Infant mental health home visiting: intervention dosage and therapist experience interact to support improvements in maternal reflective functioning.

This study examined changes in parental reflective functioning (PRF) among mothers enrolled in Infant Mental Health-Home Visiting (IMH-HV) and explored whether parental risk, treatment dosage or therapist experience predicted change in PRF. Participants included 75 mothers and their children who were enrolled in IMH-HV delivered by Community Mental Health therapists. Results indicated significant improvements in PRF from baseline to 12-months. Maternal demographic and psychosocial risk, therapist experience and treatment dosage were not directly associated with changes in PRF. However, Mothers who received more treatment sessions from therapists with six or more years of experience demonstrated the greatest improvements in PRF, while mothers who received more treatment sessions from therapists who had been practicing IMH for less than 15 months showed a decline in PRF. Therapists working with very high-risk families may need specific training and ongoing reflective supervision over a period of years to promote improvement in PRF.

In-the-moment ratings on the Early Relational Health Screen: A pilot study of application in home visiting and primary care.

Early infant-parent interaction sets a critical foundation for young children's well-being, and evidence regarding the protective role of secure early relationships has led to increased interest in effective screening and promotion of early relational health in pediatric primary care and home visiting settings. We report findings from two pilot studies conducted in the United States that describe the reliability and validity of a relational health screening tool, the Early Relational Health Screen (ERHS), implemented in two different contexts: an innovative model of relational health promotion in pediatric primary care (Study 1) and an Infant Mental Health Home Visiting (IMH-HV) model (Study 2). Across both studies, a trained clinician rated the ERHS following real-time observation of interaction (i.e., "in-the-moment" ratings). Reliability was assessed by comparing "in-the-moment" ERHS ratings to subsequent coding of the same interaction from video by an independent evaluator. In addition, Study 2 data permitted evaluation of the validity of "in-the-moment" ERHS ratings. Results from both studies indicated reliability of "in-the-moment" ERHS ratings. In addition, Study 2 clinician "in-the-moment" ratings were associated with maternal depression and ratings of child-parent interaction derived from a separate observational task coded by independent evaluators using a different well-validated research-based measure. Discussion highlights the potential of the ERHS as a screening, promotion, and prevention tool that may be feasibly administered by providers across pediatric primary care and home visiting settings.

La temprana interacción infante-progenitor establece una fundación esencial para el bienestar de los niños pequeños, y la evidencia sobre el papel de protección de tempranas relaciones receptivas ha aumentado el interés en la efectiva detección y promoción de la salud de la relación en el cuidado pediátrico primario y los escenarios de visitas a casa. Reportamos los resultados de dos estudios experimentales que describen la confiabilidad y validez de la Temprana Detección de la Salud de la Relación (ERHS) implementada en dos contextos: un modelo innovador de promoción de la salud de la relación en el cuidado primario (Estudio 1) y un modelo de salud mental infantil de visitas a casa (Estudio 2). A lo largo de ambos, un profesional clínico entrenado evaluó ERHS siguiendo una observación de interacción en tiempo real (v.g. puntajes asignados "en el momento"). Se evaluó la confiabilidad por medio de una comparación entre los puntajes del profesional clínico y los subsecuentes puntajes de la misma interacción en video por un evaluador independiente. Adicionalmente, los datos del Estudio 2 permitieron la evaluación de la validez de los puntajes de ERHS. Los resultados de ambos estudios indicaron la confiabilidad de los puntajes ERHS "en el momento." Es más, los puntajes del profesional clínico del Estudio 2 se asociaron con la depresión materna y los puntajes de la interacción niño-progenitor derivados de una tarea separada usando una medida bien validada basada en la investigación. Las discusiones subrayan el potencial de ERHS como una herramienta de detección, promoción y prevención que puede ser administrada factiblemente por los proveedores tanto en el cuidado primario como en los casos de visitas a casa.

