Meta-Analysis of Cyber Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration and Victimization: Different Types and their Associations with Face-to-Face IPV among Men and Women.

Cyber intimate partner violence (C-IPV) is a technology-mediated form of violence. It has been examined only in the last 10 years as a form of violence that can cause psychological damage to its victims. How this phenomenon connects to and differs from face-to-face IPV (F2F-IPV) has been, as yet, little studied. Research has not made clear whether sex differences may impact its use, particularly in light of the fact that no physical coercion is used in C-IPV. Thus, the current research aimed to investigate through a meta-analysis: differences between the average levels of different types of C-IPV victimization and perpetration; the association between C-IPV and F2F-IPV victimization and perpetration; and whether the answers to these questions were dependent on sex. The current meta-analysis drew on 46 studies, within 44 papers, with a total sample of 27,491 participants. Findings from 22 of these studies showed no significant sex differences between the average levels of different types of C-IPV victimization and between different types of C-IPV perpetration. These 22 studies showed positive large effect sizes for the correlation between C-IPV and F2F-IPV perpetration and victimization. Moreover, in both perpetration and victimization, sex did not impact the level of association. The findings suggested that C-IPV and F2F-IPV are highly correlated, and though not the same, they may share similar characteristics. Additionally, the results suggested that sex differences do not impact non-physical aggression, such as C-IPV. The implications for preventive strategies include that IPV interventions should also focus on alleviating instances of C-IPV.

Unique, Additive, and Interactive Effects of Types of Intimate Partner Cybervictimization on Depression in Hispanic Emerging Adults.

The advent of modern technology has inadvertently created newer avenues for intimate partner victimization (IPV) to transpire. This study investigated (a) whether psychological, sexual, and stalking intimate partner cybervictimization (cyber IPV) types were uniquely associated with depression and whether there were (b) additive and (c) interactive effects of cyber IPV types on depression, after controlling for face-to-face IPV among Hispanic emerging adults. Participants were 903 Hispanic emerging adults in the age range of 18 to 29 years (M = 20.68, SD = 2.42; 74% female) attending a public university in South Texas. Participants completed an online questionnaire assessing cyber IPV types (psychological, sexual, and stalking), face-to-face IPV types (physical, psychological, and sexual), and depression. Results indicated that nearly three-fourths (73%) of the sample endorsed at least one type of cyber IPV. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that psychological and sexual cyber IPV was uniquely associated with depression. An accumulating effect (additive effect model) of the three types of cyber IPV on depression was also found. Interaction effect model analysis yielded no significant effects. Findings reveal the detrimental effect of cyber IPV on mental health and calls for institutions and clinicians to develop preventive and treatment programs to aid victim-survivors.

Unique and Cumulative Effects of Intimate Partner Cybervictimization Types on Alcohol Use in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Emerging Adults.

The use of modern technology has inadvertently created newer platforms for intimate partner victimization to take place. The present study investigated (1) whether psychological, sexual, and stalking cyber intimate partner victimization (cyber IPV) types were uniquely associated with alcohol use, and (2) whether there was additive effect of cyber IPV types on alcohol use, after controlling for histories of childhood maltreatment types and face-to-face intimate partner victimization among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) emerging adults. Participants were 277 self-identifying LGB individuals in the age range of 18-29 years (M = 25.39, SD = 2.77; 16.6% lesbian, 25.6% gay, 43% bisexual women). Participants completed an online questionnaire assessing cyber IPV types, namely, psychological, sexual, and stalking, five forms of childhood maltreatment, face-to-face IPV types (i.e., physical, psychological, and sexual), and alcohol use. Findings indicated that 29.2% (n = 81) endorsed all three types of cyber IPV. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that only sexual cyber IPV was uniquely associated with alcohol use. In support of the cumulative risk hypothesis, those with exposure to three types of cyber IPV were more likely to have greater alcohol use compared to those with exposure to any one type of cyber IPV. Findings indicate that cyber IPV can lead to behavioral health challenges, such as an increase in alcohol use among LGB emerging adults. Findings call for interventions focusing on generating awareness regarding the ill effects of cyber IPV and for mental health professionals to develop treatment programs to aid in the well-being of the victim.

A Phenotypic Switch of Differentiated Glial Cells to Dedifferentiated Cells Is Regulated by Folate Receptor α.

