ABSTRACT
Objective: More empirical research is needed to disentangle the phenotypes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and cluster C personality symptomatology (CCPD), as both show similarities in their clinical presentation. We explored personality and psychopathology dimensions as conceptualized in contemporary dimensional taxonomies (i.e., hierarchical taxonomy of psychopathology; HiTOP) in adults with ASD without intellectual disability operationalized by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF). Method: Applying secondary analytic processes using clinical data, we cross-examined the MMPI-2-RF profiles of adults with ASD (n = 28) compared to adults with Cluster C personality disorders (CCPD; n = 28) and a control group (n = 28) by conducting nonparametric tests and assessing effect sizes. Results: The profiles of the ASD and CCPD groups evidenced to be similar, and both average clinical profiles diverged from the average control group profiles by elevated levels of demoralization, internalizing, and somatization symptomatology. There were small differences between the average profiles of adults with ASD and adults with CCPD. Additional research using dimensional measures of psychopathology could elucidate the dimensional phenotypes of ASD and CCPD. Conclusions: Based on the results in this study, the MMPI-2-RF may not meaningfully discriminate between the two clinical presentations, with the exception of various externalizing scales.
ABSTRACT
We applied a Bayesian Constraint-based Causal Discovery method (BCCD) to examine the hierarchical structure of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) Restructured Clinical (RC) scales. Two different general psychopathology super spectra (p-factor) scales were extracted from (1) all RC scales and (2) all RC scales except the RCd (Demoralization) scale. These p-factor scales were included in separate models to investigate the structure of dimensions of psychopathology in a normative (n = 3,242) and clinical (n = 2,466) sample, as well as the combined normative/clinical sample (N = 5,708), by applying the BCCD algorithm to obtain a data-driven reconstruction of the internal hierarchical structure of the MMPI-2-RF. Research on the underlying structure of the MMPI-2-RF has clinical relevance as well as conceptual relevance in the context of the HiTOP model. Results demonstrated that the syndromes measured with the RC-scales-in presence of a p-factor-cluster into six spectra: internalizing, disinhibited-externalizing, antagonistic-externalizing, thought disorder, detachment, and somatoform. These results may support a super spectrum construct, as it was necessary for obtaining a bottom-up reconstruction of this six-spectrum structure. We found support for superiority of a broad super spectrum with additional variance over and above demoralization, as it resulted in the clearest structure (i.e., clustering of the RC scales). Furthermore, our results indicate independent support for the bifactor structure model of psychopathology.
ABSTRACT
The long-term stability of maladaptive personality traits in the general population has been under-investigated. The current study examined the longitudinal 20-year mean-level stability and rank-order consistency of five maladaptive personality traits-as measured with the Personality Psychopathology-5-r scales. Correlations and regression analysis were conducted to test both types of stability comparing raw scores of scale administrations in a general population sample in both 1992 and 2012 (N = 65). Repeated measures analysis of variance demonstrated significant mean-level stability of the PSY-5-r traits over 20 years. The PSY-5-r scales demonstrated significant rank-order consistency as evidenced by correlational analyses and reliability coefficients. The scales Aggressiveness-r (r = .73), Neuroticism/Negative Emotionality-r (r = .65), Introversion/Low Positive Emotionality-r (r = .63), and Disconstraint-r (r = .56), evidenced strong rank-order stability, whereas Psychoticism-r (r = .3) showed moderate rank-order consistency. The results of the present study indicate that maladaptive personality traits as measured with the PSY-5-r scales are relatively stable over 20 years in an adult community population.
Subject(s)
Personality Assessment/standards , Personality Disorders/psychology , Personality , Adaptation, Psychological , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Psychometrics/instrumentation , Psychometrics/methods , Regression Analysis , Reproducibility of Results , Self-AssessmentABSTRACT
Identifying autism in clinical practice is complex because the causes of autism are still unclear and the features of autism are highly diverse. The Empathizing-Systemizing theory is successful in interpreting the core features of autism, both social and non-social, compared to other current theories of autism. This study provides an overview of the current state of research regarding the systemizing concept. High systemizing abilities are characteristic and specific in autism and as a result, three non-social features of autism are seen: restricted and repetitive behavior, obsessional interests, and, savant skills. We found solid evidence that, in order to identify autism in clinical practice, at least the use of an instrument which is specialized in measuring one's systemizing abilities is required.
