Facing others’ misfortune: Personal distress mediates the association between maladaptive emotion regulation and social avoidance

Previous research has linked the use of certain emotion regulation strategies to the vicarious experience of personal distress (PD) and empathic concern (EC). However, it has not been tested yet whether (1) vicarious PD is positively associated with maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, (2) vicarious EC is positively associated with adaptive emotion regulation strategies and whether (3) PD and EC mediate the link between emotion regulation and reports of approach/avoidance in response to a person in distress. To that aim, we assessed people’s reports of PD (i.e., anxious, troubled, and upset) and EC (i.e., concerned, sympathetic, and soft-hearted) in response to a video depicting a person in a threatening situation (n = 78). Afterwards, we assessed participants’ reports of avoidance and approach in regards to the character and their disposition to use maladaptive and adaptive emotion regulation strategies. Results showed that PD as well as EC were positively related to maladaptive strategies and negatively related to adaptive strategies, and that the association between maladaptive regulation strategies (i.e., rumination) and the willingness to avoid the person in distress was mediated by greater reports of PD. This study thus expands previous evidence on the relationship between maladaptive regulation strategies and affective empathy and provides novel insights about the main role that personal distress played in the association between maladaptive strategies and social avoidance

Estudios relativos a la importancia económica de las virosis en el cultivo de batata de Colonia Molina, Mendoza

Globalmente, la superficie plantada con batata experimentó significativa reducción, hecho también notable en el país, la principal causa de este fenómeno son las virosis que ocasionan daños en todas las regiones de cultivo y cuyos agentes causales, en la mayoría de los casos son desconocidos, al igual que sus aspectos epidemiológicos y daños en los rendimientos. Para determinar la importancia económica de las patologías virales de batata en la pcia. de Mendoza se colectaron un total de 26 plantas sintomáticas y 20 asintomáticas de batata en cuatro lotes de Colonia Molina (Dpto. Guaymallén). Se midieron caracteres componentes de rendimiento in situ: número de guías principales (NG), peso fresco aéreo (PFA), número total de raíces (NTR), número total de raíces comerciales (NRC) (100g o más), peso fresco de raíces totales (PRT) y comerciales (PRC). Se realizó una ANAVA con los datos de los componentes de rendimiento, para los cuales existieron diferencias significativas (p<0,05) entre la condición sintomática y asintomática. Los porcentajes de disminución de rendimiento fueron de 88%, 84%, 76%, 75%, 50% y 33% para las variables PRC, PTR, PFA, NRC, NTR, y NG respectivamente.Se calculó el porcentaje de daño potencial de los componentes de rendimiento en plantas sintomáticas con respecto a plantas sanas. Exhibe un 88% de daño, para la variable PRC y 85% para PTR, principales componentes de rendimiento en batata. La variable NG es la que menor porcentaje de daño exhibió (33%)

Recommendations for neonatologists and pediatricians working in first level birthing centers on the first communication of genetic disease and malformation syndrome diagnosis: consensus issued by 6 Italian scientific societies and 4 parents’ associations

Background: Genetic diseases are chronic conditions with relevant impact on the lives of patients and their families. In USA and Europe it is estimated a prevalence of 60 million affected subjects, 75% of whom are in developmental age. A significant number of newborns are admitted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) for reasons different from prematurity, although the prevalence of those with genetic diseases is unknown. It is, then, common for the neonatologist to start a diagnostic process on suspicion of a genetic disease or malformation syndrome, or to make and communicate these diagnoses. Many surveys showed that the degree of parental satisfaction with the methods of communication of diagnosis is low. Poor communication may have short and long-term negative effects on health and psychological and social development of the child and his family. We draw up recommendations on this issue, shared by 6 Italian Scientific Societies and 4 Parents’ Associations, aimed at making the neonatologist’s task easier at the difficult time of communication to parents of a genetic disease/malformation syndrome diagnosis for their child. Methods: We used the method of the consensus paper. A multidisciplinary panel of experts was first established, based on the clinical and scientific sharing of the thematic area of present recommendations. They were suggested by the Boards of the six Scientific Societies that joined the initiative: Italian Societies of Pediatrics, Neonatology, Human Genetics, Perinatal Medicine, Obstetric and Gynecological Ultrasound and Biophysical Methodologies, and Pediatric Genetic Diseases and Congenital Disabilities. To obtain a deeper and global vision of the communication process, and to reach a better clinical management of patients and their families, representatives of four Parents’ Associations were also recruited: Italian Association of Down People, Cornelia de Lange National Volunteer Association, Italian Federation of Rare Diseases, and Williams Syndrome People Association. They worked from September 2019 to November 2020 to achieve a consensus on the recommendations for the communication of a new diagnosis of genetic disease. Results: The consensus of experts drafted a final document defining the recommendations, for the neonatologist and/or the pediatrician working in a fist level birthing center, on the first communication of genetic disease or malformation syndrome diagnosis. Although there is no universal communication technique to make the informative process effective, we tried to identify a few relevant strategic principles that the neonatologist/pediatrician may use in the relationship with the family. We also summarized basic principles and significant aspects relating to the modalities of interaction with families in a table, in order to create an easy tool for the neonatologist to be applied in the daily care practice. We finally obtained an intersociety document, now published on the websites of the Scientific Societies involved. Conclusions: The neonatologist/pediatrician is often the first to observe complex syndromic pictures, not always identified before birth, although today more frequently prenatally diagnosed. It is necessary for him to know the aspects of genetic diseases related to communication and bioethics, as well as the biological and clinical ones, which together outline the cornerstones of the multidisciplinary care of these patients. This consensus provide practical recommendations on how to make the first communication of a genetic disease /malformation syndrome diagnosis. The proposed goal is to make easier the informative process, and to implement the best practices in the relationship with the family. A better doctor-patient/family interaction may improve health outcomes of the child and his family, as well as reduce legal disputes with parents and the phenomenon of defensive medicine

