EFA6A, an Exchange Factor for Arf6, Regulates NGF-Dependent TrkA Recycling From Early Endosomes and Neurite Outgrowth in PC12 Cells.

Endosomal trafficking of TrkA is a critical process for nerve growth factor (NGF)-dependent neuronal cell survival and differentiation. The small GTPase ADP-ribosylation factor 6 (Arf6) is implicated in NGF-dependent processes in PC12 cells through endosomal trafficking and actin cytoskeleton reorganization. However, the regulatory mechanism for Arf6 in NGF signaling is largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that EFA6A, an Arf6-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor, was abundantly expressed in PC12 cells and that knockdown of EFA6A significantly inhibited NGF-dependent Arf6 activation, TrkA recycling from early endosomes to the cell surface, prolonged ERK1/2 phosphorylation, and neurite outgrowth. We also demonstrated that EFA6A forms a protein complex with TrkA through its N-terminal region, thereby enhancing its catalytic activity for Arf6. Similarly, we demonstrated that EFA6A forms a protein complex with TrkA in cultured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Furthermore, cultured DRG neurons from EFA6A knockout mice exhibited disturbed NGF-dependent TrkA trafficking compared with wild-type neurons. These findings provide the first evidence for EFA6A as a key regulator of NGF-dependent TrkA trafficking and signaling.

Exploratory factor analysis of the Illness Intrusiveness Rating Scale for parents of children with atypical genital appearance due to differences of sex development (DSD).

OBJECTIVE: Illness intrusiveness refers to the subjective cognitive appraisal of a chronic health condition interfering in daily, valued activities and may be highly relevant for parents of children with atypical genital appearance due to differences of sex development (DSD). However, a measure of illness intrusiveness has not been validated for this population. The current study aimed to evaluate the factor structure of the Illness Intrusiveness Scale for Parents (IIS-P) and examine convergent validity. METHODS: Participants included 102 parents (Mage = 33.39 years, SD = 6.48; 58% mothers) of 65 children (<2 years old) diagnosed with DSD participating in a larger, longitudinal study. Parents completed the IIS-P as well as self-report measures of stigma, and anxious and depressive symptoms. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted. RESULTS: EFA results supported a 1-factor intrusiveness solution (α = .93), as well as a 2-factor solution measuring intrusiveness on daily living (α = .92) and community connectedness (α = .85). The 1-factor solution and both factors of the 2-factor solution demonstrated significant convergent validity with stigma as well as anxious and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Support emerged for both 1- and 2-factor solutions of the IIS-P in parents of children with DSD. The decision to evaluate illness intrusiveness as a total score or to examine the subscales of daily living and community connectedness should be tailored to the unique aims of researchers and clinicians. Future research should conduct a confirmatory factor analysis with both 1- and 2-factor models with larger, more diverse samples of caregivers.

Stakeholders' perspectives on critical success factors for environmental social and governance (ESG) implementation.

Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) has emerged as a sensitive issue, attracting the attention of a large audience that could not be ignored. Government bodies continue to pass regulations mandating organizations to comply with ESG principles. However, many organizations have had unsatisfactory results while promoting sustainability ideals due to various challenges. To achieve ESG goals, the present study offers a thorough framework for ESG implementation across organizations based on the critical success factor (CSF) theory and the opinions of diverse stakeholders. Following a literature review and brainstorming with ESG experts and academicians, a survey questionnaire was sent to 400 respondents to evaluate the 20 factors identified as 'super-set' CSFs for ESG implementation. This paper represents a novel attempt in ESG research as it conducts a survey supported by exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The interactions between the significant CSFs were studied by employing total interpretative structural modeling (TISM) and fuzzy MICMAC approach. ESG implementation is found to be highly driven by firm characteristics, earnings quality, and environmental performance, which can be argued to be the fundamental determinants of ESG implementation. According to these findings, organizations' leadership should (1) focus on effectively structuring firms' attributes to swiftly operate the ESG implementation framework, (2) ensure consistent business earnings that signal improved future performance, and (3) continuously monitor and assess their environmental performance. These efforts should be supported by engaging with diverse stakeholder groups, each playing its respective role in ESG implementation. Consequently, ESG implementation across organizations is anticipated to accelerate with thoughtful organizational coordination, strategic planning, and compliance with authoritative policies. However, rather than solely focusing on creating ESG disclosure laws, policymakers should also focus on creating better ESG outcomes through effective ESG implementation. Therefore, this research offers valuable insights into improving ESG practices, which facilitates the adoption of mandatory ESG disclosure regulations.

