EphB2 Signaling is Implicated in Astrocyte-mediated Parvalbumin Inhibitory Synapse Development.

Impaired inhibitory synapse development is suggested to drive neuronal hyperactivity in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and epilepsy. We propose a novel mechanism by which astrocytes control the development of parvalbumin (PV)-specific inhibitory synapses in the hippocampus, implicating ephrin-B/EphB signaling. Here, we utilize genetic approaches to assess functional and structural connectivity between PV and pyramidal cells (PC) through whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology, optogenetics, immunohistochemical analysis, and behaviors in male and female mice. While inhibitory synapse development is adversely affected by PV-specific expression of EphB2, a strong candidate ASD risk gene, astrocytic ephrin-B1 facilitates PV->PC connectivity through a mechanism involving EphB signaling in PV boutons. In contrast, the loss of astrocytic ephrin-B1 reduces PV->PC connectivity and inhibition, resulting in increased seizure susceptibility and an ASD-like phenotype. Our findings underscore the crucial role of astrocytes in regulating inhibitory circuit development and discover a new role for EphB2 receptors in PV-specific inhibitory synapse development.Significance Statement The findings presented in this study describe a novel mechanism by which astrocytes regulate the establishment of connections between parvalbumin interneurons and pyramidal neurons. We also present new evidence showing the role of presynaptic EphB2 in the formation of inhibitory synapses, specifically between PV-expressing interneurons and pyramidal neurons. Impaired inhibition is suggested to underlie the development of neuronal hyperactivity in several neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), and EphB2 receptor itself is also implicated in the pathogenesis of autism. Therefore, this study not only addresses critical gaps in our understanding, but also offers clinical relevance as EphB2 signaling in PV interneurons may be a promising therapeutic target to correct inhibitory circuit dysfunction in NDDs.

Identifying Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Among Children in New York State Medicaid Managed Care.

Persons who contract COVID-19 are at risk of developing post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC). The objective of this study was to describe the incidence of PASC in a pediatric Medicaid population. Using a retrospective cohort of children enrolled in New York State Medicaid Managed Care we compared incident diagnoses between children with a positive laboratory test for SARS-CoV-2 in 2021 to children without a positive test in 2021 and children with a viral respiratory diagnosis in 2019. Logistic regression models estimated adjusted odds ratios using the Cohen's d statistic to assess the strength of associations. Most unadjusted incidence of clinical outcomes were less than 1% for all cohorts. Relative to the 2021 comparison cohort, significant increases among SARS-CoV-2 cases were observed in sequela of infectious disease conditions, general signs and symptoms, and pericarditis and pericardial disease and for the 2019 comparison, sequela of infectious disease conditions and suicidal ideation. However, associations were mostly determined to be weak or marginal. In this low socioeconomic status pediatric population, incidence of new clinical sequelae was low with mostly weak or marginal increases associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Though the incidence was low, some outcomes may be severe. Observed associations may have been impacted by pandemic behavior modification including social distancing policies.

Functional near infrared spectroscopy detects cortical activation changes concurrent with memory loss in postmenopausal women with Type II Diabetes.

Older adults with Type II Diabetes Mellitus (DM) experience mild cognitive impairment, specifically in the domain of recall/working memory. No consistent causative structural cortical deficits have been identified in persons with DM (PwDM). Memory deficits may be exacerbated in older adult females, who are at the highest risk of cardiovascular decline due to DM. The focus of the current study was to evaluate functional cortical hemodynamic activity during memory tasks in postmenopausal PwDM. Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to monitor oxyhemoglobin (HbO) and deoxyhemoglobin (HbR) during memory-based tasks in a cross-sectional sample of postmenopausal women with DM. Twenty-one community-dwelling DM females (age = 65 ± 6 years) and twenty-one age- and sex-matched healthy controls (age = 66 ± 6 years) were evaluated. Working memory performance (via N-back) was evaluated while study participants donned cortical fNIRS. Health state, metabolic data, and menopausal status data were also collected. Deficits in working memory accuracy were found in the DM group as compared to controls. Differences in HbO responses emerged in the DM group. The DM group exhibited altered PFC activity magnitudes and increased functional cortical activity across ROIs compared to controls. HbO and HbR responses were not associated with worsened health state measures. These data indicate a shift in cortical activity patterns with memory deficits in postmenopausal PwDM. This DM-specific shift of HbO is a novel finding that is unlikely to be detected by fMRI. This underscores the value of using non-MRI-based neuroimaging techniques to evaluate cortical hemodynamic function to detect early mild cognitive impairment.

