Psychological characteristics of Italian gender dysphoric adolescents: a case-control study.

PURPOSE: Gender dysphoria (GD) is associated with clinically significant distress and impairment in social, scholastic, and other important areas of functioning, especially when early onset is reported. The aim of the present study is to assess the psychopathological features associated with GD in adolescence, comparing a group of gender dysphoric adolescents (GDs) with a group of non-referred adolescents (NRs), in terms of body uneasiness, suicide risk, psychological functioning, and intensity of GD. METHODS: A sample of 46 adolescents with GD and 46 age-matched NRs was evaluated (mean ± SD age = 16.00 ± 1.49 and 16.59 ± 1.11 respectively, p > 0.05). Subjects were asked to complete the Body Uneasiness Test (BUT) to explore body uneasiness, the Youth Self Report (YSR) to measure psychological functioning, the Multi-Attitude Suicide Tendency Scale (MAST) for suicide risk, and the Gender Identity/Gender Dysphoria Questionnaire for Adolescents and Adults (GIDYQ-AA) for GD assessment. RESULTS: Adolescents with GD reported significantly higher levels of body uneasiness (BUT-GSI, F = 380.13, p < 0.0001), as well as a worse psychological functioning (YSR, F = 13.06 and p < 0.0001 for "total problem scale" and F = 12.53, p = 0.001 for "internalizing" scale) as compared to NRs. When YSR subscales were considered, GDs showed significantly higher scores in the "withdrawal/depression", "anxiety/depression", and "social problems" (all p < 0.0001). In addition, GDs showed significantly higher levels in the "attraction to death" and "repulsion by life" scales and lower scores in the "attraction to life" scale (all p < 0.0001). Finally, GIDYQ-AA score was significantly lower (meaning a higher level of gender dysphoria symptoms) in GDs vs. NRs (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: GD adolescents reported significantly higher body dissatisfaction and suicidal risk compared to NRs. In addition, results confirmed a significant impairment in social psychological functioning in adolescents with GD.

Free fatty acids modulate LDL receptor activity in BHK-21 cells.

It has been shown that dietary fatty acids affect serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, but the mechanism responsible for this effect is still under debate. Here we investigate the effect of different free fatty acids on LDL receptor activity in BHK-21 cells. These cells possess a classical LDL receptor strongly regulated by substances like 25-OH-cholesterol or lovastatin. Preincubation of cells for 24 h with both oleic (cis 18:1) and its trans counterpart, elaidic acid, enhanced 125I-LDL binding, internalization and degradation, being oleic acid more effective than elaidic acid. Among polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of the n-6 series arachidonic acid (20:4) enhanced LDL receptor activity more than linoleic acid (18:2), and among PUFA of the n-3 series docosahexaenoic (22:6) and eicosapentaenoic acids (20:5) were more effective compared to alpha-linolenic acid (18:3). Conversely, preincubation of cells with saturated fatty acids, palmitic (16:0) and stearic (18:0) acids, decreased binding, internalization and degradation of 125I-LDL. Scatchard analysis of binding data obtained with palmitic and oleic acids showed that these two fatty acids affect LDL receptor number without altering receptor affinity. The regulatory effect of free fatty acids on LDL receptor activity in BHK-21 cells is consistent with the hypothesis that the ability of fatty acids to modulate LDL-cholesterol levels in vivo is mediated, at least in part, by an action on receptor-dependent uptake of LDL.

Genetic mapping of the mouse Rab7 gene and pseudogene and of the human RAB7 homolog.

Rab proteins are small GTP-ases localized to distinct membrane compartments in eukaryotic cells and regulating specific steps of intracellular vesicular membrane traffic. The Rab7 protein is localized to the late endosomal compartment and controls late steps of endocytosis. We have isolated, by library screening, the 5' region, including the promoter, of the mouse Rab7 gene and a Rab7 pseudogene. We have mapped, by genetic linkage analysis, the mouse Rab7 gene on Chromosome (Chr) 6 and the Rab7-ps1 pseudogene on Chr 9, where the Rab7 gene has been previously reported to map. By radiation hybrid mapping, we have located the human RAB7 gene on Chr 3, in a region homologous to the mouse Chr 6, where the Rab7 gene maps.

Role of the small GTPase Rab7 in the late endocytic pathway.