Psychometric properties of the Interpersonal Emotion Regulation Questionnaire in a community sample of the Portuguese population.

BACKGROUND: Intrapersonal aspects of emotion regulation have been at the forefront of research, while interpersonal aspects have received less attention. The Interpersonal Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (IERQ) was developed to address this issue. However, this scale was neither adapted nor validated for European Portuguese. AIMS: The present study aims to adapt the IERQ to European Portuguese and explore the preliminary psychometric properties of the IERQ in a community sample, through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Construct validity was further supported by examining convergent validity with ERQ subscales. METHOD: Using a cross-sectional design, individuals were recruited online. Self-report questionnaires were used, namely the IERQ and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). RESULTS: The four-factor structure was confirmed through CFA. IERQ subscales correlated positively with the dimensions of the ERQ of cognitive reappraisal and correlated negatively with experiential suppression. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study showed that the IERQ has adequate psychometric properties in a Portuguese sample and supports that this instrument can be used to assess interpersonal emotion regulation strategies in non-clinical samples.

EFA6A, an exchange factor for Arf6, regulates early steps in ciliogenesis.

Ciliogenesis is a coordinated process initiated by the recruitment and fusion of pre-ciliary vesicles at the distal appendages of the mother centriole through mechanisms that remain unclear. Here, we report that EFA6A (also known as PSD), an exchange factor for the small G protein Arf6, is involved in early stage of ciliogenesis by promoting the fusion of distal appendage vesicles forming the ciliary vesicle. EFA6A is present in the vicinity of the mother centriole before primary cilium assembly and prior to the arrival of Arl13B-containing vesicles. During ciliogenesis, EFA6A initially accumulates at the mother centriole and later colocalizes with Arl13B along the ciliary membrane. EFA6A depletion leads to the inhibition of ciliogenesis, the absence of centrosomal Rab8-positive structures and the accumulation of Arl13B-positive vesicles around the distal appendages. Our results uncover a novel fusion machinery, comprising EFA6A, Arf6 and Arl13B, that controls the coordinated fusion of ciliary vesicles docked at the distal appendages of the mother centriole.

Parental Uncertainty Scale Factor Structure in Pediatric DSD With Ambiguous Genitalia.

OBJECTIVE: Illness uncertainty is a salient experience for caregivers of children with disorders/differences of sex development (DSD) presenting with ambiguous genitalia; however, no validated measure of illness uncertainty exists for this unique population. Thus, the current study aimed to preliminarily identify the factor structure of the Parental Perception of Uncertainty Scale (PPUS) in caregivers of children with DSD presenting with ambiguous genitalia and examine the convergent validity of the PPUS. METHODS: Participants included 115 caregivers (Mage = 32.12 years, SD = 6.54; 57% mothers) of children (<2-year-olds) diagnosed with DSD participating in a larger, longitudinal study. Caregivers completed the PPUS as well as self-report measures of anxious, depressive, and posttraumatic stress symptoms. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis results indicated that a 23-item 1-factor solution was the most parsimonious and theoretically sound factor structure (α = 0.92). Convergent validity analyses demonstrated further support for the use of the 23-item 1-factor solution over the original PPUS factor structure. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate the preliminary clinical and research utility of the PPUS with caregivers of children with DSD presenting with ambiguous genitalia. The PPUS may benefit from further refinement through qualitative research and item adaptation to capture uncertainties unique to DSD presenting with ambiguous genitalia. In addition, future research should replicate the proposed factor structure using confirmatory factor analysis with a separate, larger sample of caregivers of children with DSD to confirm the factor structure.

A factor analytic comparison of three commonly used depression scales (HAMD, MADRS, BDI) in a large sample of depressed inpatients.

