Self-inflicted dermatoses are associated with personality disorders and psychoses, including monosymptomatic hypochondriacal psychosis (MHP), which is characterized by a delusion involving a particular hypochondriacal concern. We report an unusual case of MHP with severe mutilation of the skin complicated by a skull defect and brain abscess. The patient was a 66-year-old uneducated man who damaged his forehead repeatedly because he believed that a 'toxic root' in the forehead was the source of his general ailment. He admitted that the lesions were self-inflicted. There was no other evidence of psychosis or primary skin disease and MHP was diagnosed. Despite initial favourable response to pimozide, the patient was lost to follow-up for 4 years, during which he continued to damage his forehead and applied corrosive agents. He was then referred with a personality change and a 6 x 4 cm bony defect in the skull, complicated by herniation and abscess of the left frontal lobe. This case represents one of the most severe examples of self-mutilation ever reported. The differential diagnosis of dermatitis artefacta and the principles of treating MHP are discussed.

Summary Aims Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a wide range of neurodevelopmental disorders involving deficits in social interaction and communication. Unfortunately, autism remains a scientific and clinical challenge owing to the lack of understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying it. This study aimed to investigate the pathophysiological mechanism underlying leukocyte‐endothelial adhesion in autism‐related neurovascular inflammation. Methods Male BTBR T+tf/J mice were used as an autism model. The dynamic pattern of leukocyte‐endothelial adhesion in mouse cerebral vessels was detected by two‐photon laser scanning microscopy (TPLSM). Using FACS, RT‐PCR, and Western blotting, we explored the expression of cell adhesion molecules, the mRNA expression of endothelial chemokine, the protein levels of cathepsin B, and inflammatory mediators. Results We found a significant increase in leukocyte‐endothelial adhesion in BTBR mice, accompanied by elevated expression of the adhesion molecule neutrophils CD11b and endothelial ICAM‐1. Our data further indicate that elevated neutrophil cathepsin B levels contribute to elevated endothelial chemokine CXCL7 levels in BTBR mice. The pharmacological inhibition of cathepsin B reverses the enhanced leukocyte‐endothelial adhesion in the cerebral vessels of autistic mice. Conclusion Our results revealed the prominent role of cathepsin B in modulating leukocyte‐endothelial adhesion during autism‐related neurovascular inflammation and identified a promising novel approach for autism treatment.

Thread lift is known to be a minimally invasive procedure for facial rejuvenation. Barbed absorbable threads become the mainstream of thread lift, including cog threads and cone threads. The efficacy of thread lift

This study aims to explore the effects of service-quality dimensions on the customer satisfaction of non-banking financial institutions in an emerging economy by adopting the renowned SERVPERF model. To verify the proposed model, data was collected from thirteen non-banking financial institutions in Bangladesh using a questionnaire survey with a purposive random sampling method. Through the Smart PLS 2 software, the partial least squares structural equation modelling approach was used to analyze the collected data. Research findings reveal that, among the six dimensions of the revised SERVPERF model, assurance, reliability, responsiveness and tangibility have significant effects on customer satisfaction, but accessibility and empathy do not for the non-banking financial institutions in Bangladesh. According to the research results, implications and suggestions have been discussed for non-banking financial institution managers.

The empirical study aimed to examine the factors affecting green home buying intention in Malaysia. The study adopted the popular theory of individual decision-making, the theory of planned behaviour, but extended it with a few new variables to get better predictability. Based on the cross-sectional survey method and quota sampling technique, the instrument-like questionnaire was distributed to the potential buyers who had the intention to buy a home. Data were collected from 741 potential buyers who are young Malaysian students. Collected data were analysed using partial least squares (PLS) modelling (SmartPLS 3.0) in order to measure the strength of the independent variable effects on the dependent variable. The results indicate that attitude, perceived behavioural control subjective norms, perceived value, reasonable pricing and green building knowledge had a positive and significant effect on green home buying intention, with attitude showing the highest effect; the only exception is an environmental concern. This study also validated the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), which provides important insight for the firms involved with the housing development industry for their future business strategy.