Are we training psychiatrists to develop skills in intellectual disability psychiatry? Current European context and future directions

The majority of people with intellectual disabilities (ID) and psychiatric disorders access mainstream mental health services across Europe. However, only 56% of countries provide postgraduate psychiatric training in ID according to a survey across 42 European countries. We explore the challenges of ID training and make recommendations for education and health policymakers. Keywords: Community Mental Health Teams; education and training; intellectual disability; learning disability; specialty trainin

Discutindo a educação ambiental no cotidiano escolar: desenvolvimento de projetos na escola formação inicial e continuada de professores

A presente pesquisa buscou discutir como a Educação Ambiental (EA) vem sendo trabalhada, no Ensino Fundamental e como os docentes desta escola compreendem e vem inserindo a EA no cotidiano escolar., em uma escola estadual do município de Tangará da Serra/MT, Brasil. Para tanto, realizou-se entrevistas com os professores que fazem parte de um projeto interdisciplinar de EA na escola pesquisada. Verificou-se que o projeto da escola não vem conseguindo alcançar os objetivos propostos por: desconhecimento do mesmo, pelos professores; formação deficiente dos professores, não entendimento da EA como processo de ensino-aprendizagem, falta de recursos didáticos, planejamento inadequado das atividades. A partir dessa constatação, procurou-se debater a impossibilidade de tratar do tema fora do trabalho interdisciplinar, bem como, e principalmente, a importância de um estudo mais aprofundado de EA, vinculando teoria e prática, tanto na formação docente, como em projetos escolares, a fim de fugir do tradicional vínculo “EA e ecologia, lixo e horta”.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

Obesity and Depression as Predictors of Incident Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease in Immigrants and Nonimmigrants in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)

Foreign born Hispanics/Latinos experience increase in cardiovascular-related disease as they reside longer in the United States, above and beyond known cardiovascular risk factors. Presence of central adiposity or depression, which both increase among Hispanics/Latinos as they reside longer in the US, elevates risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) via cardiometabolic dysregulation. The role of length of US residence as a factor under which central adiposity and depression serve as risk processes for onset of diabetes and CVD in US Hispanics/Latinos is unknown. Data from two visits (2008-2011 & 2015-2017) from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) were used to: (1) determine the indirect effects of central adiposity and depression on incident diabetes and CVD via blood pressure, cholesterol, and insulin resistance and (2) compare the indirect effects of central adiposity and depression on incident diabetes and CVD via blood pressure, cholesterol, and insulin resistance in immigrants (10 years in the US) and nonimmigrants (US born). The sample was comprised by 8798 adults (803 immigrants in the US 10 years, 1382 US born). Across groups, diabetes and CVD incidence ranged from 6.5 - 8.2% and 0.6 - 1.3%, respectively. Though groups were comparable on demographic characteristics, indirect effects of waist girth on diabetes through diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC/HDL), and insulin resistance (IR) were generally more robust among immigrants who resided in the US for a decade or more compared to less than a decade (DBP OR=1.07, 95% CI=1.05, 1.10 vs. OR=1.10, 95% CI=1.00, 1.18, respectively; TC/HDL OR=1.04, 95% CI=1.03, 1.06 vs. OR=1.07, 95% CI=0.98, 1.16, respectively; IR OR=1.28, 95% CI=1.16, 1.41 vs. OR=1.23, 95% CI=1.06, 1.43, respectively). Results indicate length of US residence is a factor under which central adiposity may indirectly confer risk for diabetes onset through worse cardiometabolic health. To potentially reduce diabetes burden among immigrant Hispanics/Latinos, weight and cardiometabolic health should be managed within the first decade of immigration to the US.&nbsp;</p

Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 Increases Mouse Preimplantation Embryo Cleavage Rate by Activation of IGF1R and EGFR Independent of IGF1 Signalling

