333 research outputs found
Isolation and Characterization of Novel BTB Domain Protein Encoding Genes from Fungal Grass Endophytes
Pasture grasses belonging to the Pooideae sub-family of the Poaceae family frequently host symbiotic fungal endophytes. These include the sexual Epichloë species and the anamorphic asexual Neotyphodium species, which are thought to have evolved from Epichloë species either by the direct loss of sexual reproduction or by interspecific hybridisation. The two key temperate pasture grasses, tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) interact with the fungal endophytes N. coenophialum and N. lolii, respectively. Large insert genomic DNA libraries are valuable resources for the discovery and isolation of genes and their regulatory sequences, for physical mapping, map-based cloning of target genes as well as for whole genome sequencing. BTB (Bric-a-brac, tram-track, broad complex) domains are highly conserved motifs of 120 amino acids in length. The domains are rich in hydrophobic amino acids, and mediate protein-protein interaction that lead to homomeric dimerisation and in some cases heteromeric dimerisation of a large number of functionally diverse proteins. The presence of BTB domains defines a large family of genes involved in various biological processes, such as the regulation of transcription, DNA binding activity and structural organisation of macromolecular structures. Genes encoding BTB domain proteins (BDP) have previously been described in viruses, yeasts, plants, nematodes, insects, fish and mammals. However, BDP genes have not as yet been described for filamentous fungi
Endophyte ASTRA: a Web-Based Resource for Neotyphodium and Epichloë EST Analysis
Large-scale gene discovery has led to the production of 13,964 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) collectively from the grass endophytes Neotyphodium coenophialum, N. lolii and Epichloë festucae
History of adversity, health and psychopathology among prisoners: comparison between men and women
Adversity in childhood, risk behaviors
and psychopathology are highly prevalent phenomena
in inmate populations and have a strong
impact on health. Knowing the differences in these
variables between the sexes is most important in
order to develop appropriate intervention strategies
in a prison context. By administering the
Socio-demographic and Life History Questionnaire
and the Brief Symptoms Inventory, we
sought to characterize adverse childhood experiences
and relate them to risk behaviors and to
psychopathological symptoms, and study the differences
between the 65 male and 42 female detainees
in Portuguese prison establishments. Men
and women report a complex web of adversity in
childhood. In a range of ten possible categories, a
medium value of 5.05 (DP = 2.63) in total adversity
for women and 2.63 (DP = 2.18) for men was
encountered, with the prevalence being significantly
higher within the female population (Z =
-4.33; p = .000). A high prevalence of risk behaviors
and psychopathological symptoms was found
in both groups, the latter being higher among females.
We concluded that the differences between
men and women calls for in depth studies in order
to provide guidelines for intervention projects
in specific populations.Adversidade na infância, comportamentos
de risco e psicopatologia sĂŁo fenĂłmenos muito
prevalentes na população reclusa e com forte impacto
na saúde. Conhecer as diferenças entre sexos,
no que diz respeito a tais variáveis, é de elevada
importância no sentido de adequar estraté-
gias de intervenção em contexto prisional. Utilizando
o Questionário Sociodemográfico e Histó-
ria de Vida, o Questionário de Adversidade na
Infância e o Brief Symptons Inventory, procuramos
caracterizar a adversidade na infância, os
comportamentos de risco e as dimensões psicopatológicas,
e averiguar as diferenças entre 65 homens
e 42 mulheres reclusos em estabelecimentos
prisionais Portugueses. Homens e mulheres relatam
um quadro complexo de adversidade na infância.
