School-related stress among sixth-grade students - associations with academic buoyancy and temperament

The present study examined to what extent sixth-grade students’ academic buoyancy and temperament contributed to their school-related stress. A total of 845 students rated their school-related stress at the beginning and end of the school year and their academic buoyancy at the beginning of the year. Parents rated students’ effortful control and negative affectivity. The results showed that high academic buoyancy, high effortful control, and low negative affectivity at the beginning of the school year were related to lower school-related stress at the end of the school year, after controlling for gender, GPA, and previous level of stress. Effortful control and negative affectivity had no significant interaction effect with academic buoyancy on students’ school-related stress. The findings of the study suggest that interventions aiming at supporting students’ academic buoyancy may also decrease their feelings of school stress. In particular, students with high negative affectivity or low effortful control may need training in stress management skills

Targeted Reinforcement of Macrophage Reprogramming Toward M2 Polarization by IL-4-Loaded Hyaluronic Acid Particles

Alteration of macrophage polarization from inflammatory (M1) to anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotype can have striking implications for the regeneration of injured tissues, treatment of inflammatory diseases, and relief of autoimmune disorders. Although certain cytokines like interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 are capable of inducing M2 macrophage polarization, their therapeutic potential in vivo is suffering from low efficacy due to their instability and poor access to target cells. Here, we report the synthesis of IL-4-loaded hyaluronic acid (HA) particle for the targeted delivery of cytokines through the high affinity of HA to CD44 receptors of macrophages. HA carriers composed of low, middle, and high molecular weight (MW) polymers were synthesized using divinyl sulfone (DVS) cross-linking. The MW of HA had a negligible effect on the physicochemical properties and biocompatibility of the macrophages, but as an indicative of M2 polarization, a significant change in the arginase-1 (Arg-1) activity, TNF-a release, and IL-10 secretion was observed for the HA particles prepared with high MW polymers. Therefore, these particles were loaded with IL-4 for simultaneous macrophage targeting and M1 to M2 reprogramming, evidenced by a remarkable increase in the Arg-1 to iNOS ratio, as well as CD163 and CD206 upregulation in the M1 macrophages, which were initially triggered by lipopolysaccharide and interferon-y.M.-A.S. acknowledges financial support from Academy of Finland (Decision no. 317316), Iran’s National Elites Foundation and Iran Nanotechnology Initiative Council. T.B.-R. acknowledges financial support from the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Grant no. SFRH/BD/110859/2015). Financial support from the FEDER - Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional funds through the COMPETE 2020 Operacional Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalisation (POCI), Portugal 2020, and by Portuguese funds through the FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia/Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação in the framework of the project “Institute for Research and Innovation in Health Sciences” (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007274) is acknowledged. H.A.S. acknowledges financial support from the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation (Decision no. 4704580), the Helsinki Institute of Life Science, and the Academy of Finland (Decision no. 1317042)

The Role of Academic Buoyancy and Emotions in Students’ Learning-Related Expectations and Behaviours in Primary School

Background. Academic buoyancy refers to students’ ability to come through ordinary challenges they face in the academic context, and it can positively contribute to students’ beliefs and behaviours in learning situations. Although buoyancy has been found to be related to positive academic outcomes, previous studies have not examined how buoyancy influences academic emotions in learning situations and how these emotions further affect students’ learning-related expectations and behaviours. Aims. This study investigated to what extent academic buoyancy predicts students’ failure expectations, avoidance behaviour, and task-oriented planning in learning situations, and to what extent academic emotions mediate the effect of academic buoyancy on these expectations and behaviours. Sample. A total of 845 Finnish students in the sixth grade of primary school. Methods. Self-report data for academic buoyancy and academic emotions in the autumn semester and learning-related expectations and behaviours in the spring semester were analysed using structural equation modelling, controlling for gender, grade point average, and previous levels of learning-related expectations and behaviours. Results. The findings showed that high academic buoyancy indirectly predicted lower avoidance behaviour, fewer failure expectations, and higher task-oriented planning via academic emotions. High academic buoyancy was related to high enjoyment and hope as well as low boredom and hopelessness, which further predicted low failure expectations. High hope and low boredom also predicted low avoidance behaviour and high hope was associated with high task-oriented planning. Conclusions. The findings suggest that academic buoyancy supports positive expectations and adaptive behaviours in learning situations through the regulation of emotions