In a previous study, we showed that folate receptor-α (FRα) translocates to the nucleus where it acts as a transcription factor and upregulates Hes1, Oct4, Sox2, and Klf4 genes responsible for pluripotency. Here, we show that acetylation and phosphorylation of FRα favor its nuclear translocation in the presence of folate and can cause a phenotypic switch from differentiated glial cells to dedifferentiated cells. shRNA-FRα mediated knockdown of FRα was used to confirm the role of FRα in dedifferentiation. Ocimum sanctum hydrophilic fraction-1 treatment not only blocks the folate mediated dedifferentiation of glial cells but also promotes redifferentiation of dedifferentiated glial cells, possibly by reducing the nuclear translocation of ~38 kDa FRα and subsequent interaction with chromatin assembly factor-1. Stem Cells 2019;37:1441-1454.

Author Correction: Trans-differentiation of outer hair cells into inner hair cells in the absence of INSM1.

In Figs. 1e and 2g of this Letter, the labels 'actin' and 'VGLUT3', respectively, should have been in red instead of green font. This has been corrected online.

Trans-differentiation of outer hair cells into inner hair cells in the absence of INSM1.

The mammalian cochlea contains two types of mechanosensory hair cell that have different and critical functions in hearing. Inner hair cells (IHCs), which have an elaborate presynaptic apparatus, signal to cochlear neurons and communicate sound information to the brain. Outer hair cells (OHCs) mechanically amplify sound-induced vibrations, providing enhanced sensitivity to sound and sharp tuning. Cochlear hair cells are solely generated during development, and hair cell death-most often of OHCs-is the most common cause of deafness. OHCs and IHCs, together with supporting cells, originate in embryos from the prosensory region of the otocyst, but how hair cells differentiate into two different types is unknown1-3. Here we show that Insm1, which encodes a zinc finger protein that is transiently expressed in nascent OHCs, consolidates their fate by preventing trans-differentiation into IHCs. In the absence of INSM1, many hair cells that are born as OHCs switch fates to become mature IHCs. To identify the genetic mechanisms by which Insm1 operates, we compared the transcriptomes of immature IHCs and OHCs, and of OHCs with and without INSM1. In OHCs that lack INSM1, a set of genes is upregulated, most of which are normally preferentially expressed by IHCs. The homeotic cell transformation of OHCs without INSM1 into IHCs reveals a mechanism by which these neighbouring mechanosensory cells begin to differ: INSM1 represses a core set of early IHC-enriched genes in embryonic OHCs and makes them unresponsive to an IHC-inducing gradient, so that they proceed to mature as OHCs. Without INSM1, some of the OHCs in which these few IHC-enriched transcripts are upregulated trans-differentiate into IHCs, identifying candidate genes for IHC-specific differentiation.

Taking Aim at Asthma Around the World: Global Results of the Asthma Insight and Management Survey in the Asia-Pacific Region, Latin America, Europe, Canada, and the United States.

BACKGROUND: Asthma, a worldwide health problem, can be controlled if properly diagnosed and managed. Multinational surveys conducted in patients with asthma from 1998 to 2003 indicated that asthma was inadequately controlled. The Asthma Insight and Management (AIM) study represents the largest survey conducted on patients with asthma since 2003. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess findings from the United States (US), Europe and Canada (EUCAN), Latin America (LA), and the Asia-Pacific (AP) region surveys to identify differences and similarities with earlier surveys on patients with asthma. METHODS: The US, EUCAN, LA, and AP AIM surveys conducted from 2009 to 2011 all used a common set of questions. Responses to these are reported as proportions of patients with asthma for each country individually, and as totals for all regions. Results are presented as mean/median proportions for US, EUCAN, LA, and AP survey populations individually. Global medians and the range of regional response values are also described. RESULTS: A total of 10,302 patients or parents of adolescents with asthma were interviewed. Approximately one-quarter reported daytime symptoms daily or on most days over the previous 4 weeks. Globally, a median of 67% (range, 27%-88%) of patients perceived their asthma as completely and/or well controlled, but a median of only 9% (range, 0%-29%) of patients had well-controlled asthma using criteria from asthma guidelines. A majority (≥60%) of patients felt that quick-relief medication could be used daily if needed, contrary to guideline recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: Patients exhibited a lack of knowledge and conviction for treatment recommendations and guidelines that was relatively uniform across the regions, similar to earlier survey findings. These results reveal an ongoing need for improvement in asthma care and education in most populations.

Non-aggregating tau phosphorylation by cyclin-dependent kinase 5 contributes to motor neuron degeneration in spinal muscular atrophy.

