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Affective touch supports affiliative bonds and social cognition. In particular, gentle, stroking touch, which has recently been associated with the C Tactile (CT) system, is typically perceived as pleasant and prosocial. However, it remains unknown whether pre-existing models of social relating influence the perception of CT-optimal touch. In this study ( N  = 44 adults), we examined how individual differences in attachment styles relate to the perception of CT-optimal touch, as well as to a different modality of interoception, namely heartbeat perception. Using the gold-standard assessment of attachment (Adult Attachment Interview), we found that insecure attachment was associated with reduced pleasantness discrimination between CT-optimal vs. non-CT optimal touch. Acknowledging the different traditions in measuring attachment, we also used a well-validated self-report questionnaire that pertains to explicit representations of current close relationships. Using this measure, we found that higher scores in attachment anxiety (but not attachment avoidance) were associated with reduced pleasantness discrimination between CT-optimal vs. non-CT optimal touch. Attachment patterns (in both measures) were not related to cardiac perception accuracy. These results corroborate and extend previous literature on CT-optimal touch and its relation with affiliative bonds and social cognition. Given that attachment was not related to perceived cardiac accuracy, these findings point to the specificity of the relationship between CT-optimal touch and attachment.

The aim of the present study was to explore the dimensions of alexithymia and attachment styles in a group of disordered gamblers and to evaluate the relationship between alexithymia, attachment styles, and the severity of gambling disorder. Sixty disordered gamblers diagnosed according to the diagnostic and statistical manual-5 filled out the Kurzfragebogen zum Glücksspielverhalten, the 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised. Approximately 70 % of the sample displayed ‘intermediate’ and ‘severe’ gambling severity levels on the Kurzfragebogen zum Glücksspielverhalten, and 77 % showed ‘high’ or ‘borderline’ levels of alexithymia on the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (mean = 56.40). Regarding attachment styles, 70 % of the sample displayed an ‘insecure’ attachment, with a particularly high prevalence of the ‘fearful’ style (26.66 %). A linear regression analysis revealed that only the anxiety dimension of the Experiences in Close Relationships questionnaire predicted the severity of gambling. Our data appear to confirm that gambling disorder is characterised by emotional and relational dysregulation, and that pathological gambling behaviours may serve as external regulators of internal undifferentiated emotional states.

. Chronic muscle diseases (MD) are progressive and cause wasting and weakness in muscles and are associated with reduced quality of life (QoL). The ACTMuS trial examined whether Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as an adjunct to usual care improved QoL for such patients as compared to usual care alone. This two-arm, randomised, multicentre, parallel design recruited 155 patients with MD (Hospital and Depression Scale ⩾ 8 for depression or ⩾ 8 for anxiety and Montreal Cognitive Assessment ⩾ 21/30). Participants were randomised, using random block sizes, to one of two groups: standard medical care (SMC) ( = 78) or to ACT in addition to SMC ( = 77), and were followed up to 9 weeks. The primary outcome was QoL, assessed by the Individualised Neuromuscular Quality of Life Questionnaire (INQoL), the average of five subscales, at 9-weeks. Trial registration was NCT02810028. 138 people (89.0%) were followed up at 9-weeks. At all three time points, the adjusted group difference favoured the intervention group and was significant with moderate to large effect sizes. Secondary outcomes (mood, functional impairment, aspects of psychological flexibility) also showed significant differences between groups at week 9. ACT in addition to usual care was effective in improving QoL and other psychological and social outcomes in patients with MD. A 6 month follow up will determine the extent to which gains are maintained.

IntroductionIn adults, muscle disease (MD) is often a chronic long-term condition with no definitive cure. It causes wasting and weakness of the muscles resulting in a progressive decline in mobility, alongside other symptoms, and is typically associated with reduced quality of life (QoL). Previous research suggests that a psychological intervention, and in particular Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), may help improve QoL in MD. ACT is a newer type of cognitive behavioural treatment that aims to improve QoL by virtue of improvement in a process called psychological flexibility. The primary aim of this randomised controlled trial (RCT) is to evaluate the efficacy of a guided self-help ACT programme for improving QoL in people with MD. Main secondary outcomes are mood, symptom impact, work and social adjustment and function at 9-week follow-up.Methods and analysisAcceptance and Commitment Therapy for Muscle Disease is an assessor-blind, multicentre, two-armed, parallel-group RCT to assess the efficacy of ACT plus standard medical care (SMC) compared with SMC alone. Individuals with a diagnosis of one of four specific MDs, with a duration of at least 6 months and with mild to moderate anxiety or depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score ≥8) will be recruited from UK-based MD clinics and MD patient support organisations. Participants will be randomised to either ACT plus SMC or SMC alone by an independent randomisation service. Participants will be followed up at 3, 6 and 9 weeks. Analysis will be intention to treat, conducted by the trial statistician who will be blinded to treatment allocation.Ethics and disseminationThe study has received full ethical approval. Study results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and journal articles. Data obtained from the trial will enable clinicians and health service providers to make informed decisions regarding the efficacy of ACT for improving QoL for patients with MD.Trial registration number NCT02810028.Protocol versionV.11 (4 April 2017).

