliensis) no tratamento de água proveniente da piscicultura: Use of branchonets (Dendrocephalus brasiliensis) in the treatment of fish water

O objetivo deste estudo e avaliar a utilização do microcrustáceo Dendrocephalus brasiliensis, popularmente conhecido como branchoneta no tratamento de água residuária da piscicultura do IFES – Campus de Alegre. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado - DIC, composto por 6 tratamentos,&nbsp; T1&nbsp;&nbsp; =&nbsp; Sem&nbsp; náuplios&nbsp; branchonetas/Litro&nbsp; (SBL);&nbsp; 2T =&nbsp; 60&nbsp; náuplios&nbsp; de&nbsp; branchonetas/Litro (60BL); T3 = 120 náuplios de branchonetas /Litro (120BL); T 4 = 240 náuplios de branchonetas /Litro (240BL); T5 = 480 náuplios de branchonetas/Litro (480BL) e T 6 = 960 náuplios de branchonetas /Litro (960BL). Os resultados demonstram uma relação inversa entre o aumento da densidade em relação a turbidez da água. Com isso, a branchoneta diminui a turbidez da água residuária de aquicultura em até aproximadamente 80% nas condições testadas

Efeito do tempo de depuração sobre o rendimento de carcaça e file de tilapias do nilo (Oreochromis niloticus): Effect of debutting time on carcass and file profit of nilo tiles (Oreochromis niloticus)

No Brasil a tilápia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) é amplamente produzida, por apresentar boas características zootécnicas, rendimentos e aceitar diferentes manejos produtivos. Entre estes, o jejum (depuração) é um dos manejos que podem influenciar diretamente na produção. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo verificar a relação entre rendimento e depuração. O estudo foi realizado no IFES – Campus de Alegre, no setor de aquicultura. Foram utilizados 100 tilápias de 31,371 ± 1,60 cm e 0,536 ± 0,066 Kg. Os rendimentos foram calculados em relação ao peso total de cada peixes. Foi observado que o tempo de depuração de 3 dias interfere de forma positiva no rendimento de carcaça e filé de tilápia