A global perspective on bacterial diversity in the terrestrial deep subsurface.

While recent efforts to catalogue Earth's microbial diversity have focused upon surface and marine habitats, 12-20 % of Earth's biomass is suggested to exist in the terrestrial deep subsurface, compared to ~1.8 % in the deep subseafloor. Metagenomic studies of the terrestrial deep subsurface have yielded a trove of divergent and functionally important microbiomes from a range of localities. However, a wider perspective of microbial diversity and its relationship to environmental conditions within the terrestrial deep subsurface is still required. Our meta-analysis reveals that terrestrial deep subsurface microbiota are dominated by Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria and Firmicutes, probably as a function of the diverse metabolic strategies of these taxa. Evidence was also found for a common small consortium of prevalent Betaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria operational taxonomic units across the localities. This implies a core terrestrial deep subsurface community, irrespective of aquifer lithology, depth and other variables, that may play an important role in colonizing and sustaining microbial habitats in the deep terrestrial subsurface. An in silico contamination-aware approach to analysing this dataset underscores the importance of downstream methods for assuring that robust conclusions can be reached from deep subsurface-derived sequencing data. Understanding the global panorama of microbial diversity and ecological dynamics in the deep terrestrial subsurface provides a first step towards understanding the role of microbes in global subsurface element and nutrient cycling.

Cognitive style of patients with bulimic and diet-restricting anorexia nervosa.

Recent studies have reported that subjects with bulimic anorexia nervosa are more behaviorally impulsive than those with diet-restricting anorexia nervosa. This study found that bulimic anorexic patients made significantly more errors on the Matching Familiar Figures Test than restricting anorexic and comparison groups. This preliminary finding leads to the speculation that bulimic patients are more cognitively impulsive than restricting anorexic patients.

Psychosocial aspects of inflammatory bowel disease.

Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), chronic and potentially disabling diseases, affecting about 90 to 300 per 100,000 people in the general population. Although significant gains have been made in our understanding of these diseases, particularly with respect to pathophysiology and treatment, its etiology is still unknown. IBD is a significant disease that can severely impact one's psychological and social well-being. This article reviews the literature on the psychosocial aspects of IBD. We also address the importance of conceptualizing IBD from a biopsychosocial perspective, considering psychosocial factors along with disease activity. The biopsychosocial approach offers a broadened perspective that reflects the many factors that may contribute to the expression and maintenance of IBD symptoms. Issues of concerns for patients with IBD are also discussed. Finally, we highlight the importance of establishing a collaborative therapeutic relationship between patients and their physicians, facilitating open and honest discussions acknowledging patients' fears and concerns. In doing so, much of these IBD-related issues of concerns may be ameliorated, potentially improving one's coping abilities, and lead to an improved quality of life for individuals with inflammatory bowel disease.

Depression in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa: discriminating depressive symptoms and episodes.

In a clinical sample of 198 female patients with anorexia nervosa (N = 83) and bulimia nervosa (N = 115), 43% met criteria for major depression using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSMIII-R. This group had a mean score of 30.9 +/- 8.7 on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) which was significantly higher than the BDI mean score of 20.5 +/- 8.9 among the remainder of the sample (p < 0.0001). A score of 26 yielded the highest levels of sensitivity and specificity, while five items from the BDI (loss of satisfaction, discouragement, weight loss, suicidal ideation and decision-making) correctly classified approximately 80% of subjects into "depression-positive" or "depression-negative" categories. Detection of co-morbid depression in patients with eating disorders may have practical implications for treatment.

Features of eating disorders in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

The relationship between characteristics of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and eating disorders (ED) was investigated in a clinical sample of 43 female and 17 male IBS patients who completed the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI). A diagnosis of IBS was generally unrelated to the Body Dissatisfaction, Perfectionism, and Ineffectiveness subscales of the EDI, but symptom severity was correlated with Perfectionism and Ineffectiveness. Severe bouts of vomiting were significantly associated with desires for lower body weight and reported binge-purge behaviors and cognitions measured by the Bulimia subscale of the EDI. Results suggest the need for a more comprehensive understanding of both types of illness as well as a possible framework for future empirical work.

Influence of sex and disease on illness-related concerns in inflammatory bowel disease.

