Prevalence and Correlates of Bullying Behavior Among Nigerian Middle School Students.

School bullying has received considerable criminological, psychological, educational, and governmental attention. However, much of the attention is focused on bullying in western, Asian, and Scandinavian countries. There appears to be scant, if any, attention paid to this problem on the African continent. Using cross-sectional data from a sample of 1,192 junior secondary school (middle school) students in Nigeria, this study examines the prevalence and correlates of bullying in this sample of secondary school students in Nigeria. Bullying prevalence rate in this sample was 59.9%. The study finds that males were more likely to bully than females, and the most prevalent form of bullying behavior for both genders was making fun of someone. Correlates for bullying perpetration were association with delinquent friends, negative school climate, attending a private school, and ethnicity.

Declining Financial Capacity in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Six-Year Longitudinal Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate financial skill decline over a 6-year period in persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) presumed due to Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS: Study participants were cognitively normal (CN) older adults (n = 82) and adults with MCI (n = 91) based on consensus conference diagnosis. Participants completed baseline and up to six annual follow-up assessments that included standardized financial skills measurement (Financial Capacity Instrument; FCI; nine FCI domain and two global scores). We examined FCI change over time using mixed-model repeated measures analysis adjusted for baseline age and follow-up duration. RESULTS: At baseline, the CN group performed better than the MCI group across both global and seven domain scores. Group × Time interaction effects (all p's <.02) were found for all global and domain scores. The largest interaction effects were observed for complex domains of Financial Conceptual Knowledge, Checkbook Management, Bank Statement Management, and Bill Payment (all p's <.0001). Annualized decline in the MCI group's global scores, calculated in relation to CN group performance, was 10-17% over the initial 3-year time span and 22-24% at 6 years. Decline in FCI domain scores ranged from 6% (Knowledge of Assets/Estate) to 22% (Investment Decision-Making) at 3 year follow-up, and from 15% (Basic Monetary Skills) to 37% (Financial Judgment) at 6 year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Over a 6-year period, persons with MCI demonstrated significant declines in multiple financial skills and in particular financial judgment. The findings highlight the importance of ongoing oversight by family members and clinicians of financial skills and activities in persons with MCI.

Clinical and Genetic Predictors of Delayed Remission After Multiple Levels of Antidepressant Treatment: Toward Early Identification of Depressed Individuals for Advanced Care Options.

OBJECTIVE: To identify clinical and genetic characteristics that can be used to recognize depressed patients who are likely to respond quickly versus those who will have a more delayed response following multiple treatment trials. METHODS: The data used were obtained from the National Institute of Mental Health-sponsored Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) study, which was conducted between July 2001 and September 2006. Of the 4,041 treatment-naive participants in the original study, 1,953 with DNA samples were included. Major depressive disorder (DSM-IV criteria) was defined as baseline score > 14 on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Time to remission was defined from the entry point to when a score ≤ 5 on the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, Clinician Rating was achieved, irrespective of the type or number of treatments received. A Kaplan-Meier estimator was used for data description, proportional hazard regression for model building, and logistic regression for measures of predictive accuracy. RESULTS: The overall rate of remission across all levels of treatment was 65.6%, and the overall median (interquartile range) of time to remission was 11.4 (6.0-17.9) weeks. The predictors of delayed remission included unemployment (P = .004), severe medical comorbidity (P < .0001), severe baseline depression (P < .0001), more than 4 dysthymic symptoms (P = .005), more than 9 posttraumatic stress symptoms (P = .005), and serotonin receptor 1A (P = .006) and cytochrome P450 2D6 (P = .002 for C/T and P = .0004 for T/T) genetic variants. The final model had good predictive measures of accuracy of area under the curve (70%) and sensitivity (88%). CONCLUSIONS: The results offer clinical tools for clinicians to identify depressed individuals who are likely to have delayed remission with multiple antidepressant treatments and therefore might be candidates for advanced care options.

The pro-inflammatory profile of depressed patients is (partly) related to obesity.

Many people with major depressive disorder (MDD) show evidence of systemic inflammation, including elevations in inflammatory factors, but the cause is unclear. The purpose of this analysis was to determine if obesity might contribute to the pro-inflammatory state in MDD patients. Blood was obtained from 135 MDD patients and 50 controls. Serum was extracted and assayed for interleukin (IL) -1ß, IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-17, interferon-γ (IFNγ), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), C-reactive protein (CRP), leptin, and adiponectin using single- or multi-plex human immunoassay kits. The primary analysis contrasted IL-6, TNFα, and CRP between MDD and control groups with body mass index (BMI) as a covariate. The other analytes were compared in an exploratory fashion. IL-6 (but not TNFα or CRP) showed significant differences between MDD and controls even after covarying for BMI. Obese controls and obese MDD groups were significantly higher in IL-6 than both lean groups, but the two obese groups did not differ from each other. In the exploratory analyses, the IL-2 level showed robust and significant differences between MDD and controls even after covarying for BMI. Both lean and obese MDD were higher than lean and obese controls. Adiponectin levels were also lower in the MDD sample than controls. Prior findings of higher IL-6, and CRP in MDD patients may be explained, at least in part, based on obesity. High IL-2, however, was associated with depression and not obesity. The results have significant implications for the understanding of pathophysiology and, potentially treatment of MDD.

