Borderline Conditions Research Articles

ТИПОЛОГИЯ СУБЪЕКТИВНОГО ВОСПРИЯТИЯ ПСИХОЛОГИЧЕСКОГО НАСИЛИЯ В СТАРШЕМ ПОДРОСТКОВОМ ВОЗРАСТЕ

The present article discusses the results of the study of subjective perception of psychological violence by different characterological types. The application of the results of this study allows to increase the level of safety of the educational environment, to build psychological and peda-gogical work in the field of psychological education of parents, as well as to teach teachers con-structive forms of interaction with children, taking into account their subjective perception of psychological violence depending on the characterological type. In modern psychological sci-ence, the study of psychological violence and personal traumatization is a cutting-edge direction in the field of providing a safe environment for both students and educators. Psychological vio-lence represents various forms of behavior, consciously or unconsciously aimed at causing psy-chological pain using verbal or nonverbal communication. Under the forms of psychological vio-lence we understand threats, insults, manipulation, ignoring and so on. Such forms of psycholog-ical violence have an extremely destructive effect on a person, contributing to the development of borderline conditions and such mental disorders as depression, complex post-traumatic disor-der, etc. Understanding the peculiarities of perception of psychological violence will allow educational psychologist to significantly improve the quality of counseling work with both parents and teachers, which increases the chances of building the safest educational environment. Further research in the direction of studying the peculiarities of subjective perception of psychological violence will allow scientists to study in more detail the issues of traumatization and correction in connection with the peculiarities of characterological types.

Psychophysiological technologies using the biofeedback method: an analytical review

INTRODUCTION. There is high prevalence of post-stroke motor and neuropsychological disorders. However, they are usually considered without interrelation with each other, and rehabilitation methods are also considered in the context of a monodomain effect on specific functions. AIM. To analyze the available scientific evidence on the role of psychophysiological technologies with biofeedback in clinical medicine and medical rehabilitation. MATERIALS. 50 sources were analyzed, 25 of which are high-level evidence-based articles (randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, systematic reviews) published in databases Elibrary.ru, Medline, Web of Science, PubMed and Scopus for the period of 2009–2024. RESULTS. The complex effect of the BFB method on the physical symptoms and psychological state of patients, as well as the possibility of using physiological indicators for adaptive biofeedback, has been studied. The greatest amount of evidence is available about the positive effect of technology using BFB on the psychoemotional state of patients and the state of the cardiovascular system. Significant results were obtained when using BFB-electromyographic-training in the complex therapy of headache and related emotional disorders. All studies have a high level of reliability of evidence and credibility of recommendations. Great progress has been made in the development of innovative psychophysiological technologies, including the use of hardware and software complexes, electroencephalography and neurointerfaces. CONCLUSION. Psychophysiological technologies with BFB demonstrate effectiveness in the rehabilitation of patients with psychosomatic disorders, borderline conditions and a number of neurological diseases (headache, epilepsy, spinal injury, stroke). Further research is needed to form an evidence base, clarify the mechanisms of action and algorithms of prescriptions, taking into account the physiological and psychological component of the therapeutic or rehabilitation process.

Approaches to the assessment of the structure and phenomenology of critical awareness in the context of non-psychotic mental disorders

Aim: systematization of the phenomena of critical self-awareness in the context of non-psychotic mental disorders and development of a tool for assessing the profile of its disorders. Materials and methods. In the period of 2020–2023, a prospective study was conducted on a contingent of outpatients with diagnoses established in the conditions of the Department of Borderline Conditions of the Municipal non-commercial enterprise “Regional Clinical Institution for the Provision of Psychiatric Care” of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Council. 75 patients: 38 men, 37 women, mean age 38.9 ± 8.6 years, without exacerbation of severe somatic diseases, without diagnostically significant psychoactive substances use history. Methods: clinical and anamnestic, psychodiagnostic in the form of a semi-structured interview, statistical using α-Cronbach’s coefficient. Results. 27 phenomena were identified as part of 7 separate components of critical self-awareness. Based on the obtained data, a psycho-diagnostic tool was formed in the form of a questionnaire, where a multiple choice question ranked on a 5-point Likert-type scale was formulated for each phenomenon. The reliability of the questionnaire according to the indicator of internal consistency of the subscales according to the Cronbach α coefficient is from “acceptable” 0.7072 to “good” 0.8820. Conclusions. The developed psychodiagnostic questionnaire can be used in further studies aimed at analyzing the problem of critical self-awareness in patients with non-psychotic mental disorders.