UNLABELLED: Identifying the normal concerns of people with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease (CD) facilitates a comprehensive approach to their medical care. Clinically, it can be easily appreciated that the concerns of men and women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may differ and that this may have a substantial impact on both coping and treatment decisions. However, sex differences have received little empirical study. METHODS: Significant differences between the sexes on the 25 items of the Rating Form of IBD Patient Concerns (RFIPC) were determined in 343 subjects by univariate ANOVA with disease type and sex as factors, correcting for multiple comparisons and covarying for IBD symptom severity. RESULTS: Compared with men, women reported higher levels of IBD symptom severity and higher overall RFIPC scores. Women were more concerned than men about feelings related to their bodies, attractiveness, feeling alone and having children. There was an interaction between disease and sex regarding concern about sexual performance and intimacy. In both cases, men with CD reported less concern than each other comparison group. The illness concerns that differ between sexes are not the most intense concerns in either sex. DISCUSSION: These results confirm that sex has a significant influence on a number of illness concerns, particularly concerns related to self-image and relationships. The interaction of disease type and sex with respect to concern over sexual performance and intimacy is open to several potential explanations and requires further research. Sex differences should be considered in the treatment of IBD. Specific inquiry into sex-specific concerns may be useful for the clinician. Further research is required to replicate these retrospective findings.

Health-related concerns of people who receive psychological support for inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: People with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) cope with a number of disease-specific concerns, which may result in referrals for supportive counselling. OBJECTIVE: To determine differences between the health-related concerns of people with IBD who seek counselling or are referred for psychiatric assessment and those who have no recent contact with counselling or psychiatry. METHODS: Forty-five consecutive patients with IBD referred for psychiatric consultation and 31 IBD out-patients who had recent counselling were compared with 190 IBD out-patients at the same hospital with no recent history of counselling. Disease-related concerns, demographic data and perceived symptom severity were assessed with self-report instruments. RESULTS: Counselling patients had greater overall intensity of concern. Counselling patients differed from noncounselling patients on several measures related to illness severity and were more likely to be female. Correcting statistically for illness severity and sex, the counselled patients had significantly higher levels of concern about being a burden, pain and suffering, feeling out of control, financial difficulties, feeling alone, sexual performance, feeling dirty or smelly and being treated as different. CONCLUSIONS: Beyond the intensity of their physical suffering, patients who seek counselling report a pattern of concern in which interpersonal and emotional concerns are prominent compared with those of out-patients who do not seek counselling. Clinicians should be aware of interpersonal concerns, which may increase the need for empathic support. Psychosocial interventions in IBD may be indicated without respect to psychiatric comorbidity.

The relationship between nurses' limit-setting styles and anger in psychiatric inpatients.

OBJECTIVE: Violence by patients in psychiatric settings is frequently associated with the quality of staff-patient interactions. Impulsivity has been identified as a high risk factor for anger and aggression. This study was designed to test the influence of nurses' limit-setting styles on anger among psychiatric inpatients grouped by high or low levels of impulsivity. METHODS: Ninety-seven patients with various diagnoses and either high or low levels of impulsivity participated in role-play scenarios in which nurse actors played out six limit-setting styles, ranging from belittlement to explanations of rules to empathy linked with a presentation of an alternative course of action. Patients' level of anger in response to the acted scenario was assessed using the Spielberger State-Trait Anger Scale. RESULTS: Patients' level of anger was highest in response to unempathic limit-setting styles, moderate for explanations, and lowest for empathic styles. Impulsive subjects were more likely to respond with anger than nonimpulsive patients, regardless of the limit-setting style. CONCLUSIONS: Although many current intervention programs focus on reducing patients' anger after it occurs, the study results suggest that it may be possible to prevent some of patients' anger by improving nurses' limit-setting styles.

Self-esteem as a predictor of attitudes toward wife abuse among Muslim women and men in Canada.

This study was designed (a) to assess attitudes toward wife abuse in a sample of Muslim women and men in Canada and (b) to assess whether those attitudes were influenced by self-esteem. Results suggested that, as in general North American samples, the Muslim women and men did not differ from each other on levels of self-esteem. Also consistent with general North American samples, the Muslim women's and men's attitudes toward wife abuse were related to their self-esteem, with higher self-esteem scores predicting stronger attitudes against wife abuse, independent of gender. However, the results also revealed that the Muslim men had significantly more lenient attitudes toward wife abuse compared with the Muslim women and with North American norms.

