A randomized controlled trial of mindfulness: effects on university students' mental health

BACKGROUND

The development of mental health disorders is common in the university population, and mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) seem to be effective in addressing them in different contexts. Thus, this study investigated the impact of an 8-week MBI adapted to university students from the Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBSR) on different symptoms related to mental health problems, specifically symptoms of anxiety, depression, stress and insomnia.

METHODS

University students (n = 136) were randomized into MBI group (n = 71) or wait-list group (n = 65). All participants completed self-administered questionnaires before and after the intervention, and the experimental group answered questionnaires weekly during intervention. Generalized mixed models were used to assess the effects of the intervention.

RESULTS

There were improvements in the symptoms of stress (B = 5.76, p < 0.001), depression (B = 1.55, p < 0.01) and insomnia (B = 1.35, p = 0.020) from the beginning of the intervention to the final assessment when it was compared to the control group. No effect was found in respect of trait anxiety. The MBI was found to be effective in reducing important symptoms related to university students' mental health, possibly grounding further research on the intervention's potential of preventing the development of mental disorders.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The research was registered in the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC) - number RBR-63qsqx, approved at 09/16/2019.

Psychometric properties of the short version of the Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire in Brazilian Portuguese

Abstract The aims of the current study were to evaluate the psychometric properties of a short version of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-SF-BR) and verify if the addition of wording mechanisms (positive or negative) contributes to the fit of the shortened Brazilian Portuguese version of the FFMQ. Four hundred eight participants answered self-report measurements. Structural equation modelling was employed for both objectives. Adequate model fit was found for the 5-factor FFMQ-SF-BR model, with significant improvements arising from the addition of wording mechanism effects. No evidences of differential item functioning and population heterogeneity were found. Bifactor analysis showed that latent traces are preferred overusing raw sum scores. The FFMQ-SF-BR is suitable to measure mindfulness in the Brazilian population and has the benefits of decreasing data collection length without losing content coverage.

Impulsivity and Mindfulness among Inpatients with Alcohol Use Disorder

Impulsivity is both a risk factor for and a consequence of alcohol use disorder (AUD), for which mindfulness-based approaches have been proven to be effective. However, the specific relationship between mindfulness and impulsivity has been little explored in the literature, especially in people with AUD. This study aims to investigate the relationship between different facets of dispositional mindfulness and impulsivity among people with AUD in an inpatient setting in Brazil. Methods: Participants (n = 165) completed the following self-report measures: the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), the Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-SF), and the Short UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale (SUPPS-P). Multiple imputation techniques and linear models were employed to assess the relationships between dispositional mindfulness and impulsivity. Results: In complete case analysis, the UPPS-P facet "lack of premeditation" was inversely related to the FFMQ facet "non-reactivity" (B = -0.17; p = 0.01); and "positive urgency" was inversely related to "act with awareness" (B = -0.27, p = 0.02) and "non-reactivity" (B = -0.17, p = 0.01). Conclusion: Relationships of varying magnitudes between dispositional mindfulness and impulsivity domains among people with AUD were found, suggesting that higher mindfulness skills are related to less impulsive traits. Our results encourage further longitudinal studies evaluating the potential of specific mindfulness components to decrease impulsivity among AUD inpatients, including its underlying mechanisms.

Antibiotics A21459 A and B, new inhibitors of bacterial protein synthesis. II. Structure elucidation

The structures of the antibiotics, active against a few Gram-negative bacteria and Clostridium difficile, were determined on the basis of physicochemical analyses on the intact molecules and on the acid hydrolysate of A21459 A. FAB-MS and 1H and 13C NMR investigations identified the amino acid units and determined their sequence. Antibiotics A21459 A and B are homodetic cyclic peptides constituted by eight amino acid units. They are glycine, methoxytryptophan, tryptophan, cysteine, alanine, sarcosine, dehydroalanine, and alpha-aminobutyric acid for A21459 A (alanine for A21459 B). Cysteine and alanine condensed to form a thiazole moiety, according to the biosynthesis of thiazole containing antibiotics.