L'interaction précoce nourrisson-parent jette les bases essentielles du bien-être du jeune enfant et l'évidence concernant le rôle protecteur des relations précoces sécures a mené à un intérêt plus grand pour le dépistage efficace et la promotion de la santé relationnelle précoce dans les soins de santé primaire en pédiatrie ainsi que les contextes de visites à domicile. Nous rapportons ici les résultats de deux études pilotes faites aux Etats-Unis d'Amérique, qui décrivent la fiabilité et la validité d'un outil de dépistage de la santé relationnelle, le Dépistage Précoce de Santé Relationnelle (en anglais Early Relational Health Screen dont nous gardons l'abréviation ici, ERHS), mis en place dans deux contextes différents: un modèle innovateur de promotion de la santé relationnelle précoce en soin pédiatrique primaire (Etude 1) et un modèle de visite à domicile pour la santé mentale du nourrisson (Etude 2). Au travers de ces deux études un clinicien entraîné a évalué l'ERHS après une observation en temps réel de l'interaction (c'est-à-dire, des scores "sur le moment"). La fiabilité a été évaluée en comparant l'ERHS "sur le moment" au codage ultérieur de la même interaction à partir d'une vidéo, par un évaluateur indépendant. De plus les données de l'Etude 2 ont permis l'évaluation de la validité des scores ERHS "sur le moment." Les résultats des deux études ont indiqué la fiabilité des scores ERHS "sur le moment." De plus les scores "sur le moment" du clinicien de l'Etude 2 étaient liés à la dépression maternelle et aux scores d'interaction enfant-parent dérivés d'une tâche observationnelle séparée codée par des évaluateurs indépendants en utilisant une mesure basée sur les recherches différente et communément validée. La discussion met en lumière le potentiel de l'ERHS en tant qu'outil de dépistage, de promotion et de prévention qui peut être réalistement utilisé par les professionnels au sein des soins primaires pédiatriques et des contextes de visites à domicile.

Dietary phenotype and advanced glycation end-products predict WTC-obstructive airways disease: a longitudinal observational study.

BACKGROUND: Diet is a modifier of metabolic syndrome which in turn is associated with World Trade Center obstructive airways disease (WTC-OAD). We have designed this study to (1) assess the dietary phenotype (food types, physical activity, and dietary habits) of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) WTC-Health Program (WTC-HP) cohort and (2) quantify the association of dietary quality and its advanced glycation end product (AGE) content with the development of WTC-OAD. METHODS: WTC-OAD, defined as developing WTC-Lung Injury (WTC-LI; FEV1 < LLN) and/or airway hyperreactivity (AHR; positive methacholine and/or positive bronchodilator response). Rapid Eating and Activity Assessment for Participants-Short Version (REAP-S) deployed on 3/1/2018 in the WTC-HP annual monitoring assessment. Clinical and REAP-S data of consented subjects was extracted (7/17/2019). Diet quality [low-(15-19), moderate-(20-29), and high-(30-39)] and AGE content per REAP-S questionnaire were assessed for association with WTC-OAD. Regression models adjusted for smoking, hyperglycemia, hypertension, age on 9/11, WTC-exposure, BMI, and job description. RESULTS: N = 9508 completed the annual questionnaire, while N = 4015 completed REAP-S and had spirometry. WTC-OAD developed in N = 921, while N = 3094 never developed WTC-OAD. Low- and moderate-dietary quality, eating more (processed meats, fried foods, sugary drinks), fewer (vegetables, whole-grains),and having a diet abundant in AGEs were significantly associated with WTC-OAD. Smoking was not a significant risk factor of WTC-OAD. CONCLUSIONS: REAP-S was successfully implemented in the FDNY WTC-HP monitoring questionnaire and produced valuable dietary phenotyping. Our observational study has identified low dietary quality and AGE abundant dietary habits as risk factors for pulmonary disease in the context of WTC-exposure. Dietary phenotyping, not only focuses our metabolomic/biomarker profiling but also further informs future dietary interventions that may positively impact particulate matter associated lung disease.

Maternal prenatal depression, PTSD, and problematic parenting: the mediating role of maternal perceptions of infant emotion.