Extracranial traumatic aneurysms due to blunt cerebrovascular injury.

OBJECT: Traumatic aneurysms occur in 10% of extracranial blunt traumatic cerebrovascular injuries (TCVI). The clinical consequences and optimal management of traumatic aneurysms are poorly understood. METHODS: A prospective study of TCVI at a Level I trauma center identified 7 patients with 19 extracranial traumatic carotid artery or vertebral artery aneurysms. An additional 6 patients with 7 traumatic aneurysms were followed outside of the prospective study, giving a total of 13 patients with 26 traumatic aneurysms. All patients were treated with 325 mg aspirin daily and underwent clinical and imaging follow-up beyond the initial hospitalization. Endovascular treatment was reserved for aneurysms demonstrating significant enlargement on follow-up imaging. Clinical and radiographic features were assessed. RESULTS: The 7 patients with traumatic aneurysms identified in the prospective cohort comprised 10.3% of all patients with TCVI. Two (15.4%) of the 13 total patients suffered an ischemic stroke in the setting of TCVI with traumatic aneurysm formation. No patient experienced an ischemic stroke or new symptoms after the initiation of antiplatelet therapy. Clinical and radiographic follow-up averaged 15.8 months (range 0.4-41.7 months) and 22.0 months (range 6.6-55.7 months), respectively. Ten (38.5%) of 26 aneurysms were not visualized on last follow-up, 10 (38.5%) were smaller, 1 (3.8%) was unchanged, and 5 (19.2%) were larger. Saccular aneurysms were more likely to enlarge than fusiform aneurysms (33.3% vs 11.8%). Results of a Fisher exact test tend to support the assertion that the 2 different aneurysm morphologies behave differently (p = 0.07). Two saccular aneurysms were treated with stenting. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of traumatic aneurysms can be managed with an antiplatelet regimen of 325 mg aspirin daily and serial imaging. Saccular aneurysms have a greater tendency to enlarge when compared with fusiform aneurysms.

Incidence and trends in the diagnosis of traumatic extracranial cerebrovascular injury in the nationwide inpatient sample database, 2003-2010.

Patients with traumatic extracranial cerebrovascular injury (TCVI) comprise about 1% of all blunt trauma admissions according to numerous single-center studies. However, previous studies have used aggressive screening protocols; these studies may not reflect common practice and the overall incidence of TCVI. The annual incidence of the diagnosis of TCVI from 2003 to 2010 was estimated using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS). For comparison, a systematic review of previous studies of the incidence of the diagnosis of TCVI was conducted. The estimated total number of admissions with TCVI ranged from 1283 to 2652; these admissions represented 0.46-0.95% of all blunt trauma admissions. There was a significant increase in the incidence of TCVI during the study period. A total of 49 studies of TCVI reported incidences of diagnosis ranging from 0.03% to 4.8%. In conclusion, the annual nationwide incidence of the diagnosis of TCVI is increasing. Although NIS incidences of the diagnosis of TCVI are at the low end of the range of previous reports, the increasing incidence in the NIS data likely reflects increasing use of aggressive screening protocols.

The impact of temporary artery occlusion during intracranial aneurysm surgery on long-term clinical outcome: Part II. The patient who undergoes elective clipping.

BACKGROUND: Temporary artery occlusion (TAO) during intracranial aneurysm surgery is a key element in facilitating aneurysm dissection and clipping. Despite its significance, knowledge of its effects on long-term clinical outcome in patients undergoing elective clipping for unruptured aneurysms is limited. This study evaluated the safety of this technique in this patient population by 1 surgeon. METHODS: Patients managed for an intracranial aneurysm were followed from 2000-2009. This study included a cohort of patients found to have unruptured intracranial aneurysms who underwent TAO during their elective clipping procedure. Potential risk factors to affect outcome were considered. Effects of TAO on long-term clinical outcome were evaluated using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) obtained retrospectively by analyzing medical records at the last follow-up visit or discharge. Analyses included descriptive statistics, binary logistic regression, and ordinal logistic regression. RESULTS: Inclusion criteria were met by 246 patients (75.2% female, age 54 years±10.9) with electively clipped, unruptured aneurysms. Mean follow-up was 53 months±67.5. Mean temporary artery clipping time was 16.1 minutes±14.7. Of patients, 86% had a good outcome and made a complete recovery at last follow-up (GOS 5); 9% of patients were moderately disabled (GOS 4); 5% of patients were severely disabled (GOS 3), were in a vegetative state (GOS 2), or had died (GOS 1). TAO time had no effects on overall long-term clinical outcomes (P=0.59). Although patients with posterior circulation aneurysms had a worse outcome compared with patients with anterior circulation aneurysms (P=0.008), age (P=0.176) and aneurysm size (P=0.497) were not significantly associated with clinical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: This study did not demonstrate any relationship between limited duration of TAO and clinical outcome. Posterior circulation aneurysms are associated with worse long-term clinical outcomes in patients with electively clipped, unruptured aneurysms.

