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Most life stress literature in bipolar disorder (BD) fails to account for the possibility of a changing relationship between psychosocial context and episode initiation across the course of the disorder. The kindling hypothesis states that over the longitudinal course of recurrent affective disorders, there is a weakening temporal relationship between major life stress and episode initiation (Post, 1992). This process could reflect either a progressive sensitization or a progressive autonomy (i.e., insensitivity) to life stress. The present study aimed to test the kindling model in BD by examining the effect of lifetime mood episodes on the relationship between proximal life events and prospectively assessed mood episodes. Polarity-specific tests of the model were conducted across the continuum of event severity, with respect to both impact and frequency of life events. Moreover, examination of the kindling hypothesis was embedded in the context of two emerging biopsychosocial theories of BD: the expanded Behavioral Approach System Dysregulation Model and the Circadian and Social Rhythm Theory. Data from 278 participants (146 bipolar spectrum participants and 132 normal control participants) were collected as part of the Temple-Wisconsin Longitudinal Investigation of Bipolar Spectrum Project. Hypotheses were polarity- and event-type specific and were in line with a stress sensitization model of bipolar spectrum disorders (BSD), rather than a stress autonomy model. Results partially supported a sensitization model: there was a decreased frequency and an increased impact of major events, and an increased frequency and impact of minor events. However, results for specific polarities and event types were not fully consistent with a stress sensitization model. Implications of these findings are addressed, followed by a discussion of study strengths, limitations, and promising directions for future research. / Psychology

Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) include chronic diseases involving the airways and other structures of the lung. In the current circumstance of Vietnam, people are exposed to numerous risk factors of CRD, such as heavy smoking, high frequency of pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic helminthiasis, allergic factors, migration and urbanization (the last associated with traffic-related pollution). The phenotype diagnoses should take into account the risk factors of each individual besides the clinical features, while the differential diagnoses mostly depend on the available techniques in each healthcare center. Our aim was to improve the differential diagnoses of the 3 most frequent CRDs: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and COPD – asthma overlap syndrome (ACOS), in Vietnam. In the first part, we evaluated the prevalence of the allergen sensitization among patients with CRD, in regard to the urban and rural area in the South of Vietnam. House dust mites and cockroach droppings were the most frequent sensitizer. Compared with participants born in the urban setting, those born in the rural environment were less frequently sensitized and this protective effect disappeared in the case of migration from rural to urban areas. In the second part, we evaluated skin prick test as a method to screen dust mite sensitization in CRD in southern Vietnam. The data suggested that, in the present circumstance, skin prick test can be used to screen mite sensitization. In the third part, we evaluated the risk of mite sensitization in the native and migrant population, in regard to several environmental factors. Consistently with the hygiene hypothesis, compared to urban, exposure to high endotoxin concentration in rural was a protective factor against allergic sensitization. We reported for the first time that this effect was reversible among the migrants from rural to urban setting in association with lower endotoxin exposure. In the fourth part, we have defined asthma, COPD and ACOS based on clinical symptoms, cumulative smoking and airway expiratory flow with reversibility, on one side, and the age-related of the different phenotypes, on the other side. We hypothesized that the cumulative exposure to noxious particles should increase the age-related prevalence of COPD, while due to the immunosenescence process, the prevalence of IgE-mediated asthma should decrease with age, and ACOS prevalence being not related to age due to the combined mechanisms.  In conclusion, we showed in the South of Vietnam that:1) mites and cockroach allergens were the most frequent sensitizer in chronic respiratory diseases;2) the skin prick test to mite has been validated to screen mite sensitization;3) associated with a reduced level of endotoxin level, migration from rural to the urban setting was a risk factor of mite sensitization in chronic respiratory diseases;4) based on the clinical symptoms, spirometric values, and cumulative smoking, the diagnosis of asthma, COPD and ACOS have been made and their prevalence were 25, 42 and 33%, respectively. / Doctorat en Sciences biomédicales et pharmaceutiques (Médecine) / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

