The behavioral effects of gestational and lactational benzo[a]pyrene exposure vary by sex and genotype in mice with differences at the Ahr and Cyp1a2 loci.

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and known carcinogen in the Top 10 on the United States' list of priority pollutants. Humans are exposed through a variety of sources including tobacco smoke, grilled foods and fossil fuel combustion. Recent studies of children exposed to higher levels of PAHs during pregnancy and early life have identified numerous adverse effects on the brain and behavior that persist into school age and adolescence. Our studies were designed to look for genotype and sex differences in susceptibility to gestational and lactational exposure to BaP using a mouse model with allelic differences in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and the xenobiotic metabolizing enzyme CYP1A2. Pregnant dams were exposed to 10 mg/kg/day of BaP in corn oil-soaked cereal or the corn oil vehicle alone from gestational day 10 until weaning at postnatal day 25. Neurobehavioral testing began at P60 using one male and one female per litter. We found main effects of sex, genotype and treatment as well as significant gene x treatment and sex x treatment interactions. BaP-treated female mice had shorter latencies to fall in the Rotarod test. BaP-treated high-affinity AhrbCyp1a2(-/-) mice had greater impairments in Morris water maze. Interestingly, poor-affinity AhrdCyp1a2(-/-) mice also had deficits in spatial learning and memory regardless of treatment. We believe our findings provide future directions in identifying human populations at highest risk of early life BaP exposure, because our model mimics known human variation in our genes of interest. Our studies also highlight the value of testing both males and females in all neurobehavioral studies.

Factors important in the design of information material for scoliosis.

The aim of this study was to identify the most salient characteristics for designing written information for persons with idiopathic scoliosis and their families. A sample of 106 persons with idiopathic scoliosis (n=83) and family members of persons with idiopathic scoliosis (n=23) completed a postal questionnaire to assess perceived level of scoliosis-related knowledge, importance attached to generic design characteristics of information material and preferences for presentation of risk information. Scoliosis knowledge was rated below average for 70% of topics. The most important generic design characteristics were associated primarily with treatment for scoliosis. A majority desired information on benefits/risks of treatment in both absolute and relative terms, and both loss and gain information. Relative frequencies, percentages without decimals, bar graphs, pie charts and Paling Palette were rated as clearest for the presentation of risk information. Respondents lacked knowledge about their condition, which warrants an assessment of current information needs before, during and after treatment, and generic preferences for information and its presentation were identified. Ideally, information material should cover all treatment options including outcome probabilities using frequencies per 100 people and without decimals. Practitioners are best placed to refer persons with idiopathic scoliosis to 'approved' sources of information on the Internet or self-help groups.