Microbial de-mannosylation and mannosylation of teicoplanin derivatives

The single components of the teicoplanin complex, glycopeptide antibiotics active against Gram-positive bacteria, can be converted in the corresponding de-mannosyl derivatives by cultures of Nocardia orientalis NRRL 2450 or Streptomyces candidus NRRL 3218. Conversely, teicoplanin aglycone and other teicoplanin de-mannosyl derivatives can be converted in the corresponding teicoplanin mannosyl derivatives by cultures of Actinoplanes teichomyceticus ATCC 31121. The biological transformation yields are approximately 40% for de-mannosylation and 90% for mannosylation. The processes allow for the preparation of gram quantities of the de-mannosyl derivatives of teicoplanin and of teicoplanin mannosyl derivatives. De-mannosyl teicoplanin and teicoplanin mannosyl-pseudoaglycone were not amenable to preparation by either acidic or basic chemical hydrolysis.

Antibiotic GE2270 a: a novel inhibitor of bacterial protein synthesis. II. Structure elucidation

GE2270 A, produced by Planobispora rosea ATCC 53773, inhibits Gram-positive bacteria and anaerobes by acting on the bacterial protein synthesis. The structure has been determined by physico-chemical methods applied to the intact molecule and to the main hydrolysis products. Characterization by UV, IR, NMR (double quantum filter COSY), acid-base ionization, elemental analysis and FAB-MS indicated that GE2270 A is a highly modified peptide having MW 1,289 and formula C56H55N15O10S6, and a weak basic function, and that it belongs to the thiazolyl peptide group of antibiotics. Acid hydrolysis yielded a main product (MW 634), responsible for the chromophoric absorption, and a number of hydrolyzed products of lower MW. 13C NMR inverse techniques and MS studies (EI, positive ion chemical ionization, and collision induced dissociation FAB-MS-MS experiments) on GE2270 A, the chromophoric compound, and the other hydrolysis products led to the complete identification of the various amino acid residues and their sequence. Two out of the six chiral centers have been determined. The structure is thought to originate from modification of a chain of 14 amino acids in a process which creates 6 thiazole rings and one pyridine. The modification process also closes the linear polypeptide to form a cyclic part with an attached side-chain. GE2270 A plausibly has a similar biosynthetic origin to that of other thiazolyl peptide antibiotics such as nosiheptide and micrococcin.

Antibiotic SB22484: a novel complex of the aurodox group. II. Structure elucidation of the four factors

SB22484, active against Neisseriae gonorrhoeae and Neisseriae meningitidis, is a complex of four factors, designed 1 through 4, which from two pairs of isomers, 1 and 3, and 2 and 4. Factors 1 and 3 account for 65% of the complex, factor 3 being the predominant one. On the basis of the existing and implemented correlations between structure and physico-chemical characteristics (UV and IR spectroscopies, ionization properties, MS as FAB and as negative and positive CI, 1H NMR spectroscopy as 2D COSY and NOESY) in the aurodox field, the complete structures were assigned. Factor 3 can be described as N-[7-[5(R)-[7-[1,2-dihydro-4-hydroxy-1H-2-oxo-3-pyridinyl]-6-methyl- 7-oxo-1(E),3(E),5(E)-heptatrienyl]tetrahydro-3(S),4(R)-dihydrox yfuran-2 (S)-yl]-6(S)-methoxy-5,7(R)-dimethyl-2(E),4(E)-heptadienyl]-alpha (S)-methyl-5(S)-methyltetrahydro-2(S),4(S or R)-dihydroxy-6(S)-[1(E), 3(Z)-pentadienyl]-2H-pyran-2-acetamide. Factor 1 is an epimer of factor 3 with the opposite configuration at the anomeric center. Factors 2 and 4 have an ethyl group instead of the methyl group alpha to the acetamide moiety and are in the same stereochemical relationship as the pair 1 and 3.

