Glial progenitor cells of the adult human white and grey matter are contextually distinct

Genomic analyses have revealed heterogeneity among glial progenitor cells (GPCs), but the compartment selectivity of human GPCs (hGPCs) is unclear. Here, we asked if GPCs of human grey and white brain matter are distinct in their architecture and associated gene expression. RNA profiling of NG2-defined hGPCs derived from adult human neocortex and white matter differed in their expression of genes involved in Wnt, NOTCH, BMP and TGFβ signaling, suggesting compartment-selective biases in fate and self-renewal. White matter hGPCs over-expressed the BMP antagonists BAMBI and CHRDL1, suggesting their tonic suppression of astrocytic fate relative to cortical hGPCs, whose relative enrichment of cytoskeletal genes presaged their greater morphological complexity. In human glial chimeric mice, cortical hGPCs assumed larger and more complex morphologies than white matter hGPCs, and both were more complex than their mouse counterparts. These findings suggest that human grey and white matter GPCs comprise context-specific pools with distinct functional biases.

Neural correlates of daily function: A pilot study of the white matter retrogenesis hypothesis and three separate performance-based functional assessments

OBJECTIVE

Increasing evidence points to mild alterations in everyday functioning early in the course of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD), despite prior research suggesting functional declines occur primarily in later stages. However, daily function assessment is typically accomplished with subjective self- or informant-report, which can be prone to error due to various factors. Performance-based functional assessments (PBFAs) allow for objective evaluation of daily function abilities, but little is known on their sensitivity to the earliest ADRD-related brain alterations. We aimed to determine the neural correlates of three different PBFAs in a pilot study.

METHOD

A total of 40 older participants (age = 70.9 ± 6.5 years; education = 17.0 ± 2.6 years; 51.5% female; 10.0% non-White; 67.5% cognitively normal) completed standardized PBFAs related to medication management (MM), finances (FIN), and communication abilities (COM). Participants underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scans, from which mean fractional anisotropy (FA) composite scores of late- (LMF) and early myelinated (EMF) fibers were calculated. Linear regression analyses controlling for age and global cognition were used to assess the relationship of PBFAs with FA.

RESULTS

Better performance on MM was associated with higher mean FA on LMF composite (t38 = 2.231, p = .032), while FIN and COM were not (ps > .05). PBFAs were not associated with EMF (p > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our preliminary findings demonstrate better performance on a PBFA of medication management is associated with higher FA in late-myelinated white matter tracts. Despite a small sample size, these results are consistent with growing evidence that performance-based functional assessments may be a useful tool in identifying early changes related to ADRD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Incorporating ethical principles into clinical research protocols: a tool for protocol writers and ethics committees

A novel Protocol Ethics Tool Kit ('Ethics Tool Kit') has been developed by a multi-stakeholder group of the Multi-Regional Clinical Trials Center of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard. The purpose of the Ethics Tool Kit is to facilitate effective recognition, consideration and deliberation of critical ethical issues in clinical trial protocols. The Ethics Tool Kit may be used by investigators and sponsors to develop a dedicated Ethics Section within a protocol to improve the consistency and transparency between clinical trial protocols and research ethics committee reviews. It may also streamline ethics review and may facilitate and expedite the review process by anticipating the concerns of ethics committee reviewers. Specific attention was given to issues arising in multinational settings. With the use of this Tool Kit, researchers have the opportunity to address critical research ethics issues proactively, potentially speeding the time and easing the process to final protocol approval.

A comparison of posttraumatic stress disorder with and without borderline personality disorder among women with a history of childhood sexual abuse: etiological and clinical characteristics

The overlap in definition and presentation between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD) has raised questions about the relationship of these disorders. Are they separate disorders, variants of the same disorder, or comorbid conditions? The present study examined etiological variables and current functioning among two groups of outpatient women with a history of childhood sexual abuse: those with PTSD only (N = 45) and those with PTSD and BPD (N = 26). The groups did not differ in severity, frequency, or number of perpetrators of their childhood sexual abuse, or whether the perpetrator was a family member or not. The additional diagnosis of BPD was associated with earlier age of abuse onset and significantly higher rates of physical and verbal abuse by mother. Severity and frequency of PTSD symptoms were not affected by BPD diagnosis, suggesting that the personality disorder and PTSD are independent symptom constructs. The PTSD+BPD group scored higher on several other clinical measures including anger, dissociation, anxiety, and interpersonal problems. They did not differ in their frequency of use of mental health services but tended to be less compliant in their treatment. These and other findings are discussed, and implications for treatment are considered.

