bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pathways of Adult Children Providing Care to Older Parents
Authors: Barnett Amanda E.
Published: June 2014

Guided by life course and stress process theory, this study investigated pathways of adult child caregivers' family (caregiving, marital, parenting) and nonfamily (employment) roles. Eight waves of data from the Health and Retirement Study were analyzed for 1,300 adult child caregivers. Latent class analysis provided strong evidence for a 4‐class model of caregivers' role pathways. The four pathways were (a) Not‐Married, Early‐Transition to Not‐Working Caregivers (34%), (b) Married, Not‐Working Caregivers (26%), (c) Married, Late‐Transition to Not‐Working Caregivers (23%), and (d) Married, Not‐Working Caregivers with Coresiding Child (17%). Caregivers' background characteristics and contexts predicted pathway membership. Adult child caregivers have structurally diverse life pathways that have implications for theory, research, and practice.
The Power and Limits of Marriage: Married Gay Men's Family Relationships
Authors: Ocobock Abigail
Published: June 2014

Same‐sex marriage has received much scholarly attention in the United States in the past decade. Yet we know little about how same‐sex couples experience marriage. In this article, I present findings from in‐depth interviews with 32 legally married gay men in Iowa. I focus on their experiences with families of origin and investigate the legitimating potential of same‐sex marriage. The men had high expectations about the power of marriage to help them gain recognition and support, but their experiences with family members were more varied and complex than they expected. Although marriage often led to positive family outcomes, it also commonly had negative consequences, including new and renewed experiences of family rejection. This study complicates ideas about the legitimating potential of marriage for same‐sex couples by illuminating both its power and limits in helping gay men gain status and support from their families of origin.
Effect of Si3N4 Addition on Compressive Creep Behavior of Hot‐Pressed ZrB2–SiC Composites
Authors: Mallik Manab , Ray Kalyan Kumar , Mitra Rahul
Published: June 2014

Compressive creep studies have been carried out on hot‐pressed ZrB2–SiC (ZS) and ZrB2–SiC–Si3N4 (ZSS) composites in air under stress and temperature ranges of 93–140 MPa and 1300°C–1425°C, respectively for time durations of ≈20–40 h. The results of these studies have shown the creep resistance of ZS composite to be greater than that of ZSS. As the temperature is increased from 1300°C to 1425°C, the stress exponent of ZS decreases from 1.7 to 1.1, whereas that of ZSS drops from 1.6 to 0.6. The activation energies for these composites have been found as ≈95 ± 32 kJ/mol at temperatures ≤1350°C, and as ≈470 ± 20 kJ/mol in the range of 1350°C–1425°C. Studies of the postcreep microstructures using scanning and transmission electron microscopy have shown the presence of glassy film with cracks at both ZrB2 grain boundaries and ZrB2–SiC interfaces. These results along with calculated values of activation volumes suggest grain‐boundary sliding as the major damage mechanism, which is controlled by O2− diffusion through SiO2 at ≤1350°C, and by viscoplastic flow of the glassy interfacial film at temperatures ≥1350°C. Studies by transmission electron microscopy have shown formation of crystalline precipitates of Si2N2O near ZrB2–SiC interfaces in ZSS tested at ≥1400°C, which along with stress exponent values <1 suggests that grain‐boundary sliding involving solution‐precipitation‐type mechanism is operative at these temperatures.
A randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of a postnatal psychoeducation programme on outcomes of primiparas: study protocol
Authors: Shorey Shefaly , Chan Wai‐Chi Sally , Chong Yap Seng , He Hong‐Gu
Published: June 2014

Aim

To report a trial protocol that evaluates the effectiveness of postnatal psychoeducation programme in improving maternal parental self‐efficacy and social support and in reducing postnatal depression among primiparas.

Background

Primiparas encounter physical, psychosocial and newborn care challenges in the early postnatal period. However, primiparas do not receive adequate professional support after early discharge from hospitals, thus hindering their adaptation to new role as mothers and smooth transition to motherhood. Postnatal psychoeducation programmes have been shown to be effective in improving pregnant women's health. However, there is a lack of theory‐based, postnatal psychoeducation interventions for primiparas.

Design

A randomized controlled trial of two‐group pretest and repeated posttests is proposed.

Methods

The study will recruit a minimum of 114 primiparas on the day of discharge from a Singaporean public hospital (protocol approved in May 2012). Eligible participants will be randomly allocated to either a control group (receiving routine care) or an experimental group (receiving a postnatal psychoeducation programme besides routine care). Outcome measures include maternal parental self‐efficacy, social support and postnatal depression. Data will be collected at baseline (on the day of discharge), 6 and 12 weeks postpartum.

Discussion

This will be the first study of its kind that will use rigorous study design to evaluate a theory‐based innovative postnatal psychoeducation programme on maternal outcomes. The study may identify a potentially effective way of enhancing primiparas' self‐efficacy and social support, which may in turn reduce their risk of postnatal depression. The Sigma Theta Tau International Upsilon Eta Chapter funded this study.
Paediatric end‐of‐life care in the home care setting (PELICAN HOME) – a mixed methods study protocol
Authors: Eskola Katri , Bergstraesser Eva , Zimmermann Karin , Cignacco Eva
Published: June 2014

Aims

(a) To explore parental experiences and needs during their child's end‐of‐life care at home; (b) to explore patient's characteristics and current provision of paediatric end‐of‐life care in the home care setting in Switzerland; and (c) to determine influencing system factors impacting end‐of‐life care at home.

