Identification and comparison of pandemic-to-symptom networks of South Korea and the United States.

Background: The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in a dramatic increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression globally. Although the impact on the mental health of young adults was especially strong, its underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Materials and methods: Using a network approach, the present study investigated the putative pathways between pandemic-related factors and anxiety and depressive symptoms among young adults in South Korea and the U.S. Network analyses were conducted on cross-country data collected during the COVID-19 lockdown period (n = 1,036). Our model included depression symptoms (PHQ-9), generalized anxiety symptoms (GAD-7), and COVID-19-related factors (e.g., COVID-19-related traumatic stress, pandemic concerns, access to medical/mental health services). Results: The overall structure of pandemic-to-symptom networks of South Korea and the U.S. were found to be similar. In both countries, COVID-related stress and negative future anticipation (an anxiety symptom) were identified as bridging nodes between pandemic-related factors and psychological distress. In addition, worry-related symptoms (e.g., excessive worry, uncontrollable worry) were identified as key contributors in maintaining the overall pandemic-to-symptom network in both countries. Conclusion: The similar network structures and patterns observed in both countries imply that there may exist a stable relationship between the pandemic and internalizing symptoms above and beyond the sociocultural differences. The current findings provide new insights into the common potential pathway between the pandemic and internalizing symptoms in South Korea and in the U.S. and inform policymakers and mental health professionals of potential intervention targets to alleviate internalizing symptoms.

The comparative effectiveness of Core versus Core+Enhanced implementation strategies in a randomized controlled trial to improve substance use treatment receipt among justice-involved youth.

BACKGROUND: Most justice-involved youth are supervised in community settings, where assessment and linkage to substance use (SU) treatment services are inconsistent and fragmented. Only 1/3 of youth with an identified SU need receive a treatment referral and even fewer initiate services. Thus, improving identification and linkage to treatment requires coordination across juvenile justice (JJ) and behavioral health (BH) agencies. The current study examines the comparative effectiveness of two bundled implementation intervention strategies for improving SU treatment initiation, engagement, and continuing care among justice-involved youth supervised in community settings. Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) served as the conceptual framework for study design and selection/timing of implementation intervention components, and the BH Services Cascade served as the conceptual and measurement framework for identifying and addressing gaps in service receipt. METHODS: Part of a larger Juvenile-Justice Translational Research on Interventions for Adolescents in the Legal System (JJ-TRIALS) Cooperative, this study involved a multisite, cluster-randomized control trial where sites were paired then randomly assigned to receive Core (training teams on the BH Services Cascade and data-driven decision making; supporting goal selection) or Core+Enhanced (external facilitation of implementation teams) intervention components. Youth service records were collected from 20 JJ community supervision agencies (in five states) across five study phases (baseline, pre-randomization, early experiment, late experiment, maintenance). Implementation teams comprised of JJ and BH staff collaboratively identified goals along the BH Cascade and used data-driven decision-making to implement change. RESULTS: Results suggest that Core intervention components were effective at increasing service receipt over time relative to baseline, but differences between Core and Core+Enhanced conditions were non-significant. Time to service initiation was shorter among Core+Enhanced sites, and deeper Cascade penetration occurred when external facilitation (of implementation teams) was provided. Wide variation existed in the degree and nature of change across service systems. CONCLUSIONS: Findings demonstrate the criticality of early EPIS phases, demonstrating that strategies provided during the formative exploration and preparation phases produced some improvement in service receipt, whereas implementation-focused activities produced incremental improvement in moving youth farther along the Cascade.

Do varsity college athletes have a greater likelihood of risky alcohol and cannabis use than non-athletes? Results from a National Survey in Brazil