The viability of embryos cultured in vitro is poor compared to those that develop in vivo. The lack of maternally derived growth factors in vitro may contribute to this problem. Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) is one such growth factor that has been identified in the maternal reproductive system. This study examined the role of autocrine and exogenous IGFBP3 in mouse preimplantation embryos. Embryos expressed IGFBP3 across all stages of preimplantation development, and addition of exogenous IGFBP3 to embryo culture media increased the rate of development to the 2-, 4-, 5-, and 8-cell stages. Addition of inhibitors of the IGF1 and EGF receptors prevented this IGFBP3-mediated improvement in developmental rate, but the effect was not cumulative, indicating that both receptors are transactivated downstream of IGFBP3 as part of the same signalling pathway. Acute exposure to IGFBP3 increased phosphorylation of Akt and rps6 in 4–8 cell embryos, suggesting activation of the PI3-kinase/Akt pathway downstream of the IGF1 and EGFR receptors to promote cell proliferation and survival. In conclusion, addition of IGFBP3 to embryo culture media increases early cleavage rates independent of IGF1 signalling and therefore, IGFBP3 addition to IVF culture media should be considered

Are Anxious and Depressive Symptoms Associated with Gastrointestinal Symptoms in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)?

Psychological distress is common among non-Hispanic/Latino adults with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Heartburn and acid regurgitation symptom prevalence, and their relationship with anxious and depressive symptoms, was examined in 16,415 Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos participants aged 18-74 from 4 US cities (Bronx, NY; Chicago, IL; Miami, FL; San Diego, CA). Complex survey logistic regression models were used to test relations between GI, anxious, and depressive symptoms. 10.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 9.4, 10.8) and 8.9% (95% CI = 8.3, 9.5) of the overall sample (estimates are weighted and adjusted for age and body mass index) respectively self-reported heartburn and acid regurgitation at least several times/week within the past year. Adults who reported GI symptoms several times/week or more also self-reported higher psychological distress compared to adults who reported GI symptoms less frequently. For one standard deviation higher in anxious symptoms (5.6 units), GI prevalence odds were respectively 1.14 (95% CI = 1.10, 1.17) and 1.14 (95% CI = 1.09, 1.18) for heartburn and acid regurgitation. GI prevalence odds (heartburn = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.11, 1.18; acid regurgitation = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.10, 1.18) were similar for one standard deviation higher in depressive symptoms (5.9 units). Demographic, health, and clinical characteristics did not significantly attenuate relationships between GI and psychological distress symptoms. Psychological distress is related to GI symptoms in US Hispanics/Latinos

Air pollutant exposure during pregnancy and fetal and early childhood development. Research protocol of the INMA [Childhood and Environment Project]

10 pages, 1 figure, 3 tables.-- PMID: 17419934 [PubMed].[ESP] Introducción: El proyecto INMA (Infancia y Medio Ambiente) es una red de investigación cooperativa que tiene como objetivos estudiar los efectos del medio ambiente y la dieta en el desarrollo fetal e infantil. El objetivo de este artículo es presentar el protocolo de exposición a contaminantes atmosféricos durante el embarazo y desarrollo prenatal y neonatal en el proyecto INMA.Métodos: La información para la evaluación de la exposición a contaminación atmosférica durante el embarazo se basa en mediciones de contaminantes atmosféricos en el exterior (dióxido de nitrógeno [NO2], compuestos orgánicos volátiles [COV], ozono, partículas [PM10, PM2,5] y su composición [hidrocarburos aromáticos policíclicos]), medición de contaminantes de exposición individual (en el interior de la vivienda y captadores personales [COV y NO2]), determinación de un marcador biológico de exposición a hidrocarburos (1-hidroxipireno), en información recogida mediante cuestionarios y en la utilización de sistemas de información geográfica. Esta información permite elaborar índices de exposición individual a contaminación atmosférica con los que analizar su posible relación con el desarrollo fetal y la salud del recién nacido.Discusión: El protocolo que se presenta y el tipo de estudio permiten obtener una aproximación a la exposición individual a contaminantes atmosféricos. Por último, el elevado número de participantes (n = 4.000), así como la heterogeneidad de las características ambientales y sociodemográficas, acrecienta el potencial del estudio.[ENG] Introduction: The INMA (INfancia y Medio Ambiente [Spanish for Environment and Childhood]) project is a cooperative research network. This project aims to study the effects of environment and diet on fetal and early childhood development. This article aims to present the air pollutant exposure protocol during pregnancy and fetal and early childhood development of the INMA project.Methods: The information to assess air pollutant exposure during pregnancy is based on outdoor measurement of air pollutants (nitrogen dioxide [NO2], volatile organic compounds [VOC], ozone, particulate matter [PM10, PM2,5 ] and of their composition [polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons]); measurement of indoor and personal exposure (VOC and NO2); urinary measurement of a biological marker of hydrocarbon exposure (1-hydroxypyrene); and data gathered by questionnaires and geographic information systems. These data allow individual air pollutant exposure indexes to be developed, which can then be used to analyze the possible effects of exposure on fetal development and child health.Conclusion: This protocol and the type of study allow an approximation to individual air pollutant exposure to be obtained. Finally, the large number of participants (N = 4,000), as well as their geographic and social diversity, increases the study’s potential.La Red INMA recibe ayudas para la investigación del Instituto de Salud Carlos III (G03/176; ISCIII-FEDER) y del Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria FIS-FEDER 03/1615 para la cohorte de Valencia, FIS-FEDER 97/0588 y 00/0021-02 para la cohorte de Menorca, FIS-FEDER PI042018 para la cohorte de Asturias y otras ayudas FIS-FEDER PI041436, PI041509, PI041705, PI041666 y PI041931. El Estudio INMA ha recibido también ayudas de Fundació La Caixa para la cohorte de Ribera d’Ebre (97/009-00 and 00/077-00); de la Comisión de la Unión Europea (QLK4-1999-01422) y de la Consejería de Salud de la Junta de Andalucía (SAS-202/04) para la cohorte de Granada; de la Comisión de la Unión Europea (QLK4- 2000-00263) para la cohorte de Menorca; y del Departamento de Sanidad del Gobierno Vasco (Exp.: 2005111093) para la Cohorte de Guipúzcoa.Peer reviewe