The impact of temporary artery occlusion during intracranial aneurysm surgery on long-term clinical outcome: part I. Patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Temporary artery occlusion (TAO) during intracranial aneurysm surgery is an integral element in facilitating aneurysm dissection and clipping. Despite its significance, knowledge of effects of TAO on long-term clinical outcome is limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of TAO in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) at one institution. METHODS: Patients managed for an intracranial aneurysm were followed from January 2000 to July 2009. This study included a cohort of patients with a diagnosis of SAH who underwent TAO during aneurysm surgery. Risk factors known to affect outcome were considered. Effects of TAO time on long-term clinical outcome were evaluated using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) at last follow-up visit or hospital discharge. Analyses included descriptive statistics and binary logistic and ordinal logistic regression. RESULTS: Inclusion criteria were met by 382 patients (74.3% female, age 52 years ± 13.5) with aneurysmal SAH. Mean follow-up was 39 months ± 57.3. Mean TAO time was 19.4 minutes ± 15.7. Of patients, 66% had a good outcome and made a complete recovery at last follow-up (GOS 5); 13% of patients were moderately disabled (GOS 4); and 27% of patients were severely disabled (GOS 3), were in a vegetative state (GOS 2), or had died (GOS 1). Overall, TAO time had no effect on overall long-term clinical outcome (P = 0.76). Higher Hunt and Hess grades (P < 0.001), Fisher computed tomography grades (P < 0.001), age (P < 0.001), larger size of aneurysm (P < 0.008), aneurysms of the posterior circulation (P = 0.044), and presence of clinical vasospasm (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with worse outcomes. On logistic regression analysis, the association between location of aneurysm (anterior vs. posterior circulation) and outcome disappeared. CONCLUSIONS: Limited duration of TAO during aneurysm surgery did not affect long-term clinical outcome and appears to be safe in patients with aneurysmal SAH. Established SAH risk factors including Hunt and Hess grades, Fisher computed tomography grades, and presence of clinical vasospasm clearly correlated with long-term clinical outcomes.

Genomic copy number variants: evidence for association with antibody response to anthrax vaccine adsorbed.

BACKGROUND: Anthrax and its etiologic agent remain a biological threat. Anthrax vaccine is highly effective, but vaccine-induced IgG antibody responses vary widely following required doses of vaccinations. Such variation can be related to genetic factors, especially genomic copy number variants (CNVs) that are known to be enriched among genes with immunologic function. We have tested this hypothesis in two study populations from a clinical trial of anthrax vaccination. METHODS: We performed CNV-based genome-wide association analyses separately on 794 European Americans and 200 African-Americans. Antibodies to protective antigen were measured at week 8 (early response) and week 30 (peak response) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We used DNA microarray data (Affymetrix 6.0) and two CNV detection algorithms, hidden markov model (PennCNV) and circular binary segmentation (GeneSpring) to determine CNVs in all individuals. Multivariable regression analyses were used to identify CNV-specific associations after adjusting for relevant non-genetic covariates. RESULTS: Within the 22 autosomal chromosomes, 2,943 non-overlapping CNV regions were detected by both algorithms. Genomic insertions containing HLA-DRB5, DRB1 and DQA1/DRA genes in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region (chromosome 6p21.3) were moderately associated with elevated early antibody response (ß = 0.14, p = 1.78×10(-3)) among European Americans, and the strongest association was observed between peak antibody response and a segmental insertion on chromosome 1, containing NBPF4, NBPF5, STXMP3, CLCC1, and GPSM2 genes (ß = 1.66, p = 6.06×10(-5)). For African-Americans, segmental deletions spanning PRR20, PCDH17 and PCH68 genes on chromosome 13 were associated with elevated early antibody production (ß = 0.18, p = 4.47×10(-5)). Population-specific findings aside, one genomic insertion on chromosome 17 (containing NSF, ARL17 and LRRC37A genes) was associated with elevated peak antibody response in both populations. CONCLUSION: Multiple CNV regions, including the one consisting of MHC genes that is consistent with earlier research, can be important to humoral immune responses to anthrax vaccine adsorbed.

The association between race and frequent shunt failure: a single-center study.