Background: Perinatal illness is alarmingly common and has negative effects on maternal and infant well-being. Depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), specifically, are characterised by negative views of the self and others, which may impact a mother's perceptions of herself and her child. Objective: This study examined the relationship between depression and PTSD symptoms, maternal perceptions of infant emotions, and parenting behaviours. Methods: 120 pregnant, mostly low-income women and their infants (after birth) participated in a longitudinal study. Maternal depression and PTSD symptoms were assessed during pregnancy and 1 year postpartum; maternal perceptions of infant emotions and parenting quality were assessed at 1 year. Results: Correlation analyses revealed significant, negative associations between prenatal (but not postnatal) psychiatric symptoms and positive perceptions of infant emotions, as well as between positive perceptions of infant emotions and negative parenting. Results also revealed significant indirect effects of prenatal depressive and PTSD symptoms on negative parenting via perceptions of infant emotion (95% CIs:.0013 -.0200 and.0008 -.0083, respectively). Conclusion: Findings highlight that mothers should be routinely screened for psychiatric symptoms during the perinatal period, and perceptions of infant emotions may be an important target for parent-infant mental health interventions.

Profiles of Early Childhood Adversity in an Urban Pediatric Clinic: Implications for Pediatric Primary Care.

Pediatricians are well-positioned to screen for early childhood adversities, but effective responses to positive screens require an understanding of which adversities typically co-occur, and to what extent they are associated with other risk or protective factors. Among children seen at an urban academic pediatric practice, this study aimed to (1) examine the prevalence of different types of early adversity and protective experiences reported by primary caregivers, and (2) define latent classes of co-occurring adversities. Of 1434 children whose parents completed the Safe Environment for Every Kid (SEEK) at well-child visits during November 2019-January 2021, three classes of adverse experiences emerged, including those reporting low adversity (L; 73%), caregiver stress (CS; 17%), and both caregiver stress and depression (CSD; 10%). Among those who also completed the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-Q, n = 1373) and the Protective and Compensatory Experiences Scale (PACES, n = 1377), belonging to the L class was associated with lower ACE-Q and higher PACES scores. For parent-respondents only, ACE-Q scores were significantly greater for the CSD class compared to the CS and L classes. Pediatricians should attend to the needs of caregivers reporting both stress and depression, as these families may face especially high levels of adversity and low levels of protective factors.

Randomized pilot trial of the "Mom Power" trauma- and attachment-informed multi-family group intervention in treating and preventing postpartum symptoms of depression among a health disparity sample.

Introduction: Perinatal depression, a common complication related to childbearing, impacts mothers, children, and families. Efficacious interventions reduce perinatal depression symptoms; effort is needed to prevent the onset of perinatal depression. To determine feasibility and preliminary efficacy in reducing perinatal depression, we conducted a community-based, randomized parallel open pilot trial of Mom Power, a group-based intervention to improve mental health and parenting in mothers with young children. Methods: Mom Power consists of 10 group sessions, focused on parenting, child development and self-care and three individual sessions, to build rapport and provide personalized referrals. Control group participants received psychoeducational mailings. Computer-based urn randomization assigned mothers with experiences of interpersonal violence, depression, or other traumatic experiences to Mom Power (68) or control (54). Results: At 3-months post-treatment, the 31 retained women assigned to Mom Power were half as likely to meet criteria for probable depression (26%) as the 22 women retained in the control group (55%), with treatment predicting lower incidence of probable depression (OR = 0.13, p = 0.015). Moreover, among the 23 women who did not meet criteria for depression diagnosis at baseline, no women in the treatment group developed depression (n = 0, 0%) compared to control group women (n = 3, 30%). Logistic regression controlling for selective attrition confirmed the treatment effect on preventing new onset of depression (OR = 0.029, p = 0.012). Conclusion: These findings support the use of Mom Power for both treatment and prevention of perinatal depression. Clinical trial registration: https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01554215, NCT01554215.

Relationships reduce risks for child maltreatment: Results of an experimental trial of Infant Mental Health Home Visiting.