Genetic Iron Overload Hampers Development of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Mice.

The survival, growth, and virulence of Leishmania spp., a group of protozoan parasites, depends on the proper access and regulation of iron. Macrophages, Leishmania's host cell, may divert iron traffic by reducing uptake or by increasing the efflux of iron via the exporter ferroportin. This parasite has adapted by inhibiting the synthesis and inducing the degradation of ferroportin. To study the role of iron in leishmaniasis, we employed Hjv-/- mice, a model of hemochromatosis. The disruption of hemojuvelin (Hjv) abrogates the expression of the iron hormone hepcidin. This allows unrestricted iron entry into the plasma from ferroportin-expressing intestinal epithelial cells and tissue macrophages, resulting in systemic iron overload. Mice were injected with Leishmania major in hind footpads or intraperitoneally. Compared with wild-type controls, Hjv-/- mice displayed transient delayed growth of L. major in hind footpads, with a significant difference in parasite burden 4 weeks post-infection. Following acute intraperitoneal exposure to L. major, Hjv-/- peritoneal cells manifested increased expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines (Il1b, Tnfa, Cxcl2, and Ccl2). In response to infection with L. infantum, the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis, Hjv-/- and control mice developed similar liver and splenic parasite burden despite vastly different tissue iron content and ferroportin expression. Thus, genetic iron overload due to hemojuvelin deficiency appears to mitigate the early development of only cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Human KCNQ5 de novo mutations underlie epilepsy and intellectual disability.

We identified six novel de novo human KCNQ5 variants in children with motor/language delay, intellectual disability (ID), and/or epilepsy by whole exome sequencing. These variants, comprising two nonsense and four missense alterations, were functionally characterized by electrophysiology in HEK293/CHO cells, together with four previously reported KCNQ5 missense variants (Lehman A, Thouta S, Mancini GM, Naidu S, van Slegtenhorst M, McWalter K, Person R, Mwenifumbo J, Salvarinova R; CAUSES Study; EPGEN Study; Guella I, McKenzie MB, Datta A, Connolly MB, Kalkhoran SM, Poburko D, Friedman JM, Farrer MJ, Demos M, Desai S, Claydon T. Am J Hum Genet 101: 65-74, 2017). Surprisingly, all eight missense variants resulted in gain of function (GOF) due to hyperpolarized voltage dependence of activation or slowed deactivation kinetics, whereas the two nonsense variants were confirmed to be loss of function (LOF). One severe GOF allele (P369T) was tested and found to extend a dominant GOF effect to heteromeric KCNQ5/3 channels. Clinical presentations were associated with altered KCNQ5 channel gating: milder presentations with LOF or smaller GOF shifts in voltage dependence [change in voltage at half-maximal conduction (ΔV50) = ∼-15 mV] and severe presentations with larger GOF shifts in voltage dependence (ΔV50 = ∼-30 mV). To examine LOF pathogenicity, two Kcnq5 LOF mouse lines were created with CRISPR/Cas9. Both lines exhibited handling- and thermal-induced seizures and abnormal cortical EEGs consistent with epileptiform activity. Our study thus provides evidence for in vivo KCNQ5 LOF pathogenicity and strengthens the contribution of both LOF and GOF mutations to global pediatric neurological impairment, including ID/epilepsy.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Six novel de novo human KCNQ5 variants were identified from children with neurodevelopmental delay, intellectual disability, and/or epilepsy. Expression of these variants along with four previously reported KCNQ5 variants from a similar cohort revealed GOF potassium channels, negatively shifted in V50 of activation and/or delayed deactivation kinetics. GOF is extended to KCNQ5/3 heteromeric channels, making these the predominant channels affected in heterozygous de novo patients. Kcnq5 LOF mice exhibited seizures, consistent with in vivo pathogenicity.

