Adolescent Characteristics And Peer Influence As Predictors Of Antisocial Behavior In Males

Deviant peer influence during adolescence has been found to predict substance use, delinquency, and aggression. This study examined youth characteristics (prosociality, daring, and verbal ability) along with peer influence (deviant talk) as predictors of antisocial behavior. Peer influence, in the form of deviant talk, was also examined as a potential mediator between youth characteristics and antisocial behavior. The current study added to the literature by examining a slope measure of deviant talk as an organizing feature of peer discussions. Data were collected prospectively from a subsample of 178 youths participating in the Pitt Mother and Child Project. Findings supported daring, verbal ability, and percent deviant talk as direct predictors of antisocial behavior while controlling for a number of risk factors. Evidence of a mediated relationship was not found. The findings suggest independent pathways from youth characteristics and peer influence to antisocial behavior

Parent-Child Interaction Style And Adjustment To Pediatric Cancer Treatment

Substantial gains in the survival rate of children diagnosed with cancer have been achieved; however, a large body of evidence exists that children and their families are at increased psychosocial risk. Missing from our understanding is how real-time, moment-to-moment interactions build to long-term, developmental changes in child functioning. This project expands our understanding of the variation in child distress during procedures as well as long-term adjustment. Real-time coding and global ratings of parent and child behaviors were used to describe parent-child interactions in terms of dyadic flexibility and dyadic mutuality. To carry out this project, a new system of collecting data needed to be created or an existing system needed to be adapted. Based on previously published examples and pilot testing, two systems were selected for adaptation for the current project. The SPAFF is a real-time coding system that uses a holistic approach of integrating verbal statements, non-verbal behaviors, and tone of voice to create an overall label of emotional state (Coan & Gottman, 2007; Lunkenheimer et al., 2011). This system was used to examine emotional flexibility in a parent-child dyad during a hospital visit for a port start procedure that was part of the child’s cancer treatment regimen. Dyadic mutuality was adapted from the PARCHISY (Deater-Deckard et al., 1997) which uses global ratings of parents and children. The specific aims of this study were Aim 1: evaluate the implementation of the coding and rating system in a hospital setting, Aim 2: examine the association between child temperament and the observations of the parent-child dyad in the hospital room, Aim 3: investigate the association between parent-child hospital room behaviors and child distress & cooperation during the procedure, and Aim 4: assess the predictive ability of parent-child hospital room behaviors on long-term child internalizing and externalizing problems. The overall findings of this study support a model in which child ego-resilience is associated with parent-child hospital room behaviors. Parent-child hospital room flexibility and mutuality are associated with long-term child externalizing problems. These findings are consistent with previous work from the same research sample as well as the general child development literature

Parent-Child Interaction Style And Adjustment To Pediatric Cancer Treatment

Substantial gains in the survival rate of children diagnosed with cancer have been achieved; however, a large body of evidence exists that children and their families are at increased psychosocial risk. Missing from our understanding is how real-time, moment-to-moment interactions build to long-term, developmental changes in child functioning. This project expands our understanding of the variation in child distress during procedures as well as long-term adjustment. Real-time coding and global ratings of parent and child behaviors were used to describe parent-child interactions in terms of dyadic flexibility and dyadic mutuality. To carry out this project, a new system of collecting data needed to be created or an existing system needed to be adapted. Based on previously published examples and pilot testing, two systems were selected for adaptation for the current project. The SPAFF is a real-time coding system that uses a holistic approach of integrating verbal statements, non-verbal behaviors, and tone of voice to create an overall label of emotional state (Coan & Gottman, 2007; Lunkenheimer et al., 2011). This system was used to examine emotional flexibility in a parent-child dyad during a hospital visit for a port start procedure that was part of the child’s cancer treatment regimen. Dyadic mutuality was adapted from the PARCHISY (Deater-Deckard et al., 1997) which uses global ratings of parents and children. The specific aims of this study were Aim 1: evaluate the implementation of the coding and rating system in a hospital setting, Aim 2: examine the association between child temperament and the observations of the parent-child dyad in the hospital room, Aim 3: investigate the association between parent-child hospital room behaviors and child distress & cooperation during the procedure, and Aim 4: assess the predictive ability of parent-child hospital room behaviors on long-term child internalizing and externalizing problems. The overall findings of this study support a model in which child ego-resilience is associated with parent-child hospital room behaviors. Parent-child hospital room flexibility and mutuality are associated with long-term child externalizing problems. These findings are consistent with previous work from the same research sample as well as the general child development literature

Case report: Chronic pain in a pediatric patient with late-onset pompe disease

Pompe disease (PD) is a rare inherited metabolic disorder of deficient or absent acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA), resulting in defective lysosomal glycogen catabolism. Muscle weakness, respiratory deficiency and gastrointestinal symptoms are commonly monitored in PD. However, pain and associated psychological symptoms are less focused upon. A pediatric patient with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) comorbid with chronic pain is presented. Symptoms of pain in the feet were first reported between 6 and 7 years of age and were attributed to growing pains. Following progression of lower body pain, weakness, fatigue, and difficulties with ambulation, a thorough clinical assessment including genetic testing was performed, which led to a diagnosis of LOPD at 9 years of age. ERT with recombinant human alglucosidase alfa was subsequently started. The patient’s clinical status is compounded by depressed mood, anxiety, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, which may further exacerbate pain. A multidisciplinary pain treatment approach consisting of orthopedics, physical therapy, and psychosocial therapy aimed at enhancing pain coping skills is described for this LOPD patient. This case highlights the need for a greater understanding of pain generation and identification of optimized pain treatment approaches in children with LOPD that can be implemented alongside ERT