Cognitive-behavioral group therapy for patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

This article is divided into two parts, the first of which focuses on a general overview of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and provides a rationale for the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for IBS based on both theoretical and research perspectives. This section includes a critical review of CBT therapies for IBS and provides a model of CBT for IBS. The second section provides the clinician with practical information concerning the application of cognitive-behavioral group therapy for IBS. Possible scripts and case examples are incorporated into this section to highlight factors that may arise in working with IBS patients relative to other clinical groups. The second section also contains themes that are suggested content areas for group sessions. Contingent on the formulation of the presenting or emerging issues and goals, the order and inclusion of themes can be changed to fit the particular needs of a given group. Finally, this section provides initial preliminary data from a randomized controlled study that is suggestive of the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy for IBS.

Carbon adsorption onto Fe oxyhydroxide stalks produced by a lithotrophic iron-oxidizing bacteria.

Iron (Fe)-oxidizing bacteria have the potential to produce morphologically unique structures that may be used as biosignatures in geological deposits. One particular example is Mariprofundus ferrooxydans, which produces extracellular twisted ribbon-like stalks consisting of ferrihydrite, co-located with organic and inorganic elements. It is currently thought that M. ferrooxydans excrete and co-precipitate polysaccharides and Fe simultaneously; however, the cellular production of these polysaccharides has yet to be confirmed. Here, we report on a time-series study that used scanning transmission X-ray microscopy and C 1s and Ca 2p near-edge X-ray adsorption fine structure spectroscopy to investigate production of polysaccharides over the growth cycle of M. ferrooxydans. The production and morphology of twisted iron stalks were consistent with previous observations, but unexpectedly, in the log phase, the carbon content of the stalks was extremely low. It was not until stationary growth phase that a significant component of carbon was detected on the stalks. During the log phase, low levels of carbon, only detectable when the stalks were thin, suggested that M. ferrooxydans produce an extracellular polysaccharide template onto which the Fe precipitates. By stationary phase, the increased carbon association with the stalks was a result of adsorption of organic compounds that were released during osmotic shock post-stalk production. In the environment, elevated concentrations of DOC could adsorb onto the Fe stalks as well as a number of other elements, for example, Si, P, Ca, which, by preventing chemical interactions between the Fe nanoparticles, will prevent structural deformation during recrystallization and preserve the structure of these filaments in the rock record.

Ultra-diffuse hydrothermal venting supports Fe-oxidizing bacteria and massive umber deposition at 5000 m off Hawaii.

A novel hydrothermal field has been discovered at the base of Loihi Seamount, Hawaii, at 5000 mbsl. Geochemical analyses demonstrate that 'FeMO Deep', while only 0.2 °C above ambient seawater temperature, derives from a distal, ultra-diffuse hydrothermal source. FeMO Deep is expressed as regional seafloor seepage of gelatinous iron- and silica-rich deposits, pooling between and over basalt pillows, in places over a meter thick. The system is capped by mm to cm thick hydrothermally derived iron-oxyhydroxide- and manganese-oxide-layered crusts. We use molecular analyses (16S rDNA-based) of extant communities combined with fluorescent in situ hybridizations to demonstrate that FeMO Deep deposits contain living iron-oxidizing Zetaproteobacteria related to the recently isolated strain Mariprofundus ferroxydans. Bioenergetic calculations, based on in-situ electrochemical measurements and cell counts, indicate that reactions between iron and oxygen are important in supporting chemosynthesis in the mats, which we infer forms a trophic base of the mat ecosystem. We suggest that the biogenic FeMO Deep hydrothermal deposit represents a modern analog for one class of geological iron deposits known as 'umbers' (for example, Troodos ophilolites, Cyprus) because of striking similarities in size, setting and internal structures.

Colorectal cancer survivors undergoing genetic testing for hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer: motivational factors and psychosocial functioning.

Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) represents about 1-3% of all cases of colorectal cancer (CRC). The objectives of the study were to examine motivational factors, expectations and psychosocial functioning in a sample of CRC survivors undergoing genetic testing for HNPCC. A cross-sectional survey of 314 colorectal cancer patients recruited through a population-based colon cancer family registry was conducted. Motivations for genetic testing for hereditary cancer were similar to those of clinic-based samples of CRC patients and included learning of the increased risk to offspring and finding out if additional screening was needed. While age at diagnosis and sex were associated with psychological functioning, significant predictors of post-counseling distress were perceived lower satisfaction with social support, an escape-avoidant coping style and the anticipation of becoming depressed if a mutation was present. Most cancer survivors anticipated disclosing test results to relatives and physicians. Cancer survivors reported several motivations for genetic testing for HNPCC that varied by sex. A subgroup of survivors with lower satisfaction with social support and an escape-avoidant coping style were worried about the potential impact of genetic test results and demonstrated more distress following counseling. Findings have implications for future research and potential support needs during the genetic counseling and testing process.