Background

Parental experiences/needs and paediatric end‐of‐life care services in the home care setting are influenced by national healthcare policy, determinants of the family and the individual patient. In Switzerland, there is a lack of information about the provision of paediatric end‐of‐life care at home and related parent's experiences/needs.

Design

Sub‐study of the nationwide multicenter study ‘Paediatric End‐of‐Life CAre Needs in Switzerland’ using a concurrent qualitative embedded mixed methods design.

Methods

Data will be collected from January–May 2014 through community care organizations and children's hospitals. The study includes approximately 40–50 families whose child (0–18 years) died in the years 2011–2012 due to a cardiological, neurological or oncological condition and spent at least 21 days at home during the last 4 weeks of life. Qualitative data will be collected through semi‐structured interviews with parents and analysed by ‘thematic analysis’. Quantitative data about patient's characteristics will be obtained from patient's medical charts and parental experiences/needs through the parental questionnaire. Appropriate descriptive and inference statistical methods will be used for data analysis.

Discussion

This study will provide comprehensive basic information about parental needs and patient characteristics for the provision of paediatric end‐of‐life care and may promote the development of family‐centred paediatric end‐of‐life care services at home.

Study registration: The PELICAN‐study is registered in the database of Clinical Trial gov. Study ID‐number: NCT 01983852.
Cutaneous melanoma in Iceland: changing Breslow's tumour thickness
Authors: Stefansson H. , Tryggvadottir L. , Olafsdottir E.J. , Mooney E. , Olafsson J.H. , Sigurgeirsson B. , Jonasson J.G.
Published: June 2014

Background

The incidence of cutaneous melanoma increased dramatically in Iceland during the last two decades of the 20th century.

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the trend in Breslow's tumour thickness during the years 1980–2009.

Methods

The population‐based Icelandic Cancer Registry provided information on all cutaneous melanomas diagnosed in the country during the study period, a total of 854 cases. Incidence rates were stratified according to gender, age at diagnosis, year of diagnosis and Breslow's tumour thickness.

Results

When stratified by gender and age, the incidence of thin (≤1.0 mm) melanomas increased dramatically in all subgroups. The increase in thin (≤1.0 mm) melanomas was more apparent in women or 2.6 per 100 000 in 1980–1989 to 13.3 in 2000–2009 and especially in young (<50 years) women or from 1.6 to 12.2 per 100 000 during the same period compared to an increase from 0.2 to 3.4 per 100 000 for young (<50 years) men (P < 0.05). In intermediate thickness (1.01–4.0 mm) tumours, the incidence increased only in men over the age of 50 from 2.1 in 1980–1989 to 11.3 per 100 000 in 2000–2009 (P < 0.05). The incidence of thick melanomas (>4 mm) did not increase. The median Breslow's thickness declined from 2.15 mm in 1980–1989 to 0.9 mm in 2000–2009 in males and from 1.0 to 0.6 mm in females for the same period (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The rise in melanoma incidence in individuals under 50 years and in women over 50 years was confined to thin tumours. However, among older males there was also an increased incidence of tumours of an intermediate thickness. This could indicate that future melanoma educational campaigns in Iceland should be directed at older individuals, and that older men may need special attention regarding suspicious nevi.
Immunohistochemical evaluation of vitiliginous hair follicle melanocyte reservoir: is it retained?
Authors: Seleit I. , Bakry O.A. , Abdou A.G. , Dawoud N.M.
Published: June 2014

Background

Vitiligo is an acquired depigmentaion of skin and hair. The presence of white hair within vitiligo lesions is considered a bad prognostic sign since these lesions are difficult to repigment. Melanocyte reservoir was not extensively studied in vitiliginous white hair.

Objective

To evaluate pigment cell reservoir in vitiliginous black and white hair.

Method

Using immunohistochemical technique, skin biopsies from 30 vitiligo patients (including either black or white hair) and 10 age‐ and gender‐matched healthy subjects were examined. Human Melanoma Black‐45 (HMB‐45) was used for detecting active melanocytes and Tyrosinase Related Protein 2 (TRP2) for detecting the whole melanocyte lineage including melanocyte stem cells (MelSC).

Results

About 61.1% of black hair was positive for HMB‐45 and 83.3% was positive for TRP2. About 25% of white hair was positive for HMB‐45 and 75% retained TRP2 positivity. Follicular HMB‐45 expression and TRP2 expression percentage were significantly lower in white than black hair (P = 0.05, 0.04 respectively). Epidermal HMB‐45 and TRP2 expression percentages were significantly higher in lesions containing black rather than white hair (P < 0.001, P = 0.05 respectively). Black hair was significantly associated with histologically pigmented hair follicles (P = 0.049), and with residual interfollicular melanin pigment (P = 0.007).