OBJECT: Children experiencing frequent shunt failure consume medical resources and represent a disproportionate level of morbidity in hydrocephalus care. While biological causes of frequent shunt failure may exist, this study analyzed demographic and socioeconomic patient characteristics associated with frequent shunt failure. METHODS: A survey of 294 caregivers of children with shunt-treated hydrocephalus provided demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Children experiencing at least 10 shunt failures were considered frequent shunt-failure patients. Multivariate regression models were used to control for variables. RESULTS: Frequent shunt failure was experienced by 9.5% of the patients (28 of 294). By univariate analysis, white race (p = 0.006), etiology of hydrocephalus (p = 0.022), years-with-shunt (p < 0.0001), and surgeon (p = 0.02) were associated with frequent shunt failure. Upon multivariate analysis, white race remained the key independent factor associated with frequent shunt failure (OR 5.8, 95% CI 1.2-27.8, p = 0.027). Race acted independently from socioeconomic factors, including income, level of education, and geographic location, and clinical factors, such as etiology of hydrocephalus, surgeon, and years-with-shunt. Additionally, after multivariate analysis surgeon and years-with-shunt remained associated with frequent shunt failure (p = 0.043 and p = 0.0098, respectively), although etiology of hydrocephalus was no longer associated (p = 0.1). CONCLUSIONS: White race was the primary independent factor associated with frequent shunt failure. Because races use health care differently and the diagnosis of shunt failure is often subjective, a disparity in diagnosis and treatment has arisen. These findings call for objective criteria for the preoperative and intraoperative diagnosis of shunt failure.

Technology preferences among caregivers of children with hydrocephalus.

OBJECT: The Internet and social media are powerful disseminators of medical information, providing new portals for patient care. The authors of this study evaluated current technology hardware, Internet, and social media use and their socioeconomic relationships among caregivers of children with hydrocephalus. METHODS: A written survey was completed in the neurosurgical clinics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham by 300 parents of children with shunted hydrocephalus between October 26, 2010, and July 26, 2011. RESULTS: Computer use (94.6%), Internet use (91.7%), smartphone use (56.9%), and Internet research on hydrocephalus (81.9%) were prevalent. However, for each of these four utilizations there was significantly lower access by caregivers of minority races (p = 0.04, 0.03, 0.002, and < 0.0001, respectively), lower income (p = 0.02, 0.01, < 0.0001, and < 0.0001, respectively), and lower level of education (p = 0.001, 0.002, < 0.0001, and 0.001, respectively). Personal use of social media was prevalent (95.1% of all Internet users) with use being more prevalent among less-educated than higher-educated caregivers (p = 0.017). Hydrocephalus-related social media use (59.5% of Internet users) was not associated with socioeconomic factors. For hydrocephalus education on the Internet, caregivers chose information websites such as Wikipedia or the Hydrocephalus Association as preferred platforms; these preferences were followed by use of social media websites. Facebook and YouTube were the preferred social media platforms for personal and hydrocephalus-related use. Parents indicate moderate skepticism about the trustworthiness of the Internet; only 21.7% always trust the online sources. Most parents (89.8%) say that they would visit neurosurgeon-recommended websites. Of Internet-using caregivers, 28.6% use the Internet or social media to find hydrocephalus support groups, and 34.8% have used the Internet to communicate with other caregivers who have children with similar conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Technology hardware, the Internet, and social media are widely used with some skepticism by parents of children with shunted hydrocephalus. Caregivers are interested in physician-recommended Internet resources. Socioeconomic factors including race, income, and level of education reveal a disparity in access to some of these resources, although all groups have relatively high use. Unlike typical technology use, social media use is breaking down the digital divide among ethnic and socioeconomic groups.

Reliability of postoperative photographs in assessment of facial nerve function after vestibular schwannoma resection.

OBJECT: This study was undertaken to assess the reliability of observations of postoperative photographs in assigning House-Brackmann scores as outcome measures for patients following resection of vestibular schwannomas. METHODS: Forty pictures of differing facial expressions typically elicited from patients for assigning House-Brackmann scores were individually evaluated by neurosurgery residents and faculty members at the University of Alabama at Birmingham; a score was assigned to each picture by the individual raters. The interrater reliability was measured using the Spearman correlation coefficient, Kendall coefficient of concordance, and kappa statistic; internal consistency was calculated using the Cronbach alpha reliability estimate. RESULTS: The Spearman correlation coefficients showed strong positive association among raters, with a range of values of 0.66 to 0.90. Internal consistency measured by the Cronbach alpha coefficient was excellent (α = 0.97). The Kendall coefficient of concordance for the ordinal grades suggested a substantial degree of agreement among the raters (w = 0.76, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Static postoperative photographs are a reliable outcome measure for determining facial nerve function after vestibular schwannoma resection and may serve as a surrogate for the dynamic patient interview.