Frequency of Sex Chromosome Involvement in a Large Cohort of Subjects with Two Copy Number Variants.

Copy number variants (CNVs) are a common finding in the clinical setting and contribute to both genetic variation and disease. Studies have described the accumulation of multiple CNVs as a disease-modifying mechanism. While it has been described how additional CNVs may play a role in phenotype, in which ways and to what extent sex chromosomes are involved in dual CNV scenario has not been fully defined. To describe the distribution of CNVs, a secondary data analysis using the DECIPHER database on 2,273 de-identified individuals with two CNVs was performed. CNVs were designated larger and secondary based on size and characteristics. We found that the X chromosome was observed to be the most common chromosome involved in secondary CNVs. Further analysis showed CNVs on the sex chromosome have significant differences compared to autosomes when comparing median size (p = 0.013), pathogenicity groups (p < 0.001), and variant classification (p = 0.001). Lastly, we identified chromosome combinations for larger and secondary CNVs and observed the plurality of secondary CNVs fell in the same chromosome as the larger. The observations of this study provide additional information on sex chromosome CNV involvement in a variety of indications.

Road traffic density and recurrent asthma emergency department visits among Medicaid enrollees in New York State 2005-2015.

BACKGROUND: Environmental exposures such as traffic may contribute to asthma morbidity including recurrent emergency department (ED) visits. However, these associations are often confounded by socioeconomic status and health care access. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the association between traffic density and recurrence of asthma ED visits in the primarily low income Medicaid population in New York State (NYS) between 2005 and 2015. METHODS: The primary outcome of interest was a recurrent asthma ED visit within 1-year of index visit. Traffic densities (weighted for truck traffic) were spatially linked based on home addresses. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors predicting recurrent asthma ED visits. RESULTS: In a multivariate model, Medicaid recipients living within 300-m of a high traffic density area were at a statistically significant risk of a recurrent asthma ED visit compared to those in a low traffic density area (OR = 1.31; 95% CI:1.24,1.38). Additionally, we evaluated effect measure modification for risk of recurrent asthma visits associated with traffic exposure by socio-demographic factors. The highest risk was found for those exposed to high traffic and being male (OR = 1.87; 95% CI:1.46,2.39), receiving cash assistance (OR = 2.11; 95% CI:1.65,2.72), receiving supplemental security income (OR = 2.21; 95% CI:1.66,2.96) and being in the 18.44 age group (OR = 1.59;95% CI 1.48,1.70) was associated with the highest risk of recurrent asthma ED visit. Black non-Hispanics (OR = 2.35; 95% CI:1.70,3.24), Hispanics (OR = 2.13; 95% CI:1.49,3.04) and those with race listed as "Other" (OR = 1.89 95% CI:1.13,3.16) in high traffic areas had higher risk of recurrent asthma ED visits as compared to White non-Hispanics in low traffic areas. CONCLUSION: We observed significant persistent disparities in asthma morbidity related to traffic exposure and race/ethnicity in a low-income population. Our findings suggest that even within a primarily low-income study population, socioeconomic differences persist. These differences in susceptibility in the extremely low-income group may not be apparent in health studies that use Medicaid enrollment as a proxy for low SES.

Specificity of California mouse pup vocalizations in response to olfactory stimuli.