Predictors of response to pharmacological treatments in treatment-resistant schizophrenia - A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: As the burden of treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) on patients and society is high it is important to identify predictors of response to medications in TRS. The aim was to analyse whether baseline patient and study characteristics predict treatment response in TRS in drug trials. Methods: A comprehensive search strategy completed in PubMed, Cochrane and Web of Science helped identify relevant studies. The studies had to meet the following criteria: English language clinical trial of pharmacological treatment of TRS, clear definition of TRS and response, percentage of response reported, at least one baseline characteristic presented, and total sample size of at least 15. Meta-regression techniques served to explore whether baseline characteristics predict response to medication in TRS. Results: 77 articles were included in the systematic review. The overall sample included 7546 patients, of which 41% achieved response. Higher positive symptom score at baseline predicted higher response percentage. None of the other baseline patient or study characteristics achieved statistical significance at predicting response. When analysed in groups divided by antipsychotic drugs, studies of clozapine and other atypical antipsychotics produced the highest response rate. Conclusions: This meta-analytic review identified surprisingly few baseline characteristics that predicted treatment response. However, higher positive symptoms and the use of atypical antipsychotics - particularly clozapine -was associated with the greatest likelihood of response. The difficulty involved in the prediction of medication response in TRS necessitates careful monitoring and personalised medication management. There is a need for more investigations of the predictors of treatment response in TRS.Peer reviewe

Community perspectives of complex trauma assessment for Aboriginal parents: 'Its important, but how these discussions are held is critical'

Background and Purpose: Becoming a parent can be an exciting and also challenging transition, particularly for parents who have experienced significant hurt in their own childhoods, and may be experiencing ‘complex trauma.’ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Aboriginal) people also experience historical trauma. While the parenting transition is an important time to offer support for parents, it is essential to ensure that the benefits of identifying parents experiencing complex trauma outweigh any risks (e.g., stigmatization). This paper describes views of predominantly Aboriginal stakeholders regarding (1) the relative importance of domains proposed for complex trauma assessment, and (2) how to conduct these sensitive discussions with Aboriginal parents. Setting and Methods: A co-design workshop was held in Alice Springs (Central Australia) as part of an Aboriginal-led community-based participatory action research project. Workshop participants were 57 predominantly Aboriginal stakeholders with expertise in community, clinical, policy and academic settings. Twelve domains of complex trauma-related distress had been identified in existing assessment tools and through community consultation. Using story-telling and strategies to create safety for discussing complex and sensitive issues, and delphi-style methods, stakeholders rated the level of importance of the 12 domains; and discussed why, by whom, where and how experiences of complex trauma should be explored. Main Findings: The majority of stakeholders supported the importance of assessing each of the proposed complex trauma domains with Aboriginal parents. However, strong concerns were expressed regarding where, by whom and how this should occur. There was greater emphasis and consistency regarding ‘qualities’ (e.g., caring), rather than specific ‘attributes’ (e.g., clinician). Six critical overarching themes emerged: ensuring emotional and cultural safety; establishing relationships and trust; having capacity to respond appropriately and access support; incorporating less direct cultural communication methods (e.g., yarning, dadirri); using strengths-based approaches and offering choices to empower parents; and showing respect, caring and compassion. Conclusion: Assessments to identify Aboriginal parents experiencing complex trauma should only be considered when the prerequisites of safety, trusting relationships, respect, compassion, adequate care, and capacity to respond are assured. Offering choices and cultural and strengths-based approaches are also critical. Without this assurance, there are serious concerns that harms may outweigh any benefits for Aboriginal parents

Influence of Surface Chemistry on Ibuprofen Adsorption and Confinement in Mesoporous Silicon Microparticles

The effect of adsorption and confinement on ibuprofen was studied by immersion loading the molecules into porous silicon (PSi) microparticles. The PSi micro particles were modified into thermally oxidized PSi (TOPSi) and thermally hydrocarbonized PSi (THCPSi) to evaluate the effects of the loading solvent and the surface chemistry on the obtainable drug payloads. The payloads, location, and the molecular state of the adsorbed drug were evaluated using thermal analysis. The results showed that after the adsorption of similar to 800 mg/cm(3) (w(drug)/v(pores)) of drug into the mesopores, depending on the solvent used in the immersion, the drug began to rapidly recrystallize on the external surface of the particles. Moderate concentrations, however, enabled payloads of 800-850 mg/cm(3) without excessive surface crystallization, and thus, there was no need for rinsing the samples to remove the externally crystallized portion. The results showed that the confined ibuprofen forms nanocrystals inside of the mesopores after approximately 200 mg/cm(3) payloads were obtained, accounting for half of the adsorbed drug amount. The presence of both crystalline and noncrystalline phases was further characterized using variable temperature solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements. The interactions between the drug molecules and the pore walls of TOPSi and THCPSi were observed using Fourier transform infrared and H-1 NMR spectroscopies, and the hydrogen bonding between the silanol groups of TOPSi and the adsorbed ibuprofen was confirmed, but having only limited effect on the overall state of the confined drug. In vitro drug permeation studies in Caco-2 and Caco-2/HT29 cocultures showed that the adsorption onto hydrophilic or hydrophobic PSi microparticles had no significant effects on the ibuprofen permeation, whether the drug was partially nanocrystalline or completely in a liquidlike state