Objective: We examined the prevalence of risky alcohol and cannabis use among Brazilian varsity college athletes and whether this group had a greater likelihood of risky use than non-athletes. Methods: In 2009, Brazilian college students (n=12,711) were recruited for a national stratified random survey. Their sociodemographic characteristics, mental health, substance use, and participation in varsity sports were assessed. Binary logistic regression models were used to examine the association between varsity athlete status and moderate to high-risk alcohol and cannabis use. Results: Among varsity athletes, 67.6 and 10.7% reported risky alcohol and cannabis use, respectively. Varsity athletes had greater odds of risky alcohol consumption than non-athletes (aOR = 2.02, 95%CI 1.08-3.78). Varsity athletes also had greater odds of risky cannabis use than non-athletes in unadjusted analyses (OR = 2.57, 95%CI 1.05-6.28), although this relationship was attenuated after covariate adjustment. Conclusions: Among college students in Brazil, varsity athletes had a higher prevalence of risky alcohol and cannabis use than non-athletes. The rates were considerably higher than those observed among samples of U.S. college athletes. Future research should examine the use of these substances among varsity college athletes in other middle-income countries since these findings will likely guide prevention and treatment efforts.

Do varsity college athletes have a greater likelihood of risky alcohol and cannabis use than non-athletes? Results from a National Survey in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the prevalence of risky alcohol and cannabis use among Brazilian varsity college athletes and whether this group had a greater likelihood of risky use than non-athletes. METHODS: In 2009, Brazilian college students (n=12,711) were recruited for a national stratified random survey. Their sociodemographic characteristics, mental health, substance use, and participation in varsity sports were assessed. Binary logistic regression models were used to examine the association between varsity athlete status and moderate to high-risk alcohol and cannabis use. RESULTS: Among varsity athletes, 67.6 and 10.7% reported risky alcohol and cannabis use, respectively. Varsity athletes had greater odds of risky alcohol consumption than non-athletes (aOR = 2.02, 95%CI 1.08-3.78). Varsity athletes also had greater odds of risky cannabis use than non-athletes in unadjusted analyses (OR = 2.57, 95%CI 1.05-6.28), although this relationship was attenuated after covariate adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: Among college students in Brazil, varsity athletes had a higher prevalence of risky alcohol and cannabis use than non-athletes. The rates were considerably higher than those observed among samples of U.S. college athletes. Future research should examine the use of these substances among varsity college athletes in other middle-income countries since these findings will likely guide prevention and treatment efforts.

Chlorhexidine dressings could reduce external ventricular drain infections: results from a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The incidence of external ventricular drain (EVD) infections remains high. Chlorhexidine dressings have demonstrated efficacy in reducing infections associated with indwelling catheters at other body sites, although evidence for their use with EVDs is limited. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of chlorhexidine dressings in reducing EVD-associated cerebrospinal fluid infection (EVDAI). MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane library were queried for articles from inception. The primary outcome was the incidence of EVDAI. Secondary outcomes included device safety, microbiological outcomes and shunt-dependency. From 896 unique records, five studies were included of which four presented suitable data for quantitative analysis including three case series and one underpowered randomized controlled trial. There was a high risk of bias in all studies. A total of 880 patients were included with a mean age of 57.7 years (95% confidence interval (CI) 57.4-58.0 years). In primary outcome analysis, the chlorhexidine dressing group had a significantly lower incidence of EVDAI (1.7% vs 7.9%, risk difference (RD) = 0.07, 95% CI 0.00-0.13, P=0.04). In conclusion, chlorhexidine dressings may reduce the incidence of EVDAI but require future study in randomized trials to definitively determine efficacy.

The Missing Link(age): Multilevel Contributors to Service Uptake Failure Among Youths on Community Justice Supervision.

OBJECTIVES: Youths in the juvenile justice system often do not access needed behavioral health services. The behavioral health services cascade model was used to examine rates of substance use screening, identification of substance use treatment needs, and referral to and initiation of treatment among youths undergoing juvenile justice system intake and to identify when treatment access is most challenged. Characteristics associated with identification of behavioral health needs and linkage to community services were also examined. METHODS: Data were drawn from administrative records of 33 community justice agencies in seven states participating in Juvenile Justice-Translational Research on Interventions for Adolescents in the Legal System, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (N=8,307 youths). Contributions of youth, staff, agency, and county characteristics to identification of behavioral health needs and linkage to community services were examined. RESULTS: More than 70% (5,942 of 8,307) of youths were screened for substance use problems, and more than half needed treatment. Among those in need, only about one-fifth were referred to treatment, and among those referred, 67.5% initiated treatment. Overall, <10% of youths with identified needs initiated services. Multivariable multilevel regression analyses revealed several contributors to service-related outcomes, with youths' level of supervision being among the strongest predictors of treatment referral. CONCLUSIONS: Community justice agencies appear to follow an approach that focuses identification and linkage practices on concerns other than youths' behavioral health needs, although such needs contribute to reoffending. Local agencies should coordinate efforts to support interagency communication in the referral and cross-system linkage process.