Subject(s)
Autistic Disorder/diagnosis , Achievement , Child, Preschool , Cognition , Empathy , Female , Humans , Male , Psychological Theory , Sex FactorsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Data on long-term consequences of neonatal pain is limited. AIM: To assess whether perinatal factors, later pain experience and pain coping strategies are associated with altered pain threshold, pain tolerance and pain intensity in adolescents born preterm. STUDY DESIGN: Observational, longitudinal study (Project on Preterm and SGA-infants, POPS-19). SUBJECTS: We analyzed data of 412 adolescents at the age of 19years, who were born at a gestational age<32weeks or with a birth weight<1500g. OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants performed a standardized cold pressor test to assess pain threshold, tolerance and intensity. Furthermore, they completed a pain coping questionnaire (PCQ). RESULTS: In univariate analysis, female gender and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) were associated with lower pain tolerance, indicated by reaching the ceiling time of 180s in ice water (females 19% vs males 29%, NEC 7% vs no NEC 25%). Female gender was associated with higher pain intensity (mean difference 0.58; 95%CI 0.21; 0.95) and lower pain threshold (log rank test p 0.007). In a multivariate Cox regression analyses, emotion focused avoidance pain coping style was significantly associated with lower pain threshold (hazard ratio HR 1.38; 95%CI 1.02; 1.87) and pain tolerance (HR 1.72; 95%CI 1.21; 2.42). NEC was significantly associated with lower pain threshold (HR 1.47; 95%CI 1.01; 2.14) and pain tolerance (HR 1.63; 95%CI 1.09; 2.41). CONCLUSION: In adolescence, maladaptive pain coping strategy was associated with lower pain threshold, pain tolerance and higher pain intensity. NEC was associated with altered pain response in adolescents born preterm.
Subject(s)
Infant, Extremely Premature , Infant, Low Birth Weight , Pain Threshold/physiology , Enterocolitis, Necrotizing/complications , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Young AdultABSTRACT
Despite similar emotional deficiencies, primary psychopathic individuals can be situated on a continuum that spans from controlled to disinhibited. The constructs on which primary psychopaths are found to diverge, such as self-control, cognitive flexibility, and executive functioning, are crucially regulated by dopamine (DA). As such, the goal of this review is to examine which specific alterations in the meso-cortico-limbic DA system and corresponding genes (e.g., TH, DAT, COMT, DRD2, DRD4) might bias development towards a more controlled or disinhibited expression of primary psychopathy. Based on empirical data, it is argued that primary psychopathy is generally related to a higher tonic and population activity of striatal DA neurons and lower levels of D2-type DA receptors in meso-cortico-limbic projections, which may boost motivational drive towards incentive-laden goals, dampen punishment sensitivity, and increase future reward-expectancy. However, increasingly higher levels of DA activity in the striatum (moderate versus pathological elevations), lower levels of DA functionality in the prefrontal cortex, and higher D1-to-D2-type receptor ratios in meso-cortico-limbic projections may lead to increasingly disinhibited and impetuous phenotypes of primary psychopathy. Finally, in order to provide a more coherent view on etiological mechanisms, we discuss interactions between DA and serotonin that are relevant for primary psychopathy.
Subject(s)
Corpus Striatum/physiology , Dopamine/physiology , Limbic System/physiology , Corpus Striatum/metabolism , Dopamine/metabolism , Executive Function , Humans , Limbic System/metabolism , Motivation , Prefrontal Cortex/metabolism , Prefrontal Cortex/physiology , Receptors, Dopamine/physiology , Receptors, Dopamine D1 , Receptors, Dopamine D2/metabolism , Reward , Serotonin/metabolismABSTRACT
An overview of the literature and theories concerning revenge is presented in this study. The aim is to clarify the boundaries between a healthy and pathological way of dealing with revenge to improve diagnostics, with regard to both theory and clinical practice. Revenge is an intrapersonal phenomenon and the extent to which people need revenge has a certain degree of stability. A healthy way of dealing with revenge may restore the psychological balance that has previously been disturbed. However, the desire for revenge can be long-lasting and dysfunctional due to, among other things, early problems in development and specific personality traits. Consequently, a pathological way of dealing with revenge can be part of a disorder and can lead to destructive acts such as homicide and even mass murder. Some clinical examples are presented and points of attention regarding diagnostics and treatment are discussed.
Subject(s)
Aggression/psychology , Character , Homicide/psychology , Individuality , Psychological Theory , Rage , Humans , Power, Psychological , Psychopathology , Social ResponsibilityABSTRACT
This study investigates the relationship between the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) in a combined data set (N = 491) of patients with a broad range of psychiatric disorders (n = 286) as well as alcohol use disorder (n = 205). We examined bivariate correlations between both measures. The MMPI-2-RF scales relate to the TCI dimensions as was hypothesized, and relationships between both measurements were largely similar for psychiatric patients and alcohol-dependent patients. Theoretical and clinical implications are considered.