To investigate flexibility in vocal signaling by rodent pups, we examined whether olfactory stimuli influence characteristics of pup calls and how these calls may be affected by sex and litter size in California mice (Peromyscus californicus). Pups were isolated and recorded during a 3-min baseline period followed by a 5-min exposure to bedding containing scent from their home cage, scent from the home cage of an unfamiliar family, coyote urine, or no scent (control). Latency to call, call rate, and call characteristics (duration, frequency, and amplitude) were compared between the baseline and scent-exposure periods and among olfactory conditions. Compared with the control condition, pups from two-pup litters called more quietly when exposed to odor from a predator, whereas pups from three-pup litters called more loudly. Additionally, pups showed nonsignificant tendencies to reduce call rates in response to odors from their home cage and to increase call rates when exposed to predator urine. Last, males produced higher-frequency calls and more ultrasonic vocalizations than females. These results indicate that pup calling behavior in this species can be influenced by acute olfactory stimuli as well as litter size and sex. The flexibility of pup calling in response to these three variables potentially increases the communication value of pup calls and helps shape the parents' responses.

The impact of genetic counseling on women's grief and coping following termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly.

Pregnancy termination for fetal anomaly (TFA) is a unique experience that can cause women to develop long-term complicated grief. Although a woman's experience with her healthcare providers has been previously identified as an important factor in coping, studies have shown that many women report their health care as lacking to some extent. Given the overlap in women's needs and the practice scope of a genetic counselor (GC), this study aimed to examine how genetic counseling may impact coping and explore women's expectations of GCs pre- and post-TFA. An online survey, which included the brief COPE and the short version of the Perinatal Grief Scale, was distributed among private online support groups. Appropriate statistical analysis tools, such as the Wilcoxon rank-sum and t test, were utilized for quantitative analysis of the 124 responses, and inductive content analysis was utilized for qualitative analysis. Of those who underwent TFA within the last two years, women who saw a GC utilized active coping, planning, and positive reframing significantly more than women who did not see a GC (p = 0.001, p = 0.031, p = 0.027, respectively). GCs were perceived to have a positive impact on coping when providing information, objective care, emotional support, support resources, and follow-up care; these practices encouraged confidence in their personal decision-making and gave women hope for the future. This study not only identified key counseling roles for GCs prior to a TFA, but also demonstrated that genetic counseling prior to TFA may be beneficial to coping. Further studies are warranted to explore the needs of a more diverse population and to identify appropriate genetic counseling training methods to support women pursuing TFA.

Coverage of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Online Versions of Highly Circulated U.S. Daily Newspapers.

With the proliferation of news and the abundance of unknowns, COVID-19 information became rife with rumors and infiltrated consumers with confusion and information overload. In situations like this, it is important to provide consumers with credible and reliable information about the pandemic which is affecting their lives and livelihoods. Articles about coronavirus published in online versions of USA Today online, Wall Street Journal online and NYTimes.com between January and March 2020 were identified. Only articles where the search terms appeared in the headline were included as it was considered a more effective approach to understanding the health communication trends for this outbreak. These criteria resulted in 5,285 articles published on this topic during this time. All articles were imported into Dedoose mixed-methods software for thematic analysis. The frequency of each identified theme appearing in reviewed articles was counted, together with excerpts illustrating the specific theme. Overall, the five most common themes appearing in reviewed articles were "financial impact of COVID-19" (11.6%), "stories of affected individuals" (7.0%), "death and death rates" (6.8%), "precaution recommendations for public" (6.2%), and "quarantine" (5.9%). The newspapers did not just report the numbers (number of infections, ventilators, deaths, economic losses) but they also reported the context of the pandemic, such as, impact on economy, efforts to slow the spread of infection, switch to working from home, presence of health disparities, scientific search for reliable COVID-19 tests, and effect on supply chains. News media play a vital role in enhancing understanding of pandemic, but also in shaping public response to public health messages.

Leishmania infantum infection in a dog imported from Morocco.

