112,271 research outputs found
Hormonal Treatment Reduces Psychobiological Distress in Gender Identity Disorder, Independently of the Attachment Style.
No full textGender identity disorder may be a stressful situation. Hormonal treatment seemed to improve the general health as it reduces psychological and social distress. The attachment style seemed to regulate distress in insecure individuals as they are more exposed to hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system dysregulation and subjective stress.
AIM:
The objectives of the study were to evaluate the presence of psychobiological distress and insecure attachment in transsexuals and to study their stress levels with reference to the hormonal treatment and the attachment pattern.
METHODS:
We investigated 70 transsexual patients. We measured the cortisol levels and the perceived stress before starting the hormonal therapy and after about 12 months. We studied the representation of attachment in transsexuals by a backward investigation in the relations between them and their caregivers.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
We used blood samples for assessing cortisol awakening response (CAR); we used the Perceived Stress Scale for evaluating self-reported perceived stress and the Adult Attachment Interview to determine attachment styles.
RESULTS:
At enrollment, transsexuals reported elevated CAR; their values were out of normal. They expressed higher perceived stress and more attachment insecurity, with respect to normative sample data. When treated with hormone therapy, transsexuals reported significantly lower CAR (P < 0.001), falling within the normal range for cortisol levels. Treated transsexuals showed also lower perceived stress (P < 0.001), with levels similar to normative samples. The insecure attachment styles were associated with higher CAR and perceived stress in untreated transsexuals (P < 0.01). Treated transsexuals did not expressed significant differences in CAR and perceived stress by attachment.
CONCLUSION:
Our results suggested that untreated patients suffer from a higher degree of stress and that attachment insecurity negatively impacts the stress management. Initiating the hormonal treatment seemed to have a positive effect in reducing stress levels, whatever the attachment style may be. Colizzi M, Costa R, Pace V, and Todarello O. Hormonal treatment reduces psychobiological distress in gender identity disorder, independently of the attachment style. J Sex Med **;**:**-**
Hormonal Treatment Reduces Psychobiological Distress in Gender Identity Disorder, Independently of the Attachment Style
No full textIntroduction: Gender identity disorder may be a stressful situation. Hormonal treatment seemed to improve the general health as it reduces psychological and social distress. The attachment style seemed to regulate distress in insecure individuals as they are more exposed to hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system dysregulation and subjective stress. Aim: The objectives of the study were to evaluate the presence of psychobiological distress and insecure attachment in transsexuals and to study their stress levels with reference to the hormonal treatment and the attachment pattern. Methods: We investigated 70 transsexual patients. We measured the cortisol levels and the perceived stress before starting the hormonal therapy and after about 12 months. We studied the representation of attachment in transsexuals by a backward investigation in the relations between them and their caregivers. Main Outcome Measures: We used blood samples for assessing cortisol awakening response (CAR); we used the Perceived Stress Scale for evaluating self-reported perceived stress and the Adult Attachment Interview to determine attachment styles. Results: At enrollment, transsexuals reported elevated CAR; their values were out of normal. They expressed higher perceived stress and more attachment insecurity, with respect to normative sample data. When treated with hormone therapy, transsexuals reported significantly lower CAR (P<0.001), falling within the normal range for cortisol levels. Treated transsexuals showed also lower perceived stress (P<0.001), with levels similar to normative samples. The insecure attachment styles were associated with higher CAR and perceived stress in untreated transsexuals (P<0.01). Treated transsexuals did not expressed significant differences in CAR and perceived stress by attachment. Conclusion: Our results suggested that untreated patients suffer from a higher degree of stress and that attachment insecurity negatively impacts the stress management. Initiating the hormonal treatment seemed to have a positive effect in reducing stress levels, whatever the attachment style may be. Colizzi M, Costa R, Pace V, and Todarello O. Hormonal treatment reduces psychobiological distress in gender identity disorder, independently of the attachment style. J Sex Med 2013;10:3049-3058. © 2013 International Society for Sexual Medicine
The UNESCO Interdisciplinary Chair in Biotechnology and Bioethics (2000-2009): An example of Responsible Research and Innovation between Europe and Africa,
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Drug-induced expansion and differentiation of V gamma 9V delta 2 T cells in vivo: The role of exogenous IL-2
No full textHuman V gamma 9V delta 2 T cells recognize nonpeptidic Ags generated by the 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate (many eubacteria, algae, plants, and Apicomplexa) and mevalonate (eukaryotes, archaebacteria, and certain eubacteria) pathways of isoprenoid synthesis. The potent V gamma 9V delta 2 T cell reactivity 1) against certain cancer cells or 2) induced by infectious agents indicates that therapeutic augmentations. of V gamma 9V delta 2 T cell activities may be clinically beneficial. The functional characteristics of V gamma 9V delta 2 T cells from Macaca fascicularis (cynomolgus monkey) are very similar to those from Homo sapiens. We have found that the i.v. administration of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate or pyrophosphomonoester drugs into cynomolgus monkeys combined with s.c. low-dose (6 X 10(5) U/animal) IL-2 induces a large pool of CD27(+) and CD27(-) effector/memory T cells in the peripheral blood of treated animals. The administration of these drugs in the absence of IL-2 is substantially less effective, indicating the importance of additional exogenous costimuli. Shortly after the costimulatory IL-2 treatment, only gamma delta (but not alpha beta) T cells expressed the CD69 activation marker, indicating that V gamma 9V delta 2 T lymphocytes are more responsive to low-dose IL-2 than aJ3 T cells. Up to 100-fold increases in the numbers of peripheral blood V gamma 9V delta 2 T cells were observed in animals receiving the gamma delta stimulatory drug plus IL-2. Moreover, the expanded V gamma 9V delta 2 T cells were potent Th1 effectors capable of releasing large amounts of IFN-gamma. These results may be relevant for designing novel (or modifying current) immunotherapeutic trials with nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate or pyrophosphomonoester drugs