Rab7 is a small GTPase localized to the late endosomal compartment. Its function was investigated by overexpressing dominant negative or constitutively active mutants in BHK-21 cells. The effects of such overexpression on the internalization and/or degradation of different endocytic markers and on the morphology of the late endosomal compartment were analyzed. We observed a marked inhibition of the degradation of 125I-low density lipoproteins in cells transfected with the Rab7 dominant negative mutants while the rate of internalization was not affected. Moreover in these cells there was an accumulation of many small vesicles scattered throughout the cytoplasm. In contrast, overexpression of the activating mutants led to the appearance of atypically large endocytic structures and caused a dramatic change in the distribution of the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor. Our data indicate that the Rab7 protein in mammalian cells is present on a late endosomal compartment much larger than the compartment labeled by the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor. Rab7 also appears to play a fundamental role in controlling late endocytic membrane traffic.

Molecular cloning and expression analysis of the human Rab7 GTP-ase complementary deoxyribonucleic acid.

Rab7 is a small GTP-ase localized on late endosomes, which regulates late endocytic membrane traffic in mammalian cells. Moreover it has been shown that this protein has a fundamental role in the cellular vacuolation induced by the cytotoxin VacA of Helicobacter pylori. We report here for the first time the isolation of a cDNA encoding human Rab7 from a placenta cDNA library. The open reading frame for human Rab7 encodes a protein of 207 amino acids which exhibits high homology with the mouse, rat, and dog counterparts. Northern blot analysis of total RNAs isolated from different cell lines with a cDNA probe containing the entire open reading frame revealed two mRNA transcripts of 2.5 and 1.8 kilobases. The isolation of human Rab7 cDNA will allow further characterization of its function in normal and pathological states.

[Postpartum psychoses. A case report]. / Psicosi del post-partum. Un caso clinico.

The puerperal period is a critical one in the life of a woman, due to the numerous changes which occur at biological and psychological levels and also at the level of relationships. Various disturbances of a psychiatric nature may emerge during this period which represents a "risky" phase from a psycho-pathological point of view. Among some of these disturbances, so-called "puerperal psychoses", there is an uncertain nosographic connection. According to some authors, these psychoses could be distinct nosographic events, while others prefer to include them in psychotic disturbances which have already been classified. From this point of view the puerperal period would be a stressful event. Risk factors would be a first birth, previous psychotic puerperal episodes, inherited serious psychiatric disturbances and caesarean section. The therapy used in the case of such disturbances must take into account many aspects and implications which don't exclusively concern the new mother but which also look significantly at the newborn baby, and the patient's family circumstances. All this implies the necessity for a close collaboration between specialists in different medical areas (psychiatry and obstetrics). Particular attention should be given to the type of disturbed relationship which can occur between the mother and the new born child. The analysis of our case has stimulated many reflections from a clinical, therapeutic and prognostic point of view, and as a result we tent to agree with published material on the subject.

Cloning and expression analysis of the murine Rab7 cDNA.

A cDNA clone coding for the Rab7 protein was isolated from an NIH3T3 cell line (mouse fibroblasts) cDNA library. Sequence analysis shows high homology to the rat and dog cDNAs. Northern blot analysis showed the presence of two messenger RNA that differ at the 3' untranslated region.

[An algorithm for the analysis of the circadian profile of the arterial pressure in normotensive subjects]. / Un algoritmo per l'analisi del profilo circadiano della pressione arteriosa in soggetti normotesi.

In this paper we proposed the use of a spectral analysis technique, the fast Fourier transform (FFT), for the evaluation of the normal circadian blood pressure rhythm. By means of this algorithm it is possible to separate the slower and reproducible variations of the blood pressure profile (probably due to endogenous rhythm) from the faster and random ones (due to psychophysical status of the subject). The FFT technique is used for the analysis of ambulatory blood pressure monitorings obtained in 66 normotensive subjects (38 males and 28 females, mean age 35 +/- 10 years). Taking into account the mean duration of pressure variations related to major daily activities (e.g. sleeping, eating, etc) it is proposed to consider the first 10 harmonics as those having the main influence on the circadian blood pressure rhythm. The amplitude of the first 10 harmonics of the whole sample was evaluated by using the chi 2 and the Kolmogorov tests, and the results confirmed the assumption of a normal distribution of the amplitudes. The 95% confidence interval of these harmonics was chosen as the criteria for defining a normal range for the circadian blood pressure rhythm. This approach was tested in a group of 4 hypertensive patients showing that alteration of the circadian blood pressure rhythm can be easily diagnosed.