A mixed breed dog rescued from Morocco was presented at a Quebec veterinary practice for facial lesions. Leishmaniosis, an exotic disease caused by the zoonotic protozoan Leishmania infantum, was suspected. Genomic DNA extraction from blood samples and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to confirm L. infantum parasitemia. Parasites were successfully cultured from lesion biopsies, and dose-response assays demonstrated susceptibility to miltefosine, a drug that requires importation from Europe. Twenty-eight days of treatment led to the disappearance of lesions, but relapse occurred several months later (consistent with persistent parasitemia on post-treatment analysis). Further treatment would require importation of drugs and significant delays, offering a poor prognosis. Key clinical message: Diagnosis of tropical diseases in Canada will likely become more common in the near future. Having proper diagnostic tools, effective drugs, and stricter control of animal importation are essential to preventing the spread of these dangerous and frequently zoonotic diseases.

Un chien de race croisée réchappé du Maroc fut présenté dans une pratique vétérinaire du Québec pour des lésions faciales. La leishmaniose, une maladie exotique causée par le protozoaire zoonotique Leishmania infantum, fut suspectée. L'extraction d'ADN génomique d'échantillons sanguins et la réaction d'amplification en chaine par la polymérase (PCR) furent utilisées pour confirmer la parasitémie à L. infantum. Les parasites furent cultivés avec succès à partir de biopsies des lésions et des essais dose-réponse ont démontré une sensibilité au miltefosine, un médicament devant être importé d'Europe. Vingt-huit jours de traitement ont mené à la disparition des lésions, mais une rechute se produisit plusieurs mois plus tard (compatible avec une parasitémie persistante lors d'analyses post-traitement). Des traitements supplémentaires nécessiteraient l'importation de médicaments et des délais significatifs, offrant ainsi un pronostic peu optimiste.Message clinique clé :Le diagnostic de maladie tropicale au Canada devrait devenir plus fréquent dans un avenir rapproché. Il est essentiel d'avoir les outils diagnostiques appropriés, des médicaments efficaces et un contrôle plus sévère des importations d'animaux afin de prévenir la propagation de ces dangereuses et fréquentes maladies zoonotiques.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

A De novo HDAC2 variant in a patient with features consistent with Cornelia de Lange syndrome phenotype.

Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder caused by pathogenic variants in NIPBL, RAD21, SMC3, HDAC8, or SMC1A; all of which code for proteins that are components of, or interact with, the cohesin complex. Despite the identification of multiple genes associated with CdLS, over 25% of individuals strongly suspected to have CdLS have negative genetic testing, indicating that there are additional genes associated with the condition. HDAC2 codes for histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) and, like HDAC8, is a Class 1 histone deacetylase. We present a patient with a novel de novo variant in HDAC2 with many clinical features consistent with CdLS including severe developmental delay, limb abnormalities, congenital heart defect, cryptorchidism and hypoplastic genitalia, growth retardation, and characteristic craniofacial features. Although variants in HDAC2 are not currently associated with human disease, the variant identified in this patient is within a highly conserved amino acid residue and has not been observed in healthy populations. This information, along with the patient's clinical presentation and the functional similarity between the HDAC2 and HDAC8 proteins, suggests that HDAC2 should be further investigated as a candidate gene for CdLS or a CdLS-like syndrome.

Chekhov's corner: Using Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic in the public health classroom.

BACKGROUND: Narratives can provide an interesting approach to health communication, incorporating anecdotes, imagery, and details that resonate with readers. Given this context, the purpose of this study was to explore the use of Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic to define and demonstrate an understanding of Ethos, Pathos and Logos. METHODS: This qualitative, cross-sectional education research was based on the use of Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic by Sam Quinones in an undergraduate elective. The elective course focused on using popular literature to promote a better understanding of health concepts. The assignment focused on the applicability of models of persuasion (Ethos, Pathos, and Logos) used in this book. Responses (n = 18) were compiled and reviewed following the basic premise of the Grounded Theory approach. This allowed for the identification and development of overarching themes in a way that gives a sense of how students applied this reading to the aforementioned directed question regarding models of persuasion. RESULTS: In establishing Ethos, the author's background as a journalist and the detailed interviews with credible sources were two major themes. Student quotations demonstrate that Pathos in this book was exemplified by presenting many different aspects of a complicated epidemic, rife with possibilities for evoking emotion. Illustrative quotations indicate that students are critically analyzing the text. CONCLUSION: Narratives can serve as a vehicle that influences people's understandings and beliefs, potentially promoting change in behavior or attitudes. They can enhance public health education and learning in an enriching and cross-disciplinary way.

