Pathological Traits Research Articles

In silico identification of variations in microRNAs with a potential impact on dairy traits using whole ruminant genome SNP datasets

MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that have important roles in the lactation process and milk biosynthesis. Some polymorphisms have been studied in various livestock species from the perspective of pathology or production traits. To target variants that could be the causal variants of dairy traits, genetic variants of microRNAs expressed in the mammary gland or present in milk and localized in dairy quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were investigated in bovine, caprine, and ovine species. In this study, a total of 59,124 (out of 28 millions), 13,427 (out of 87 millions), and 4761 (out of 38 millions) genetic variants in microRNAs expressed in the mammary gland or present in milk were identified in bovine, caprine, and ovine species, respectively. A total of 4679 of these detected bovine genetic variants are located in dairy QTLs. In caprine species, 127 genetic variants are localized in dairy QTLs. In ovine species, no genetic variant was identified in dairy QTLs. This study leads to the detection of microRNA genetic variants of interest in the context of dairy production, taking advantage of whole genome data to identify microRNA genetic variants expressed in the mammary gland and localized in dairy QTLs.

Proposal for an HiTOP-based evaluation scale of traits of the Paranoid Personality Disorder

Aim of the studyThis study aimed to operationalize a version of the Dimensional Clinical Personality Inventory 2 (IDCP-2) for the screening of typical traits of the Paranoid personality disorder (PPD) from the perspective of the HiTOP, as well as investigate its internal and external validity.Subject or material and methodsWe selected IDCP-2 factors that appropriately represented PPD traits according to the HiTOP. We created new items for a Rudeness factor. The participants were 454 Brazilian adults (aged 18-70 years). We administered the following scales: IDCP-PPD, PID-5, and CAT-PD-SV.ResultsWe found a one higher-order factor structure for the IDCP-PPD The factors that composed this higher-order factor reflect traits from both HiTOP spectra witch PPD is represented, Thought disorder and Antagonistic externalizing. The expected correlations between IDCP-PPD factors and external measures were observed. Groups comparison indicated people with high levels of pathological traits in the external measures showing higher means in the IDCP-PPD scores in comparison to people with lower means in these measures.DiscussionThe factors of the IDCP-PPD demonstrated a good capacity for the assessment of PPD traits.ConclusionsThe findings of our study indicate the IDCP-PPD scale as a useful tool for operationalizing HiTOP for clinical practice. Future studies should test our findings in patients with a PPD diagnosis.

Narcissistic Personality Traits and Sexual Dysfunction in Women: The Role of Body Image Self-Consciousness

BackgroundIndividuals with narcissistic traits, specifically vulnerable ones, are more prone to experiencing concerns related to self-worth and physical appearance and to showing heightened sensitivity to appearance evaluation. Negative body image and body image self-consciousness may, in turn, undermine sexual functioning, especially when apprehension is related to body appearance in sexual contexts. MethodsWe aimed to evaluate the associations between self-reported pathological narcissistic traits, both grandiose and vulnerable, and sexual functioning in a large sample of nonclinical women (N = 656). Furthermore, we tested the mediating role of body image self-consciousness in these associations. OutcomesSexual functioning was measured through the Female Sexual Function Index. ResultsThe results highlight that vulnerable narcissistic traits are associated with lower sexual functioning, this association being mediated by higher levels of body image self-consciousness. Conversely, grandiose narcissistic traits are linked to lower body image self-consciousness and, consequently, higher levels of sexual functioning. Clinical ImplicationsConsidering the link between body image self-consciousness and sexuality is of utmost importance in clinical practice with women, as well as in promoting positive body appreciation. Clinicians working with individuals presenting with pathological personality traits should consider including an assessment of their sexual functioning. S Pavanello Decaro, M Di Sarno, A Anzani, et al. Narcissistic Personality Traits and Sexual Dysfunction in Women: The Role of Body Image Self-Consciousness. J Sex Med 2021;18:1891–1898.

Exploring the Propensities of Fluorescent Carbazole Analogs toward the Inhibition of Amyloid Aggregation in Type 2 Diabetes: An Experimental and Theoretical Endeavor.