Background: Research examining the effectiveness of home visiting programs that reduce child maltreatment or associated risks yield mixed findings; some find positive significant impacts on maltreatment, whereas others find small to no effects. The Michigan Model of Infant Mental Health Home Visiting (IMH-HV) is a manualized, needs-driven, relationship-focused, home-based intervention service that significantly impacts maternal and child outcomes; the effect of this intervention on child maltreatment has not been sufficiently evaluated. Objective: The current study examined associations between treatment and dosage of IMH-HV and child abuse potential in a longitudinal, randomized controlled trial (RCT). Participants and setting: Participants included 66 mother-infant dyads (Mother M age = 31.93 years at baseline; child M age = 11.22 months at baseline) who received up to 1 year of IMH-HV treatment (Mdn = 32 visits) or no IMH-HV treatment during the study period. Methods: Mothers completed a battery of assessments including the Brief Child Abuse Potential Inventory (BCAP) at baseline and at the 12-month follow-up assessment. Results: Regression analyses indicated that after controlling for baseline BCAP scores, those who received any IMH-HV treatment had lower 12-month BCAP scores compared to those who received no treatment. Additionally, participation in more visits was associated with lower child abuse potential at 12 months, and a reduced likelihood of scoring in the risk range. Conclusion: Findings suggest that greater participation in IMH-HV is associated with decreased risk for child maltreatment 1 year after initiating treatment. IMH-HV promotes parent-clinician therapeutic alliance and provides infant-parent psychotherapy which differentiate it from traditional home visiting programs.

Longitudinal associations between parental reflective functioning and maternal mind-mindedness.

Little work has examined longitudinal associations between parental reflective functioning (PRF) and mind-mindedness (MM), limiting the understanding of separate or bidirectional trajectories of these related but distinct forms of mentalization. We examined cross-lagged associations between PRF, assessed via interview, and MM, coded from play interactions, over 12 months among 90 parents (86% female; 57% White, 43% Black) of infants (Mage = 10.56 months, SD = 8.20) who were participating in The Michigan Model of Infant Mental Health Home Visiting. Data were collected at study enrollment Time 1 (T1) and at 6-month Time 2 (T2) and 12-month Time 3 (T3) postenrollment. Mind-minded comments were coded as appropriate, reflecting accurate interpretation of mental states or nonattuned, characterizing inaccurate interpretations. PRF and appropriate MM each remained stable over time. PRF at the T1 positively predicted appropriate MM at T2. No other cross-lagged associations between PRF and appropriate MM were significant. Concurrent correlations between appropriate MM and PRF were significant only at T3. Nonattuned MM showed stability from T1 to T2 but nonattuned MM at the T2 did not predict nonattuned MM at T3. Greater PRF at T1 predicted less nonattuned MM at T2. No other cross-lagged associations between PRF and nonattuned MM were significant. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Advancing early relational health: a collaborative exploration of a research agenda.

Here, we introduce the Early Relational Health (ERH) Learning Community's bold, large-scale, collaborative, data-driven and practice-informed research agenda focused on furthering our mechanistic understanding of ERH and identifying feasible and effective practices for making ERH promotion a routine and integrated component of pediatric primary care. The ERH Learning Community, formed by a team of parent/caregiver leaders, pediatric care clinicians, researchers, and early childhood development specialists, is a workgroup of Nurture Connection-a hub geared toward promoting ERH, i.e., the positive and nurturing relationship between young children and their parent(s)/caregiver(s), in families and communities nationwide. In response to the current child mental health crisis and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement promoting ERH, the ERH Learning Community held an in-person meeting at the AAP national headquarters in December 2022 where members collaboratively designed an integrated research agenda to advance ERH. This agenda weaves together community partners, clinicians, and academics, melding the principles of participatory engagement and human-centered design, such as early engagement, co-design, iterative feedback, and cultural humility. Here, we present gaps in the ERH literature that prompted this initiative and the co-design activity that led to this novel and iterative community-focused research agenda, with parents/caregivers at the core, and in close collaboration with pediatric clinicians for real-world promotion of ERH in the pediatric primary care setting.

