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Nature Communications Nov 2023Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is historically understood as a prevalent commensal and pathogen of dogs, though modern clinical diagnostics reveal an expanded...
Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is historically understood as a prevalent commensal and pathogen of dogs, though modern clinical diagnostics reveal an expanded host-range that includes humans. It remains unclear whether differentiation across S. pseudintermedius populations is driven primarily by niche-type or host-species. We sequenced 501 diagnostic and commensal isolates from a hospital, veterinary diagnostic laboratory, and within households in the American Midwest, and performed a comparative genomics investigation contrasting human diagnostic, animal diagnostic, human colonizing, pet colonizing, and household-surface S. pseudintermedius isolates. Though indistinguishable by core and accessory gene architecture, diagnostic isolates harbor more encoded and phenotypic resistance, whereas colonizing and surface isolates harbor similar CRISPR defense systems likely reflective of common household phage exposures. Furthermore, household isolates that persist through anti-staphylococcal decolonization report elevated rates of base-changing mutations in - and parallel evolution of - defense genes, as well as reductions in oxacillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole susceptibility. Together we report parallel niche-specific bolstering of S. pseudintermedius defense mechanisms through gene acquisition or mutation.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Dogs; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus; Oxacillin; Defense Mechanisms; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Dog Diseases; Microbial Sensitivity Tests
PubMed: 37923729
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42694-5 -
Veterinary Research 2000The objective of this study was to review the possible relationships between hyperketonemia and the function of phagocytes with respect to the bovine udder defense... (Review)
Review
The objective of this study was to review the possible relationships between hyperketonemia and the function of phagocytes with respect to the bovine udder defense mechanism. We hypothesize that an increased incidence of clinical mastitis in high-producing cows is caused by the impairment of the udder defense mechanism during hyperketonemia. First, we review the acute phase of udder defense mechanisms after intramammary infection. The physiological changes of cows in negative energy balance are subsequently discussed. Finally, possible relationships between udder defense and physiological changes during negative energy balance, especially hyperketonemia, are reviewed. The three stages of an acute phase of udder defense are: (1) immediately eliminating invading pathogens by phagocytes, (2) releasing inflammatory substances, especially chemoattractants, and (3) migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes into the infected udder. Leukocytes from hyperketonemia subjects show a lower capacity of the phagocytic defense mechanism. In addition, the phagocytic and bactericidal capacities of neutrophils are reduced when these cells are acting in the presence of high concentrations of ketone bodies. Lower amounts of cytokine production after bacterial infection are observed in ketotic subjects. The chemotactic capacity of blood leukocytes is impaired in leukocytes obtained from ketotic cows. Lower numbers of blood leukocytes are observed in ketotic cows. In conclusion, the impairment of the udder defense mechanism in negative energy balance cows seems related to hyperketonemia.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Female; Ketone Bodies; Lactation; Leukocytes; Mammary Glands, Animal; Mastitis, Bovine; Phagocytosis
PubMed: 10958241
DOI: 10.1051/vetres:2000128 -
International Journal of Molecular... Sep 2023Being the major cellular component of highly dynamic tissue, endometrial stromal cells (EnSCs) are exposed to cycles of proliferation upon hormonal stimulation, which...
Being the major cellular component of highly dynamic tissue, endometrial stromal cells (EnSCs) are exposed to cycles of proliferation upon hormonal stimulation, which might pose risks for the accumulation of mutations and malignization. However, endometrial stromal tumors are rare and uncommon. The present study uncovered defense mechanisms that might underlie the resistance of EnSCs against oncogenic transformation. All experiments were performed in vitro using the following methods: FACS, WB, RT-PCR, IF, molecular cloning, lentiviral transduction, and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. We revealed that the expression of the mutant HRAS leads to EnSC senescence. We experimentally confirmed the inability of HRAS-expressing EnSCs to bypass senescence and resume proliferation, even upon estrogen stimulation. At the molecular level, the induction of oncogene-induced senescence (OIS) was accompanied by activation of the MEK/ERK, PI3K/AKT, p53/p21/Rb, and p38/p16/Rb pathways; however, inhibiting either pathway did not prevent cell cycle arrest. PTEN loss was established as an additional feature of HRAS-induced senescence in EnSCs. Using CRISPR-Cas9-mediated PTEN knockout, we identified PTEN loss-induced senescence as a reserve molecular mechanism to prevent the transformation of HRAS-expressing EnSCs. The present study highlights oncogene-induced senescence as an antitumor defense mechanism of EnSCs controlled by multiple backup molecular pathways.
Topics: Humans; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Cloning, Molecular; Stromal Cells; Defense Mechanisms; Oncogenes
PubMed: 37762392
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241814089 -
Medecine Sciences : M/S Feb 2006To construct a coherent identity, humans must distinguish what belongs to the external, perceived world from what belongs to their own inner world and the inner world of... (Review)
Review
To construct a coherent identity, humans must distinguish what belongs to the external, perceived world from what belongs to their own inner world and the inner world of other individuals. Based on the theory developed by S. Freud and on work by ethologists, a number of psychoanalysts (J. Bowlby, R.A. Spitz, D.W. Winnicott, etc.) have underlined the importance of early tactile exchanges with the mother if a child is to become an autonomous individual who feels secure within what he or she perceives to be sound and reliable mental and physical boundaries. More recently, other psychoanalysts (E. Bick, W.R. Bion, etc.) have studied the fantasized mental structures that form the limits between an individual's inner mental space and the external world (including other individuals). As part of this theoretical psychoanalytical movement, Didier Anzieu, a French psychoanalyst, started to develop the concept of the "Moi-peau" in 1974. The "Moi-peau" designates a fantasized reality that a child uses during its early development to represent itself as "me", based on its experience of the body surface. The child, enveloped in its mother's care, fantasizes of a skin shared with its mother: on one side the mother (the outer layer of the "Moi-peau"), and on the other side the child (the inner layer of the "Moi-peau"). These two layers must separate gradually if the child is to acquire its own me-skin. D. Anzieu's work allowed dermatologists and other specialists, such as pediatricians, to focus on the quality of early tactile exchanges between a mother and her child, including the child with a chronic skin disorder. It also helped dermatologists to recognize patients with "borderline" states, which are particularly frequent in dermatology (ereutophobia, dysmorphophobia, tattooing, self-mutilation, artefacta dermatitis). These borderline patients are adults who, as a result of their mental conflicts, adopt defense mechanisms derived from both neurotic and psychotic functioning. Their complaints reflect difficulties with the solidity of their mental and physical limits: their real skin is metaphorically linked to the fantasized mental structure that delimits the individual mental space. Among other clinical characteristics, they have a "pathology of action" and frequently attack their own skin, paradoxically, in order to test the solidity and reliability of their own limits. Finally, D. Anzieu's work encouraged dermatologists to use psychotherapeutic approaches in parallel to classical dermatologic approaches, when necessary, and helped them better understand how psychoanalysts work with patients who have not yet acquired their own "Moi-peau". As a result, D. Anzieu was among the first to reconcile dermatologists and psychoanalysts.
Topics: Adult; Borderline Personality Disorder; Child, Preschool; Ego; Fantasy; Freudian Theory; Humans; Infant; Models, Psychological; Mother-Child Relations; Psychology, Child; Self Concept; Self Mutilation; Skin; Skin Diseases; Touch
PubMed: 16457763
DOI: 10.1051/medsci/2006222197 -
BMC Psychology Nov 2023Adolescence is recognized as a particularly susceptible developmental period for experiencing multiple types of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE), increasing the...
BACKGROUND
Adolescence is recognized as a particularly susceptible developmental period for experiencing multiple types of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE), increasing the vulnerability to higher levels of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD symptoms. Some studies found that defense mechanisms play an important role on the association between ACE and psychological symptoms.
METHODS
We analyzed the associations between direct and indirect exposure to ACE and PTSD and Complex PTSD (affective dysregulation, negative self-concept and disturbances in relationships) through the mediation role of mature defense mechanisms: mature, neurotic, and immature defense mechanisms in Indian adolescents. A sample of 411 Indian adolescents (M = 14.2 years old; S.D. = 0.5) completed validated self-report questionnaires. Serial multiple mediation models were tested by conducting a structural equation modelling employing Preacher and Hayes' procedures (2008).
RESULTS
Immature and neurotic defense mechanisms mediated the association between direct exposure to ACE with PTSD symptoms. Immature defense mechanisms were mediators of the relationship between direct exposure to ACE and Complex PTSD symptoms clusters.
CONCLUSIONS
Maladaptive defense mechanisms can disturb the process of self-regulation and emotion regulation capabilities in coping with traumatic experiences, leading to higher PTSD and Complex PTSD symptoms severity.
Topics: Humans; Adolescent; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Adaptation, Psychological; Emotional Regulation; Surveys and Questionnaires; Defense Mechanisms
PubMed: 38001536
DOI: 10.1186/s40359-023-01456-0 -
International Journal of Molecular... Oct 2022Cotton is an important economic crop. and are the primary pathogenic fungi that threaten both the quality and sustainable production of cotton. As an opportunistic... (Review)
Review
Cotton is an important economic crop. and are the primary pathogenic fungi that threaten both the quality and sustainable production of cotton. As an opportunistic pathogen, causes various human diseases, including fungal keratitis, which is the most common. Therefore, there is an urgent need to study and clarify the resistance mechanisms of cotton and humans toward in order to mitigate, or eliminate, its harm. Herein, we first discuss the resistance and susceptibility mechanisms of cotton to and wilt and classify associated genes based on their functions. We then outline the characteristics and pathogenicity of and describe the multiple roles of human neutrophils in limiting hyphal growth. Finally, we comprehensively compare the similarities and differences between animal and plant resistance to and put forward new insights into novel strategies for cotton disease resistance breeding and treatment of infection in humans.
Topics: Humans; Verticillium; Fusarium; Plant Diseases; Plant Breeding; Disease Resistance; Gossypium; Defense Mechanisms
PubMed: 36293072
DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012217 -
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) Dec 2021Weight stigma is associated with impaired health, attributed in part to reductions in health-promoting behaviors. This review analyzed evidence of the association... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Weight stigma is associated with impaired health, attributed in part to reductions in health-promoting behaviors. This review analyzed evidence of the association between weight stigma and physical activity (PA) in adults and youth.
METHODS
Three databases were searched for terms related to weight stigma and PA. Eligible studies reported the quantitative association between at least one measure of weight stigma and one behavioral measure of PA.
RESULTS
A total of 38 studies met eligibility criteria. Of the 29 studies of adults, 3 used objective PA measures, and 79% used an observational, cross-sectional design. Findings of the relationship between weight stigma and PA were mixed. Everyday weight discrimination and internalizing weight stigma were associated with reduced PA in most studies. Several studies found indirect, and not direct, effects of weight stigma on PA when analyses included other individual-level factors. In the nine studies of youth, two used objective PA measures, all were observational, and only one study was longitudinal. Most youth studies found a relationship between weight-based teasing and reduced PA.
CONCLUSIONS
Weight teasing, everyday discrimination, and internalization were associated with reduced PA. However, associations were inconsistent and often indirect. Future studies should include objective PA measures with larger samples and longitudinal assessments.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Databases, Factual; Defense Mechanisms; Exercise; Humans; Social Stigma; Weight Prejudice
PubMed: 34747131
DOI: 10.1002/oby.23274 -
International Journal of Environmental... Oct 2022Emotion regulation is an important aspect of psychological functioning that influences subjective experience and moderates emotional responses throughout the lifetime....
Emotion regulation is an important aspect of psychological functioning that influences subjective experience and moderates emotional responses throughout the lifetime. Adaptive responses to stressful life events depend on the positive interaction between explicit and implicit emotion regulation strategies, such as mindfulness and defense mechanisms. This study demonstrates how these emotion regulation strategies predict psychological health during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. A convenience sample of 6385 subjects, recruited via snowball sampling on various social media platforms, responded to an online survey assessing psychological reaction to social restrictions imposed to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Italy. Psychological distress, post-traumatic stress symptoms, mindfulness, and defense mechanisms were assessed using SCL-90, IES-R, MAAS, and DMRS-30-SR, respectively. Higher mindfulness was significantly associated with higher overall defensive maturity and a greater use of high-adaptive defenses ( < 0.0001). Both mindfulness and defense mechanisms acted as good predictors of psychological health (R = 0.541) and posttraumatic symptoms (R = 0.332), confirming the role of emotion regulation in protecting against maladaptive responses to stressful situations.
Topics: COVID-19; Defense Mechanisms; Emotional Regulation; Humans; Mindfulness; Pandemics; Psychological Distress
PubMed: 36231993
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912690 -
Research in Psychotherapy (Milano) Dec 2023Defense mechanisms are adaptative processes that are related to mental health and psychological functioning and may play an important role in adaptation to distress, as...
Defense mechanisms are adaptative processes that are related to mental health and psychological functioning and may play an important role in adaptation to distress, as well as in mental health interventions. The present study aimed to compare the use of defense mechanisms and their relationship to mental health symptoms across six countries. In a large-scale descriptive study, we collected data from community- based individuals (N=19,860) in the United States, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom about the use of defense mechanisms and experienced mental health symptoms during the early phase of the pandemic. We found that the use of defense mechanism categories was similar across countries. Moreover, lower defensive functioning, specifically, neurotic and immature defenses were related to experiencing higher distress across countries, whereas mature defenses were generally inversely related to symptoms. Furthermore, these findings were relatively similar across the six countries. Cross-cultural research on defense mechanisms and mental health has important clinical implications. Our results are consistent with the goal of promoting more adaptive defensive functioning to increase psychological well-being and mitigate the detrimental impact of situational stress.
PubMed: 38226792
DOI: 10.4081/ripppo.2023.729 -
Scientific Reports Aug 2023Animal and human feces typically include intestinal sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). Hydrogen sulfide and acetate are the end products of their dissimilatory sulfate...
Animal and human feces typically include intestinal sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). Hydrogen sulfide and acetate are the end products of their dissimilatory sulfate reduction and may create a synergistic effect. Here, we report NADH and NADPH peroxidase activities from intestinal SRB Desulfomicrobium orale and Desulfovibrio piger. We sought to compare enzymatic activities under the influence of various temperature and pH regimes, as well as to carry out kinetic analyses of enzymatic reaction rates, maximum amounts of the reaction product, reaction times, maximum rates of the enzyme reactions, and Michaelis constants in cell-free extracts of intestinal SRB, D. piger Vib-7, and D. orale Rod-9, collected from exponential and stationary growth phases. The optimal temperature (35 °C) and pH (7.0) for both enzyme's activity were determined. The difference in trends of Michaelis constants (K) during exponential and stationary phases are noticeable between D. piger Vib-7 and D. orale Rod-9; D. orale Rod-9 showed much higher K (the exception is NADH peroxidase of D. piger Vib-7: 1.42 ± 0.11 mM) during the both monitored phases. Studies of the NADH and NADPH peroxidases-as putative antioxidant defense systems of intestinal SRB and detailed data on the kinetic properties of this enzyme, as expressed by the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide-could be important for clarifying evolutionary mechanisms of antioxidant defense systems, their etiological role in the process of dissimilatory sulfate reduction, and their possible role in the development of bowel diseases.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Antioxidants; NAD; NADP; Cell Extracts; Desulfovibrio; Peroxidases; Defense Mechanisms; Sulfates
PubMed: 37626119
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41185-3