Cognitive stimulation as a mechanism linking socioeconomic status and neural function supporting working memory: a longitudinal fMRI study.

Childhood experiences of low socioeconomic status are associated with alterations in neural function in the frontoparietal network and ventral visual stream, which may drive differences in working memory. However, the specific features of low socioeconomic status environments that contribute to these disparities remain poorly understood. Here, we examined experiences of cognitive deprivation (i.e. decreased variety and complexity of experience), as opposed to experiences of threat (i.e. violence exposure), as a potential mechanism through which family income contributes to alterations in neural activation during working memory. As part of a longitudinal study, 148 youth between aged 10 and 13 years completed a visuospatial working memory fMRI task. Early childhood low income, chronicity of low income in early childhood, and current income-to-needs were associated with task-related activation in the ventral visual stream and frontoparietal network. The association of family income with decreased activation in the lateral occipital cortex and intraparietal sulcus during working memory was mediated by experiences of cognitive deprivation. Surprisingly, however, family income and deprivation were not significantly related to working memory performance, and only deprivation was associated with academic achievement in this sample. Taken together, these findings suggest that early life low income and associated cognitive deprivation are important factors in neural function supporting working memory.

Fabry Disease: Cardiac Implications and Molecular Mechanisms.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review explores the interplay among metabolic dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis in Fabry disease, focusing on their potential implications for cardiac involvement. We aim to discuss the biochemical processes that operate in parallel to sphingolipid accumulation and contribute to disease pathogenesis, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive understanding of these processes. RECENT FINDINGS: Beyond sphingolipid accumulation, emerging studies have revealed that mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation could be significant contributors to Fabry disease and cardiac involvement. These factors promote cardiac remodeling and fibrosis and may predispose Fabry patients to conduction disturbances, ventricular arrhythmias, and heart failure. While current treatments, such as enzyme replacement therapy and pharmacological chaperones, address disease progression and symptoms, their effectiveness is limited. Our review uncovers the potential relationships among metabolic disturbances, oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis in Fabry disease-related cardiac complications. Current findings suggest that beyond sphingolipid accumulation, other mechanisms may significantly contribute to disease pathogenesis. This prompts the exploration of innovative therapeutic strategies and underscores the importance of a holistic approach to understanding and managing Fabry disease.

A research agenda for understanding how social inequality is linked to brain structure and function.

Consistent evidence documents powerful effects of social inequality on health, well-being and academic achievement. Yet research on whether social inequality may also be linked to brain structure and function has, until recently, been rare. Here we describe three methodological approaches that can be used to study this question-single site, single study; multi-site, single study; and spatial meta-analysis. We review empirical work that, using these approaches, has observed associations between neural outcomes and structural measures of social inequality-including structural stigma, community-level prejudice, gender inequality, neighbourhood disadvantage and the generosity of the social safety net for low-income families. We evaluate the relative strengths and limitations of these approaches, discuss ethical considerations and outline directions for future research. In doing so, we advocate for a paradigm shift in cognitive neuroscience that explicitly incorporates upstream structural and contextual factors, which we argue holds promise for uncovering the neural correlates of social inequality.

Associations Between Structural Stigma and Psychopathology Among Early Adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: Ample evidence demonstrates that structural stigma - defined as societal-level conditions, cultural norms, and institutional policies and practices that constrain opportunities, resources, and well-being of stigmatized populations - is associated with psychopathology in adults from marginalized groups. Yet there is limited research on whether structural stigma is similarly associated with internalizing and externalizing symptoms among youth. METHOD: Structural stigma related to sex, sexual orientation, race, and Latinx ethnicity was measured using indicators of state-level policy and aggregated attitudes. Using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study (N = 10,414; M age = 12 years, SD = 0.66; 48% female, 6.8% lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB), 13.4% Black, 20% Latinx), we examined associations of structural stigma with internalizing and externalizing symptoms among female, LGB, Black, and Latinx youth. RESULTS: LGB youth living in higher (vs. lower) structural stigma states had elevated levels of internalizing and externalizing symptoms. In lower structural stigma states, there were no differences in externalizing symptoms between LGB and heterosexual youth. Similarly, Latinx youth and females living in higher (vs. lower) structural stigma states had elevated levels of externalizing symptoms. In lower structural stigma states, there were no differences in externalizing symptoms between Latinx youth and non-Latinx White youth. Structural stigma related to race was unrelated to internalizing or externalizing symptoms for Black youth. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides novel evidence that macro-level social environments, in the form of structural stigma, contribute to adverse mental health outcomes for marginalized youth and partly explain disparities in externalizing symptoms.

