A multi-centre, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ramelteon for the prevention of postoperative delirium in elderly cancer patients: a study protocol for JORTC-PON2/J-SUPPORT2103/NCCH2103.

Postoperative delirium is an important issue in cancer patients, affecting surgical outcomes and the quality of life. Ramelteon is a melatonin receptor agonist with high affinity for MT1 and MT2 receptors. Clinical trials and observational studies in Japan, including in surgical cancer patients, have shown efficacy of ramelteon in delirium prevention, with no serious safety concerns.

Transitions in palliative care: conceptual diversification and the integration of palliative care into standard oncology care.

Palliative care acknowledges the historical origin of the hospice developed in the UK during the 20th century. Palliative care initially focused primarily on end-of-life care provided at hospices, but then changed to at-home care, leading to the formation of a support system provided by the palliative care team. The palliative care team further coordinated with acute care hospitals and became involved in earlier stages of care as well, such as providing symptomatic relief in conjunction with cancer treatment.

Relationship between interpersonal sensitivity and leukocyte telomere length.

Background: Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences located at the ends of chromosomes, and telomere length represents a biological marker for cellular aging. Interpersonal sensitivity, excessive sensitivity to the behavior and feelings of others, is one of the vulnerable factors to depression. In the present study, we examined the effect of interpersonal sensitivity on telomere length in healthy subjects.

Effects of perceived affectionless control parenting on working models of the self and other.

Attachment theory contends that insecure working models of the self and other built through negative attachment experiences are predisposing factors for depression and anxiety disorders. Meanwhile, patients with these psychiatric disorders tend to perceive that they received the affectionless control parenting, which is a combination of lack of care and overprotection. To test the hypothesis that the affectionless control parenting impairs the formation of positive working models, we examined the effects of perceived parenting styles on qualities of working models.

Link of dysfunctional attitudes with the negative self-model.

Background: Beck's cognitive theory postulates that dysfunctional attitudes predisposing to depression are formed by early negative experiences. Meanwhile, Bowlby's attachment theory contends that distorted working models built through insecure attachment relationships lead to various psychopathologies such as depression. The present study examined the correlations of dysfunctional attitudes about achievement, dependency, and self-control with working models of the self and other, and tried to promote understanding of those dysfunctional attitudes from an attachment perspective.

Associations of working models of the self and other with Cloninger's personality dimensions.

The present study examined the associations of working models of the self and other, one of the key concepts of Bowlby's attachment theory, with the seven dimensions of Cloninger's personality model. The subjects were 542 healthy Japanese volunteers. Working models of the self and other were assessed by the Relationship Scales Questionnaire, and the seven dimensions of personality were evaluated by the Temperament and Character Inventory.

Parental care influences leukocyte telomere length with gender specificity in parents and offsprings.

Background: There have been several reports suggesting that adverse childhood experiences such as physical maltreatment and long institutionalization influence telomere length. However, there has been no study examining the relationship of telomere length with variations in parental rearing. In the present study, we examined the relationship of leukocyte telomere length with parental rearing in healthy subjects.

Distinctive correlations of sociotropy and autonomy with working models of the self and other.

Background: Beck's cognitive theory of depression postulates personality vulnerability factors termed sociotropy and autonomy, which are accompanied by characteristic interpersonal styles. Meanwhile, Bartholomew contends that negative working models of the self and other built through insecure attachment relationships are externalized as distinctive interpersonal styles. The present study examined the relationships of sociotropy and autonomy with the self- and other-models, and attempted to promote understanding of the two personality traits from an attachment perspective.

Relationship of the FKBP5 C/T polymorphism with dysfunctional attitudes predisposing to depression.

FK506-binding protein 51 (FKBP5) is a co-chaperone of the glucocorticoid receptor, and plays an important role in the negative feedback regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. The C/T single nucleotide polymorphism in the intron 2 of the FKBP5 gene affects cortisol secretion, and has been implicated in the pathophysiology of depression. In this study, the relationship of the FKBP5 C/T polymorphism with dysfunctional attitudes predisposing to depression was examined.

Affectionless control by the same-sex parents increases dysfunctional attitudes about achievement.

Background: The affectionless control parenting has been associated with depression in recipients. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of this parenting style on dysfunctional attitudes predisposing to depression.

Methods: The subjects were 666 Japanese volunteers.

Implication of P-glycoprotein in formation of depression-prone personality: association study between the C3435T MDR1 gene polymorphism and interpersonal sensitivity.

Background And Aim: Interpersonal sensitivity is defined as undue and excessive awareness of, and sensitivity to, the behavior and feelings of others. Previous studies suggested that interpersonal sensitivity is one of the vulnerable factors to depression, and that genetic factors and cortisol are involved in the formation of interpersonal sensitivity. On the other hand, P-glycoprotein, which is encoded by the multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) gene, serves as a barrier to entry and as an active eliminator for xenobiotics and cellular metabolites including cortisol, which is implicated in multiple brain functions.

Correlations of interpersonal sensitivity with negative working models of the self and other: evidence for link with attachment insecurity.

Background: It has been suggested that interpersonal sensitivity, a personality trait associated with depression and anxiety disorders, is linked with attachment insecurity. To confirm this link, we studied the correlations of interpersonal sensitivity with working models of the self and other.

Methods: The subjects were 301 healthy Japanese.

Parental overprotection engenders dysfunctional attitudes about achievement and dependency in a gender-specific manner.

Background: It has been suggested that dysfunctional attitudes, cognitive vulnerability to depression, have developmental origins. The present study examined the effects of parental rearing on dysfunctional attitudes in three areas of life with special attention to gender specificity.

Methods: The subjects were 665 Japanese healthy volunteers.

Relationship of the 24-item dysfunctional attitude scale with the temperament and character inventory in healthy subjects.

Background: The 24-item Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS-24) has three subscales to evaluate dysfunctional attitudes predisposing to depression in the areas of achievement, dependency and self-control.

Aim: The purpose of the present investigation was to characterize the three subscales in relation to broad dimensions of personality.

Methods: The subjects were 528 healthy Japanese volunteers.

Interaction effect between the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and parental rearing for interpersonal sensitivity in healthy subjects.

Interpersonal sensitivity is defined as undue and excessive awareness of, and sensitivity to, the behaviour and feelings of others and is one of the vulnerable factors to depression. In a twin study, it was suggested that this personality trait was characterised by both genetic and environmental factors. In the present study, we examined the effects of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism and parental rearing on interpersonal sensitivity in 725 healthy Japanese subjects.

Parental overprotection increases sociotropy with gender specificity in parents and recipients.

Background: There have been few studies which examined the developmental origins of cognitive vulnerability of depression. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of parental rearing on sociotropy and autonomy, the personality vulnerability factors in the cognitive theory of depression.

Methods: The subjects were 416 healthy subjects.

Functional polymorphism of the GTP cyclohydrolase 1 gene affects the personality trait of novelty seeking in healthy subjects.

GTP cyclohydrolase 1 (GCH1) is the initial and rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin, which is an essential cofactor for biosynthetic enzymes of dopamine, serotonin, and nitric oxide. In the present study, the association of functional polymorphism of the GCH1 gene (C+243T, rs841) with personality traits was examined in 902 healthy Japanese subjects. Personality traits were assessed by the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), and the GCH1 genotype was detected by a PCR-RFLP method.