The current study investigated the role of during treatment changes in pain anxiety in the relation between during treatment changes in pain acceptance and chronic pain outcomes. Participants ...included 45 (15 women) adults (
M
age = 50.42,
SD = 7.69) who were HIV positive and experienced chronic pain. They were offered 12 weekly, 90-min group CBT sessions to increase understanding about chronic pain and to improve coping skills. Four hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to examine the mediating role of treatment changes in pain anxiety in the relation between treatment changes in pain acceptance and chronic pain outcomes. Results suggest that increases in pain acceptance during treatment were associated with decreased levels of pain anxiety during treatment, as well as decreases in pain-related impairment at treatment completion. Furthermore, decreases in pain anxiety during treatment were associated with decreases in pain-related impairment at treatment completion. Finally, treatment changes in pain anxiety were found to partially mediate the association between treatment changes in pain acceptance and pain-related impairment at treatment completion. Results are discussed within the context of better understanding the processes of change within a CBT model for chronic pain patients.
► Factors influencing chronic pain outcomes among HIV patients in CBT treatment. ► Treatment increases in pain acceptance lead to decreased pain impairment. ► Treatment decreases in pain anxiety are associated with decreased pain impairment. ► Changes in pain anxiety mediate the relation between pain acceptance and impairment.
The Sixth International Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) Meeting was held 30 May-3 June 2016 at the Asilomar Conference Grounds, Pacific Grove, California, USA. The conference included 28 workshops ...covering topics in BCI and brain-machine interface research. Topics included BCI for specific populations or applications, advancing BCI research through use of specific signals or technological advances, and translational and commercial issues to bring both implanted and non-invasive BCIs to market. BCI research is growing and expanding in the breadth of its applications, the depth of knowledge it can produce, and the practical benefit it can provide both for those with physical impairments and the general public. Here we provide summaries of each workshop, illustrating the breadth and depth of BCI research and highlighting important issues and calls for action to support future research and development.
ObjectiveTo determine the measurement properties of the Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index (CLASI) and the paediatric adaptation of the Skindex29 (pSkindex27) when used in ...childhood-onset SLE (cSLE).MethodsPatients with mucocutaneous involvement of cSLE were evaluated at the study entry and 6 months later. Besides the CLASI and pSkindex27, the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Generic Core scale (PedsQL-GC), its Rheumatology Module (PedsQL-RM), the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and the SLE Damage Index (SDI) were completed.ResultsThe CLASI and pSkindex27 had high internal consistency (both Cronbach α >0.82). Children were able to complete the pSkindex27, with self-report and caregiver proxy-reports showing excellent agreement (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.97). The CLASI Activity Score (CLASI-A) was strongly correlated with the mucocutaneous domain score of the SLEDAI as was the CLASI Damage Score (CLASI-D) with that of the SDI (both: Spearman correlation coefficients (rs) >0.68). pSkindex27 summary scores were moderately correlated with those of the PedsQL-GC and PedsQL-RM (all: rs >|0.51|), the CLASI-A and CLASI-D (both: rs > 0.64), respectively. Patients who experienced a >50% improvement of the CLASI-A between study visits had significantly higher PedsQL-GC and pSkindex27 scores than those without improvement of mucocutaneous features.ConclusionBoth CLASI and pSkindex27 are useful assessment tools in cSLE, active and chronic mucocutaneous lesions and their changes over time can be measured using the CLASI and the pSkindex27 can capture the impact of mucocutaneous involvement on patient health-related quality of life.
The effect of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene product (fragile X mental retardation protein FMRP) deficits on Full-Scale IQ (FSIQ) and FSIQ-adjusted Wechsler subtests and index scores ...in fragile X disorder were assessed using a robust modification of the maximum likelihood estimators for pedigree data. The results from 144 extended families have demonstrated a linear effect of progressively reduced levels of FMRP on the FSIQ and all subtest and summary scores in either gender. The effect of FMRP in decreasing FSIQ-adjusted subtest scores was highly significant for Digit Span, Symbol Search, Object Assembly, and Picture Arrangement, with a consistent trend in both genders. Heritability for FSIQ and unadjusted subtest scores estimated from the covariance model did not exceed 50% and varied widely from the highest for Verbal score to the lowest for Picture Completion score. Possible mechanisms by which FMRP deficit impacts on specific weaknesses in fragile X are considered on the basis of present data.
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus) (OMIM: 152700) is a chronic autoimmune disease with debilitating inflammation that affects multiple organ systems. The STAT1-STAT4 locus is one of ...the first and most highly replicated genetic loci associated with lupus risk. We performed a fine-mapping study to identify plausible causal variants within the STAT1-STAT4 locus associated with increased lupus disease risk. Using complementary frequentist and Bayesian approaches in trans-ancestral Discovery and Replication cohorts, we found one variant whose association with lupus risk is supported across ancestries in both the Discovery and Replication cohorts: rs11889341. In B cell lines from patients with lupus and healthy controls, the lupus risk allele of rs11889341 was associated with increased STAT1 expression. We demonstrated that the transcription factor HMGA1, a member of the HMG transcription factor family with an AT-hook DNA-binding domain, has enriched binding to the risk allele compared with the non-risk allele of rs11889341. We identified a genotype-dependent repressive element in the DNA within the intron of STAT4 surrounding rs11889341. Consistent with expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analysis, the lupus risk allele of rs11889341 decreased the activity of this putative repressor. Altogether, we present a plausible molecular mechanism for increased lupus risk at the STAT1-STAT4 locus in which the risk allele of rs11889341, the most probable causal variant, leads to elevated STAT1 expression in B cells due to decreased repressor activity mediated by increased binding of HMGA1.
Allergen immunotherapy Huggins, Jennifer L; Looney, R John
American family physician,
2004-Aug-15, 20040815, Letnik:
70, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Allergen immunotherapy (also called allergy vaccine therapy) involves the administration of gradually increasing quantities of specific allergens to patients with IgE-mediated conditions until a dose ...is reached that is effective in reducing disease severity from natural exposure. The major objectives of allergen immunotherapy are to reduce responses to allergic triggers that precipitate symptoms in the short term and to decrease inflammatory response and prevent development of persistent disease in the long term. Allergen immunotherapy is safe and has been shown to be effective in the treatment of stinging-insect hypersensitivity, allergic rhinitis or conjunctivitis, and allergic asthma. Allergen immunotherapy is not effective in the treatment of atopic dermatitis, urticaria, or headaches and is potentially dangerous if used for food or antibiotic allergies. Safe administration of allergen immunotherapy requires the immediate availability of a health care professional capable of recognizing and treating anaphylaxis. An observation period of 20 to 30 minutes after injection is mandatory. Patients should not be taking beta-adrenergic blocking agents when receiving immunotherapy because these drugs may mask early signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and make the treatment of anaphylaxis more difficult. Unlike antiallergic medication, allergen immunotherapy has the potential of altering the allergic disease course after three to five years of therapy.
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