Subject(s)
MMPI , Temperament , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Mental Disorders/psychology , Middle Aged , Personality Disorders/diagnosis , Personality Inventory , Young AdultABSTRACT
Since its theoretical inception, psychopathy has been considered by philosophers, clinicians, theorists, and empirical researchers to be substantially and critically explained by genetic factors. In this systematic review and structural analysis, new hypotheses will be introduced regarding gene-gene and gene-environment interactions in the etiology of psychopathy and sociopathy. Theory and research from neurobiological and behavioral sciences will be integrated in order to place this work in a broader conceptual framework and promote synergy across fields. First, a between groups comparison between psychopathy and sociopathy is made based on their specific dysfunctions in emotional processing, behavioral profiles, etiological pathways, HPA-axis functioning, and serotonergic profiles. Next, it is examined how various polymorphisms in serotonergic genes (e.g., TPH, 5HTT, HTR1A, HTR2A, HTR2C, and HTR3) might contribute either individually or interactively to the development of these disorders and through which specific biological and behavioral endophenotypes this effect could be mediated. A short introduction is made into mediating variables such as GABAergic functioning and testosterone which could potentially alter the decisive effect of serotonergic genotypes on behavior and physiology. Finally, critical commentary is presented on how to interpret the hypotheses put forward in this review.
Subject(s)
Antisocial Personality Disorder/etiology , Mental Disorders/etiology , Serotonin/physiology , Amygdala/physiopathology , Antisocial Personality Disorder/genetics , Antisocial Personality Disorder/physiopathology , Gene-Environment Interaction , Humans , Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System/physiopathology , Mental Disorders/genetics , Mental Disorders/physiopathology , Pituitary-Adrenal System/physiopathology , Polymorphism, Genetic , Serotonin/biosynthesisABSTRACT
Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant bone tumour in children and adolescents. Despite aggressive therapy, survival outcomes remain unsatisfactory, especially for patients with metastatic disease or patients with a poor chemotherapy response. Chemoresistance contributes to treatment failure. To increase the efficacy of conventional chemotherapy, essential survival pathways should be targeted concomitantly. Here, we performed a loss-of-function siRNA screen of the human kinome in SaOS-2 cells to identify critical survival kinases after doxorubicin treatment. Gene silencing of JNK-interacting-protein-1 (JIP1) elicited the most potent sensitisation to doxorubicin. This candidate was further explored as potential target for chemosensitisation in OS. A panel of OS cell lines and human primary osteoblasts was examined for sensitisation to doxorubicin using small molecule JIP1-inhibitor BI-78D3. JIP1 expression and JIP1-inhibitor effects on JNK-signalling were investigated by Western blot analysis. JIP1 expression in human OS tumours was assessed by immunohistochemistry on tissue micro arrays. BI-78D3 blocked JNK-signalling and sensitised three out of four tested OS cell lines, but not healthy osteoblasts, to treatment with doxorubicin. Combination treatment increased the induction of apoptosis. JIP1 was found to be expressed in two-thirds of human primary OS tissue samples. Patients with JIP1 positive tumours showed a trend to inferior overall survival. Collectively, JIP1 appears a clinically relevant novel target in OS to enhance the efficacy of doxorubicin treatment by means of RNA interference or pharmacological inhibition.