Isolation and structure determination of the main related substances of teicoplanin, a glycopeptide antibiotic

Teicoplanin is a complex formed by five closely related glycopeptides and by a small amount of a hydrolysis product. Minor quantities of related substances are also present. Two of them (named RS-1 and RS-2) were isolated and purified starting from the tailing fractions of a teicoplanin batch. Preparative reversed-phase liquid chromatography on large low-pressure and medium high-pressure scales, concentration, desalting, and freeze-drying steps were applied. 300 mg of RS-1 and 900 mg of RS-2 were obtained in a purity grade (about 90%) sufficient for structural investigation. Starting from considerations on the HPLC retentivity and on biosynthesis, the structures were assigned on the basis of 1H-N.M.R. spectra and homonuclear CO-SY 2D experiments, FAB-MS spectrometry, and GC-MS of the esters of the fatty acids obtained by hydrolysis. RS-1 and RS-2 are teicoplanins having 10-methyl-undecanoic acid and n-dodecanoic acid, respectively as fatty acid chains. No major difference in the in vitro activity of these teicoplanins emerged in comparison with teicoplanin complex.

Determination of teicoplanin in human plasma and urine by affinity and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

A sensitive, highly selective and simple high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of teicoplanin, a novel glycopeptide antibiotic, composed of six components, in human plasma and urine is described. After an isolation step by affinity chromatography, the antibiotic substances were chromatographed on a Nucleosil C18 column with phosphate buffer-acetonitrile according to a gradient profile. All the components were detected by their UV absorption at 240 nm. The concentration of teicoplanin was determined by using the external standard procedure. This method was applied to the sum of the six major components as well as to each of them separately. The linearity of the method was checked between 0.5 and 50 micrograms/ml for plasma and between 2 and 50 micrograms/ml for urine. The limit of detection was 0.1 microgram/ml for both biological fluids. The coefficients of variation of the between-day assays did not exceed 8.6 and 8.9% in plasma and urine, respectively. The application of the method to a pharmacokinetic study of teicoplanin after a single intravenous therapeutic dose in a patient is reported. This rapid technique also appears to be suitable for drug monitoring.

Teicoplanin: chemical, physico-chemical and biological aspects

The structure determination and the physico-chemical properties of teicoplanin, a new glycopeptide antibiotic of the vancomycin-ristocetin family are presented. Some biological studies and the mechanism of action at the molecular level are discussed. Analytical test methods, such as HPLC assay, bioassay and enzymatic assay are described. The antimicrobial activity of teicoplanin and of some relevant acid and basic hydrolysis products are also discussed.

Teicoplanin, antibiotics from Actinoplanes teichomyceticus nov. sp. VIII. Opening of the polypeptide chain of teicoplanin aglycone under hydrolytic conditions

Hydrolysis of teicoplanin (a complex of five closely related factors plus one, more polar component) under selected conditions (acids in a biphasic hydroalcoholic medium) gives the single aglycone with good yields. When the reaction is carried out in homogeneous hydroalcoholic phase the removal of the sugars yields two new compounds. On the basis of fast atom bombardment mass spectra (FAB-MS), acid-base titration, IR, UV and 1H NMR analyses it has been demonstrated that these compounds are two diastereoisomers; they differ from the teicoplanin aglycone in having additional carboxyl and amino groups derived from the hydrolysis of an amide bond. Although the molecular shape of the new aglycones is greatly modified, they still maintain some antibacterial activity which might be correlated with residual binding ability towards the terminal D-alanyl-D-alanine residue of the cell-wall mucopeptides.

Teicoplanin, antibiotics from Actinoplanes teichomyceticus nov. sp. VII. Preparation and NMR characteristics of the aglycone of teicoplanin

Several hydrolytic reactions that transform teicoplanin or its pseudo-aglycones into the aglycone with good yields are described. The most interesting approach is hydrolytic removal of the sugars in benzyl alcohol with the formation of the aglycone benzyl ester which is then submitted to hydrogenolysis. A detailed description of the 1H and 13C NMR spectra of the teicoplanin aglycone hydrochloride is presented. All the signals were attributed to the hydrogen and carbon atoms using homo and heteronuclear COSY. The relevant interactions through space between the hydrogen atoms were obtained by NOE. The structural aspects are discussed in terms of the well-known mechanism of action of the glycopeptide antibiotics.

Structure identification of rifampicin N-oxide

1H- and 13C-N.M.R. spectra, in addition to previous physicochemical data, confirm the structure of rifampicin N-oxide and indicate that the oxygen atom is bonded to the piperazine N--CH3 group.

