bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Critical Issues in the Assessment of Adolescent Psychopathy: An Illustration Using Two Case Studies
Authors: Dawson Stephanie , McCuish Evan , Hart StephenD. , Corrado RaymondR.
Published: June 2012

To explore critical issues in the conceptualization and assessment of adolescent psychopathy, we report on the use of the Youth Version of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL:YV; Forth, Kosson, & Hare, 2003) and the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality-Institutional Rating Scale (CAPP-IRS; Cooke, Hart, Logan, & Michie, 2004)—both derived from procedures for assessing psychopathy in adulthood—to assess two incarcerated youth identified by clinical staff as demonstrating features of adolescent psychopathy. Consistent with the views of clinical staff, the PCL:YV and CAPP-IRS ratings indicated the presence of serious psychopathy-related personality disturbance in both cases. The PCL:YV and CAPP-IRS also revealed between-case differences in the specific nature or features of personality disturbance present, despite similarities in the overall level or severity of personality disturbance. Raters found it was relatively easy to administer the PCL:YV and the CAPP-IRS, although they identified some challenges, particularly with respect to the assessment of disturbance of self functions. Relative to the PCL:YV, which may be considered the gold standard for assessing the PCL:YV, the CAPP-IRS had some strengths and limitations. We discuss these findings in light of the literature on assessment of adolescent psychopathy and consider their implications for future research.
Indexing Adolescent Psychopathy: Commentary on Dawson, McCuish, Hart, and Corrado
Authors: Salekin RandallT. , Barker EdwardD. , Ang Xinying , MacDougall Emily
Published: June 2012

This commentary addresses four main issues raised in the original Dawson et al. article1 which suggested that the CAPP-IRS may offer advantages over the PCL-YV. The advantages that were proposed included its content domain, rating scale, personality focus, as well as developmentally sensitive and dynamic items. The Dawson et al. article also criticized the PCL-YV for having a limited research base. In this commentary, we address these issues comparing the PCL-YV and the CAPP-IRS, shedding light on the potential strengths and weaknesses of each measure. We conclude that it is too early to make such claims about the CAPP-IRS, but that the pursuit of understanding adolescent psychopathy, including its content domain and its developmental course, is an important undertaking. We also conclude that there will likely be a number of indices, including those provided by the PCL-YV and perhaps the CAPP-IRS that can help with this aim.
Psychoactive Substance Use Among Young Offenders in a Nigerian Correctional Facility: A Comparative Analysis
Authors: Ogunwale A. , Ogunlesi A.O. , Akinhanmi A.O.
Published: June 2012

Few studies in Nigeria have specifically examined psychoactive substance use among young offenders. Using the Modified World Health Organization (WHO) Student Drug Use Questionnaire, 54 borstal inmates (a secure correctional facility for juveniles) and 104 secondary school students were compared across several drug use variables. Alcohol was the most prevalent substance used in the lifetime among the borstal inmates and they used it significantly more than the students (66.7% vs. 47.1%, p = 0.03). The difference in alcohol use, however, was no longer significant when age and dysfunctional family background were taken into account in a regression model. Cannabis was the second most commonly used substance among the borstal group and its lifetime prevalence rate was significantly higher among them compared with the students (48.1% vs. 0.0%, p < 0.0001). The one-year prevalence rate of cannabis use was significantly different between the two groups ( p < 0.0001). Lifetime tobacco use was also significantly higher among them. Lifetime psychoactive substance use is a significant problem among the borstal inmates in this study with associated psychological and legal implications. There is need to develop government policy directed at adequate screening, assessment and intervention for substance use disorders among borstal populations.
The Role of Cognitive Assessment in Determining Fitness to Stand Trial
Authors: White AmandaJ. , Batchelor Jennifer , Pulman Susan , Howard Dan
Published: June 2012

Cognition is often discussed as being of fundamental importance to an accused person's fitness to stand trial (FST); however, there is limited empirical research in this area and no known published research within Australia. The aim of the present paper was to investigate the current practices of experts conducting FST assessments in Australia and to examine the role of cognition in these determinations. Expert reports (328) for 135 accused deemed unfit to stand trial between 2005 and 2010 in New South Wales (NSW) were examined. Collected data included the cognitive domains assessed, assessment techniques employed, the relationship between cognition and the Presser criteria, and demographic information. Results supported the hypothesis that cognition plays an important role in FST, in particular attention and memory; although there was significant variability in the practices and assessment methods of assessors. Results indicate a need for further research investigating the relationship between cognition and FST; as well as training and education for psychologists conducting FST assessments in Australia.
Clinical Characteristics of Patients Deemed to Require Long-Term Hospitalization in a Civil or Forensic Psychiatric Setting
Authors: Dumont Mathieu , Dumais Alexandre , Briand Catherine , Côté Gilles , Lesage Alain , Dubreucq Jean-Luc
Published: June 2012