This thesis examines the use of nonlinear ultrasound to evaluate sensitization, a precursor to stress corrosion cracking in austenitic stainless steel. Ultrasonic Rayleigh surface waves are generated on a specimen; as these waves pass through sensitized material, second harmonic generation (SHG) increases. In austenitic stainless steel with oven-induced sensitization, this increase is due only to the formation of chromium carbide precipitates, key products of the sensitization process. Weld-induced sensitization specimens demonstrate additional increases in SHG, likely caused by increased residual stress and dislocation density as a result of uneven heating. Experimental data are used to calculate the acoustic nonlinearity parameter, which provides a single value directly related to the quantity of micro- and nano-scale damage present within any given sample. Using this procedure, the effects of weld- and oven-induced sensitization are compared. Results demonstrate the feasibility of using nonlinear Rayleigh waves to detect and monitor stress corrosion susceptibility of welded material.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Psychology / Mary E. Cain / Glutamate contributes to the neurological and behavioral changes that occur during differential rearing, and those that occur during conditioned hyperactivity and sensitization. Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) in particular contributes to the psychostimulant reward pathway, plasticity, and differential rearing. The present study examined the role of mGluR5 in conditioning and sensitization in differentially reared rats. Rats were reared in an enriched (EC), impoverished (IC), or social (SC) condition for 30 days, after which they received repeated amphetamine (0.3 mg/kg) or saline injections. Following training, rats received an injection of the mGluR5 antagonist MTEP or saline prior to undergoing conditioned hyperactivity and sensitization tests. Results showed that MTEP attenuated conditioned hyperactivity and sensitization in IC but not EC and SC rats, suggesting that glutamatergic changes occur during differential rearing that alter the effects of MTEP on amphetamine conditioning and sensitization. Additionally, results demonstrated that enrichment rearing has a protective effect against conditioned hyperactivity at low doses of amphetamine.

Background: Allergic sensitization is the most important risk factor for asthma and rhinitis among children, adolescents and young adults. Less is known about the incidence and remission of allergic sensitization, particularly in older adults. Furthermore, it is not clear if the earlier documented increase in prevalence of allergic sensitization continues. This thesis is focused on prevalence, incidence and remission of allergic sensitization to airborne allergens among adolescents and adults as well as on time trends in prevalence among adults. Furthermore, associated risk factors and the relation of allergic sensitization to asthma and rhinitis were assessed. Methods: In the study of children and adolescents, incidence, remission and prevalence of allergic sensitization were assessed in a cohort study of schoolchildren, aged 7-8 years (y) at baseline. In the studies of adults, incidence and remission of allergic sensitization were assessed in a randomly selected adult population sample in 1994 (n=664) aged 20-69 y, which was followed up in 2004 (n=555). Trends in prevalence of allergic sensitization were assessed by comparing two cross-sectional studies; the cohort from 1994 and another randomly selsected population sample examined in 2009 (n=737). The relation of allergic sensitization to asthma and rhinitis was determined in the adult cohort in 2009. Allergic sensitization was assessed by skin prick test (SPT) with ten common airborne allergens at ages 7-8, 11-12 and 19 y in the cohort of children and in the participants ≤ 60 y in the adult cohorts. Specific IgE to nine airborne allergens was analyzed in the adult cohorts in 2004 and 2009. Risk factors for allergic sensitization and variables defining respiratory disease and symptoms were assessed by questionnaires in the cohort of children and by structured interviews in the adult cohorts. Results: The 10-year cumulative incidence of allergic sensitization among the adults from 1994 to 2004 was 5%, while remission was 32%. In both adult cohorts, the prevalence of allergic sensitization was highest among young adults, aged 20-29 y, 55% and 61% and decreased significantly with increasing age. Among children and adolescents, both incidence and persistence of allergic sensitization were high, and the prevalence of allergic sensitization increased by age from 21% at age 7-8 y to 42% at age 19 y. Multisensitization at age 19 y was strongly associated with early onset of sensitization. The prevalence of sensitization to the major specific allergens birch, timothy, cat and dog as well as multisensitization (from 40% in 1994 to 56% in 2009, p=0.002) increased significantly from 1994 to 2009 among the adults. Sensitization to any allergen increased from 35% to 39%, however not significantly (p=0.13). A family history of allergic rhinitis was strongly and consistently associated with allergic sensitization in all ages. Male sex and urban living were significantly positively and birth order and furry animals at home in childhood were negatively associated with onset of sensitization before the age of 7-8 y, but not with onset of sensitization from 11-12y to 19 y. Young adult age and urban living were significant factors associated with allergic sensitization in adult age. Sensitization to any animal was significantly positively associated with current asthma (OR4.80 (95% CI 2.68-8.60)), whereas both sensitization to any pollen (OR 4.25 (2.55-7.06)) and any animal (OR 3.90 (95% CI 2.31-6.58)) were associated with current allergic rhinitis. The association between allergic sensitization and allergic rhinitis was strongest in young adult age and decreased with increasing age, while asthma was similarly associated with sensitization to any animal across all adult ages. Among asthmatics, the prevalence of allergic sensitization decreased with increasing age of asthma onset. Conclusion: Both incidence and persistence of allergic sensitization were high among children and adolescents explaining the increase in prevalence by increasing age. An inverse pattern with low incidence and high remission of allergic sensitization was seen among adults. The decrease in prevalence of allergic sensitization by increasing adult age might at least partly be explained by normal ageing and not only by an effect of year of birth (cohort effect). The significant increase in prevalence of sensitization to the specific allergens explained the significant increase in multisensitization over 15 years. A family history of allergy was the strongest and the only consistent risk factor for allergic sensitization in all ages. The prevalence of allergic sensitization decreased with increasing age of asthma onset among adult asthmatics.