Examining genetic counselors' implicit attitudes toward disability.

Genetic counselors have a unique role in healthcare that requires a balance between being a patient educator and patient advocate when discussing disability. This study aimed to determine genetic counselors' implicit attitudes toward disability, and identify what factors affect these implicit attitudes. Case scenarios involving disability were used to examine hypothetical estimates of time spent on different topics within a genetic counseling session. Implicit attitudes were measured using the validated Disability Attitudes Implicit Association Test (DA-IAT), and personal/professional experiences with disability were assessed. Analysis of 382 respondents of the electronic survey revealed that personal experience with individuals with disabilities was not significantly associated with implicit attitudes scores. In addition, results demonstrated that genetic counselors have a stronger bias toward ability (Dmean  = 0.62, Dstd  = ±0.45) compared to previous participants of the DA-IAT (p < .005). Practice specialty, length of time in the genetic counseling field, or whether the participant was a practicing counselor or genetic counseling student were not associated with implicit attitudes scores. The bias toward ability observed across practice specialties may be due to shared factors that influence interest in this field, but may also potentially reflect the inability of the DA-IAT to capture the complexity of genetic counselors' relationship to individuals with disability. This study emphasizes the importance of incorporating patients' individual definitions of disability into genetic counseling sessions and building an environment of patient advocacy and education around their personal perspectives and needs.

Effects of recycled manure solids bedding on the spread of gastrointestinal parasites in the environment of dairies and milk.

The primary aim of this work was to isolate common bovine digestive tract parasites in recycled manure bedding (RMS), as well as to determine the ability of current RMS preparation procedures to eliminate these pathogens. Other objectives were to assess whether any of the aforementioned parasites could be retrieved in bulk milk from dairies using RMS and to study whether the prevalence of these parasites differed among manure of cows housed on RMS versus on straw bedding. For the study, 27 RMS farms and 61 control farms were recruited. Samples of manure from the pre-pit and milk from the bulk tank were recovered from straw-bedding farms and RMS-based farms. In addition, samples from the manure solid fraction after liquid extraction, RMS before use, and RMS currently in use were recovered from RMS herds. Parasites were first detected by double centrifugation zinc sulfate flotation to enhance isolation of gastrointestinal protozoa, and by modified Wisconsin sugar flotation for the appraisal of gastrointestinal nematodes. Cryptosporidium parasites were confirmed by nested PCR amplification and sequencing of a portion of the gene encoding the small subunit rRNA. Results revealed a high prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. (C. parvum, C. andersoni, and C. meleagridis, identified by PCR) and Eimeria spp. (mainly E. bovis and E. zuernii) parasites in both types of farms, with a larger proportion of manure samples from RMS-bedded farms testing positive for Cryptosporidium parasites compared with manure from straw-bedded farms. Both Cryptosporidium spp. and Eimeria spp. oocysts were found at every step of RMS preparation and transformation, showing that current RMS preparation strategies do not guarantee the destruction of protozoan parasites. Cryptosporidium parvum, a potential zoonotic risk for professionals in close contact with livestock, was found to be present in 32 out of 61 straw-bedded and 24 of 27 RMS farms. No protozoan parasites were found in any sample derived from bulk milk, neither by microscopy analysis nor by molecular methods.