Mechanisms underlying motor neuron degeneration in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the leading inherited cause of infant mortality, remain largely unknown. Many studies have established the importance of hyperphosphorylation of the microtubule-associated protein tau in various neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. However, tau phosphorylation in SMA pathogenesis has yet to be investigated. Here we show that tau phosphorylation on serine 202 (S202) and threonine 205 (T205) is increased significantly in SMA motor neurons using two SMA mouse models and human SMA patient spinal cord samples. Interestingly, phosphorylated tau does not form aggregates in motor neurons or neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), even at late stages of SMA disease, distinguishing it from other tauopathies. Hyperphosphorylation of tau on S202 and T205 is mediated by cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) in SMA disease condition, because tau phosphorylation at these sites is significantly reduced in Cdk5 knock-out mice; genetic knock-out of Cdk5 activating subunit p35 in an SMA mouse model also leads to reduced tau phosphorylation on S202 and T205 in the SMA;p35(-/-) compound mutant mice. In addition, expression of the phosphorylation-deficient tauS202A,T205A mutant alleviates motor neuron defects in a zebrafish SMA model in vivo and mouse motor neuron degeneration in culture, whereas expression of phosphorylation-mimetic tauS202E,T205E promotes motor neuron defects. More importantly, genetic knock-out of tau in SMA mice rescues synapse stripping on motor neurons, NMJ denervation, and motor neuron degeneration in vivo. Altogether, our findings suggest a novel mechanism for SMA pathogenesis in which hyperphosphorylation of non-aggregating tau by Cdk5 contributes to motor neuron degeneration.

Mucolipin co-deficiency causes accelerated endolysosomal vacuolation of enterocytes and failure-to-thrive from birth to weaning.

During the suckling period, intestinal enterocytes are richly endowed with endosomes and lysosomes, which they presumably utilize for the uptake and intracellular digestion of milk proteins. By weaning, mature intestinal enterocytes replace those rich in lysosomes. We found that mouse enterocytes before weaning express high levels of two endolysosomal cation channels, mucolipins 3 and 1 -products of Trpml3 and Trpml1 genes; moreover neonatal enterocytes of mice lacking both mucolipins (Trpml3-/-;Trpml1-/-) vacuolated pathologically within hours of birth and remained so until weaning. Ultrastructurally and chemically these fast-forming vacuoles resembled those that systemically appear in epithelial cells of mucolipidosis type IV (MLIV) patients, which bear mutations in Trpml1. Hence, lack of both mucolipins 1 and 3 causes an accelerated MLIV-type of vacuolation in enterocytes. The vacuoles were aberrant hybrid organelles with both endosomal and lysosomal components, and were not generated by alterations in endocytosis or exocytosis, but likely by an imbalance between fusion of lysosomes and endosomes and their subsequent scission. However, upon extensive vacuolation enterocytes displayed reduced endocytosis from the intestinal lumen, a defect expected to compromise nutrient uptake. Mice lacking both mucolipins suffered a growth delay that began after birth and continued through the suckling period but recovered after weaning, coinciding with the developmental period of enterocyte vacuolation. Our results demonstrate genetic redundancy between lysosomal mucolipins 3 and 1 in neonatal enterocytes. Furthermore, our Trpml3-/-;Trpml1-/- mice represent a polygenic animal model of the poorly-understood, and often intractable, neonatal failure-to-thrive with intestinal pathology. Our results implicate lysosomes in neonatal intestinal pathologies, a major cause of infant mortality worldwide, and suggest transient intestinal dysfunction might affect newborns with lysosomal storage disorders. Finally, we conclude that mucolipin-endowed lysosomes in the young play an evolutionarily-conserved role in the intracellular digestion of maternally-provided nutrients, whether milk in mammals or yolk in oviparous species.

Insights, attitudes, and perceptions about asthma and its treatment: findings from a multinational survey of patients from Latin America.

BACKGROUND: In 2011 the Latin America Asthma Insight and Management (LA AIM) survey explored the realities of living with asthma. We investigated perception, knowledge, and attitudes related to asthma among Latin American asthma patients. METHODS: Asthma patients aged ≥12 years from four Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela) and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico responded to questions during face-to-face interviews. A sample size of 2,169 patients (approximately 400 patients/location) provided an accurate representation of asthma patients' opinions. Questions probed respondents' views on topics such as levels of asthma control, frequency and duration of exacerbations, and current and recent use of asthma medications. RESULTS: A total of 2,169 adults or parents of children with asthma participated in the LA AIM survey. At least 20% of respondents experienced symptoms every day or night or most days or nights. Although 60% reported their disease as well or completely controlled, only 8% met guideline criteria for well-controlled asthma. 47% of respondents reported episodes when their asthma symptoms were more frequent or severe than normal, and 44% reported seeking acute care for asthma in the past year. Asthma patients in Latin America overestimated their degree of asthma control. CONCLUSIONS: The LA AIM survey demonstrated the discrepancy between patient perception of asthma control and guideline-mandated criteria. Additional education is required to teach patients that, by more closely following asthma management strategies outlined by current guidelines more patients can achieve adequate asthma control.

