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Activity pacing (AP) is a concept that is central to many chronic pain theories and treatments, yet there remains confusion regarding its definition and effects.To review the current knowledge concerning AP and integrate this knowledge in a manner that allows for a clear definition and useful directions for future research.A narrative review of the major theoretical approaches to AP and of the empirical evidence regarding the effects of AP interventions, followed by an integrative discussion.The concept of AP is derived from 2 main traditions: operant and energy conservation. Although there are common elements across these traditions, significant conceptual and practical differences exist, which has led to confusion. Little empirical evidence exists concerning the efficacy of AP as a treatment for chronic pain.Future research on AP should be based on a clear theoretical foundation, consider the context in which the AP behavior occurs and the type of pacing problem ("underactivity" vs. "overactivity"), and should examine the impact of AP treatment on multiple clinical outcomes. We provide a provisional definition of AP and specific recommendations that we believe will move the field forward.

Treball Final de Grau. Grau en Psicologia. Codi: PS1048. Curs acadèmic 2016/2017 El alcohol es la droga más aceptada y consumida en el mundo, la cual puede causarte un alto nivel de dependencia, a causa, principalmente, del efecto reforzante que produce en tu cerebro. En el presente trabajo nos vamos a centrar en la importancia que tiene el salsolinol en nuestro organismo tras el consumo de alcohol, así pues, el objetivo es aceptar o refutar la siguiente hipótesis: Un producto de la condensación de acetaldehído y dopamina es el responsable del efecto reforzante del etanol. Es decir, el salsolinol, como producto derivado de la condensación no enzimática de acetaldehído y dopamina, es el responsable del reforzamiento positivo. Aparece tras el consumo de etanol, y gracias a la metabolización de este. Todavía no se sabe el mecanismo de acción del salsolinol, pero sabemos que juega un papel importante a la hora de crear dependencia, llegando a pensar que el alcohol actúa como una prodroga. El salsolinol es una molécula reforzante, más potente que el acetaldehído y el etanol. The alcohol is the drug most accepted and consumed in the world, which can cause a high level of dependence, to reason, principally, of the reinforcing effect that produces in your brain. In the present work, we us go to focus in the importance that salsolinol has in our organism after consume alcohol, this way so, the objective is to agree or to refuse the following hypothesis: A product of the condensation of acetaldehyde and dopamine is the responsible of the effect positive reinforcement of the ethanol. The salsolinol, as product derived from the non-enzymatically condenses of acetaldehyde and dopamine, is the responsible of the positive reinforcement. It appears after consume ethanol, and thanks to metabolizing of this one. The mechanism of action of the salsolinol is not yet known, but we know that it plays an important role in creating dependency, coming to think that alcohol acts as a prodrug. The salsolinol more reforcing molecule that acetaldehyde and ethanol.

Studies have shown that alcohol could impair automatic pre-attentive change detection. However, several earlier studies which investigated alcohol-induced effects on single auditory feature independently were different from each other on the results. Meanwhile, only few auditory features have been investigated yet. Therefore, it is meaningful to investigate effects of alcohol on multiple auditory features in one experiment.This study investigates the effects of alcohol on automatic pre-attentive change detection of four kinds of auditory features (frequency, intensity, location, and duration) in one experiment.This study, using multi-feature oddball paradigm, compares and analyzes mismatch negativity (MMN) elicited by four kinds of auditory features (frequency, intensity, location, and duration), of 12 participants, under alcohol (0.65 g/kg) and non-alcohol condition.Compared to non-alcohol condition, amplitudes of all the four MMN types significantly declined under alcohol condition, and their amplitude decline ratios decreased as deviant magnitude became larger. Latencies of frequency and intensity MMN were delayed while latencies of location and duration MMN were not delayed significantly.Alcohol impaired automatic pre-attentive change detection of all the four auditory features (frequency, intensity, location, and duration). However, the alcohol-induced impairment magnitude on automatic pre-attentive detection of the four auditory features was different from each other. According to analysis of amplitude, frequency seems to be affected most among the four auditory features. According to analysis of latency, only frequency and intensity were affected.

There is ongoing debate regarding the validity of the distinction of alcohol abuse and dependence, the distinction between normality and alcohol abuse, and the absence of craving in the DSM-IV classification of alcohol use disorders. In this study, we examine the discriminant validity of the DSM-IV alcohol use disorder diagnoses in three different populations (98 patients from an alcohol treatment service, 68 nontreatment-seeking heavy drinkers, and 75 psychiatric outpatients). We compare the results of the DSM-IV classification with an alternative classification that requires craving and withdrawal for the diagnosis of dependence and at least two DSM-IV abuse-dependence symptoms for the diagnosis of abuse: the Craving Withdrawal Model (CWM). Although the total prevalence of any alcohol use disorder did not differ between DSM-IV and CWM, the distinction between normality and abuse and between abuse and dependence was better for the CWM categories.