Распространенность кератоконуса и пограничных состояний по данным эпидемиологических исследований

Purpose. To study the prevalence of keratoconus and borderline conditions, as well as their association with ophthalmological parameters among the population of the Southern Urals in population-based studies. Material and methods. On the basis of the Ufa Eye Research Institute, population-based studies were conducted in three age groups: among children and adolescents of school age (6–17 years old) – 4,890 people, respondents 40+ years old and over 85 years old – 5,314 and 651, respectively. Standard and additional ophthalmological examinations were performed, as well as a retrospective analysis of keratotopograms of both eyes of the respondents. For statistical processing of the obtained results, the SPSS application software package was used, the significance criteria were applied: χ², Student’s t-test and Fisher’s criterion (F-test) of variance analysis. Results. The results of the analysis of population studies data showed that the incidence of keratoconus in different age groups of the population is 0.02%, among children and adolescents of school age, 0.07% – in respondents 40+, 0.15% – over 85 years old. Borderline conditions (steep cornea) are more common at the age of 85+ (6.45%), much less common in 40+ (2.11%) and even more rare in children and adolescents (0.09%). At the same time, the frequency of occurrence of borderline conditions correlated in children with a shorter axial length of the eye, and in adults with a shorter axial length, a higher index of myopic and cylindrical refraction, a smaller thickness and a larger volume of the cornea, and a larger thickness of the lens. Conclusion.In the group of children and adolescents, the prevalence of keratoconus was 0.02%, in respondents 40+ – 0.07%, over 85 years of age – 0.15%. The prevalence of borderline conditions (steep cornea) increased with age – from 0.09% to 2.11% and 6.45%, respectively. Key words:keratoconus, prevalence, borderline conditions, population-based studies

Increases in negative affective arousal precede lower self-esteem in patients with borderline personality disorder but not in patients with depressive disorders: an experience sampling approach

BackgroundInstability in self-esteem and instability in affect are core features of borderline personality disorder (BPD). For decades, researchers and theorists have been interested in the temporal dynamics between these constructs. Some hypothesize that changes in affective states should precede changes in self-esteem (Linehan, Cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder. Diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, 1993), while others suggest that changes in self-esteem should precede changes in affective states (Kernberg, Borderline conditions and pathological narcissism, 1975).MethodsIn this study, we investigated the temporal relations between negative affective arousal states and current self-esteem in daily life. Patients with BPD (n = 42) or depressive disorders (DD; n = 40), and non-clinical controls (NCC; n = 40) were assessed every 15 min for 13 h.ResultsAs expected, dynamic structural equation modeling showed higher levels of average daily negative affective arousal and lower levels of average daily self-esteem in the BPD group compared with the NCC group, and scores in the DD group were in-between the BPD and the NCC groups. In line with predictions based on Linehan’s (Cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder. Diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, 1993) model of affective dysregulation in BPD, negative affective arousal (t) and subsequent self-esteem (t+ 1) were significantly linked only in the BPD group, implying that higher negative affective arousal is followed by lower current self-esteem in the next measurement (ca. 15 min later). Importantly, self-esteem (t) and subsequent negative affective arousal (t + 1) were not significantly related (Kernberg, Borderline conditions and pathological narcissism, 1975).ConclusionsOur findings suggest close dynamic temporal relations between affective instability and self-esteem instability in BPD, which highlights the importance of providing patients with means to effectively modulate high negative affective arousal states.