Conclusion

Melanocytes, either active (melanotic) or inactive (amelanotic which may include MelSC), are not totally absent from vitiliginous white hair. However, intact melanocyte reservoir was observed more in black than white hair. This may add avenues for future research about the possibility of white vitiliginous hair to repigment.
Decision for biological treatment in real life is more strongly associated with the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) than with the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI)
Authors: Hägg D. , Sundström A. , Eriksson M. , Schmitt‐Egenolf M.
Published: June 2014

Background

Following the establishment of the National Quality Registry for systemic psoriasis treatment (PsoReg), the two psoriasis outcome measurements, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), are now integrated in clinical practice in Sweden. According to current guidelines, the initiation of a biological treatment should depend on a combination of the physician's (PASI) and the patients’ assessment of the disease impact on a health‐related quality of life measure (DLQI).

Objective

To evaluate if either of the two measures, PASI or DLQI, is more strongly associated with initiation of biological therapy.

Methods

The study is based on 2216 patients suffering from moderate to severe psoriasis who were biological naïve at enrolment to PsoReg. The relationship between the two measures PASI and DLQI and initiation of biological treatment (as outcome) were estimated by a logistic regression and a Cox proportional hazard's model with combinations of PASI and DLQI as independent variables.

Results

The adjusted regression models showed that patients with high PASI score and low DLQI score had a higher chance to receive biological treatment compared to patients with low PASI score and high DLQI score.

Conclusion

The decision to initiate biological treatment is more strongly associated with PASI than with DLQI. However, since the DLQI reflects both socio‐economic costs and patient suffering better than PASI, the relevance of the DLQI may be underestimated in clinical practice.
Evaluating the success of Nd: YAG laser ablation in the treatment of recalcitrant verruca plantaris and a cautionary note about local anaesthesia on the plantar aspect of the foot
Authors: Smith E.A. , Patel S.B. , Whiteley M.S.
Published: June 2014

Background

There are various methods advocated for the treatment of verruca plantaris. However, many verrucas do not respond to simple treatment.

Objective

This study presents our results using Nd: YAG laser ablation therapy for such recalcitrant cases.

Methods

We performed a retrospective audit by sending a questionnaire to all patients with recalcitrant verrucas who had been treated with Nd:YAG laser ablation over the previous 12 months. The questionnaire asked whether treatment had been successful, successful but new lesions had emerged, partially successful with improvement or unsuccessful. A Fontana Nd:YAG laser was used at the following specifications; long pulsed mode with pulse width 25 ms, frequency 1.0 Hz; fluence 240 J/cm2 and spot size 2 mm. Some patients requested local anaesthesia and had direct infiltration with 0.5% plain lidocaine.

Results

Fifty‐three of the original 87 patients responded (60.9% response rate) with a male to female ratio of 24:29, mean age of 47 years and an age range between 22–72. Thirty‐seven patients reported complete success post treatment (69.8%) and a further five reported improvement. The remaining 11 felt their treatment was unsuccessful. The cure rate was 81.8% in unilateral single cases, 68.1% in unilateral multiple cases and 65% in bilateral cases. Ten patients requested sublesional lidocaine injections of which 4 had skin breakdown after Nd: YAG ablation.

Conclusion

Nd:YAG laser ablation is effective in the treatment of recalcitrant verruca plantaris. However, we caution against the use of direct local anaesthesia infiltration before laser treatment.
Racial disparities and colorectal cancer survival in older adults with and without diabetes mellitus
Authors: Waheed Salman , Azad Nilofer , Waheed Sehrish , Yeh Hsin‐Chieh
Published: June 2014

Background and Aim

To investigate whether pre‐existing diabetes modifies racial disparities in colorectal cancer (CRC) survival.

Methods

We analyzed prospective data from 16 977 patients (age ≥ 67 years) with CRC from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)‐Medicare database. SEER registries included data on demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatment. Medicare claims were used to define pre‐existing diabetes and comorbid conditions. Mortality was confirmed in both sources.

Results

At baseline, 1332 (8%) were African Americans and 26% had diabetes (39% in blacks; 25% in whites). From 2000 to 2005, more than half of the participants died (n = 8782, 52%). This included 820 (62%) deaths (23.8 per 100 person‐years) among blacks, and 7962 (51%) deaths (16.6 per 100 person‐years) among whites. Among older adults with diabetes, blacks had significantly higher risk of all‐cause and CRC mortality after adjustments for demographic characteristics (hazard ratio [HR], 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21 [1.08–1.37] and 1.21 [1.03–1.42]), respectively, but these associations attenuated to null after additional adjustments for cancer stage and grade. Among adults without diabetes, the risk of all‐cause mortality (HR [95% CI]: 1.14 [1.04–1.25]) and CRC mortality (HR [95% CI]: 1.21 [1.08–1.36]) remained higher in blacks than whites in fully adjusted models that included demographic variables, cancer stage, grade, treatments, and comorbidities.