Num total possĂvel de dez categorias, verificamos
uma média de adversidade total de 5.05
(DP = 2.63) para as mulheres e de 2.63 (DP =
2.18) para os homens, sendo a prevalĂŞncia significativamente
mais elevada junto da população
feminina (Z = -4.33; p = .000). Foi ainda encontrada
uma elevada prevalĂŞncia de comportamentos
de risco e de sintomatologia psicopatolĂłgica
em ambos os grupos, sendo esta Ăşltima superior
nas mulheres. ConcluĂmos que as diferenças entre
sexos devem ser estudadas para guiarem a adequação
dos projetos
Addressing risk factors for child abuse among high risk pregnant women: design of a randomised controlled trial of the nurse family partnership in Dutch preventive health care
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Low socio-economic status combined with other risk factors affects a person's physical and psychosocial health from childhood to adulthood. The societal impact of these problems is huge, and the consequences carry on into the next generation(s). Although several studies show these consequences, only a few actually intervene on these issues. In the United States, the Nurse Family Partnership focuses on high risk pregnant women and their children. The main goal of this program is primary prevention of child abuse. The Netherlands is the first country outside the United States allowed to translate and culturally adapt the Nurse Family Partnership into VoorZorg. The aim of the present study is to assess whether VoorZorg is as effective in the Netherland as in the United States.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study consists of three partly overlapping phases. Phase 1 was the translation and cultural adaptation of Nurse Family Partnership and the design of a two-stage selection procedure. Phase 2 was a pilot study to examine the conditions for implementation. Phase 3 is the randomized controlled trial of VoorZorg compared to the care as usual. Primary outcome measures were smoking cessation during pregnancy and after birth, birth outcomes, child development, child abuse and domestic violence. The secondary outcome measure was the number of risk factors present.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This study shows that the Nurse Family Partnership was successfully translated and culturally adapted into the Dutch health care system and that this program fulfills the needs of high-risk pregnant women. We hypothesize that this program will be effective in addressing risk factors that operate during pregnancy and childhood and compromise fetal and child development.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Current Controlled Trials <a href="http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN16131117">ISRCTN16131117</a></p
Adverse childhood experiences and suicide attempts in morbidly obese adults
Introdução: As tentativas de suicĂdio surgem frequentemente associadas a problemas alimentares, tanto anorexia quanto bulimia. Do mesmo modo, tem-se verifi cado uma elevada ocorrĂŞncia de suicĂdio entre obesos. Investigações tĂŞm mostrado que a adversidade na infância pode ser um fator de
risco para as tentativas de suicĂdio.
Objetivos: Caracterizar e compreender a relação entre experiĂŞncias de adversidade na infância e tentativas de suicĂdio em 100 obesos mĂłrbidos
candidatos a cirurgia bariátrica.
Métodos: Um total de 100 pacientes foram selecionados de setembro de 2007 a outubro de 2007 e de janeiro de 2008 a janeiro de 2009, sendo que 20 pacientes eram do sexo feminino. A média de idade era de 38,89±9,87 anos, e a média do peso máximo era de 136,43±14 kg. O Questionário da
História de Adversidade na Infância foi utilizado para avaliar experiências adversas.
Resultados: 88% dos pacientes relataram a existência de pelo menos uma experiência de adversidade na infância, e 25% relataram já ter realizado pelo menos
uma tentativa de suicĂdio. A adversidade na infância esteve associada a um risco aumentado para realizar tentativas de suicĂdio (odds ratio = 2,026).
Conclusão: Esses dados devem ser levados em consideração na avaliação e no acompanhamento desses pacientes.Introduction: Suicide attempts are often associated with eating disorders, both anorexia and bulimia. Likewise, a high incidence of suicide has been
observed among obese patients. Previous studies have shown that adverse experiences in childhood may be a risk factor for suicide attempts.
Objectives: To characterize and to understand the relationship between adverse experiences and suicide attempts in 100 morbidly obese patients
referred for bariatric surgery.
Methods: A total of 100 patients were selected from September 2007 to October 2007 and from January 2008 to January 2009. Of these, 20 patients
were females. Mean age was 38.89±9.87 years, and mean maximum weight was 136.43±14 kg. The Portuguese version of the Family ACE (Adverse
Childhood Experiences) Questionnaire was used to assess the occurrence of adverse events.
Results: 88% of the patients reported the existence of at least one adverse experience in childhood, and 25% reported at least one previous suicide
attempt. Adversity in childhood was associated with an increased risk for suicide attempts (odds ratio = 2.026).