Characteristics of the personal profile of active servicemen with dissomnic manifestations

Aim: to study specifics of psychopathogenesis and the influence of personal characteristics on the pathopsychological content of dissomnic manifestations in active servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine by examining the personal profile. Materials and methods. In total, 64 active servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with inorganic sleep disorders were included in a prospective clinical study on the basis of Military Hospital of Military Unit 3309 (Zaporizhzhia) and served as the study group; the comparison group included 40 patients who were treated at the Department of Borderline Conditions of “Regional Clinical Institution for the Provision of Psychiatric Care” of Zaporizhzhia Regional Council and had sleep disorders within neurotic mental disorders. To achieve the aim of the study, anamnestic, clinical-psychopathological, psychodiagnostic, clinical-psychophenomenological and clinical-statistical methods were used. As a psychodiagnostic tool, the Methodology for studying personality accentuations of K. Leonhard and G. Shmishek was chosen. Results. The most common types of accentuation in active servicemen with dyssomnic manifestations were sticking (18.75 % of the contingent), dysthymic (17.19 %) and hyperthymic (9.38 %). The most frequent combined clinical types of accentuations were “dysthymic-sticking” (9.38 %), “anxious-dysthymic” (4.69 %) and “hyperthymic-demonstrative” (3.13 %). Conclusions. As a result of the study, the characteristics of the personal profile and their influence on the pathopsychological content of dissomnic manifestations in active servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been determined. The data obtained on the relationship between the personal profile characteristics and clinical types of dyssomnia would provide an opportunity to optimize measures for the detection and psychotherapeutic correction of dissomnic manifestations in active servicemen of the Armed Forces.

Состояние психофизиологических показателей у рабочих цеха контрольно-измерительных приборов

The scientific article describes the influence of production factors on the psychophysiological status of the workers of the instrumentation workshop, depending on the age, length of service, and in persons who have indirect contact with uranium production during the repair of equipment in this workshop. The results obtained showed the features of the formation of protective and adaptive mechanisms from the action of factors of the production environment in groups of workers of different ages with the dominant value of psycho-emotional tension. The results of the study of mental performance indicators in instrumentation workers showed a slight decrease in the intensity and speed of work with age, the accuracy of work increases with age, the concentration of attention in older age groups increases significantly, the working capacity and productivity of work slightly decrease, the volume and speed of processing visual information also decreases. the efficiency of the work performed. An analysis of the results of reactive anxiety in the groups of surveyed workers showed that the levels of moderate and low reactive anxiety differ slightly. In terms of personal anxiety, moderate values of personal anxiety are most pronounced, and the smallest number is low personal anxiety. The study of the psycho-physiological indicators of the workers of the workshop of control and measuring instruments made it possible to identify persons with high instability and exclude them from the production cycle. The inclusion of psychophysiological testing during professional selection reduced the risk of borderline conditions in the workplace.

Implementation of the principles of the scientific concept “Medicine of borderline states” regarding donosological diagnosis and overcoming the risks of health deterioration in student youth

Today, the methodological basis of disease pre­vention among various categories of the population, including students, is an innovative area of medical science and health care practice, namely medicine of borderline conditions. The development of a system of prenosological diagnosis of pathological conditions in young students and their hygienic correction for disease prevention are important both from a scientific and practical point of view. The study was conducted in the conditions of a natural experiment on the basis of three types of educational institutions, at the place of study of representatives of both sexes aged 14 to 23 years, adolescents and yound adults. In order to achieve the relevant objectives, the study used the following methods: analytic addressed at the study of educational programs, curricula, schedules, profile and regulatory documents; sanitary-hygienic; psychophysiological; psychological, statistic. Set of risk factors related to the educational process among young people studying in three types of educational institutions – secondary educational institutions, higher educational institution, Professional Agrarian Lyceum was analyzed. It is established that unfavorable living conditions affect donosological mental states of asthenic, hypochondriac and depressive nature.

