The Mediating Role of Emotion Dysregulation in the Association Between Perfectionism and Eating Psychopathology Symptoms.

INTRODUCTION: This study explored the possible mediating role of emotion dysregulation in the association between perfectionism and eating psychopathology symptoms. METHOD: One hundred forty-two outpatients with eating disorders (EDs) were enrolled. Perfectionism, emotion dysregulation, ED psychopathology, anxious and depressive symptoms were assessed. Correlation, mediation and 95% bias corrected and accelerated (BCa CI) bootstrapped analyses were run. RESULTS: Emotion dysregulation was found to mediate the association between concern over mistakes perfectionism and restraint (indirect effect: 0.093, BCa CI: 0.001-0.02, adjusted R2 = 0.3324, p < 0.001), shape concern (indirect effect: 0.0130, BCa CI: 0.004-0.03, adjusted R2 = p < 0.001) and weight concern (indirect effect: 0.0142, BCa CI: 0.004-0.03, adjusted R2 = 0.2986, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Among ED outpatients, emotion dysregulation may be involved in the association between concern over mistakes perfectionism and persistence of eating psychopathology symptoms. Emotion dysregulation could be considered as possible therapeutic target to reduce the persistence, and severity, of eating psychopathology symptoms among ED patients with concern over mistakes perfectionism.

The Metacognitions about Binge Eating Questionnaire: Investigation of the association between specific metacognitions and Binge Eating Disorder.

Literature suggested that metacognitions are involved in eating problems and may be relevant to the understanding of Binge Eating Disorder (BED). The goal of the current studies was to develop the first self-report instrument on metacognitions about binge eating. In Study 1, a community sample completed the Metacognitions about Binge Eating Questionnaire (MBEQ); an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was performed. In study 2, a community sample completed the MBEQ and measures assessing severity of binge eating, irrational food beliefs, anxiety, depression, impulsiveness. A Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was performed. Concurrent and incremental validity were assessed. In study 3, a clinical sample of participants with a diagnosis of BED completed the MBEQ and other measures. Bivariate correlational analysis and hierarchical linear regression were performed. Participants from the general population and participants with a diagnosis of BED were compared. EFA and CFA supported a two-factor solution consisting of positive and negative metacognitions about binge eating. Concurrent and incremental validity were acceptable. The metacognitions factors correlated positively with anxiety, depression, irrational food beliefs, impulsiveness in the community sample, and anxiety, irrational food beliefs, impulsiveness in clinical sample. The metacognitions factors contributed to the prediction of BEDs symptoms, in community and clinical samples, over and above age, gender, impulsiveness, anxiety, depression, irrational food beliefs. The MBEQ possesses good psychometric properties and appears a reliable and valid measure of positive and negative metacognitions about binge eating. Metacognitions about binge eating could be a therapeutic target to reduce the severity of binge eating episodes.

The experience of virtual reality: are individual differences in mental imagery associated with sense of presence?

The concept of "presence" describes the quality of subjective experience in immersive virtual reality (IVR). Presence refers to a specific state of consciousness: we behave and feel as if we actually were in the virtual world even though we know there is nothing there. In their handbook of Virtual Reality, Burdea and Coiffet (Virtual reality technology, Wiley, New York, 2003) suggested that the experience of presence in IVR would emerge from the combination of three Is: Immersion or capacity to isolate from the external world, Interaction or capacity to naturally exploring the virtual environment, and Imagination or individual aptitudes with mental imagery. So far, several studies have investigated the technological and psychological factors affecting the degree of immersion and interaction. However, no study has explored the relationship between perceived presence and mental imagery. Here we aim at filling this gap through a correlational study comparing self-reports about sense of presence and mental imagery abilities. After experiencing two IVR scenarios (an art gallery and a living room), 142 male and female users were administered with questionnaires assessing the degree of presence (Igroup Presence Questionnaire), the degree of vividness (Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire) and control (Test of Visual Imagery Control) of subjective mental images. Results showed a clear positive correlation between presence and vividness: the higher the vividness of mental images the stronger the reported sense of presence felt in IVR scenarios. Instead, the capacity to control mental imagery showed a weaker association with presence. We may conclude that individual differences in the degree of perceived presence and mental imagery ability are associated.