Systemic delivery of therapeutic agents remains ineffective against diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), possibly due to an intact blood-brain-barrier (BBB) and to dose-limiting toxicity of systemic chemotherapeutic agents. Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) into the brainstem may provide an effective local delivery alternative for DIPG patients.The aim of this study is to develop a method to perform CED into the murine brainstem and to test this method using the chemotherapeutic agent carmustine (BiCNU). To this end, a newly designed murine CED catheter was tested in vitro and in vivo. After determination of safety and distribution, mice bearing VUMC-DIPG-3 and E98FM-DIPG brainstem tumors were treated with carmustine dissolved in DW 5% or carmustine dissolved in 10% ethanol.Our results show that CED into the murine brainstem is feasible and well tolerated by mice with and without brainstem tumors. CED of carmustine dissolved in 5% DW increased median survival of mice with VUMC-DIPG-3 and E98FM-DIPG tumors with 35% and 25% respectively. Dissolving carmustine in 10% ethanol further improved survival to 45% in mice with E98FM-DIPG tumors.Since genetically engineered and primary DIPG models are currently only available in mice, murine CED studies have clear advantages over CED studies in other animals.CED in the murine brainstem can be performed safely, is well tolerated and can be used to study efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents orthotopically. These results set the foundation for more CED studies in murine DIPG models.

AbstractIt has been shown that ethanol‐induced interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) in adult male Sprague–Dawley rats was sensitized by environmental stimuli paired with ethanol and was accompanied by a conditioned increase in corticosterone (CORT). Adolescent males showed ethanol‐induced IL‐6 conditioning more readily than adults. The present studies examined whether female adolescents display IL‐6 conditioning and whether adolescents of either sex show CORT conditioning. Male and female (N = 212, n = 6–10) adolescent (postnatal day 33–40) rats were given ethanol (2 g/kg intraperitoneal injection; the unconditioned stimulus), either paired with a lavender‐scented novel context (the conditioned stimulus) or explicitly unpaired from context. Rats were tested in the context without ethanol and brains/blood were collected. Adolescent females did not show signs of neuroimmune (Experiment 1) or CORT conditioning (Experiments 2–4). Paired males showed enhanced CORT to the scented context relative to unpaired counterparts when the interoceptive cue of a saline injection was used on test day (Experiment 2). Experiment 5 used a delayed conditioning procedure and showed that male paired adolescents showed significantly higher CORT in response to context, showing that classically conditioned CORT response was precipitated by environmental cues alone. These findings indicate that adolescent males may be predisposed to form conditioned associations between alcohol and environmental cues, contributing to adolescent vulnerability to long‐lasting ethanol effects.