This study aimed to examine the specific characteristics of inpatients deemed by their psychiatrist to require ongoing care in a civil or forensic hospital setting compared to those who could benefit from care in a residential setting. The male participants (n = 178) involved in this study came from two such hospital settings. The results show that current hospitalization in a forensic psychiatric unit and aggressive behaviors act as obstacles to being redirected toward community-based treatment. There is a need to further assess interventions targeting aggressive behaviours so as to allow a greater number of patients to access community-based care.
WISPy cold dark matter
Authors: Paola Arias  , Davide Cadamuro  , Mark Goodsell  , Joerg Jaeckel  , Javier Redondo  , Andreas Ringwald
Published: June 2012

Very weakly interacting slim particles (WISPs), such as axion-like particles (ALPs) or hidden photons (HPs), may be non-thermally produced via the misalignment mechanism in the early universe and survive as a cold dark matter population until today. We find that, both for ALPs and HPs whose dominant interactions with the standard model arise from couplings to photons, a huge region in the parameter spaces spanned by photon coupling and ALP or HP mass can give rise to the observed cold dark matter. Remarkably, a large region of this parameter space coincides with that predicted in well motivated models of fundamental physics. A wide range of experimental searches — exploiting haloscopes (direct dark matter searches exploiting microwave cavities), helioscopes (searches for solar ALPs or HPs), or light-shining-through-a-wall techniques — can probe large parts of this parameter space in the foreseeable future.
Infinite dimensional perfect set theorems
Authors: Mátrai Tamás
Published: June 2012

What largeness and structural assumptions on

A
⊆
[

R

]

ω

A \subseteq [\mathbb {R}]^{\omega }

can guarantee the existence of a non-empty perfect set

P
⊆

R

P \subseteq \mathbb {R}

such that

[
P

]

ω

⊆
A

[P]^{\omega } \subseteq A

? Such a set

P
P

is called

A
A

-homogeneous. We show that even if

A
A

is open, in general it is independent of ZFC whether for a cardinal

κ
\kappa

, the existence of an

A
A

-homogeneous set

H
∈
[

R

]

κ

H \in [\mathbb {R}]^{\kappa }

implies the existence of a non-empty perfect

A
A

-homogeneous set.

On the other hand, we prove an infinite dimensional analogue of Mycielski’s Theorem: if

A
A

is large in the sense of a suitable Baire category-like notion, then there exists a non-empty perfect

A
A

-homogeneous set. We introduce fusion games to prove this and other infinite dimensional perfect set theorems.

Finally we apply this theory to show that it is independent of ZFC whether Tukey reductions of the maximal analytic cofinal type can be witnessed by definable Tukey maps.
A contemporary view on endothelial function in heart failure
Authors: Shantsila Eduard , Wrigley Benjamin J. , Blann Andrew D. , Gill Paramjit S. , Lip Gregory Y.H.
Published: June 2012

The assessment of different aspects of endothelial dysfunction in cardiovascular medicine in general and in heart failure (HF) has been the focus of intense research, and includes vasomotor, haemostatic, antioxidant, and inflammatory activities. Differences also exist in the pattern of endothelial dysfunction depending on aetiology, severity, and stability of HF in individual patients. In the majority of patients with ischaemic aetiology of HF, endothelial dysfunction is systemic in its nature and involves both arteries and veins, conductance vessels and microvascular beds, coronary, pulmonary, and peripheral vessels. The pattern of endothelial dysfunction is more heterogeneous in non‐ischaemic HF, with fewer features of systemic abnormalities. Indeed, many subjects with non‐ischaemic HF have a functionally preserved endothelium in peripheral arteries, with endothelial dysfunction seen only in coronary vessels. Endothelial dysfunction has significant prognostic value in HF, but its clinical application is hampered by methodological limitations in its assessment. Various medications (including angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors and statins) and regular physical activity have been shown to improve endothelial function in HF. However, there are still no pharmaceutical agents specifically targeting the vascular endothelium. Despite the large number of studies, the pathophysiological role of the vascular endothelium and its clinical potential as a therapeutic target has not yet been sufficiently developed and undoubtedly awaits further exploration.
MitraClip therapy in daily clinical practice: initial results from the German transcatheter mitral valve interventions (TRAMI) registry
Authors: Baldus Stephan , Schillinger Wolfgang , Franzen Olaf , Bekeredjian Raffi , Sievert Horst , Schofer Joachim , Kuck Karl‐Heinz , Konorza Thomas , Möllmann Helge , Hehrlein Christoph , Ouarrak Taoufik , Senges Jochen , Meinertz Thomas ,   for the German Transcatheter Mitral Valve Interventions (TRAMI) investigators
Published: June 2012

Aims

A substantial percentage of patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) in need of mitral valve repair are currently considered not suitable for conventional surgery. In Germany, the largest cohort of patients studied to date has been treated using a percutaneous, catheter‐based approach. We report the acute outcomes of patients enrolled in the investigator‐initiated German transcatheter mitral valve interventions (TRAMI) registry.

Methods and results

Between January 2009 and August 2011, 486 patients [median age 75 (interquartile range 70–80) years; 200 women (41%)] were enrolled in the registry (309 retrospectively and 177 prospectively), with 481 patients (99%) having undergone percutaneous edge‐to‐edge therapy for MR using the MitraClip. At baseline, 93% of patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III or IV and 71% of patients had a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤50%. Two‐thirds of patients presented with functional MR. Procedural success was achieved in 94% of patients, with grade III present in 93% of patients at baseline yet only 6% post‐intervention. Retrospective patients were followed for a median of 183 days, prospective patients for a median of 44 days. The periprocedural complication rate was low, with only minor bleedings as the most significant event. In‐hospital and post‐discharge mortality was 2.5% and 12.5%, respectively.