Childhood trauma as a correlate of lifetime opiate use in psychiatric patients

Associations have been reported between childhood sexual and/or physical abuse and adult substance abuse in general. This study investigated the relationship between childhood abuse and opiate use in particular among 763 consecutively admitted psychiatric inpatients. Patients were interviewed about demographic information, alcohol and drug use, and history of interpersonal violence. Opiate users were 2.7 times more likely to have a history of childhood sexual and/or physical abuse than nonopiate users, after controlling for diagnostic and sociodemographic variables. Opiate use was higher among those reporting physical abuse alone (24.1%) or both physical and sexual abuse (27%) than among those reporting sexual abuse alone (8.8%). Implications of these findings are discussed.

Outreach workers' experiences in a homeless outreach project: issues of boundaries, ethics and staff safety

Mental health professionals and researchers have emphasized the importance of conducting outreach to locate homeless persons with mental illness, and of creatively engaging these persons into a therapeutic relationship. These outreach and engagement activities raise challenging issues in the areas of client-staff boundaries, professional ethics, and staff safety. While several issues in each of these three key areas have received attention in the growing literature on homelessness, certain issues within each area remain unexplored. The authors draw from the street experiences of outreach staff in a federally funded homeless outreach project to further explore each of these areas, and suggest that experiences of outreach workers are essential in shaping and redefining work activities in these, and other important areas.

Lesbians and the internalization of societal standards of weight and appearance

ABSTRACT Findings from a study of body image, weight concern, and disordered eating in lesbians are presented. While lesbians were more critical of traditional social norms regarding the rights and roles of women in general than heterosexual controls, this difference disappeared in regard to norms concerning women's weight and appearance. Dieting was frequent, almost half of the participants were dissatisfied with their weight, and self-esteem was strongly influenced by body esteem. A large number of lesbians said that physical attractiveness was important in a partner. However, lesbians' conception of physical attractiveness had a more functional quality, related to physical condition, and less concern for conventional aspects related to "looks" than heterosexual women. Involvement in lesbian, but not feminist, activities was found to be a protective factor against low body esteem. These findings are discussed in terms of understanding lesbians' relationships to beauty norms, variations across subgroups, and risk for eating problems.

The nature and predictors of substance use among lesbians

It has been suggested that lesbians lack mainstream coping resources and are thus at risk for maladaptive coping efforts, which include substance abuse, However, data for thus at risk for maladaptive coping efforts, which include substance abuse. However, data for this population are sparse. Levels of stress, coping styles, rates of problematic substance use and relationships among these variables were examined. Two hundred sixty-three lesbians completed a self-report questionnaire as part of a larger study. Neither high rates of heavy drinking nor drug use were found in this sample. Among those who did drink excessively, it was associated with avoidant coping. Perceived stress and social resources did not differ significantly from the general female population. Levels of stress, social support, and coping style were not predictive of problematic substance use. The most significant predictor of alcohol use was reliance on bars as a primary social setting. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Selective processing of eating disorder relevant stimuli: does the Stroop Test provide an objective measure of bulimia nervosa?

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the specificity of the modified Stroop test as an objective measure of bulimia nervosa.

METHOD

A modified Stroop Test was administered to patients with bulimia nervosa and two non-clinical control groups of restrained and unrestrained eaters.

RESULTS

The data failed to show any specificity in the Stroop effect. Nor did the test provide a useful measure of treatment response.

DISCUSSION

Taken in conjunction with previous inconsistent findings, the results of this study call into question the utility of the modified Stroop effect as a specific measure of bulimia nervosa.

Eating disorders and weight concern among lesbians

OBJECTIVE

This study estimated rates of bulimia nervosa and binge eating, and assessed risk factors among 203 lesbians.

METHOD

Participants completed questionnaires containing measures addressing lifestyle, self-esteem, body esteem, attitudes about attractiveness, and disordered eating.

RESULTS

The rate of bulimia nervosa among lesbians was similar to that of heterosexual women, but binge eating disorder was more frequent. Eating as negative affect regulation was a more significant predictor of binge eating than body dissatisfaction or dieting. Lesbians were not significantly different from heterosexual women in attitudes concerning weight and appearance, or dieting. Self-esteem was significantly related to body esteem, and actual-ideal weight discrepancy was associated with body dissatisfaction, suggesting that lesbians are not immune from the effects of not meeting societal ideals of thinness. Increased lesbian/gay involvement was associated with lower weight concern.

DISCUSSION

Implications for models of risk for eating disorders, and understanding the experience of lesbians, are discussed.

Sexual orientation as a factor in risk for binge eating and bulimia nervosa: a review

Research on binge eating and bulimia nervosa among lesbians and gay men is reviewed. The thesis that the different value pot on physical appearance in these groups may function as a mediator of risk for eating problems is considered. Studies indicate that gay men focus on their appearance more than heterosexual men and may be at higher risk. Lesbians, who are arguably less invested in societal norms of attractiveness, may be at lower risk than heterosexual women, but the findings are mixed. Implications for conceptual models of risk for bulimia nervosa, and for awareness of lesbian and gay experiences by therapists, are discussed.