Does imaginal exposure exacerbate PTSD symptoms?

Symptom exacerbation (i.e., treatment side effects) has often been neglected in the psychotherapy literature. Although prolonged exposure has gained empirical support for the treatment of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), some have expressed concern that imaginal exposure, a component of this therapy, may cause symptom exacerbation, leading to inferior outcome or dropout. In the present study, symptom exacerbation was examined in 76 women with chronic PTSD. To define a "reliable" exacerbation, we used a method of incorporating the standard deviation and test-retest reliability of each outcome measure. Only a minority of participants exhibited reliable symptoms exacerbation. Individuals who reported symptom exacerbation benefited comparably from treatment. Further, symptom exacerbation was unrelated to dropout. Thus, although a minority of individuals experienced a temporary symptom exacerbation, this exacerbation was unrelated to outcome. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Thermal mass and night ventilation as passive cooling design strategy

We calculated the influence of thermal mass and night ventilation on the maximum indoor temperature in summer. The results for different locations in the hot humid climate of Israel are presented and analyzed. The maximum indoor temperature depends linearly on the temperature difference between day and night at the site. The fit can be applied as a tool to predict from the temperature swing of the location the maximum indoor temperature decrease due to the thermal mass and night ventilation. Consequently, the fit can be implemented as a simple design tool to present the reduction in indoor temperature due to the amount of the thermal mass and the rate of night ventilation, without using an hourly simulation model. Moreover, this design tool is able to provide for the designer in the early design stages the conditions when night ventilation and thermal mass are effective as passive cooling design strategy.     

Patterns of recovery from trauma: The use of intraindividual analysis.

Patterns of recovery from sexual and nonsexual assault were examined. Two studies containing data from female victims of these assaults were analyzed. In Study 1, victims (N?=?101) underwent 12 weekly assessments with measures of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and state anxiety. In Study 2, victims (N?=?108) underwent monthly assessments on the same measures. The authors examined the effects of type of trauma and time of peak reaction on long-term recovery using intraindividual analysis of change. In both studies, initial and peak reactions of rape victims were more severe than were those of nonsexual assault victims on all measures of psychopathology. Victims with delayed peak reaction exhibited more severe pathology at the final assessment than did victims with early peak reaction. Results of Study 2 indicated a slower recovery rate from sexual than nonsexual assault; in Study 1 a similar pattern of recovery emerged. The advantages of an individual-focused, longitudinal approach to recovery from a trauma are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

ER Unfolded Protein Response in Liver In Vivo Is Characterized by Reduced,Not Increased,De Novo Lipogenesis and Cholesterol Synthesis Rates with Uptake of Fatty Acids from Adipose Tissue: Integrated Gene Expression,Translation Rates and Metabolic Fluxes

The unfolded protein response in the endoplasmic reticulum (UPR^ER) is involved in a number of metabolic diseases. Here, we characterize UPR^ER-induced metabolic changes in mouse livers in vivo through metabolic labeling and mass spectrometric analysis of lipid and proteome-wide fluxes. We induced UPR^ER by tunicamycin administration and measured synthesis rates of proteins, fatty acids and cholesterol, as well as RNA-seq. Contrary to reports in isolated cells, hepatic de novo lipogenesis and cholesterogenesis were markedly reduced, as were mRNA levels and synthesis rates of lipogenic proteins. H&E staining showed enrichment with lipid droplets while electron microscopy revealed ER morphological changes. Interestingly, the pre-labeling of adipose tissue prior to UPR^ER induction resulted in the redistribution of labeled fatty acids from adipose tissue to the liver, with replacement by unlabeled glycerol in the liver acylglycerides, indicating that the liver uptake was of free fatty acids, not whole glycerolipids. The redistribution of adipose fatty acids to the liver was not explicable by altered plasma insulin, increased fatty acid levels (lipolysis) or by reduced food intake. Synthesis of most liver proteins was suppressed under UPR^ER conditions, with the exception of BiP, other chaperones, protein disulfide isomerases, and proteins of ribosomal biogenesis. Protein synthesis rates generally, but not always, paralleled changes in mRNA. In summary, this combined approach, linking static changes with fluxes, revealed an integrated reduction of lipid and cholesterol synthesis pathways, from gene expression to translation and metabolic flux rates, under UPR^ER conditions. The reduced lipogenesis does not parallel human fatty liver disease. This approach provides powerful tools to characterize metabolic processes underlying hepatic UPR^ER in vivo.     

Expansion Properties of Sour Cassava Starch (Polvilho Azedo): Variables Related to its Practical Application in Bakery

Sour cassava starch (polvilho azedo) is a chemically and enzymatically modified starch with the specific property of expansion in bakery products without the use of any chemical or biological leavening agents. In this work, the cumulative knowledge about sour cassava starch is presented in relation to its physicochemical characteristics, with the purpose of establishing a relation between the application properties and some structural and chemical characteristics in order to design a model of the modified structure of starch and the most important technical variables. Such approach will help to provide some quality standards for future adequate valorization of sour cassava starch, especially with respect to potential use in gluten‐free products. This work showed that a good sour cassava starch is significantly different from low expansion cassava starches with respect to pH, acid factor, swelling power, specific volume, and polymerization degree (intrinsic viscosity). These variables could be related to the maximization of sour cassava starch expansion for a future predictive decision analysis about a high quality sour cassava starch to the baking use.     