Infant Mental Health Home Visiting Mitigates Impact of Maternal Adverse Childhood Experiences on Toddler Language Competence: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to test the impact of maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on subsequent child language competence; higher parental ACEs were expected to predict risk of toddler language delay. Participation in Infant Mental Health Home Visiting (IMH-HV) treatment, which aims to enhance responsive caregiving and improve child social-emotional development, was expected to mitigate this association. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) design was used. ACEs data were collected at baseline. Child language screening (using the Preschool Language Scales Screening Test) was conducted 12 months later by masters-level evaluators who were blind to treatment condition. Visits occurred in participants' homes. Participants were community-recruited and were randomized to treatment (psychotherapeutic IMH-HV) or control (treatment as usual). Data come from 62 families who participated in all waves of an RCT testing the efficacy of IMH-HV; mothers were eligible based on child age (<24 mo at enrollment) and endorsement of ≥2 sociodemographic eligibility criteria (economic disadvantage, depression, perceived parenting challenges, and/or high ACEs). RESULTS: The age of mothers enrolled in this ranged from 19 to 44 years (M = 31.91; SD = 5.68); child age at baseline ranged from prenatal to 26 months (M = 12.06; SD = 6.62). The maternal ACE score predicted child language competence (t (5,55) = -3.27, p = 0.002). This effect was moderated by treatment (t (6,54) = 1.73, p = 0.04), indicating no association between maternal ACEs and child language for those randomized to IMH-HV. CONCLUSION: The results highlight that the effects of parent ACEs on early childhood outcomes may be buffered by participation in psychotherapeutic home visiting (trial registration: NCT03175796).

Parenting Mediates Associations Between Intimate Partner Violence at Different Life Stages and Toddler Social-Emotional Problems.

BACKGROUND: Researchers have linked parent experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) to engagement in more negative and less positive parenting behaviors with their own children. This parenting behavior is associated with more negative child social-emotional outcomes. There is little research examining the impact of exposure to IPV during childhood on subsequent parenting and child outcomes in the next generation. This study aimed to better understand the complex relationship between IPV, parenting, and child social-emotional development among mothers of toddler-aged children, using both mothers' self-reported and observed parenting. METHOD: This study utilized longitudinal data from an economically disadvantaged, racially diverse sample of 120 women who participated in data collection across the perinatal period, until children were 2 years of age. Measures included self-reported and observed parenting, mother-reported IPV history, and mother-report of toddler social-emotional difficulties. RESULTS: Childhood exposure to IPV predicted observed parenting problems, which in turn predicted greater toddler social-emotional problems. Conversely, adult experiences of IPV predicted self-reported parenting difficulties, which predicted greater toddler social-emotional problems. SUMMARY: Findings suggest that exposure to IPV at different time points may influence parenting in different ways, representing unique pathways between maternal IPV experiences and child social-emotional difficulties.

Maternal History of Adverse Experiences and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Impact Toddlers' Early Socioemotional Wellbeing: The Benefits of Infant Mental Health-Home Visiting.

BACKGROUND: The present study examined the efficacy of the Michigan Model of Infant Mental Health-Home Visiting (IMH-HV) infant mental health treatment to promote the socioemotional wellbeing of infants and young children. Science illuminates the role of parental "co-regulation" of infant emotion as a pathway to young children's capacity for self-regulation. The synchrony of parent-infant interaction begins to shape the infant's own nascent regulatory capacities. Parents with a history of childhood adversity, such as maltreatment or witnessing family violence, and who struggle with symptoms of post-traumatic stress may have greater challenges in co-regulating their infant, thus increasing the risk of their children exhibiting social and emotional problems such as anxiety, aggression, and depression. Early intervention that targets the infant-parent relationship may help buffer the effect of parental risk on child outcomes. METHODS: Participants were 58 mother-infant/toddler dyads enrolled in a longitudinal randomized control trial testing the efficacy of the relationship-based IMH-HV treatment model. Families were eligible based on child age (<24 months at enrollment) and endorsement of at least two of four socio-demographic factors commonly endorsed in community mental health settings: elevated depression symptoms, three or more Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) parenting stress, and/or child behavior or development concerns. This study included dyads whose children were born at the time of study enrollment and completed 12-month post-baseline follow-up visits. Parents reported on their own history of ACEs and current posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, as well as their toddler's socioemotional development (e.g., empathy, prosocial skills, aggression, anxiety, prolonged tantrums). RESULTS: Maternal ACEs predicted more toddler emotional problems through their effect on maternal PTSD symptoms. Parents who received IMH-HV treatment reported more positive toddler socioemotional wellbeing at follow-up relative to the control condition. The most positive socioemotional outcomes were for toddlers of mothers with low to moderate PTSD symptoms who received IMH-HV treatment. CONCLUSION: Results indicate the efficacy of IMH-HV services in promoting more optimal child socioemotional wellbeing even when mothers reported mild to moderate PTSD symptoms. Results also highlight the need to assess parental trauma when infants and young children present with socioemotional difficulties.