Mental Health Among College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic in China: A 2-Wave Longitudinal Survey.

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence supports a clear association between COVID-19 pandemic and mental health. However, little is known about the longitudinal course of psychopathology in young adults at different stages of the pandemic. METHODS: This large-scale, longitudinal, population-based survey was conducted among college students in China. The rates of three mental health problems (acute stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms), and their change patterns at two phases of the pandemic (early vs under-control) were measured. Predictors of changes in mental health symptoms were examined utilizing multivariate regression. RESULTS: Among the 164,101 college students who participated in the first wave survey (T1=during onset of outbreak), 68,685 (41.9%) completed a follow-up survey (T2=during remission). In the follow-up survey, the prevalence of probable acute stress (T1: 34.6%; T2: 16.4%) decreased, while the rates of depressive (T1: 21.6%; T2: 26.3%) and anxiety symptoms (T1: 11.4%; T2: 14.7%) increased. Senior students, with suspected or conformed cases in their community and COVID-19 related worries (all AORs > 1.20, ps < 0.001) were found to have a higher risk of developing mental health problems in at least one wave. Less physical exercise, low perceived social support, and a dysfunctional family were found to negatively impact psychological symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Acute stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms have been prevalent among college students during the COVID-19 epidemic, and showed a significant increase after the initial stage of the outbreak. Some college students, especially those with the risk factors noted above, exhibited persistent or delayed symptoms.

Substance use prevention services in juvenile justice and behavioral health: results from a national survey.

BACKGROUND: This study examined the national availability of substance use prevention (SUP) within juvenile justice (JJ) and their primary behavioral health (BH) providers, and the relationships between the availability of SUP and agency-level measures of organizational structure, staffing, and youth characteristics. A three-stage national probability sampling process was used to select participants for a national survey that included, among other facets of community supervision (CS) and BH practices, questions on agency characteristics, youth characteristics, whether the agency/provider directly provided SUP services, and whether the agency/provider directly provided substance use and/or mental health treatment. This paper focuses on SUP services along with agency/provider and youth characteristics related to providing SUP. RESULTS: The response rate for both CS agencies (n = 195) and BH providers (n = 271) was 96%. Complex samples logistic regression initially examined univariate associations of each variable and identified candidates for a final multivariate model. Overall, only one-third of CS and BH providers reported offering SUP services, with BH providers being significantly more likely than CS agencies to provide SUP services. In addition, likelihood of SUP was significantly lower among agencies where the substance use distribution of the caseload was below the median. Controlling for master's level staff and the substance use distribution, CS agencies were about 67% less likely to offer SUP when compared to BH providers. CONCLUSIONS: Given the high rates of substance use among justice-involved youth and that substance use is an established risk for several negative behaviors, outcomes, and health conditions, these findings suggest that evidence-based prevention services should likely be expanded in justice settings, and perhaps included as part of CS programs, even when youth do not initially present with SU service needs.

Depressive symptoms between parent and adolescent survivors: A longitudinal actor-partner interdependence model.

BACKGROUND: The association between parent-child depression following disasters has been well documented. However, longitudinal studies of posttraumatic depression using parent-child dyadic are scarce. This study aimed to investigate inter-related effects between parent and child depression, as well as predictors of depressive symptoms, in a large sample of Wenchuan earthquake survivors. METHODS: Data are from the Wenchuan Earthquake Adolescent Health Cohort (WEAHC) Study that included 685 parent-child dyads exposed to the earthquake. Depression was assessed with the Self-Rating Depression Scale (for parents) and Depression Self-Rating Scale for Children, at 12 (T12m) and 18 months (T18m) post-earthquake. Longitudinal actor-partner interdependence models (APIMs) were employed to examine depression within dyads. Predictors of depressive symptoms were assessed by the cart algorithm throughout the 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: Adjusting for earthquake exposure and previous depressive symptoms, parents' depression at 12 months predicted children's depressive symptoms at 18 months, and vice versa (ß = 0.14 for parents and ß = 0.12 for children). Psychomotor retardation in parents, and dysphoria/social isolation and positive affect in children were identified as crucial screening indicators identifying parents and children at increased risk for depression. CONCLUSION: A bidirectional association was found between parent and child depression following a mass disaster. Both parent and child depression status should be examined when implementing interventions to identify and treat depression in earthquake survivors.