Keeping you at arm's length: modifying peripersonal space influences interpersonal distance.

Peripersonal space represents the area around the body where objects are coded in motor terms for the purpose of voluntary goal-directed actions. Previous studies have suggested that peripersonal space is also a safe space linked with our private area, influencing interpersonal space in social contexts. However, whether these two spaces rely on similar embodied processes remains an open issue. In the present study, participants observed a point-light walker (PLW) approaching them from different directions and passing near them at different distances from their right or left shoulder. While approaching, the PLW disappeared at a distance of 2 m and the task for the participants was to estimate if the interpersonal distance, at the time the PLW would have reached their level, was comfortable or not. Between two sessions of comfort judgments, the participants manipulated a 70 cm tool entailing an extension of peripersonal space, or a 10 cm tool entailing no extension of peripersonal space. The results revealed that the comfortable interpersonal distance was larger when the PLW crossed the mid-sagittal plane of the participants than when it approached them laterally, with a concomitant increase of response time. After participants manipulated the long tool, comfortable interpersonal distance increased, but predominantly when the PLW trajectory implied crossing the participants' mid-sagittal plane. This effect was not observed when participants manipulated the short tool. Two control tasks showed that using the long tool modified the reachability (control 1), but not the time to passage (control 2) estimates of PLW stimuli, suggesting that tool use extended peripersonal space without changing perceived visual distances. Overall, the data show that comfortable interpersonal distance is linked to the representation of peripersonal space. As a consequence, increasing peripersonal space through tool use has the immediate consequence that comfortable interpersonal distance from another person also increases, suggesting that interpersonal-comfort space and peripersonal-reaching space share a common motor nature.

Toxicological Implications and Inflammatory Response in Human Lymphocytes Challenged with Oxytetracycline.

Antibiotics are widely used in zoo technical and veterinary practices as feed supplementation to ensure wellness of farmed animals and livestock. Several evidences have been suggesting both the toxic role for tetracyclines, particularly for oxytetracycline (OTC). This potential toxicity appears of great relevance for human nutrition and for domestic animals. This study aimed to extend the evaluation of such toxicity. The biologic impact of the drug was assessed by evaluating the proinflammatory effect of OTC and their bone residues on cytokine secretion by in vitro human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Our results showed that both OTC and OTC-bone residues significantly induced the T lymphocyte and non-T cell secretion of interferon (IFN)-γ, as cytokine involved in inflammatory responses in humans as well as in animals. These results may suggest a possible implication for new potential human and animal health risks depending on the entry of tetracyclines in the food-processing chain.

Oscillatory mTOR inhibition and Treg increase in kidney transplantation.

Intracellular metabolic pathways dependent upon the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) play a key role in immune-tolerance control. In this study, we focused on long-term mTOR-dependent immune-modulating effects in kidney transplant recipients undergoing conversion from calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) to mTOR inhibitors (everolimus) in a 1-year follow-up. The conversion to everolimus is associated with a decrease of neutrophils and of CD8(+) T cells. In addition, we observed a reduced production of interferon (IFN)-γ by CD8(+) T cells and of interleukin (IL)-17 by CD4(+) T lymphocytes. An increase in CD4(+) CD25(+) forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3)(+) [regulatory T cell [(Treg)] numbers was also seen. Treg increase correlated with a higher proliferation rate of this regulatory subpopulation when compared with the CD4(+) FoxP3(-) effector counterpart. Basal phosphorylation level of S6 kinase, a major mTOR-dependent molecular target, was substantially maintained in patients treated with everolimus. Moreover, oscillations in serum concentration of everolimus were associated with changes in basal and activation-dependent S6 kinase phosphorylation of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. Indeed, T cell receptor (TCR) triggering was observed to induce significantly higher S6 kinase phosphorylation in the presence of lower everolimus serum concentrations. These results unveil the complex mTOR-dependent immune-metabolic network leading to long-term immune-modulation and might have relevance for novel therapeutic settings in kidney transplants.

