The subjective experience of psychotherapists during moments of rupture in psychotherapy with adolescents

The study of the ruptures of the therapeutic alliance has impacted research in psychotherapy by highlighting the relational nature of this phenomenon. Despite ruptures are frequent and relevant during adolescent psychotherapy, most of the empirical evidence in this field has been carried out with adults. Understanding the subjective experience of the therapist during ruptures while working with adolescent is proposed as a starting point for the study of this type of interactional scenarios. The study examined the meanings that emerge from the therapists’ experience in terms of their explanations about the causes and effects of ruptures with adolescents. Eight psychotherapists were interviewed about their experiences during ruptures with young patients. The data was qualitatively analyzed through the Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis method. Four categories emerged: the failure to recognize the adolescent’s experience, the intensity of the affective experience of adolescents in psychotherapy, therapeutic boundaries as an articulator of the therapeutic purpose and, the obstacles that family generates during the therapeutic process. This study concurs with the literature on the need to make explicit with the family about the meaning, roles and limits of the therapy, and to prevent the exercise of control from an adultcentered position. It is concluded that in order to avoid and repair ruptures with adolescents in psychotherapy, an approach that integrates a sensitive attitude, an ecological point of view and mentalizing about the origin of the rupture is needed

アトガキ イマ モトメラレル ヨウチエンゾウ キョウドウテキ ナ マナビ ニ ムケテ

Background: Human dental mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are considered as highly accessible and attractive MSCs for use in regenerative medicine, yet some of their features are not as well characterized as other MSCs. Hypoxia-preconditioning and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) alpha overexpression significantly improves MSC therapeutics, but the mechanisms involved are not fully understood. In the present study, we characterize immunomodulatory properties of dental MSCs and determine changes in their ability to modulate adaptive and innate immune populations after HIF-1 alpha overexpression. Methods: Human dental MSCs were stably transduced with green fluorescent protein (GFP-MSCs) or GFP-HIF-1 alpha lentivirus vectors (HIF-MSCs). A hypoxic-like metabolic profile was confirmed by mitochondrial and glycolysis stress test. Capacity of HIF-MSCs to modulate T-cell activation, dendritic cell differentiation, monocyte migration, and polarizations towards macrophages and natural killer (NK) cell lytic activity was assessed by a number of functional assays in co-cultures. The expression of relevant factors were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: While HIF-1 alpha overexpression did not modify the inhibition of T-cell activation by MSCs, HIF-MSCs impaired dendritic cell differentiation more efficiently. In addition, HIF-MSCs showed a tendency to induce higher attraction of monocytes, which differentiate into suppressor macrophages, and exhibited enhanced resistance to NK cell-mediated lysis, which supports the improved therapeutic capacity of HIF-MSCs. HIF-MSCs also displayed a pro-angiogenic profile characterized by increased expression of CXCL12/SDF1 and CCL5/RANTES and complete loss of CXCL10/IP10 transcription. Conclusions: Immunomodulation and expression of trophic factors by dental MSCs make them perfect candidates for cell therapy. Overexpression of HIF-1 alpha enhances these features and increases their resistance to allogenic NK cell lysis and, hence, their potential in vivo lifespan. Our results further support the use of HIF-1 alpha-expressing dental MSCs for cell therapy in tissue injury and immune disorders

Analysis of change of coverage and land use in a Chilean pre-Andean sub-basin. Tool for the productive sustainability of a territory

The dynamics of change in soil use, period 1994-2007, for a watershed in the region of La Araucania, Chile, was analyzed. The study area shows changes in soil use, intense land division and degradation of natural systems. The methodology included (1) cartographic analysis, confusion matrix and kappa index, and (2) analysis/quantification of changes using a change matrix. The results allowed us to identify spatially the soil covers subject to the greatest use pressure. 'Crops and natural grassland' and 'forestry plantations' were the categories identified as accounting for 79,5% of the total area undergoing soil use change in the study area, with a surface profit rate of forest use exotic species of 432 ha year-1 at the expense of soil for agricultural use. Our results reaffirm the need to analyze the evolution in soil use prior to the identification of the potential of soil resources to support new productive activities

Connexin46 Expression Enhances Cancer Stem Cell and Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition Characteristics of Human Breast Cancer MCF-7 Cells

Connexins (Cxs) are a family of proteins that form two different types of ion channels: hemichannels and gap junction channels. These channels participate in cellular communication, enabling them to share information and act as a synchronized syncytium. This cellular communication has been considered a strong tumor suppressor, but it is now recognized that some type of Cxs can be pro-tumorigenic. For example, Cx46 expression is increased in human breast cancer samples and correlates with cancer stem cell (CSC) characteristics in human glioma. Thus, we explored whether Cx46 and glioma cells, can set up CSC and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) properties in a breast cancer cell line. To this end, we transfected MCF-7 cells with Cx46 attached to a green fluorescent protein (Cx46GFP), and we determined how its expression orchestrates both the gene-expression and functional changes associated with CSC and EMT. We observed that Cx46GFP increased Sox2, Nanog, and OCT4 mRNA levels associated with a high capacity to form monoclonal colonies and tumorspheres. Similarly, Cx46GFP increased the mRNA levels of n-cadherin, Vimentin, Snail and Zeb1 to a higher migratory and invasive capacity. Furthermore, Cx46GFP transfected in MCF-7 cells induced the release of higher amounts of VEGF, which promoted angiogenesis in HUVEC cells. We demonstrated for the first time that Cx46 modulates CSC and EMT properties in breast cancer cells and thus could be relevant in the design of future cancer therapies

