Project Passport: An Integrated Group-Centered Approach Targeting Pregnant Teens and Their Partners

Objective: To describes the development of Project Passport, a perinatal intervention designed to reduce negative outcomes among pregnant teens. Methods: A logic model guided the planning, development and evaluation plan for the intervention. It included the selection of health goals, behaviors to be targeted, determinants of the selected behaviors, and activities to impact each selected determinant. Results: The process resulted in the formulation of an intervention that incorporates CenteringPregnancy, a group model of prenatal care, Positive Youth Development components, and male involvement. The evaluation examines the effectiveness of the intervention in enhancing health, educational and psychosocial outcomes among pregnant adolescents. Conclusions: The present program was designed to address an important gap in evidence-based interventions targeting pregnant adolescents and their partners

The full-ORF clone resource of the German cDNA Consortium

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>With the completion of the human genome sequence the functional analysis and characterization of the encoded proteins has become the next urging challenge in the post-genome era. The lack of comprehensive ORFeome resources has thus far hampered systematic applications by protein gain-of-function analysis. Gene and ORF coverage with full-length ORF clones thus needs to be extended. In combination with a unique and versatile cloning system, these will provide the tools for genome-wide systematic functional analyses, to achieve a deeper insight into complex biological processes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here we describe the generation of a full-ORF clone resource of human genes applying the Gateway cloning technology (Invitrogen). A pipeline for efficient cloning and sequencing was developed and a sample tracking database was implemented to streamline the clone production process targeting more than 2,200 different ORFs. In addition, a robust cloning strategy was established, permitting the simultaneous generation of two clone variants that contain a particular ORF with as well as without a stop codon by the implementation of only one additional working step into the cloning procedure. Up to 92 % of the targeted ORFs were successfully amplified by PCR and more than 93 % of the amplicons successfully cloned.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The German cDNA Consortium ORFeome resource currently consists of more than 3,800 sequence-verified entry clones representing ORFs, cloned with and without stop codon, for about 1,700 different gene loci. 177 splice variants were cloned representing 121 of these genes. The entry clones have been used to generate over 5,000 different expression constructs, providing the basis for functional profiling applications. As a member of the recently formed international ORFeome collaboration we substantially contribute to generating and providing a whole genome human ORFeome collection in a unique cloning system that is made freely available in the community.</p

Systematic documentation and analysis of human genetic variation in hemoglobinopathies using the microattribution approach

We developed a series of interrelated locus-specific databases to store all published and unpublished genetic variation related to hemoglobinopathies and thalassemia and implemented microattribution to encourage submission of unpublished observations of genetic variation to these public repositories. A total of 1,941 unique genetic variants in 37 genes, encoding globins and other erythroid proteins, are currently documented in these databases, with reciprocal attribution of microcitations to data contributors. Our project provides the first example of implementing microattribution to incentivise submission of all known genetic variation in a defined system. It has demonstrably increased the reporting of human variants, leading to a comprehensive online resource for systematically describing human genetic variation in the globin genes and other genes contributing to hemoglobinopathies and thalassemias. The principles established here will serve as a model for other systems and for the analysis of other common and/or complex human genetic diseases

Pregnant Adolescents as Perpetrators and Victims of Intimate Partner Violence

The role of pregnant adolescents as perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) is not well understood. Socioecological factors associated with IPV (physical assault and injury, and psychological aggression) perpetrated by pregnant adolescents and the association between IPV and attitudes toward the use of physical punishment to discipline children were examined among 246 pregnant adolescents. Pregnant adolescents were more likely to report perpetrating both physical assault (24%) and psychological aggression (52.7%) than being the recipient (12.2% and 38.6%, respectively) and having been physically injured (7%) than inflicting injury (4.1%). Risk factors for perpetrating physical assault included prior assault by partner, being African American, exposure to community violence, being in trouble with the police, and multiple lifetime drug use. IPV perpetrators had more favorable attitudes toward the use of physical punishment. Interventions should address IPV and parenting attitudes in young couples to maximize the health and safety of both mother and unborn child