Conclusions

Data from the German TRAMI registry suggest that MitraClip therapy is a viable treatment option in daily clinical routine for high surgical risk patients with significant MR.
Adaptation to climate-change effects on fisheries in the Shiretoko World Natural Heritage area, Japan
Authors: Makino Mitsutaku , Sakurai Yasunori
Published: June 2012

Makino, M., and Sakurai, Y. 2012. Adaptation to climate-change effects on fisheries in the Shiretoko World Natural Heritage area, Japan. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 69: . In the Shiretoko World Natural Heritage area, many factors have been observed that imply effects of climate change on ecosystems, such as decreases in seasonal sea ice, changes in fishing grounds, and the appearance of non-local species. This study summarizes observed and anticipated effects of such climate change on fisheries in the heritage area and discusses policy and research needs for adapting to these changes. International research and monitoring at the scale of large marine ecosystems (LMEs) is the basis of all policy measures for adapting to climate change. Several measures need to be combined, taking into account the various socio-ecological aspects of fisheries and scales of ecosystems. Such measures of adaptation should be incorporated also into the cross-sector coordination system and the Integrated Management Plan, which were established to manage the World Heritage area. Also, culture is an important part of society, and the World Heritage programme may offer clues for creating a new and peaceful culture based on the LME.
Hydrography and circulation over the southern part of the Kolbeinsey Ridge
Authors: Jónsson Steingrímur , Valdimarsson Héðinn
Published: June 2012

Jónsson, S., and Valdimarsson, H. 2012. Hydrography and circulation over the southern part of the Kolbeinsey Ridge. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 69: . A study on the hydrography and circulation over the Kolbeinsey Ridge south of the Spar Fracture Zone was carried out in 2007 and 2008. A moored profiler was deployed west of the Ridge at 68°N close to the 1000-m isobath in September 2007, and measurements were obtained until October 2008. In June 2008, vessel-mounted acoustic Doppler current profiler along with conductivity, temperature, and depth measurements were made on a transect crossing the Ridge close to 68°N. The results indicate a continuous flow of Atlantic water (AW) via the North Icelandic Irminger Current northwards along the Ridge. Hence, this is an area where AW is channelled into the deep Iceland Sea. Some of the water is then recirculated westwards, whereas the remainder flows eastwards and circulates in an anticyclonic eddy that may be a semi-permanent feature of the circulation. The eddy is ∼60 km in diameter, and AW accumulates there, with submerged isolines of temperature and density. The eddy was revealed in the distribution of a coccolithophorid bloom in the area in August 2008.
Non-invasive prenatal diagnosis by massively parallel sequencing of maternal plasma DNA
Authors: Lo Yuk Ming Dennis
Published: June 2012

The presence of foetal DNA in the plasma of pregnant women has opened up new possibilities for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis. The use of circulating foetal DNA for the non-invasive prenatal detection of foetal chromosomal aneuploidies is challenging as foetal DNA represents a minor fraction of maternal plasma DNA. In 2007, it was shown that single molecule counting methods would allow the detection of the presence of a trisomic foetus, as long as enough molecules were counted. With the advent of massively parallel sequencing, millions or billions of DNA molecules can be readily counted. Using massively parallel sequencing, foetal trisomies 21, 13 and 18 have been detected from maternal plasma. Recently, large-scale clinical studies have validated the robustness of this approach for the prenatal detection of foetal chromosomal aneuploidies. A proof-of-concept study has also shown that a genome-wide genetic and mutational map of a foetus can be constructed from the maternal plasma DNA sequencing data. These developments suggest that the analysis of foetal DNA in maternal plasma would play an increasingly important role in future obstetrics practice. It is thus a priority that the ethical, social and legal issues regarding this technology be systematically studied.
SUMO-targeted ubiquitin E3 ligase RNF4 is required for the response of human cells to DNA damage
Authors: Yin Yili , Seifert Anne , Chua Joy Shijia , Maure Jean-François , Golebiowski Filip , Hay Ronald T.
Published: June 2012

