Shifting the mindset culture to address global educational disparities.

Educational outcomes remain highly unequal within and across nations. Students' mindsets-their beliefs about whether intellectual abilities can be developed-have been identified as a potential lever for making adolescents' academic outcomes more equitable. Recent research, however, suggests that intervention programs aimed at changing students' mindsets should be supplemented by programs aimed at the changing the mindset culture, which is defined as the shared set of beliefs about learning in a school or classroom. This paper reviews the theoretical and empirical origin of the mindset culture and examines its potential to reduce group-based inequalities in education. In particular, experiments have identified two broad ways the mindset culture is communicated by teachers: via informal messages about growth (e.g., that all students will be helped to learn and succeed), and formal opportunities to improve (e.g., learning-focused grading policies and opportunities to revise and earn credit). New field experiments, applying techniques from behavioral science, have also revealed effective ways to influence teachers' culture-creating behaviors. This paper describes recent breakthroughs in the U.S. educational context and discusses how lessons from these studies might be applied in future, global collaborations with researchers and practitioners.

A dual-system, machine-learning approach reveals how daily pubertal hormones relate to psychological well-being in everyday life.

The two studies presented in this paper seek to resolve mixed findings in research linking activity of pubertal hormones to daily adolescent outcomes. In study 1 we used a series of Confirmatory Factor Analyses to compare the fit of one and two-factor models of seven steroid hormones (n = 994 participants, 8084 samples) of the HPA and HPG axes, using data from a field study (https://www.icpsr.umich.edu/web/ICPSR/studies/38180) collected over ten consecutive weekdays in a representative sample of teens starting high school. In study 2, we fit a Bayesian model to our large dataset to explore how hormone activity was related to outcomes that have been demonstrated to be linked to mental health and wellbeing (self-reports of daily affect and stress coping). Results reveal, first that a two-factor solution of adolescent hormones showed good fit to our data, and second, that HPG activity, rather than the more often examined HPA activity, was associated with improved daily affect ratios and stress coping. These findings suggest that field research, when it is combined with powerful statistical techniques, may help to improve our understanding of the relationship between adolescent hormones and daily measures of well-being.

Chemiluminescent immunoassay overestimates hormone concentrations and obscures testosterone sex differences relative to LC-MS/MS in a field study of diverse adolescents.

Background: Methodological comparisons of hormone quantification techniques have repeatedly demonstrated that, in adults, enzyme immunoassay (EIA) inflates steroid hormone concentrations relative to mass spectrometry. However, methodological comparisons in adolescent samples remain rare, and few studies have examined how chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA), another popular immunoassay, compares to mass spectrometry. Additionally, no studies have examined how differences in analytical techniques may be affecting relationships between steroid hormone levels and outcomes of interest, such as psychopathology. This pre-registered analysis of an existing dataset measured salivary cortisol and testosterone using both CLIA and liquid chromatography dual mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in a repeated measures (516 samples) sample of 207 9th graders. Methods: In aim 1, this study sought to expand on past findings by 1) measuring inflation of testosterone and cortisol by CLIA in a relatively large adolescent sample, and 2) showing that CLIA (like EIA) testosterone inflation was especially true in groups with low 'true' testosterone levels. In aim 2, this study sought to examine the impact of hormone quantification method on relationships between hormone levels and psychopathological measures (the Children's Depression Inventory, the Perceived Social Stress Scale, the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the Anxious Avoidant and Negative Self Evaluation subscales of the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents). Results: We found that CLIA, like EIA, inflated testosterone and cortisol levels and overestimated female testosterone resulting in suppressed sex differences in testosterone. We did not observe these same patterns when examining testosterone in individuals with differing levels of pubertal development. Results of psychopathology analyses demonstrated no significant method differences in hormone-psychopathology relationships. Conclusions: Our findings show that CLIA introduces proportional bias in cortisol and testosterone in a manner that suppresses sex differences in testosterone. Steroid measurement method did not significantly moderate the relationship between hormones and psychopathology in our sample, though more work is needed to investigate this question in larger, clinical samples.

A New Pathway to University Retention? Identity Fusion With University Predicts Retention Independently of Grades.