Cytotoxic effects of oxytetracycline residues in the bones of broiler chickens following therapeutic oral administration of a water formulation.

Tetracyclines, which represent one of the most commonly used antibiotics for poultry, are known to be deposited in bones, where they can remain, despite the observation of appropriate withdrawal times. The aim of the study was to determine the concentration of oxytretracycline (OTC) residues in the bone and muscle of chickens, following the oral administration of a commercially available liquid formulation, and to test their cytotoxic effects on an in vitro cell culture model. Seventy-two 1-day-old broiler chickens were randomly allotted into 2 groups (control and treated animals). OTC (40 mg/kg BW) was administered via drinking water during the 1 to 5 and 20 to 25 days of life periods. At the end of the trial, the birds were slaughtered and the OTC residues in the target tissues were measured by means of liquid chromatography (LC) - tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Cytotoxicity was assessed by evaluating the pro-apoptotic effect of the bone residues on the K562 erythroleukemic line and on the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). In all the animals, the OTC residues in the muscle were far below the established MRL of 100 µg/kg. The OTC levels in the bones of the treated animals were instead found in the parts per million (ppm) range. Cell cytotoxicity was assessed by evaluating the pro-apoptotic effect of OTC bone residues on the haematopoietic cell system. This in vitro system has revealed a significant pro-apoptotic effect on both the K562 cell line and PBMC cultures. This result suggests potential human and animal health risks due to the entry of tetracycline residues contained in the bones of treated livestock into the food-chain. This could be of concern, particularly for canine and feline diets, as meat, bone meal, and poultry by-products represent some of the main ingredients of pet foods, especially in the case of dry pet food. Further studies are needed to define the underlying mechanisms of cytotoxicity and to evaluate the in vivo toxicological implications due to the observed in vitro effects.

Perception of smoke-free policies among workers in an Italian Local Health Agency: survey of opinions, knowledge and behaviours.

AIM: This study evaluated the opinions and knowledge of the Health-Care-Workers and other employees about smoking in the workplace and investigated their perceptions about the implementation and strengthening of smoke-free policies and their views of proposed smoking cessation course. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed data resulting from a questionnaire administered in the Local Health Agency of Rieti (Italy). Comparisons have been made according to smoking status of participants: Ever Smokers (ES) or Never Smokers (NS). RESULTS: The study was conducted on a sample of 300 workers, the majority of whom think that the smoking ban is not observed in the workplace due to lack of respect for colleagues (59.2% of NS vs 40% of ES, p=0.022). Exposure to Secondhand smoke (SHS) is reported by 15.2% of ES and 30.3% of NS (p=0.006). About 50% of the participants think that the smoking ban has led to an improvement in the quality of interpersonal relationships. Strengthening the smoking ban through frequent inspections would be very effective according to 78% of ES and 88% of NS (p=0.043); having smoking cessation courses within the agency would be considered useful by 56% of ES and 68% of NS (p= 0.064). Relatively few respondents knew of the association between smoking and bladder cancer (35.2% of ES and 47.2% of NS, p=0.061), and asthma exacerbation (66% of ES and 77% of NS, p=0.040). Logistic regression models adjusted for age, gender, work categories and smoking status show that ES report that they are less likely to be exposed to SHS (OR= 0.42, 95% CI 0.22-0.78, p=0.006) and to think that people smoke because of lack of respect (OR= 0.46, 95% CI 0.24-0.87, p=0.018). More frequent inspections (OR= 0.50, 95% CI 0.26-0.95, p=0.037) and smoking cessation courses (OR= 0.61, 95% CI 0.37-1.00, p=0.053) are considered less effective by ES. ES are less likely to know that smoking is a cause of bladder cancer (OR= 0.54, 95% CI 0.32-0.90, p=0.019) and asthma exacerbation (OR= 0.53, 95% CI 0.31-0.92, p=0.023). Fifty-seven percent of current smokers would like to quit, but only 41% would join a cessation course in the agency. CONCLUSION: The results obtained may be used to analyze the effectiveness of tobacco control policy and programs aimed at freeing companies from smoke. Policy makers should provide the best possible protection for workers against exposure to SHS, in particular with enforcement of the smoking ban and smoking cessation courses tailored to maximize potential benefits for both workers and employers.