Fatal Occupational Asthma in Cannabis Production - Massachusetts, 2022.

Multiple respiratory hazards have been identified in the cannabis cultivation and production industry, in which occupational asthma and work-related exacerbation of preexisting asthma have been reported. An employee working in a Massachusetts cannabis cultivation and processing facility experienced progressively worsening work-associated respiratory symptoms, which culminated in a fatal asthma attack in January 2022. This report represents findings of an Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspection, which included a worksite exposure assessment, coworker and next-of-kin interviews, medical record reviews, and collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Respiratory tract or skin symptoms were reported by four of 10 coworkers with similar job duties. Prevention is best achieved through a multifaceted approach, including controlling asthmagen exposures, such as cannabis dust, providing worker training, and conducting medical monitoring for occupational allergy. Evaluation of workers with new-onset or worsening asthma is essential, along with prompt diagnosis and medical management, which might include cessation of work and workers' compensation when relation to work exposures is identified. It is important to recognize that work in cannabis production is potentially causative.

Challenges with Latent Variable Approaches to Operationalizing Dimensions of Childhood adversity - a Commentary on Sisitsky et al. (2023).

Childhood adversity is a common, powerful risk factor for future mental and physical health problems. Appropriately aggregating and categorizing discrete adverse experiences into cumulative indices remains an active area of research and debate in the field of developmental psychopathology. In a recent article by Sisitsky et al. (2013), they report using confirmatory factor analysis and latent profile analysis to categorize participants into "profiles" of childhood adversity. In this commentary, we argue that categorizing dimensions or profiles of childhood adversity based on the tendency of adversities to co-occur is misaligned with dimensional models of adversity, which derive underlying dimensions from their tendency to cumulatively predict certain outcomes rather than adversity co-occurrence. We summarize the history of theories and methods of operationalizing childhood adversity that led to the development of the dimensional model of adversity and psychopathology. We then explain why latent variable approaches, which simply reflect the tendency of adverse experiences to co-occur, are inappropriate for validating any given approach.

State-level macro-economic factors moderate the association of low income with brain structure and mental health in U.S. children.

Macrostructural characteristics, such as cost of living and state-level anti-poverty programs relate to the magnitude of socioeconomic disparities in brain development and mental health. In this study we leveraged data from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) study from 10,633 9-11 year old youth (5115 female) across 17 states. Lower income was associated with smaller hippocampal volume and higher internalizing psychopathology. These associations were stronger in states with higher cost of living. However, in high cost of living states that provide more generous cash benefits for low-income families, socioeconomic disparities in hippocampal volume were reduced by 34%, such that the association of family income with hippocampal volume resembled that in the lowest cost of living states. We observed similar patterns for internalizing psychopathology. State-level anti-poverty programs and cost of living may be confounded with other factors related to neurodevelopment and mental health. However, the patterns were robust to controls for numerous state-level social, economic, and political characteristics. These findings suggest that state-level macrostructural characteristics, including the generosity of anti-poverty policies, are potentially relevant for addressing the relationship of low income with brain development and mental health.

Importance of and Approach to Taking a History of Exposures to Occupational Respiratory Hazards.

Occupational respiratory diseases are caused by exposure to respiratory hazards at work. It is important to document those exposures and whether they are causing or exacerbating disease because these determinations can have important impacts on diagnosis, treatment, job restrictions, and eligibility for benefits. Without investigation, it is easy to miss clinically relevant exposures, especially in those with chronic diseases that can have work and nonwork causes. The first and most important step in identifying exposures to respiratory hazards at work is to take an appropriate history. For efficiency, this is a two-step process. An initial quick screening history is done by asking only a few questions. Follow-up questions are asked if there are positive responses to the screening questions or if an occupational etiology is suspected based on the clinical presentation. Electronic health records have promise for facilitating this process. Follow-up to the screening history may include additional questions, evaluating additional sources of information about workplace exposures, and medical testing. Radiographic findings or tests conducted on noninvasive samples or lung tissue can be used as biomarkers. Online resources can be used to learn more about exposures associated with occupations and industries and to see if investigations evaluating exposures were performed in the patient's own workplace. It is important to adhere to the patient's wishes about contacting the employer. With patient consent, the employer can be an important source of information about exposures and, if a problem exists, has an important role in taking corrective action. Consultation for challenging cases is available from a variety of professional and governmental entities. If a clinician identifies a significant public health issue, such as an occupational disease outbreak, it is important to notify relevant public health authorities so that steps can be taken to prevent additional exposures and appropriately care for those already exposed.