Affective touch supports affiliative bonds and social cognition. However, it remains unknown whether pre-existing models of social relating influence the perception of affective touch. Here, we present the first study (N=44) to examine how individual differences in attachment styles relate to the perception of affective touch, as well as to a different non-social modality of interoception, namely cardiac perceived accuracy. Using the gold standard assessment of adult attachment (Adult Attachment Interview), we found that insecure attachment was associated with reduced pleasantness discrimination between affective vs. non-affective, neutral touch. Acknowledging the different traditions in measuring attachment, we also used a well-validated self-report questionnaire that pertains to explicit representations of current close relationships. Using this measure, we found that higher scores on an attachment anxiety dimension (but not an attachment avoidance) were associated with reduced pleasantness discrimination between affective vs. non-affective, neutral touch. Attachment patterns (in both measures) were not related to cardiac perception accuracy. These results corroborate and extend previous literature on the affectivity of touch and its relation with affiliative bonds and social cognition. Given that attachment was not related to perceived cardiac accuracy, these findings point to the specificity of the relationship between affective touch and attachment.

Mounting preclinical and clinical evidence indicates that rewiring the host immune system in favor of an antitumor microenvironment achieves remarkable clinical efficacy in the treatment of many hematological and solid cancer patients. Nevertheless, despite the promising development of many new and interesting therapeutic strategies, many of these still fail from a clinical point of view, probably due to the lack of prognostic and predictive biomarkers. In that respect, several data shed new light on the role of the tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homolog on chromosome 10 (PTEN) in affecting the composition and function of the tumor microenvironment (TME) as well as resistance/sensitivity to immunotherapy. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on PTEN functions in different TME compartments (immune and stromal cells) and how they can modulate sensitivity/resistance to different immunological manipulations and ultimately influence clinical response to cancer immunotherapy.

Background Altered microRNA profiles have been observed not only in tumour tissues but also in biofluids, where they circulate in a stable form thus representing interesting biomarker candidates. This study aimed to identify a microRNA signature as a non-invasive biomarker and to investigate its impact on glioma biology. Methods MicroRNAs were selected using a global expression profile in preoperative serum samples from 37 glioma patients. Comparison between serum samples from age and gender-matched controls was performed by using the droplet digital PCR. The ROC curve and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were used to evaluate the diagnostic/prognostic values. The functional role of the identified signature was assessed by gain/loss of function strategies in glioma cells. Results A three-microRNA signature (miR-1-3p/−26a-1-3p/−487b-3p) was differentially expressed in the serum of patients according to the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) genes mutation status and correlated with both patient Overall and Progression Free Survival. The identified signature was also downregulated in the serum of patients compared to controls. Consistent with these results, the signature expression and release in the conditioned medium of glioma cells was lower in IDH-wild type cells compared to the mutated counterpart. Furthermore, in silico analysis of glioma datasets showed a consistent deregulation of the signature according to the IDH mutation status in glioma tumour tissues. Ectopic expression of the signature negatively affects several glioma functions. Notably, it impacts the glioma invasive phenotype by directly targeting the invadopodia-related proteins TKS4, TKS5 and EFHD2. Conclusions We identified a three microRNA signature as a promising complementary or even an independent non-invasive diagnostic/prognostic biomarker. The signature displays oncosuppressive functions in glioma cells and impacts on proteins crucial for migration and invasion, providing potential targets for therapeutic intervention.