Subject(s)
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism , Bone Neoplasms/drug therapy , Doxorubicin/pharmacology , Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics , Osteosarcoma/drug therapy , RNA, Small Interfering/genetics , Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/antagonists & inhibitors , Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics , Adolescent , Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/pharmacology , Apoptosis/drug effects , Blotting, Western , Bone Neoplasms/genetics , Bone Neoplasms/mortality , Case-Control Studies , Cell Line, Tumor , Humans , Immunoenzyme Techniques , Immunoprecipitation , Neoplasm Staging , Osteoblasts/metabolism , Osteoblasts/pathology , Osteosarcoma/genetics , Osteosarcoma/mortality , Prognosis , RNA, Messenger/genetics , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , Survival Rate , Tissue Array AnalysisABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether (a) overgeneralization is restricted to negative attributions directed at the self; or whether it also extends to positive self-attributions and to attributions of situations in the outside world, and (b) whether the valence and direction (positively or negatively, to the self- or across situations) of overgeneralization processes vary among different patient populations. METHODS: Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD, n = 34), borderline personality disorder (BPD, n = 18), or both (n = 35), and never-depressed non-patients (NPs; n = 50) completed various measures of overgeneralization. RESULTS: Patients with MDD show higher levels of negative overgeneralization but lower levels of positive overgeneralization to the self- and across situations than NPs. Patients with MDD show more negative than positive overgeneralization to the self: a negative bias. They, however, do show higher levels of positive than negative overgeneralization across situations. Patients with BPD show the same pattern for overgeneralization to the self, but their higher levels of negative overgeneralization across situations are not exceeded by their positive counterpart. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that patient groups differ from NPs not only with respect to negative, but also with respect to positive overgeneralization. Furthermore, the valence and direction of overgeneralization processes vary among MDD and BPD patient populations. More specifically, findings suggest that, as compared to never-depressed individuals, patients with BPD and patients with MDD alike, lack a buffer against negative overgeneralization directed at the self. In patients with BPD, not only the high level of overgeneralization to the self, but also the high level of overgeneralization across situations seems to be problematic, since both types of overgeneralization appear not to be buffered by their positive counterparts.
Subject(s)
Borderline Personality Disorder/psychology , Depressive Disorder, Major/psychology , Generalization, Psychological , Adolescent , Adult , Borderline Personality Disorder/physiopathology , Case-Control Studies , Depressive Disorder, Major/physiopathology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Self Concept , Social PerceptionABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Significant bacteriuria (SBU) and urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in patients with spina bifida and neuropathic detrusor sphincter dysfunction. Laboratory agar plated culture is the gold standard to establish SBU. It has the disadvantage of diagnostic and subsequent therapeutic delay. Leukocyte esterase tests (LETs) and dip slides proved to be useful in the general populations to exclude SBU and UTI. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of LET and dip slide in children with spina bifida without symptoms of UTI. The reliability in children with asymptomatic SBU was not studied before. METHODS: In one hundred and twelve children with spina bifida on clean intermittent catheterization LETs and dip slides were compared with laboratory cultures. Both tests and agar plated cultures were performed on catheterized urine samples. The hypothesis was that the home tests are as accurate as laboratory cultures. RESULTS: A SBU was found in 45 (40%) of the 112 laboratory cultures. A negative LET excluded SBU (negative predictive value 96%), while a positive LET had a positive predictive value of 72%. The false positive rate was 28%. Dip slide determination of bacterial growth had no added value, other than serving as transport medium. CONCLUSIONS: In spina bifida children, leukocyte esterase testing can be used to exclude significant bacteriuria at home, while dip slide tests have no added value to diagnose or exclude significant bacteriuria.
Subject(s)
Bacteriuria/diagnosis , Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases/urine , Clinical Laboratory Techniques/methods , Intermittent Urethral Catheterization/adverse effects , Point-of-Care Systems , Spinal Dysraphism/complications , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Mass Screening/methods , Predictive Value of Tests , Young AdultABSTRACT
Life-course persistent antisocial behavior is 10 to 14 times more prevalent in males and it has been suggested that testosterone levels could account for this gender bias. Preliminary studies with measures of fetal testosterone find inconsistent associations with antisocial behavior, especially studies that use the 2D:4D ratio as a proxy for fetal testosterone. However, circulating testosterone consistently shows positive associations with antisocial behaviors throughout childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, particularly in males. It is suggested that high fetal/circulating testosterone interactively influence the maturation and functionality of mesolimbic dopaminergic circuitry, right orbitofrontal cortex, and cortico-subcortical connectivity, resulting in a strong reward motivation, low social sensitivity, and dampened regulation of strong motivational/emotional processes. The link between these testosterone induced endophenotypes and actual display of antisocial behavior is strongly modulated by different social (e.g., social rejection, low SES) and genetic (e.g., MAOA, 5HTT) risk factors that can disturb socio-, psycho-, and biological development and interact with testosterone in shaping behavior. When these additional risk factors are present, the testosterone induced endophenotypes may increase the risk for a chronic antisocial lifestyle. However, behavioral endophenotypes induced by testosterone can also predispose towards socially adaptive traits such as a strong achievement motivation, leadership, fair bargaining behaviors, and social assertiveness. These adaptive traits are more likely to emerge when the high testosterone individual has positive social experiences that promote prosocial behaviors such as strong and secure attachments with his caregivers, affiliation with prosocial peers, and sufficient socioeconomic resources. A theoretical model is presented, various hypotheses are examined, and future venues for research are discussed.
