Differential effect of behavioural strategies on the management of conduct disorder among adolescents in correctional centres in Lagos State, Nigeria

Adolescent period is a significant phase in human development. Empirical evidences from diverse nations revealed that the period is characterized by a number of misbehaviours of which conduct disorder is paramount. Conduct disorder is a repetitive behaviour that violates the rights of others. It entails rule violation, aggression, hostility, and deceitfulness. There are adolescents in correctional centres in several nations of the world because of their engagement in conduct disorder. Several behavioural techniques have been adopted to ensure that conduct disorder is overcome. It, however, appears from literature that concentrated attempts have not been made to treat or determine the efficacy of behavioural techniques. This study examined the efficacy of two behavioural strategies to manage maladjusted behaviour in correctional centres in Lagos State, Nigeria. Participants for the study were 90 adolescents purposively selected from two special correctional centres in Lagos State. The research design utilized for the study was 3 x 2 factorial design. Conduct Disorder Scale by Gilliam was used to generate data. The result of the two hypotheses showed that significant difference existed between participants exposed to cognitive restructuring, behavioural rehearsal and control group (F (2, 87) = 46.622, p < 0.05) while there was no significant difference between participants exposed to cognitive restructuring and behavioural rehearsal groups (t = 0.313, df = 58, p = 0.756). From the study, the two behavioural methods could be employed to manage conduct disorder. Consequently, they are recommended as techniques for handling adolescents’ conduct disorde

Consort flow chart.

<p>I.m. vitamin D application.</p

Serum 25(OH)D concentration at the baseline and day 28.

<p>Serum 25(OH)D was determined at the baseline and day 28 upon oral and i.m. supplementation.</p

Baseline characteristics of the patients with oral and intramuscular vitamin D supplementation.

<p>Values given as mean and standard deviation; p-values calculated using Students-T-Test, n.s. = not significant, n.a. = not applicable.</p

Serum 25(OH)D concentrations during oral vitamin D supplementation.

<p>Data shown as mean ± SD, number of individuals, n; p-values calculated by Students-T-Test, effect size calculated by d_Cohen and 95% confidence intervals. Not applicable = n.a.</p

Human Langerhans Cells Control Th Cells via Programmed Death-Ligand 1 in Response to Bacterial Stimuli and Nickel-Induced Contact Allergy

<div><p>Langerhans cells (LCs) are suspected to initiate inflammatory immune responses to contact allergens and pathogenic bacteria. In chronic infectious diseases, programmed death ligand (PD-L) 1 exhibits both inhibitory and costimulatory functions on T cell-mediated activation and tolerance. Here, we investigated the effects of contact allergens and bacterial stimuli on PD-L1 expression in LCs and the effects of altered PD-L1 expression on cytokine release of subsequently cocultured T cells. Monocyte-derived LCs (MoLCs), LCs, and skin sections of patients suffering from allergic contact dermatitis were challenged with nickel and then analyzed for PD-L1 expression by confocal laser scanning microscopy and flow cytometry. In blocking experiments, we found that the release of Th cell specific cytokines was dependent on both stimulation of LCs and inhibition of PD-L1-PD-1 interactions. Stimulation with peptidoglycan (PGN) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and blockage of PD-L1 with a specific antibody triggered the release of high levels of IL-17, IL-22, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in CD4⁺T cells. If nickel was used as a stimulus, blockage of PD-L1 led to high amounts of TNF-α and IL-22. A closer look revealed PD-L1-dependent upregulation of IL-17 secretion in FACS-sorted CCR6⁺/CCR4⁺ T memory cells. In the presence of anti-PD-L1, PGN induced secretion of IFN-γ and IL-17 in total CCR6⁺ cells, while nickel triggered secretion of IFN-γ and IL-17 exclusively in CCR6⁺/CCR4⁺ cells. Our findings suggest that PD-L1 on LCs plays a crucial role in type IV allergic reactions and in response to bacterial stimuli by controlling the nature of inflammatory Th cell responses.</p> </div

2DE protein gels identify putative tomato allergens.

<p>Proteins were extracted from non-infected (A) and PepMV infected (B) tomato fruits at 10 WPI. Proteins detected in immunoblots with the sera from nine tomato allergic subjects and identified by mass spectrometry are marked with numbers and listed in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0065116#pone-0065116-t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a>. Arrows highlight PepMV coat protein identifications.</p

Blockage of PD-L1 enhances cytokine release from stimulated Th cells.

<p>A. FACS analyses of CD86 or PD-L1 on MoLCs, dark gray, or isotype-controls, light gray. Numbers depicted in the histograms show mean fluorescence intensities. MoLCs were stimulated by LPS or PGN for 24 hours. Histograms shown are from the same donor representative for results obtained with three different donors. B <b>–</b> E. Secretion of cytokines by CD4⁺T cells in coculture with MoLCs. MoLCs were stimulated by LPS or PGN (as in A.), and incubated with IgG1, anti-PD-L1, or anti-CD86. Secretion of IL-17, IL-22, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in pg/ml was detected via ELISA 7 days after starting the coculture. Data shown are from 4 different donors, indicated by the following symbols: ▴, ▪, •, ♦. Wo, without stimulus.</p

Nickel induces release of IL-22 and TNF-α after blockage of PD-L1.

<p>A., B. Secretion of cytokines by CD4⁺T cells while being in coculture with MoLCs. MoLCs were either stimulated by nickel for 24 hours (+) or not (−), and incubated with anti-PD-L1 (+) or not (−). Protein secretion was detected via ELISA in the supernatants 7 days after starting the coculture of MoLCs with allogeneic CD4⁺T cells. Secretion levels (in pg/ml) are shown for IL-22 and TNF-α. Data shown are from 4 different donors and visualized by scatter plots; donors 1–4 are indicated by the following symbols: ▴, ▪, •, ♦.</p

PD-L1 and HLA-DR are upregulated in MoLCs after stimulation with allergens.

<p>MoLCs were exposed to graded doses of DNCB, nickel or SDS for 24 hours and stained by anti-PD-L1 and anti-HLA-DR, respectively. FACS analyses were gated on viable cells. A. Protein expression is shown as dark gray graphs in overlay histograms. Cells stimulated under the same conditions were stained with isotype-controls and are represented by light gray. B. Bars indicate fold increase of mean fluorescence intensities (MFI) compared to untreated control. Results shown are representative for four independent experiments with different donors.</p