Alcohol Use Disorder Polygenic Risk Scores and Trajectories of Early Adolescent Externalizing Behaviors: Examining the Role of Parenting and Family Conflict in the Racially/Ethnically Diverse ABCD Sample.

This study examined the independent and interactive effects of alcohol use disorder genome-wide polygenic scores (AUD-PGS) and parenting and family conflict on early adolescent externalizing behaviors. Data were drawn from White (N = 6181, 46.9% female), Black/African American (N = 1784, 50.1% female), and Hispanic/Latinx (N = 2410, 48.0% female) youth from the adolescent brain cognitive development Study (ABCD). Parents reported on youth externalizing behaviors at baseline (T1, age 9/10), 1-year (T2, age 10/11) and 2-year (T3, age 11/12) assessments. Youth reported on parenting and family environment at T1 and provided saliva or blood samples for genotyping. Results from latent growth models indicated that in general externalizing behaviors decreased from T1 to T3. Across all groups, higher family conflict was associated with more externalizing behaviors at T1, and we did not find significant associations between parental monitoring and early adolescent externalizing behaviors. Parental acceptance was associated with lower externalizing behaviors among White and Hispanic youth, but not among Black youth. Results indicated no significant main effect of AUD-PGS nor interaction effect between AUD-PGS and family variables on early adolescent externalizing behaviors. Post hoc exploratory analysis uncovered an interaction between AUD-PGS and parental acceptance such that AUD-PGS was positively associated with externalizing rule-breaking behaviors among Hispanic youth, but only when parental acceptance was very low. Findings highlight the important role of family conflict and parental acceptance in externalizing behaviors among early adolescents, and emphasize the need to examine other developmental pathways underlying genetic risk for AUD across diverse populations.

Individual Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms Within Racially-Ethnically Diverse Youth: Associations with Polygenic Risk for Depression and Substance Use Intent and Perceived Harm.

There are distinct individual trajectories of depressive symptoms across adolescence which are most often differentiated into low, moderate/stable, and high/increasing groups. Research has found genetic predisposition for depression associated with trajectories characterized by greater depressive symptoms. However, the majority of this research has been conducted in White youth. Moreover, a separate literature indicates that trajectories with elevated depressive symptoms can result in substance use. It is critical to identify depressive symptom trajectories, genetic predictors, and substance use outcomes in diverse samples in early adolescence to understand distinct processes and convey equitable benefits from research. Using data from the Adolescent Cognitive Brain Development Study (ABCD), we examined parent-reported depressive symptom trajectories within Black/African American (AA, n = 1783), White/European American (EA, n = 6179), and Hispanic/Latinx (LX, n = 2410) youth across four annual assessments in early adolescence (age 9-10 to 12-13). We examined racially/ethnically aligned polygenic scores (Dep-PGS) as predictors of trajectories as well as substance use intent and perceived substance use harm as outcomes at age 12-13. Differential trajectories were found in AA, EA, and LX youth but low and high trajectories were represented within each group. In EA youth, greater Dep-PGS were broadly associated with membership in trajectories with greater depressive symptoms. Genetic effects were not significant in AA and LX youth. In AA youth, membership in the low trajectory was associated with greater substance use intent. In EA youth, membership in trajectories with higher depressive symptoms was associated with greater substance use intent and less perceived harm. There were no associations between trajectories and substance use intent and perceived harm in LX youth. These findings indicate that there are distinct depressive symptom trajectories in AA, EA, and LX youth, accompanied by unique associations with genetic predisposition for depressive symptoms and substance use outcomes.

Polygenic Effects on Individual Rule Breaking, Peer Rule Breaking, and Alcohol Sips Across Early Adolescence in the ABCD Study.

Alcohol use emerges during early adolescence and is strongly associated with individual and peer risky, delinquent, and rule breaking behaviors. Genetic predisposition for risky behavior contributes to individual rule breaking in adolescence and can also evoke peer rule breaking or lead youth to select into delinquent peer groups via gene-environment correlations (rGE), collectively increasing risk for alcohol use. Little research has examined whether genetic predisposition for risky behavior contributes to individual and peer rule breaking behavior in developmental pathways to alcohol use in early adolescence or in large diverse racial/ethnic populations. To address this, polygenic scores for risky behavior were considered predictors of individual rule breaking, peer rule breaking, and alcohol sips using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study at age 11-12 and 12-13 in a cross-time cross-lagged model. This was examined separately in European American (EA; n = 5113; 47% female), African American (AA; n = 1159; 50% female), and Hispanic/Latinx (Latinx; n = 1624; 48% female) subgroups accounting for sociodemographic covariates and genetic ancestry principal components. Polygenic scores were positively associated with all constructs in EAs, with individual rule breaking at age 11-12 in AAs and Latinx, and with alcohol sips at age 11-12 in Latinx. Individual and peer rule breaking were associated with one another across time only in the EA subgroup. In all subgroups, peer rule breaking at 12-13 was associated with alcohol sips at 12-13. Results indicate that alcohol sips in early adolescence are associated with individual and peer rule breaking with rGE implicated in EAs.