ER stress impairs MHC Class I surface expression and increases susceptibility of thyroid cells to NK-mediated cytotoxicity.

We recently reported that, in thyroid cells, ER stress triggered by thapsigargin or tunicamycin, two well known ER stressing agents, induced dedifferentiation and loss of the epithelial phenotype in rat thyroid cells. In this study, we sought to evaluate if, in thyroid cells, ER stress could affect MHC class I expression and the possible implications of this effect in the alteration of function of natural killer cells, suggesting a role in thyroid pathology. In both, a human line of fetal thyroid cells (TAD-2 cells) and primary cultures of human thyroid cells, thapsigargin and tunicamicin triggered ER stress evaluated by BiP mRNA levels and XBP-1 splicing. In both cell types, TAD-2 cell line and primary cultures, major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) plasmamembrane expression was significantly reduced by ER stress. This effect was accompanied by signs of natural killer activation. Thus, natural killer cells dramatically increased IFN-γ production and markedly increased their cytotoxicity against thyroid cells. Together, these data indicate that ER stress induces a decrease of MHC class I surface expression in thyroid cells, resulting in reduced natural killer-cell self-tolerance.

Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) and their HLA-ligands in Italian paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) patients.

Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) is a haematopoietic disorder characterized by expansion of phosphatidylinositol glycan-A-defective progenitor(s). Immune-dependent mechanisms, likely involving a deranged T cell-dependent autoimmune response, have been consistently associated with the selection/dominance of PNH precursors. Natural killer (NK) lymphocytes might participate in PNH pathogenesis, but their role is still controversial. NK activity is dependent on the balance between activating and inhibiting signals. Key component in such regulatory network is represented by killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR). KIR are also involved in the regulation of adaptive cytotoxic T cell response and associated with autoimmunity. This study investigated on the frequency of KIR genes and their known human leukocyte antigen (HLA) ligands in 53 PNH Italian patients. We observed increased frequency of genotypes characterized by ≤2 activating KIR as well as by the presence of an inhibitory/activating gene ratio ≥3.5. In addition, an increased matching between KIR-3DL1 and its ligand HLA-Bw4 was found. These genotypes might be associated with lower NK-dependent recognition of stress-related self molecules; this is conceivable with the hypothesis that an increased availability of specific T cell targets, not cleared by NK cells, could be involved in PNH pathogenesis. These data may provide new insights into autoimmune PNH pathogenesis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) management in an Italian pediatric clinic.

AIM: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common, chronic relapsing inflammatory skin disease characterized by dry skin and variable pruritus sometimes associated with allergic disease in other organs as asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis. AD affects deeply the Quality of Life, thus can be extremely disabling and may cause psychological problems for both affected children and their families. METHODS: In order to investigate the estimated prevalence of the disease and the beliefs of the Italian pediatricians, a group of 437 Italian family pediatricians covering a population of almost 380000 children participated in a study based on a questionnaire of 38 items. RESULTS: According to answers of the participants, the incidence of AD has been estimated around 10% of the population and food allergy is believed to be the trigger of the acute phase of the disease in infants. As a second opinion, dermatologists are consulted more frequently than allergologists. CONCLUSION: The use of emollients is advised in general whilst topical corticosteroids treatment is prescribed only in selected cases; more than 50% of pediatricians do not prescribe topical calcineurin inhibitors.

The relationship between alexithymia and maladaptive perfectionism in eating disorders: a mediation moderation analysis methodology.