Obesity, a low-grade inflammatory condition, represents a major risk factor for the development of several pathologies including colorectal cancer (CRC). Although the adipose tissue inflammatory state is now recognized as a key player in obesity-associated morbidities, the underlying biological processes are complex and not yet precisely defined. To this end, we analyzed transcriptome profiles of human visceral adipocytes from lean and obese subjects affected or not by CRC by RNA sequencing ( = 6 subjects/category), and validated selected modulated genes by real-time qPCR. We report that obesity and CRC, conditions characterized by the common denominator of inflammation, promote changes in the transcriptional program of adipocytes mostly involving pathways and biological processes linked to extracellular matrix remodeling, and metabolism of pyruvate, lipids and glucose. Interestingly, although the transcriptome of adipocytes shows several alterations that are common to both disorders, some modifications are unique under obesity (e.g., pathways associated with inflammation) and CRC (e.g., TGFβ signaling and extracellular matrix remodeling) and are influenced by the body mass index (e.g., processes related to cell adhesion, angiogenesis, as well as metabolism). Indeed, cancer-induced transcriptional program is deeply affected by obesity, with adipocytes from obese individuals exhibiting a more complex response to the tumor. We also report that exposure of adipocytes to ω3 and ω6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) endowed with either anti- or pro-inflammatory properties, respectively, modulates the expression of genes involved in processes potentially relevant to carcinogenesis, as assessed by real-time qPCR. All together our results suggest that genes involved in pyruvate, glucose and lipid metabolism, fibrosis and inflammation are central in the transcriptional reprogramming of adipocytes occurring in obese and CRC-affected individuals, as well as in their response to PUFA exposure. Moreover, our results indicate that the transcriptional program of adipocytes is strongly influenced by the BMI status in CRC subjects. The dysregulation of these interrelated processes relevant for adipocyte functions may contribute to create more favorable conditions to tumor establishment or favor tumor progression, thus linking obesity and colorectal cancer.

Background The rate of chronic drooling in children older than 4 years is 0.5%, but it rises to 60% in those with neurological disorders. Physical and psychosocial consequences lead to a reduction in the quality of Life (QoL) of affected patients; however, the problem remains under-recognized and under-treated. We conducted an Italian consensus through a modified Delphi survey to discuss the current treatment paradigm of drooling in pediatric patients with neurological disorders. Methods After reviewing the literature, a board of 10 experts defined some statements to be administered to a multidisciplinary panel through an online encrypted platform. The answers to the questions were based on a 1–5 Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree; 5 = strongly agree). The scores were grouped into 1–2 (disagreement) and 4–5 (agreement), while 3 was discarded. The consensus was reached when the sum of the disagreement or agreement was ≥75%. Results Fifteen statements covered three main topics, namely clinical manifestations and QoL, quantification of drooling, and treatment strategies. All statements reached consensus (≥75% agreement). The 55 Italian experts agreed that drooling should be assessed in all children with complex needs, having a major impact on the QoL. Attention should be paid to investigating posterior hypersalivation, which is often neglected but may lead to important clinical consequences. Given that the severity of drooling fluctuates over time, its management should be guided by the patients’ current needs. Furthermore, the relative lack of validated and universal scales for drooling quantification limits the evaluation of the response to treatment. Finally, the shared therapeutic paradigm is progressive, with conservative treatments preceding the pharmacological ones and reserving surgery only for selected cases. Conclusion This study demonstrates the pivotal importance of a multidisciplinary approach to the management of drooling. National experts agree that progressive treatment can reduce the incidence of complications, improve the QoL of patients and caregivers, and save healthcare resources. Finally, this study highlights how the therapeutic strategy should be reconsidered over time according to the available drugs on the market, the progression of symptoms, and the patients’ needs.

Transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals continue to experience harassment and discrimination across various aspects of life, significantly impacting their physical and mental health. The scarcity of data on their general health, particularly regarding dietary habits, remains a challenge in developing effective healthcare strategies for this population. To address this gap, we analyzed selected dietary habits, physical activity (PA), and body mass index (BMI) among Italian TGD adults compared to the Italian general population (IGP). An online anonymous survey was conducted via the Computer Assisted Web Interviewing technique from June 2020 to June 2021. Participants were enrolled through clinical centers and TGD organizations. Data from 959 TGD adults were analyzed using chi-squared tests and logistic regression models. Key findings indicated that approximately 70% of TGD individuals consumed fewer servings of fruit and vegetables (FV) than recommended (five or more servings per day). Although red meat consumption was lower overall, a greater percentage of TGD individuals reported consuming more than three servings per week. Additionally, 58% of TGD participants indicated that they did not engage in any PA, compared to 36% of the IGP. Notably, significant differences in BMI were identified, with higher rates of overweight and obesity among TGD individuals assigned female at birth. These results underscore the urgent need for tailored nutritional guidelines and inclusive public health strategies to meet the specific health needs of the Italian TGD population. Expanding access to targeted interventions could contribute to improving overall well-being in this marginalized group.