Coping Under Extreme Conditions: Do Coping Dispositions Matter.

ABSTRACT: The role of coping dispositions in predicting coping with a potentially traumatic event (PTE; situational coping) has been bypassed. We explored the degree to which the dispositional coping of 103 mountain rescuers predicted coping with their last PTE. Dispositional venting of emotions and turning to religion explained more than half of the variance in the use of the same strategy to cope with the PTE. Most coping dispositions predicted about 30% to 40% of the variance in comparable situational coping. Dispositional denial did not predict situational use of denial. Multivariate dispositional coping style explained a great deal of the variance in most situational coping responses. Dispositional coping was more relevant than situational to participants' global psychological distress and explained about one-fourth of the variance in distress. These results suggest that most dispositional styles considerably impact coping with PTE but to the extent that varies across different coping styles.

Expression of chemokine receptor CX3CR1 in infants with respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) glycoprotein G mimics fractalkine, a CX(3)C chemokine, which mediates chemotaxis of leukocytes expressing its receptor, CX(3)CR1. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between RSV infection and expression of perforin and IFN-gamma in CX(3)CR1-expressing peripheral blood CD8(+) T cells. Samples were collected from infants with RSV bronchiolitis, both in the acute and convalescence phase (n = 12), and from their age- and sex-matched healthy controls (n = 15). Perforin expression and IFN-gamma secretion in CX(3)CR1(+) CD8(+) T cells were assessed by four-color flow cytometry. The NF-kappaB p50 and p65 subunit levels were also determined as markers of RSV-induced inflammation. Study results showed perforin and CX(3)CR1 expression to be significantly lower in the convalescent phase of infected infants than in healthy controls. There was no significant difference in IFN-gamma secretion and NF-kappaB binding activity between two time-points in RSV-infected infants, or when compared with healthy controls. Infants with prolonged wheezing had lower acute-phase CX(3)CR1 levels in peripheral blood. These data indicate existence of an event persisting after acute RSV infection that is able to modulate effector functions of cytotoxic T cells, and also link disease severity with CX(3)CR1 expression.

Posttraumatic stress disorder: diagnostic data analysis by data mining methodology.

AIM: To use data mining methods in assessing diagnostic symptoms in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). METHODS. The study included 102 inpatients: 51 with a diagnosis of PTSD and 51 with psychiatric diagnoses other than PTSD. Several models for predicting diagnosis were built using the random forest classifier, one of the intelligent data analysis methods. The first prediction model was based on a structured psychiatric interview, the second on psychiatric scales (Clinician-administered PTSD Scale--CAPS, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale--PANSS, Hamilton Anxiety Scale--HAMA, and Hamilton Depression Scale--HAMD), and the third on combined data from both sources. Additional models placing more weight on one of the classes (PTSD or non-PTSD) were trained, and prototypes representing subgroups in the classes constructed. RESULTS: The first model was the most relevant for distinguishing PTSD diagnosis from comorbid diagnoses such as neurotic, stress-related, and somatoform disorders. The second model pointed out the scores obtained on the CAPS scale and additional PANSS scales, together with comorbid diagnoses of neurotic, stress-related, and somatoform disorders as most relevant. In the third model, psychiatric scales and the same group of comorbid diagnoses were found to be most relevant. Specialized models placing more weight on either the PTSD or non-PTSD class were able to better predict their targeted diagnoses at some expense of overall accuracy. Class subgroup prototypes mainly differed in values achieved on psychiatric scales and frequency of comorbid diagnoses. CONCLUSION: Our work demonstrated the applicability of data mining methods for the analysis of structured psychiatric data for PTSD. In all models, the group of comorbid diagnoses, including neurotic, stress-related, and somatoform disorders, surfaced as important. The important attributes of the data, based on the structured psychiatric interview, were the current symptoms and conditions such as presence and degree of disability, hospitalizations, and duration of military service during the war, while CAPS total scores, symptoms of increased arousal, and PANSS additional criteria scores were indicated as relevant from the psychiatric symptom scales.

[Regulatory T cells]. / Regulacijski T-limfociti.