Distinct & Complementary: Faculty Senate, AAUP and the Work of Shared Governance at FHSU

A discussion of the function and structure of Faculty Senate, the history of Faculty Senate, and the role of AAUP as well as the history of AUUP on campus

Dataset describing the development, optimization and application of SRM/MRM based targeted proteomics strategy for quantification of potential biomarkers of EGFR TKI sensitivity

The data presented here describes the use of targeted proteomic assays to quantify potential biomarkers of Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) sensitivity in lung adenocarcinoma and is related to the research article: “Quantitative targeted proteomic analysis of potential markers of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) sensitivity in EGFR mutated lung adenocarcinoma” [1]. This article describes the data associated with liquid chromatography coupled to multiple reaction monitoring (LC-MRM) method development which includes selection of an optimal transition list, retention time prediction and building of reverse calibration curves. Sample preparation and optimization which includes phosphotyrosine peptide enrichment via a combination of pan-phosphotyrosine antibodies is described. The dataset also consists of figures, tables and Excel files describing the quantitative results of testing these optimized methods in two lung adenocarcinoma cell lines with EGFR mutations

The experience of living with Niemann–Pick type C: a patient and caregiver perspective

Abstract Background Niemann–Pick disease type C (NPC) is a rare inherited lysosomal storage disease typified by accumulation of cholesterol and other lipids in late endosomes/lysosomes, thereby resulting in a spectrum of neurological, psychiatric, and systemic symptoms (notably liver disease). Though it is well-known that NPC exacts a physical and emotional toll on both patients and caregivers, the burden of NPC can vary between patients, while the challenges of living with NPC can evolve over time (i.e., from time of diagnosis to the present day). To further grasp patient and caregiver perceptions and experiences with NPC, we carried out focus group discussions with pediatric and adult individuals with NPC (N = 19), with partial or full representation of the patient by their caregiver. Furthermore, we utilized our NPC focus group discussion to provide guidance on study design parameters and feasibility of prospective investigations aiming to characterize the central manifestations of NPC using neuroimaging, specifically, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methodology. Results Focus group discussions revealed that neurological signs, including declining cognition, memory loss, and psychiatric symptoms, as well as increasingly impaired mobility and motor function, are among the most pressing past and current concerns for patients and caregivers. Moreover, several participants also expressed concern over a loss of independence, social exclusion, and uncertainty for what the future holds. Caregivers described the challenges that participation in research poses, which included logistical difficulties mainly due to traveling with medical equipment and the need for sedation in a minority of patients when undergoing MRI. Conclusions The findings derived from focus group discussions highlight the outstanding challenges that NPC patients and their caregivers face daily, while also providing direction on the potential scope and feasibility of future studies focusing on the central phenotypes of NPC

Investigating A Multi-Domain Polyketide Synthase in <i>Amphidinium carterae</i>

Dinoflagellates are unicellular organisms that are implicated in harmful algal blooms (HABs) caused by potent toxins that are produced through polyketide synthase (PKS) pathways. However, the exact mechanisms of toxin synthesis are unknown due to a lack of genomic segregation of fat, toxins, and other PKS-based pathways. To better understand the underlying mechanisms, the actions and expression of the PKS proteins were investigated using the toxic dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae as a model. Cerulenin, a known ketosynthase inhibitor, was shown to reduce acetate incorporation into all fat classes with the toxins amphidinol and sulpho-amphidinol. The mass spectrometry analysis of cerulenin-reacted synthetic peptides derived from ketosynthase domains of A. carterae multimodular PKS transcripts demonstrated a strong covalent bond that could be localized using collision-induced dissociation. One multi-modular PKS sequence present in all dinoflagellates surveyed to date was found to lack an AT domain in toxin-producing species, indicating trans-acting domains, and was shown by Western blotting to be post-transcriptionally processed. These results demonstrate how toxin synthesis in dinoflagellates can be differentiated from fat synthesis despite common underlying pathway

Maternal Depressive Symptoms and At-Risk Young Children’s Internalizing Problems: The Moderating Role of Mothers’ Positivity

Maternal depressive symptoms predict negative child behaviors, including internalizing problems. However, protective factors, such as positive emotionality and positive parenting behaviors, may play an important a role in attenuating associations between maternal depressive symptoms and child behavior problems. This article presents two studies that examined buffers of links between maternal depressive symptoms and child internalizing problems. Each study examined samples of primarily African American families with young children in an impoverished large city in the Midwestern United States. Families were recruited from kindergarten classes and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) centers. In both studies, indicators of mothers’ positivity, as measured by text-based analysis of positive emotion word use or behavioral observation of positive parenting behaviors, attenuated links between maternal depressive symptoms and child internalizing problems. The results suggest that risk for internalizing problems within the context of maternal depressive symptoms is reduced when parents experience and express more positive emotions and behaviors