BACKGROUND: Quantifying depression mainly relies on the use of depression scales, and understanding their factor structure is crucial for evaluating their validity. METHODS: This post-hoc analysis utilized prospectively collected data from a naturalistic study of 1014 inpatients with major depression. Confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses were performed to test the psychometric abilities of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale, and the self-rated Beck Depression Inventory. A combined factor analysis was also conducted including all items of all scales. RESULTS: All three scales showed good to very good internal consistency. The HAMD-17 had four factors: an "anxiety" factor, a "depression" factor, an "insomnia" factor, and a "somatic" factor. The MADRS also had four factors: a "sadness" factor, a neurovegetative factor, a "detachment" factor and a "negative thoughts" factor, while the BDI had three factors: a "negative attitude towards self" factor, a "performance impairment" factor, and a "somatic" factor. The combined factor analysis suggested that self-ratings might reflect a distinct illness dimension within major depression. CONCLUSIONS: The factors obtained in this study are comparable to those found in previous research. Self and clinician ratings are complementary and not redundant, highlighting the importance of using multiple measures to quantify depression.

Associations between social COVID-19 exposure and psychological functioning.

The negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health have been widely reported, but less is known about how the impact of COVID-19 on others in one's social circle shapes these high distress levels. This study examines associations between social COVID-19 exposure-knowing someone who had a COVID-19 infection-and psychological functioning, as well as whether socio-demographic factors moderate these relationships. In June 2020, respondents (N = 343) from clinics in Tampa, Florida, U.S.A. reported whether they had social COVID-19 exposure, anxiety, depression, and stress, and other COVID-19-related concerns. Social COVID-19 exposure was associated with increased anxiety, stress, and concerns about a family member getting sick, and concerns about drinking and substance use. Several associations between exposure and psychological functioning were stronger in women, younger people, and people with lower income, implying these groups face elevated psychological risks due to the pandemic, and should be prioritized in mental health recovery efforts.

Social support during COVID-19: Exploring the psychometric properties of the PSS-JSAS and its relationship with job search activities.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of social support for everyone. Supports from relatives, neighbors, and friends are more significant for a job seeker, especially during the pandemic. Accordingly, the present study explored the psychometric properties of the Perceived Social Support for Job Search Activities Scale (PSS-JSAS) in the Indian context with the help of two independent samples. First sample of 518 respondents was randomly divided into two subsamples using the random case selection feature in the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed on the first subsample, which yielded a one-factor model explaining 47.23% of variations. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) conducted on the second subsample concluded a good model fit of PSS-JSAS. In the second sample, Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability values (greater than 0.70) established the scale's reliability. Results also revealed that the correlation coefficients between PSS-JSAS score, hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism were 0.470, 0.552, 0.621, and 0.5 at p < 0.01. It also revealed a negative association with job search anxiety scores (r = -0.549, p < 0.01). Thus, PSS-JSAS was positively associated with PsyCap and negatively correlated with job search anxiety behaviors. It concluded the criterion validity of PSS-JSAS in the Indian context. Multigroup factor analysis concludes that the scale is equally valid for both Indian males and females. Hence, results reported adequate reliability and validity of the scale in the Indian context. These findings will encourage future researchers to investigate the phenomena of social support in the job search.

Assessing the validity and reliability of the Arabic versions of Mini Asthma Quality of life questionnaire and Asthma Control Test in adult patients with asthma: A factor analysis study.

Background and objective: Asthma is a common disease that has a significant influence on patients' quality of life. Although Arabic tools for assessing symptom control and quality of life in individuals with asthma are available, no sufficient studies have evaluated the validity of these tools. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to validate the Arabic version of these tools. Methods: Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were conducted on the Arabic versions of the Asthma Control Test (ACT) and Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (Mini AQLQ). Results: A total of 314 participants (70.1 % females) were enrolled in the current study. The mean age of the participants was 51.47 (±16.37). EFA suggested a three-factor model for Mini AQLQ and a one-factor model for ACT, which was confirmed by CFA analyses. High correlations were found between spirometric values and ACT and Mini AQLQ scores, indicating good concurrent validity. The area under the curve produced by the Roc curve was 0.861 (p < 0.001), and the most suitable cut-off point was 4.741. Conclusion: All analyses conducted showed that the Arabic versions of both Mini AQLQ and ACT are reliable and valid and can be administered to adults with asthma. The application of these validated instruments will improve the management and diagnosis of asthma in Arab countries.