Regulatory T-cells are a subset of T cells that have beene extensively studied in modern immunology. They are important for the maintenance of peripheral tolerance, and have an important role in various clinical conditions such as allergy, autoimmune disorders, tumors, infections, and in transplant medicine. Basically, this population has a suppressive effect on the neighboring immune cells, thus contributing to the local modulation and control of immune response. There are two main populations of regulatory T cells - natural regulatory T cells, which form a distinct cellular lineage, develop in thymus and perform their modulatory action through direct intercellular contact, along with the secreted cytokines; and inducible regulatory T cells, which develop in the periphery after contact with the antigen that is presented on the antigen presenting cell, and their primary mode of action is through the interleukin 10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-alpha) cytokines. Natural regulatory T cells are activated through T cell receptor after contact with specific antigen and inhibit proliferation of other T cells in an antigen independent manner. One of the major difficulties in the research of regulatory T cells is the lack of specific molecular markers that would identify these cells. Natural regulatory T cells constitutively express surface molecule CD25, but many other surface and intracellular molecules (HLA-DR, CD122, CD45RO, CD62, CTLA-4, GITR, PD-1, Notch, FOXP3, etc.) are being investigated for further phenotypic characterization of these cells. Because regulatory T cells have an important role in establishing peripheral tolerance, their importance is manifested in a number of clinical conditions. In the IPEX syndrome (immunodysregulation, polyendocrinopathy and enteropathy, X-linked), which is caused by mutation in Foxp3 gene that influences the development and function of regulatory T cells, patients develop severe autoimmune reactions that involve autoimmune endocrine disorders (type 1 diabetes, thyroiditis), respiratory and nutritive allergy, eczema and severe infections. In different types of allergy (pollen allergy, dust mite, nutritive allergens, contact hypersensitivity, etc.) and autoimmune diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes) a lower number or decreased functional capability of regulatory T cells have been described. In inflammatory conditions and infections, this cell population has an important task in restricting immune response and protecting the host from excessive damage. This ability of regulatory T cells can be used by some pathogens (Epstein Barr virus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Leishmania major, etc.) and tumor cells to avoid host response and therefore contribute to the development of some pathological conditions. The knowledge gained on the phenotype and function of regulatory T cells could be useful in many medical conditions. In allergy, autoimmune diseases and in transplant procedures in medicine it would be desirable to increase their function, thus to partially suppress the immune system activity. On the other hand, in some infections and tumors, it would be preferable to decrease the activity of regulatory T cells and boost the function of effector T cells. Regulatory T cells comprise a very active field of immunology, therefore monitoring and modulating of their activity is of great potential significance in a broad spectrum of clinical conditions. By developing and standardizing methods for their monitoring, it would be possible to follow additional parameters of certain clinical conditions and possibly utilize them in therapy.

Psychiatric aspects of normal and pathological lying.

The paper outlines the difference between the so-called normal (common) lying and pathological lying. Pathological lying is an intriguing topic, still lacking any strong professional consensus, clear etiology, treatment options and prognoses. The paper explores some possible psychological mechanisms of pathological lying, reviews biological factors in pathological lying, and considers forensic significance of normal and pathological lying. The relationship between pathological lying and mental disorders is also discussed. The authors suggest that lying should be considered as a heterogenic and multidimensional behavioral pattern. The paper highlights how important it is to assess the patient's control over lying, the function of lying, insight into and awareness of lying, as well as the effect of lying on everyday functioning.

Effect of house dust mite immunotherapy on transforming growth factor beta1-producing T cells in asthmatic children.

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence suggests that regulatory T cells (Treg cells) and immunosuppressive cytokines, such as transforming growth factor BETA1 (TGF-BETA1) and interleukin 10 (IL-10), may have a role in clinically effective allergen specific immunotherapy (SIT). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of SIT on the induction of Treg cells in house dust mite-allergic children and on the expression of specific Treg cell markers (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 [CTLA-4], IL-10, and TGF-BETA1). METHODS: In this uncontrolled open-label study, the percentage of peripheral blood CD4+ Treg cells (CD69 CD45RO+CTLA-4+ and CD3+CD4+CD25+FOXP3+) and the expression of molecules associated with their functions (CTLA-4, TGF-BETA1, and IL-10) were analyzed using flow cytometry in 16 children allergic to house dust mites before and at 3 and 12 months of subcutaneous SIT. Clinical variables, such as symptom score, medication requirements, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, peak expiratory flow rate, and serum IgE levels, were also determined. Ten healthy children were included as controls. RESULTS: All the clinical variables improved during immunotherapy. The percentage of CD4+CD25+CD69-CD45RO+ Treg cells remained unchanged. The percentage of CTLA-4+ -expressing Treg cells transiently increased after 3 months of immunotherapy, whereas the percentage of FOXP3+ Treg cells did not change after 1 year of immunotherapy. Levels of IL-10+ cells transiently decreased after 3 months of immunotherapy. Four children who required inhaled fluticasone propionate administration for significant symptom worsening had no statistically significant increase in TGF-BETA1-secreting T cells at 12 months of SIT, in contrast to 12 children without inhaled corticosteroid treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in TGF-BETA1-positive T cells only in children without significant symptom worsening requiring inhaled corticosteroid treatment limits the usefulness of TGF-BETA1 in monitoring response to allergen immunotherapy.