Amyloid aggregation is a pathological trait observed in many incurable and fatal neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases associated with misfolding and self-assembly of various proteins. Noncovalent interactions between these structural motifs and small molecules can, however, prevent this aggregation. Herein, five structurally different synthetic (Cz1-Cz4) and naturally occurring (Cz5, mahanimbine) fluorescent carbazole analogs are explored for their comparative amyloid aggregation inhibitory activities. Cz3 inhibited the amyloid deposition on the pancreatic β-cells of diabetic mice. Moreover, Cz3 and Cz5 also showed efficacy as the fluorescent cell (MIN6) imaging agents. Further structural modifications of these carbazoles may lead to development of low-cost and non-toxic therapeutic agents for Type 2 diabetes and other amyloidosis-related diseases.

Circular RNA Cwc27 contributes to Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis by repressing Pur-α activity.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have gained growing attention in participating in various biological processes and referring to multiply kinds of diseases. Although differentially expressed circRNA profiling in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been established, little is known about the precise characteristic and functions of key circRNAs with direct relevance to AD in gene expression and disease-related cognition. Herein, we screened and identified circCwc27 as a novel circRNA implicated in AD. CircCwc27 was a neuronal-enriched circRNA that abundantly expressed in the brain and significantly upregulated in AD mice and patients. Knockdown of circCwc27 markedly improved AD-related pathological traits and ameliorated cognitive dysfunctions. Mechanistically, we excluded the miRNA decoy mechanism and focused on the important function of circRNA-RNA-binding protein (RBP) interaction in AD. CircCwc27 directly bound to purine-rich element-binding protein A (Pur-α), increased retention of cytoplasmic Pur-α, and suppressed Pur-α recruitment to the promoters of a cluster of AD genes, including amyloid precursor protein (APP), dopamine receptor D1 (Drd1), protein phosphatase 1, regulatory inhibitor subunit1B (Ppp1r1b), neurotrophic tyrosine kinase, receptor, type 1 (Ntrk1), and LIM homeobox 8 (Lhx8). Downregulation of circCwc27 enhanced the affinity of Pur-α binding to these promoters, leading to altered transcription of Pur-α targets. Moreover, Pur-α overexpression largely phenocopied circCwc27 knockdown in preventing Aβ deposition and cognitive decline. Together, our findings suggest significant functional consequences of a circRNA-protein interaction, that circCwc27, by associating with the regulatory protein Pur-α, may act as a crucial player in AD pathogenesis and represent a promising AD therapeutic target with clinical translational potential.

Modeling In Vitro Osteoarthritis Phenotypes in a Vascularized Bone Model Based on a Bone-Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Cell Line and Endothelial Cells.

The subchondral bone and its associated vasculature play an important role in the onset of osteoarthritis (OA). Integration of different aspects of the OA environment into multi-cellular and complex human, in vitro models is therefore needed to properly represent the pathology. In this study, we exploited a mesenchymal stromal cell line/endothelial cell co-culture to produce an in vitro human model of vascularized osteogenic tissue. A cocktail of inflammatory cytokines, or conditioned medium from mechanically-induced OA engineered microcartilage, was administered to this vascularized bone model to mimic the inflamed OA environment, hypothesizing that these treatments could induce the onset of specific pathological traits. Exposure to the inflammatory factors led to increased network formation by endothelial cells, reminiscent of the abnormal angiogenesis found in OA subchondral bone, demineralization of the constructs, and increased collagen production, signs of OA related bone sclerosis. Furthermore, inflammation led to augmented expression of osteogenic (alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin (OCN)) and angiogenic (vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)) genes. The treatment, with a conditioned medium from the mechanically-induced OA engineered microcartilage, also caused increased demineralization and expression of ALP, OCN, ADAMTS5, and VEGF; however, changes in network formation by endothelial cells were not observed in this second case, suggesting a possible different mechanism of action in inducing OA-like phenotypes. We propose that this vascularized bone model could represent a first step for the in vitro study of bone changes under OA mimicking conditions and possibly serve as a tool in testing anti-OA drugs.