Informing patient contacts about iatrogenic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

The unanticipated diagnosis of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) in a patient after previous neurosurgery can lead to difficult decisions regarding informing contacts. A patient developed sCJD 3 years after neurosurgery. There were 29 potential contacts and 26 were contacted. Twelve completed a questionnaire. The majority of patients wished to know about the contact and to be seen face-to-face, and their main concern was developing the disease despite verbal and written reassurance that this was unlikely. Informing patients of sCJD contact is difficult and can lead to significant patient anxiety. Face-to-face meetings, a helpline and follow-up can help.

Organizational Context and Individual Adaptability in Promoting Perceived Importance and Use of Best Practices for Substance Use.

This study examines associations among organizational context, staff attributes, perceived importance, and use of best practices among staff in community-based, juvenile justice (JJ) agencies. As part of the National Institute on Drug Abuse's Juvenile Justice-Translational Research on Interventions for Adolescents in the Legal System (JJ-TRIALS) study, 492 staff from 36 JJ agencies were surveyed about the perceived importance and use of best practices within their organization in five substance use practice domains: screening, assessment, standard referral, active referral, and treatment support. Structural equation models indicated that supervisory encouragement and organizational innovation/flexibility were associated with greater individual adaptability. Adaptability (willingness to try new ideas, use new procedures, adjust quickly to change), was positively correlated with importance ratings. Importance ratings were positively associated with reported use of best practices. Organizational climates that support innovation likely affect use of practices through staff attributes and perceptions of the importance of such services.

Guidance for the decontamination of intracavity medical devices: the report of a working group of the Healthcare Infection Society.

BACKGROUND: Intracavity medical devices (ICMDs) are used in a wide variety of healthcare settings. The approach to their decontamination and the resources available also differ widely. Their potential for infection transmission is considerable. AIM: To produce a comprehensive risk assessment-based approach to the decontamination of ICMDs, accompanied by an adaptable audit tool.

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder in Juvenile Justice.

Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) is a new diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). We compared juvenile justice involved youths with DMDD to those with disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs) and other mood disorders, to clarify the differences and to investigate differential correlates to DMDD relative to DBDs or mood disorders. Diagnostic and demographic data were available for 9,819 youths served by 57 juvenile justice sites. A subsample of 2,498 youths had data relevant to our study. The youths self-assessed mental health status on the Voice Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (V-DISC), and we retrofitted the V-DISC data to derive an approximate DMDD diagnosis. The retrofitted criteria for DMDD were met by 3.3 percent of justice-involved youths. Results from multinomial regression showed that, after adjustment for covariates, those with DMDD had fewer differences compared with those with other mood disorders than did those meeting criteria for DBDs. Consistent with the DSM-5 classification of DMDD as a depressive disorder, those with DMDD shared more characteristics with youths with mood disorders than with those reporting DBDs. Externalizing behaviors leading to justice involvement may overshadow internalizing symptoms of DMDD, but mood-related conditions should be identified and treated in this population.

Detection of candidate biomarkers of prostate cancer progression in serum: a depletion-free 3D LC/MS quantitative proteomics pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common male cancer in the United Kingdom and we aimed to identify clinically relevant biomarkers corresponding to stage progression of the disease. METHODS: We used enhanced proteomic profiling of PCa progression using iTRAQ 3D LC mass spectrometry on high-quality serum samples to identify biomarkers of PCa. RESULTS: We identified >1000 proteins. Following specific inclusion/exclusion criteria we targeted seven proteins of which two were validated by ELISA and six potentially interacted forming an 'interactome' with only a single protein linking each marker. This network also includes accepted cancer markers, such as TNF, STAT3, NF-κB and IL6. CONCLUSIONS: Our linked and interrelated biomarker network highlights the potential utility of six of our seven markers as a panel for diagnosing PCa and, critically, in determining the stage of the disease. Our validation analysis of the MS-identified proteins found that SAA alongside KLK3 may improve categorisation of PCa than by KLK3 alone, and that TSR1, although not significant in this model, might also be a clinically relevant biomarker.

