A Qualitative Exploration into Experiences and Attitudes Regarding Psychosocial Challenges, Self-compassion, and Mindfulness in a Population of Adults with Cystic Fibrosis.

To investigate the current psychosocial challenges faced by adults with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), while exploring attitudes and experiences of mindfulness and self-compassion. Mindfulness and self-compassion are important resources for supporting psychological and physical well-being, yet there is limited research exploring these positive psychology concepts in CF literature. Twenty UK domiciled adults with a diagnosis of CF, took part in a semi-structured interview. Using a thematic analysis approach, four themes were developed: (a) "I didn't expect to be here": Surpassing the CF life expectancy, (b) "Am I psychologically bringing this upon myself?": Psychological complexities of CF, (c) "I've had to really learn to be kind to myself": The importance of compassion and being self-compassionate, (d) "I think it's a great tool": The benefits of practising mindfulness. This research demonstrates a robust need for increased integration of accessible psychological practices into routine CF-care and self-care for adults with CF. Particularly, practises and interventions that draw on the concepts of mindfulness and self-compassion, which may benefit patient's health and wellbeing profoundly.

Exploring Associations Between Self-Compassion, Self-Criticism, Mental Health, and Quality of Life in Adults with Cystic Fibrosis: Informing Future Interventions.

Self-compassion is increasingly recognised as an important and beneficial factor in quality of life and mental health-related research, but research within the adult cystic fibrosis (CF) population is scarce. In a cross-sectional study, 114 (56 female, 58 male) adults with CF completed and returned a series of validated questionnaires that assessed CF-related quality of life, negative emotional states (depression, anxiety and stress), self-compassion, and self-criticism. Quality of life and self-compassion were positively correlated, and each in turn were inversely correlated with negative emotional states and self-criticism. Negative emotional states correlated positively to self-criticism. Self-compassion and/or self-criticism moderated ten relationships between various sub-domains of quality of life and negative emotions. Psychological interventions that increase self-compassion may be beneficial for enhancing mental health and quality of life for adults with CF.

Biochemical Mediators and Mechanisms Involved in Chromatin Conformational Remodeling through the Cell Cycle.

Chromatin undergoes structural remodeling through the cell-cycle stages. Remodeling of the chromatin structure is extremely important for events occurring during these stages. The five major levels of structural organization, from the double-strand structure to the metaphase chromosomes are possible due to specific factors and mechanisms that function in synchrony. The mitotic promoting factors, the "structural maintenance of chromosomes" proteins, and proteins associated with cytoskeletal and nucleoskeletal elements have specific roles in structural modeling and functioning of DNA. It is of interest that the DNA decondensation cycle opposes the DNA condensation cycle. However, it is not clear if the factors and mechanisms involved in the DNA decondensation cycle are exactly opposite to the DNA condensation cycle. Also interesting is that chromosome-specific chromatin is positioned in the interphase nucleus in specific "territories" or "niches," a phenomenon similar to the exactly positioned genes at specific locations on a fully condensed chromosome. We review the factors and mechanisms in remodeling chromatin, maintaining structural integrity at each organizational level, and impact of this structural remodeling on functions of the genetic material.

Techniques used by United Kingdom consultant plastic surgeons to select implant size for primary breast augmentation.

BACKGROUND: Techniques used to estimate implant size for primary breast augmentation have evolved since the 1970s. Currently no consensus exists on the optimal method to select implant size for primary breast augmentation. METHODS: In 2013 we asked United Kingdom consultant plastic surgeons who were full members of BAPRAS or BAAPS what was their technique for implant size selection for primary aesthetic breast augmentation. We also asked what was the range of implant sizes they commonly used. The answers to question one were grouped into four categories: experience, measurements, pre-operative external sizers and intra-operative sizers. RESULTS: The response rate was 46% (164/358). Overall, 95% (153/159) of all respondents performed some form of pre-operative assessment, the others relied on "experience" only. The most common technique for pre-operative assessment was by external sizers (74%). Measurements were used by 57% of respondents and 3% used intra-operative sizers only. A combination of measurements and sizers was used by 34% of respondents. The most common measurements were breast base (68%), breast tissue compliance (19%), breast height (15%), and chest diameter (9%). The median implant size commonly used in primary breast augmentation was 300cc. SUMMARY: Pre-operative external sizers are the most common technique used by UK consultant plastic surgeons to select implant size for primary breast augmentation. We discuss the above findings in relation to the evolution of pre-operative planning techniques for breast augmentation.

Hair melanocytes as neuro-endocrine sensors--pigments for our imagination.

We are currently experiencing a spectacular surge in our knowledge of skin function both at the organ and organismal levels, much of this due to a flurry of cutaneous neuroendocrinologic data, that positions the skin as a major sensor of the periphery. As our body's largest organ, the skin incorporates all major support systems including blood, muscle and innervation as well as its role in immuno-competence, psycho-emotion, ultraviolet radiation sensing, endocrine function, etc. It is integral for maintenance of mammalian homeostasis and utilizes locally-produced melanocortins to neutralize noxious stimuli. In particular, the cutaneous pigmentary system is an important stress response element of the skin's sensing apparatus; where stimuli involving corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) and proopiomelanocortin (POMC) peptides help regulate pigmentation in the hair follicle and the epidermis. These pigmentary units are organized into symmetrical functional pigmentary units composed of corticotropin-releasing hormone, and the melanocortin POMC peptides melanocyte stimulating hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone and also the opiate beta-endorphin. These new findings have led to the concept of "self-similarity" of melanocortin systems based on their expression both at the local (skin) and systemic (CNS) levels, where the only major apparent difference appears to be one of scale. This review explores this concept and describes how the components of the CRH/POMC systems may help regulate the human hair follicle pigmentary unit.

In vivo and in vitro evidence for autocrine DCoH/HNF-1alpha transcription of albumin in the human epidermis.

The presence of albumin in the human epidermis has been reported more than a decade ago, but until now, it was assumed that this protein is synthesized in the liver and transported to the avascular skin. To our knowledge, transcription of albumin in the human epidermis was never considered. In this report, we present for the first time evidence for autocrine synthesis of albumin in the human epidermis in keratinocytes in situ and in vitro. Using double immunofluorescence labelling, we identified that albumin colocalized together with its transcription factor PCD/DCoH/HNF-1alpha in suprabasal keratinocytes in human full-thickness skin sections and in keratinocytes cultured in serum-free medium. Moreover, albumin and HNF-1alpha protein expression was confirmed by Western blotting in undifferentiated and differentiated keratinocytes as well as in human epidermal suction blister roof extracts. Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis from human epidermal keratinocytes and epidermal suction blister roofs revealed the transcription of albumin. Using in vivo fluorescence excitation spectroscopy at the surface of human skin, we confirmed albumin as a major constituent yielding a lambda(max) at 295 nm, which was assigned to the single tryptophan 214 fluorophore in this protein. This in vivo result is in agreement with albumin concentrations of 10(-3) M, underlining the importance of this protein in epidermal homeostasis.