Here we demonstrate that RNF4, a highly conserved small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)-targeted ubiquitin E3 ligase, plays a critical role in the response of mammalian cells to DNA damage. Human cells in which RNF4 expression was ablated by siRNA or chicken DT40 cells with a homozygous deletion of the RNF4 gene displayed increased sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents. Recruitment of RNF4 to double-strand breaks required its RING and SUMO interaction motif (SIM) domains and DNA damage factors such as NBS1, mediator of DNA damage checkpoint 1 (MDC1), RNF8, 53BP1, and BRCA1. In the absence of RNF4, these factors were still recruited to sites of DNA damage, but 53BP1, RNF8, and RNF168 displayed delayed clearance from such foci. SILAC-based proteomics of SUMO substrates revealed that MDC1 was SUMO-modified in response to ionizing radiation. As a consequence of SUMO modification, MDC1 recruited RNF4, which mediated ubiquitylation at the DNA damage site. Failure to recruit RNF4 resulted in defective loading of replication protein A (RPA) and Rad51 onto ssDNA. This appeared to be a consequence of reduced recruitment of the CtIP nuclease, resulting in inefficient end resection. Thus, RNF4 is a novel DNA damage-responsive protein that plays a role in homologous recombination and integrates SUMO modification and ubiquitin signaling in the cellular response to genotoxic stress.
Inhibition of α-KG-dependent histone and DNA demethylases by fumarate and succinate that are accumulated in mutations of FH and SDH tumor suppressors
Authors: Xiao Mengtao , Yang Hui , Xu Wei , Ma Shenghong , Lin Huaipeng , Zhu Honguang , Liu Lixia , Liu Ying , Yang Chen , Xu Yanhui , Zhao Shimin , Ye Dan , Xiong Yue , Guan Kun-Liang
Published: June 2012

Two Krebs cycle genes, fumarate hydratase (FH) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), are mutated in a subset of human cancers, leading to accumulation of their substrates, fumarate and succinate, respectively. Here we demonstrate that fumarate and succinate are competitive inhibitors of multiple α-ketoglutarate (α-KG)-dependent dioxygenases, including histone demethylases, prolyl hydroxylases, collagen prolyl-4-hydroxylases, and the TET (ten-eleven translocation) family of 5-methlycytosine (5mC) hydroxylases. Knockdown of FH and SDH results in elevated intracellular levels of fumarate and succinate, respectively, which act as competitors of α-KG to broadly inhibit the activity of α-KG-dependent dioxygenases. In addition, ectopic expression of tumor-derived FH and SDH mutants inhibits histone demethylation and hydroxylation of 5mC. Our study suggests that tumor-derived FH and SDH mutations accumulate fumarate and succinate, leading to enzymatic inhibition of multiple α-KG-dependent dioxygenases and consequent alterations of genome-wide histone and DNA methylation. These epigenetic alterations associated with mutations of FH and SDH likely contribute to tumorigenesis.
Scube/You activity mediates release of dually lipid-modified Hedgehog signal in soluble form
Authors: Creanga Adrian , Glenn Thomas D. , Mann Randall K. , Saunders Adam M. , Talbot William S. , Beachy Philip A.
Published: June 2012

Owing to their covalent modification by cholesterol and palmitate, Hedgehog (Hh) signaling proteins are localized predominantly to the plasma membrane of expressing cells. Yet Hh proteins are also capable of mobilizing to and eliciting direct responses from distant cells. The zebrafish you gene, identified genetically >15 years ago, was more recently shown to encode a secreted glycoprotein that acts cell-nonautonomously in the Hh signaling pathway by an unknown mechanism. We investigated the function of the protein encoded by murine Scube2, an ortholog of you, and found that it mediates release in soluble form of the mature, cholesterol- and palmitate-modified Sonic hedgehog protein signal (ShhNp) when added to cultured cells or purified detergent-resistant membrane microdomains containing ShhNp. The efficiency of Scube2-mediated release of ShhNp is enhanced by the palmitate adduct of ShhNp and by coexpression in ShhNp-producing cells of mDispatchedA (mDispA), a transporter-like protein with a previously defined role in the release of lipid-modified Hh signals. The structural determinants of Scube2 required for its activity in cultured cell assays match those required for rescue of you mutant zebrafish embryos, and we thus conclude that the role of Scube/You proteins in Hh signaling in vivo is to facilitate the release and mobilization of Hh proteins for distant action.
Melanoma: from mutations to medicine
Authors: Tsao Hensin , Chin Lynda , Garraway Levi A. , Fisher David E.
Published: June 2012

Melanoma is often considered one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant human cancers. It is a disease that, due to the presence of melanin pigment, was accurately diagnosed earlier than most other malignancies and that has been subjected to countless therapeutic strategies. Aside from early surgical resection, no therapeutic modality has been found to afford a high likelihood of curative outcome. However, discoveries reported in recent years have revealed a near avalanche of breakthroughs in the melanoma field—breakthroughs that span fundamental understanding of the molecular basis of the disease all the way to new therapeutic strategies that produce unquestionable clinical benefit. These discoveries have been born from the successful fruits of numerous researchers working in many—sometimes-related, although also distinct—biomedical disciplines. Discoveries of frequent mutations involving BRAF(V600E), developmental and oncogenic roles for the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) pathway, clinical efficacy of BRAF-targeted small molecules, and emerging mechanisms underlying resistance to targeted therapeutics represent just a sample of the findings that have created a striking inflection in the quest for clinically meaningful progress in the melanoma field.
Genetic and pharmacological disruption of the TEAD–YAP complex suppresses the oncogenic activity of YAP
Authors: Liu-Chittenden Yi , Huang Bo , Shim Joong Sup , Chen Qian , Lee Se-Jin , Anders Robert A. , Liu Jun O. , Pan Duojia
Published: June 2012

