Exploring trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress in university students of different identity statuses in Lithuania and Japan.

Emerging adulthood is the time when identity questions are addressed. It is also a time of excessive stress and risk for mental health problems. Different identity statuses relate to different mental health outcomes. Yet, little research has addressed how identity status is interlinked with trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress reactions, especially in multicultural contexts. The current study aimed to explore whether different traumatic experiences are related to the current identity status of university students aged between 18 and 29 years and investigate to what extent trauma-exposed emerging adults of different identity statuses report symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD). In total, 2237 university students from Lithuania (n = 791) and Japan (n = 1345) participated in the current study. Identity profiles were revealed by using the Latent Class Analysis approach. Lithuania and Japan were comparable in terms of identity profiles and structure of PTSD/CPTSD. Trauma-exposed emerging adults reported a higher probability of being in troubled diffusion identity status; students in achievement identity status had a lower probability of CPTSD and lower rates of symptoms of disturbances in self-organization. The diffused identity of emerging adults from Lithuania and Japan is associated with trauma exposure, and positive identity is linked with fewer CPTSD reactions.

Bortezomib Increased Vascular Permeability by Decreasing Cell-Cell Junction Molecules in Human Pulmonary Microvascular Endothelial Cells.

Bortezomib (BTZ), a chemotherapeutic drug used to treat multiple myeloma, induces life-threatening side effects, including severe pulmonary toxicity. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. The objectives of this study were to (1) investigate whether BTZ influences vascular permeability and (2) clarify the effect of BTZ on the expression of molecules associated with cell-cell junctions using human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells in vitro. Clinically relevant concentrations of BTZ induced limited cytotoxicity and increased the permeability of human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cell monolayers. BTZ decreased the protein expression of claudin-5, occludin, and VE-cadherin but not that of ZO-1 and ß-catenin. Additionally, BTZ decreased the mRNA expression of claudin-5, occludin, ZO-1, VE-cadherin, and ß-catenin. Our results suggest that BTZ increases the vascular permeability of the pulmonary microvascular endothelium by downregulating cell-cell junction molecules, particularly claudin-5, occludin, and VE-cadherin.

Trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress, and identity content valences among Japanese adolescents.

INTRODUCTION: Theorists and a few empirical studies have suggested that traumatic experiences, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and complex PTSD (CPTSD) may affect identity development. However, existing studies have overlooked how adolescents' traumas are associated with the alignment of their identity with socio-cultural expectations, which is a crucial component of identity development. To address this gap, this study examined the associations of various types of potentially traumatic experiences and PTSD and CPTSD symptoms with the positive and negative valences of identity affected by desirable and undesirable images within socio-cultural contexts. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 341 adolescents (44.0% girls; Mage = 14.8, SD = 1.8) was conducted in Japan. RESULTS: Exposure to certain types of potentially traumatic events (e.g., family violence and physical attack) were related to high levels of negative identity elements, whereas none of the types were related to positive identity elements. The results also indicated that CPTSD-specific symptoms of disturbances in self-organization (DSO) were related to high levels of negative identity elements rather than PTSD. CONCLUSIONS: The findings expand upon related research by suggesting that adolescents' exposure to some types of traumatic events (e.g., family violence and physical attack) and posttraumatic DSO symptoms have the potential to disturb the alignment of their identities with socio-cultural expectations.

Impact of Concomitant Use of Azoles on Bortezomib-related Adverse Drug Reactions Using JADER.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Azoles are widely used for prophylaxis in patients with haematologic malignancies and are well known as selective cytochrome P450 isoenzyme 3A4 inhibitors. Although the interaction between bortezomib and azoles has been reported, most previous studies were case reports or small clinical studies. Hence, we conducted a pharmacoepidemiological study to elucidate the impact of azoles on bortezomib-related adverse reactions, using the Japanese adverse drug event report database (JADER). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We extracted 19,567 reports on patients prescribed bortezomib and/or azoles. We classified cases into three groups, namely bortezomib, bortezomib and azoles, and azoles groups. We estimated the odds ratios (OR) for the impact of concomitant azole use on five bortezomib-related adverse drug reactions (peripheral neuropathy, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, leukopenia, and interstitial lung disease) using logistic regression. RESULTS: The OR for peripheral neuropathy in the 'bortezomib and azoles' group was higher than that in the bortezomib group [OR=2.02, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.32-3.08]. The magnitude of the interaction was stronger with itraconazole than that with fluconazole (itraconazole, OR=3.22, 95% CI=1.78-5.70; fluconazole, OR=1.56, 95% CI=0.86-2.72). CONCLUSION: We found an association between concomitant administration of azoles with bortezomib and peripheral neuropathy. Azoles may enhance bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy based on their pharmacokinetic properties.

Experimental Manipulation of Guided Attention to the Shoulder Movement Task in Clinical Dohsa-hou Induces Shifts in the Reactive Mode and Indicates Flexible Cognitive Control Performance.