Conclusions

Among older adults with CRC, diabetes is an effect modifier on the relationship between race and mortality. Racial disparities in survival were explained by demographics, cancer stage, and grade in patients with diabetes.
Celecoxib attenuates hepatic cirrhosis through inhibition of epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition of hepatocytes
Authors: Wen Shi‐Lei , Gao Jin‐Hang , Yang Wen‐Juan , Lu Yao‐Yao , Tong Huan , Huang Zhi‐Yin , Liu Zhang‐Xu , Tang Cheng‐Wei
Published: June 2014

Background and Aim

The epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of hepatocytes is a key step for hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. Long‐term administration of celecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) inhibitor, can ameliorate hepatic fibrosis. This research aimed to examine the effect of celecoxib on the EMT of hepatocytes during the development of liver cirrhosis.

Methods

Cirrhotic liver model of rat was established by peritoneal injection of thiacetamide (TAA). Thirty‐six rats were randomly assigned to control, TAA, and TAA + celecoxib groups. Hepatic expressions of tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin 6 (IL‐6), COX‐2, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐2 and ‐9, transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1), Phospho‐Smad2/3, Snail1, α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA), vimentin, collagen I, fibroblast‐specific protein (FSP‐1), E‐cadherin and N‐cadherin were quantitated. Hepatic fibrosis was assessed by the visible hepatic fibrotic areas and Ishak's scoring system.

Results

Exposed to TAA treatment, hepatocytes underwent the process of EMT during hepatic fibrosis. Compared with those in TAA group, celecoxib significantly downregulated the hepatic expressions of TNF‐α, IL‐6, COX‐2, PGE2, MMP‐2, MMP‐9, TGF‐β1, Phospho‐Smad2/3, Snail1, α‐SMA, FSP‐1, and vimentin while greatly restoring the levels of E‐cadherin. The fibrotic areas and collagen I levels of TAA + celecoxib group were much lower than those in TAA group.

Conclusions

Celecoxib could ameliorate hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis in TAA‐rat model through suppression of the mesenchymal biomarkers in the hepatocytes while restoring the levels of their epithelial biomarkers. The inhibitory effect of celecoxib on the EMT of hepatocytes is associated with reduction of intrahepatic inflammation, preservation of normal basement matrix, and inhibition of TGF‐β1/Smad pathway.
Altered microRNA expression in inflamed and non‐inflamed terminal ileal mucosa of adult patients with active Crohn's disease
Authors: Guo Zhen , Wu Rong , Gong Jianfeng , Zhu Weiming , Li Yi , Wang Zhiming , Li Ning , Li Jieshou
Published: June 2014

Background and Aims

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in inflammation. Several studies have reported the unique miRNA profiles in colonic mucosa and peripheral blood of patients with active Crohn's disease (CD). But there is limited data about the miRNA profiles of the terminal ileum, the most commonly involved location, especially the non‐inflamed mucosa. We aimed to investigate the miRNA expression of both inflamed and non‐inflamed terminal ileal mucosa in adult patients with active CD.

Methods

Total RNA of all mucosal samples was extracted. MiRNA expression profile was assessed using microarray technology, and then selected miRNAs were evaluated using quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) to confirm the results of the microarray investigation.

Results

Sixteen CD patients and 10 healthy adults were included. Samples of six patients and six controls were used for the microarray analysis. Samples of all participants were used for the validation of qRT‐PCR. Results of the microarray showed miRNA expressions of both inflamed and non‐inflamed mucosa were altered compared with controls. The differential expressions of hsa‐miR‐192‐5p, hsa‐miR‐495‐5p, hsa‐let‐7b‐5p, hsa‐miR‐361‐3p, and hsa‐miR‐124‐3p were confirmed by qRT‐PCR.

Conclusion

Both inflamed and non‐inflamed terminal ileal mucosa in adult patients with active CD have their distinct miRNA expression patterns compared with healthy controls. Dysregulated miRNAs may be responsible for pathogenesis of CD.
Systematic review with meta‐analysis: Accuracy of interferon‐gamma releasing assay and anti‐Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody in differentiating intestinal tuberculosis from Crohn's disease in Asians
Authors: Ng Siew C , Hirai Hoyee W , Tsoi Kelvin K F , Wong Sunny H , Chan Francis K L , Sung Joseph J Y , Wu Justin C Y
Published: June 2014

Background and Aims

Distinguishing Crohn's disease (CD) from intestinal tuberculosis (ITB) is a clinical challenge. This meta‐analysis assessed the clinical usefulness of Interferon‐gamma releasing assay (IGRA) and anti‐Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody (ASCA) in the diagnosis of ITB and CD, respectively.

Methods

Systematic search without language restriction was conducted in AMED, EBM, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Google Scholar until September 2013. Studies that have evaluated performance of IGRA (QuantiFERON‐TB Gold or T‐SPOT.TB) or ASCA in distinguishing ITB from CD were eligible. Main outcome measures included sensitivity and specificity. Random‐effects models were used to combine estimates from studies with significant heterogeneity. Area under the curve (AUC) was used to measure accuracy of the tests.

Results

Eleven studies (five IGRA, three ASCA, three IGRA and ASCA) involving 1081 subjects were included. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio of IGRA for the diagnosis of ITB was 81% (95% CI, 75–86%), 85% (95% CI, 81–89%), 6.02 (95% CI: 4.62–7.83), and 0.19 (95% CI: 0.10–0.36), respectively. The AUC was 0.92. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of ASCA for the diagnosis of CD was 33% (95% confidence interval [CI], 27%–38%) and 83% (95% CI, 77–88%), respectively with an AUC of 0.58. T‐SPOT.TB showed a higher sensitivity than QuantiFERON‐TB Gold for the diagnosis of ITB.