The Drosophila TEAD ortholog Scalloped is required for Yki-mediated overgrowth but is largely dispensable for normal tissue growth, suggesting that its mammalian counterpart may be exploited for selective inhibition of oncogenic growth driven by YAP hyperactivation. Here we test this hypothesis genetically and pharmacologically. We show that a dominant-negative TEAD molecule does not perturb normal liver growth but potently suppresses hepatomegaly/tumorigenesis resulting from YAP overexpression or Neurofibromin 2 (NF2)/Merlin inactivation. We further identify verteporfin as a small molecule that inhibits TEAD–YAP association and YAP-induced liver overgrowth. These findings provide proof of principle that inhibiting TEAD–YAP interactions is a pharmacologically viable strategy against the YAP oncoprotein.
Geographic expansion of the invasive mud sleeper Butis koilomatodon (Perciformes: Eleotridae) in the western Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Macieira R. M. , Giarrizzo T. , Gasparini J. L. , Sazima I.
Published: June 2012

The Indo‐Pacific mud sleeper Butis koilomatodon (Eleotridae) is recorded for the first time in the south‐western Atlantic Ocean, based on 23 specimens caught at seven localities along the northern, north‐eastern, eastern and south‐eastern Brazilian coast. The occurrence of males and females in different ontogenetic stages indicates that this exotic mud sleeper breeds there. This invasive species has the potential to compete for food and microhabitat with several native gobies and an endemic blenny that dwell in estuaries and mangroves, besides preying on native fishes and crustaceans.
Parasites as indicators of movement and population connectivity of a non‐diadromous, tropical estuarine teleost: king threadfin Polydactylus macrochir
Authors: Moore B. R. , Welch D. J. , Newman S. J. , Lester R. J. G.
Published: June 2012

Temporal and spatial patterns in parasite assemblages were examined to evaluate the degree of movement and connectivity of post‐recruitment life‐history stages of a large, non‐diadromous tropical estuarine teleost, king threadfin Polydactylus macrochir, collected from 18 locations across northern Australia. Ten parasites types (juvenile stages of two nematodes and seven cestodes, and adults of an acanthocephalan) were deemed to be suitable for use as biological tags, in that they were considered to have a long residence time in the fish, were relatively easy to find and were morphologically very different to each other which aided discrimination. Univariate and discriminant function analysis of these parasites revealed little difference in temporal replicates collected from five locations, suggesting that the parasite communities were stable over the timeframes explored. Univariate, discriminant function, and Bray–Curtis similarity analyses indicated significant spatial heterogeneity, with Bray–Curtis classification accuracies ranging from 55 to 100% for locations in north‐western and northern Australia, 24 to 88% in the Gulf of Carpentaria, and 39 to 88% on the east coast of Queensland. Few differences were observed among locations separated by <200 km. The observed patterns of parasite infection are in agreement with concurrent studies of movement and connectivity of P. macrochir in that they indicate a complex population structure across northern Australia. These results should be considered when reviewing the management arrangements for this species.
New reference values must be established for the Alberta Infant Motor Scales for accurate identification of infants at risk for motor developmental delay in Flanders
Authors: De Kegel A. , Peersman W. , Onderbeke K. , Baetens T. , Dhooge I. , Van Waelvelde H.
Published: June 2012

Background  The Alberta Infant Motor Scales (AIMS) is a reliable and valid assessment tool to evaluate the motor performance from birth to independent walking. This study aimed to determine whether the Canadian reference values on the AIMS from 1990–1992 are still useful tor Flemish infants, assessed in 2007–2010. Additionally, the association between motor performance and sleep and play positioning will be determined.

Methods  A total of 270 Flemish infants between 0 and 18 months, recruited by formal day care services, were assessed with the AIMS by four trained physiotherapists. Information about sleep and play positioning was collected by mean of a questionnaire.

Results  Flemish infants perform significantly lower on the AIMS compared with the reference values (P < 0.001). Especially, infants from the age groups of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and of 15 months showed significantly lower scores. From the information collected by parental questionnaires, the lower motor scores seem to be related to the sleep position, the amount of play time in prone, in supine and in a sitting device. Infants who are exposed often to frequently to prone while awake showed a significant higher motor performance than infants who are exposed less to prone (<6 m: P = 0.002; >6 m: P = 0.013). Infants who are placed often to frequently in a sitting device in the first 6 months of life (P = 0.010) and in supine after 6 months (P = 0.001) performed significantly lower than those who are placed less in it.

Conclusion  Flemish infants recruited by formal day care services, show significantly lower motor scores than the Canadian norm population. New reference values should be established for the AIMS for accurate identification of infants at risk. Prevention of sudden infant death syndrome by promoting supine sleep position should go together with promotion of tummy time when awake and avoiding to spent too much time in sitting devices when awake.
Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: are health outcomes better for those diagnosed younger?
Authors: April K. Toupin , Cavallo S. , Feldman D. Ehrmann
Published: June 2012

Background  Children living with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) have swollen, painful and stiff joints, which may have an impact on all spheres of their life, as well as their family. While children diagnosed in their preschool years may be at risk for worse physical outcomes than children diagnosed later in life, it is not clear whether they have worse psychological outcomes and whether these outcomes have an impact on their everyday life. The aim of this study was to examine the association between age at diagnosis and health outcomes in families of children with JIA.