Relationship Between Facebook Problematic use and Pathological Personality Traits: a Systematic Review

Abstract We aimed to investigate relationships between Facebook problematic use (Facebook PU) and pathological traits of personality, by a systematic review. The literature search was proceeded based on a search strategy including the keywords “Facebook”, “problematic use” and “personality”. We found a total of 236 publications and selected 21 papers for full verification. All of them were excluded, characterizing an empty review. As an attempt to increase the probability of finding eligible publications, first, we have broadened the search of the systematic review from “Facebook” to “social network sites” (and variations); and then from “social network sites” to “internet”. Regarding this last change, the final set of publications after full reading based on the eligibility criteria was composed by 15 papers. We emphasize that there was no empirical evidence on the relationship between Facebook PU and pathological traits of personality. Given the proximity between Facebook PU and internet addiction, it is possible to hypothesize that there is a relationship between pathological traits (i.e., Neuroticism, Impulsivity, and Psychoticism) and Facebook PU.

Exploring the Alternative Model for Personality Disorders Using SCORS-G Ratings on Thematic Apperception Test Narratives

The Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD) in Section III of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013) conceptualizes personality pathology as a combination of impairment (Criterion A) and traits (Criterion B). One measure used to develop Criterion A was the Social Cognition and Object Relations Scale - Global Rating Method (SCORS-G), which is a multidimensional, object-relational clinician-rated measure of personality functioning. Although there are conceptual links between the AMPD and SCORS-G dimensions, there exists no research examining the relationship. To address this, we examined associations between the SCORS-G dimensions and measures of the AMPD constructs in a large, archival dataset of outpatients and inpatients. More pathological scores on SCORS-G dimensions reflecting self- and interpersonal functioning were associated with greater pathological traits and impairment. Overall, results support further investigation into SCORS-G as a useful measure in AMPD research and assessment.

Contribution of the Commensal Microflora to the Immunological Homeostasis and the Importance of Immune-Related Drug Development for Clinical Applications.

Not long ago, self-reactive immune activity was considered as pathological trait. A paradigm shift has now led to the recognition of autoimmune processes as part of natural maintenance of molecular homeostasis. The immune system is assigned further roles beneath the defense against pathogenic organisms. Regarding the humoral immune system, the investigation of natural autoantibodies that are frequently found in healthy individuals has led to further hypotheses involving natural autoimmunity in other processes as the clearing of cellular debris or decrease in inflammatory processes. However, their role and origin have not been entirely clarified, but accumulating evidence links their formation to immune reactions against the gut microbiome. Antibodies targeting highly conserved proteins of the commensal microflora are suggested to show self-reactive properties, following the paradigm of the molecular mimicry. Here, we discuss recent findings, which demonstrate potential links of the commensal microflora to the immunological homeostasis and highlight the possible implications for various diseases. Furthermore, specific components of the immune system, especially antibodies, have become a focus of attention for the medical management of various diseases and provide attractive treatment options in the future. Nevertheless, the development and optimization of such macromolecules still represents a very time-consuming task, shifting the need to more medical agents with simple structural properties and low manufacturing costs. Synthesizing only the biologically active sites of antibodies has become of great interest for the pharmaceutical industry and offers a wide range of therapeutic application areas as it will be discussed in the present review article.

Molecular Pathogenesis and Peripheral Monitoring of Adult Fragile X-Associated Syndromes

Abnormal trinucleotide expansions cause rare disorders that compromise quality of life and, in some cases, lifespan. In particular, the expansions of the CGG-repeats stretch at the 5’-UTR of the Fragile X Mental Retardation 1 (FMR1) gene have pleiotropic effects that lead to a variety of Fragile X-associated syndromes: the neurodevelopmental Fragile X syndrome (FXS) in children, the late-onset neurodegenerative disorder Fragile X-associated tremor-ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) that mainly affects adult men, the Fragile X-associated primary ovarian insufficiency (FXPOI) in adult women, and a variety of psychiatric and affective disorders that are under the term of Fragile X-associated neuropsychiatric disorders (FXAND). In this review, we will describe the pathological mechanisms of the adult “gain-of-function” syndromes that are mainly caused by the toxic actions of CGG RNA and FMRpolyG peptide. There have been intensive attempts to identify reliable peripheral biomarkers to assess disease progression and onset of specific pathological traits. Mitochondrial dysfunction, altered miRNA expression, endocrine system failure, and impairment of the GABAergic transmission are some of the affectations that are susceptible to be tracked using peripheral blood for monitoring of the motor, cognitive, psychiatric and reproductive impairment of the CGG-expansion carriers. We provided some illustrative examples from our own cohort. Understanding the association between molecular pathogenesis and biomarkers dynamics will improve effective prognosis and clinical management of CGG-expansion carriers.