OBJECTIVE: This work aimed to explore the relationship between alexithymia and maladaptive perfectionism in the psychological process leading to eating disorders (ED). METHOD: Forty-nine individuals with ED and 49 controls completed the Concern over Mistakes subscale of the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the Perfectionism subscale of the Eating Disorders Inventory, the total score of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and the Drive for Thinness, Bulimia, and Body Dissatisfaction subscales of the Eating Disorders Inventory. We tested a model in which alexythimia is the independent variable and perfectionism is the possible mediator or moderator. RESULTS: Analyses confirmed the assumed model. In addition, it emerged that perfectionism played a mediating or moderating role when measured by different instruments. This result suggested that different instruments measured subtly different aspects of the same construct. DISCUSSION: Results could suggest that alexithymia is a predisposing factor for perfectionism, which in turn may lead to the development of eating disorders.

Perfectionism as a mediator between perceived criticism and eating disorders.

OBJECTIVE: In this work we aimed to test the hypothesis that perfectionism plays a third variable role in the psychological process leading from perceived criticism to eating disorders (ED). METHOD: Forty-nine individuals with ED and 49 controls completed the Concern over Mistakes subscale of the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the Perceived Criticism Inventory, and the Drive for Thinness, Bulimia, and Body Dissatisfaction subscales of the Eating Disorders Inventory. Mediational and moderational models were tested. RESULTS: Analyses revealed that perfectionism mediates between perceived criticism and drive for thinness. Results for bulimia and body dissatisfaction were controversial. Moderational models were rejected. DISCUSSION: Results suggest that restrictive dieting is related to a process in which perceived criticism is the initial factor and perfectionism is an intervening mediator.

Defensive functions provoke similar psychophysiological reactions in reaching and comfort spaces.

The space around the body crucially serves a variety of functions, first and foremost, preserving one's own safety and avoiding injury. Recent research has shown that emotional information, in particular threatening facial expressions, affects the regulation of peripersonal-reaching space (PPS, for action with objects) and interpersonal-comfort space (IPS, for social interaction). Here we explored if emotional facial expressions may similarly or differently affect both spaces in terms of psychophysiological reactions (cardiac inter-beat intervals: IBIs, i.e. inverse of heart rate; Skin Conductance Response amplitude: SCR amplitude) and spatial distance. Through Immersive Virtual Reality technology, participants determined reaching-distance (PPS) and comfort-distance (IPS) from virtual confederates exhibiting happy/angry/neutral facial expressions while being approached by them. During these interactions, spatial distance and psychophysiological reactions were recorded. Results revealed that when interacting with angry virtual confederates the distance increased similarly in both comfort-social and reaching-action spaces. Moreover, interacting with virtual confederates exhibiting angry rather than happy or neutral expressions provoked similar psychophysiological activations (SCR amplitude, IBIs) in both spaces. Regression analyses showed that psychophysiological activations, particularly SCR amplitude in response to virtual confederates approaching with angry expressions, were able to predict the increase of PPS and IPS. These findings suggest that self-protection functions could be the expression of a common defensive mechanism shared by social and action spaces.

A new mechanism of NK cell cytotoxicity activation: the CD40-CD40 ligand interaction.

NK recognition is regulated by a delicate balance between positive signals initiating their effector functions, and inhibitory signals preventing them from proceeding to cytolysis. Knowledge of the molecules responsible for positive signaling in NK cells is currently limited. We demonstrate that IL-2-activated human NK cells can express CD40 ligand (CD40L) and that recognition of CD40 on target cells can provide an activation pathway for such human NK cells. CD40-transfected P815 cells were killed by NK cell lines expressing CD40L, clones and PBL-derived NK cells cultured for 18 h in the presence of IL-2, but not by CD40L-negative fresh NK cells. Cross-linking of CD40L on IL-2-activated NK cells induced redirected cytolysis of CD40-negative but Fc receptor-expressing P815 cells. The sensitivity of human TAP-deficient T2 cells could be blocked by anti-CD40 antibodies as well as by reconstitution of TAP/MHC class I expression, indicating that the CD40-dependent pathway for NK activation can be downregulated, at least in part, by MHC class I molecules on the target cells. NK cell recognition of CD40 may be important in immunoregulation as well as in immune responses against B cell malignancies.