Methods  Parents of children with JIA (n = 182) who attended rheumatology clinics at the Montreal Children's Hospital and British Columbia Children's Hospital completed measures assessing socio‐demographic attributes, their child's health status, health‐related quality of life and pain level, as well as their own level of psychological distress and coping behaviours. Regression models explored the association between age at diagnosis and health outcomes while adjusting for sex, age, severity and duration of the disease.

Results  Parents of children diagnosed with JIA before 5 years of age found their child to have a better health‐related quality of life in terms of psychosocial functioning than parents of children diagnosed later [β = −0.91 (−1.63, −0.19)]. Children diagnosed younger were also found to be less limited in schoolwork or activities with friends because of emotional or behavioural problems than children diagnosed later [odds ratio = 0.07 (0.01, 0.42)].

Conclusions  Children diagnosed younger seem to show good psychosocial adjustment, which may also be true for their caregivers. Perhaps more attention to psychosocial adjustment should be given to families of children who are diagnosed with the disease at an older age.
Adolescents' physical activity habits – results from a national health survey
Authors: Zach S. , Zeev A. , Dunsky A. , Goldbourt U. , Shimony T. , Goldsmith R. , Netz Y.
Published: June 2012

Background  The MABAT Youth National Health and Nutrition Survey was conducted in Israel by the Ministry of Health and the Center for Disease Control. This article presents results of physical activity (PA) habits in Israel, in relation to recommendations by world health organizations.

Methods  Participants were 6274 adolescents, grades 7–12, enrolled in a cross‐sectional, representative, school‐based survey. Sufficient level of PA was defined as any moderate and vigorous level of PA that adds up daily to 60 min/day. Light PA was considered to be an insufficient level of PA.

Results  Only 10.5% of the participants reported performing sufficient PA. Large gender differences were found, with 17.7% of boys versus only 4.6% of girls meeting the guidelines.

Conclusions  Results highlight the need to develop programmes for school children in Israel to promote PA. Such programmes have been initiated in many countries that have a large percentage of adolescents with a sedentary lifestyle.
Validation of a home‐based neurodevelopmental screening tool for under 2‐year‐old children in Bangladesh
Authors: Khan N. Z. , Muslima H. , Shilpi A. B. , Begum D. , Akhtar S. , Parveen M. , Ferdous S. , McConachie H. , Darmstadt G. L.
Published: June 2012

Background  Home‐based screening to identify young children at risk for neurodevelopmental impairments (NDIs) is needed to guide the targeting of child neurodevelopmental intervention services in Bangladesh. This study aimed to validate such a tool for children under age 2 years.

Methods  A Developmental Screening Questionnaire was administered to mothers of children aged 0–<2 years in an urban community. Inter‐rater reliability among the interviewers, who were high school graduates, was determined. All children who were screen positive and a proportion of screen negatives were subsequently assessed for NDIs by professionals. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated by comparing screening with assessment results.

Results  Mean kappa coefficient of agreement among interviewers was 0.95. A total of 197 children were screened, of whom 17% screened positive. Fifty‐one children, including 24 screen negatives, were assessed for NDIs. Screen‐positivity was significantly different between income groups (P= 0.019), and higher in stunted children (odds ratio = 5.76, 95% confidence interval = 1.72–19.28), indicating good discriminant validity Specificity was excellent (84–100%) for all developmental domains. Sensitivity was 100% for vision and hearing; 70% for speech; and 63%, 53%, 48%, and 45% for gross motor, behaviour, fine motor and cognitive impairments, respectively.

Conclusion  A tool for screening <2‐year‐old children at risk for NDIs showed high specificity; and was able to identify all children at risk for vision and hearing impairments, nearly three‐fourths with speech impairments, two‐thirds with gross motor impairments, and about half with behavioural, cognitive and fine motor impairments. The Developmental Screening Questionnaire tool has potential for use by frontline workers to screen large populations and to link to definitive assessment as well as intervention services.
The effectiveness of self‐care support interventions for children and young people with long‐term conditions: a systematic review
Authors: Kirk S. , Beatty S. , Callery P. , Gellatly J. , Milnes L. , Pryjmachuk S.
Published: June 2012

Children's health policy has highlighted the need to develop self‐care programmes. However, there is a lack of evidence on which to base the development of such programmes. This paper reviews the published research on the effectiveness of self‐care support interventions for children and young people with asthma, cystic fibrosis and diabetes. A systematic search was conducted of a range of electronic databases, supplemented by searching the reference lists of retrieved papers and published reviews. Retrieved studies were assessed against quality and eligibility criteria by two independent reviewers. The results were narratively synthesized to examine the effectiveness of self‐care support interventions on health status, psycho‐social well‐being, condition‐related knowledge, health service use and participant satisfaction. The search strategy identified 4261 papers which were screened against the review inclusion criteria. A total of 194 papers were assessed as being potentially eligible for inclusion with 15 papers being judged as adequate to include in the review. There is strong evidence of the effectiveness of interventions that target children/young people; use e‐health or group‐based methods; that are delivered in community settings. There is no evidence that interventions that focus on parents alone or are delivered only in hospital settings are effective. While there is some evidence to inform the development of self‐care support programmes, there is a need for well‐designed trials of interventions that are feasible to transfer into real‐life settings and which involve parents and children in their development.
‘It is life threatening but I don't mind’. A qualitative study using photo elicitation interviews to explore adolescents' experiences of renal replacement therapies
Authors: Wells F. , Ritchie D. , McPherson A. C.
Published: June 2012

Background  Renal replacement therapy (RRT) transforms the life prospects of young people with established renal failure. However, these treatments can have significant physiological and psychological implications for adolescents as they prepare to transition into adulthood. Health policies increasingly emphasize children and youth's active participation and consultation as users of health services, yet studies infrequently seek their experiences directly.