Additional file 1: of Overexpression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha improves immunomodulation by dental mesenchymal stem cells

Detailed methods: lentiviral production and transduction, metabolic assays, and list of reagents for flow cytometry and PCR. Table S1. List of antibodies used for flow cytometry. Table S2. List of Taq-man assays used for qPCR. Table S3. Analysis of GO pathways shared in HIF-MSC vs GFP-MSC and MSC hypoxia vs MSC normoxia. Figure S1. Results from glycolytic activity of MSCs. (DOCX 130 kb

Placental Aromatase Is Deficient in Placental Ischemia and Preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is a maternal hypertensive disorder with uncertain etiology and a leading cause of maternal and fetal mortality worldwide, causing nearly 40% of premature births delivered before 35 weeks of gestation. The first stage of preeclampsia is characterized by reduction of utero-placental blood flow which is reflected in high blood pressure and proteinuria during the second half of pregnancy. In human placenta androgens derived from the maternal and fetal adrenal glands are converted into estrogens by the enzymatic action of placental aromatase. This implies that alterations in placental steroidogenesis and, subsequently, in the functionality or bioavailability of placental aromatase may be mechanistically involved in the pathophysiology of PE.Serum samples were collected at 32-36 weeks of gestation and placenta biopsies were collected at time of delivery from PE patients (n = 16) and pregnant controls (n = 32). The effect of oxygen tension on placental cells was assessed by incubation JEG-3 cells under 1% and 8% O2 for different time periods, Timed-mated, pregnant New Zealand white rabbits (n = 6) were used to establish an in vivo model of placental ischemia (achieved by ligature of uteroplacental vessels). Aromatase content and estrogens and androgens concentrations were measured.The protein and mRNA content of placental aromatase significantly diminished in placentae obtained from preeclamptic patients compared to controls. Similarly, the circulating concentrations of 17-β-estradiol/testosterone and estrone/androstenedione were reduced in preeclamptic patients vs. controls. These data are consistent with a concomitant decrease in aromatase activity. Aromatase content was reduced in response to low oxygen tension in the choriocarcinoma JEG-3 cell line and in rabbit placentae in response to partial ligation of uterine spiral arteries, suggesting that reduced placental aromatase activity in preeclamptic patients may be associated with chronic placental ischemia and hypoxia later in gestation.Placental aromatase expression and functionality are diminished in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia in comparison with healthy pregnant controls

Aromatase is downregulated in JEG–3 cell line in response to hypoxia.

<p>JEG–3 cell line was exposed either to 8% or to 1% O₂ in an hypoxic chamber for 0, 4, 8, 16 and 24 h. <b>A</b>. Cells were collected at indicated times and protein lysates analyzed by western blot to determine the protein expression levels of aromatase, HIF–1α and β-Tubulin. Upper panel shows representative western blots and lower panels show aromatase and HIF–1α proteins densitometry data normalized to β-Tubulin loading control from n = 3 experiments. Data are shown in arbitrary units (A.U.) ±SEM. <b>B</b>. Cells were collected at indicated times and analyzed by qRT–PCR to determine aromatase mRNA transcript levels. Statistical analyses were performed using Student’s <i>t</i>-test and compared with the correspondent time point in the control, 8% O₂, cells. Columns are the mean of four independent experiments in duplicate; Data are reported as mean±SEM. *<i>P</i>≤0.05; **<i>P</i>≤0.01; *** <i>P</i>≤0.001, significant; n.s., non-significant.</p

Aromatase metabolite levels are dysregulated in PE patients.

<p>Aromatase functionality was measured in PE and normotensive pregnancies. The levels of aromatase precursors and metabolites including, <b>A</b>. testosterone, <b>B</b>. androstenedione, <b>C</b>. 17-β-estradiol, and <b>D</b>. estrone were measured by RIA in maternal serum samples collected at 32–36 weeks of gestation. Also shown are <b>E</b>. 17-β-estradiol/testosterone and <b>F</b>. estrone/androstenedione ratios. Data are reported as mean±SEM from 32 controls and 16 PE patients. Statistical analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney test. *<i>P</i>≤0.05; **<i>P</i>≤0.01, significant; n.s., non-significant.</p

Clinical characteristics of controls and preeclampsia patients at different times of gestation.

<p>Values are given as Mean±SEM. Statistical significance was assessed using Mann Whitney test and Fisher's exact test.</p><p>*p≤0.05</p><p>**p≤0.01</p><p>***p≤0.001</p><p>Clinical characteristics of controls and preeclampsia patients at different times of gestation.</p