Teicoplanin, antibiotics from Actinoplanes teichomyceticus nov. sp. V. Aromatic constituents

Oxidative and hydrolytic degradation reactions were carried out on teicoplanin in order to characterize the aromatic portion of the molecule and relate it to the other members of the class of glycopeptide antibiotics. Seven aromatic rings, obtained as triphenyl ether, diphenyl ether, and diphenyl moieties after oxidation nd hydrolysis of teicoplanin, were identified. They are present in teicoplanin as aromatic amino acids and constitute the peptidic part of the molecule. The diphenyl ether and diphenyl moieties, which were isolated both as esters after oxidation and as alpha-amino acids after acid hydrolysis clearly indicate the nature of the corresponding amino acids in teicoplanin. The triphenyl ether moiety, which was isolated only as ester, allows the hypothesis that the corresponding amino acids are the same as those of the other glycopeptide antibiotics.

Teichomycins, new antibiotics from Actinoplanes teichomyceticus nov. sp. IV. Separation and characterization of the components of teichomycin (teicoplanin)

Teichomycin (teicoplanin) was found to be a mixture of five closely related components of similar polarity, designated T-A2-1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and of one more polar component, designated T-A3. The separation of the single components was achieved by reverse phase partition chromatography and their physico-chemical and biological properties were compared. The results show that 1) the five major components have the same molecular size of about 1,900; 2) they contain the same ionization function, i.e., a carboxyl group and an amino group which form a zwitterion, and four phenolic groups; 3) they differ in a side aliphatic chain. The component T-A3 is not described.

Structural studies on lipiarmycin. I. Characterization by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and isolation of methyl 2-O-methyl-4-O-homodichloroorsellinate-beta-rhamnoside

1H and 13C NMR spectral studies of lipiarmycin in CDCl3 and in pyridine-d5 provided evidence for the six partial structures I approximately VI and the two sugar units 1 and 2. Acid methanolysis led to the isolation of methyl 2-O-methyl-4-O-homodichloroorsellinate-beta-rhamnoside, whose structure was determined by spectroscopic methods.

Polymorphism and H-bonding of 2-[1(2H)-oxo-2-phthalazinyl]methylbenzoic acid

The three crystalline and one amorphous forms of the title compound, so far isolated, have been characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, thermomicroscopy, infrared spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction. From I was obtained by solidification of the melt at 200 degrees; form II by crystallization from water/ethanol 1/1; form III by grinding of II; the amorphous form by rapid cooling of the melt or by evaporation to dryness of a chloroform solution. From II melts of about 200 degrees and immediately crystallizes into form I, which melts at 210 degrees. Form III transforms into I at 165 degrees. The infrared spectra of form I is different from that of forms II and III, while each form has a different X-ray powder diffraction. From consideration of the infrared functional absorption bands, it can be derived that form I is a dimer with H-bonds between the carboxylic groups, forms II and III are monomers with intramolecular H-bond between the carboxylic group and the hydrazide carbonyl, displaying different crystal packings, and the amorphous form is a mixture of both monomers and dimers, the latters in greater amount.

Polymorphism of rifampicin

The antibiotic rifampicin shows polymorphism. Two crystalline forms, an amorphous form and four solvates (S I and S II from water; S III from tetrahydrofuran; S IV from carbon tetachloride) have been isolated and characterized by thermal analysis, infrared and X-ray powder spectroscopy. The functional I.R. bands have been interpreted as indicative of some structural features involved in the polymorphism: the intramolecular H-bonds between C23--OH and O=C--O--C25, C4--OH and O=C11, and C1--OH and O=C15. The relative physical stabilities of the various forms are reported.

Isolation and structure determination of a further metabolite of diftalone

A further metabolite of diftalone, a new antiinflammatory drug, has been identified as 7,14-dihydroxyphthalazino [2,3-b] phthalazine-5,12(7H,14H)-dione, on the basis of physico-chemical properties. The free metabolite was isolated from guinea-pig urine, where it is present as such and as the beta-glucuronide. This structure confirms the selective susceptibility of the methylene group of diftalone towards biological hydroxylation.