Hierarchical structured and programmed vehicles deliver drugs locally to inflamed sites of intestine

Orally administrable drug delivery vehicles are developed to manage incurable inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), however, their therapeutic outcomes are compromised by the side effects of systemic drug exposure. Herein, we use hyaluronic acid functionalized porous silicon nanoparticle to bridge enzyme-responsive hydrogel and pH-responsive polymer, generating a hierarchical structured (nano-in-nano-in-micro) vehicle with programmed properties to fully and sequentially overcome the multiple obstacles for efficiently delivering drugs locally to inflamed sites of intestine. After oral administration, the pH-responsive matrix protects the embedded hybrid nanoparticles containing drug loaded hydrogels against the spatially variable physiological environments of the gastrointestinal tract until they reach the inflamed sites of intestine, preventing premature drug release. The negatively charged hybrid nanoparticles selectively target the inflamed sites of intestine, and gradually release drug in response to the microenvironment of inflamed intestine. Overall, the developed hierarchical structured and programmed vehicles load, protect, transport and release drugs locally to inflamed sites of intestine, contributing to superior therapeutic outcomes. Such strategy could also inspire the development of numerous hierarchical structured vehicles by other porous nanoparticles and stimuli-responsive materials for the local delivery of various drugs to treat plenty of inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases, including IBD, gastrointestinal cancers and viral infections.Peer reviewe

Factors that Impact Susceptibility to Fiber-Induced Health Effects

Asbestos and related fibers are associated with a number of adverse health effects, including malignant mesothelioma (MM), an aggressive cancer that generally develops in the surface serosal cells of the pleural, pericardial, and peritoneal cavities. Although approximately 80% of individuals with MM are exposed to asbestos, fewer than 5% of asbestos workers develop MM. In addition to asbestos, other mineralogical, environmental, genetic, and possibly viral factors might contribute to MM susceptibility. Given this complex etiology of MM, understanding susceptibility to MM needs to be a priority for investigators in order to reduce exposure of those most at risk to known environmental carcinogens. In this review, the current body of literature related to fiber-associated disease susceptibility including age, sex, nutrition, genetics, asbestos, and other mineral exposure is addressed with a focus on MM, and critical areas for further study are recommended

Early motor developmental milestones and schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia proposes that impaired brain development is a cause of the illness. Early motor developmental milestones, such as learning to walk, are predictors of later schizophrenia but studies have not been systematically reviewed. The aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to explore the association between early motor developmental milestones and the risk of adult schizophrenia. In addition, we updated a systematic review on motor function and risk of schizophrenia. The PubMed, PsycINFO and Scopus databases were searched for original research articles published up to July 2015. Motor milestones were measured between ages 0 and 13years. Random effect meta-analysis calculated effect estimates (Hedges' g) for the association between individual motor milestones and schizophrenia risk. An electronic database and selected articles reference list search identified 5990 articles after removing duplicates. Sixty-nine full text articles were assessed for eligibility of which six were included in the review. Five studies provided sufficient data for meta-analyses. The following motor milestones were significantly associated with adult schizophrenia risk: walking unsupported (g=0.46; 95% CI 0.27-0.64; p<0.001), standing unsupported (g=0.28; 0.16-0.40; p<0.001) and sitting unsupported (g=0.18; 0.05-0.31; p=0.007). Results for the milestones 'holding head up' and 'grabbing object' were not statistically significant. Delayed walking, sitting and standing unsupported were associated with adult onset schizophrenia. The findings emphasise the importance of timely achievement of these motor milestones in childhood and can contribute to the identification of individuals at risk of psychosis.This work is supported by funding from the People Programme (Marie Curie Actions) of the European Union Seventh Framework Programme's FP7/2007 – 2013 under REA grant agreement no. 316795 and the Academy of Finland (#303696)

Fabrication and Characterization of Drug-Loaded Conductive Poly(glycerol sebacate)/Nanoparticle-Based Composite Patch for Myocardial Infarction Applications

Heart tissue engineering is critical in the treatment of myocardial infarction, which may benefit from drug-releasing smart materials. In this study, we load a small molecule (3i-1000) in new biodegradable and conductive patches for application in infarcted myocardium. The composite patches consist of a biocompatible elastomer, poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS), coupled with collagen type I, used to promote cell attachment. In addition, polypyrrole is incorporated because of its electrical conductivity and to induce cell signaling. Results from the in vitro experiments indicate a high density of cardiac myoblast cells attached on the patches, which stay viable for at least 1 month. The degradation of the patches does not show any cytotoxic effect, while 3i-1000 delivery induces cell proliferation. Conductive patches show high blood wettability and drug release, correlating with the rate of degradation of the PGS matrix. Together with the electrical conductivity and elongation characteristics, the developed biomaterial fits the mechanical, conductive, and biological demands required for cardiac treatment.</p