A Culturally Friendly Web-based Hybrid Intervention to Prevent Obesity: The SALSA Study

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Proteomic analysis of the postsynaptic density implicates synaptic function and energy pathways in bipolar disorder.

The postsynaptic density (PSD) contains a complex set of proteins of known relevance to neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. We enriched for this anatomical structure in the anterior cingulate cortex of 16 bipolar disorder samples and 20 controls from the Stanley Medical Research Institute. Unbiased shotgun proteomics incorporating label-free quantitation was used to identify differentially expressed proteins. Quantitative investigation of the PSD identified 2033 proteins, among which 288 were found to be differentially expressed. Validation of expression changes of DNM1, DTNA, NDUFV2, SEPT11 and SSBP was performed by western blotting. Bioinformatics analysis of the differentially expressed proteins implicated metabolic pathways including mitochondrial function, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, protein translation and calcium signaling. The data implicate PSD-associated proteins, and specifically mitochondrial function in bipolar disorder. They relate synaptic function in bipolar disorder and the energy pathways that underpin it. Overall, our findings add to a growing literature linking the PSD and mitochondrial function in psychiatric disorders generally, and suggest that mitochondrial function associated with the PSD is particularly important in bipolar disorder

Writing with imagination: the influence of hot and cold executive functions in children with autism characteristics and typically developing peers

The current study investigated the extent cognitive and emotion regulation deficits (i.e., executive functions) associated with autism impact on the development of imagination in writing. Sixty-one children participated in the study (M age = 9 years 7 months, SD = 14 months, 18 female, 43 male), comprising a selected group with autism characteristics (N = 26, M age = 9 years 5 months, SD = 17 months, 4 female, 22 male) and an age-matched group of typically developing children (N = 35, M age =9 years 8 months, SD = 12 months, 14 female, 21 male). All children undertook assessments of nonverbal cognitive ability, vocabulary knowledge, and perceptual processing speed. Parents also completed an autism spectrum questionnaire based on the social and behavioural characteristics of their children. Cold executive functions were measured, by performance on inhibition (Go-No-Go), sustained attention (Flanker), and cognitive flexibility (attention shifting) tasks. Assessment of hot executive functions included a questionnaire measuring the degree to which the children reported engagement in maladaptive and adaptive emotion regulation strategies. The children wrote an independent story assessed for narrative coherence and number of words written. The interaction between the cognitive cost of attention shifting and developmental group was the main significant predictor of the ability to enrich imaginatively a story from the beginning to the end point. Flexibly shifting the focus of attention between the various tasks and sub-goals of writing is an important skill that benefits typically developing children to a greater extent than children with autism

The effect of face mask wearing on language processing and emotion recognition in young children

Face mask wearing was an important preventative strategy for the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. However, the effects that occluding the mouth and nose area with surgical masks could have on young children’s language processing and emotion recognition skills have received little investigation. To evaluate the possible effects, the current study recruited a sample of 74 children from the North West of England (aged 4–8 years). They completed two computer-based tasks with adults wearing or not wearing surgical face masks to assess (a) language processing skills and (b) emotion recognition ability. To control for individual differences, age, sex, receptive vocabulary, early reading skills, and parent-reported social–emotional competence were included in analyses. The findings from the study highlighted that although younger children were less accurate than older children, face masks did not significantly impair basic language processing ability. However, they had a significant effect on the children’s emotion recognition accuracy—with masked angry faces more easily recognized and masked happy and sad faces less easily recognized. Children’s age and social-emotional skills also played a role. The findings suggest that the effects of face masks should continue to be evaluated

Journey through the Brain

The brain is our most important organ and perhaps the least well understood. Our brain is the “command station” for our body. It controls what we think, what we feel and what we do. It is the home of our emotions and personality. It makes sense of our experiences. But how does the brain work? The truth is that, after decades of research, scientists and doctors are only now beginning to figure out that question. We know that different types of cells in the brain work together to form certain areas which have specialist roles in memory, vision and logical thinking. We also know that hormones and chemicals influence our brain and our emotions and that we are very sensitive to changes in their levels. We know that the different brain areas mature at different stages and are connected by tracts, rather like railway lines, which can sometimes go astray and lead to illnesses. And finally we know that by looking in the blood we can find clues, called biomarkers, which may ultimately help us to understand and predict brain disorders. Through this book we want to help everyone to understand the workings of the brain through pictures and cartoons. If you would like to learn more about these pictures go to our website rcsi.ie/brainjourneyhttp://epubs.rcsi.ie/psychbooks/1000/thumbnail.jp

Minimal clinically important difference of the EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 for worsening peripheral neuropathy in patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy.

Context/objectivesThis is the first study to determine the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of the European Organisation of Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-CIPN twenty-item scale (EORTC QLQ-CIPN20), a validated instrument designed to elicit cancer patients' experience of symptoms and functional limitations related to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.MethodsCancer patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy completed EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity [FACT/GOG-NTX] at baseline, second cycle of chemotherapy (T2, n = 287), and 12 months after chemotherapy (T3, n = 191). Anchor-based approach used the validated FACT/GOG-NTX neurotoxicity (Ntx) subscale to identify optimal MCID cutoff for deterioration. Distribution-based approach used one-third standard deviation (SD), half SD, and one standard error of measurement of the total EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 score.ResultsThere was a moderate correlation between the change scores of the Ntx subscale and sensory and motor subscales of QLQ-CIPN20 (T2: r = - 0.722, p < 0.001 and r = - 0.518, p < 0.001, respectively; T3: r = - 0.699; p < 0.001 and r = - 0.523, p < 0.001, respectively). The correlation between the change scores of the Ntx subscale and the QLQ-CIPN20 autonomic subscale was poor (T2: r = - 0.354, p < 0.001; T3: r = 0.286, p < 0.001). Based on the MCID derived using distribution-based method, the MCID for the QLQ-CIPN20 sensory subscale was 2.5-5.9 (6.9% to 16.4% of the subdomain score) and for motor subscale was 2.6-5.0 (8.1%-15.6% of the subdomain score).ConclusionThe MCID for the EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 established using distribution-based approaches was 2.5-5.9 for the sensory subscale and 2.6-5.0 for the motor subscale. When noted in assessments even with small change in scores, clinicians can be alerted for appropriate intervention