Neural correlates of worry in generalized anxiety disorder and in normal controls: a functional MRI study.

BACKGROUND: Worry is considered a key feature of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), whose neural correlates are poorly understood. It is not known whether the brain regions involved in pathological worry are similar to those involved in worry-like mental activity in normal subjects or whether brain areas associated with worry are the same for different triggers such as verbal stimuli or faces. This study was designed to clarify these issues. METHOD: Eight subjects with GAD and 12 normal controls underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) mood induction paradigms based on spoken sentences or faces. Sentences were either neutral or designed to induce worry. Faces conveyed a sad or a neutral mood and subjects were instructed to empathize with those moods. RESULTS: We found that the anterior cingulate and dorsal medial prefrontal cortex [Brodmann area (BA) 32/23 and BA 10/11] were associated with worry triggered by sentences in both subjects with GAD and normal controls. However, GAD subjects showed a persistent activation of these areas even during resting state scans that followed the worrying phase, activation that correlated with scores on the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ). This region was activated during the empathy experiment for sad faces. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that worry in normal subjects and in subjects with GAD is based on activation of the medial prefrontal and anterior cingulate regions, known to be involved in mentalization and introspective thinking. A dysregulation of the activity of this region and its circuitry may underpin the inability of GAD patients to stop worrying.

Secondary immune-mediated thrombocytopenia in dogs naturally infected by Leishmania infantum.

Forty-four dogs naturally infected by Leishmania infantum were divided into two groups: 20 thrombocytopenic dogs with fewer than 150 x 10(9) platelets/l, and 24 non-thrombocytopenic dogs with more than 200 x 10(9) platelets/l. Ten clinically healthy dogs were used as controls. A haematological profile was obtained and the dogs' serum was used to assess the presence of platelet-binding IgM and IgG antibodies using a flow cytometry technique. Nineteen of the 20 thrombocytopenic dogs, and 13 of the 24 non-thrombocytopenic dogs had detectable levels of platelet-binding immunoglobulins, but none of the control dogs did so. The differences were significantly different for both IgM and IgG platelet-binding antibodies.

Eyes are bigger than the stomach: correlation between body mass index, satiety, and prediction of satiety.

We investigated if among adult subjects there is any correlation between body mass index (BMI), evaluation of current satiety after a standard meal and predicted satiety hypothesizing to have a second helping of the same food. One hundred and twenty-eight adult subjects randomly recruited during a village festival were included into the study; 20 were underweight, 74 normal weight and 34 overweight. Just after eating a highly caloric bean-soup, they were requested to evaluate current satiety and to predict their satiety before having a second helping of the same food they had just eaten to find out if there was any correlation between BMI and the evaluations. There was a significant negative correlation between participants' BMI and predicted satiety, no correlation was found between BMI and current satiety. The outcomes of the study give suggestions for prevention and treatment of overweight patients.

Neural correlates of egocentric and allocentric frames of reference combined with metric and non-metric spatial relations.

Spatial relations (SRs: coordinate/metric vs categorical/non metric) and frames of reference (FoRs: egocentric/body vs allocentric/external element) represent the building blocks underlying any spatial representation. In the present 7-T fMRI study we have identified for the first time the neural correlates of the spatial representations emerging from the combination of the two dimensions. The direct comparison between the different spatial representations revealed a bilateral fronto-parietal network, mainly right sided, that was more involved in the egocentric categorical representations. A right fronto-parietal circuitry was specialized for egocentric coordinate representations. A bilateral occipital network was more involved in the allocentric categorical representations. Finally, a smaller part of this bilateral network (i.e. Calcarine Sulcus and Lingual Gyrus), along with the right Supramarginal and Inferior Frontal gyri, supported the allocentric coordinate representations. The fact that some areas were more involved in a spatial representation than in others reveals how our brain builds adaptive spatial representations in order to effectively react to specific environmental needs and task demands.