In vitro motility of non-pregnant rat uterine horns.

The in vitro spontaneous mechanical and electrical activity of the non-pregnant rat uterine horn was investigated. An isometric isovolumic preparation was used to obtain records of intraluminal pressure, axial force, extracellular electrical activity and horn morphology. Mean intraluminal pressure was 28.6 cmH2O and mean force 2.5 g. Burst electrical activity was initiated at the ovarian end in 70% of the cases. Detailed analysis of electrical and mechanical events during a single contraction showed a preparatory phase involving the longitudinal muscle layer, followed by a stronger contractile event involving both longitudinal and circular layers. Moreover, the mechanical activity was modulated at the frequency of a component (0.16-0.20 Hz) of the slow electrical activity of the horn. Burst electrical activity appeared at five equidistant electrodes along the horn with variable delays: the highest delays (mean values 7.4 s for burst activity initiated at the ovarian end and 6.5 s at the vaginal end) were observed in the middle part of the horn. The spontaneous contraction of the segment appeared to be due to the activation of separate regions of the horn (i.e. an ovarian and a cervical region), more than to a propagated excitatory action.

Kinetic and survival response of the M14 cell line to lonidamine associated with adriamycin or hyperthermia.

Lonidamine (LND), an indazole-carboxylic acid derivative, was delivered alone and together with adriamycin (ADM) or hyperthermia to the human melanoma cell line M14, and cell survival was assessed. Cell cycle-specific effects were investigated by analyzing sequences of DNA content histograms by means of a suitable mathematical procedure. LND delivered for 1 h at a dose of 50 micrograms/ml did not affect proliferation and survival of the cells. Exposure of the cells for 1 h to ADM (1.0 microgram/ml) followed by LND for 1 h (50 micrograms/ml) produced the highest effect on the survival. Kinetic parameters were affected by the combined treatment slightly more than by ADM exposure alone. Simultaneous delivery of LND (50 micrograms/ml) with hyperthermia (42 degrees C, 1 h) reduced the survival and enhanced the block of cells in the G2M phase, as compared with the heat treatment alone. The effect of the treatments on cell survival appeared to be related to the perturbation of the G2M phase of the cycle.

Analysis of DNA synthesis rate of cultured cells from flow cytometric data.

The rate of DNA synthesis along S phase is estimated from flow cytometric histograms on the basis of a mathematical model of a cell population. In the absence of loss, the model expresses the population kinetics in terms of DNA synthesis rate, S-phase influx, and population size. A single histogram is sufficient to determine the DNA synthesis rate when the population is in balanced exponential growth. Two suitably chosen histograms are necessary if the S-phase influx is exponential in a time interval longer than the S-phase duration. The analysis procedure was tested on published autoradiographic data and applied to three cultured cell lines (CM-S, 3LL, and M14 cells) that show various patterns of DNA distribution. In each case the cell-cycle fractions, the DNA synthesis rate, and the S-phase duration were obtained.

Estimation of cell DNA synthesis rate from flow-cytometric histograms.

The rate of DNA synthesis along S-phase can be estimated on the basis of a simple model of a cell population, from a single FCM histogram under conditions of balanced exponential growth, and from two histograms suitably spaced in time under conditions of locally exponential S-phase influx. An algorithm that constructs a piecewise constant approximation of the synthesis rate and estimates the phase fractions from a single histogram is presented. The results of the application of the algorithm to a set of computer generated histograms in balanced exponential growth are reported.

A general expression for sequential DNA-fluorescence histograms.

A general expression for time sequences of DNA-fluorescence histograms from flow microfluorometry is given in this paper. Such expression is given in terms of the law of DNA growth along S phase, the flux of cells into S, and the efflux out of M. Special conditions of growth (e.g. the exponential steady-state growth), and the case of blocks in S phase are also analyzed. Some simulations of the expressions obtained are presented.

Relationship between trait anxiety and leisure time activities: a comparison of the unidimensional and multidimensional models of anxiety.

97 undergraduate students were given the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the S-R Inventory of General Trait Anxiousness, and a leisure activity inventory to test the hypothesis that the multidimensional model of anxiety could account for the variance in reported leisure activity more adequately than did the unidimensional model. Analysis showed a significant variation in overall leisure activity which correlated significantly with scores on the S-R Inventory measure of physical danger anxiety for both the 42 male and 55 female subjects. The findings which indicate support for the multidimensionaL model of anxiety are discussed and implications for future research noted.