Longitudinal Trajectory of Exposure to Psychological Interpersonal Violence.

Psychological intimate partner violence (P-IPV) refers to verbal abuse from one partner to another and abuse of power or control from one partner to another. To date, no studies have examined the longitudinal course of P-IPV exposure among mothers or the effect that witnessing P-IPV can have on their children. Using latent class growth analysis, the current study identified five trajectory groups with the following intercept and growth characteristics: low stable, low-increasing, moderate-decreasing, high-decreasing, and consistently elevated. Membership in the four groups characterized by higher P-IPV exposure was predicted by maternal race and exposure to physical abuse. The children of mothers in the low-increasing and consistently elevated groups had elevated scores on the Internalizing and Externalizing scales of the Childhood Behavior Checklist. These findings remained after controlling for child sex, race, cumulative trauma exposure, and maternal depression.

Food Intake REstriction for Health OUtcome Support and Education (FIREHOUSE) Protocol: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Fire Department of New York (FDNY) rescue and recovery workers exposed to World Trade Center (WTC) particulates suffered loss of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1). Metabolic Syndrome increased the risk of developing WTC-lung injury (WTC-LI). We aim to attenuate the deleterious effects of WTC exposure through a dietary intervention targeting these clinically relevant disease modifiers. We hypothesize that a calorie-restricted Mediterranean dietary intervention will improve metabolic risk, subclinical indicators of cardiopulmonary disease, quality of life, and lung function in firefighters with WTC-LI. To assess our hypothesis, we developed the Food Intake REstriction for Health OUtcome Support and Education (FIREHOUSE), a randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT). Male firefighters with WTC-LI and a BMI > 27 kg/m2 will be included. We will randomize subjects (1:1) to either: (1) Low Calorie Mediterranean (LoCalMed)-an integrative multifactorial, technology-supported approach focused on behavioral modification, nutritional education that will include a self-monitored diet with feedback, physical activity recommendations, and social cognitive theory-based group counseling sessions; or (2) Usual Care. Outcomes include reduction in body mass index (BMI) (primary), improvement in FEV1, fractional exhaled nitric oxide, pulse wave velocity, lipid profiles, targeted metabolic/clinical biomarkers, and quality of life measures (secondary). By implementing a technology-supported LoCalMed diet our FIREHOUSE RCT may help further the treatment of WTC associated pulmonary disease.

Inpatient Goals-of-Care Conversations Reduce Intensive Care Unit Transfers in High-Risk Patients.

Despite an aging population and an increase in the prevalence of chronic severe illness, many patients will not have end-of-life care discussions with their outpatient physicians. This very likely contributes to considerable hospital utilization toward the end of life, without any clear benefit. At our medical center, we noticed a very high rate of floor-to-intensive care unit (ICU) transfers for patients with life-limiting illness and poor prognosis. We initiated a quality assessment and improvement project aimed at increasing goals-of-care conversations for high-risk patients early in their hospital stays. Patients were identified using a risk assessment score combined with presence of life-limiting illness and alerting the inpatient attending physician to the patient's severity of illness. Inpatient attending physicians were encouraged to expeditiously initiate and document goals-of-care discussions with their patients and families or to consult palliative care. Patient data were extracted retrospectively from high-risk patients prior to and during the intervention period. Analysis showed a significant increase in overall goals-of-care discussions and a significant reduction in floor-to-ICU transfers during initial admission. There was no change in mortality at 1 year, but there was a trend toward more in-home deaths for those patients who died within the year. Early inpatient goals-of-care conversations may reduce ICU utilization at index hospitalization and may reduce overall health-care utilization near the end of life.

Effects of Intimate Partner Violence and Home Environment on Child Language Development in the First 3 Years of Life.