Conclusions

IGRA and ASCA have a high specificity for the diagnosis of ITB. Both IGRA and ASCA may have a supplementary role in the differential diagnosis between ITB and CD when conventional workup is not diagnostic.
Pretreatment prediction of the outcome of response‐guided peginterferon‐α and ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Masaki Naohiko , Sugiyama Masaya , Shimada Noritomo , Tanaka Yasuhito , Nakamuta Makoto , Izumi Namiki , Watanabe Sumio , Tsubota Akihito , Komatsu Masafumi , Masaki Tsutomu , Enomoto Nobuyuki , Yoneda Masashi , Murata Kazumoto , Ito Kiyoaki , Koike Kazuhiko , Mizokami Masashi
Published: June 2014

Background and Aim

The accuracy for predicting virological outcomes of peginterferon‐α and ribavirin therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C is limited to approximately 80%, even with IL28B genotyping. Our in vitro study revealed that the numbers of (TA) dinucleotide repeats [(TA)n] of rs72258881, which is located in the promoter region of IL28B gene, might regulate IL28B transcription. We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of these host factors for predicting virological outcomes of this therapy in response‐guided clinical settings.

Methods

A nationwide, multi‐center prospective study in Japan determined IL28B (rs8099917) genotype, (TA)n of rs72258881, and amino acid substitutions of hepatitis C virus and used these for multivariate analysis together with other parameters at pretreatment.

Results

After enrolling 215 patients with genotype 1 and high viral load from 23 hospitals between October 2009 and February 2011, intent‐to‐treat analysis identified 202 patients in whom the final virological outcomes could be determined. Non‐virological response by non‐TT genotype was predicted with 79.7% accuracy. When combined with the (TA)n, the incidences of virological response tended to be higher in the longer (TA)n group, regardless of rs8099917 genotype. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that rs8099917 non‐TT genotype (P < 0.001), shorter (TA)n (P = 0.011), mutation of amino acid 70 in the virus core region (P = 0.029), and lower levels of serum albumin (P = 0.036) were independently associated with non‐virological response.

Conclusions

IL28B genotype and (TA)n of rs72258881 may independently affect virological outcomes of peginterferon‐α and ribavirin as host factors, even in response‐guided therapy.
Prevention and management of biliary anastomotic stricture in right‐lobe living‐donor liver transplantation
Authors: Chok Kenneth S H , Lo Chung Mau
Published: June 2014

Biliary strictures can be categorized according to technical factor as anastomotic or nonanastomotic strictures. Biliary anastomotic stricture is a common complication after living‐donor liver transplantation, occasionally causing deaths. The two most commonly used methods for biliary anastomosis are duct‐to‐duct anastomosis and hepaticojejunostomy.

Before presenting a description of the latest techniques of duct‐to‐duct anastomosis and hepaticojejunostomy, this review first relates the technique of donor right hepatectomy, as most biliary complications suffered by recipients of living‐donor liver transplantation originate from donor operations. Three possible causes of biliary anastomotic stricture, namely impaired blood supply, biliary anomaly, and technical flaw, are then discussed. Lastly, the review focuses on the latest management of biliary anastomotic stricture. Treatment modalities include endoscopic retrograde cholangiography with dilatation, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage with dilatation, conversion of duct‐to‐duct anastomosis to hepaticojejunostomy, and revision hepaticojejunostomy. End‐to‐side versus side‐to‐side hepaticojejunostomy is also discussed.
Microscopic bio‐corrosion evaluations of magnesium surfaces in static and dynamic conditions
Authors: BONTRAGER J. , MAHAPATRO A. , GOMES A.S.
Published: June 2014

Biodegradable materials including biodegradable metals are continuously being investigated for the development of next generation cardiovascular stents. Predictive in vitro tests are needed that could evaluate potential materials while simulating in vivo conditions. In this manuscript we report the microscopic bio‐corrosion evaluations of magnesium surfaces in static and dynamic conditions. A corrosion test bench was designed and fabricated and static and dynamic corrosion tests were carried out with samples of magnesium alloy. The fluid wall shear stress equation and the Churchill's friction factor equation were used to calculate the fluid velocity required to generate the desired shear stress on samples in the test bench. Static and dynamic corrosion tests at 24 and 72 h were carried out at 0.88 Pa shear stress mimicking the in vivo shear stress. Microscopic evaluations of the corroded surfaces were carried out by optical, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy to evaluate the corrosion behaviour and surface properties of the test samples. The surface and interface analysis of magnesium samples post test indicated that dynamic conditions prevented the build‐up of corrosion by‐products on the sample surface and the corrosion mechanism was uniform as compared to static conditions. The use of a masking element to restrict the exposed area of the sample didn't result in increased corrosion at the boundary. Thus, we have demonstrated the feasibility of the designed test bench as a viable method for bio‐corrosion surface analysis under dynamic corrosion conditions for potential biodegradable cardiovascular stent materials.
GFAP variants in health and disease: stars of the brain… and gut
Authors: Sullivan Susan M.
Published: June 2014