Conclusion: These data should be taken into account in the assessment and monitoring of these patients.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT); (SFRH/BD/37069/2007)
Early adversity predicts adoptees’ enduring emotional and behavioral problems in childhood
Children adopted from the public care system are likely to experience a cluster of inter-related risk factors that place them on a trajectory of mental health problems that persist across the life course. However, the specific effects of putative risk factors on children’s mental health post-placement are not well understood. We conducted a prospective, longitudinal study of children placed for adoption between 2014 and 2015 (N = 96). Adoptive parents completed questionnaires at approximately 5-, 21-, 36-, and 48 months post-placement. We used time series analysis to examine the impact of pre-adoptive risk factors (adverse childhood experiences [ACEs], number of moves, days with birth parents and in care) on children’s internalizing and externalizing problems, and prosocial behaviour over four years post-placement. Adoptees’ internalizing and externalizing problems remained consistently high over the four-year study period but more ACEs predicted increases in internalizing and externalizing problems. Contrary to expectations, more pre-placement moves and time in care predicted fewer problems over time, but exploratory analyses of interactive effects revealed this was only the case in rare circumstances. We identify pre- and post-removal factors that may incur benefits or have a deleterious impact on adoptees’ outcomes in post-adoptive family life. Our findings provide knowledge for front-line professionals in the support of adoptive families and underscore the vital need for effective early intervention
Assessing the reliability of retrospective reports of adverse childhood experiences among adolescents with documented childhood maltreatment
The literature suggests that childhood maltreatment
is related to a higher probability of developing psychopathology
and disease in adulthood. However, some authors have
questioned the reliability of self-reports of maltreatment, suggesting
that psychopathology at the time of evaluation affects
self-reports. We evaluated the reliability of the self-reports of
79 young adults who were identified in childhood by Child
Protective Services by comparing two moments of evaluation.
Psychological and physical symptoms were tested to evaluate
their interference with the reports. We found good to excellent
agreement, with no significant correlation between the changes
in self-reported experiences and the changes in physical and
psychological symptoms, suggesting that the reliability of
reports is not related to the health state at the time of the report
Rural–Urban Migration and Experience of Childhood Abuse in the Young Thai Population
Evidence suggests that certain migrant populations are at increased risk of abusive behaviors. It is unclear whether this may also apply to Thai rural–urban migrants, who may experience higher levels of psychosocial adversities than the population at large. The study aims to examine the association between migration status and the history of childhood sexual, physical, and emotional abuse among young Thai people in an urban community. A population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in Northern Bangkok on a representative sample of 1052 young residents, aged 16–25 years. Data were obtained concerning: 1) exposures—migration (defined as an occasion when a young person, born in a more rural area moves for the first time into Greater Bangkok) and age at migration. 2) outcomes—child abuse experiences were assessed with an anonymous self report adapted from the Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS). There were 8.4%. 16.6% and 56.0% reporting sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, respectively. Forty six percent of adolescents had migrated from rural areas to Bangkok, mostly independently at the age of 15 or after to seek work. Although there were trends towards higher prevalences of the three categories of abuse among early migrants, who moved to Bangkok before the age of 15, being early migrants was independently associated with experiences of physical abuse (OR 1.9 95%CI 1.1–3.2) and emotional abuse (OR 2.0, 95%CI 1.3–3.0) only. Our results suggest that rural–urban migration at an early age may place children at higher risk of physical and emotional abuse. This may have policy implications for the prevention of childhood abuse particularly among young people on the move
Brief evidence-based interventions for universal child health services: a restricted evidence assessment of the literature
Background
Universal child health services (UCHS) provide an important pragmatic platform for the delivery of universal and targeted interventions to support families and optimize child health outcomes. We aimed to identify brief, evidence-based interventions for common health and developmental problems that could be potentially implemented in UCHS.
Methods
A restricted evidence assessment (REA) of electronic databases and grey literature was undertaken covering January 2006 to August 2019. Studies were eligible if (i) outcomes related to one or more of four areas: child social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB), infant sleep, home learning environment or parent mental health, (ii) a comparison group was used, (iii) universal or targeted intervention were delivered in non-tertiary settings, (iv) interventions did not last more than 4 sessions, and (v) children were aged between 2 weeks postpartum and 5 years at baseline.
Results
Seventeen studies met the eligibility criteria. Of these, three interventions could possibly be implemented at scale within UCHS platforms: (1) a universal child behavioural intervention which did not affect its primary outcome of infant sleep but improved parental mental health, (2) a universal screening programme which improved maternal mental health, and (3) a targeted child behavioural intervention which improved parent-reported infant sleep problems and parental mental health. Key lessons learnt include: (1) Interventions should impart the maximal amount of information within an initial session with future sessions reinforcing key messages, (2) Interventions should see the family as a holistic unit by considering the needs of parents with an emphasis on identification, triage and referral, and (3) Brief interventions may be more acceptable for stigmatized topics, but still entail considerable barriers that deter the most vulnerable.
Conclusions
Delivery and evaluation of brief evidence-based interventions from a UCHS could lead to improved maternal and child health outcomes through a more responsive and equitable service. We recommend three interventions that meet our criteria of “best bet” interventions
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