Subject(s)
Antisocial Personality Disorder/metabolism , Sex Characteristics , Testosterone/metabolism , Adolescent , Adult , Antisocial Personality Disorder/genetics , Antisocial Personality Disorder/psychology , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Peer Group , Reward , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Life cycle adaptation to latitudinal and seasonal variation in photoperiod and temperature is a major determinant of evolutionary success in flowering plants. Whereas the life cycle of the dicotyledonous model species Arabidopsis thaliana is controlled by two epistatic genes, FLOWERING LOCUS C and FRIGIDA, three unrelated loci (VERNALIZATION) determine the spring and winter habits of monocotyledonous plants such as temperate cereals. In the core eudicot species Beta vulgaris, whose lineage diverged from that leading to Arabidopsis shortly after the monocot-dicot split 140 million years ago, the bolting locus B is a master switch distinguishing annuals from biennials. Here, we isolated B and show that the pseudo-response regulator gene BOLTING TIME CONTROL 1 (BvBTC1), through regulation of the FLOWERING LOCUS T genes, is absolutely necessary for flowering and mediates the response to both long days and vernalization. Our results suggest that domestication of beets involved the selection of a rare partial loss-of-function BvBTC1 allele that imparts reduced sensitivity to photoperiod that is restored by vernalization, thus conferring bienniality, and illustrate how evolutionary plasticity at a key regulatory point can enable new life cycle strategies.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Biological/physiology , Agriculture/methods , Beta vulgaris/physiology , Biological Evolution , Flowers/physiology , Genes, Regulator/genetics , Plant Proteins/genetics , Adaptation, Biological/genetics , Amino Acid Sequence , Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis , Base Sequence , Beta vulgaris/genetics , Chromosome Mapping , Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial/genetics , Cloning, Molecular , DNA Primers/genetics , Flowers/genetics , Genetic Markers/genetics , Haplotypes/genetics , Immunoblotting , Models, Biological , Molecular Sequence Data , Phenotype , Photoperiod , Phylogeny , Seasons , Selection, Genetic , Sequence Alignment , Sequence Analysis, DNAABSTRACT
Testosterone (T) has received increasing interest in the recent years as a probable biological determinant in the etiology of male-biased clinical conditions such as psychopathy (i.e. psychopathy is more prevalent in men and leads to an earlier onset and more severe expression of antisocial and aggressive behavior in men compared to women). In this review, the authors evaluated the potential relationship between T and different constructs closely related to the core characteristics of psychopathy (affective empathy, fear-reactivity, and instrumental aggression). After a thorough examination of the literature, it is concluded that high T exposure in utero and high circulating T levels throughout important life phases (most notably adolescence) or in response to social challenges (e.g. social stress, competition) could be an important etiological risk factor in the emergence of psychopathic behavior. Nevertheless, studies consistently indicate that high T is not related to a significantly reduced fear-reactivity and is only indirectly associated with the increased levels of instrumental aggression observed in psychopathic individuals. Therefore, psychopathy is likely to arise from an interaction between high T levels and other biological and socio-psychological risk factors, such as a constitutionally based dampened fear-reactivity, insecure/disordered attachment processes in childhood, and social discrimination/rejection in adolescence and/or adulthood.
Subject(s)
Antisocial Personality Disorder/etiology , Antisocial Personality Disorder/metabolism , Testosterone/metabolism , Aggression/physiology , Animals , Antisocial Personality Disorder/psychology , Brain/physiology , Empathy/physiology , Fear/physiology , Humans , Models, Theoretical , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2008 ) Restructured Clinical scales and Higher Order scales were linked to the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (Millon, Millon, Davis, & Grossman, 2009 ) personality disorder scales and clinical syndrome scales in a Flemish/Dutch sample of psychiatric inpatients and outpatients, substance abuse patients, correctional inmates, and forensic psychiatric patients (N = 968). Structural validity of psychopathology and personality disorders as conceptualized by both instruments was investigated by means of principal component analysis. Results reveal a higher order structure with 4 dimensions (internalizing disorders, externalizing disorders, paranoid ideation/thought disturbance, and pathological introversion) that parallels earlier research on pathological personality dimensions as well as research linking pathological personality traits with mental disorders. Theoretical and clinical implications are considered.