Геотехническое обоснование первоочередной разрезки залежей богатых руд шахты «Глубокая» методами пошагового численного моделирования в условиях гравитационно-тектонического поля напряжений

With regard to mining at depths the issues of ensuring the chambers stability, the choice of their orientation and the support selection still at the design stage are particularly relevant. At depths, near large tectonic disturbances, the factor of natural rock pressure starts to play a defining role in the underground structures stability, and the constant growth of requirements for improving safety of underground structures predetermines the need to incorporate modern approaches to identify the stressstrain state using numerical simulation. Making design decisions without simulation can lead to a decrease in economic performance and production safety, and sometimes entail the impossibility of full recovery of reserves. The finite element simulation used in this work as one of the main methods for determining the optimal option for primary cutting of the ore body and mining a rich ore body located in close proximity to large-scale tectonic disturbance that provokes a complex stress state of the ore body itself. On a practical level, the finite element method can be discredited, and therefore a description of the sequence of techniques for constructing and calibrating finite element models of primary cutting of the ore body (mining options) is required for correct identification of the most suitable mining option, that is done in this work. The integrated approach includes: formation of complex spatial geometric model of ore bodies, taking into account the morphology of bedding; separation of the model into stages of development and forming different variants of development; determination of borderline conditions for Cauchy tensor correct task; determination of deformation model and assignment of physical and mechanical parameters; carrying out verification calculations; calculation of all model variants, their analysis and selection of the most optimal ore deposit mining technique; interpolation of data into geomechanical block model for the possibility of selecting and substantiating the supports parameters and calculating the stability of chambers using analytical tools.

Напряженно-деформированное состояние массива горных пород при отработке месторождений Урала

With regard to mining at depths the issues of ensuring the chambers stability, the choice of their orientation and the support selection still at the design stage are particularly relevant. At depths, near large tectonic disturbances, the factor of natural rock pressure starts to play a defining role in the underground structures stability, and the constant growth of requirements for improving safety of underground structures predetermines the need to incorporate modern approaches to identify the stressstrain state using numerical simulation. Making design decisions without simulation can lead to a decrease in economic performance and production safety, and sometimes entail the impossibility of full recovery of reserves. The finite element simulation used in this work as one of the main methods for determining the optimal option for primary cutting of the ore body and mining a rich ore body located in close proximity to large-scale tectonic disturbance that provokes a complex stress state of the ore body itself. On a practical level, the finite element method can be discredited, and therefore a description of the sequence of techniques for constructing and calibrating finite element models of primary cutting of the ore body (mining options) is required for correct identification of the most suitable mining option, that is done in this work. The integrated approach includes: formation of complex spatial geometric model of ore bodies, taking into account the morphology of bedding; separation of the model into stages of development and forming different variants of development; determination of borderline conditions for Cauchy tensor correct task; determination of deformation model and assignment of physical and mechanical parameters; carrying out verification calculations; calculation of all model variants, their analysis and selection of the most optimal ore deposit mining technique; interpolation of data into geomechanical block model for the possibility of selecting and substantiating the supports parameters and calculating the stability of chambers using analytical tools.

Borderline conditions for single or platooning operations in freight transport on expressways: Case study in Japan

Truck platooning is defined as a convoy of freight vehicles operated using an electronic coupling system, and has several advantages, particularly in terms of cost savings for fuel consumption and labor. Platooning technology is introduced by discussing several issues: the distance between trucks, number of trucks convoyed, waiting time at the platooning center, and distance between the origin and destination, all of which are variables that influence the transport costs. Important is to identify the extent to which these factors affect borderline conditions for single or platooning freight transport operations. Therefore, this study aims to develop a cost function of platooning operations, compare transport costs between single and platooning operations, determine the factors that affect the transport costs and identify the borderline conditions for single or platooning operations. The cost functions in the hypothetical network were developed by considering the important factors that contribute to the transport costs in Japanese road freight transport. A scenario analysis was conducted to investigate the impact of the inter-vehicle distance and the number of platooned trucks on the borderline conditions. Our results revealed that the platooning operation would offer a comparative advantage with a shorter inter-vehicle distance. For example, for an inter-vehicle distance of 49 m and a distance of 800 km between the origin and destination, the platooning operation is not advantageous compared with manned driving unless the waiting time at the platooning center is less than 30 min. In addition, a platooning operation is feasible even with a travelling distance of 100 km if the trailing vehicles are unmanned. The highest cost contributor is the cost of labor, the reduction of which can significantly reduce the total transport costs.