Analysis of the adoptive transfer of delayed hypersensitivity and T cell repertoire in severe combined immunodeficiency mice reconstituted with human lymphocytes
No full textThe functional capacity of human T cells to passively transfer delayed hypersensitivity (DH) was analysed in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice. The tissue distribution of human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) was analysed by (51)chromium labelling 1 and 24 h after intravenous cell injection. Labelled PBL from purified protein derivative (PPD)-positive healthy individuals mainly localize in the spleen, liver and lungs, with no arrival in the peripheral lymphoid organs and at the site of antigen challenge (footpad), According to such defective distribution, human PPD-immune cells failed to passively transfer PPD-specific DH to SCID recipients when cells were injected either intravenously or intraperitoneally (systemic transfer). On the contrary, PPD-immune cells were able to transfer DH to PPD when injected directly into the footpad (local transfer). Both memory (CD45RA(-)) and naive (CD45RA(+)) enriched subsets were equally able to transfer local DH. The long-term reconstitution of the human immune system in SCID mice was analysed after intraperitoneal PBL transfer (hu-PBL-Scid) by phenotypic analysis, immunoglobulin level, and human DNA detection. Moreover, the reconstitution of the V beta T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire in SCID mice was analysed by anchored polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showing that all the 22 V beta families were expressed in the spleen of hu-PBL-SCID mice. Moreover, scanner analysis of Southern blotting revealed the selective expansion of distinct V beta families (V beta 3, V beta 6, V beta 8, V beta 13.1, V beta 14, V beta 17), suggesting that human lymphocytes could recognize specific antigens or superantigens in the SCID environment
Uso di sequenze amminoacidiche da Mycobacterium tuberculosis o dei loro corrispondenti acidi nucleici per la diagnosi e la prevenzione di infezione tubercolare, relativo kit diagnostico e vaccino
No full textKey role of human leukocyte antigen in modulating HIV progression: an overview of the possible applications.
No full textHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease progression depends on several host factors. Among them human leukocyte antigen (HLA) locus has a main role due to the peculiar capability to modulate both innate and adaptive immune response. In this review, the role of HLA molecules and its receptors in HIV progression toward acquired immunodeficiency disease syndrome is summarized. A better knowledge about HLA-peptide presentation and recognition by immune cells will open new applications in HIV vaccine and diagnostics design
Mycobacterial 19-kDa lipoprotein mediates Mycobacterium tuberculosis-induced apoptosis in monocytes/macrophages at early stages of infection
No full textCannabis users are less sensitive to the acute psychotomimetic effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol administration
No full textImportance: verbal learning and memory have been suggested to be the most consistently impaired cognitive functions after both acute and chronic cannabis exposure [1]. Cannabis can induce acute psychotic symptoms [2], and its chronic use may increase the risk of schizophrenia [3] and its relapse [4]. However, no study has investigated its acute effects on psychotic symptoms, human brain function and related verbal memory behaviour depending on previous history of cannabis use. This investigation might help understanding brain function and behaviour upon repeated cannabis exposure in humans. Objective: To examine the neurocognitive effect of acuteadministrationof(−)-trans-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC, the main active ingredient of cannabis) and its modulation by the extent of previous cannabis exposure, with relevance to the psychotic symptoms manifestation. Design: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, repeated-measures, within-subject, acute pharmacologicalchallengedesignwasused,withcounterbalanced order of drug administration [5]. On 2 occasions, after administration of Δ9-THC or placebo, volunteers were studied using event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing a verbal paired associate learning task that involved an encoding and a recall condition. Setting: University center. Participants: Twenty-four healthy men with different levels of lifetime cannabis use. Main outcome and measures: Symptom ratings, task performance, and brain activation. Results: compared to non-users, abstinent users (N= 12) showed slower learning process (N=12; P=0.047) and greater right caudate and parahippocampal gyrus activation. Δ9-THC acutely produced anxiety and psychotic symptoms (all P≤0.02), the latter being more pronounced in non-users (P=0.040). In non-users under the placebo condition (control group), the encoding was associated with activation in the right superior temporal gyrus, inferior parietal lobule and precuneus, and deactivation in the parahippocampal gyrus bilaterally, left thalamus, and right posterior cingulate. There was an opposite pattern in non-users exposed to Δ9THC (only acute effect) and in abstinent users under placebo (only residual effect). Users under Δ9-THC (residual and acute cannabis effects) showed brain activity patterns intermediate between the control group and the only residual/only acute effect groups. In nonusers, the Δ9-THC-induced left parahippocampal activation positively correlated with the Δ9-THC-induced psychotic symptoms severity (P=0.036) and learning slowness (P=0.028). Conclusions and relevance: this study has investigated for the very first time whether individuals respond differently to the acute effects of Δ9-THC at a clinical, behavioral, and neurophysiological level depending on their background of cannabis use. Cannabis users may have some residual effect of their cannabis exposure in terms of slower learning and inefficient related brain activity. Also, they seem to have a more blunted response to the acute effects of Δ9-THC administration compared to non-users at both the behavioral and neurophysiological levels. Finally, this study suggests an involvement of the left parahippocampal gyrus in the Δ9-THC-induced psychotic symptoms and cognitive dysfunction among non-users
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