Exploring the relationship between cyberbullying and unnatural child death: an ecological study of twenty-four European countries

Background Internet risk has been recognized as a child safety problem, but evidence is insufficient to conclude that a child's online risk exposure can lead to physical harm. This study aims to explore the ecological relationship between Internet risk exposure and unnatural child death. Methods Multiple secondary data sources were used: online exposure to content about self-harm, cyberbullying, and Internet addiction data (EU Kids Online survey, 2010); and mortality data (European Detailed Mortality Database, 2010 or the latest year if not available) of 24 European countries. Correlations were found using quasi-Poisson regression. Countries' prevalence rates of psychiatric problems (European Social Survey Round 3 and 6, 2006 and 2012) were used to test for possible spuriousness. Results This study finds that countries with higher rates of cyberbullying were more likely to have a higher incidence of unnatural child death. A 1 percent rise in the prevalence of cyberbullying translated into a 28% increase in risk of unnatural child death (95% CI: 2%-57%). No evidence was found to substantiate confounding effect of the national prevalence of depressive symptoms or traditional bullying. Conclusions Explanations are given for the findings. We conclude that intervention programs designed to serve as precautionary measures for risk minimisation should be considered.published_or_final_versio

Ataluren and similar compounds (specific therapies for premature termination codon class I mutations) for cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis is a common life-shortening genetic disorder in the Caucasian population (less common in other ethnic groups) caused by the mutation of a single gene that codes for the production of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator protein. This protein coordinates the transport of salt (and bicarbonate) across cell surfaces and the mutation most notably affects the airways. In the lungs of people with cystic fibrosis, defective protein results in a dehydrated surface liquid and compromised mucociliary clearance. The resulting thick mucus makes the airway prone to chronic infection and inflammation, which consequently damages the structure of the airways, eventually leading to respiratory failure. Additionally, abnormalities in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator protein lead to other systemic complications including malnutrition, diabetes and subfertility.Five classes of mutation have been described, depending on the impact of the mutation on the processing of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator protein in the cell. In class I mutations, the presence of premature termination codons prevents the production of any functional protein resulting in a severe cystic fibrosis phenotype. Advances in the understanding of the molecular genetics of cystic fibrosis has led to the development of novel mutation-specific therapies. Therapies targeting class I mutations (premature termination codons) aim to mask the abnormal gene sequence and enable the normal cellular mechanism to read through the mutation, potentially restoring the production of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator protein. This could in turn make salt transport in the cells function more normally and may decrease the chronic infection and inflammation that characterises lung disease in people with cystic fibrosis.To evaluate the benefits and harms of ataluren and similar compounds on clinically important outcomes in people with cystic fibrosis with class I mutations (premature termination codons).We searched the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis Trials Register which is compiled from electronic database searches and handsearching of journals and conference abstract books. We also searched the reference lists of relevant articles. Last search of Group's register: 24 October 2016.We searched clinical trial registries maintained by the European Medicines Agency, the US National Institutes of Health and the WHO. Last search of clinical trials registries: 28 November 2016.Randomised controlled trials of parallel design comparing ataluren and similar compounds (specific therapies for class I mutations) with placebo in people with cystic fibrosis who have at least one class I mutation. Cross-over trials were reviewed individually to evaluate whether data from the first treatment arm could be included. We excluded trials that combined therapies for premature termination codon class I mutations with other mutation-specific therapies.The authors independently assessed the risk of bias and extracted data from the included trial; they contacted trial authors for additional data.Our searches identified 28 references to eight trials; five trials were excluded (three were cross-over and one was not randomised and one did not have relevant outcomes), one cross-over trial is awaiting classification pending provision of data and one trial is ongoing. The included parallel randomised controlled trial compared ataluren to placebo for a duration of 48 weeks in 238 participants (age range 6 to 53 years) with cystic fibrosis who had at least one nonsense mutation (a type of class I mutation).The quality of evidence and risk of bias assessments for the trial were moderate overall. Random sequence generation, allocation concealment and blinding of trial personnel were well-documented; participant blinding was less clear. Some participant data were excluded from the analysis. The trial was assessed as high risk of bias for selective outcome reporting, especially when reporting on the trial's post hoc subgroup of participants by chronic inhaled antibiotic use.The trial was sponsored by PTC Therapeutics Incorporated with grant support by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the Food and Drug Administration's Office of Orphan Products Development and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).The trial reported no significant difference between treatment groups in quality of life, assessed by the Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised respiratory domain score and no improvement in respiratory function measures (mean difference of relative change in forced expiratory volume at one second 2.97% (95% confidence interval -0.58 to 6.52)). Ataluren was associated with a significantly higher rate of episodes of renal impairment, risk ratio 17.70 (99% confidence interval 1.28 to 244.40). The trial reported no significant treatment effect for ataluren for the review's secondary outcomes: pulmonary exacerbation; computerised tomography score; weight; body mass index; and sweat chloride. No deaths were reported in the trial.A post hoc subgroup analysis of participants not receiving chronic inhaled tobramycin (n = 146) demonstrated favourable results for ataluren (n = 72) for relative change in % predicted forced expiratory volume at one second and pulmonary exacerbation rate. Participants receiving chronic inhaled tobramycin appeared to have a reduced rate of pulmonary exacerbation compared to those not receiving chronic inhaled tobramycin. This drug interaction was not anticipated and may affect the interpretation of the trial results.There is currently insufficient evidence to determine the effect of ataluren as a therapy for people with cystic fibrosis with class I mutations. Future trials should carefully assess for adverse events, notably renal impairment and consider the possibility of drug interactions. Cross-over trials should be avoided given the potential for the treatment to change the natural history of cystic fibrosis