Neurophysiological and neuroradiological test for early poor outcome (Cerebral Performance Categories 3\u20135) prediction after cardiac arrest: Prospective multicentre prognostication data

The data presented here are related to our research article entitled \u201cNeurophysiology and neuroimaging accurately predict poor neurological outcome within 24 hours after cardiac arrest: a prospective multicentre prognostication study (ProNeCA)\u201d [1]. We report a secondary analysis on the ability of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs), brain computed tomography (CT) and electroencephalography (EEG) to predict poor neurological outcome at 6 months in 346 patients who were comatose after cardiac arrest. Differently from the related research article, here we included cerebral performance category (CPC) 3 among poor outcomes, so that the outcomes are dichotomised as CPC 1\u20132 (absent to mild neurological disability: good outcome) vs. CPC 3\u20135 (severe neurological disability, persistent vegetative state, or death: poor outcome). The accuracy of the index tests was recalculated accordingly. A bilaterally absent/absent-pathological amplitude (AA/AP) N20 SEPs wave, a Grey Matter/White Matter (GM/WM) ratio &lt;1.21 on brain CT and an isoelectric or burst suppression EEG predicted poor outcome with 49.6%, 42.2% and 29.8% sensitivity, respectively, and 100% specificity. The distribution of positive results of the three predictors did not overlap completely in the population of patients with poor outcome, so that when combining them the overall sensitivity raised to 61.2%

Improving access to and reuse of research results, publications and data for scientific purposes – Study to evaluate the effects of the EU copyright framework on research and the effects of potential interventions and to identify and present relevant provisions for research in EU data and digital legislation, with a focus on rights and obligations (Publications Office of the European Union)

This report supports ERA Policy Agenda 2022-2024, aiming at an EU framework for copyright and data fit for research. It analyses barriers to accessing and reusing publicly funded research, evaluating EU copyright and data legislation, along with regulatory frameworks. Presented measures aim to enhance the current framework, aligning it with scientific research and open data principles. It offers a comprehensive overview of the EU's research and innovation legal landscape, providing insights for policymakers, researchers, and research organisations

CTLA4 is expressed on mature dendritic cells derived from human monocytes and influences their maturation and antigen presentation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Dendritic cells (DCs) initiate immune responses through their direct interaction with effector cells. However, the mechanism by which DC activity is regulated is not well defined. Previous studies have shown that CTLA4 on T cells regulates DCs function by "cross-talk". We investigated whether there is an intrinsic regulatory mechanism in DCs, with CTLA4 as a candidate regulator.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We confirmed via RT-PCR and flow cytometry the natural expression of CTLA4 on mature DCs derived from human monocytes. Approximately 8% CD1a-positive cells express CTLA4 both on surface and intracellular, whereas 10% CD1a-negative cells express CTLA4 intracellularly, but little expression was observed on the cell surface. The cross-linking of CTLA4 inhibits DCs maturation and antigen presentation in vitro, but does not inhibit endocytosis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>CTLA4 is expressed by DCs and plays an inhibitory role. CTLA4-expressing DCs may represent a group of regulatory DCs. Because of its wide distribution on different cell types, CTLA4 may play a general role in regulating immune responses.</p

NK cells and cancer: you can teach innate cells new tricks

Natural killer (NK) cells are the prototype innate lymphoid cells endowed with potent cytolytic function that provide host defence against microbial infection and tumours. Here, we review evidence for the role of NK cells in immune surveillance against cancer and highlight new therapeutic approaches for targeting NK cells in the treatment of cancer

When harmonisation leads to fragmentation (and potential invalidity claims): snapshots from the implementation of the new press publishers' right

Halfway down the road of its transpositions, criticisms related to the structure and scope of the new press publishers’ right are now coupled with challenges triggered by the fragmentation of Member States’ solutions. This article offers a critical assessment of the national implementations of art.15 CDSM, raising doubts on the effectiveness of the provision in achieving the Directive’s goals. Then, it uses the Italian solution to demonstrate the negative effects of the imperfect harmonisation art.15 CDSM operated, and tests its validity under EU law to draw the boundaries of Member States’ discretion in shaping the new entitlement

The new Italian press publishers' right: creative, fairness-oriented... and invalid?

Article 15 CDSMD introduces a new related right in favour of press publishers, covering the online reproduction and making available of press publications by information society service providers. The final wording of the provision pervasively harmonizes some aspects of the new right, but leaves sensitive matters in the discretion of national legislatures, such as the notion of short extracts, the devise of specific licensing and/or distributing schemes and the related possibility to interfere with parties’ freedom to contract. Halfway down the road of the transposition process, divergences on key points are already emerging: some Member States have adopted solutions that present controversial features, which characterize them as cases in point of the side effects that an act of imperfect harmonization such as Article 15 CDSMD may engender. As a paradigmatic example of this trend, this article focuses on the Italian transposition of the press publisher’s right, offering a critical assessment of its most salient features and testing its validity under EU law on the basis of the indications provided so far by the European Commission and the CJEU. The result of this exercise will also be useful to draw the margin of discretion left to other Member States in the implementation of Article 15 CDSMD