COVID-19 Related Stressors, Parent-Child Relationship, and Alcohol Use and Mental Health Profiles Among White and Hispanic/Latinx First-Year College Students.

Transitioning to college during the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may increase risk for alcohol use and mental health problems. We examined how COVID-19 related stressors and parent-child relationships are independently and interactively associated with alcohol use and mental health profiles in a sample of first-year college students (N = 425, 34.8% Hispanic/Latinx; 74.9% female) who completed an online survey in October 2020. Latent profile analysis identified four profiles: well-adjusted (53.2%), mental health problems only (21.6%), alcohol use only (17.4%), and comorbid (7.8%). COVID-19 related stressful events increased risk of being in the alcohol use only and comorbid profiles, whereas COVID-19 related worries increased risk of being in the mental health problems only profile. Parent-child relationship quality lowered risk of being in the mental health problems only and the comorbid profiles. In addition, parent-child relationship quality moderated the role of COVID-19 related worries such that COVID-19 related worries were associated with lower odds of being in the comorbid profile when parent-child relationship quality was high but not when parent-child relationship quality was low. Strengthening parent-child relationship quality appears important for promoting college students' well-being.

Genetic risk of AUDs and childhood impulsivity: Examining the role of parenting and family environment.

This study examined the independent and interactive effects of genetic risk for alcohol use disorder (AUD), parenting behaviors, and family environment on childhood impulsivity. Data were drawn from White (n = 5,991), Black/African American (n = 1,693), and Hispanic/Latino (n = 2,118) youth who completed the baseline assessment (age 9-10) and had genotypic data available from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. Participants completed questionnaires and provided saliva or blood samples for genotyping. Results indicated no significant main effects of AUD genome-wide polygenic scores (AUD-PRS) on childhood impulsivity as measured by the UPPS-P scale across racial/ethnic groups. In general, parental monitoring and parental acceptance were associated with lower impulsivity; family conflict was associated with higher impulsivity. There was an interaction effect between AUD-PRS and family conflict, such that family conflict exacerbated the association between AUD-PRS and positive urgency, only among Black/African American youth. This was the only significant interaction effect detected from a total of 45 tests (five impulsivity dimensions, three subsamples, and three family factors), and thus may be a false positive and needs to be replicated. These findings highlight the important role of parenting behaviors and family conflict in relation to impulsivity among children.

Examining social genetic effects on educational attainment via parental educational attainment, income, and parenting.

Higher parental educational attainment is associated with higher offspring educational attainment. In this study, we incorporated genotypic and phenotypic information from fathers, mothers, and offspring to disentangle the genetic and socioenvironmental pathways underlying this association. Data were drawn from a sample of individuals of European ancestry from the collaborative study on the genetics of alcoholism (n = 4,089; 51% female). Results from path analysis indicated that paternal and maternal educational attainment genome-wide polygenic scores were associated with offspring educational attainment, above and beyond the effect of offspring education polygenic score. Parental educational attainment, income, and parenting behaviors served as important socioenvironmental pathways that mediated the effect of parental education polygenic score on offspring educational attainment. Our study highlights the importance of using genetically informed family studies to disentangle the genetic and socioenvironmental pathways underlying parental influences on human development. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Racial Discrimination and Alcohol Problems: Examining Interactions with Genetic Risk and Impulsivity among African American Young Adults.

