Childhood adversities and risk of posttraumatic stress disorder and major depression following a motor vehicle collision in adulthood.

AIMS: Childhood adversities (CAs) predict heightened risks of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive episode (MDE) among people exposed to adult traumatic events. Identifying which CAs put individuals at greatest risk for these adverse posttraumatic neuropsychiatric sequelae (APNS) is important for targeting prevention interventions. METHODS: Data came from n = 999 patients ages 18-75 presenting to 29 U.S. emergency departments after a motor vehicle collision (MVC) and followed for 3 months, the amount of time traditionally used to define chronic PTSD, in the Advancing Understanding of Recovery After Trauma (AURORA) study. Six CA types were self-reported at baseline: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect and bullying. Both dichotomous measures of ever experiencing each CA type and numeric measures of exposure frequency were included in the analysis. Risk ratios (RRs) of these CA measures as well as complex interactions among these measures were examined as predictors of APNS 3 months post-MVC. APNS was defined as meeting self-reported criteria for either PTSD based on the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 and/or MDE based on the PROMIS Depression Short-Form 8b. We controlled for pre-MVC lifetime histories of PTSD and MDE. We also examined mediating effects through peritraumatic symptoms assessed in the emergency department and PTSD and MDE assessed in 2-week and 8-week follow-up surveys. Analyses were carried out with robust Poisson regression models. RESULTS: Most participants (90.9%) reported at least rarely having experienced some CA. Ever experiencing each CA other than emotional neglect was univariably associated with 3-month APNS (RRs = 1.31-1.60). Each CA frequency was also univariably associated with 3-month APNS (RRs = 1.65-2.45). In multivariable models, joint associations of CAs with 3-month APNS were additive, with frequency of emotional abuse (RR = 2.03; 95% CI = 1.43-2.87) and bullying (RR = 1.44; 95% CI = 0.99-2.10) being the strongest predictors. Control variable analyses found that these associations were largely explained by pre-MVC histories of PTSD and MDE. CONCLUSIONS: Although individuals who experience frequent emotional abuse and bullying in childhood have a heightened risk of experiencing APNS after an adult MVC, these associations are largely mediated by prior histories of PTSD and MDE.

Prior differences in previous trauma exposure primarily drive the observed racial/ethnic differences in posttrauma depression and anxiety following a recent trauma.

BACKGROUND: Racial and ethnic groups in the USA differ in the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Recent research however has not observed consistent racial/ethnic differences in posttraumatic stress in the early aftermath of trauma, suggesting that such differences in chronic PTSD rates may be related to differences in recovery over time. METHODS: As part of the multisite, longitudinal AURORA study, we investigated racial/ethnic differences in PTSD and related outcomes within 3 months after trauma. Participants (n = 930) were recruited from emergency departments across the USA and provided periodic (2 weeks, 8 weeks, and 3 months after trauma) self-report assessments of PTSD, depression, dissociation, anxiety, and resilience. Linear models were completed to investigate racial/ethnic differences in posttraumatic dysfunction with subsequent follow-up models assessing potential effects of prior life stressors. RESULTS: Racial/ethnic groups did not differ in symptoms over time; however, Black participants showed reduced posttraumatic depression and anxiety symptoms overall compared to Hispanic participants and White participants. Racial/ethnic differences were not attenuated after accounting for differences in sociodemographic factors. However, racial/ethnic differences in depression and anxiety were no longer significant after accounting for greater prior trauma exposure and childhood emotional abuse in White participants. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggest prior differences in previous trauma exposure partially mediate the observed racial/ethnic differences in posttraumatic depression and anxiety symptoms following a recent trauma. Our findings further demonstrate that racial/ethnic groups show similar rates of symptom recovery over time. Future work utilizing longer time-scale data is needed to elucidate potential racial/ethnic differences in long-term symptom trajectories.

Micropreparative capillary electrophoresis of DNA by direct transfer onto a membrane.

We have developed a new technique for the collection of DNA fragments separated by capillary electrophoresis, by direct transfer from the capillary outlet to a positively charged membrane. Transfer and post-run detection of two different nonradioactively labeled DNA standards, ranging in size from 150 bp to 2 kbp and 120 bp to 23 kbp are presented, and discussed. Capillary electrophoresis with direct blotting presents several advantages over the blotting from gels: the separation is faster and requires less manual steps, the resolution is higher, and each DNA fragment is collected into a very concentrated spot on the membrane due to the small surface of the capillary outlet and to a design of the collection device inducing a refocusing of field lines across the hybridization membrane. Therefore, very small amounts of DNA (in the pg range) can be detected. This fraction collection makes further analysis of the sample possible, e.g. by hybridization, thus suppressing one of the major present limitations of the capillary electrophoresis technique for DNA analysis.

Control of electrohydrodynamic distortion of sample streams in continuous flow electrophoresis using oscillating fields.

Continuous flow electrophoresis is a method to separate ions contained in a sample continuously injected into a laminar flow of electrolyte as a cylindrical stream. Usually, the sample is more conductive than the electrolyte, and the charges created at the sample-electrolyte interface lead to electrohydrodynamic distortions which reduce the separation power of this technique. We demonstrate theoretically that the rate of electrohydrodynamic distortion of a cylindrical sample stream can be reduced to zero, by superimposing to the AC field responsible for the separation of a DC field transverse to it and to the flow direction, with an appropriate frequency, and an effective strength equal to that of the DC field. Using a continuous flow electrophoresis chamber, in which such a field is produced using capacitive electrodes, the major predictions of the theory are confirmed. In particular, it is shown that a sample stream more conductive than the carrying electrolyte, which was seriously deformed in the absence of a transverse AC field, recovers its cylindrical shape in presence of the field. The implications of this discovery for the separating power of continuous-flow electrophoresis are discussed.