The role of ceremonial ayahuasca use and the healing of eating disorders: a qualitative study

Eating disorders (EDs) are serious mental disorders and are associated with significant physical, psychological and social impairments. As EDs are highly treatment-resistant, novel approaches are needed and therapeutic modalities from other cultures must be explored. A growing body of literature has revealed that individuals struggling with depression, anxiety and problematic substance use and most recently EDs, have reported physical and psychological improvements with the use of a psychoactive plant-based brew known as ayahuasca. The present manuscriptbased thesis sought to better understand ayahuasca’s potential value as a therapeutic tool in the treatment of EDs. Two qualitative studies were conducted to identify; 1) the perceived outcomes from ceremonial ayahuasca that may influence ED healing, and 2) the overall impressions of conventional ED treatment with a comparison of ayahuasca to these conventional approaches. Participants with a history of a diagnosed ED and experience with ceremonial ayahuasca were interviewed and the transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Overall, the themes identified suggest that ayahuasca works as an integrative approach that includes psychological, physical, relational and spiritual aspects of healing. As well, in comparison to conventional-ED approaches, participants perceived that ayahuasca worked on a deeper, more emotional and spiritual level that was more effective than conventional treatment. The study results suggest that ceremonial ayahuasca can serve as a valuable therapeutic tool, giving hope to those individuals for whom conventional ED treatment approaches have not been effective. Further research studies on ayahuasca as adjuncts to ED treatment are warranted.Master of Arts (MA) in Psycholog

The Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factor of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (CNFy) is Carried on Extracellular Membrane Vesicles to Host Cells

In this study we show Yersinia pseudotuberculosis secretes membrane vesicles (MVs) that contain different proteins and virulence factors depending on the strain. Although MVs from Y. pseudotuberculosis YPIII and ATCC 29833 had many proteins in common (68.8% of all the proteins identified), those located in the outer membrane fraction differed significantly. For instance, the MVs from Y. pseudotuberculosis YPIII harbored numerous Yersinia outer proteins (Yops) while they were absent in the ATCC 29833 MVs. Another virulence factor found solely in the YPIII MVs was the cytotoxic necrotizing factor (CNFy), a toxin that leads to multinucleation of host cells. The ability of YPIII MVs to transport this toxin and its activity to host cells was verified using HeLa cells, which responded in a dose-dependent manner; nearly 70% of the culture was multinucleated after addition of 5 mu g/ml of the purified YPIII MVs. In contrast, less than 10% were multinucleated when the ATCC 29833 MVs were added. Semi-quantification of CNFy within the YPIII MVs found this toxin is present at concentrations of 5 -10 ng per mu g of total MV protein, a concentration that accounts for the cellular responses see

Les effets à long terme d’une brève intervention de thérapie familiale centrée sur l’émotion en lien avec des troubles alimentaires au cours de la vie : une étude à méthodes mixtes

Emotion-focused family therapy (EFFT) empowers caregivers to support their loved one’s eating disorder (ED) recovery. Data were collected over time from 74 caregivers who participated in a 2-day EFFT workshop. Results revealed positive outcomes related to self-efficacy, treatment engagement fears, and the accommodation and enabling of behaviours. A thematic analysis of interviews conducted with eight caregivers identified the following themes: (a) increasing self-efficacy with emotion, (b) working through emotion blocks, (c) strengthening interpersonal relationships, (d) experiencing togetherness among participants, and (e) benefiting from experiential practice via role-play. Results suggest this brief intervention is associated with positive caregiver outcomes that can be maintained over time.La thérapie familiale centrée sur l’émotion (TFCE) permet aux aidants de soutenir la guérison d’un être cher aux prises avec un trouble alimentaire (TA). Les données furent recueillies au fil du temps auprès de 74 aidantes et aidants qui participèrent à un atelier de deux jours sur la TFCE. Les résultats ont révélé des effets positifs relativement à l’auto-efficacité, aux craintes de s’engager dans un traitement et à l’accommodement et l’habilitation des comportements. Une analyse thématique des entrevues menées auprès de huit aidants a permis de dégager les thèmes suivants : (a) auto-efficacité accrue en ce qui concerne l’émotion, (b) travail de gestion des blocages émotifs, (c) redressement des relations interpersonnelles, (d) sentiment de solidarité entre les participants, et (e) capacité de profiter de la pratique expérientielle grâce au jeu de rôle. Les résultats semblent indiquer que cette brève intervention est associée à des effets positifs chez les aidantes et les aidants et que ceux-ci peuvent perdurer

Membrane vesicles in natural environments: a major challenge in viral ecology.

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