Verification of the Internal Structure of the Dimensional Clinical Personality Inventory 2 in a Brazilian Community Sample

The internal structure is investigated in mental health measures, exploring or confirming the association of stimuli composing the test and whether this structure is consistent with expectation. Our focus is on the internal structure of the Dimensional Clinical Personality Inventory 2 (idcp-2), a self-report test for pathological traits measurement. Previous studies have only partially verified the internal structure of idcp-2. The objective of this study is to verify the internal structure of idcp-2, contemplating in the same analysis all its dimensions and factors. Participants were 2,000 people from the general population. We conducted confirmatory (cfa) and exploratory (efa) factorial analyzes, including bifactor models. The results showed the bifactor model with 12 specific factors with best fit indices. The internal consistency for the general factor was above .90, and from .40 to .91 for the specific factors. Findings suggested the original solution of idcp-2 is reasonable using a bifactor model. How to cite this article: Carvalho, L.F., Gonçalves, A.P., Araujo, J.A., Macedo F.M. (2021). Verification of the internal structure of the Dimensional Clinical Personality Inventory 2 in a Brazilian community sample. Revista Colombiana de Psicología, 30(2), 115-125. https://doi.org/10.15446/rcp.v30n2.83530

Self-Concept in Narcissism: Profile Comparisons of Narcissistic Manifestations on Facets of the Self.

ObjectiveClinical theories suggest that narcissists have a compromised self-concept. However, empirical investigation on attributes of the self that would be impaired in pathological narcissism is limited and inconsistent. The present study aims at detecting distinctive profiles of narcissistic manifestations on facets of the self that have been indicated as relevant in clinical and empirical literature on narcissism.MethodWe measured adaptive and pathological narcissistic traits in a community sample of adults (N = 539). Participants also completed measures of self-uniqueness, self-authenticity, self-consistency, and self-other comparisons on agentic and communal domains.ResultsResults indicate distinctive profiles of adaptive and pathological narcissistic manifestations on these facets of the self. Among the set of distinctive facets for each narcissistic manifestation, however, some showed to have a more prominent role. Adaptive and pathological narcissism were captured mostly by a greater sense and need for uniqueness that was primarily expressed by public exposure. Sense of superiority over others in the agentic domain, however, showed to have an essential role only in adaptive narcissism. Moreover, self-concept in adaptive grandiose narcissism was qualified by high levels of self-authenticity and a consistent sense of self. Self-concept in vulnerable pathological narcissism revealed greatest impairment, especially in facets of high concern regarding others’ reactions and feeling of a tenuous existence.ConclusionsThe study points out that adaptive and pathological manifestations of narcissism can be profiled based on specific facets of self. Theoretical and research implications are discussed.

Evaluating, Filtering and Clustering Genetic Disease Cohorts Based on Human Phenotype Ontology Data with Cohort Analyzer

Exhaustive and comprehensive analysis of pathological traits is essential to understanding genetic diseases, performing precise diagnosis and prescribing personalized treatments. It is particularly important for disease cohorts, as thoroughly detailed phenotypic profiles allow patients to be compared and contrasted. However, many disease cohorts contain patients that have been ascribed low numbers of very general and relatively uninformative phenotypes. We present Cohort Analyzer, a tool that measures the phenotyping quality of patient cohorts. It calculates multiple statistics to give a general overview of the cohort status in terms of the depth and breadth of phenotyping, allowing us to detect less well-phenotyped patients for re-examining or excluding from further analyses. In addition, it performs clustering analysis to find subgroups of patients that share similar phenotypic profiles. We used it to analyse three cohorts of genetic diseases patients with very different properties. We found that cohorts with the most specific and complete phenotypic characterization give more potential insights into the disease than those that were less deeply characterised by forming more informative clusters. For two of the cohorts, we also analysed genomic data related to the patients, and linked the genomic data to the patient-subgroups by mapping shared variants to genes and functions. The work highlights the need for improved phenotyping in this era of personalized medicine. The tool itself is freely available alongside a workflow to allow the analyses shown in this work to be applied to other datasets.