Experiences of racial discrimination have been shown to increase risk for alcohol problems. Some individuals may be particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of racial discrimination. However, little research has examined interaction effects between racial discrimination and individual characteristics, such as genetic predispositions and personality, in relation to alcohol outcomes. This study examined whether genetic risk and dimensions of impulsivity moderate the association between racial discrimination and alcohol problems among African American young adults (n = 383, Mage = 20.65, SD = 2.28; 81% female). Participants completed online surveys and provided a saliva sample for genotyping. Results from multiple regression analyses indicated that both blatant and subtle forms of racial discrimination (i.e., experience of racist events and racial microaggressions) were associated with more alcohol problems. Racial microaggressions interacted with dimensions of impulsivity in relation to alcohol problems, such that racial microaggressions were associated with more alcohol problems when negative urgency was high or when sensation seeking was low. There was no significant interaction between alcohol use disorder genome-wide polygenic score and experience of racist events or racial microaggression in relation to alcohol problems, which may partly reflect low power due in part to limited representation of African-Americans in genetic research. The findings highlight the need to increase the representation of African Americans in genetically-informed research in order to better characterize genetic risk and understand gene-environment interaction in this understudied population, as well as the importance of examining impulsivity as a multidimensional construct that interacts with racial discrimination in relation to alcohol outcomes.

Fibra óptica como un material alternativo en la obturación endodóncica: un estudio piloto / Optical fiber as an alternative material in endodontics: a pilot study

La gutapercha es químicamente un polímero a base de isopreno, impermeable, no poroso y radiopaco entre otras características, empleado desde el siglo XIX; sin embargo manifiesta algunos inconvenientes propios del material, lo cual ha dado lugar al nacimiento de otros materiales para mejorar sus propiedades. Recientemente se ha desarrollado y caracterizado un material novedoso a base de fibra óptica recubierta por nano partículas de plata (FONP), propuesto como un material alternativo para la obturación de conductos radiculares. En el presente estudio se seleccionaron 24 dientes para conformar cuatro grupos experimentales comparativos entre la obturación con fibra óptica y con gutapercha, ambos con el sellador AH Plus. Las raíces fueron obturadas en grupos de diez y almacenadas en solución salina a 37 oC. La filtración apical se midió desde el extremo apical de la interfaz del material hasta la extensión más coronal del tinte observado microscópicamente. Se empleó la herramienta de LAS EZ V3.0 (Leica Microsystems, Switzerland), los datos se tabularon y se analizaron. Resultados: Las mediciones de microfiltración a nivel apical e intraconductos manifestaron diferencias en favor de la gutapercha, donde los grupos experimentales manifestaron una filtración promedio correspondiente a 0.872 mm en el grupo de Gutapercha/AH-PLUS y de 2.390 mm con técnica lateral utilizando FONP/AH-PLUS, aun así se evidenció que las propiedades de sellado de la fibra óptica con nanopartículas fueron suficientes para considerarlo como un material de obturación de conductos radiculares dentales como posible sustituto de la gutapercha (AU)

Gutta-percha is chemically an Isoprene-based polymer, impervious, non-porous and radiopaque, among other characteristics, used since the 19th century, it manifests some disadvantages inherent to the material, which has led to the birth of new materials with improved properties. Recently, a novel material based on optical fiber covered by silver nanoparticles (FONP) has been developed, characterized and proposed as an alternative material for root canal obturation. In the present study, 24 teeth were selected and divided into four comparative experimental groups for obturation with fiber optics and gutta-percha, both with the AH Plus sealer. The roots were sealed in groups of ten and stored in saline at 37 oC. Apical filtration test was performed from the apical end of the material interface to the most coronal extension of the dye observed microscopically. The LAS EZ V3.0 tool was used to make the measurements and the data was tabulated and analyzed. Results: Measurements of microfiltration at the apical and intracanal level showed differences in favor of gutta-percha, where the experimental groups showed an average filtration of 0.872 mm in the Gutapercha/AH-PLUS group and 2.390 mm using FONP/AH-PLUS, even so, it was evidenced that the sealing properties of the optical fiber with nanoparticles are sufficient to consider this material as a proper filling material for dental root canals as a substitute for gutta-percha (AU)

Frecuencia de Candida en conductos radiculares de dientes con infección endodóntica primaria y persistente / Frequency of Candida in root canals of teeth with primary and persistent endodontic infections