The empirical basis for self-control in Dohsa-hou as it relates to effects on cognitive processes has been explored in a few studies of the Japanese psychotherapy, but not under standardized conditions with a strong predictive theory of control. This study reports on a series of experiments with the Dual Mechanisms of Control framework to clarify the possible regulatory mechanism of Dohsa-hou by focusing on shoulder movement, a key body movement task used by practitioners across applied settings. Cognitive control was operationalized with the AX version of Continuous Performance Test (AX-CPT) paradigm for proactive control and a modified Stroop task paradigm for reactive control in a 3-arm parallel group trial study design. Healthy Japanese university students were assigned to a Dohsa-hou group that performed a shoulder movement task for few minutes, an active control group that performed a similar task, or a passive control group comprised of a resting condition. A total of 55 participants performed the AX-CPT and 57 participants performed the modified Stroop task before and after the group manipulation. In the AX-CPT, an increase in the error rate of AY (true cue-false probe) trial from pre- to post-test was observed in the passive control group only, and found to be marginally higher in the passive control group relative to Dohsa-hou group at post-test. This indicated that Dohsa-hou moderated the activation of proactive control by repeated AX-CPT performance. The error rate of the Proactive Behavioral Index did not differ from zero at post-test only in the Dohsa-hou group, indicating flexible cognitive control. In the modified Stroop task, there was no difference between congruent and incongruent trials at post-test for the Dohsa-hou group only, indicating the facilitation of reactive control. The evidence for a balancing effect for the Dohsa-hou-based shoulder movement task indicates that clients experience a form of continuous self-monitoring, which might reduce mind-wandering from their focus on movement execution combined with iterative verbal feedback from the therapist. Overall, the results of the present study suggest that the self-regulatory mechanism promoted in clinical Dohsa-hou emphasizes guided shifts in attention to the reactive mode toward a balance of cognitive control.

Promoting Self-Regulatory Management of Chronic Pain Through Dohsa-hou: Single-Case Series of Low-Functioning Hemodialysis Patients.

Hemodialysis patients suffer from long-term pain that drains their energy and contributes to behavioral interference and other negative effects on their daily lives that result in or exacerbate functional limitations. In addition, they deal with dietary restrictions, symptoms such as itching, lack of energy, and psychological stressors like the loss of self-concept and self-esteem. Self-regulation involves the capacity to notice, inform, and modulate responses and behavior, and research indicates that it promotes rehabilitation in chronic pain patients. Research on the aspects of self-regulation afforded by the Japanese psychotherapy Dohsa-hou correspond to psychological processes tied to the sense of self-control that clients realize over their body movements. This study pilot tested a hospital-integrated implementation of Dohsa-hou relaxation tasks as a chronic pain management behavioral intervention for five female hemodialysis patients between the ages of 59-62 years. We conducted an ABABABA single-case design to compare baseline A-phases (treatment-as-usual: TAU) taken at recurring 1 week intervals (three sessions per week for a total of 4 weeks, 12 total recordings) with an intervention of Dohsa-hou B-phases every 4 weeks (three sessions per week for 12 weeks, 36 total recordings) over the span of 4 months to compare effectiveness. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain scores between phases were taken and self-regulatory progress was tracked and summarized from a series of semi-structured interviews. Visual analysis of scores for each participant as single cases indicated decreases for the Dohsa-hou phase compared to baseline treatment-as-usual. As a result, participants reported using Dohsa-hou to reduce pain and experienced improvements in quality of life associated with greater self-regulatory capacity to attend to personal care and domestic activities. These preliminary findings suggest that Dohsa-hou body movement relaxation tasks were feasible as a coping skill in a hospital-integrated setting and at home and show promise for promoting quality of life vis-a-vis the management of severe and chronic bodily pain associated with end-stage renal disease and its treatment, particularly by improving aspects of pain-mediated self-regulatory fatigue.

Self-Active Relaxation Therapy (SART) and Self-Regulation: A Comprehensive Review and Comparison of the Japanese Body Movement Approach.

Relaxation programs are known for their versatility, cost-effectiveness, and ability to help people obtain skills to regulate their mental states and promote and maintain health. Self-Active Relaxation Therapy (SART) is a body-oriented approach to psychological rehabilitation that grew out of the suite of movement tasks developed in the Japanese psychotherapy known as Dohsa-hou, or the body movement method. The program for SART is designed to stretch, twist, and release areas of the upper, lower, and whole body through a set of movements which are guided by the practitioner and performed "self-actively" by the client to empower them to learn to recognize points of tension in the body and act on their own to achieve a relaxed state. Numerous studies have showed that SART is associated with reduced negative mood states and enhanced body awareness. A short version of SART has been investigated as a psychological support salon activity for the elderly, mothers raising children, special needs students, and children adapting to school. The full program has also been applied in clinical settings to address or supplement treatments for psychological and developmental conditions, and longitudinally employed in community contexts to assist residents facing long-term disaster recovery circumstances in Japan. This paper reviews the research and applications of SART as a bodymind approach by critically examining evidence and research gaps for future studies, comparing it with techniques established in the literature, and positing a self-regulatory framework for SART as a tool to become aware of bodily states, regulate mood, and manage stress through the deliberate practice of relaxation.