In light of the DSM-5 dimensional model of personality: Borderline personality disorder at the crossroads with the bipolar spectrum

Background. State-of-the-art research highlights that borderline personality disorder (PD) and bipolar spectrum disorders have clinical characteristics in common, which imply uncertainty in differential diagnoses. Although there is a growing body of literature on the DSM-5 dimensional model of personality disorder, its discriminative features between these clinical samples are still understudied. In this study, we seek to identify the best set of predictors that differentiate between borderline PD and bipolar spectrum, based on pathological and normative personality traits and symptoms. Methods. A cross-sectional study of three clinical samples: 1) Borderline PD group of 63 participants; 2) Major depressive disorder group of 89 participants; 3) Bipolar disorder group of 65 participants. Self-reported assessment: Personality Inventory for DSM-5; Brief Symptom Inventory; FFM Inventory. A series of one-way ANOVAs and logistic regression analyses were computed. Results. The major set of data emerging as common discriminants of borderline PD across the bipolar spectrum are unusual beliefs & experiences, paranoid ideation, obsession-compulsion and extraversion. Depressivity (OR: 34.95) and impulsivity (OR: 22.35) pathological traits displayed the greatest predictive values in the differential diagnosis. Limitations. The small size of the samples; a lack of data from participants’ previous clinical history. Conclusions. Findings support the DSM-5 pathological traits as differentiating borderline PD through bipolar spectrum, and reinforcing the joint use of symptom-related pathological functioning and normal-range personality traits. Alongside the bipolar spectrum, borderline pathology sheds light upon a hypothetical overlap along the depressive and schizoaffective/schizophrenia spectra, representing a borderland space at a crossroads with the psychopathology of a meta-spectrum.

Measuring pathological traits of the schizotypal personality disorder through the HiTOP model

Schizotypal personality disorder (STPD) is characterized by difficulties in intimate relationships, social and interpersonal deficits, and perceptual distortions. Encompassing this personality disorder and other mental conditions, the Hierarchical taxonomy of psychopathology (HiTOP) is an evidence-based, dimensional model covering pathological traits in its lower range. This study aimed to develop a self-report scale for screening pathological traits of STPD from the perspective of the HiTOP. The sample consisted of 474 Brazilian adults aged 18-70 years who answered the developed scale, the IDCP-STPD, facets of the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5), and factors of the Computerized Adaptive Assessment of Personality Disorder Static Form (CAT-PD-SF). The scale was composed of 73 items distributed in two factors. Internal structure reliability was higher than 0.80 for all scores of the scale. The factors showed associations with the expected external measures, and the groups based on the STPD external measures (healthy and pathological) showed big to huge differences. Although initial, our findings suggested the IDCP-STPD as a helpful measure to the clinical context to screen the STPD pathological traits. Moreover, the structure observed for the IDCP-STPD confirms the spectrum level of the HiTOP.

Deconstructing criterion a of the alternative model for personality disorders.

The construct composition of the Level of Personality Functioning Scale (LPFS; Criterion A) of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition alternative model for personality disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) was examined in a clinical vignette rating study. Multiple indices of level of personality functioning, psychiatric and psychosocial impairment, Criterion B maladaptive personality traits, and conceptually divergent variables (intellectual level, socioeconomic status, and likability) were used to deconstruct the LPFS. Most variables were highly intercorrelated, but partial correlational analyses showed the LPFS possesses meaningful personality construct variance not fully explained by severity of pathological traits, psychiatric and psychosocial impairment, or the conceptually divergent variables. This exploratory study offers initial evidence that the LPFS contains substantive LPF variance beyond PD severity. Results are framed and discussed in terms of the known conceptual and empirical overlap between Criterion A and Criterion B as well as the differing ways a dimension of personality disorder (PD) severity may be interpreted. We propose the LPFS is more than statistical artifact created by empirical covariation but less than a true latent dimension of PD severity. The LPFS may be understood as a methodologically pragmatic but theoretically substantive dimension of PD severity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Mediating Role of Maladaptive Schemas and Schema Modes between Childhood Maltreatment and Pathological Traits in Adults

It was aimed at that maladaptive schemas and schema modes serially mediate between childhood maltreatment and pathological traits. Sample of the present study consisted on university students (N=300).Purposive sampling technique was used to collect the information. Serial Mediation Analysis was conducted using PROCESS 3.0.Four scales were used for data collection The findings indicated that maladaptive schemas and positive schema modes mediated between childhood maltreatment and pathological traits. Maladaptive schemas and negative schema modes mediated between childhood maltreatment and pathological traits.The study supported the schema theory which revealed that early childhood neglect and abuse forms early maladaptive schemas which change into schema modes during the course of development and finally manifested in the form of personality pathologies during adulthood.The study has both theoretical as well as applied significance. The study has supported the theory of Young.