Antecedentes: La identificación microbiológica en infecciones endodónticas se ha enfocado principalmente a la caracterización bacteriana sin dar relevancia a las levaduras que, por sus factores de virulencia, pueden afectar el resultado del tratamiento clínico realizado. Objetivos: Determinar la frecuencia de Candida en condiciones anaerobias en conductos radiculares con infecciones endodónticas primarias y persistentes, y evaluar un método de muestreo microbiológico por lavado y aspiración en comparación con el método tradicional por absorción con puntas de papel. Métodos: Se tomaron 50 muestras microbiológicas de dientes con infección endodóntica primaria y persistente provenientes de 47 pacientes que requirieron tratamiento endodóntico. Se emplearon dos métodos de toma de muestra microbiológica: un método por aspiración y un método por absorción con puntas de papel, ambos con dos tipos de caldo de cultivo (M1-M4). Las muestras fueron cultivadas en condiciones de anaerobiosis hasta lograr una turbidez de 0,5 en la escala de McFarland, y se resembraron en placas de agar dextrosa Sabouraud y agar sangre enriquecido para anaerobios. Se realizó una observación macroscópica y microscópica de las colonias formadas. Las pruebas de producción de tubo germinal, crecimiento en CHROMagar e identificación bioquímica se realizaron a los aislamientos levaduriformes obtenidos. Resultados: De los 50 dientes evaluados, 18 de ellos (36%) mostraron infección por levaduras. En los casos de infección primaria se encontraron levaduras en 15 de 36 dientes (41,6%) y en casos de infección persistente en 3 de 14 (21,4%). El método por lavado y aspiración con caldo de dextrosa Sabouraud recuperó mayor diversidad de especies. Conclusiones: La frecuencia de levaduras fue más alta en los dientes con infección primaria en comparación con los dientes con infección persistente. La especie de levadura predominante fue Candida albicans. El método de toma de muestra por lavado y aspiración fue más eficiente en la recuperación de aislamientos de Candida que el método tradicional por absorción con puntas de papel

Background: Microbiological identification in endodontic infections has focused mainly on bacteria without giving much attention to yeasts, which, due to their virulence factors, can affect the outcomes of root canal treatment. Aims: To determine the frequency of Candida in anaerobic conditions in root canals with primary and persistent endodontic infection, as well as to evaluate a microbiological sampling method using aspiration compared to the traditional absorption method with paper points. Methods: Fifty microbiological samples were obtained from teeth of 47 patients requiring endodontic treatments, due to either primary or persistent infections. Two microbiological sampling methods were used: an aspiration method, and the traditional paper point absorption method. In each of these methods, two types of medium were used (M1-M4). Samples were cultured under anaerobic conditions until reaching 0.5 McFarland turbidity, and then inoculated on Sabouraud dextrose, as well as on anaerobic enriched blood agar plates. Macroscopic and microscopic observations of the colonies were performed. The germ-tube test, growth on CHROMagar, and biochemical identification were performed on the isolated yeasts. Results: Fungal infection was found in 18 (36%) samples out of the 50 teeth evaluated. In the 18 samples positive for fungal infection, 15 out of 36 (41.6%) teeth were taken from a primary infection, and 3 out of 14 (21.4%) from a persistent infection. The aspiration method using Sabouraud dextrose medium recovered a greater diversity of species. Conclusions: Yeasts frequency was higher in teeth with primary infections compared to teeth with persistent infections. The predominant yeast species was Candida albicans. The aspirating sampling method was more efficient in the recovery of Candida isolates than the traditional absorption method

[Frequency of Candida in root canals of teeth with primary and persistent endodontic infections]. / Frecuencia de Candida en conductos radiculares de dientes con infección endodóntica primaria y persistente.

BACKGROUND: Microbiological identification in endodontic infections has focused mainly on bacteria without giving much attention to yeasts, which, due to their virulence factors, can affect the outcomes of root canal treatment. AIMS: To determine the frequency of Candida in anaerobic conditions in root canals with primary and persistent endodontic infection, as well as to evaluate a microbiological sampling method using aspiration compared to the traditional absorption method with paper points. METHODS: Fifty microbiological samples were obtained from teeth of 47 patients requiring endodontic treatments, due to either primary or persistent infections. Two microbiological sampling methods were used: an aspiration method, and the traditional paper point absorption method. In each of these methods, two types of medium were used (M1-M4). Samples were cultured under anaerobic conditions until reaching 0.5 McFarland turbidity, and then inoculated on Sabouraud dextrose, as well as on anaerobic enriched blood agar plates. Macroscopic and microscopic observations of the colonies were performed. The germ-tube test, growth on CHROMagar, and biochemical identification were performed on the isolated yeasts. RESULTS: Fungal infection was found in 18 (36%) samples out of the 50 teeth evaluated. In the 18 samples positive for fungal infection, 15 out of 36 (41.6%) teeth were taken from a primary infection, and 3 out of 14 (21.4%) from a persistent infection. The aspiration method using Sabouraud dextrose medium recovered a greater diversity of species. CONCLUSIONS: Yeasts frequency was higher in teeth with primary infections compared to teeth with persistent infections. The predominant yeast species was Candida albicans. The aspirating sampling method was more efficient in the recovery of Candida isolates than the traditional absorption method.