Read the full article ‘Enteric GFAP expression and phosphorylation in Parkinson's disease’ on page 805.
Deregulated semantic cognition contributes to object‐use deficits in Alzheimer's disease: A comparison with semantic aphasia and semantic dementia
Authors: Corbett Faye , Jefferies Elizabeth , Burns Alistair , Lambon Ralph Matthew A.
Published: June 2014

Executive control is impaired from the early stages of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and this produces deregulated semantic cognition (Corbett, Jefferies, Burns, & Lambon Ralph, ; Perry, Watson, & Hodges, ). While control deficits should affect semantic retrieval across all modalities, previous studies have typically focused on verbal semantic tasks. Even when non‐verbal semantic tasks have been used, these have typically employed simple picture‐matching tasks, which may be influenced by abnormalities in covert naming. Therefore, in the present study, we examined 10 patients with AD on a battery of object‐use tasks, in order to advance our understanding of the origins of non‐verbal semantic deficits in this population. The AD patients’ deficits were contrasted with previously published performance on the same tasks within two additional groups of patients, displaying either semantic degradation (semantic dementia) or deregulation of semantic retrieval (semantic aphasia; Corbett, Jefferies, Ehsan, & Lambon Ralph, ). While overall accuracy was comparable to the scores in both other groups, the AD patients’ object‐use impairment most closely resembled that observed in SA; they exhibited poorer performance on comprehension tasks that placed strong demands on executive control. A similar pattern was observed in the expressive domain: the AD and SA groups were relatively good at straightforward object use compared to executively demanding, mechanical puzzles. Error types also differed: while all patients omitted essential actions, the SA and AD groups’ demonstrations also featured unrelated intrusions. An association between AD patients’ object use and their scores on standard executive measures suggested that control deficits contributed to their non‐verbal semantic deficits. Moreover, in a task specifically designed to manipulate executive demand, patients with AD (and SA) exhibited difficulty in thinking flexibly about the non‐canonical uses of everyday objects, especially when distracted by semantically related objects. This study provides converging evidence for the notion that a failure of regulatory control contributes to multimodal semantic impairment in AD and uniquely demonstrates this pattern for the highly non‐verbal domain of object use.
Multipoint and multilevel injection technique of botulinum toxin A in facial aesthetics
Authors: Iozzo Ivano , Tengattini Vera , Antonucci Valentina A
Published: June 2014

Botulinum toxin represents one of the most frequently requested cosmetic procedures. We treated 223 patients with facial wrinkles using a new technique of injection of botulinum toxin A (BTA) called multipoint and multilevel injection technique (MMIT). The aim of MMIT was to relax the muscle and not paralyze it. Patient satisfaction was evaluated by Facial Line Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (FTSQ). Treatment with botulinum toxin determined a good response in all patients. Facial rhytids were completely resolved in case of young skin and well reduced in case of aged skin, leaving a natural aspect both in static and dynamic wrinkles. Patient mean overall satisfaction evaluated with FTSQ was 6.4 ± 1.1. In our experience, the use of botulin toxin by MMIT consents a better calibration of action with a soft and natural result. This can be achieved by distributing the BTA dose through various injection points for each area (“multipoint injections”). Furthermore, injections can be performed at different levels (“multilevel injections”). The level of injections regulates the potency of effect on the muscle: if the level is deep (intramuscular), the effect will be strong while if it is medium or superficial (subcutaneous and intradermal), the effect will be soft. This consents a fine calibration of action on muscle activity with a personal aesthetic result.
Can Family Relationships Explain the Race Paradox in Mental Health?
Authors: Mouzon Dawne M.
Published: June 2014

Biomedical research consistently finds that Blacks have worse physical health than Whites, an expected pattern given Blacks' greater exposure to psychosocial stress, poverty, and discrimination. Yet there is surprising lack of consensus regarding race differences in mental health, with most scholars finding similar or better mental health outcomes among Blacks than Whites. Past research often attributes this “race paradox in mental health” to the notion that Blacks have stronger family networks than Whites, yet few studies have explicitly tested whether stronger family relationships among Blacks (if they exist) can account for these findings. Using data from the 2003–2005 National Survey of American Life (N = 4,259) revealed that minimal race differences in family relationships fail to explain the race paradox in mental health. The results have implications for mental health measurement, the provision of culturally appropriate mental health care, and how scholars understand the nature of family relationships among Black Americans.
Marriage, Marital History, and Black – White Wealth Differentials Among Older Women
Authors: Addo Fenaba R. , Lichter Daniel T.
Published: June 2014