Methods  Adolescents receiving RRT in a large UK teaching hospital took photographs illustrating the impact of their condition and treatment on their lives. Qualitative photo elicitation interviews were conducted to explore the significance of the images and the young person's experiences. Interviews were analysed using descriptive thematic analysis.

Results  Ten young people aged 13–17 years participated. Themes identified were: (1) understanding and acceptance of treatment; (2) living in a non‐functioning body; (3) impact upon daily life; (4) sources of support. Young people found treatments challenging and experienced significant impact on relationships and daily routines. Yet, health was prioritized over body image and participants demonstrated great emotional resilience. Young people valued support from family and friends, although were wary of disclosing their condition in case it resulted in being highlighted as different. Young people reported hospital staff as being caring and professional, but their biggest virtue appeared to be their willingness to treat the young people as ‘normal’.

Conclusions  Young people engaged readily with the research, and frankly described the impact of RRT on their everyday lives. Service providers must ensure that adolescents' developmental needs are met as traditional tasks of adolescence may lose priority. However, it is also clear that young people's ability to cope with treatments should not be underestimated.
Psychological distress and mental health service contact of unaccompanied asylum‐seeking children
Authors: Sanchez‐Cao E. , Kramer T. , Hodes M.
Published: June 2012

Background

Evidence is emerging that psychological problems, particularly symptoms of depression and post‐traumatic stress disorder, are more prevalent in unaccompanied asylum‐seeking children (UASC) than their accompanied peers. However, little is known about help seeking and mental health service (MHS) utilization in this group, and how this relates to their psychological needs. This study aims to describe the level of psychological distress among a group of UASC and the pattern of MHS contact.

Method

Socio‐demographic data on 71 UASC residing in London was obtained and self‐report questionnaires were completed regarding trauma events (Harvard Trauma Questionnaire), general psychological distress [Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)], post‐traumatic stress symptoms (Impact of Event Scale), depressive symptoms (Birleson Depression Self‐Rating Scale for Children) and contact with MHS (Attitudes to Health and Services Questionnaire).

Results

UASC were mainly male (n = 48, 67.6%), Black African (n = 39, 54.9%) and their median age was 17 years (interquartile range = 15; 17). They had been living in the UK for a median of 18 months. Eight (11.3%) scored on the SDQ borderline/abnormal range for total symptoms, but this was 21 (29.6%) using the SDQ emotional subscale. Forty‐seven (66.2%) were at high risk for post‐traumatic stress disorder and nine (12.7%) at high risk for depressive disorder. Only 12 (17%) had MHS contact. Predictors of MHS contact were depressive symptoms and duration of time in the UK.

Conclusions

UASC had a high level of emotional symptoms, especially post‐traumatic stress symptoms. However, only a small proportion of UASC were in contact with MHS. This suggests a high level of MHS under‐utilization, and reasons for this are discussed.
Did volcanic ash from Mt. Kasatoshi in 2008 contribute to a phenomenal increase in Fraser River sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in 2010?
Authors: PARSONS TIMOTHY R. , WHITNEY FRANK A.
Published: June 2012

The effect of a widely distributed phytoplankton bloom triggered by volcanic ash from Alaska (Hamme et al., 2010. Geophys. Res. Lett. 37) on juvenile Fraser River sockeye is discussed in terms of the timing of ocean migration and trophic structure of the Gulf of Alaska. Our hypothesis is that the occurrence of a massive diatom bloom in the Gulf greatly enhanced energy ascendancy in the ocean at a time of year when adolescent sockeye migrated from the coast in 2008. We contend this increase in food availability was an important factor for the survival and growth of juvenile sockeye which led to one of the strongest sockeye returns on record in 2010 of 34 million, compared with perhaps the weakest return on record of 1.7 million the previous year.
Graft‐versus‐host disease reduces regulatory T‐cell migration into the tumour tissue
Authors: Dürr Christoph , Follo Marie , Idzko Marco , Reichardt Wilfried , Zeiser Robert
Published: June 2012

