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JPMA. the Journal of the Pakistan... Feb 2021To explore relationship involving Ego Defence Mechanism, Medication Adherence and Self-Management of patients with type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
To explore relationship involving Ego Defence Mechanism, Medication Adherence and Self-Management of patients with type 2 diabetes.
METHODS
The cross-sectional co-relational study was conducted at the Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan, from November 2017 to November 2018, and comprised diabetics aged 25-55 years. Other than demographic information, data was collected using the Urdu versions of the Defense Style Questionnaire, the Medication Adherence Scale, and the Diabetic Self-management Questionnaire. Data was analysed using SPSS 22.
RESULTS
Of the 150 patients, 75(50%) each were females and males. Mature defence mechanisms, like sublimation, suppression and humour, were significant predictors of self-management (p<0.001), and mature defence mechanism, like sublimation, was a significant predictor of medication adherence (p<0.05). Females were high on neurotic defence mechanism, like pseudo-altruism, compared to the males (p=0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Medication adherence and self-management were found to be dependent on mature defence mechanisms.
Topics: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Defense Mechanisms; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Ego; Female; Humans; Male; Medication Adherence; Middle Aged; Pakistan; Self-Management; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 33941947
DOI: 10.47391/JPMA.706 -
Turk Psikiyatri Dergisi = Turkish... 2022This study aims to investigate the relationship between suicide possibilities, defense mechanisms, and eating awareness of patients who have undergone bariatric surgery.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to investigate the relationship between suicide possibilities, defense mechanisms, and eating awareness of patients who have undergone bariatric surgery.
METHOD
The study sample consisted of 101 patients who had bariatric surgery in a private hospital. People who had at least six months from the date of surgery, who had no pregnancy, and who did not give birth after surgery were included in the study. The Mindful Eating Questionnaire, Suicide Probability Scale, and the Defense Style Questionnaire were applied to the participants.
RESULTS
While the average age of the sample was 52.46±9.72, 54.5% (n=55) were male. Within one year after the operation, 33.7% of (n=34) patients had lost weight between 21-30 kg, while 21.8% (n=22) had lost weight between 11-20 kg. Suicide probability scale scores are predicted by emotional eating (β=0.272, p=0.004), neurotic defense mechanism (β=0.284, p=0.003) and current body mass index (β=0.258, p=0.008).
CONCLUSION
The possibility of suicide after bariatric surgery is closely related to emotional eating, neurotic defense mechanisms, and body mass index. The solution to the problem of emotional eating rather than decreasing the body mass index may be more effective in decreasing the suicide possibilities of the patients. Therefore, in patients undergoing bariatric surgery, emotional eating is one of the problems that should be handled both before and after surgery.
Topics: Bariatric Surgery; Defense Mechanisms; Female; Humans; Male; Obesity; Probability; Suicide
PubMed: 36148568
DOI: 10.5080/u25891 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Jun 2023Two significant soil degradation processes that pose a hazard to our ecosystems are soil salinization and sodification. The information on potential of salicylic acid...
Two significant soil degradation processes that pose a hazard to our ecosystems are soil salinization and sodification. The information on potential of salicylic acid (SA) and trehalose (Tre) to induce abiotic stress signaling and triggers physio-biochemical responses in crop plants is limited. Therefore, the present study was aimed to investigate the efficacy of 5 μM SA and/or 10 mM Tre in improving the growth, photosynthesis, ion homeostasis, nutrient acquisition, antioxidant defense system and yield of mustard plants growing under sodium chloride (NaCl) stress (0, 50, 100 and 150 mM NaCl). The data showed that increasing NaCl stress concentration decreased growth, photosynthesis, membrane permeability, ion homeostasis and yield in a dose-dependent manner while increasing considerably enzymatic antioxidant enzyme activities, compatible solute accumulation, sodium ion and oxidative stress biomarkers linearly with increasing NaCl stress concentration. The spray of SA, Tre, and SA + Tre played diversified roles in enhancing NaCl stress tolerance in mustard at morpho-physiological and biochemical levels. The combined SA + Tre application proved best and completely neutralized the NaCl stress-induced suppression in growth, photosynthesis, ion homeostasis, nutrient acquisition and yield by significantly enhancing the activities of enzymatic antioxidants, compatible solutes accumulation, water status and membrane permeability, while reducing considerably osmotic stress, reactive oxygen species generation, lipid peroxidation, cell death and sodium uptake in mustard. The SA + Tre application enhanced relative water content by 23%, net photosynthetic rate by 48%, superoxide dismutase activity by 51% and seed yield per plant by 64%, while decreased superoxide anion content by 26%, sodium ion content by 36% and malondialdehyde content by 25% over 0 mM NaCl treatment. Our findings indicate that the co-application of SA + Tre can be a suitable approach to palliate the ill effect of NaCl stress in mustard plants.
Topics: Antioxidants; Mustard Plant; Trehalose; Sodium Chloride; Salicylic Acid; Ecosystem; Photosynthesis; Sodium; Water; Soil; Defense Mechanisms
PubMed: 36963453
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121467 -
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy Mar 2015Obese individuals frequently experience weight stigma and this is associated with psychological distress and difficulties. The process of external devaluation can lead... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Obese individuals frequently experience weight stigma and this is associated with psychological distress and difficulties. The process of external devaluation can lead to negative self-perception and evaluation and some obese individuals develop "internalized weight stigma". The prevalence of weight stigma is well established but there is a lack of information about the interplay between external and internal weight stigma.
AIMS
To synthesize the literature on the psychological effects of weight stigma into a formulation model that addresses the maintenance of internalized weight stigma.
METHOD
Current research on the psychological impact of weight stigma was reviewed. We identify cognitive, behavioural and attentional processes that maintain psychological conditions where self-evaluation plays a central role. A model was developed based on clinical utility.
RESULTS
The model focuses on identifying factors that influence and maintain internalized weight stigma. We highlight the impact of negative societal and interpersonal experiences of weight stigma on how individuals view themselves as an obese person. Processing the self as a stigmatized individual is at the core of the model. Maintenance factors include negative self-judgements about the meaning of being an obese individual, attentional and mood shifts, and avoidance and safety behaviours. In addition, eating and weight management behaviours become deregulated and maintain both obesity and weight stigma.
CONCLUSION
As obesity increases, weight stigma and the associated psychological effects are likely to increase. We provide a framework for formulating and intervening with internalized weight stigma as well as making therapists aware of the applicability and transferability of strategies that they may already use with other presenting problems.
Topics: Defense Mechanisms; Humans; Models, Psychological; Obesity; Self Concept; Social Stigma; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 25632949
DOI: 10.1017/S1352465813000763 -
The Science of the Total Environment Mar 2022As a promising acaricide and potentially hazardous material, the defense mechanisms of non-target organisms to its exposure are unknown. This study investigates the...
Assessing the bioavailability and biotoxicity of spiromesifen and its main metabolite spiromesifen-enol (M01) reveals the defense mechanisms of earthworms (Eisenia fetida).
As a promising acaricide and potentially hazardous material, the defense mechanisms of non-target organisms to its exposure are unknown. This study investigates the bioavailability and biotoxicity of spiromesifen and spiromesifen-enol (M01), its main metabolite, in Eisenia fetida. The results showed that M01 was more persistent in the soil environment and E. fetida than spiromesifen. Transcriptome analysis indicated that the spiromesifen- and M01-induced differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were mainly enriched in lysosomal and phagosomal pathways. Analysis of the key common DEGs showed that both spiromesifen and M01 significantly influenced the lysosomes, phagosomes, antioxidant systems, and detoxification systems. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that spiromesifen and M01 damaged E. fetida epidermis and enhanced lysosomal and phagosomal activities. Significant oxidative stress effects were observed at the end of exposure. The hydroxyl free radical (·OH) content and neutral red retention time (NRRT) could serve as sensitive early biomarkers to predict their pollution. These results revealed the synergistic effects of the epidermis, lysosomes, phagosomes, antioxidant systems, and detoxification system in resisting spiromesifen- and M01-induced damage, which could contribute to the defense mechanisms of non-target organisms against these pollutants.
Topics: Animals; Biological Availability; Defense Mechanisms; Oligochaeta; Soil; Soil Pollutants; Spiro Compounds
PubMed: 34838556
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151910 -
PLoS Biology May 2023The gasdermins are a family of pore-forming proteins involved in various cellular processes such as cell death and inflammation. A new study in PLOS Biology explores the...
The gasdermins are a family of pore-forming proteins involved in various cellular processes such as cell death and inflammation. A new study in PLOS Biology explores the evolutionary history of gasdermins across metazoans, highlighting the conservation and divergence of gasdermin E.
Topics: Animals; Pyroptosis; Lancelets; Gasdermins; Neoplasm Proteins; Defense Mechanisms
PubMed: 37141191
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002103 -
The ISME Journal Jan 2022The capability to respond to wounding is a process shared by organisms of different kingdoms that can result in the regeneration of whole-body parts or lost structures...