Social impairment and personality disorder features among older adults: An application of the circumplex model.

The interpersonal circumplex is a model that places interpersonal problems along two axes (communion and agency), resulting in eight theoretically derived patterns. Application of the circumplex to older adults is poorly understood. Subsequently, this study examined relationships between the interpersonal circumplex and personality disorder (PD) features among older adults, since social impairments are core components of PDs. Two models of PDs were examined: the traditional model of 10 PDs and the Alternative Model of PDs (AMPD) with its personality functioning and pathological personality trait features. Older adults (N = 202) completed the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-Short Circumplex, Coolidge Axis II Inventory, Levels of Personality Functioning Scale-Self-Report, and Personality Inventory for DSM-5. Overlap between the interpersonal circumplex and PD features were detected, but patterns were distinct from prior studies with younger samples. Cluster B and C PD features showed meaningful relationships, whereas Cluster A did not. The circumplex was limited in its relation to the AMPD's personality functioning. The communion component of the circumplex significantly related to the AMPD's pathological trait model, whereas the agency component was limited in its association with pathological traits. Overall, the circumplex meaningfully related to PD features across two different PD models, providing some evidence of validity.

The “Lost” Personality Disorders and Their Relationships to the Alternative Model of Personality Disorders Among Older Adults

Abstract. Four personality disorders (PD) have become “lost” throughout the various editions of the DSM: Depressive, Passive-Aggressive, Sadistic, and Self-Defeating. The Alternative Model of Personality Disorders (AMPD) is a novel approach to PD classification, containing two diagnostic criteria: personality functioning and pathological personality traits. This study identifies the personality functioning and pathological personality trait features of the Lost PDs among older adults ( N = 202; Mage = 67.47 years). Results indicate that the Lost PDs related more strongly with the self-functioning domains (versus the interpersonal domains). Some pathological traits emerged in expected directions, whereas others did not, which is consistent with research on the traditional PDs. The AMPD appears to have mixed validity in capturing the Lost PDs in older adults, though overall it performed comparably well and warrants further examination.

Multimodal multisample spectroscopic imaging analysis of tumor tissues using multivariate curve resolution

Chemical imaging aims to characterize the molecular patterns present in a tissue or surface. High-resolution images with high content of molecular information represent a clear advantage in many research areas, such as in biomedicine. Specific molecular patterns, when related to pathological traits, could help understanding the molecular events related to the condition studied. Chemical composition of the different regions within the tissue may reveal interesting patterns that cannot be detected using conventional staining techniques. In this work, a new chemometrics approach is proposed for the simultaneous multimodal chemical imaging analysis of six tissue slices from two types of tumor tissues (EG and 1070) exhibiting different sensitivity to the docetaxel drug. Therefore, a deeper chemical imaging study of these tissues could reveal new chemical fingerprints related to the different susceptibility and response to this drug treatment. The spectral imaging techniques used in this study were MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) and FT-IR hyperspectral imaging. In addition, a RGB color picture of the hematoxylin/eosin staining was also included in the joint image analysis. The huge spectral data information generated by these multiple imaging techniques in the simultaneous analysis of the different tissue samples was organized in combined multiset and multimodal spectral image data structures which were then analyzed by multivariate curve resolution. Using this approach, the nature of the chemical constituents and their high-resolution spatial distribution were detangled showing what were the main chemical patterns present in specific areas of the tissues which distinguished the two types of tumors. In summary, in the present work, the application of multivariate curve resolution is confirmed to be a powerful and flexible data analysis tool able to extract chemical information from the simultaneous analysis of huge, fused image data sets from obtained by different type of spectroscopic imaging techniques having different spatial resolution powers.