OBJECTIVE: Intimate partner violence (IPV) can adversely affect children's cognitive development, but links between IPV exposure and language development in the earliest years of life remain unknown. The present study examined the effects of IPV and the quality of the home environment on children's language development at age 3 years. METHODS: In a prospective, 5-panel, longitudinal study of 79 mother-child dyads assessed prenatally to age 3 years, we examined standardized measures of receptive and expressive language development at age 3 years. Predictors and covariates included measures of IPV, characteristics of the home environment, maternal education, and maternal depression. RESULTS: Regression analyses indicated a significant main effect of the home environment and maternal education on receptive language, with more supportive homes and more educated mothers at age 1 year linked to better child receptive language at age 3 years. Higher maternal education also significantly predicted better child expressive language at age 3 years. Early exposure to IPV had a direct adverse effect on children's expressive language development; however, interaction analyses indicated that this association was moderated by the quality of the home environment. Specifically, IPV adversely affected expressive language even when home quality was high, indicating that a supportive and stimulating home environment did not buffer effects of IPV on expressive language development. CONCLUSIONS: Intimate partner violence may adversely affect expressive language, even in positive home environments. Early language skill is an important predictor of later academic readiness and psychological development; therefore, children from at-risk home environments should be screened and monitored early for intervention.

Receptor for advanced glycation end-products and environmental exposure related obstructive airways disease: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Our group has identified the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) as a predictor of World Trade Center particulate matter associated lung injury. The aim of this systematic review is to assess the relationship between RAGE and obstructive airways disease secondary to environmental exposure. METHODS: A comprehensive search using PubMed and Embase was performed on January 5, 2018 utilising keywords focusing on environmental exposure, obstructive airways disease and RAGE and was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42018093834). We included original human research studies in English, focusing on pulmonary end-points associated with RAGE and environmental exposure. RESULTS: A total of 213 studies were identified by the initial search. After removing the duplicates and applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, we screened the titles and abstracts of 61 studies. Finally, 19 full-text articles were included. The exposures discussed in these articles include particulate matter (n=2) and cigarette smoke (n=17). CONCLUSION: RAGE is a mediator of inflammation associated end-organ dysfunction such as obstructive airways disease. Soluble RAGE, a decoy receptor, may have a protective effect in some pulmonary processes. Overall, RAGE is biologically relevant in environmental exposure associated lung disease. Future investigations should focus on further understanding the role and therapeutic potential of RAGE in particulate matter exposure associated lung disease.

Healthy intakes of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids: estimations considering worldwide diversity.

BACKGROUND: The worldwide diversity of dietary intakes of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids influences tissue compositions of n-3 long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs: eicosapentaenoic, docosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acids) and risks of cardiovascular and mental illnesses. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to estimate healthy dietary allowances for n-3 LCFAs that would meet the nutrient requirements of 97-98% of the population. DESIGN: Deficiency in n-3 LCFAs was defined as attributable risk from 13 morbidity and mortality outcomes, including all causes, coronary heart disease, stroke, cardiovascular disease, homicide, bipolar disorder, and major and postpartum depressions. Dietary availability of n-3 LCFAs from commodities for 38 countries and tissue composition data were correlated by best fit to each illness in deficiency risk models. RESULTS: The potential attributable burden of disease ranged from 20.8% (all-cause mortality in men) to 99.9% (bipolar disorder). n-3 LCFA intake for Japan (0.37% of energy, or 750 mg/d) met criteria for uniformly protecting >98% of the populations worldwide. n-3 LCFA intakes needed to meet a tissue target representative of Japan (60% n-3 in LCFA) ranged from 278 mg/d (Philippines, with intakes of 0.8% of energy as linoleate, 0.08% of energy as alpha-linolenate, and 0.06% of energy as arachidonic acid) to 3667 mg/d (United States, with 8.91% of energy as linoleate, 1.06% of energy as alpha-linolenate, and 0.08% of energy as arachidonic acid). CONCLUSIONS: With caveats inherent for ecologic, nutrient disappearance analyses, a healthy dietary allowance for n-3 LCFAs for current US diets was estimated at 3.5 g/d for a 2000-kcal diet. This allowance for n-3 LCFAs can likely be reduced to one-tenth of that amount by consuming fewer n-6 fats.