Patient and public involvement to inform priorities and practice for research using existing healthcare data for children’s and young people’s cancers

Background: In the United Kingdom, healthcare data is collected on all patients receiving National Health Service (NHS) care, including children and young people (CYP) with cancer. This data is used to inform service delivery, and with special permissions used for research. The use of routinely collected health data in research is an advancing field with huge potential benefit, particularly in CYP with cancer where case numbers are small and the impact across the life course can be significant. Patient and public involvement (PPI) exercise aims: Identify current barriers to trust relating to the use of healthcare data for research. Determine ways to increase public and patient confidence in the use of healthcare data in research. Define areas of research importance to CYP and their carers using healthcare data. // Methods: Young people currently aged between 16 and 25 years who had a cancer diagnosis before the age of 20 years and carers of a young person with cancer were invited to take part via social media and existing networks of service users. Data was collected during two interactive online workshops totalling 5 h and comprising of presentations from health data experts, case-studies and group discussions. With participant consent the workshops were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. // Results: Ten young people and six carers attended workshop one. Four young people and four carers returned for workshop two. Lack of awareness of how data is used, and negative media reporting were seen as the main causes of mistrust. Better communication and education on how data is used were felt to be important to improving public confidence. Participants want the ability to have control over their own data use. Late effects, social and education outcomes and research on rare tumours were described as key research priorities for data use. // Conclusions: In order to improve public and patient trust in our use of data for research, we need to improve communication about how data is used and the benefits that arise

What are the most effective exercise, physical activity and dietary interventions to improve body composition in women diagnosed with or at high-risk of breast cancer? A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Background: Obesity has been recognized as a risk factor in the development and recurrence of breast cancer and is also associated with poor prognostic outcomes. This systematic review and network meta-analysis aimed to identify the most effective exercise, physical activity, and dietary interventions to reduce fat mass, body fat percentage and body weight as well as potentially increase lean mass in women diagnosed with or at high risk of breast cancer. Methods: A systematic search of databases was performed up to May 2022. Eligible randomized controlled trials examined the effects of exercise, physical activity and/or dietary interventions on fat mass and lean mass in women diagnosed with or at high risk of breast cancer. A random-effects network meta-analysis was conducted to determine the effects of different interventions across outcomes when sufficient studies were available. Results: Eighty-four studies (n = 6428) were included in this review. Caloric restriction and combined exercise + caloric restriction significantly reduced fat mass (range, –3.9 to –3.7 kg) and body weight (range, –5.3 to –4.7 kg), whereas physical activity + caloric restriction significantly reduced body fat percentage (–2.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI], –3.4% to –13%) and body mass index (–2.2 kg × m–2; 95% CI, –3.0 to –1.4 kg × m–2) in breast cancer patients. Resistance exercise was the most effective intervention to increase lean mass (0.7 kg; 95% CI, 0.5–1.0 kg) in breast cancer patients. Conclusion: Multimodal exercise and diet programs were the most effective interventions to reduce fat mass, body fat percentage, and body weight and increase and/or preserve lean mass

Susceptibility to the common cold virus is associated with day length.

Seasonal rhythms are endogenous timing mechanisms that allow animals living at temperate latitudes to synchronize their physiology to the seasons. Human viral respiratory disease is prevalent in the winter at temperate latitudes, but the role of endogenous mechanisms in these recurring annual patterns is unclear. The Common Cold Project is a repository of data describing the experimental viral challenge of 1,337 participants across the seasons of the year. We report a secondary analysis of these data to investigate if susceptibility to the common cold is associated with day length. The majority of the participants (78%) showed signs of infection but only 32% developed clinical signs of disease, and the probability of infection was significantly higher in longer day lengths (summer), but the disease was more likely in short (winter) day lengths. The persistence of winter disease patterns in experimental conditions supports the role of endogenous seasonality in human susceptibility to viral infection

Blood-Based Protein Changes in Childhood Are Associated With increased risk for later psychotic disorder: evidence from a nested case–control study of the ALSPAC Longitudinal Birth Cohort

The identification of early biological changes associated with the psychotic disorder (PD) is important as it may provide clues to the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. We undertook the first proteomic profiling of blood plasma samples of children who later develop a PD. Participants were recruited from the UK Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort who also participated in psychiatric assessment interviews at age 18. Protein expression levels at age 11 were compared between individuals who developed PD at age 18 (n = 37) with population-based age-matched controls (n = 38). Sixty out of 181 plasma proteins profiled were found to be differentially expressed (P < .05) in children with an outcome of the PD. Thirty-four of these proteins were found to be differentially expressed following correction for multiple comparisons. Pathway analysis implicated the complement and coagulation cascade. A second, targeted proteomic approach was used to verify these findings in age 11 plasma from subjects who reported psychotic experiences at age 18 (n = 40) in comparison to age-matched controls (n = 66). Our findings indicate that the complement and coagulation system is dysregulated in the blood during childhood before the development of the PD