Validity of the Early Functional Ability scale (EFA) among critically ill patients undergoing early neurological rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: A reliable assessment of the functional abilities of patients after severe brain damage is crucial for valid prognostication and treatment decisions, but most clinical scales are of limited use among this specific group of patients. AIM: The present study investigates the usefulness of the Early Functional Ability (EFA) scale, which determines the functional abilities of severely impaired patients. METHODS: Critically ill patients consecutively admitted to early neurological rehabilitation were screened for eligibility. We assessed the correlation between the EFA scale and (i) the Early Rehabilitation Barthel Index (ERBI), and (ii) the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R). The 1-year outcome on the Glasgow Outcome Scale-extended (GOSE) was used to examine the predictive validity. Demographical and medical variables were entered into univariate and multivariate binary regression models to identify independent predictors of 1-year outcome. RESULTS: Two hundred fifty-seven patients (168 men) with a median age of 62 years (IQR = 51-75) were enrolled. The correlation of the EFA scale with the CRS-R was high but low with the ERBI upon admission. Multivariate regression analysis yielded the vegetative subscale of the EFA scale as the only independent predictor for the 1-year outcome of patients admitted to early neurological rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a high correlation of the EFA scale with the CRS-R but a weak correlation with the ERBI in patients with low functional abilities. With improving patient abilities, these correlations were partly reversed. Thus, the EFA scale is a useful tool to assess the functional abilities and the prognosis of critically ill patients adequately and may be more feasible than other scales.

Are the measurement structures of the Traditional Chinese Dispositional Flow Scale-2 equivalent between schizophrenic patients and healthy subjects?

BACKGROUND: The Dispositional Flow Scale-2 (DFS-2) is an instrument for measuring the flow experiences of the general population while participating in daily activities. This study aimed to examine the equivalence in the measurement structure of Traditional Chinese DFS-2 (TCDFS-2) between the schizophrenic patients and healthy subjects. METHODS: We recruited 100 adults with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder from the psychiatric clinics or the centers for daycare or rehabilitation and 104 healthy adults. Each participant finished the TCDFS-2 by recalling the most important and meaningful daily activity. RESULTS: We conducted two two-group confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) with the healthy subjects and schizophrenic patients as the reference group respectively in LISREL. When the healthy subjects as the reference standard, 43 items of the TCDFS-2 were added to this constrained two-group CFA model for the schizophrenic patients, but the cross-group equivalence was still unsatisfactory. By contrast, when the schizophrenic patients as the reference standard, only 6 items were added for the healthy subjects, and the cross-group equivalence was barely acceptable. CONCLUSION: Thus, the measurement structures of the TCDFS-2 were quite different between the schizophrenic patients and healthy subjects. The flow states experienced by the schizophrenic patients might not entirely be the same as those of the healthy subjects.

Type of hormonal treatment administered to induce vitellogenesis in European eel influences biochemical composition of eggs and yolk-sac larvae.

Egg biochemical composition is among the main factors affecting offspring quality and survival during the yolk-sac stage, when larvae depend exclusively on yolk nutrients. These nutrients are primarily embedded in the developing oocytes during vitellogenesis. In aquaculture, assisted reproduction procedures may be applied enabling gamete production. For the European eel (Anguilla anguilla), reproductive treatment involves administration of pituitary extracts from carp (CPE) or salmon (SPE) to induce and sustain vitellogenesis. In the present study, we compared the influence of CPE and SPE treatments on offspring quality and composition as well as nutrient utilization during the yolk-sac stage. Thus, dry weight, proximal composition (total lipid, total protein), free amino acids, and fatty acids were assessed in eggs and larvae throughout the yolk-sac stage, where body and oil-droplet area were measured to estimate growth rate, oil-droplet utilization, and oil-droplet utilization efficiency. The results showed that CPE females spawned eggs with higher lipid and free amino acid contents. However, SPE females produced more buoyant eggs with higher fertilization rate as well as larger larvae with more energy reserves (estimated as oil-droplet area). Overall, general patterns of nutrient utilization were detected, such as the amount of total lipid and monounsaturated fatty acids decreasing from the egg stage and throughout the yolk-sac larval stage. On the contrary, essential fatty acids and free amino acids were retained. Notably, towards the end of the yolk-sac stage, the proximal composition and biometry of surviving larvae, from both treatments, were similar.

Development of a scale for assessing meal satisfaction in older adults: Meal satisfaction assessment questionnaire (MSAQ).