Psychoanalyzing democracies: Antagonisms, paranoia, and the productivity of depression

Psychoanalyzing democracies: Antagonisms, paranoia, and the productivity of depression

Ego-discourse of the Ukrainian sixtiers as an image on the epoch of liberated freedom

The article highlights a set of problems of ego-documents (diaries, epistolary, etc. of Ivan Dziuba, Les’ Tanyuk, Ivan Svitlychny, Iryna Zhylenko, Valery Shevchuk, Mykhailyna Kotsyubynska, Svitlana Kyrychenko, etc.) in the discourse of the Ukrainian sixtiers. It is emphasized that these documentary testimonies with a powerful factor of subjective “I” reflect a slice of the era of “liberated freedom”, when the debunking of Stalin’s cult of personality and Khrushchev Thaw led to a new generation of Ukrainian intellectuals, more broadly – of the Ukrainian sixtiers. This was a new stage in the social and socio-cultural transformation of Ukrainian society in the conditions of sub-imperial Ukraine and the attempts of dissidents to free themselves from this enslavement. The open dialogue with a specific addressee or appeals to the addressee of imaginary ego-discourse, the “spiritual situation of the day” is presented because of confession. The period was the middle or second half of the 20th century. The research focus is on the unconquered human self in complex transformational, often borderline (further harassment, arrests, exile) conditions.

Depression, Anxiety, Perceived Stress and Family Support in COVID-19 Patients.

Objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first reported in Iran in February 2020 and then quickly spread to many cities. Different factors contribute to the numerous psychological problems of this pandemic in patients, healthcare workers and the community. This study investigated the prevalence of perceived stress, anxiety and depression in COVID-19 patients hospitalized between March and April 2020 and revealed associations of these factors with social support received from family. Method : In this cross-sectional study, patients with COVID-19 admitted between 21st of March and 22nd of April 2020 were evaluated by three questionnaires: Anxiety and depression were evaluated using the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), stress levels were evaluated using the four-item perceived stress scale (PSS-4) and family support was evaluated using the perceived social support scale-family (PSS-Fa). In addition to obtaining prevalence of the noted psychological disorders and their relationship with demographic details, relationship of stress, anxiety and depression with family support was also investigated using the Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results: Participants comprised 100 COVID-19 patients (38 females and 62 males). Findings suggested high levels of perceived stress in 26% of the participants, anxiety symptoms existed in 29% and borderline conditions existed in 17%. Moreover, depressive and its borderline symptoms were respectively observed in 17% and 23%. Family support was found to negatively and significantly correlated with anxiety (Pearson correlation = -0.249, P < 0.05) and depression. (Pearson correlation = -0.221, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Given the high prevalence of anxiety and depression in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, it is recommended to further focus on non-clinical interventions, such as providing psychological first aids, boosting psychological resilience, and enabling greater family support, in efforts to prevent transformation of these psychological symptoms into long-term psychological disorders.

MEDICINE OF BORDERLINE CONDITIONS AS AN INNOVATIVE DIRECTION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE: review

Reformation of domestic health care must take place not only on the basis of introduction of world experience but also taking into account the own experience received during realization of innovative developments in medical science. Medicine of the borderline conditions belongs to similar innovative developments that received priority financing of Ministry of Health of Ukraine, appreciation by the customers of the applied researches and support of European medical community. Medicine of the borderline conditions is scientifically justified direction of realization of primary purpose of health care, namely prevention of diseases, which is widely approved in practical activity. Thus, prevention of diseases takes place on the basis of determination of risks of development of certain diseases on individual and population levels, with establishment of orientation of this action on the certain systems and organs and body on the whole, that creates founding for directed correction of the educed pre-nosological states, averting their possible transformation into abnormal states. Acceptance of conception of medicine of the borderline conditions by a medical association can influence the revision of today's paradigm of health care, associated with definition of primary prophylaxis, as dominant direction in maintenance of individual health and health of population. Identification of a causal relationship between the action of unfavorable factors of various origins (professionally determined, educational process, environmental, etc.) with the definition of the acting force (substance, energy, information) and the likelihood of damage to the body of the corresponding etiology, is a prerequisite for the planned correction of the functional state of a person.