Individuals who are "strongly fused" with a group view the group as self-defining. As such, they should be particularly reluctant to leave it. For the first time, we investigate the implications of identity fusion for university retention. We found that students who were strongly fused with their university (+1 SD) were 7-9% points more likely than weakly fused students (-1SD) to remain in school up to a year later. Fusion with university predicted subsequent retention in four samples (N = 3,193) and held while controlling for demographics, personality, prior academic performance, and belonging uncertainty. Interestingly, fusion with university was largely unrelated to grades, suggesting that identity fusion provides a novel pathway to retention independent of established pathways like academic performance. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.

Effects of soy isoflavones on menopausal neurovegetative symptoms.

AIM: Dietary soy supplementation may reduce the incidence of hot flushes in postmenopausal women due to the presence of phytoestrogens in soy foods. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a 3-month administration of different doses of either oral or transdermal soy isoflavones on climacteric complaints in postmenopausal women. METHODS: Sixty postmenopausal women were assigned randomly to one of the following groups: groups A and B received 50 mg/day or 75 mg/day of oral isoflavones respectively, while groups C and D received 6 mg/day or 12 mg/day of transdermal isoflavones. A control group (group E) was composed of 15 patients that did not receive any treatment. Hot flushes, Kupper-man index and vaginal dryness at baseline and then after 5, 9 and 13 weeks were evaluated. RESULTS: The isoflavone treatment led to a progressive significant (p<0.01) reduction of the number of hot flushes in the groups A, B and D with a dose-related effect in group D. At week 13, the Kupperman index and hot flush score decreased significantly in all the treated groups, while vaginal dryness score was reduced only in group B. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that both oral and transdermal soy isoflavones are effective to attenuate slight to moderate menopausal neurovegetative symptoms with a dose-related effect.

Chemicals with sweet aroma descriptors found in Portuguese wines from the Douro region: 2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-2-ene-1,4-dione and diacetyl.

2,6,6-Trimethylcyclohex-2-ene-1,4-dione (TMCHD), a norisoprenoid with a sweet honey aroma descriptor, is reported for the first time as a minor constituent of single-varietal table and fortified wines from the demarcated Douro region. Olfactory gas chromatography (GC-O) of a volatile wine extract, previously isolated by preparative gas chromatography, indicated the presence of a zone containing an intense honey descriptor. The targeted odor compound was identified by GC-MS, GC-O, and Kovats index. Quantitative analysis using a selected characteristic ion (m/z 96) indicated that young Douro fortified wines from the 1997 vintage contained up to 4 microg/L TMCHD. The sweet honey sensory threshold limit for TMCHD in a model Port wine solution was found to be 25 microg/L. TMCHD is therefore only likely to contribute as a collective element to Port wine aroma. The wine volatile diacetyl was identified as a strong contributor to the sweet caramel aroma descriptor often associated with Port.

Tamoxifen effects on endometrium.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effects on the endometrium of a long term treatment with Tamoxifen in postmenopausal patients, asymptomatic for gynecologic disorders, surgically treated for breast cancer. SETTING: Outpatient menopausal clinic and endoscopic unit. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: 45 patients (Group I) were treated with 20 mg of Tamoxifen daily for a mean of 23.4 months. Seven patients (Group II) represented the control group and did not receive Tamoxifen. A transvaginal ultrasonography and a hysteroscopic guided biopsy were performed in all patients. RESULTS: Sagittal sonograms showed abnormal endometrial thickening (range 8-32 mm, mean 13 mm) in 17 patients (35.4%) of Group I and in 1 patient of Group II. Pathology on endometrial tissue sampling obtained at the time of hysteroscopy showed hyperplastic endometrial polyps in 3 patients (6.25%), endometrial hyperplasia in 16 patients (33.4%), while 1 patient had an endometrial polyp cancer on a background of hyperplasia and 1 had a superficial endometrial cancer (4.1%). Out of the 7 patients of Group II, one had an endometrial polyp, while 6 had no relevant endometrial abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms that Tamoxifen treatment is associated with an increased incidence of proliferative and neoplastic endometrial changes. No obvious correlation was found between the length of Tamoxifen exposure time and occurrence of endometrial pathologies. It is mandatory to undertake twice per year gynecological evaluations for patients treated with Tamoxifen to promptly identify and correctly manage endometrial changes.

