Over the past 20 years, our understanding of emotional processes has grown rapidly. Within the study of emotion, a key area of interest has been how individuals succeed or fail in regulating emotional responses. Although still in its early development, researchers in this field have made progress in identifying the neurological, psychological, and social processes that underlie emotion regulation and dysregulation. Despite these advances, relatively few of these insights have been considered in light of the highly emotional terrain of couple distress. In the present study, one hundred and eight cohabiting couples rated themselves and their partner on key emotion regulation variables (e.g., the tendency to lose control of one??s emotions and the ability to restore emotional control and equilibrium). Analyses using the Actor- Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) showed strong links between these variables and individuals?? experience of intimacy and distress in their relationship. Results suggest that there are multiple avenues through which emotion regulation impacts a given individual??s relationship functioning; these include: (1) the individual??s self perceived capacity for emotion regulation, (2) their partner??s self-perceived capacity for emotion regulation, (3) the individual??s perception of their partner??s capacity for emotion regulation, and (4) the partner??s perception of the individual??s emotion regulation abilities.

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Background: Poorly coordinated diurnal cortisol and circadian rest-activity rhythms predict earlier mortality in metastatic breast and colorectal cancer, respectively. We examined the prognostic value of the diurnal cortisol rhythm in lung cancer. Methods: Lung cancer patients (. n=. 62, 34 female) were within 5. years of diagnosis and had primarily non small-cell lung cancer, with disease stage ranging from early to advanced. Saliva collected over two days allowed calculation of the diurnal cortisol slope and the cortisol awakening response (CAR). Lymphocyte numbers and subsets were measured by flow cytometry. Survival data were obtained for 57 patients. Cox Proportional Hazards analyses were used to test the prognostic value of the diurnal cortisol rhythm on survival calculated both from study entry and from initial diagnosis. Results: The diurnal cortisol slope predicted subsequent survival over three years. Early mortality occurred among patients with higher slopes, or relatively " flat" rhythms indicating lack of normal diurnal variation (Cox Proportional Hazards p=. .009). Cortisol slope also predicted survival time from initial diagnosis (. p=. .012). Flattened profiles were linked with male gender (. t=. 2.04, df=. 59, p=. .046) and low total and cytotoxic T cell lymphocyte counts (. r=. -.39 and -.30, p=. .004 and .035, respectively). After adjustment for possible confounding factors, diurnal slope remained a significant, independent predictor of survival. Conclusions: Flattening of the diurnal cortisol rhythm predicts early lung cancer death. Data contribute to growing evidence that circadian disruption accelerates tumor progression.

Background: Poorly coordinated diurnal cortisol and circadian rest-activity rhythms predict earlier mortality in metastatic breast and colorectal cancer, respectively. We examined the prognostic value of the diurnal cortisol rhythm in lung cancer. Methods: Lung cancer patients (. n=. 62, 34 female) were within 5. years of diagnosis and had primarily non small-cell lung cancer, with disease stage ranging from early to advanced. Saliva collected over two days allowed calculation of the diurnal cortisol slope and the cortisol awakening response (CAR). Lymphocyte numbers and subsets were measured by flow cytometry. Survival data were obtained for 57 patients. Cox Proportional Hazards analyses were used to test the prognostic value of the diurnal cortisol rhythm on survival calculated both from study entry and from initial diagnosis. Results: The diurnal cortisol slope predicted subsequent survival over three years. Early mortality occurred among patients with higher slopes, or relatively " flat" rhythms indicating lack of normal diurnal variation (Cox Proportional Hazards p=. .009). Cortisol slope also predicted survival time from initial diagnosis (. p=. .012). Flattened profiles were linked with male gender (. t=. 2.04, df=. 59, p=. .046) and low total and cytotoxic T cell lymphocyte counts (. r=. -.39 and -.30, p=. .004 and .035, respectively). After adjustment for possible confounding factors, diurnal slope remained a significant, independent predictor of survival. Conclusions: Flattening of the diurnal cortisol rhythm predicts early lung cancer death. Data contribute to growing evidence that circadian disruption accelerates tumor progression.