Insights, attitudes and perceptions about asthma and its treatment: findings from a multinational survey of patients from 8 Asia-Pacific countries and Hong Kong.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The Asthma Insight and Management (AIM) survey was conducted in North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific region and Latin America to characterize patients' insights, attitudes and perceptions about their asthma and its treatment. We report findings from the Asia-Pacific survey. METHODS: Asthma patients (≥12 years) from Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand were surveyed. Patients answered 53 questions exploring general health, diagnosis/history, symptoms, exacerbations, patient burden, disease management, medications/treatments and patient's attitudes. The Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines were used to assess asthma control. The survey was conducted by random digit telephone dialling (Australia, China and Hong Kong) or by random face-to-face interviews (India, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand). RESULTS: There were 80 761 households screened. Data from 3630 patients were collected. Wide disparity existed between objective measures of control and patient perception. Reported exacerbations during the previous year ranged from 19% (Hong Kong) to 67% (India). Reported unscheduled urgent/emergency visits to a doctor's office/hospital/clinic in the previous year ranged from 15% (Hong Kong) to 46% (Taiwan). Patients who reported having controlled asthma in the previous month ranged from 27% (South Korea) to 84% (Taiwan). Substantial functional and emotional limitations due to asthma were identified by 13% (South Korea) to 78% (India) of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Asthma has a profound impact on patients' well-being despite the availability of effective treatments and evidence-based management guidelines. Substantial differences across the surveyed countries exist, suggesting unmet, country-specific cultural and educational needs. A large proportion of asthma patients overestimate their level of control.

Notum homolog plays a novel role in primary motor innervation.

To form complex neuronal networks, growth cones use intermediate targets as guideposts on the path to more distant targets. In the developing zebrafish (Danio rerio), the muscle pioneers (MPs) are intermediate targets for primary motor neurons (PMNs) that innervate the trunk musculature. The mechanisms regulating PMN axon guidance at the MPs are not fully understood. We have identified a new member of the Notum family in zebrafish, Notum 2, which is expressed exclusively in the MPs during primary motor innervation. While homologs of Notum, including zebrafish Notum 1a, negatively regulate the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, we discovered a novel function of Notum 2 in regulating motor axon guidance. Knockdown of Notum 2 resulted in a failure of caudal primary (CaP) axons to migrate beyond the MPs, despite the proper specification of the intermediate target. In contrast, mosaic Notum 2 overexpression induced branching of PMN axons. This effect is specific to Notum 2, as overexpression of Notum 1a does not affect PMN axon trajectory. Ectopic expression of Notum 2 by cells contacting the growing CaP axon induced the highest frequency of branching, suggesting that localized Notum 2 expression affects axon behavior. We propose a model where Notum 2 expression at the MPs provides a cue to release CaP motor axons from their intermediate targets, allowing growth cones to proceed to secondary targets in the ventral muscle. This work demonstrates an unexpected role for a Notum homolog in regulating growth cone migration, separate from the well established functions of other Notum homologs in Wnt signaling.

Measurement of choroidal melanoma basal diameter by wide-angle digital fundus camera: a comparison with ultrasound measurement.

PURPOSE: To compare the measurement of the basal diameter of choroidal melanoma, an important parameter for planning treatment and as a prognostic factor, by standardized ophthalmic ultrasound versus that obtained using a wide-angle fundus camera. METHODS: The longest and shortest basal diameters of 104 consecutive choroidal melanomas of patients seen at the ocular oncology service of the Hadassah University Hospital were measured by B-scan ultrasound and compared with those measured by a wide-angle fundus camera (Panoret-1000). Each diameter was measured thrice by two ophthalmic photographers, and intra-observer and interobserver reproducibility were calculated as well. RESULTS: The measurements of both the long and short diameters of the choroidal melanomas were significantly larger when measured by Panoret-1000 as compared with the B-scan ultrasound. There was no significant difference among the three measurements of each of the photographers. The interobserver reproducibility between the two photographers was high. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings can be attributed to the larger extent of the pigmentation of the melanoma compared to its recognized elevation. Since pigmentation of choroidal melanoma is easier to recognize than its elevation, we assume that measurement by a wide-angle fundus camera is more accurate in pigmented tumors, and should be adopted for measuring the basal diameter of choroidal melanomas in planning treatment and follow-up.