Healthcare workers' infection risk perceptions of aerosol-generating procedures and affective response.

Objective: To understand healthcare worker (HCW) perceptions of infection risk associated with aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs) and their affective response to performing AGPs. Design: Systematic review. Methods: Systematic searches of PubMed, CINHAL Plus, and Scopus were conducted using combinations of selected keywords and synonyms. To reduce bias, titles and abstracts were screened for eligibility by 2 independent reviewers. Also, 2 independent reviewers extracted data from each eligible record. Discrepancies were discussed until consensus was reached. Results: In total, 16 reports from across the globe were included in this review. Findings suggest that AGPs are generally perceived to place HCWs at high risk of becoming infected with respiratory pathogens and that this perception stimulates a negative affective response and hesitancy to participate in the procedures. Conclusions: AGP risk perception are complex and context dependent but have important influences on HCW infection control practices, decision to participate in AGPs, emotional welfare, and workplace satisfaction. New and unfamiliar hazards paired with uncertainty lead to fear and anxiety about personal and others' safety. These fears may create a psychological burden conducive to burnout. Empirical research is needed to thoroughly understand the interplay between HCW risk perceptions of distinct AGPs, their affective responses to conducting these procedures under various conditions, and their resulting decision to participate in these procedures. Results from such studies are essential for advancing clinical practice; they point to methods for mitigating provider distress and better recommendations for when and how to conduct AGPs.

Industry, occupation, and exposure history of mesothelioma patients in the U.S. National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank, 2006-2022.

BACKGROUND: Malignant mesothelioma is associated with environmental and occupational exposure to certain mineral fibers, especially asbestos. This study aims to examine work histories of mesothelioma patients and their survival time. METHOD: Using the NIOSH Industry and Occupation Computerized Coding System, we mapped occupations and industries recorded for 748 of 1444 patients in the U.S. National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank (NMVB) during the period 2006-2022. Descriptive and survival analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Among the 1023 industries recorded for those having mesothelioma, the most frequent cases were found for those in manufacturing (n = 225, 22.0%), construction (138, 13.5%), and education services (66, 6.5%); among the 924 occupation records, the most frequent cases were found for those in construction and extraction (174, 18.8%), production (145, 15.7%), and management (84, 9.1%). Males (583) or persons aged >40 years (658) at the time of diagnosis tended to have worked in industries traditionally associated with mesothelioma (e.g., construction), while females (163) or persons aged 20-40 years (27) tended to have worked in industries not traditionally associated with mesothelioma (e.g., health care). Asbestos, unknown substances, and chemical solvents were the most frequently reported exposure, with females most often reporting an unknown substance. A multi-variable Cox Hazard Regression analysis showed that significant prognostic factors associated with decreased survival in mesothelioma cases are sex (male) and work experience in utility-related industry, while factor associated with increased survival are epithelial or epithelioid histological type, prior history of surgery and immunotherapy, and industry experience in accommodation and food services. CONCLUSION: The NMVB has the potential of serving as a sentinel surveillance mechanism for identifying industries and occupations not traditionally associated with mesothelioma. Results indicate the importance of considering all potential sources of asbestos exposures including occupational, environmental, and extra-occupational exposures when evaluating mesothelioma patients and advising family members.

Achievement goal perception: An interpersonal approach to achievement goals.

Research on achievement goals is voluminous but focused primarily on intrapersonal regulation. In the present article, we emphasize the integral role that achievement goals also play in the broader process of interpersonal judgment. We establish a new interpersonal approach to achievement goals that integrates the extensive achievement goal literature with the well-established social relations model (SRM). We introduce and formally define the interpersonal concept of achievement goal perception, present a formal methodological approach to studying this novel concept using a Bayesian implementation of the multivariate SRM (MSRM), and put the proposed integrative approach to the test with an in-depth empirical study that directly addresses fundamental questions of achievement goal perception. In this empirical study, we measured four types of achievement goal perceptions-mastery-approach (MAP), mastery-avoidance (MAV), performance-approach (PAP), performance-avoidance (PAV)-across 1,809 student-classmate dyads from 42 small discussion-based undergraduate classes. Results indicated a predominantly perceiver-driven process consisting of self-other agreement for MAP, MAV, and PAV goals but not PAP goals, assumed similarity for each achievement goal, and greater assumed similarity among closer classmates. Achievement goal perception provided incremental predictive utility for two gold-standard educational outcomes-academic performance and intrinsic motivation-among both perceivers and targets, and four additional educationally relevant constructs-perceived class value, perceived effort investment, perceived competence, and peer help-seeking-among perceivers. Having laid the theoretical, methodological, and empirical foundations, we discuss this new interpersonal approach to achievement goals alongside contemporary research on achievement motivation and interpersonal judgment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Mitochondrial function in macrophages controls cardiac repair after myocardial infarction.