Effects of tibolone on the breast.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the effect of hormone replacement therapy and tibolone on the breast. STUDY DESIGN: prospective, controlled, randomized study. SETTING: Outpatient Menopause Clinic of the Second University of Naples. PARTICIPANTS: forty four women in spontaneous menopause without any risk factor for breast cancer were randomly allocated to three groups: 15 patients (group A) were treated with transdermal oestrogens 50 microg, 2 patches/week for 3 weeks per month, plus acetate nomegestrolo per os 5 mg/die for 12 days per cycle, 17 patients (group B) were treated with tibolone 2.5 mg/die. Twelve patients not given any medication represented the control group (group C). METHODS: at the time of recruitment and after at least 12 months of therapy the patients were subjected to a questionnaire aimed at quantifying the slight, moderate or severe presence of the tension/mastodynia symptoms and to a mammographic test to assess the parenchymal pattern according to a quantitative method: type 1 (less than 25% of mammary gland covered by dense tissue), type 2 (from 25% to 75% of total glandular area covered by dense tissue), type 3 (more than 75% of mammary parenchyma covered by dense tissue). Statistical analysis was carried out by means of Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: after at least 12 months of treatment in Group A 5 out of 15 patients (33%) showed a trend of increase in mammographic density not statistically significant (P=0.22) when compared with group B in which one patient showed a swift from type 1 to type 2 and another from type 2 to type 3. The analysis of tension/mastodynia symptoms revealed a significantly difference between the two groups (P=0.02): in group A mastodynia appeared in three previously asymptomatic women and increased in five women, with a total increase in the symptomatology in 8 out of 15 patients (53.3%), in group B only in one case (5%) mastodynia turned from slight to moderate. CONCLUSION: in postmenopausal women oestroprogestogenic replacement therapy may be associated with an increase in mammographic density and with the onset or increase in mastodynia. On the contrary tibolone does not seem to affect normostructured mammas and may be considered a first-rate replacement therapy in case of mammas showing particular density or benign mastopathies.

Time length of negativization of hCG serum values after either surgical or medical treatment of ectopic pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the time length until the human chorionic gonadotropin titer became negative after medical or surgical treatment of ectopic pregnancy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Prospective, randomized study. PARTECIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: We compared time to resolution in 30 cases of tubal pregnancies successfully treated, 15 underwent laparoscopic linear salpingostomy (group 1) and 15 medical treatment with single-ose methotrexate (group 2). The patients of both groups had no meaningful differences of age, gestational age and human chorionic gonadotropin mean values. MEASURES: During the follow-up human chorionic gonadotropin serum values were obtained every two days until the titer was negative. RESULTS: The time to resolution was 33.6 +/- 6.6 days in group 1, 31.5 +/- 7.8 in group 2 with no statistically meaningful differences. CONCLUSION: The data, comparable with results obtained by laparoscopic treatment, suggest that human chorionic gonadotropin value becomes negative independently of type of treatment and residual trophoblast.

Preoperative GnRH analogue in hysteroscopic metroplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone analogue when administered preoperatively in hysteroscopic metroplasty. DESIGN: Prospective, comparative study. PATIENTS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sixty patients undergoing hysteroscopic metroplasty for septate uterus who were randomly allocated to pretreatment with two injections monthly of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone analogue or to no pretreatment. To assess the outcome of surgery three parameters were used: operative time (minutes), fluid adsorption (ml) and intraoperative bleeding. RESULTS: No significant differences in the operating time (21.9 vs 22.9 min), fluid adsorption (395 ml, range 200-550 vs 515 ml, range 250-650), intraoperative bleeding and failure rate were found between pretreated patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative treatment with Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone analogue showed no advantage in hysteroscopic treatment of mullerian defects, but only an improvement, not statistically significant, in term of reduced operative time and fluid adsorption.

[Reproductive outcome of hysteroscopic lysis of intrauterine adhesions]. / Outcome riproduttivo dopo sinechiolisi isteroscopica.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the reproductive outcome in women undergoing hysteroscopic lysis of intrauterine adhesions, according to their localization and severity. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-three patients affected by intrauterine adhesions of different degree, subdivided according to localization and morphologic aspect: three isthmic, thirteen marginal, fourteen central, moreover twenty were complex and three complete. All the interventions were performed by means of the resectoscope. RESULTS: Hysteroscopic surgery restored an acceptable menstrual cycle in almost all the patients affected by intrauterine isolated adhesions, in 52% of women affected by complex incomplete adhesions, and in none of the three patients with entirely obliterated cavity. Concerning fertility, while in isolated, isthmic, central or marginal synechias we observed a pregnancy rate of 73.3% (22 out of 30) with a pregnancy rate to term respectively of 63.3% (19 out of 30 cases) and of 86.3% (19 out of 22 total pregnancies), in case of complex but not complete adhesions we reported, on 20 cases, 5 pregnancies (25%) with only two gone to term. We had no pregnancy in three cases of complex synechias. CONCLUSIONS: The basic parameter to define the functional and reproductive prognosis of the hysteroscopic lysis of intrauterine adhesions is not the menstrual profile or the histological characteristic of the lesions, but rather their extension.

