Deviant Peer Affiliation and Antisocial Behavior: Interaction with Monoamine Oxidase A (MAOA) Genotype

Although genetic and environmental factors are separately implicated in the development of antisocial behavior (ASB), interactive models have emerged relatively recently, particularly those incorporating molecular genetic data. Using a large sample of male Caucasian adolescents and young adults from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), the association of deviant peer affiliation, the 30-base pair variable number tandem repeat polymorphism in promoter region of the monoamine oxidase-A (MAOA) gene, and their interaction, with antisocial behavior (ASB) was investigated. Weighted analyses accounting for over-sampling and clustering within schools as well as controlling for age and wave suggested that deviant peer affiliation and MAOA genotype were each significantly associated with levels of overt ASB across a 6-year period. Only deviant peer affiliation was significantly related to covert ASB, however. Additionally, there was evidence suggestive of a gene-environment interaction (G × E) where the influence of deviant peer affiliation on overt ASB was significantly stronger among individuals with the high-activity MAOA genotype than the low-activity genotype. MAOA was not significantly associated with deviant peer affiliation, thus strengthening the inference of G × E rather than gene-environment correlation (rGE). Different forms of gene-environment interplay and implications for future research on ASB are discussed

Early Adolescent Depressive Symptoms: Prediction from Clique Isolation, Loneliness, and Perceived Social Acceptance

This study examined whether clique isolation predicted an increase in depressive symptoms and whether this association was mediated by loneliness and perceived social acceptance in 310 children followed from age 11–14 years. Clique isolation was identified through social network analysis, whereas depressive symptoms, loneliness, and perceived social acceptance were assessed using self ratings. While accounting for initial levels of depressive symptoms, peer rejection, and friendlessness at age 11 years, a high probability of being isolated from cliques from age 11 to 13 years predicted depressive symptoms at age 14 years. The link between clique isolation and depressive symptoms was mediated by loneliness, but not by perceived social acceptance. No sex differences were found in the associations between clique isolation and depressive symptoms. These results suggest that clique isolation is a social risk factor for the escalation of depressive symptoms in early adolescence. Implications for research and prevention are discussed

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

Vampires in the village Žrnovo on the island of Korčula: following an archival document from the 18th century

Središnja tema rada usmjerena je na raščlambu spisa pohranjenog u Državnom arhivu u Mlecima (fond: Capi del Consiglio de’ Dieci: Lettere di Rettori e di altre cariche) koji se odnosi na događaj iz 1748. godine u korčulanskom selu Žrnovo, kada su mještani – vjerujući da su se pojavili vampiri – oskvrnuli nekoliko mjesnih grobova. U radu se podrobno iznose osnovni podaci iz spisa te rečeni događaj analizira u širem društvenom kontekstu i prate se lokalna vjerovanja.The main interest of this essay is the analysis of the document from the State Archive in Venice (file: Capi del Consiglio de’ Dieci: Lettere di Rettori e di altre cariche) which is connected with the episode from 1748 when the inhabitants of the village Žrnove on the island of Korčula in Croatia opened tombs on the local cemetery in the fear of the vampires treating. This essay try to show some social circumstances connected with this event as well as a local vernacular tradition concerning superstitions

Efficacy of Gluma Desensitizer® on dentin hypersensitivity in periodontally treated patients Eficácia do Gluma Desensitizer® sobre hipersensibilidade dentinária em pacientes periodontalmente tratados

The aim of this double-blind, controlled, split-mouth designed clinical trial was to assess the effect of a single application of Gluma Desensitizer® on alleviating dentin hypersensitivity. Twelve subjects entered the study and ten completed the protocol. Each subject had two teeth treated: one with Gluma Desensitizer® according to the manufacturer's instructions and one with water. The assessment of pain was performed with the VAS (Visual Analogue Scale), after tactile (probe), thermal (cold blast of water) and thermal/evaporative (cold blast of air) stimuli at baseline, immediately after treatment, after 1 week and after 4 weeks. The mean VAS values for the test and control teeth were compared by the paired t test (alpha = 0.05). Repeated measurements ANOVA was used to compare the different experimental times. The results showed that for test teeth, at baseline, mean VAS values were 1.76 (&plusmn; 2.82), 7.10 (&plusmn; 2.10) and 4.75 (&plusmn; 2.65), and, after 4 weeks, the mean values were 1.70 (&plusmn; 2.31), 5.50 (&plusmn; 3.30) and 4.61 (&plusmn; 3.14), respectively for probe, water and air stimuli. For the control teeth, at baseline, the mean VAS values were 1.86 (&plusmn; 2.92), 6.61 (&plusmn; 2.31) and 4.08 (&plusmn; 2.91) and, after 4 weeks, 2.66 (&plusmn; 3.07), 6.32 (&plusmn; 2.94) e 4.76 (&plusmn; 3.26).There were no statistically significant differences between test and control teeth at any time. No intra-group differences were demonstrated either. It was concluded that Gluma Desensitizer® had no effect on hypersensitive teeth from periodontally treated patients for a period up to 4 weeks.<br>O objetivo deste estudo clínico duplo-cego, controlado, de boca-dividida foi avaliar o efeito de uma aplicação única do Gluma Desensitizer® no alívio da hipersensibilidade dentinária. Doze sujeitos participaram do estudo, sendo que destes dez completaram o estudo. Cada um dos participantes teve dois dentes tratados, um com o Gluma Desensitizer®, de acordo com as orientações do fabricante, e o outro com água. Para a avaliação da dor foi utilizada a EVA (Escala Visual Analógica), após os estímulos táctil (sonda), térmico (jato de água frio) e térmico/evaporativo (jato de ar frio) no início do experimento, imediatamente após o tratamento, uma e quatro semanas após. Os valores médios encontrados na EVA foram comparados pelo teste-t pareado (alfa = 0,05). Para os diferentes tempos experimentais utilizou-se ANOVA para medidas repetidas. Os resultados mostram que, no início do tratamento, os valores médios foram de 1,76 (&plusmn; 2,82), 7,10 (&plusmn; 2,10) e 4,75 (&plusmn; 2,65) para os dentes teste e, após quatro semanas, os valores médios foram de 1,70 (&plusmn; 2,31), 5,50 (&plusmn; 3,30) e 4,61 (&plusmn; 3,14) respectivamente para os estímulos sonda, água e ar. Para os dentes controle, no início do tratamento, os valores médios segundo a EVA foram de 1,86 (&plusmn; 2,92), 6,61 (&plusmn; 2,31) e 4,08 (&plusmn; 2,91) e, após 4 semanas, 2,66 (&plusmn; 3,07), 6,32 (&plusmn; 2,94) e 4,76 (&plusmn; 3,26). Não ocorreram diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os dentes teste e controle em nenhum dos tempos experimentais. Também não ocorreram diferenças intragrupo. Concluímos que o Gluma Desensitizer® não tem efeito sobre a hipersensibilidade dentinária de pacientes periodontalmente tratados num período de até quatro semanas