The importance of online resources for parents of children with special needs in Hong Kong: South China's experience

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Socioeconomic Gradient in Childhood Obesity and Hypertension: A Multilevel Population-Based Study in a Chinese Community

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A Versatile Orthotopic Nude Mouse Model for Study of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Increasing evidence indicates tumor-stromal interactions play a crucial role in cancer. An in vivo esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) orthotopic animal model was developed with bioluminescence imaging established with a real-time monitoring platform for functional and signaling investigation of tumor-stromal interactions. The model was produced by injection of luciferase-labelled ESCC cells into the intraesophageal wall of nude mice. Histological examination indicates this orthotopic model is highly reproducible with 100% tumorigenesis among the four ESCC cell lines tested. This new model recapitulates many clinical and pathological properties of human ESCC, including esophageal luminal stricture by squamous cell carcinoma with nodular tumor growth, adventitia invasion, lymphovascular invasion, and perineural infiltration. It was tested using an AKT shRNA knockdown of ESCC cell lines and the in vivo tumor suppressive effects of AKT knockdown were observed. In conclusion, this ESCC orthotopic mouse model allows investigation of gene functions of cancer cells in a more natural tumor microenvironment and has advantages over previous established models. It provides a versatile platform with potential application for metastasis and therapeutic regimen testing.published_or_final_versio

Validation and application of health utilities index in Chinese subjects with Down Syndrome

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Parental restriction reduces the harmful effects of in-bedroom electronic devices

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Effectiveness of a Technology-Based Injury Prevention Program for Enhancing Mothers’ Knowledge of Child Safety: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

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The association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and retinal nerve fiber/ganglion cell layer thickness measured by optical coherence tomography: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose: Retinal nerve fiber/ganglion cell layer (RNFL/GCL) thickness measured using optical coherence tomography has been proposed as an ocular biomarker for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but findings varied in different studies. This study aims to determine the association between RNFL/GCL thickness and ADHD in children by systematic review and meta-analysis. / Methods: We performed a literature search in Embase, PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, and PsycINFO for relevant articles published up to February 29, 2020. All studies with original data comparing RNFL/GCL thickness in ADHD and healthy children were included. The Newcastle Ottawa Scale was used to assess bias risk and quality of evidence. Pooled estimates of the differences in thickness of RNFL or GCL between ADHD and healthy subjects were generated using meta-analysis with a random-effect model due to significant inter-study heterogeneity. Sensitivity analysis was also performed. / Results: We identified four eligible studies involving a total of 164 ADHD and 150 control subjects. Meta-analysis revealed that ADHD in children was associated with a reduction in global RNFL thickness (SMD, − 0.23; 95% CI − 0.46, − 0.01; p = 0.04). The global GCL thickness was examined in two studies with 89 ADHD and 75 control subjects, but the pooled difference in global GCL thickness between ADHD children and controls was not statistically significant (SMD, − 0.34; 95% CI − 1.25, 0.58; p = 0.47). / Conclusion: Existing evidence suggests a possible association between ADHD and RNFL thinning in children. In view of the limited number of reports, further studies in large cohorts should be warranted

A genetic programming based fuzzy regression approach to modelling manufacturing processes

Fuzzy regression has demonstrated its ability to model manufacturing processes in which the processes have fuzziness and the number of experimental data sets for modelling them is limited. However, previous studies only yield fuzzy linear regression based process models in which variables or higher order terms are not addressed. In fact, it is widely recognised that behaviours of manufacturing processes do often carry interactions among variables or higher order terms. In this paper, a genetic programming based fuzzy regression GP-FR, is proposed for modelling manufacturing processes. The proposed method uses the general outcome of GP to construct models the structure of which is based on a tree representation, which could carry interaction and higher order terms. Then, a fuzzy linear regression algorithm is used to estimate the contributions and the fuzziness of each branch of the tree, so as to determine the fuzzy parameters of the genetic programming based fuzzy regression model.To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method for process modelling, it was applied to the modelling of a solder paste dispensing process. Results were compared with those based on statistical regression and fuzzy linear regression. It was found that the proposed method can achieve better goodness-of-fitness than the other two methods. Also the prediction accuracy of the model developed based on GP-FR is better than those based on the other two methods