Background A significant proportion of children are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) throughout the world. This is mainly because of exposure to parental smoking. It is unknown to what extent the negative effects of ETS on respiratory symptoms track from childhood into adulthood. Methods TESAOD (Tucson Epidemiologic Study of Airway Obstructive Disease) is a large population-based prospective study that was initiated in 1972. Participants were followed prospectively with questionnaires and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) completed about every two years in 12 follow-up surveys up to 1996. Skin prick tests and blood samples for IgE measurements were collected at surveys 1, 6, and 11. We identified subjects who entered the study as children (<15 years old) and were followed to adulthood (>18 years) during the study follow-up. Based on questionnaire data, active asthma, wheeze, cough, and chronic cough (cough for three consecutive months) were coded as never (never reported in childhood or adulthood), incident (never reported in childhood, but ≥ one positive report in adulthood), remittent (≥ one positive report in childhood, but not in adulthood), and persistent (≥ one positive report both in childhood and adulthood). PFTs measurements included forced expiratory volume in 1 second, forced vital capacity, and forced expiratory flow at 25-75%. Parent information on smoking status was collected simultaneously at child visits. ETS exposure status was assessed as “ever” or “never” between birth and 15 years. Results Information on parental ETS exposure in childhood and outcomes in adulthood was available for 444 non-Hispanic white participants (51.4% male) with mean age at initial survey of 7.7 years. Total mean follow-up time was 19.0 years (8.8 years in adulthood). Between birth and 15 years, 53.4% of children were exposed to ETS. After adjusting for sex, age at enrollment, years of follow-up, and personal smoking status (assessed at age 15 and above), combined parental ETS exposure in childhood was significantly associated with persistent wheeze (RR(adj) 1.9, p=0.026), persistent cough (RR(adj) 5.9, p<0.001), and persistent (RR(adj) 3.7, p=0.030) and incident chronic cough (RR(adj) 2.3, p=0.040). Paternal ETS exposure in childhood was associated with persistent wheeze (RR(adj) 2.3, p=0.002), persistent cough (RR(adj) 3.9, p<0.001), persistent (RR(adj) 4.8, p=0.004) and incident chronic cough (RR(adj) 2.2, p=0.031), and persistent asthma (RR(adj) 2.3, p=0.016). Maternal ETS exposure was associated with persistent (RR(adj) 1.9, p=0.029) and incident cough (RR(adj) 2.5, p=0.006). Maternal ETS exposure was associated with an increased percent predicted FVC in adulthood (coefficient, 3.75; p=0.019). No other effects on lung function were seen. There were no effects of ETS exposure on total serum IgE or allergic sensitization. ETS exposure was associated with respiratory symptoms in adulthood among both never and current smokers. Conclusions ETS exposure in childhood has long term health effects on lung function and respiratory symptoms. These effects do not appear to be IgE-mediated. ETS exposure, especially paternal ETS exposure, seems to influence the persistence of respiratory symptoms from childhood to adulthood and to affect women more than men. These effects are independent of personal smoking and also seen in never smokers. Both smoking mothers and fathers should be targeted when attempting to reduce ETS exposure among children.

In a study using 73 females and 30 male undergraduates, information on the basic dimensions of Millon's eight personality styles was obtained from correlations of the Millon Behavioral Health Inventory with Rotter's I-E scale and Byrne's R-S scale. Hypotheses predicting a significant relationship between the active-passive and repression-sensitization were generally supported. Predictions of a significant relationship between the dependent-indepenent dimension and generalized expectancy of locus of control were not supported. Implications of these findings for the efficacy of Millon's system are discussed, along with future research possibilities.

The Purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of the repression-sensitization dimension and leisure preferences, specifically threatening versus nonthreatening physical activity and television program preferences. The hypotheses were that sensitizers would prefer threatening (violent) television programs and threatening (competitive) physical activities to a significantly greater degree than repressors. Sixty college undergraduates were designated repressors, sensitizers, or middle group by their scores on Byrne's Repression-Sensitization Scale. Preference sheets determined subjects' preferences for threatening and nonthreatening television programs and physical activities. Simple analyses of variance revealed no significant differences in repressors', sensitizers', or middle group's preferences for threatening television programs or physical activities, and thus the hypotheses were rejected. Non-significant tendencies in the data, in hypothesized directions, suggest further research.