The therapeutic principle of allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation (allo‐HCT) is based on an active donor immune system that eliminates host‐derived tumour cells. We hypothesized that in addition to the alloantigen‐driven anti‐tumour response, disruption of the immunological microenvironment within the tumour is responsible for its elimination after allo‐HCT. We observed that induction of graft‐versus‐host disease (GvHD) significantly reduced the abundance of luc+ FoxP3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells in the tumour tissue, which is indicative of impaired or over‐ridden tumour recruitment signals towards Treg cells. Analysis of the intestines and liver revealed chemokines and purine nucleotides as candidates for attracting Treg to these sites of inflammation. Despite its expression on tissue‐residing Treg cells, the chemokine receptor CCR3 was not critical for Treg‐cell function following allo‐HCT. Extracellular ATP can attract immune cells via P2Y2. P2Y2 was found to be expressed on Treg cells, and we found a partial reduction of GvHD prevention when P2Y2−/− rather than P2Y2+/+ Treg cells were given. Exogenous local inflammation reduced Treg‐cell accumulation in the tumour, suggesting a potential clinical approach to prevent Treg‐cell‐mediated tumour escape. In conclusion, we demonstrate that GvHD‐related inflammation reduced Treg‐cell numbers at the tumour sites, which may in turn help to explain the observation that patients with GvHD have a lower risk of tumour relapse.
The immune epitope database: a historical retrospective of the first decade
Authors: Salimi Nima , Fleri Ward , Peters Bjoern , Sette Alessandro
Published: June 2012

As the amount of biomedical information available in the literature continues to increase, databases that aggregate this information continue to grow in importance and scope. The population of databases can occur either through fully automated text mining approaches or through manual curation by human subject experts. We here report our experiences in populating the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases sponsored Immune Epitope Database and Analysis Resource (IEDB, http://iedb.org), which was created in 2003, and as of 2012 captures the epitope information from approximately 99% of all papers published to date that describe immune epitopes (with the exception of cancer and HIV data). This was achieved using a hybrid model based on automated document categorization and extensive human expert involvement. This task required automated scanning of over 22 million PubMed abstracts followed by classification and curation of over 13 000 references, including over 7000 infectious disease‐related manuscripts, over 1000 allergy‐related manuscripts, roughly 4000 related to autoimmunity, and 1000 transplant/alloantigen‐related manuscripts. The IEDB curation involves an unprecedented level of detail, capturing for each paper the actual experiments performed for each different epitope structure. Key to enabling this process was the extensive use of ontologies to ensure rigorous and consistent data representation as well as interoperability with other bioinformatics resources, including the Protein Data Bank, Chemical Entities of Biological Interest, and the NIAID Bioinformatics Resource Centers. A growing fraction of the IEDB data derives from direct submissions by research groups engaged in epitope discovery, and is being facilitated by the implementation of novel data submission tools. The present explosion of information contained in biological databases demands effective query and display capabilities to optimize the user experience. Accordingly, the development of original ways to query the database, on the basis of ontologically driven hierarchical trees, and display of epitope data in aggregate in a biologically intuitive yet rigorous fashion is now at the forefront of the IEDB efforts. We also highlight advances made in the realm of epitope analysis and predictive tools available in the IEDB.
Dissecting immunity by germline mutagenesis
Authors: Choi Onjee , Rutschmann Sophie
Published: June 2012

The last decades have seen numerous approaches being used to decipher biological phenomena, notably the strategies we employ to defend ourselves against pathogenic attacks. From microarrays to genetics to computing technologies, all have supported a better but not yet comprehensive understanding of the pathways regulating our immune system. Limitations are notably exemplified by cases of immune deficiencies in humans that often result in high susceptibility to infections or even death, without the genetic cause being evident. To provide further insight into the mechanisms by which pathogen detection and eradication occur, several in vivo strategies can be used. The current review focuses on one of them, namely germline mutagenesis in the mouse. After describing the main technical aspects of this forward genetic approach, we will discuss particular germline mutants that have all been instrumental in deciphering innate or adaptive immune responses. Mutations in previously uncharacterized genes in the mouse, like Unc93B or Themis, have demonstrated the impartiality of forward genetics and led to the identification of new crucial immunity actors. Some mutants, like PanR1, have informed us on particular protein domains and their specific functions. Finally, certain mutations identified by this non‐hypothesis‐driven method have revealed previously unknown gene functions, as recently illustrated by memi, which links a particular nucleoside salvage enzyme to cell proliferation and apoptosis.
Transcriptome analysis of the citrus red mite, Panonychus citri, and its gene expression by exposure to insecticide/acaricide
Authors: Niu J‐Z. , Dou W. , Ding T‐B. , Shen G‐M. , Zhang K. , Smagghe G. , Wang J‐J.
Published: June 2012

The citrus red mite, Panonychus citri, is known for its ability rapidly to evolve resistance to insecticides/acaricides and to adapt to hosts that produce toxins. In this study, we constructed an unprecedented four gigabase pair transcriptome of P. citri, which was assembled into 64 149 unique transcripts, the functions of which were annotated by five public databases. A total of 116 unique transcripts were identified as representatives of potential involvement in the detoxification of xenobiotics. Genes recorded to encoding insecticide/acaricide target proteins were also obtained from the P. citri transcriptome. In order to explore novel candidate genes potentially involved in the pesticide detoxification of P. citri, we also constructed digital gene expression libraries of short‐term transcriptome responses of P. citri to pesticides, which resulted in the identification of 120 unique transcripts potentially associated with insecticide/acaricide detoxification. Our study will facilitate molecular research on pesticide resistance in citrus red mites, as well as in other phytophagous mites.