Cardiac healing following acute myocardial infarction (MI) involves the mobilization and activation of immune cells, including macrophages. In the early phase after MI, macrophages adopt a proinflammatory phenotype, while polarizing toward a reparative one in the late stage. Although metabolic reprogramming has been observed during this transition, the mechanistic links to macrophage differentiation are still poorly understood. In this issue of the JCI, Cai, Zhao and colleagues demonstrate that mitochondrial function in macrophages governed the resolution of inflammation and tissue repair by modulating the phagocytic removal of apoptotic cells (so-called efferocytosis) as well as myofibroblast activation. These findings provide important mechanistic insights into the potential relevance of metabolic modulation of macrophage functions following MI, which might lead to alternative therapeutic strategies for MI.

Childhood trauma, earlier pubertal timing, and psychopathology in adolescence: The role of corticolimbic development.

Earlier pubertal development appears to be one pathway through which childhood trauma contributes to psychopathology in adolescence. Puberty-related changes in neural networks involved in emotion processing, namely the amygdala-medial prefrontal (mPFC) circuit, may be a potential mechanism linking trauma and adolescent psychopathology. Our participants were 227 youth between 10 and 13 years of age who completed assessments of threat and deprivation-related experiences of adversity, pubertal stage, and internalizing and externalizing symptoms. A subset (n = 149) also underwent a functional MRI scan while passively viewing fearful and calm faces. Potential mechanisms linking childhood trauma with psychopathology, encompassing earlier pubertal timing and neural response to aversive stimuli were explored. Earlier pubertal development was associated with childhood trauma as well as increased externalizing symptoms in boys only. Earlier pubertal timing in males and females was negatively associated with activation in bilateral amygdala, hippocampal, and fusiform regions when comparing fearful and calm faces. However, amygdala-mPFC connectivity showed no association with pubertal timing or psychopathology symptoms. These findings do not support accelerated amygdala-mPFC development as a mechanism linking childhood trauma and psychopathology, but instead provide support for the role of pubertal development in normative decreases in limbic activation across development.

Vagal flexibility to negative emotions moderates the relations between environmental risk and adjustment problems in childhood.

Neurobiological and social-contextual influences shape children's adjustment, yet limited biopsychosocial studies have integrated temporal features when modeling physiological regulation of emotion. This study explored whether a common underlying pattern of non-linear change in respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) across emotional scenarios characterized 4-6 year-old children's parasympathetic reactivity (N = 180). Additionally, we tested whether dynamic RSA reactivity was an index of neurobiological susceptibility or a diathesis in the association between socioeconomic status, authoritarian parenting, and the development of externalizing problems (EP) and internalizing problems over two years. There was a shared RSA pattern across all emotions, characterized by more initial RSA suppression and a subsequent return toward baseline, which we call vagal flexibility (VF). VF interacted with parenting to predict EP. More authoritarian parenting predicted increased EP two years later only when VF was low; conversely, when VF was very high, authoritarian mothers reported that their children had fewer EP. Altogether, children's patterns of dynamic RSA change to negative emotions can be characterized by a higher order factor, and the nature by which VF contributes to EP depends on maternal socialization practices, with low VF augmenting and high VF buffering children against the effects of authoritarian parenting.

Child abuse and automatic emotion regulation in children and adolescents.

Child abuse is associated with elevated risk for psychopathology. The current study examined the role of automatic emotion regulation as a potential mechanism linking child abuse with internalizing psychopathology. A sample of 237 youth aged 8-16 years and their caregivers participated. Child abuse severity was assessed by self-report questionnaires, and automatic emotion regulation was assessed using an emotional Stroop task designed to measure adaptation to emotional conflict. A similar task without emotional stimuli was also administered to evaluate whether abuse was uniquely associated with emotion regulation, but not cognitive control applied in a nonemotional context. Internalizing psychopathology was assessed concurrently and at a 2-year longitudinal follow-up. Child abuse severity was associated with lower emotional conflict adaptation but was unrelated to cognitive control. Specifically, the severity of emotional and physical abuse, but not sexual abuse, were associated with lower emotional conflict adaptation. Emotional conflict adaptation was not associated with internalizing psychopathology prospectively. These findings suggest that childhood emotional and physical abuse, in particular, may influence automatic forms of emotion regulation. Future work exploring the socioemotional consequences of altered automatic emotion regulation among youth exposed to child abuse is clearly needed.