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OBJECTIVE: While it has long been known that vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) plays a role in vascular homeostasis, only recently have its effects been explored in adipose tissue. As perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) is in close proximity with the aorta and coronary arteries and is known to contribute to vasodilation, it may influence vascular function via secretion of VEGF-A. The objective of this study is to analyze the effects of brown-adipocyte deletion of VEGF-A on circulating VEGF-A levels and distribution of VEGF-A isoforms. We hypothesize that ablation of VEGF-A in brown adipocytes will affect perivascular adipocyte and vascular function. MATERIALS/ METHODS: Mice harboring a brown adipose-specific VEGF deficiency, UCP1cre.VEGFflox/flox mice, were maintained on a chow diet. Primary adipocytes were isolated from brown adipose tissue (BAT) and thoracic PVAT by collagenase digestion and culturing. Gene expression was measured by RT-PCR from RNA extracted from tissues of UCP1cre.VEGFflox/flox mice. Circulating and tissue VEGF-A levels were quantified by ELISA. RESULTS: While VEGF-A ablation using the UCP1 promoter decreases VEGF- protein A levels in BAT and PVAT, it does not affect VEGF-A levels in the circulation. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the functional utility of the UCP1cre.VEGFflox/flox mouse model, as it selectively reduces VEGF-A levels in BAT and PVAT without affecting other tissues or circulating levels. As previous studies using VEGF ablation in all adipose tissues demonstrate an impaired thermogenic response and brown-adipocyte dysfunction, further study of the brown adipose-specific mouse model is warranted. Because PVAT provides protection against vascular stiffness, modulation of VEGF-A in PVAT may be a viable treatment for obesity-associated vascular complications.

Alcohol and cannabis use are prevalent among young adults in Canada. Additionally, heavier substance use is associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing negative consequences resulting from use. Given the potential for harmful consequences resulting from alcohol and cannabis use, it is important to understand why people use these substances. Childhood maltreatment has been identified as an important predictor of alcohol and cannabis use. However, less is known about the mechanisms underlying this relationship, though it seems emotion regulation may play an important role. This study explores the relationship between maltreatment and emotion dysregulation, in addition to the relationship between maltreatment and affective motives for using alcohol and marijuana. Results indicate that drinking to cope mediates the relationship between all measured forms of maltreatment and alcohol consequences. However, none of the motives individually significantly mediated the relationship between maltreatment and marijuana use consequences. Results, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

Alcohol and cannabis use are prevalent among young adults in Canada. Additionally, heavier substance use is associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing negative consequences resulting from use. Given the potential for harmful consequences resulting from alcohol and cannabis use, it is important to understand why people use these substances. Childhood maltreatment has been identified as an important predictor of alcohol and cannabis use. However, less is known about the mechanisms underlying this relationship, though it seems emotion regulation may play an important role. This study explores the relationship between maltreatment and emotion dysregulation, in addition to the relationship between maltreatment and affective motives for using alcohol and marijuana. Results indicate that drinking to cope mediates the relationship between all measured forms of maltreatment and alcohol consequences. However, none of the motives individually significantly mediated the relationship between maltreatment and marijuana use consequences. Results, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

Research has examined the effects of micronutrients on mood in both healthy and psychiatric populations. EMPowerplus (EMP+) is a formula containing a wide range of vitamins and minerals. It has been examined for the treatment of mood instability, anxiety, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and autism. The present study trialled EMP+ with five adolescents, aged 16-21, all with Severe Mood Dysregulation (SMD) as well as co-occuring psychiatric diagnoses i.e. ADHD, anxiety and substance abuse. The sample reflects a group of adolescents with complex psychiatric presentations and therefore difficult to treat. An ABAB (off-on-off-on) research design was employed. An open-label trial (8 weeks) of the micronutrients was followed by a withdrawal phase (8 weeks) and then a reinstatement of the micronutrients for a longer period of time (up to 24 weeks). There were in-depth pre and post assessments and on-going monitoring of the participants for the duration of the study. Clinically significant improvements in symptoms and functioning were demonstrated in three/four participants. Two participants demonstrated on-off control of psychiatric symptoms, with a reversal and replication of treatment effect. Further, one participant demonstrated clinically significant improvements in mood and functioning while on the micronutrients; however, he was lost to follow up following the 7.1 earthquake, and a reversal was not obtained. One participant demonstrated a trend toward improvements in mood while on the micronutrients and subsequent deterioration during the wash-out phase. However, she decided to withdraw from the study at four weeks off to go on psychiatric medication. Further, one participant demonstrated a variable response. This study provides some further evidence that micronutrients may be an effective treatment for psychiatric symptoms, consistent with other reports. Further research, such as randomised clinical trials and studies investigating the mechanisms of action, appears warranted.

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