An oligosaccharide of the O-linked type distinguishes the free from the combined form of hCG [alpha] subunit

JAR malignant trophoblast cells produce a free [alpha] subunit in addition to an [alpha] combined with [beta] subunit as hCG. The free [alpha] is larger by gel chromatography and SDS-PAGE than combined [alpha] and is unable to associate with [beta] subunit to form hCG. A tryptic fragment, representing amino acid residues 36-42, derived from free [alpha] was larger than the corresponding fragment from combined [alpha]. After neuraminidase treatment, the fragment from free [alpha] bound peanut lectin agarose, which is specific for Gal[beta]1-3GalNAc as found in O-linked oligosaccharides. The fragment also contained Gal and GalNAc (and a lesser amount of GlcNAc) as determined by glycosidase sensitivity and amino sugar analyses. Removal of this tryptic fragment ablated the size difference between free and combined [alpha] subunits.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/24721/1/0000143.pd

What has changed in the experiences of people with mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic: a coproduced, qualitative interview study

PURPOSE: We sought to understand how the experiences of people in the UK with pre-existing mental health conditions had developed during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: In September-October 2020, we interviewed adults with mental health conditions pre-dating the pandemic, whom we had previously interviewed 3 months earlier. Participants had been recruited through online advertising and voluntary sector community organisations. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted by telephone or video-conference by researchers with lived experience of mental health difficulties, and, following principles of thematic analysis, were analysed to explore changes over time in people's experience of the pandemic. RESULTS: We interviewed 44 people, achieving diversity of demographic characteristics (73% female, 54% White British, aged 18-75) and a range of mental health conditions and service use among our sample. Three overarching themes were derived from interviews. The first theme "spectrum of adaptation" describes how participants reacted to reduced access to formal and informal support through personal coping responses or seeking new sources of help, with varying degrees of success. The second theme describes "accumulating pressures" from pandemic-related anxieties and sustained disruption to social contact and support, and to mental health treatment. The third theme "feeling overlooked" reflects participants' feeling of people with mental health conditions being ignored during the pandemic by policy-makers at all levels, which was compounded for people from ethnic minority communities or with physical health problems. CONCLUSION: In line with previous research, our study highlights the need to support marginalised groups who are at risk of increased inequalities, and to maintain crucial mental and physical healthcare and social care for people with existing mental health conditions, notwithstanding challenges of the pandemic

What has changed in the experiences of people with mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic:a coproduced, qualitative interview study

PurposeWe sought to understand how the experiences of people in the UK with pre-existing mental health conditions had developed during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsIn September–October 2020, we interviewed adults with mental health conditions pre-dating the pandemic, whom we had previously interviewed 3 months earlier. Participants had been recruited through online advertising and voluntary sector community organisations. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted by telephone or video-conference by researchers with lived experience of mental health difficulties, and, following principles of thematic analysis, were analysed to explore changes over time in people’s experience of the pandemic.ResultsWe interviewed 44 people, achieving diversity of demographic characteristics (73% female, 54% White British, aged 18–75) and a range of mental health conditions and service use among our sample. Three overarching themes were derived from interviews. The first theme “spectrum of adaptation” describes how participants reacted to reduced access to formal and informal support through personal coping responses or seeking new sources of help, with varying degrees of success. The second theme describes “accumulating pressures” from pandemic-related anxieties and sustained disruption to social contact and support, and to mental health treatment. The third theme “feeling overlooked” reflects participants’ feeling of people with mental health conditions being ignored during the pandemic by policy-makers at all levels, which was compounded for people from ethnic minority communities or with physical health problems.ConclusionIn line with previous research, our study highlights the need to support marginalised groups who are at risk of increased inequalities, and to maintain crucial mental and physical healthcare and social care for people with existing mental health conditions, notwithstanding challenges of the pandemic

Children Aging Out of Care

Studies have consistently shown that youth who age out of care face numerous challenges and poorer life outcomes compared to their peers. The aim of this literature scan was to explore research on interventions or policies that might improve the transition process and outcomes for children and youth aging out of care in Ontario and any evidence on their effectiveness

Child Welfare and Pandemics

This literature scan identifies and synthesizes existing literature examining the effects of pandemics and the identification of policy solutions to mitigate their effects on a well defined group of Canada’s population—children in the care of Canada’s child welfare system. Findings from the literature show that children in care are at a heightened risk of harm from not only the current COVID-19 pandemic, but in many cases, from government policies being implemented to contain the epidemic. Child welfare systems and agencies, require policy makers to formulate, articulate and implement child protection strategies that: allow for and encourage increased coordination across all sectors that involve children in care; build on the strengths and positive coping mechanisms of communities, families, caregivers and children; address the challenges of highly venerable populations such as youth in residential care; and provide for the required resources and supports to function not only during an epidemic but also in pre- and post-pandemic environments

Information and Communication Technologies for the Provision of Child Welfare Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic poses a range of unexpected and unprecedented challenges to families and child welfare services. The imbalance between increased need for children's support and decreased access to social services due to public health measures creates a gap in service delivery. Consequently, child welfare services transitioned from face-to-face to virtual services. This document investigates ICT usage in child welfare services, including various challenges before the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic provides policymakers with a unique opportunity to re-think the strengths and weaknesses of current child welfare programs and plan for a more effective system that incorporates ICT in the implementation of services and programs