Subject(s)
MMPI , Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory , Personality Disorders/diagnosis , Systems Integration , Adolescent , Adult , Belgium , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Netherlands , Personality Disorders/classification , Principal Component Analysis , Reproducibility of Results , Young AdultABSTRACT
Translocations involving nucleoporin 98kD (NUP98) on chromosome 11p15 occur at relatively low frequency in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) but can be missed with routine karyotyping. In this study, high-resolution genome-wide copy number analyses revealed cryptic NUP98/NSD1 translocations in 3 of 92 cytogenetically normal (CN)-AML cases. To determine their exact frequency, we screened > 1000 well-characterized pediatric and adult AML cases using a NUP98/NSD1-specific RT-PCR. Twenty-three cases harbored the NUP98/NSD1 fusion, representing 16.1% of pediatric and 2.3% of adult CN-AML patients. NUP98/NSD1-positive AML cases had significantly higher white blood cell counts (median, 147 × 109/L), more frequent FAB-M4/M5 morphology (in 63%), and more CN-AML (in 78%), FLT3/internal tandem duplication (in 91%) and WT1 mutations (in 45%) than NUP98/NSD1-negative cases. NUP98/NSD1 was mutually exclusive with all recurrent type-II aberrations. Importantly, NUP98/NSD1 was an independent predictor for poor prognosis; 4-year event-free survival was < 10% for both pediatric and adult NUP98/NSD1-positive AML patients. NUP98/NSD1-positive AML showed a characteristic HOX-gene expression pattern, distinct from, for example, MLL-rearranged AML, and the fusion protein was aberrantly localized in nuclear aggregates, providing insight into the leukemogenic pathways of these AMLs. Taken together, NUP98/NSD1 identifies a previously unrecognized group of young AML patients, with distinct characteristics and dismal prognosis, for whom new treatment strategies are urgently needed.
Subject(s)
Homeodomain Proteins/genetics , Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/physiology , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/diagnosis , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics , Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins/physiology , Nuclear Proteins/physiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics , Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism , Biomarkers, Tumor/physiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Gene Expression Profiling , Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic , Genes, Homeobox , Histone Methyltransferases , Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase , Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics , Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/classification , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/pathology , Male , Microarray Analysis , Middle Aged , Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins/genetics , Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins/metabolism , Nuclear Proteins/genetics , Nuclear Proteins/metabolism , Prognosis , Young AdultABSTRACT
AIMS: The aim of this study is to gain insight into the level of emotional intelligence of mental health nurses in the Netherlands. BACKGROUND: The focus in research on emotional intelligence to date has been on a variety of professionals. However, little is known about emotional intelligence in mental health nurses. METHOD: The emotional intelligence of 98 Dutch nurses caring for psychiatric patients is reported. Data were collected with the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory within a cross-sectional research design. RESULTS: The mean level of emotional intelligence of this sample of professionals is statistically significant higher than the emotional intelligence of the general population. Female nurses score significantly higher than men on the subscales Empathy, Social Responsibility, Interpersonal Relationship, Emotional Self-awareness, Self-Actualisation and Assertiveness. No correlations are found between years of experience and age on the one hand and emotional intelligence on the other hand. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that nurses in psychiatric care indeed score above average in the emotional intelligence required to cope with the amount of emotional labour involved in daily mental health practice. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The ascertained large range in emotional intelligence scores among the mental health nurses challenges us to investigate possible implications which higher or lower emotional intelligence levels may have on the quality of care. For instance, a possible relation between the level of emotional intelligence and the quality of the therapeutic nurse-patient relationship or the relation between the level of emotional intelligence and the manner of coping with situations characterised by a great amount of emotional labour (such as caring for patients who self-harm or are suicidal).
Subject(s)
Emotions , Intelligence , Mental Disorders/nursing , Nurse's Role/psychology , Psychiatric Nursing , Adaptation, Psychological , Adult , Clinical Competence , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Netherlands , Nurse-Patient Relations , Regression Analysis , Sex Factors , Social Responsibility , Statistics, NonparametricABSTRACT
Cultivated beets (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris) are unable to form reproductive shoots during the first year of their life cycle. Flowering only occurs if plants get vernalized, that is, pass through the winter, and are subsequently exposed to an increasing day length (photoperiod) in spring. Here, we show that the regulation of flowering time in beets is controlled by the interplay of two paralogs of the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) gene in Arabidopsis that have evolved antagonistic functions. BvFT2 is functionally conserved with FT and essential for flowering. In contrast, BvFT1 represses flowering and its down-regulation is crucial for the vernalization response in beets. These data suggest that the beet has evolved a different strategy relative to Arabidopsis and cereals to regulate vernalization.