Communication cost of simulating Bell correlations.

What classical resources are required to simulate quantum correlations? For the simplest and most important case of local projective measurements on an entangled Bell pair state, we show that exact simulation is possible using local hidden variables augmented by just one bit of classical communication. Certain quantum teleportation experiments, which teleport a single qubit, therefore admit a local hidden variables model.

Bell inequalities with auxiliary communication.

What is the communication cost of simulating the correlations produced by quantum theory? We generalize Bell inequalities to the setting of local realistic theories augmented by a fixed amount of classical communication. Suppose two parties choose one of M two-outcome measurements and exchange 1 bit of information. We present the complete set of inequalities for M=2, and the complete set of inequalities for the joint correlation observable for M=3. We find that correlations produced by quantum theory satisfy both of these sets of inequalities. One bit of communication is therefore sufficient to simulate quantum correlations in both of these scenarios.

Gender role and irritable bowel syndrome: literature review and hypothesis.

Studies examining the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) consistently show that women outnumber men in both patient and nonpatient populations. However, because IBS does affect both women and men, it is important to examine and to understand gender similarities and differences in the expression of this complex disorder. Studies that have explored gender differences have focused their investigations on prevalence and health seeking behavior, physical and psychological symptomotology, and abuse history. This article reviews and summarizes the findings from those studies. As well, whereas the literature examining differences between men and women with IBS has focused on distinctions based on the biological sex of study participants, this article offers an alternate approach to the exploration of gender differences. The concept of gender role, defined as generalizations about appropriate male and female traits that are associated with masculinity and femininity, may further our understanding of IBS in both women and men.

Affective and anxiety disorders in the long-term follow-up of anorexia nervosa.

This study investigated the incidence and onset of affective and anxiety disorders in women who were diagnosed with anorexia nervosa five to fourteen years earlier. Based on the clinical outcome of anorexia nervosa, patients were classified as asymptomatic, improved or symptomatic. Affective and anxiety disorders were assessed by a structured psychiatric interview (Diagnostic Interview Schedule). Results indicated that affective and anxiety disorders developed frequently, regardless of outcome of anorexia nervosa. Major depression and anxiety disorders developed before the eating disorder in one-half and three-quarters of these cases respectively. The symptomatic group had a significantly higher incidence of anxiety disorders prior to the development of their eating disorder compared with the asymptomatic group.

Psychological factors in irritable bowel syndrome.

This paper describes the prevalence and incidence of psychiatric disorders in IBS patients using a standardized psychiatric interview, and proposes a psychological model for investigating one aspect of IBS. Forty-four IBS patients and 28 nonclinical participants received a psychiatric interview (Diagnostic Interview Schedule) and completed the Lie Scale of the Eysenck Personality Inventory (L-EPI). Results indicated that a significant percentage (59%) of the IBS group met DSM-III criteria for a psychiatric disorder within the last year, far more than occurred in the matched nonclinical comparison group. Relative to the comparison group, the IBS group also had significantly higher lie scores on the EPI indicating a response style of social desirability. On the basis of these findings, together with earlier work by Latimer's group, a conceptual model was formulated on the notion that some IBS patients may have a self-schema (i.e. knowledge of self, stored in memory) characterized by social desirability. We suggest that the construct of self-schema may be helpful in differentiating IBS from psychiatric groups both conceptually and therapeutically.

Long-term follow-up of anorexia nervosa.

This study compared the long-term outcome of restricting and bulimic anorexic women using standardized psychometric instruments in addition to global clinical ratings. Results indicated that, in general, restricting and bulimic anorexic subtypes did not differ in their long-term outcome according to clinical ratings and standardized assessments of anorexic symptoms, psychiatric diagnoses, and psychosocial functioning. The only exception to this pattern was that the bulimic group had a higher incidence of substance use disorders during the last year compared with the restricting group. Findings also indicated that relative to a matched comparison group of women of average weight, a significant percentage of anorexics from both subtypes met DSM-III criteria for an affective or anxiety disorder at some point in their lives as well as at long-term follow-up. Results are discussed in terms of theoretical and methodologic issues involved in the long-term follow-up of anorexia nervosa.