Chewing gum and impasse-induced self-reported stress

An insoluble anagram task (Zellner et al., 2006) was used to investigate the proposition that chewing gum reduces self-rated stress (Scholey et al., 2009). Using a between-participants design, forty participants performed an insoluble anagram task followed by a soluble anagram task. These tasks were performed with or without chewing gum. Self-rated measures were taken at baseline, post-stressor, and post-recovery task. The insoluble anagram task was found to amplify stress in terms of increases in self-rated stress and reductions in both self-rated calmness and contentedness. However, chewing gum was found not to mediate the level of stress experienced. Furthermore, chewing gum did not result in superior performance on the soluble anagram task. The present study fails to generalise the findings of Scholey et al. to an impasse induced stress that has social components. The explanation for the discrepancy with Scholey et al. is unclear; however, it is suggested that the impossibility of the insoluble anagram task may negate any secondary stress reducing benefits arising from chewing gum-induced task improvement

The association of childhood maltreatment with depression and anxiety is not moderated by the oxytocin receptor gene

Background: The oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene may be involved in resilience or vulnerability towards stress, and hence in the development of stress-related disorders. There are indications that OXTR single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) interact with early life stressors in predicting levels of depression and anxiety. To replicate and extend these findings, we examined whether three literature-based OXTR SNPs (rs2254298, rs53576, rs2268498) interact with childhood maltreatment in the development of clinically diagnosed depression and anxiety disorders. Methods: We included 2567 individuals from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety. This sample consisted of 387 healthy controls, 428 people with a current or past depressive disorder, 243 people with a current or past anxiety disorder, and 1509 people with both lifetime depression and anxiety diagnoses. Childhood maltreatment was measured with both an interview and via self-report. Additional questionnaires measured depression and anxiety sensitivity. Results: Childhood maltreatment was strongly associated with both lifetime depression and anxiety diagnoses, as well as with depression and anxiety sensitivity. However, the OXTR SNPs did not moderate these associations nor had main effects on outcomes. Conclusions: The three OXTR gene SNPs did not interact with childhood maltreatment in predicting lifetime depression and anxiety diagnoses or sensitivity. This stresses the importance of replication studies with regard to OXTR gene variants in general populations as well as in clearly established clinical samples

Spontaneous twin anemia polycythemia sequence: diagnosis, management, and outcome in an international cohort of 249 cases.

BACKGROUND: Twin anemia polycythemia sequence is a chronic form of unbalanced fetofetal transfusion through minuscule placental anastomoses in monochorionic twins, leading to anemia in the donor and polycythemia in the recipient. Owing to the low incidence of twin anemia polycythemia sequence, data on diagnosis, management, and outcome are limited. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the diagnosis, management, and outcome in a large international cohort of spontaneous twin anemia polycythemia sequence. STUDY DESIGN: Data from the international twin anemia polycythemia sequence registry, retrospectively collected between 2014 and 2019, were used for this study. A total of 17 fetal therapy centers contributed to the data collection. The primary outcomes were perinatal mortality and severe neonatal morbidity. Secondary outcomes included a risk factor analysis for perinatal mortality and severe neonatal morbidity. RESULTS: A total of 249 cases of spontaneous twin anemia polycythemia sequence were included in this study, 219 (88%) of which were diagnosed antenatally and 30 (12%) postnatally. Twin anemia polycythemia sequence was diagnosed antenatally at a median gestational age of 23.7 weeks (interquartile range, 9.7-28.8; range, 15.1-35.3). Antenatal management included laser surgery in 39% (86 of 219), expectant management in 23% (51 of 219), delivery in 16% (34 of 219), intrauterine transfusion (with partial exchange transfusion) in 12% (26 of 219), selective feticide in 8% (18 of 219), and termination of pregnancy in 1% (3 of 219) of cases. Perinatal mortality rate was 15% (72 of 493) for the total group, 22% (54 of 243) for donors, and 7% (18 of 242) for recipients (P<.001). Severe neonatal morbidity occurred in 33% (141 of 432) of twins with twin anemia polycythemia sequence and was similar for donors (32%; 63 of 196) and recipients (33%; 75 of 228) (P=.628). Independent risk factors for spontaneous perinatal mortality were donor status (odds ratio, 3.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.9-7.5; P<.001), antenatal twin anemia polycythemia sequence stage (odds ratio, 6.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-27.8; P=.016 [stage 2]; odds ratio, 9.6; 95% confidence interval, 2.1-45.5; P=.005 [stage 3]; odds ratio, 20.9; 95% confidence interval, 3.0-146.4; P=.002 [stage 4]), and gestational age at birth (odds ratio, 0.8; 95% confidence interval, 0.7-0.9; P=.001). Independent risk factors for severe neonatal morbidity were antenatal twin anemia polycythemia sequence stage 4 (odds ratio, 7.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-43.3; P=.018) and gestational age at birth (odds ratio, 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-2.1, P<.001). CONCLUSION: Spontaneous twin anemia polycythemia sequence can develop at any time in pregnancy from the beginning of the second trimester to the end of the third trimester. Management for twin anemia polycythemia sequence varies considerably, with laser surgery being the most frequent intervention. Perinatal mortality and severe neonatal morbidity were high, the former especially so in the donor twins

Theories and stories in African public administration

Public administration in developing countries is administration in transformation. The main concepts that guide this transformation are universal. Yet those concepts are most often presented in Western literature, embedded in Western administrative practice. This book provides an overview of these main concepts seen from a different angle: an African perspective. The general concepts of the study of public administration and public management are illustrated with sub-Saharan African stories, written by Tanzanian scholars. This introductory book can be used to learn and to teach the basic concepts of public administration and public management and aims to prepare the students for the administrative realities they face in their society.ASC – Publicaties niet-programma gebonde

The Dutch Recidivism Monitor

The Dutch Recidivism Monitor is a long-term research project that conducts standardised measurements of recidivism amongst diverse groups of offenders. This project will enable the Ministry of Security and Justice to obtain a clearer overview as to the disposals of penal interventions and the course of criminal careers amongst both juvenile and adult offenders. Measurements as part of the Recidivism Monitor are carried out using the same fixed method. Consequently, the results of the research are mutually comparable. In the case of important groups of offenders, measurements are repeated at specific intervals, so that it is possible to depict the development of recidivism and to examine the subsequent criminal career courses of offenders in these groups

Antibodies against p53 are associated with poor prognosis of colorectal cancer.

Mutation of the p53 gene is a common event in colorectal cancer. This alteration can result in cellular accumulation of p53 and may also induce p53 antibodies. Accumulation of p53 in tumour cells has been associated with poor prognosis of colorectal cancer. We tested preoperative sera from 255 patients with colorectal cancer by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A total of 70.2% had reactivity that was higher than the 'low' control serum. Employing a cut-off level of 10% of the 'high' control sample, 25.5% of the patients were positive for p53 antibodies. The presence of p53 antibodies correlated with the following prognostic factors: histological differentiation grade, shape of the tumour, and tumour invasion into blood vessels. Patients with p53 antibodies were shown to have decreased survival and decreased disease-free survival. Specifically for patients with cancer stage A and B1 the presence of p53 antibodies selected a subgroup with poor prognosis