This meal satisfaction assessment questionnaire for older adults (MSAQ) focuses on assessing meal satisfaction rather than only measuring physical functioning or the risk of malnutrition in older people. By looking at the factors that influence meal satisfaction in older adults through a comprehensive literature review, this study develops a scale for measuring meal satisfaction in older people. For content and face validation, a 61-item questionnaire was administered to 290 people using a five-point scale. Through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), a 16-Item six-factor questionnaire for the assessment of meal satisfaction was developed, and its validity and reliability were tested. The development of this scale not only helps to measure meal satisfaction and dissatisfaction but also contributes to improving life satisfaction in older adults. Assessing meal satisfaction could contribute to developing care plans and treatment directions and help care professionals understand the values, identities, wellbeing, and general health issues of older adults.

The 5-factor model of psychological response to COVID-19: its correlation with anxiety and depression.

The present study aimed to investigate the psychological response to COVID-19 on a community Egyptian sample and the correlation thereof with anxiety and depression. Further, we aimed to explore the differences in the psychological response and psychopathology in terms of demographics. We developed a COVID-19 Psychological Response Questionnaire (CPRQ). Further, we estimated the factor structure and internal consistency of CPRQ. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was utilized to assess Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) was utilized to assess Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The sample comprised 7015 participants whose ages ranged between 18 and 70 years. The present study results yielded a 5-factor model of psychological response to COVID-19 (the factors are Anxiousness, Social Support, Avoiding/Cleaning, Depressivity, and Medical Concern). In terms of reliability, the internal consistency of the above factors was acceptable except for Depressivity. There were significant positive correlations between two factors (Anxiousness and Depressivity) and both MDD and GAD. In terms of demographic characteristics, females had the highest values on Anxiousness, Avoiding/Cleaning, Depressivity, MDD, and GAD. Generally, the 5-factor model reflects the psychological response to COVID-19 during the period of the outbreak. Further, this model reflects several concepts regarding models and theories of health-related behaviors. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-021-01701-y.

Exploratory factor analysis of PROMIS-29 V1.0, PROMIS Global Health and the RAND SF-36 from chiropractic responders attending care in a practice-based research network.

BACKGROUND: The SF-36 questionnaire is perhaps the most widely used quality of life instrument in the world today, while the PROMIS instruments continue to gain popularity. Given their continued use in chiropractic research and practice, we examined their latent domain structure using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). METHODS: To uncover latent structures of a large series of measured variables from the PROMIS-29, PROMIS Global Health and RAND SF-36 domains, we defined a factor analysis model represented by the equation [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the matrix of random vectors corresponding to the domains with a mean of [Formula: see text] and the covariance matrix [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] denotes the matrix of factor loadings, [Formula: see text] denotes the matrix of unobserved latent variables that influence the collection of domains and [Formula: see text] is the vector of latent error terms. The matrix of item responses X was the only observed quantity with restrictions such that variable scores were uncorrelated and of unit variance with the latent errors being independent with the variance vector [Formula: see text]. The inherited structure of X was expressed simply by [Formula: see text]. Orthogonal and oblique rotations were performed on the [Formula: see text] matrix with this equation to improve clarity of the latent structure. Model parameters [Formula: see text] were optimized using the method of minimum residuals. Each EFA model was constructed with Pearson and Polychoric correlation. RESULTS: For the PROMIS-29, domains were confirmed to be strongly correlated with Factor 1 (i.e., mental health) or Factor 2 (i.e., physical health). Satisfaction with participation in social roles was highly correlated with a 3rd factor (i.e., social health). For the PROMIS Global Health Scale, a 2-factor EFA confirmed the GPH and GMH domains. For the RAND SF-36, an apparent lack of definable structure was observed except for physical function which had a high correlational relationship with Factor 2. The remaining domains lacked correlation with any factors. CONCLUSION: Distinct separation in the latent factors between presumed physical, mental and social health domains were found with the PROMIS instruments but relatively indistinguishable domains in the RAND SF-36. We encourage continued efforts in this area of research to improving patient reported outcomes.

Normative tonsillectomy outcome inventory 14 values as a decision-making tool for tonsillectomy.