Evaluation of patient-focused interventions to promote colorectal cancer screening among new york state medicaid managed care patients.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate an ongoing initiative to improve colorectal cancer (CRC) screening uptake in the New York State (NYS) Medicaid managed care population. METHODS: Patients aged 50 to 75 years who were not up to date with CRC screening and resided in 2 NYS regions were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 cohorts: no mailed reminder, mailed reminder, and mailed reminder + incentive (in the form of a $25 cash card). Screening prevalence and the costs of the intervention were summarized. RESULTS: In total, 7123 individuals in the Adirondack Region and 10,943 in the Central Region (including the Syracuse metropolitan area) were included. Screening prevalence in the Adirondack Region was 7.2% in the mailed reminder + incentive cohort, 7.0% in the mailed reminder cohort, and 5.8% in the no mailed reminder cohort. In the Central Region, screening prevalence was 7.2% in the mailed reminder cohort, 6.9% in the mailed reminder + incentive cohort, and 6.5% in the no mailed reminder cohort. The cost of implementing interventions in the Central Region was approximately 53% lower than in the Adirondack Region. CONCLUSIONS: Screening uptake was low and did not differ significantly across the 2 regions or within the 3 cohorts. The incentive payment and mailed reminder did not appear to be effective in increasing CRC screening. The total cost of implementation was lower in the Central Region because of efficiencies generated from lessons learned during the first round of implementation in the Adirondack Region. More varied multicomponent interventions may be required to facilitate the completion of CRC screening among Medicaid beneficiaries.

Attitudes of Individuals with Gaucher Disease toward Substrate Reduction Therapies.

Type 1 Gaucher disease (GD) is the most common lysosomal storage disorder. Previously, treatment for GD was limited to intravenous enzyme replacement therapies (ERTs). More recently, oral substrate reduction therapies (SRTs) were approved for treatment of GD. Although both therapies alleviate disease symptoms, attitudes toward SRTs and patient perceptions of health while using SRT have not been well established. Electronic surveys were administered to adults with GD and asked about treatment history, attitudes toward SRTs, and perception of health while using SRTs as compared to ERTs, if applicable to the participant. ERT users that were offered treatment with SRTs cited potential side effects, wanting more research on SRTs, and satisfaction with their current treatment regimen as reasons for declining SRTs. SRT users expressed convenience and less invasiveness as reasons for choosing SRTs. Additionally, those using SRTs most often perceived their health to be similar to when they previously used ERT. Participant responses illustrate that attitudes toward SRTs can be variable and that one particular treatment may not be ideal for all patients with GD depending on individual perceptions of factors such as convenience, invasiveness, or side effects. Thus, individuals with GD should be counseled adequately by healthcare providers about both ERTs and SRTs for treatment of GD now that SRTs are clinically available.

Identifying Depression in Parents of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Recommendations for Professional Practice.

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face many challenges, not the least of which can be dealing with their own depression. Depression decreases an individual's capacity for self-care and is often overlooked in this population striving to manage the demands of parenting their child with ASD. This article examines current literature related to prevalence, diagnosis, and interventions for depression in parents of children with ASD. The review indicates that depression is more common in parents of children with ASD than in the general public. However, most literature addresses parenting skills rather than depression and associated self-care deficits identified in these parents. Suggestions for best practice models and proactive interventions to caregivers are provided. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 56(4), 23-27.].

Sandmeyer-Type Trifluoromethylthiolation and Trifluoromethylselenolation of (Hetero)Aromatic Amines Catalyzed by Copper.

Aromatic and heteroaromatic diazonium salts were efficiently converted into the corresponding trifluoromethylthio- or selenoethers by reaction with Me4 NSCF3 or Me4 NSeCF3 , respectively, in the presence of catalytic amounts of copper thiocyanate. These Sandmeyer-type reactions proceed within one hour at room temperature, are applicable to a wide range of functionalized molecules, and can optionally be combined with the diazotizations into one-pot protocols.