Phenolic Acids and Methylxanthines Composition and Antioxidant Properties of Mate (Ilex paraguariensis) Residue

ABSTRACT: Ilex paraguariensis is known to contain compounds with antioxidant properties, such as phenolic acids, and its stimulant properties are attributed to methylxanthines, such as caffeine. The aims of this study were to evaluate the phenolic, methylxanthinic, and tannin composition of a mate residue (mate powder), to compare the quali-quantitative phenolic composition and the antioxidant potential of extracts obtained from distinct solvent systems. Among the extracts prepared with different solvents, the 80% methanol extract showed the highest total polyphenol content (11.51 g/100 g) and antioxidant activity. HPLC analysis showed that 4,5 dicaffeoylquinic acid is the major component of the phenolic fraction of mate powder. The caffeine, theobromine, and tannin contents in mate powder were 1.01, 0.10, and 0.29 g/100 g, respectively. Consumption of mate powder would significantly contribute to antioxidant and stimulant intake, providing high amounts of phenolic acids, tannins, and methylxanthines with biological effects potentially beneficial for human health. Practical Application: This article contributes to the minimization of residues in yerba-mate processing.     

Classification of masses in mammographic image using wavelet domain features and polynomial classifier

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. In CAD systems, several studies have investigated the use of wavelet transform as a multiresolution analysis tool for texture analysis and could be interpreted as inputs to a classifier. In classification, polynomial classifier has been used due to the advantages of providing only one model for optimal separation of classes and to consider this as the solution of the problem. In this paper, a system is proposed for texture analysis and classification of lesions in mammographic images. Multiresolution analysis features were extracted from the region of interest of a given image. These features were computed based on three different wavelet functions, Daubechies 8, Symlet 8 and bi-orthogonal 3.7. For classification, we used the polynomial classification algorithm to define the mammogram images as normal or abnormal. We also made a comparison with other artificial intelligence algorithms (Decision Tree, SVM, K-NN). A Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve is used to evaluate the performance of the proposed system. Our system is evaluated using 360 digitized mammograms from DDSM database and the result shows that the algorithm has an area under the ROC curve Az of 0.98 ± 0.03. The performance of the polynomial classifier has proved to be better in comparison to other classification algorithms.     

Preparation of ibuprofen‐loaded HDPE tubular devices for application as urinary catheters

In this study, high‐density polyethylene tubes with the incorporation of ibuprofen (IBP) were investigated with a view to their application as urinary catheters. The melt extrusion process was used to prepare the urinary catheters, and the influence of the manufacturing parameters on the material properties was evaluated. Samples prepared at lower temperature resulted in a more homogeneous material with a smoother surface, lower crystallinity, and better mechanical properties. The drug release was faster in the first 4 days, due to the accumulation of the drug on the outer surface of tubes. The concentration of IBP released was similar to the drug content in commercially available topic formulations (5%). Furthermore, after 2 days of immersion, the release achieved the concentration known to inhibit bacterial growth (6 mg/mL). These characteristics indicate that this material has good potential for application in urinary catheters. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 45661.     

Characterisation and stability of quality indices on storage of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata and Cucurbita maxima) purees

Purees of Cucurbita moschata‘Menina Brasileira’ and of Cucurbita maxima‘Exposição’ pumpkins were produced. A commercial sterilisation test confirmed the effectiveness of the thermal treatment applied in the production. The stability was monitored during storage in ambient conditions. No significant alterations in pH, titratable acidity or soluble solids were noted. Both types of puree have a good concentration of carotenoids, although a slight decrease was detected in the ‘Exposição’ pumpkin puree after 15 days of storage. In relation to the colour of the purees, there were no significant alterations in a*, b* or ΔE during storage. Decreases in L* and WI were detected after 30–60 days of storage, thus suggesting a browning in an initial period. However, the scores given by the sensory assessors remained above 7 in a 9‐point scale, thus showing no significant alterations during storage. The results showed the stability of the pumpkin purees during the 180 days of storage under the proposed conditions.     

A simple pretreatment with low O2 to alleviate superficial scald in Granny Smith apples

Sealing Granny Smith apples in a low‐O₂ atmosphere for 7 days at 20 °C (LO₂‐20C) prior to cold storage reduced superficial scald development after 6 and 8 months at 0 °C plus 10 days at 20 °C. This LO₂‐20C treatment reduced the O₂ levels that induce endogenous production of significant amounts of CO₂, acetaldehyde and ethanol, and thereby reduced ethylene production in cold storage, which in turn reduced scald development. Treatment with ethanol vapour (20 mL L^?1) for 1 day at 20 °C plus 6 days at 1 °C or with low O₂ for 1 day at 20 °C plus 6 days at 1 °C (LO₂‐1C) did not reduce scald effectively. 1‐Methylcyclopropene (1‐MCP) treatment at 0.5 µL L^?1 was the most efficient at reducing scald development. In all treatments, superficial scald development proceeded from the distal blossom end towards the proximal stem end of fruits. After 6 months of cold storage at 0 °C, peel browning and membrane leakage, measured as electrical conductivity in situ, were greater at the blossom end than at the stem end of control, ethanol‐ and LO₂‐1C‐pretreated fruits. In LO₂‐20C‐ and 1‐MCP‐pretreated fruits, colour indices (hue angle, lightness and chroma) and electrolyte leakage were similar at both the stem and blossom ends and were associated with less scald development after 6 months at 0 °C. The reduction in scald development was also associated with lower peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activities in the peel of LO₂‐20C‐ and 1‐MCP‐pretreated fruits. A simple treatment at 20 °C (LO₂‐20C) prior to regular cold storage could also be suitable for organically grown apples that cannot be treated with diphenylamine or 1‐MCP. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry