Association Between Gambling Motives, Violence and Early Maladaptive Schemas in Women with Gambling Disorder.

Analyzing why being a victim of violence has led women to have problems with gambling is a field yet to be explored. Thus, the objectives of the present study were (I) analyze the relationship between gambling motives, received psychological violence, and early maladaptive schemas in women; (II) study differences in the study variables in women with and without gambling disorder (GD); (III) analyze the predictive role of violence and schemas in gambling motives; and (IV) analyze the mediating role of schemas in the relationship between violence and gambling motives. The sample comprised 61 women with GD (M = 48.43, SD = 12.78) and 342 women without GD (M = 26.91, SD = 11.47). The results of the present study revealed positive correlations between gambling motives, psychological violence received and early maladaptive schemas. In addition, women with GD scored higher on the study variables. It was also found that early maladaptive schemas based on subjugation and defectiveness may be a vulnerability factor for engaging in gambling to cope with the negative emotions produced by gender violence. From a clinical perspective, knowing the risk factors related to gambling motives in women is crucial to developing effective prevention and intervention programs.

Gambling: Exploring the Role of Gambling Motives, Attachment and Addictive Behaviours Among Adolescents and Young Women.

There is a growing body of research that seeks to understand the aetiology, consequences and risk factors associated with addictive behaviours in youths. However, research examining the specific profile of adolescent females is very limited. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were, firstly, to explore the differences between attachment, gambling motives (social enhancement and coping), positive and negative affect, and addictive behaviours (gambling, drugs, spending, alcohol and video games) in female adolescents with and without risk of gambling problems. Secondly, the relationships between attachment, gambling motives, positive and negative affect and addictive behaviours were analysed in the subsample of female adolescents with problem gambling Thirdly, we examine the predictive role of positive and negative affect, gambling motives, and attachment in the aforementioned addictive behaviours. The sample was composed of 351 adolescents and young women, of which 312 had no risk of gambling and 39 had gambling problems. The results obtained revealed higher scores in drugs, spending, maternal attachment, and all gambling motives in the group of gambling problems. Likewise, analyses showed that the relevance of the predictor variables (attachment, gambling motives, and affect) varied according to the addiction that was taken as a reference point (i.e., gambling, drugs, spending, alcohol and video games).Consequently, the identification of the possible vulnerability factors for each addiction could be useful in the design of prevention and treatment approaches. In addition, the need for integrated and holistic health- and social- care programmes are suggested in terms of sex and age.

Mediating Role of Rumination Between Anger and Anxious-Depressive Symptomatology in Family Members of People with Gambling Disorder.

Gambling disorder is characterized by a behavioural pattern of dysfunctional gambling that persists despite its negative implications in different areas of people's daily life. One of the most negatively affected areas is the one related to family members. This study aimed, firstly, to study the differences between family members of people with gambling disorder and a general population sample in anger (state, trait, expression-out, expression-in. control-out and control-in), rumination (brooding, reflection and total), and anxiety and depression. The second aim was to analyse the correlation between these variables in the family members of people with gambling disorder, and thirdly, to analyse the mediating role of rumination between anger, anxiety and depression. This study consisted of 170 people, of whom 87 were family members of people with a gambling disorder, and 83 were from the general population. Instruments measuring anger, anxiety, depression, and ruminative responses were administered. Results showed that family members had significantly higher scores in anger (state), depression, anxiety, rumination (total and brooding). Also, results showed that anger correlated positively and significantly with rumination, depression and anxiety, which also correlated positively and significantly with each other. Third, rumination mediated the relationship between the following variables: anger (state) and depression; anger (trait) and anxiety and depression; anger (external expression) and anxiety and depression. A complete mediating effect was found in the latter case and a partial mediating effect in the first two cases. In conclusion, it is found that having a family member with a gambling disorder may increase levels of anger, anxiety, depression and rumination. Furthermore, it is shown that working on rumination may reduce depression and anxiety in family members of gamblers.

Molecular typing and antimicrobial resistance profiling of 33 mastitis-related Staphylococcus aureus isolates from cows in the Comarca Lagunera region of Mexico.

Mastitis in cows is a major cause of economic losses and it is commonly associated with Staphylococcus aureus. Little is known about the S. aureus lineages causing mastitis in Mexican cattle. The aim of this study was to type S. aureus isolates causing mastitis in cows from the Comarca Lagunera region in Mexico in 2015-2016. Multi-locus variable number tandem repeat fingerprinting (MLVF) of 33 S. aureus isolates obtained from 210 milk samples revealed the MLVF clusters A (n = 1), B (n = 26), C (n = 5) and D (n = 1). Spa-typing showed that clusters A and B represent the spa-type t224, cluster C includes spa-types t3196 and t416, and cluster D represents spa-type t114. The different spa-types were mirrored by the masses of protein A bands as detected by Western blotting. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that one isolate was susceptible to all antimicrobials tested, whereas all other strains were resistant only to benzylpenicillin. These findings show that only four S. aureus lineages, susceptible to most antimicrobials, were responsible for causing mastitis at the time of sampling. Lastly, many isolates carried the same small plasmid, designated pSAM1. The high prevalence of pSAM1 amongst the antimicrobial-susceptible isolates suggests an association with bovine colonization or mastitis rather than antimicrobial resistance.

Gambling motives: Association with addictive disorders and negative and positive mood in youth.

Gambling disorder and other comorbid addictive disorders may have similar underlying affective and motivational patterns. This study aims at examining the association between gambling disorder, comorbid addictive disorders (i.e., alcohol, drugs, spending, and videogames), positive and affective mood, and gambling motives in a community sample. A sample of 1099 adolescents and young adults was recruited from educational centres, from which 569 (51.7%) scored as non-problem gamblers, 42 (3.8%) as at-risk gamblers, and 53 (4.8%) as problem gamblers. Results suggest that enhancement, social, and coping motives are greater among problem gamblers and at-risk gamblers as compared to non-problem gamblers. Problem gamblers scored higher in gambling and comorbid disorders than at-risk gamblers, and also higher in gambling motives and negative mood when compared to non-problem gamblers. Likewise, gambling severity was significantly associated to gambling motives, negative mood, and other addictive disorders. Finally, enhancement motives were predictive of gambling, alcohol, drugs, and spending while controlling for the effect of age, sex, and positive and negative mood. These results shed light into the nature of the relationship between gambling and other comorbid addictions and can be used to tailor prevention and treatment strategies.

Molecular characterisation of Porcine rubulavirus (PorPV) isolates from different outbreaks in Mexico.

Since the report of the initial outbreak of Porcine rubulavirus (PorPV) infection in pigs, only one full-length genome from 1984 (PorPV-LPMV/1984) has been characterised. To investigate the overall genetic variation, full-length gene nucleotide sequences of current PorPV isolates were obtained from different clinical cases of infected swine. Genome organisation and sequence analysis of the encoded proteins (NP, P, F, M, HN and L) revealed high sequence conservation of the NP protein and the expression of the P and V proteins in all PorPV isolates. The V protein of one isolate displayed a mutation that has been implicated to antagonise the antiviral immune responses of the host. The M protein indicated a variation in a short region that could affect the electrostatic charge and the interaction with the membrane. One PorPV isolate recovered from the lungs showed a mutation at the cleavage site (HRKKR) of the F protein that could represent an important factor to determine the tissue tropism and pathogenicity of this virus. The HN protein showed high sequence identity through the years (up to 2013). Additionally, a number of sequence motifs of very high amino acid conservation among the PorPV isolates important for polymerase activity of the L protein have been identified. In summary, genetic comparisons and phylogenetic analyses indicated that three different genetic variants of PorPV are currently spreading within the swine population, and a new generation of circulating virus with different characteristics has begun to emerge.

Long-term RNA persistence of porcine rubulavirus (PorPV-LPMV) after an outbreak of a natural infection: the detection of viral mRNA in sentinel pigs suggests viral transmission.

The persistence of porcine rubulavirus (PorPV-LPMV) in five pigs that had survived an outbreak of a natural infection was determined. After the resolution of the outbreak, each animal was housed in an isolation pen together with one sentinel pig. Approximately every 2 months thereafter one group of animals was euthanized and tissue samples taken for virological and serological analysis. Infectious virus was not isolated from any samples; antibodies to PorPV-LPMV were detected in convalescent pigs by virus neutralisation test and blocking ELISA but not in sentinel pigs. PorPV-LPMV mRNA of the nucleoprotein (NP) and phosphoprotein (P) genes was detected by a nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) in samples of trigeminal and optic nerves, cervical spinal cord, tonsils, salivary gland, lung and pancreas from convalescent pigs. mRNA was also detected in the midbrain, corpus callosum, or olfactory bulb in four out of five pigs by nRT-PCR, this result was confirmed by the sequencing of a 260bp PCR product of P gene region. The highest average viral copies/µg of total RNA occurred in the olfactory bulb and pancreas tissues of convalescent pigs and midbrain, tonsil and pancreas of sentinel pigs housed with the convalescent pigs. Satellitosis and gliosis of the midbrain, olfactory bulb, corpus callosum, medulla oblongata or choroid plexus were microscopically observed in four convalescent pigs. The control pig remained negative in all tests. The results indicate that PorPV-LPMV mRNA persists and induces a durable humoral immune response in pigs that have recovered from a natural infection. After a possible reactivation of the virus, it was transmitted to sentinel pigs in contact with the convalescent pigs.

An insight into a combination of ELISA strategies to diagnose small ruminant lentivirus infections.

A single broadly reactive standard ELISA is commonly applied to control small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) spread, but type specific ELISA strategies are gaining interest in areas with highly prevalent and heterogeneous SRLV infections. Short (15-residue) synthetic peptides (n=60) were designed in this study using deduced amino acid sequence profiles of SRLV circulating in sheep from North Central Spain and SRLV described previously. The corresponding ELISAs and two standard ELISAs were employed to analyze sera from sheep flocks either controlled or infected with different SRLV genotypes. Two outbreaks, showing SRLV-induced arthritis (genotype B2) and encephalitis (genotype A), were represented among the infected flocks. The ELISA results revealed that none of the assays detected all the infected animals in the global population analyzed, the assay performance varying according to the genetic type of the strain circulating in the area and the test antigen. Five of the six highly reactive (57-62%) single peptide ELISAs were further assessed, revealing that the ELISA based on peptide 98M (type A ENV-SU5, consensus from the neurological outbreak) detected positives in the majority of the type-A specific sera tested (Se: 86%; Sp: 98%) and not in the arthritic type B outbreak. ENV-TM ELISAs based on peptides 126M1 (Se: 82%; Sp: 95%) and 126M2 0,65 0.77 (Se: 68%; Sp: 88%) detected preferentially caprine arthritis encephalitis (CAEV, type B) and visna/maedi (VMV, type A) virus infections respectively, which may help to perform a preliminary CAEV vs. VMV-like typing of the flock. The use of particular peptide ELISAs and standard tests individually or combined may be useful in the different areas under study, to determine disease progression, diagnose/type infection and prevent its spread.

Ovine TRIM5α can restrict visna/maedi virus.

The restrictive properties of tripartite motif-containing 5 alpha (TRIM5α) from small ruminant species have not been explored. Here, we identify highly similar TRIM5α sequences in sheep and goats. Cells transduced with ovine TRIM5α effectively restricted the lentivirus visna/maedi virus DNA synthesis. Proteasome inhibition in cells transduced with ovine TRIM5α restored restricted viral DNA synthesis, suggesting a conserved mechanism of restriction. Identification of TRIM5α active molecular species may open new prophylactic strategies against lentiviral infections.

Visna/Maedi virus genetic characterization and serological diagnosis of infection in sheep from a neurological outbreak.

An extensive outbreak characterized by the appearance of neurological symptoms in small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) infected sheep has been identified in Spain, but the genetic characteristics of the strain involved and differential diagnostic tools for this outbreak remain unexplored. In this work, 23 Visna-affected naturally infected animals from the outbreak, 11 arthritic animals (both groups presenting anti-Visna/Maedi virus serum antibodies), and 100 seronegative animals were used. Eight of the Visna-affected animals were further studied post-mortem by immunohistochemistry. All had lesions in spinal cord, being the most affected part of the central nervous system in six of them. A representative strain of the outbreak was isolated. Together with other proviral sequences from the outbreak the virus was assigned to genotype A2/A3. In vitro culture of the isolate revealed that viral production was slow/low in fibroblast-like cells but it was high in blood monocyte-derived macrophages. The long terminal repeat (LTR) of the viral genome of this isolate lacked an U3-duplication, but its promoter activity in fibroblast-like cells was normal compared to other strains. Thus, viral production could not be inferred from the LTR promoter activity in this isolate. Analysis of the viral immunodominant epitopes among SRLV sequences of the outbreak and other known sequences allowed the design of a synthetic SU peptide ELISA that detected the Visna affected animals, representing a tool of epidemiological interest to control viral spread of this highly pathogenic strain.

The porcine circovirus type 1 in porcine kidney 15 cell line is not transferred to mice lymphoid cells after xenoimplantation into the peritoneal cavity.

The porcine circovirus type 1 (PCV1) has been identified within lymphoid tissues of experimental infected pigs and suggested to induce an immunosuppressive stage in pigs. The virus does not induce a cytophatic effect in the pig-derived cell line PK-15. Because PCV1 is prevalent in many pig cells and tissues, the risk of inducing a viral xenozoonosis by PCV1 was raised for the xenoimplantation of pig cells into human hosts. The present work evaluated if PCV1 is able to replicate in mice tissues after xenoimplantation of PCV1-infected pig cells. Active growing PK-15 cells harboring PCV1 with or without microencapsulation in sodium alginate were implanted into the peritoneal cavity of mice. After 1 month postimplantation in mice, peritoneal macrophages, spleen, and lymph nodes were harvested and analyzed with the polymerase chain reaction technique (PCR). No evidence of circovirus type 1 DNA was detected within the mice tissues.

Chorionic gonadotropin hormone receptors on Taenia solium and Taenia crassiceps cysticerci in culture.

Hormones play a significant role in murine Taenia crassiceps cysticercosis, and they may also participate in the susceptibility to Taenia solium cysticercosis. In the present study, in vitro effects are reported for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on the larval stages of T. crassiceps (WFU strain) and T. solium. Our results reveal the presence of receptors for hCG in different developmental phases of both cultured parasites. On day 30, both taeniid species had the highest percentage of receptors in the neck, strobila, and suckers, but these receptors decreased by day 60, delimiting the segments and the exterior of the developing proglottids in T. solium. At the same time, there was a large number of hCG receptors in the area of the presumptive cirrus organ and in calcareous corpuscles within the parenchyma. This is the first report detecting receptors for hCG on different larval stages of T. crassiceps and T. solium. A direct effect of hCG could be recognized by the cysticerci as a factor contributing to the growth and development of T. crassiceps and T. solium cysticerci, respectively.

An improved method of 90% pancreatectomy using a low dose of streptozotocin at the pancreaticoduodenal artery results in a rapid diabetic stage in dogs.

An improved method of inducing diabetes in dogs was developed. This method included 90% pancreatectomy, 2 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ) perfused into pancreaticoduodenal artery, and the fixation suture of the duodenum to the costo-abdominal wall. Vasopressin injection administered to the animals before surgery reduced bleeding. All dogs used in this procedure survived and became diabetic. One month after the procedure the pancreatic islets were reduced in volume and the number compared with pancreas tissue obtained during the surgery. Acinar tissue remained with a normal histology, and exocrine function maintained the physiological parameters, except for a soft faecal consistency. We conclude that this procedure is effective in inducing experimental diabetes in dogs.

Experimental porcine rubulavirus (La Piedad-Michoacan virus) infection in pregnant gilts.

Porcine rubulavirus (La Piedad-Michoacan virus) (PoRV-LPMV) is a member of the Paramyxoviridae family that causes encephalitis in young piglets and infertility in adult sows and boars. Infertility in sows naturally infected by PoRV-LPMV is characterized by an increased number of returns to oestrus, stillbirths and mummified fetuses. In this study, nine seronegative gilts were inoculated intranasally with the PAC-3 strain of PoRV-LPMV at week 6 or 10 of gestation. These animals were then killed at weeks 8 or 15 of gestation (seven gilts) or after natural parturition (two gilts). Four control gilts were mock-infected at gestation week 6 or 10 and killed between 2 and 4 weeks later. Gross lesions of focal congestion and haemorrhage were seen in the placenta and endometrium of one gilt infected at gestation week 6 and one infected at gestation week 10. PoRV-LPMV was isolated, at 2-6 weeks post-inoculation (pi), from lung, tonsils, ovary, placenta, uterus and lymph nodes of three of the gilts infected at gestation week 6 and at 2-3 weeks pi from lung, tonsil and ovary of two gilts infected at gestation week 10. Many of the fetuses of eight infected gilts were smaller than normal and had dermal ecchymoses. Dehydrated or mummified fetuses were present in six of the infected gilts but not in any control animal. PoRV-LPMV was isolated from brain, lung and liver of fetuses from two gilts infected at gestation week 6, and from two infected at gestation week 10. These results indicate that, after experimental infection, PoRV can replicate in tissues of seronegative pregnant gilts, cross the placenta, and cause fetal death and mummification.

Apoptosis in lymph nodes and changes in lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood of pigs infected with porcine rubulavirus.

In a first experiment, five pigs were inoculated intranasally with porcine rubulavirus (PoRV) at 5 days of age and killed 7 days post-infection (pi). In a second experiment, four pigs were infected with the same virus at 17 days of age and killed at 9 or 15 days pi. Control piglets in each experiment received uninfected cell culture supernate. All PoRV-infected pigs developed respiratory and nervous signs, and histological lesions of non-suppurative encephalitis and interstitial pneumonia. All control pigs remained clinically normal and did not have histological lesions. Significantly increased numbers of apoptotic cells were detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) in tonsil and lymph nodes of the pigs infected at 7 days of age and killed at 7 days pi. Significantly increased percentages of CD2(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes were also found in peripheral blood of these animals at this time, while the percentages of CD4(+) and MHC class II lymphocytes were significantly reduced. Significantly increased numbers of apoptotic cells were detected in lymphoid tissues of the pigs infected at 17 days of age and killed at 9 days pi. The percentages of CD2(+), CD8(+) and MHC class II lymphocytes in peripheral blood were also significantly increased at this time; the percentage of MHC class II lymphocytes remained elevated at 15 days pi. These results indicate that induction of apoptosis is an important mechanism in the pathogenesis of PoRV infection in young pigs, and that this virus induces changes in lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood.

Uptake of porcine rubulavirus (LPMV) by PK-15 cells.

BACKGROUND: The porcine virus denominated La Piedad Michoacan Virus (LPMV) is a member of the family Paramyxoviridae and is the cause of a disease in pigs present only in Mexico. The disease is characterized by meningoencephalitis and respiratory distress in young pigs, epididymitis and orchitis in boars, and reproductive failure and abortion in sows. METHODS: The cytopathology, morphology, and distribution of the hemagglutination neuraminidase (HN) and nucleoprotein (NP) proteins of LPMV were investigated following inoculation into PK-15 cells. The cytopathic effect was characterized by cytoplasmic vacuolation and the formation of syncytia and cytoplasmic inclusion bodies. RESULTS: In immunofluorescence assays using a monoclonal antibody (MAb) against the HN protein at 5-60 min post-infection (early infection), a diffuse immunofluorescence was observed near the cell membrane and adjacent to the nuclear membrane. At 24 h post-infection (late infection), a dust-like immunofluorescence was observed throughout the cytoplasm. LPMV-infected cells incubated with the MAb against the NP protein showed punctate cytoplasmic fluorescence during the early stages of infection. At the late infection stage, these fluorescent particles became larger and were seen predominantly in the cytoplasm of syncytia. This pattern was also apparent by immunohistochemical labeling and immunogold electron microscopy. The latter technique revealed that HN protein was diffusely distributed throughout the cytoplasm. When using the MAb against the NP protein, nucleocapsid organization was the most prominent feature and resulted in the formation of cytoplasmic inclusion bodies visible by light and electron microscopy. Immunogold labeling of purified nucleocapsids was shown by electron microscopy. Virus particles and nucleocapsids were morphologically similar to members of the Paramyxoviridae family. CONCLUSIONS: The morphologic characteristics of the virions and the distribution patterns of the HN and NP proteins in PK-15 infected cells indicate that the mechanisms of LPMV replication are generally similar to those of the members of the Paramyxoviridae family.

Trichomonas vaginalis: chromatin and mitotic spindle during mitosis.

The mitotic phases and the changes that the chromatin and mitotic microtubules undergo during mitosis in the sexually transmitted parasite Trichomonas vaginalis are described. Parasites arrested in the gap 2 phase of the cell cycle by nutrient starvation were induced to mitosis by addition of fresh whole medium. [(3)H] Thymidine labeling of trichomonad parasites for 24 h showed that parasites have at least four synchronic duplications after mitosis induction. Fixed or live and acridine orange (AO)-stained trichomonads analyzed at different times during mitosis by epifluorescence microscopy showed that mitosis took about 45 min and is divided into five stages: prophase, metaphase, early and late anaphase, early and late telophase, and cytokinesis. The AO-stained nucleus of live trichomonads showed green (DNA) and orange (RNA) fluorescence, and the nucleic acid nature was confirmed by DNase and RNase treatment, respectively. The chromatin appeared partially condensed during interphase. At metaphase, it appeared as six condensed chromosomes, as recently reported, which decondensed at anaphase and migrated to the nuclear poles at telophase. In addition, small bundles of microtubules (as hemispindles) were detected only in metaphase with the polyclonal antibody anti-Entamoeba histolytica alpha-tubulin. This antibody showed that the hemispindle and an atractophore-like structure seem to duplicate and polarize during metaphase. In conclusion, T. vaginalis mitosis involves five mitotic phases in which the chromatin undergoes different degrees of condensation, from chromosomes to decondensed chromatin, and two hemispindles that are observed only in the metaphase stage.

Immunity to porcine rubulavirus infection in adult swine.

The immune response against the porcine rubulavirus was analyzed in experimentally infected adult pigs. High titers of virus neutralizing and hemagglutinating inhibitory antibodies were identified in infected animals. The antibody specificity was directed towards HN, M, and NP rubula virion proteins; immunodominance of HN proteins was demonstrated. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from infected, but not from non-infected pigs proliferated in vitro in response to virus antigenic stimuli, showing a bell-shaped plot with the highest peak at 5 weeks post-infection. Virus-induced lymphoblasts expressed CD4+ CD8+ phenotype, whereas lectin-induced lymphoblasts were mainly identified as CD4+ CD8- cells. Phenotype analysis of freshly prepared PBMC revealed increased number of both monocytes (PoM1+) and total T lymphocytes (CD2+) early during infection, with reduced values of B lymphocytes at 4 weeks post-infection. Decrease in CD4+ CD8- blood cells was observed at 3 weeks post-infection, whereas both CD4- CD8+ and CD4+ CD8+ cells increased 1 and 4 weeks post-infection, respectively. This work discusses the relevance of CD4+ CD8+ T cells in the control of porcine rubulavirus infection.