Environmental Exposures And Childhood Pulmonary Function

Fetal origins of adult disease hypothesis states that adverse influences early in developmental period and particularly during intrauterine life can result in permanent changes in physiology which may lead to increased disease risk of chronic diseases in adulthood. Both fetal and adolescent period are critical time periods for development of lungs. Any adverse environmental exposures during these critical periods of lung growth is a form of programming which can have long term effects on pulmonary function. The purpose of this dissertation was to examine the association between different environmental exposures and pulmonary function in children and late adolescents. The first objective was to investigate the association between sensitization to house dust mites (HDM) allergen on skin prick test (SPT) and pulmonary function during late adolescence (18 years of age) within the birth cohort of Isle of Wight (IOW). The second objective was to assess the combined effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy and adolescent smoking on pulmonary function in late adolescence. This association was also tested in the birth cohort of IOW at 18 years of age. The third objective was to examine relationship between body burden of dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethene (DDE) and pulmonary function in pre-adolescent children (8-10 years of age) from federal state of Hesse, Germany. The results from the first objective suggested that there exists an inverse dose response relationship between wheal diameter (immunological response obtained on SPT to HDM allergen) and pulmonary function parameters- forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second over forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) and forced expiratory flow at 25-75% (FEF25-75%). Stratified analysis by history of asthmatic wheezing episodes showed reduced FEV1 and FVC in individuals with no history of asthmatic wheezing attacks. For the second objective we found that the offspring of mothers who smoked during pregnancy are more likely to smoke during adolescence. Results showed that in girls maternal smoking during pregnancy and adolescent smoking had both independent and joint inverse effects on FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio and FEF25-75% when compared with no exposure. Path analysis demonstrated that the effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy in girls were mediated through height, weight and adolescent smoking. In boys, adolescent smoking had direct inverse effect on FEV1/FVC ratio and effects of maternal smoking were mediated through its effects on adolescent smoking. Results from the third objective demonstrated that DDE had crude inverse associations with height, weight, FEV1 and FVC in children of age 8-10 years. Further analysis showed that although DDE exposure did not affect pulmonary function directly in children, it had indirect effect on pulmonary function mediated through height and weight at age 8-10 years. Children are particularly susceptible to environmentally induced lung diseases. All three environmental exposures studied in this dissertation showed adverse effects on pulmonary function during childhood and late adolescence. These findings indicated that the wheal diameter on SPT which is mostly used to determine sensitivity to HDM allergen could also serve has an indicator of underlying abnormal pulmonary function even in individuals without asthma symptoms. Second objective showed that exposure to gestational and adolescent smoking lead to reduced flow in mid as well as large airways. Adolescent girls were more vulnerable to smoking effects than boys. Finally, the use of path analysis improved the understanding of underlying directional or non-directional relationships between height, weight and DDE exposure on pulmonary function. These findings have implications in the areas of environmental epidemiology, respiratory epidemiology and child health epidemiology

THE PROBLEM OF CREATIVITY: WITH WHAT IMAGES DO YOUNG PEOPLE COME UP?

The article is devoted to the problem of perception of television and media images and the youth creativity. The study conducted by G. Seputis on the applicants of art colleges is reviewed, the study’s sample consisted of 80 boys and girls at the age of 18. The aim of the study is to analyse what kind of images emerge creating the storyboard on neutral theme “silence”. We analysed popular media content during the years of kids’ formation and tried to benchmark obvious ones similarity with film — television images. It is concluded that the neutral theme “silence” leads to the use of negative images in the drawings. The method of comparative analysis of drawings and TV images was used. The article presents correlation between drawings and TV images and clearly confirms the youth's response to the neutral stimulus "silence" with the reproduction of negative media images. It is concluded that it is necessary to create educational programs for adolescents. The article discusses studies of psychologists lead to the conclusion that viewing TV does not always cause a positive effect. The authors emphasize a high degree of negative behavioural problems in Lithuanian youth is made apparent. The influence of information created with the help of media channels on the development of the creativity in children and adolescents is discussed. The authors invite to use educational methods aimed at developing creativity in youth.&nbsp

DEVELOPMENT OF LEADERSHIP QUALITIES THROUGH METHODS OF DIRECT EXPERIENCE OF LIVE LIVING

The purpose of this study was to examine the problem of the formation of a special mindset of the leader. The training of leaders (AUTHENTICS program, HAI.LT institute) is focused on the shaping of independent decision-making and freedom from stereotypes. In order to break out from automatic reactions of the brain and create novelty, we taught leaders to reflect on his/her emotional reactions that arise in situations of real-life – live living. AUTHENTIC program of consciousness leadership is a modular training program held by HAI.LT Institute since 2011. We conducted a psychological study of participants of the leadership training program (44 leaders, 2013 - 2015). Results of the study showed the changes in value orientations, in the behavioural priorities in the locus of control, also in the stereotypical beliefs, and motivation of decisions

DEVELOPMENT OF LEADERSHIP QUALITIES THROUGH METHODS OF DIRECT EXPERIENCE OF LIVE LIVING

The purpose of this study was to examine the problem of formation of special mindset of the leader. The training of leaders (AUTHENTICUS program, HAI.LT institute) is focused on the shaping of independent decision-making and freedom from stereotypes. In order to break out from automatic reactions of the brain and create novelty we taught leaders to reflect on his/her emotional reactions that arise in situations of real life – live living. AUTHENTICUS program of consciousness leadership is a modular training program held by HAI.LT Institute since 2011. We conducted psychological study of participants of leadership training program (44 leaders, 2013 - 2015). Results of the study showed the changes in value orientations, in the behavioral priorities in the locus of control, also in the stereotypical beliefs, and motivation of decisions

THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARTISTS’ CREATIVITY BASED ON THE METHOD OF “INTUITIVE AESTHETICS”: RESULTS OF EN PLEIN AIRS (LITHUANIA, VILNIUS, 2018)

The article is devoted to the problem of development of creativity of modern painters in Lithuania. Development of painter’s personality helping to step of from the stereotypes of creativity is one of the most significant challenges of psychology of modern art. Psychologists conduct large number of studies, make publications on problems of visual communication, psychodynamic theories of personality, psychological characteristics of artists, but not enough attention is being paid to the development of methods that would help to deal with the issue of developing creativity. Impact of the “Intuitive Aesthetics” method as a way to step out from the stereotypes that hinder creativity was researched in the project for Lithuanian painters. 40 well-known Lithuanian painters took part in two En Plein Airs held in Vilnius (Lithuania) in 2018. The “Intuitive Aesthetics” method included four interactions:1) seminar on art psychology, mindfulness and embodyment; 2) practice for developing skills of reflection; 3) live painting; 4) independent painting. The article presents the results of the research showing how the “Intuitive Aesthetics” method helped to change stereotypes of creativity of painters. Method “Intuitive Aesthetics” can be considered as psychological authentication counselling of the painters that help them to step out from the stereotypes that hinder their creativity

THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARTISTS’ CREATIVITY BASED ON THE METHOD OF “INTUITIVE AESTHETICS”: RESULTS OF EN PLEIN AIRS (LITHUANIA, VILNIUS, 2018)

The purpose of this study was to examine the problem of development of creativity of contemporary painters in Lithuania using the Method of “Intuitive Aesthetics”. Development of painter’s personality is one of the most significant problems of contemporary art psychology. Psychologists do a lot of studies, publish articles on the problem of visual communication, impact of the psychological characteristics on art creation, but not enough attention is being paid to the development of methods that would help to develop creativity. Impact of the “Intuitive Aesthetics” method as a way to step out from the stereotypes, that hinder creativity, was researched in the project for Lithuanian painters. 40 well-known Lithuanian painters took part in two En Plein Airs held in Vilnius (Lithuania) in 2018. The “Intuitive Aesthetics” method included four interactions: 1) seminar on art psychology, mindfulness and embodyment; 2) practice for developing skills of reflection; 3) live painting; 4) independent painting. The article presents the results of the research showing how the “Intuitive Aesthetics” method helped to increase the creativity of painters. Method “Intuitive Aesthetics” can be considered as psychological authentication counselling of the painters that help them to step out from the stereotypes that hinder their creativity

Body Burden of Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethene (DDE) and Childhood Pulmonary Function

Longitudinal studies have shown that early life exposure to dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethene (DDE) can lead to growth reduction during childhood and adolescence. In addition, DDE exposure has been linked to respiratory tract infections and an increased risk of asthma in children. Our aim was to understand the relationships between DDE exposure and pulmonary function in children, and, particularly, whether associations are mediated by the height of the children. We used data from an environmental epidemiologic study conducted in central Germany in children aged 8-10 years. The pulmonary function (forced vital capacity, FVC, and forced expiratory volume in one second, FEV1) were measured in three consecutive years. Blood DDE levels were measured at 8 and 10 years. We used linear mixed models for repeated measurements and path analyses to assess the association between blood levels of DDE and pulmonary function measurements. All models were adjusted for confounders. Linear mixed approaches and modelling concurrent effects showed no significant associations. The path analytical models demonstrated that DDE measured at eight years had significant, inverse, indirect, and total effects on FVC at ten years (n = 328; −0.18 L per μg/L of DDE) and FEV1 (n = 328; −0.17 L per μg/L of DDE), mediated through effects of DDE on height and weight. The DDE burden reduces pulmonary function through its diminishing effects on height and weight in children. Further studies are required to test these associations in other samples, preferably from a region with ongoing, high DDT application

Pulmonary artery stiffness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd) and emphysema: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) COPD Study

Purpose: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and particularly emphysema are characterized by stiffness of the aorta, due in part to accelerated elastin degradation in the lungs and aorta. Stiffness of the pulmonary arteries (PAs) may also be increased in COPD and emphysema, but data are lacking. We assessed PA stiffness using MRI in patients with COPD and related these measurements to COPD severity and percent emphysema. Materials and Methods: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) COPD Study recruited 290 participants, age 50–79 years with 10 or more packyears and free of clinical cardiovascular disease. COPD severity were defined on postbronchodilator spirometry by ATS/ERS criteria. Percent emphysema was defined as the percentage of regions of the lung < -950 Hounsfield units on full-lung computed tomography (CT). PA stain was defined by the percent change in cross-sectional PA area between systole and diastole on MRI. Blood flow across the tricuspid and mitral valves was assessed by phase-contrast MRI for determination of the ventricular diastolic dysfunction (E/A ratio). Results: PA strain was reduced in COPD compared with controls (P = 0.002) and was inversely correlated with COPD severity (P = 0.004). PA strain was inversely associated to percent emphysema (P = 0.01). PA strain was also markedly correlated with right ventricular diastolic dysfunction measured by E/A ratios in the fully adjusted mix models (P = 0.02). Conclusion: PA strain is reduced in COPD, related in part to percent emphysema on CT scan, which may have implications for pulmonary small vessel flow and right ventricular function. Level of Evidence: 2 Technical Efficacy: Stage