This study investigated the impact of union history and marital transitions on wealth inequality between older Black and White women (N = 7,026). Cohort data from the Health and Retirement Study show large and increasing Black – White differences in wealth. Marital and relationship histories are associated with the wealth accumulation process among older women. Women who married and stay married accumulated levels of wealth that exceeded those of other women with disrupted family lives. The marriage – wealth nexus is sensitive to a woman's position in the wealth distribution. Quantile regression results revealed that racial differences in total wealth holdings between Black and White women exist throughout the wealth distribution, whereas the relationship between current union history and wealth differentials is significant at the lower tail and middle of the distribution. Decomposition analyses highlighted the nontrivial role of racial disparities in marital histories in accounting for the racial wealth gap. As members of the baby boom generation enter their retirement years, it will be more important than ever to monitor the wealth accumulation process among older single and racial/ethnic minority women.
Attitudes Toward Divorce, Commitment, and Divorce Proneness in First Marriages and Remarriages
Authors: Whitton Sarah W. , Stanley Scott M. , Markman Howard J. , Johnson Christine A.
Published: June 2014

A random multistate sample of married individuals (N = 1,931) was used to explore whether more positive attitudes toward divorce and weaker commitment to marriage may contribute to the greater instability of remarriages than first marriages. Remarried adults, whether or not they brought children from a previous union into the remarriage, reported marital quality (happiness and conflict) equal to those in first marriages. They also reported more positive attitudes toward divorce, which were associated with higher divorce proneness (i.e., thinking about and taking actions toward divorce). Marriage type interacted with marital quality to predict divorce proneness, such that the association between low marital quality and divorce proneness was stronger for remarried individuals than for those in first marriages. This suggests that remarried adults may be more likely than adults in first marriages to take steps toward divorce when experiencing marital distress, possibly reflecting a weaker commitment to marriage.
Motivations for Providing and Utilizing Child Care by Grandmothers in South Korea
Authors: Lee Jaerim , Bauer Jean W.
Published: June 2014

The purpose of this study was to construct a conceptual understanding of the motivations of grandmothers and mothers to provide and utilize child care by grandmothers in Korea. Grounded theory methods were used to collect and analyze interview data with 21 matched pairs of caregiving grandmothers and employed mothers. The grandmothers' motivations were concern for their adult children's well‐being and a feeling of responsibility to fulfill their parental responsibility for support. The mothers' motivations were the benefits they received as employed mothers and their trust of family care with prior expectations of the grandmothers' support. The core category integrating the findings was bilateral familism supporting traditional gender role ideology. The results suggest that changes from patrilineal to bilateral kinship interactions have been largely based on the influence of familism, which has created a cultural setting of expectations for downstream intergenerational support to maintain traditional gender roles despite increased maternal employment.
Gender and Socioeconomic Status Differences in First and Second Marriage Formation
Authors: Shafer Kevin , James Spencer L.
Published: June 2014

In this article, we address how first and second marriages are formed by asking whether SES has similar effects on first and second marriage entry. Like many studies of first marriage, we focus on gender, socioeconomic characteristics (education, income, and employment status), and gender differences in the effect of SES. To examine this question, we use the NLSY79 (n = 12,231 never‐married and 3,695 divorced persons), discrete‐time logistic regression, and heterogeneous choice models to test for statistically significant differences by gender and between first and second marriages. Our models show gender differences in first and second marriage entry, that the effect of SES on marriage entry differs between first and second marriage, and that the interaction between gender and SES has a unique association with marital entry for never‐ and previously married individuals. Our results have implications for understanding marriage formation, stratification across the life course, and the well‐being of divorced persons who remarry.
Marital Quality and Health Over 20 Years: A Growth Curve Analysis
Authors: Miller Richard B. , Hollist Cody S. , Olsen Joseph , Law David
Published: June 2014

Although there is substantial evidence linking marital quality to physical health, few studies have been longitudinal. This study examined data from the Marital Instability Over the Life Course Study; 1,681 married individuals followed for 20 years were included in these analyses. In order to control for life course effects, participants were divided into 2 cohorts: early life and midlife. On the basis of latent growth curve analysis, the results indicated that initial values of marital happiness and marital problems were significantly associated with the initial value of physical health among both cohorts. In addition, the slope of marital happiness was significantly associated with the slope of physical health among the younger cohort, and the slope of marital problems was significantly associated with the slope of physical health among the midlife cohort. These results provide evidence of the significant association between positive and negative dimensions of marital quality and physical health over the life course.
Core Self‐Evaluations, Work–Family Conflict, and Burnout
Authors: Haines Victor Y. , Harvey Steve , Durand Pierre , Marchand Alain
Published: June 2014

This study investigated how core self‐evaluations relate to work–family (and family–work) conflict and burnout. Drawing from a sample of 289 police officers and civilian staff who were either married or living in a union as common‐law partners, this study advances an empirical integration of work–family and core self‐evaluations research. The results suggested that even when work, nonwork, and demographic variables are controlled for, positive core self‐evaluations (i.e., composite scale, self‐esteem, locus of control, emotional stability) are related to less work–family (and family–work) conflict. The associations between core self‐evaluations and burnout are partially mediated by work–family (and family–work) conflict. Finally, core self‐evaluations moderated the association between work–family conflict and burnout, but not the one between family–work conflict and burnout.
Parental Financial Assistance and Young Adults' Relationships With Parents and Well‐being
Authors: Kirkpatrick Johnson Monica
Published: June 2014