Serum and peritoneal CA-125 levels as diagnostic test for endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical utility of CA-125 in the diagnosis of endometriosis and to compare the sensitivity of the serum and the peritoneal test as indicator of disease. STUDY DESIGN: Peritoneal fluid was obtained at laparoscopy. The quantitative determination of CA-125 in serum and in peritoneal fluid was performed by IRMA-mat CA-125 'two-step method', a two-site immunoradiometric assay, using 35 and 60 U/ml as cutoff. SETTING: Second Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Second University of Naples, Italy. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 26 women infertile undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy that exhibited endometriosis in 14 patients, normal pelvis in 12 patients (control group). INTERVENTIONS: None. RESULTS: CA-125 levels in peritoneal fluid were higher than those found in serum and were significantly elevated (P < 0.05), when compared with the control group, both in women with endometriosis stage I-II and stage III-IV. In serum, CA-125 levels increased only in advanced stage of endometriosis. CONCLUSIONS: Levels of CA-125 in peritoneal fluid seem to be a more sensitive indicator of disease than serum levels (0.86 vs. 0.36), especially in early stage endometriosis (0.80 vs. 0.20) which tends to be overlooked by the CA-125 serum test.

Relevance of CA-125 in the evaluation of endometriosis.

To evaluate the clinical utility of CA-125 in the diagnosis of endometriosis and to compare the sensitivity of the serum and the peritoneal test as indicators of disease, the quantitative determination of the antigen in serum and in peritoneal fluid was performed by the IRMA-mat "two-step method", a two-site immunoradiometric assay. A total of 28 women undergoing diagnostic or operative laparoscopy with endometriosis stage I-II (10 patients), endometriosis stage III-IV (8 patients) or other benign gynecological diseases (10 patients) were studied. The results were compared with a sample of 12 women with a normal pelvis (control group). CA-125 levels in the peritoneal fluid were higher than those found in the serum and were significantly elevated (p < 0.001) when compared with the control group, both in women with endometriosis stage I-II and stage III-IV. In the serum CA-125 levels increased only in advanced stages of endometriosis. Levels of CA-125 in peritoneal fluid seemed to be a more sensitive indicator of disease than the serum test (0.88 vs 0.44), especially in early stage endometriosis (0.80 vs 0.20) which tends to be overlooked by the CA-125 serum test.

Heterotopic pregnancy following administration of human menopausal gonadotropin and following in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer: two case reports and review of the literature.

We report two cases of heterotopic (combined intra- and extra-uterine) pregnancy in women treated for infertility. In the first case the patient conceived following administration of human menopausal gonadotropin. In the seventh week of gestation she had a spontaneous abortion and in the eighth week required urgent laparotomy for acute abdomen due to the rupture of pregnant right tube. In the second case the patient conceived from IVF-ET; in the eighth week a salpingectomy was made. The intrauterine pregnancy continued regularly until term and the patient was delivered of a healthy baby by caesarean section. We reviewed the literature and we found that heterotopic pregnancy is an insidious disease with a constant increase of incidence, especially in infertile women submitted to therapy for ovulation induction or assisted reproductive techniques. All the patients who have risk factors should be submitted to careful controls in early pregnancy, including an ultrasound transvaginal scan.

[Increase of paraovarian cysts. Differential diagnosis, macroscopic and microscopic aspects and role of laparoscopy]. / Gli accrescimenti cistici del paraovario. Diagnosi differenziale, aspetti macro e microscopici e ruolo della laparoscopia.

The authors, by means of a literature review, report the essential findings on the increase of paraovarian cysts. They report the study on 15 women with paraovarian cystic lymphangioma. At the end the authors underline the macro and microscopic aspects of considered cases for a differential diagnosis with the most common cystic increase of the area.