Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Appetitive Aggression in Rwandan Genocide Perpetrators

The objectives of this study were to investigate rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and levels of appetitive aggression and potential risk factors for appetitive aggression in a sample of 200 Rwandan genocide perpetrators. Five percent of the perpetrators presented with PTSD, and high levels of appetitive aggression were common. High levels of appetitive aggression were associated with male gender, a high number of past committed offenses, and low levels of positive and elevated levels of negative religious coping. Considering the substantial extent of appetitive aggression, the reintegration of these individuals into the community should consider the inclusion of programs that restrain appetitive aggression and restore psychological functioning to facilitate a peaceful coexistence.     

慢性心理应激对大鼠淋巴细胞热休克蛋白70表达和凋亡的影响

为了探讨慢性心理应激对热休克蛋白70（Hsp70）、淋巴细胞的凋亡及其两者之间关系的影响,将实验SD大鼠分为对照组、中等强度心理应激组和高强度心理应激组。分别对三组大鼠给予相应的干预3周,采用流式细胞仪定量检测各组大鼠外周血淋巴细胞Hsp70的表达水平和凋亡量。结果发现,与对照组比较,中等和高强度心理应激组淋巴细胞内Hsp70表达水平显著增加;中等强度心理应激组凋亡量增加但没有出现统计学意义,高强度心理应激组淋巴细胞凋亡显著增加;中等强度心理应激组的淋巴细胞Hsp70表达与凋亡量变化成显著正相关,高强度心理应激组两者变化成不显著正相关。研究结果提示心理应激能诱发淋巴细胞Hsp70表达和凋亡升高,且随心理应激强度增加,Hsp70表达升高趋势减缓、凋亡量增加加剧,最终造成机体免疫损伤加深     

Perseverative thoughts and subjective health complaints in adolescence: Mediating effects of perceived stress and negative affects

Stable tendency to perseverative thoughts such as trait rumination and worry can influence somatic health. The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between perseverative thoughts and somatic complaints, and the possible mediating effects of perceived stress, negative and positive affectivity in adolescence. Having an acute or a chronic condition was also assessed to be controlled for and to reveal their effects on symptom reporting. Three hundred and six adolescents from 7th to 12th grade with mean age of 16.33 (SD = 1.29) participated in the study. Mediation analysis suggested that impact of trait-like perseverative thoughts on complaints were mediated by perceived stress and negative affectivity. Having an acute condition had also an effect on symptom reporting through increased negative affectivity. Our results highlight that ruminations or worry as stable intrapersonal characteristics are relevant processes in health and can be potential targets in prevention programmes in adolescence.     

神经颗粒素与脑老化、疾病及应激关系

神经颗粒素是一种神经元特异性、Ca2＋敏感性的鈣调蛋白（CaM）结合蛋白,是蛋白激酶C的突触后底物,与信号传导和长时程增强（LTP）有关。这是一种新发现的脑特异性蛋白质。主要分布在前脑和海马,在皮质、海马CA1-CA3区、齿状回、纹状体和杏仁核中高表达。在大脑发育的不同阶段,神经颗粒素在脑内的含量和分布区域会发生变化,其生物学作用受到国内外学者的关注。近年来国外学者开始对神经颗粒素与脑老化、疾病及应激关系进行考查。该文将着重介绍对神经颗粒素在脑老化、疾病和应激过程中所扮演的角色的研究工作及其新发现,目的是对脑与行为关系的理解及有关的脑机制的研究提供一个新的视点。     

Associations of depression,anxiety and PTSD with neurological disability and cognitive impairment in survivors of moyamoya disease

Depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are common complications of cerebrovascular diseases. However, they were seldom explored in Moyamoya Disease (MMD) survivors. In this study, we measured the prevalence of depression, anxiety and PTSD in MMD survivors. We evaluated the association of mental disorders with neurological disability and cognitive impairment, and further find out the independent protective and risk factors of neurological disability and cognitive impairment. In MMD survivors, the prevalence of these three mental disorders is high, 46.7% for depression, 50% for anxiety and 47.5% for PTSD. Anxiety and PTSD were significantly associated with more severe neurological disability (p = 0.039 and < 0.001); depression and anxiety were significantly associated with greater cognitive deficiency (p = 0.004 and 0.002). We further found PTSD was the only risk factor associated with neurological disability, and the corresponding odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) was 81.74 (9.91–674.17); depression and anxiety were risk factors associated with cognitive impairment, and the corresponding OR and 95%CI were 2.73 (1.10–6.81) and 3.37 (1.29–8.78). Therefore, these three mental disorders were associated with more severe neurological disability and greater cognitive deficiency in MMD survivors.     

Biobehavioral effects of extended salt loading and conflict stress in intact baboons.

Behavioral stressors may inhibit sodium excretion, potentially increasing plasma volume and elevating blood pressure during chronic exposure. Blood pressure regulation may be especially deranged during manipulations that further challenge the kidney, such as a diet high in salt content. The effects on blood pressure and other variables of combined behavioral stress (food/shock conflict) and dietary salt (12 g NaCl per day; 218 mEq Na+ per day) were examined in adult male baboons over the course of 1 year. Mean arterial pressure was not significantly elevated over baseline after 5 months of high dietary salt alone (6 +/- 5 mmHg) but was maximally elevated by an average of 17 (+/- 3 SEM) mmHg after 5 months of combined salt and conflict stress. Control baboons showed no significant trends in mean arterial pressure across the same time period. Individual subjects whose blood pressure was "salt+stress resistant" or "salt+stress sensitive" were differentiated by their degree of pressure diuresis and natriuresis, urinary free cortisol, and a behavioral index of stress sensitivity. The data indicate additive effects of chronic high dietary salt intake and behavioral stressors on blood pressure in nonhuman primates that are dependent on renal function and pituitary-adrenocortical activity.