Serum copper profile in patients with type 1 diabetes in comparison to other metals

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic condition in which the pancreas loses the ability to produce insulin due to an autoimmune destruction of the insulin producing beta cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. Pathophysiological complications related to diabetes include micro and macrovascular disease, nephropathy, and neuropathy that can also be affected by environmental factors such as lifestyle and diet.The current study aimed to evaluate the serum levels of total copper, the copper-carrying protein, ceruloplasmin and nonceruloplasmin bound copper (nonceruloplasmin-Cu) and other essential and environmental metals and metalloids in subjects with T1D compared with healthy controls.A cohort of 63 subjects with T1D attending Diabetes Clinics at the University of Miami and 65 healthy control subjects was studied. Metals and metalloids were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.A main finding of this study was that total copper and ceruloplasmin levels were higher in persons with T1D compared to healthy controls. In comparison to other metals and clinical variables, elevated copper was the strongest factor associated with T1D resulting in a15-fold increased odds of having the disease per standard deviation increase.Our results suggest a metal and metalloid perturbation in T1D with a significant involvement of Copper dysfunction in the disease pathology, possibly linked to inflammatory processes

Does the EPIC-26 measure five domains in English and Spanish speakers?

e557 Background: Despite being widely used in many countries to assess health-related quality of life for patients undergoing treatment for localized prostate cancer(PC), seldom research has been done to investigate the five domain scores generated by 26 question short form of the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite Short (EPIC-26). We conducted exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses searching for evidence of five unique domains of dysfunction in men being treated for PC in the US and Spain.Methods: Using two-year post treatment information, data from 400 men who were part of the original EPIC (OE) validation cohort [T1 or T2, 87% Radical Prostatectomy (RP), 10% External Beam Radiation (EBR), 3% Brachytherapy (BR)] and 450 men who were treated for prostate cancer at Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques in Spain [33% RP, 33% EBR, 33% BR], were subjected to exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).Results: EFA analyses on both the OE and Spanish cohorts provides support for three, four or five factor models (accounting for approximately 83, 91 or 97% of variance in either cohort) to describe the EPIC-26 variables and weak evidence for the hormonal domain. There is evidence of separate urinary, sexual and bowel factors, but limited evidence of a separate hormonal domain. With the exception of the questions which could be described as assessing depression (lack of energy and depression and in some models weight gain), items within the hormonal domain frequently failed to consistently load onto a single factor (orthogonal communalities ranging from .22 to .27 in the OE cohort and .10 to .21 in the Spanish for hot flashes, breast tenderness and weight gain). CFA looking for the published five domain solution in the Spanish data provides mediocre support for a five factor solution (Standardized RMR = .0624, RMSEA Estimate = .07, Bentler Comparative Fit Index = .91). Conclusions: While all questions asked on the EPIC-26 are of clinical value, there is limited evidence to continue to treat the hormonal domain as a single entity. Urologists should consider looking at the questions linked to depression separately from the other hormonal question