PURPOSE: The study aimed to determine normative values for the Tonsillectomy Outcome Inventory 14 (TOI-14) in a healthy middle-European cohort. We also compared these generated values with TOI-14 scores from a patient population with recurrent tonsillitis (RT) and explored the factorial structure of the TOI-14. METHODS: We systematically studied the responses of healthy individuals (reference cohort) and patients with RT (clinical cohort) to the TOI-14 survey. The reference cohort contained 1000 participants, who were recruited using the Respondi panel for market and social science research. This subsample was quoted to the population distribution of the German Microcensus and selected from a non-probability panel. Tonsillitis patients were assessed before and 6 and 12 months after tonsillectomy. Data were analysed using principal component and exploratory factor analyses. RESULTS: The PCA revealed three TOI-14 domains (physiological, psychological and socio-economic), which explained 73% of the total variance. The reference cohort perceived a good quality of life (QOL) with a TOI-14 total score of 11.8 (physiological: 8.0, psychological: 5.8, and socio-economic subscale score: 13.9). TOI-14 scores were higher in the patient cohort, indicating that the TOI-14 discriminates between patients with RT and healthy individuals with no RT. Age and female gender significantly influenced the total TOI-14 score, especially in the psychological (age) and socio-economic (gender) subscales. CONCLUSION: We have developed a set of normative values that, together with the TOI-14, can determine the disease burden indicating tonsillectomy.

A measure of functioning in adults With ADHD: Psychometric properties of the general life functioning scale-parent version.

OBJECTIVE: The General Life Functioning Scale (GLF) was developed to provide a complementary alternative to existing measures of impairment. We examined the psychometric properties of the GLF-Parent version (GLF-P), given the known value of informant ratings. METHODS: The GLF-P was administered to parents of adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosed in childhood and a nonADHD comparison group in the Pittsburgh ADHD Longitudinal Study. GLF-P ratings described 334 participants (ADHD = 186; comparison = 148) rated at age 25 (Mage = 24.80 years, SDage = 0.46, range = 24-26) and 401 participants (ADHD = 237; comparison = 164) rated at age 30 (Mage = 29.30, SDage = 0.64, range = 28-33). Exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory (CFA) factor analyses were used. RESULTS: EFAs suggested and CFAs confirmed a five-factor solution. We found measurement invariance across diagnostic and age groups, satisfactory internal consistency, construct validity, and known-group validity. CONCLUSION: Psychometric results suggest the GLF-P as a helpful adjunctive measure of functioning. Further research is needed to determine the utility of the GLF across diverse settings.

EFA6 proteins regulate lumen formation through α-actinin 1.

A key step of epithelial morphogenesis is the creation of the lumen. Luminogenesis by hollowing proceeds through the fusion of apical vesicles at cell-cell contacts. The small nascent lumens grow through extension, coalescence and enlargement, coordinated with cell division, to give rise to a single central lumen. Here, by using MDCK cells grown in 3D-culture, we show that EFA6A (also known as PSD) participates in luminogenesis. EFA6A recruits α-actinin 1 (ACTN1) through direct binding. In polarized cells, ACTN1 was found to be enriched at the tight junction where it acts as a primary effector of EFA6A for normal luminogenesis. Both proteins are essential for the lumen extension and enlargement, where they mediate their effect by regulating the cortical acto-myosin contractility. Finally, ACTN1 was also found to act as an effector for the isoform EFA6B (also known as PSD4) in the human mammary tumoral MCF7 cell line. EFA6B restored the glandular morphology of this tumoral cell line in an ACTN1-dependent manner. Thus, we identified new regulators of cyst luminogenesis essential for the proper maturation of a newly-formed lumen into a single central lumen.

Factorial structure of the Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.

PURPOSE: Subjective quality of life is a central patient-reported outcome in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. The Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life (MANSA) is an established and widely used instrument for its assessment. The present study is a secondary analysis of large schizophrenia studies and aims to establish the factorial structure of the MANSA with a rigorous two-step methodology. METHODS: A sample of 3120 patients was randomly split into two datasets; the first includes two thirds of the patients and serves as the calibration sample (N = 2071) and the second includes one third of them and serves as the validation sample (N = 1049). We performed an exploratory factor analysis with the calibration sample followed by a confirmatory factor analysis with the validation sample. RESULTS: Our results for both samples revealed a model with adequate fit comprising two factors. The first factor encompasses eight items measuring satisfaction with a variety of life and health-related aspects of quality of life, whereas the second consists of four items assessing satisfaction with living environment comprising living alone or with others, accommodation, family, and safety. These two factors correlate in a different way with socio-demographic characteristics such as age and living conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Future trials and service evaluation projects using the MANSA to measure quality of life should take into account that satisfaction with living environment may be distinct from satisfaction with other life and health-related aspects of quality of life.