Problem: Da aufgrund des demografischen Wandels die Gesellschaft immer älter wird, steigt auch das Risiko an einer Alzheimer Demenz zu erkranken an. Im Verlauf der Alzheimer Demenz kommt es zum Abbau kognitiver Funktion und zum Verlust von Gedächtnisfunktionen. Da Betroffene mit steigender Progredienz der Erkrankung zunehmend unselbstständig werden, Alltagsfunktionen verloren gehen und ein Verlust von Wahrnehmung, Geschmack sowie Geruch auftritt, wirkt sich dies auf das Ernährungsverhalten betroffener PatientInnen aus und führt folglich zu Ernährungsproblemen, die es gilt zu reduzieren, um günstige Effekte auf die Lebensumstände von Alzheimer Demenz PatientInnen zu erzielen und die Lebensqualität Betroffener zu erhöhen. Zudem gibt es Diäten und Nährstoffe, die präventiv vor kognitiven Verlusten schützen und somit einer Alzheimer Erkrankung vorbeugen oder den Beginn herauszögern, da das was wir essen, direkten Einfluss auf die Gehirngesundheit hat. Methode: Eine selektive Literaturrecherche wurde zur Erforschung der Ernährungsprobleme sowie Risikofaktoren der Ernährung in der Bibliothek der FH Bad Gleichenberg sowie diverser Stadtbibliotheken durchgeführt. Zu Ernährungsmaßnahmen und zur Ernährungstherapie wurden vor allem Webseiten der Deutschen Alzheimer Gesellschaft, sowie Datenbanken wie Cochrane und SpringerLink durchsucht. Ergebnisse: Aufgrund des Verlustes der Sinneswahrnehmung bei Alzheimer Demenz PatientInnen kommt es bei Betroffenen zu Problemen bei der Ernährung und Folge dessen zur Unterernährung. Es konnte aufgezeigt werden, dass es verschiedene ernährungsbezogene Methoden gibt, die positive Effekte auf die Lebensumstände von Alzheimer Demenz PatientInnen haben, die Lebensqualität erhöhen und die Flüssigkeits- und Nahrungsaufnahme steigern. Dabei spielen die Anregung der Sinne und die umgebungsbezogene Modifikation eine wichtige Rolle. Zudem zeigte sich, dass die Folsäure eine bedeutende Rolle bei der Demenzprävention spielt und vor kognitivem Abbau schützt. Diskussion: Ein weiterer Forschungsbedarf ist dahingehend notwendig, die positive Wirkung bestimmter Nährstoffe bei bereits diagnostizierter Alzheimer Demenz zu erforschen, da in dieser Bachelorarbeit nur auf präventiv wirkende Nährstoffe eingegangen wurde. Schlüsselwörter: Folgende Keywords werden für die Literaturrecherche verwendet. DEUTSCH: Alzheimer Demenz, Demenz, Demenzerkrankung, Ernährung, Ernährungsprobleme, Ernährungsmedizin, Energiebedarf, Ernährungstherapie, Folsäure, Geriatrie, Gehirn, Lebensmittel, Makronährstoffe, Mikronährstoffe, Mangelernährung, Nährstoffe, Nährstoffbedarf, Vitamine, Problem: Due to the changing landscape of our aging society nowadays, the risk of developing Alzheimer’s dementia is also increasing. During the course of Alzheimer’s dementia, the affected patients experience a decline in cognitive brain function and memory loss. As the disease progresses, the patients become less independent in performing simple daily functions. This goes hand in hand with the loss of awareness of one’s own surroundings, as well as a loss of taste and smell that directly affect the eating habits of an individual and consequently leads to nutritional problems, which must be addressed as they have the power to slow the course of the disease and improve a patient’s quality of life. In addition, there are diets and nutrients that preventively protect this loss of cognitive functions and slow the onset of the illness, since what we eat has a direct impact on brain health. Methods: The research was performed via a selective literature review sourced from the FH Bad Gleichenberg Library and several other public libraries. The literature focuses on dietary issues and risk factors in an individual’s diet that can make one more susceptible to Alzheimer’s disease. Results: The literature research showed that there are various nutrition and dietary options that have positive effects on the living conditions of Alzheimer’s dementia patients and increase the intake and absorption of food and water and therefore also the quality of life. The stimulation of the senses and environment-related modifications play an important role. It was also demonstrated that folic acids play an important role in preventing dementia and protect against cognitive decline. In addition, those affected experience problems with nutrition due to the loss of sensory perception and, as a result, malnutrition, which is particularly common in Alzheimer's dementia patients.Discussion: Further research is necessary to investigate the positive effect of certain nutrients in already diagnosed Alzheimer's dementia, since this bachelor thesis only dealt with nutrients with a preventive effect. Key Words: Alzheimer Dementia, Dementia, Illness, Nutrition, Nutritional Problems, Nutritional Medicine, Energy Demand, Nutritional Therapy, Geriatrics, Brain, Food, Macronutrients, Micronutrients, Malnutrition, Nutrient, Nutritional Needs, Vitamins, Folic acid.

Background:Hyperreactivity and impaired sensory gating of the acoustic startle response in alcohol dependence has been suggested to reflect a residual effect of previous detoxifications, increasing the severity of subsequent withdrawal episodes. Previous studies on the acoustic startle only included early‐onset alcohol‐dependent patients. The observed abnormalities may therefore also be specific for this subtype of alcohol dependence. We investigated the acoustic startle response in alcohol‐dependent patients and healthy controls and hypothesized that (i) early‐onset alcohol‐dependent patients show increased acoustic startle responses compared with late‐onset alcohol‐dependent patients and healthy controls, and (ii) the duration of alcohol dependence or the number of prior detoxifications would not explain the differences in the acoustic startle between early‐ and late‐onset alcohol dependence.Methods:The acoustic startle reflex was assessed in detoxified, male alcohol‐dependent patients (N = 83) and age‐matched healthy male controls (N = 86). Reflex eye blink responses to an auditory startle stimulus were measured by means of electromyographic recordings over the right orbicularis oculi muscle. Reflex amplitudes and levels of prepulse inhibition (PPI) were analyzed.Results:There was no association between number of previous withdrawals and the startle response or PPI. Early‐onset alcohol‐dependent patients showed higher acoustic startle amplitudes compared with late‐onset alcohol‐dependent patients and healthy controls [75/105 dB: F(2, 166) = 9.2, p < 0.001; 85/105 dB: F(2, 166) = 12.1, p < 0.001; 95 dB: F(2, 166) = 8.2, p < 0.001; 105 dB: F(2, 166) = 9.7, p < 0.001], and there were no differences in PPI.Conclusions:Increased acoustic startle response in detoxified early‐onset alcohol‐dependent patients may reflect a trait marker specifically involved in early‐onset alcohol dependence. The findings of the current study do not support the hypothesis that the increased startle response is a residual state marker.