Paternal history of depression or anxiety disorder and infant–father attachment

Paternal depression and anxiety are important risk factors for a problematic parent–child relationship and subsequent child development. We explored the association between paternal history of depression and anxiety disorder and infant–father attachment security, taking into account the possible mediating roles of sensitivity and perceived family stress. In a sample of 94 infant–father dyads, a structured diagnostic interview and a questionnaire on family stress were administered during pregnancy. Paternal sensitivity was observed using the Ainsworth coding scales, and infant–father attachment was observed in the strange situation procedure during a lab visit at 14 months. Linear regression models were used to examine the association of father's lifetime depression or anxiety with the continuous scales for infant–father attachment security and disorganization. Father's history of depression or anxiety disorder was not significantly related to infant–father attachment security in the total sample. Interestingly, daughters of fathers with a history of depression or anxiety had higher scores on attachment security than daughters of fathers without this diagnosis. Perceived family stress and paternal sensitivity were not significant mediators. We discuss these unexpected findings, suggesting alternative mechanisms for how paternal vulnerability to depression or anxiety may be associated with the infant–father attachment relationship. Highlights: We examine the association between paternal history of depression and anxiety disorder and infant-father attachment security. In 94 infant-father dyads, a structured diagnostic interview was administered and infant-father attachment was observed in the Strange Situation Procedure. Daughters of fathers with a psychiatric history had higher scores on attachment security. Mechanisms of paternal vulnerability are discussed

Biological characteristics and treatment outcomes of metastatic or recurrent neuroendocrine tumors: tumor grade and metastatic site are important for treatment strategy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Studies about the biology, treatment pattern, and treatment outcome of metastatic/recurrent neuroendocrine tumor (NET) have been few.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We enrolled patients with metastatic/recurrent NET diagnosed between January 1996 and July 2007 and retrospectively analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 103 patients were evaluated. Twenty-six patients (25.2%) had pancreatic NET, 27 (26.2%) had gastrointestinal NET, 2 (1.9%) had lung NET, 28 (27.2%) had NET from other sites, and 20 (19.4%) had NET from unknown origin. The liver was the most common metastatic site (68.9%). Thirty-four patients had grade 1 disease, 1 (1.0%) had grade 2 disease, 15 (14.6%) had grade 3 disease, 9 (8.7%) had large cell disease, and 7 (6.8%) had small cell disease.</p> <p>Sixty-six patients received systemic treatment (interferon, somatostatin analogues or chemotherapy), 64 patients received local treatment (TACE, radiofrequency ablation, metastasectomy, etc.). Thirty-six patients received both systemic and local treatments.</p> <p>Median overall survival (OS) was 29.0 months (95% confidence interval, 25.0-33.0) in the103 patients. OS was significantly influenced by grade (<it>p </it>= .001). OS was 43.0, 23.0, and 29.0 months in patients who received local treatment only, systemic treatment only, and both treatments, respectively (<it>p </it>= .245). The median time-to-progression (TTP) was 6.0 months. Overall response rate was 34.0% and disease-control rate was 64.2%. TTP was influenced by the presence of liver metastasis (<it>p </it>= .011).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>OS of metastatic/recurrent NET was different according to tumor grade. TTP was different according to metastasis site. Therefore, development of optimal treatment strategy based on the characteristics of NET is warranted.</p

Medical treatment of prolactinomas.

Prolactinomas, the most prevalent type of neuroendocrine disease, account for approximately 40% of all pituitary adenomas. The most important clinical problems associated with prolactinomas are hypogonadism, infertility and hyposexuality. In patients with macroprolactinomas, mass effects, including visual field defects, headaches and neurological disturbances, can also occur. The objectives of therapy are normalization of prolactin levels, to restore eugonadism, and reduction of tumor mass, both of which can be achieved in the majority of patients by treatment with dopamine agonists. Given their association with minimal morbidity, these drugs currently represent the mainstay of treatment for prolactinomas. Novel data indicate that these agents can be successfully withdrawn in a subset of patients after normalization of prolactin levels and tumor disappearance, which suggests the possibility that medical therapy may not be required throughout life. Nevertheless, multimodal therapy that involves surgery, radiotherapy or both may be necessary in some cases, such as patients who are resistant to the effects of dopamine agonists or for those with atypical prolactinomas. This Review reports on efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy in patients with prolactinomas

BILDANALYS I SEX BILDLÄRARES PRAKTIK : För lärande och bedömning påhögstadiet och gymnasiet

Syftet med undersökningen var att bidra med kunskap om hur bildlärare på högstadiet och gymnasiet arbetar med bildanalys, vilken betydelse bildlärare tillmäter bildanalysen, samt hur eller om de viktar bildämnets teoretiska och praktiska delar i bedömningen. Sex bildlärare har intervjuats i kvalitativa semistrukturerade intervjuer för att fånga upp olika aspekter kring bildanalys, t.ex. formativa och summativa aspekter, men också eventuella motsägelser. Resultatet av intervjuerna visar att det varierar hur mycket bildanalys de sex lärarna har i sin undervisning, samt att vissa av lärarna anser att praktiska skapandet är viktigare, både i undervisning och för bedömning, oavsett hur mycket bildanalys man bör undervisa i sett till styrdokumenten, samt att bildanalysen inte alltid är integrerad med det praktiska skapandet

BILDANALYS I SEX BILDLÄRARES PRAKTIK : För lärande och bedömning påhögstadiet och gymnasiet

Syftet med undersökningen var att bidra med kunskap om hur bildlärare på högstadiet och gymnasiet arbetar med bildanalys, vilken betydelse bildlärare tillmäter bildanalysen, samt hur eller om de viktar bildämnets teoretiska och praktiska delar i bedömningen. Sex bildlärare har intervjuats i kvalitativa semistrukturerade intervjuer för att fånga upp olika aspekter kring bildanalys, t.ex. formativa och summativa aspekter, men också eventuella motsägelser. Resultatet av intervjuerna visar att det varierar hur mycket bildanalys de sex lärarna har i sin undervisning, samt att vissa av lärarna anser att praktiska skapandet är viktigare, både i undervisning och för bedömning, oavsett hur mycket bildanalys man bör undervisa i sett till styrdokumenten, samt att bildanalysen inte alltid är integrerad med det praktiska skapandet