A Socioecological Framework to Assessing Depression Among Pregnant Teens

To examine individual, interpersonal, family, and community correlates associated with moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms among pregnant adolescents. A total of 249 primarily African American and Hispanic pregnant adolescents ages 15–18 years were recruited into either an intervention group utilizing Centering Pregnancy prenatal care and case management, or to a comparison group receiving case management only. Moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms were defined as a score ≥16 on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Intervention and comparison groups did not significantly differ on demographic characteristics or depression scores at baseline. A total of 115 (46.1 %) participants met criteria for moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms at entry into the program. Pregnant adolescents who were moderately-to-severely depressed were more likely to be African American, to have reported limited contact with the father of the baby, and to have experienced prior verbal, physical or sexual abuse. Depressed adolescents also experienced high levels of family criticism, low levels of general support, and exposure to community violence. A significant number of pregnant adolescents were affected by depression and other challenges that could affect their health. Comprehensive interventions addressing these challenges and incorporating partners and families are needed

Impact of a Group Prenatal Program for Pregnant Adolescents on Perceived Partner Support

This quasi-experimental study compared family formation and perceived partner support among pregnant adolescents in a prenatal care program. Participants were assigned to either an intervention group utilizing centering pregnancy (CP) prenatal care and case management, or to a comparison group receiving case management only. Partners were invited to participate in CP group sessions. This study included 173 predominantly minority pregnant adolescents ages 15–18 years who were enrolled in a prenatal program and followed one month postpartum. Family formation included living and relationship arrangements. Perceived partner support included six domains of perceived social provisions. Data were collected through participants’ self-reports using computer-assisted self-interviews. Changes in family formation and perceptions of partner support from baseline to postpartum did not differ between intervention and comparison groups. Male partners who attended at least one CP session were perceived as more supportive at both the beginning and end of the program than partners who did not attend any sessions. After combining groups, pregnant adolescents reported a significant shift in family formation and increased monetary support from partners from baseline to postpartum. Partner support is important for ensuring positive pregnancy outcomes. Additional strategies are needed to engage young fathers who do not readily provide support during pregnancy

Pro-Inflammatory versus Immunomodulatory Effects of Silver Nanoparticles in the Lung: The Critical Role of Dose, Size and Surface Modification

The growing use of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) in consumer products raises concerns about their toxicological potential. The purpose of the study was to investigate the size- and coating-dependent pulmonary toxicity of Ag-NPs in vitro and in vivo, using an ovalbumin (OVA)-mouse allergy model. Supernatants from (5.6–45 µg/mL) Ag50-PVP, Ag200-PVP or Ag50-citrate-treated NR8383 alveolar macrophages were tested for lactate dehydrogenase and glucuronidase activity, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α release and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. For the in vivo study, NPs were intratracheally instilled in non-sensitized (NS) and OVA-sensitized (S) mice (1–50 µg/mouse) prior to OVA-challenge and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) inflammatory infiltrate was evaluated five days after challenge. In vitro results showed a dose-dependent cytotoxicity of Ag-NPs, which was highest for Ag50-polyvinilpyrrolidone (PVP), followed by Ag50-citrate, and lowest for Ag200-PVP. In vivo 10–50 µg Ag50-PVP triggered a dose-dependent pulmonary inflammatory milieu in NS and S mice, which was significantly higher in S mice and was dampened upon instillation of Ag200-PVP. Surprisingly, instillation of 1 µg Ag50-PVP significantly reduced OVA-induced inflammatory infiltrate in S mice and had no adverse effect in NS mice. Ag50-citrate showed similar beneficial effects at low concentrations and attenuated pro-inflammatory effects at high concentrations. The lung microbiome was altered by NPs instillation dependent on coating and/or mouse batch, showing the most pronounced effects upon instillation of 50 µg Ag50-citrate, which caused an increased abundance of operational taxonomic units assigned to Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. However, no correlation with the biphasic effect of low and high Ag-NPs dose was found. Altogether, both in vitro and in vivo data on the pulmonary effects of Ag-NPs suggest the critical role of the size, dose and surface functionalization of Ag-NPs, especially in susceptible allergic individuals. From the perspective of occupational health, care should be taken by the production of Ag-NPs-containing consumer products