Drawing on data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, this study examined the impact of parental financial assistance on young adults' relationships with parents and well‐being. Conditional change models were estimated to evaluate the effects of parental financial assistance reported in Wave 3 (ages 18–28) and Wave 4 (ages 24–34) of the study. The results (Ns ranged from 9,128 to 13,389 across outcomes) indicated that financial assistance was positively associated with changes in depressive symptoms and closeness to both mothers and fathers in both periods. Changes in self‐esteem were less robustly linked to parental financial assistance. Although the observed pattern with respect to parent–child relations held regardless of the progress young people had made in the transition to adulthood, the effects for well‐being, which were also relatively small in magnitude, did not. In particular, changes in depressive symptoms associated with financial assistance were concentrated among individuals occupying adult social roles.
Repartnering Following Divorce: Implications for Older Fathers' Relations With Their Adult Children
Authors: Noël‐Miller Claire M.
Published: June 2014

This study examined the implications of postdivorce fathers' new unions and additional (step)children for two aspects of older fathers' relations with adult children born from a prior relationship: frequency of social contact and fathers' financial transfers. Data from multiple waves of the Health and Retirement Study (N = 13,017 observations on 4,997 adult children belonging to 1,917 ever‐divorced fathers) were used to estimate multilevel models. The results indicated that divorced fathers who go on to form a new union have weaker relations with adult children from a prior union than their postdivorce counterparts who remain single. This finding partly reflects the detrimental effects of repartnered older fathers' new biological children and stepchildren. There is no difference between older remarried and cohabiting fathers' intergenerational ties. Moreover, fathers' additional biological children and stepchildren have similarly negative effects on fathers' relations with adult children from a previous union.
Wrestling Proteus: Assessing the Varying Nature of Father Involvement Across Contexts
Authors: Dyer W. Justin , Day Randal D. , Harper James M.
Published: June 2014

This study investigated the common assumption that measures of father involvement are invariant across child age, gender, and reporter. Measurement invariance was tested with 320 families who were interviewed at child ages 10, 12, and 14. Criterion validity was also examined, using observational, survey, and physiologic measures with factor rotation type considered. It was found that invariance did not hold across gender for child report but did hold for mother and father reports. Differing factors were found across time and reporter. Child report and orthogonally rotated solutions demonstrated the greatest criterion validity. The findings suggest that typical father involvement assumptions may not hold and, when this is the case, involvement should be conceptualized in light of varying involvement domains. Implications for conceptualizing and analytically examining father involvement are considered.
Exploring Parents' Experiences and Reactions to Adolescents' Hyperactivity, Impulsivity, and Attention Problems
Authors: Glatz Terese , Stattin Håkan
Published: June 2014

Adolescents' hyperactivity, impulsivity, and attention problems (HIA) have been shown to make parents feel powerless. In this study, the authors examined whether these feelings were dependent on parents' experiences with their older children. Two models that offer different predictions of how parents make use of their earlier experiences when raising their later‐born children were explored: the learning‐from‐experience model and the spillover model. The authors used reports from 372 parents with 1 child (Mage = 11.92) and 198 parents with 2 children (Mage = 11.89 and 14.35) from a small town in a European country. The results did not support a learning‐from‐experience process. Instead, consistent with a spillover process, parents felt particularly powerless about their younger children with HIA if they also felt powerless about their older children. This study suggests that parents' experiences of raising their older children are important for their reactions to HIA in their younger children
Relieving the Time Squeeze? Effects of a White‐Collar Workplace Change on Parents
Authors: Hill Rachelle , Tranby Eric , Kelly Erin , Moen Phyllis
Published: June 2014

Employed parents perceive a time squeeze even as trends from the 1960s show they are spending more time with their children. Work conditions (e.g., hours and schedule control) would seem to affect both parents' time with children and perceived time squeeze, but most studies rely on cross‐sectional data that do not establish causality. The authors examined the effects of the introduction of a workplace flexibility initiative (Results Only Work Environment [ROWE]) on changes in mothers' and fathers' perceptions of the adequacy of their time with children and actual time spent with children (N = 225). Baseline data show the importance of work conditions for parents' sense of perceived time adequacy. Panel data show that mothers (but not fathers) in ROWE report increased schedule control and improved time adequacy, but no change in actual time spent with children, except that ROWE increases evening meals with children for mothers sharing few meals at baseline.
Age‐Related Changes in Demand‐Withdraw Communication Behaviors
Authors: Holley Sarah R. , Haase Claudia M. , Levenson Robert W.
Published: June 2014

Demand‐withdraw communication is a set of conflict‐related behaviors in which one partner blames or pressures while the other partner withdraws or avoids. The present study examined age‐related changes in these behaviors longitudinally over the course of later life stages. One hundred twenty‐seven middle‐aged and older long‐term married couples were observed at 3 time points across 13 years as they engaged in a conversation about an area of relationship conflict. Husbands' and wives' demand‐withdraw behaviors (i.e., blame, pressure, withdrawal, avoidance) were objectively rated by trained coders at each time point. Data were analyzed using dyad‐level latent growth curve models in a structural equation modeling framework. For both husbands and wives, the results showed a longitudinal pattern of increasing avoidance behavior over time and stability in all other demand and withdraw behaviors. This study supports the notion that there is an important developmental shift in the way that conflict is handled in later life.