Comparative pharmacoepidemiological analysis of the structure of prescribing antidepressants in the treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders

Introduction. Anxiety-depressive disorders are among the most common psychiatric disorders in the group of borderline conditions, and antidepressants are widely used for their treatment. Around the world, there is an active development of new drugs with thymoanaleptic activity, as well as in-depth study and comparison of the efficacy and safety of existing drugs. Due to this, the approach to psychopharmacotherapy of anxiety-depressive disorders and the very structure of prescribing antidepressants are constantly changing. Thus, the analysis of the structure of prescribing antidepressants, as well as the identification and justification of the changes that this structure inevitably undergoes over time, becomes extremely relevant. Purpose of the study. Conduct a pharmacoepidemiological analysis of the structure of prescribing antidepressants to patients with anxiety-depressive disorders of the neurotic register (F 06.41 — Organic anxiety disorder due to cerebrovascular disease, F 41.0 — Panic disorder (episodic paroxysmal anxiety), F 41.2 — Mixed anxiety and depressive disorder and F 45 — Somatoform disorders according to ICD-10) in two comparable groups of patients treated in the Department of Crisis States of the Clinic of Hematology and Occupational Pathology of the SSMU in 2010–2012 and 2019–2021 respectively. Materials and methods. The volume of antidepressant prescriptions was assessed, taking into account dosages and treatment regimens, using the «Defined Daily Doses» technique in each of the study groups. Differences in the structure of prescribing antidepressants in the study groups were identified and analyzed, as well as the causes and prerequisites for their occurrence were investigated. Results. The conducted comparative pharmacoepidemiological study revealed discrepancies in the structure of antidepressant prescriptions in the 2010–2012 groups. and 2019–2021 Maprotiline was in second place in terms of prevalence in the 2010–2012 group, while in the 2019–2020 group never been appointed. By the end of the decade, the frequency of prescribing clomipramine significantly decreased, which in the 2010–2012 group ranked third in terms of appointments. When comparing groups of 2010–2012 and 2019–2021 it was found that in the first case, the volume of clomipramine prescriptions was almost 6 times higher. There is a trend towards an increase in the volume of prescriptions for almost all drugs of the SSRI group, both individually and for this group as a whole. The structure of prescriptions is significantly influenced by such factors as an in-depth study of the main and side effects of drugs, accessibility for patients and the volume of supplies of individual drugs to the territory of the Russian Federation. Conclusion. Modern pharmacoepidemiological studies make it possible to study in depth the advantages and disadvantages of each specific antidepressant, so that in each clinical case it is possible to choose the most suitable drug or combination thereof. It is necessary to continue and increase the scale of such studies, maintaining their independence from the financing of pharmaceutical companies, as well as to expand the local market for psychopharmacotherapeutic agents so that its limitations do not reduce the effectiveness of the therapy on a large scale.

Reconceptualization of borderline conditions through the lens of the alternative model of personality disorders.

Borderline (BPD) and schizotypal personality disorder (SPD) were introduced in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition (DSM-III). However, the clinical differentiation of the 2 diagnoses (e.g., psychotic-like features) was challenging for diagnostic classification and clinical management. With the introduction of the alternative model for personality disorders (AMPD) in DSM-5 Section III, a dimensional approach was proposed, which potentially holds promise for better future differentiation between BPD and SPD. The present study sought to examine the psychopathology using the AMPD model. A total of 105 patients were interviewed, 25 were excluded according to exclusion criteria, and the final sample comprised 80 patients who fulfilled the DSM-5 criteria for BPD (n = 35), SPD (n = 25), and comorbid BPD + SPD (n = 20), respectively. All patients were administered The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 alternative model for personality disorders Modules I and II. One-way analysis of variance tests with planned contrasts were used. Results showed that for AMPD Criterion A, the BPD + SPD group had the most severe impairment of personality functioning, except for Identity, where the SPD group showed the most severe impairment. For AMPD Criterion B, the domain of Detachment and the facet of Eccentricity from the Psychoticism domain were most prominent for the SPD group relative to the 2 other groups. The differentiating between BPD and SPD manifestations of cognitive/perceptual disturbances does not seem resolved by the Psychoticism domain, which covers broader aspects of psychopathology. Future research should further investigate the construct of Psychoticism, especially to differentiate nonpsychotic symptoms (e.g., dissociation) and address thought disorder. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Histological Grade and Tumor Stage Are Correlated with Expression of Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor Kappa b (Rank) in Epithelial Ovarian Cancers.

The receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (RANK) is becoming recognized as a master regulator of tumorigenesis, yet its role in gynecological cancers remains mostly unexplored. We investigated whether there is a gradation of RANK protein and mRNA expression in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) according to malignancy and tumor staging. Immunohistochemical expression of RANK was examined in a cohort of 135 (benign n = 29, borderline n= 23 and malignant n = 83) EOCs. Wild type and truncated RANK mRNA isoform quantification was performed in a cohort of 168 (benign n = 26, borderline n = 13 and malignant n = 129) EOCs. RANK protein and mRNA values were increased in malignant vs. benign or borderline conditions across serous, mucinous and endometrioid cancer subtypes. Additionally, a trend of increased RANK values with staging was observed for the mucinous and serous histotype. Thus, increased expression of RANK appears associated with the evolution of disease to the onset of malignancy in EOC. Moreover, in some EOC histotypes, RANK expression is additionally associated with clinicopathological markers of tumor aggressiveness, suggesting a role in further progression of tumor activity.

The Autophagy-Related Organelle Autophagoproteasome Is Suppressed within Ischemic Penumbra.

The peri-infarct region, which surrounds the irreversible ischemic stroke area is named ischemic penumbra. This term emphasizes the borderline conditions for neurons placed within such a critical region. Area penumbra separates the ischemic core, where frank cell loss occurs, from the surrounding healthy brain tissue. Within such a brain region, nervous matter, and mostly neurons are impaired concerning metabolic conditions. The classic biochemical marker, which reliably marks area penumbra is the over-expression of the heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). However, other proteins related to cell clearing pathways are modified within area penumbra. Among these, autophagy proteins like LC3 increase in a way, which recapitulates Hsp70. In contrast, components, such as P20S, markedly decrease. Despite apparent discrepancies, the present study indicates remarkable overlapping between LC3 and P20S redistribution within area penumbra. In fact, the amount of both proteins is markedly reduced within vacuoles. Specifically, a massive loss of LC3 + P20S immuno-positive vacuoles (autophagoproteasomes) is reported here. This represents the most relevant sub-cellular alteration here described in cell clearing pathways within area penumbra. The functional significance of these findings remains to be determined and it will take a novel experimental stream to decipher the fine-tuning of such a phenomenon.

Loneliness and Depression among Polish High-School Students.

Introduction: Having impaired relations and limited interpersonal contact is associated with a sense of loneliness, and can result in a number of mental disorders, including the development of depression. Approximately one in five adolescents in the world suffers from depression, and first episodes of such are occurring at increasingly young ages. Due to a lack of appropriate support from parents, teachers and the healthcare system, the young person feels alone when dealing with their problem. Aims: The aims of this study are to determine the prevalence of anxiety, depression, aggression and sense of loneliness among high school students, and to analyze a correlation between loneliness and depression. Materials and methods: The study was conducted on 300 high school students in Poland. The study material was collected using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-M) and De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS). Results: A feeling of loneliness correlated significantly with depressive disorders (p < 0.005), with the strongest effect between the total HADS-M score and the total loneliness scale score (r = 0.61). The overall presence of disorders as per HADS-M was found to be 23%, and borderline conditions were found in 19.3%. In 24% of the students, disorders were revealed on the anxiety subscale and in 46.3% on the aggression subscale. On DJGLS, a very severe sense of loneliness was observed in 6.67% of the subjects, and in 42.3% of them, a moderate feeling of loneliness was indicated. On the social loneliness subscale, a severe sense of loneliness was found in 22.7%, while on the emotional loneliness subscale, it was found in 16.7% of the subjects. Conclusions: In this study, a quarter of the student participants experienced anxiety and depression disorders. Students showing higher levels of anxiety, depression, and aggression also showed enhanced loneliness. Girls showed higher levels of anxiety, depression and aggression, as well as emotional loneliness.