The capability to respond to wounding is a process shared by organisms of different kingdoms that can result in the regeneration of whole-body parts or lost structures or organs. Filamentous fungi constitute a rich food source that ensures survival and reproduction of their predators and are therefore continuously exposed to mechanical damage. Nevertheless, our understanding of how fungi respond to wounding and predators is scarce. Fungi like plants and animals respond to injury recognizing Damage- and Microbe-Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs/MAMPs) that activate Ca and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase dependent signaling for the activation of defense mechanisms. During herbivory, plants, in addition to activating pathways related to injury, activate specific responses to combat their predators. Using a transcriptional approach, we studied the capacity of the filamentous fungus Trichoderma atroviride to activate specific responses to injury and attack by different arthropods. Attack by Drosophila melanogaster inhibited the transcriptional activation of genes required for hyphal regeneration, and the fungal innate immune and chemical defense responses. We also provide mechanistic insight of this inhibition involving components of the D. melanogaster salivary glands that repress the expression of a set of genes and block hyphal regeneration.
Topics: Animals; Defense Mechanisms; Drosophila; Drosophila melanogaster; Hypocreales; Trichoderma
PubMed: 34282283
DOI: 10.1038/s41396-021-01068-9 -
Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy 2020To compare health-related quality of life (QoL) of medical students in initial and final phases of the program, and to evaluate the association between ego defense... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
OBJECTIVES
To compare health-related quality of life (QoL) of medical students in initial and final phases of the program, and to evaluate the association between ego defense mechanisms and specific health-related QoL domains within each group.
METHODS
This was an observational, cross-sectional study. Quality of life was assessed according to the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument - Abbreviated Version (WHOQOL-Bref); anxiety and depression symptoms were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); defense mechanisms were assessed using the Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ-40).
RESULTS
A total of 139 medical students were evaluated. Students in the initial semesters of the program (1st and 3rd) presented more depressive symptoms and worse quality of life in the psychological domain of WHOQOL-Bref when compared to those in the final semesters (8th and 12th). In a later analysis, conducted to identify the variables associated with the psychological domain of the WHOQOL-Bref for each group, both depressive symptoms and defense mechanisms were independently associated with the outcome for medical students in the beginning and in the end of the graduation program.
CONCLUSIONS
Students in the initial phases of medical school may need more specific attention from educational managers. Understanding the role of ego defense mechanisms in the quality of life of medical students may help identify effective psychopedagogical interventions for this population. In addition, the results reinforce the impact of depressive symptoms on quality of life, an association already well evidenced in the literature.
Topics: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Defense Mechanisms; Depression; Female; Humans; Male; Quality of Life; Students, Medical; Time Factors; Young Adult
PubMed: 32321086
DOI: 10.1590/2237-6089-2019-0022 -
The New Phytologist Feb 2021Algal viruses are important contributors to carbon cycling, recycling nutrients and organic material through host lysis. Although viral infection has been described as a...
Algal viruses are important contributors to carbon cycling, recycling nutrients and organic material through host lysis. Although viral infection has been described as a primary mechanism of phytoplankton mortality, little is known about host defense responses. We show that viral infection of the bloom-forming, planktonic diatom Chaetoceros socialis induces the mass formation of resting spores, a heavily silicified life cycle stage associated with carbon export due to rapid sinking. Although viral RNA was detected within spores, mature virions were not observed. 'Infected' spores were capable of germinating, but did not propagate or transmit infectious viruses. These results demonstrate that diatom spore formation is an effective defense strategy against viral-mediated mortality. They provide a possible mechanistic link between viral infection, bloom termination, and mass carbon export events and highlight an unappreciated role of viruses in regulating diatom life cycle transitions and ecological success.
Topics: DNA Viruses; Defense Mechanisms; Diatoms; Phytoplankton; Viruses
PubMed: 32978816
DOI: 10.1111/nph.16951 -
The Journal of Nervous and Mental... Dec 2020The present study focused on demographic and personality differences in the use of 30 defense mechanisms in adolescents with personality psychopathology and explored the...
The present study focused on demographic and personality differences in the use of 30 defense mechanisms in adolescents with personality psychopathology and explored the hierarchical organization of personality traits based on the adaptiveness of defensive functioning. A total of 102 self-referred adolescent outpatients were interviewed and assessed on defense mechanisms and personality traits using the Defense Mechanisms Rating Scales and the Shedler-Westen Assessment Procedure 200 for Adolescents, respectively. Age and gender differences were found throughout the hierarchy. Pearson's correlations revealed a hierarchical organization of emerging personality disorders (PDs) in adolescence. More adaptive defenses were clearly associated with healthier personality style, whereas more pathological personality styles such as those with borderline traits were characterized by more rigid and maladaptive defenses. Dissociation was also associated with maladaptive personality types. Identifying the defenses associated with emerging personality disorders may inform the unconscious function of defense mechanisms in specific PDs. The systematic assessment of defense mechanisms might also help therapists to monitor changes during treatment.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Adolescent Development; Age Factors; Defense Mechanisms; Female; Humans; Male; Personality; Personality Disorders; Sex Factors
PubMed: 32947450
DOI: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001230