Juvenile Justice-Translational Research on Interventions for Adolescents in the Legal System (JJ-TRIALS): a cluster randomized trial targeting system-wide improvement in substance use services.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this paper is to describe the Juvenile Justice-Translational Research on Interventions for Adolescents in the Legal System (JJ-TRIALS) study, a cooperative implementation science initiative involving the National Institute on Drug Abuse, six research centers, a coordinating center, and Juvenile Justice Partners representing seven US states. While the pooling of resources across centers enables a robust implementation study design involving 36 juvenile justice agencies and their behavioral health partner agencies, co-producing a study protocol that has potential to advance implementation science, meets the needs of all constituencies (funding agency, researchers, partners, study sites), and can be implemented with fidelity across the cooperative can be challenging. This paper describes (a) the study background and rationale, including the juvenile justice context and best practices for substance use disorders, (b) the selection and use of an implementation science framework to guide study design and inform selection of implementation components, and (c) the specific study design elements, including research questions, implementation interventions, measurement, and analytic plan. METHODS/DESIGN: The JJ-TRIALS primary study uses a head-to-head cluster randomized trial with a phased rollout to evaluate the differential effectiveness of two conditions (Core and Enhanced) in 36 sites located in seven states. A Core strategy for promoting change is compared to an Enhanced strategy that incorporates all core strategies plus active facilitation. Target outcomes include improvements in evidence-based screening, assessment, and linkage to substance use treatment. DISCUSSION: Contributions to implementation science are discussed as well as challenges associated with designing and deploying a complex, collaborative project. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02672150 .

Service referral for juvenile justice youths: associations with psychiatric disorder and recidivism.

Secondary multiple regression analyses related disorder profile, probation officers' mental health/substance use service referrals, and recidivism in 361 juvenile justice youths. Those with externalizing (disruptive behavior or substance use) disorder or substance offenses were most likely to receive service referrals. Substance disordered youths with service referrals had lower recidivism risk compared to counterparts without referrals; referral lowered the recidivism odds to approximately that for youths without a substance use disorder. Providing juvenile justice youths with systematic mental health assessment and linking those with substance use disorder to mental health and substance use services likely reduces recidivism risk.

Psychotropic medication patterns among youth in juvenile justice.

This paper aims to determine the prevalence, patterns, and demographic and diagnostic correlates of psychotropic medication use in a sample of youth in one state's post-adjudicatory secure facilities. The health records database of the facilities was the source of linked demographic, diagnostic and pharmacy information for the 1-year period ending June 30, 2008. Age, gender, race, offense, prior petitions and diagnoses were examined across groups, and concomitant psychotropic pharmacotherapy patterns were identified. Period prevalence was 10.2% for youth ranging in age from 12 through 22 years who had any psychotropic drug prescribed during the first 30 days after intake to the facility. Among medicated youths, almost half received concomitant therapy. Medicated youth were significantly less likely to be Hispanic and more likely to endorse one or more diagnoses. Antidepressants, antipsychotics and antihistamines were the most commonly dispensed agents. Our findings revealed that the rate of psychotropic medication use was low, concomitant medication use was common, and ethnic/race differences in psychopharmacologic treatment were present in this sample of youths in post-adjudicatory secure facilities.

Identification of markers of prostate cancer progression using candidate gene expression.

BACKGROUND: Metastatic prostate cancer (PCa) has no curative treatment options. Some forms of PCa are indolent and slow growing, while others metastasise quickly and may prove fatal within a very short time. The basis of this variable prognosis is poorly understood, despite considerable research. The aim of this study was to identify markers associated with the progression of PCa. METHODS: Artificial neuronal network analysis combined with data from literature and previous work produced a panel of putative PCa progression markers, which were used in a transcriptomic analysis of 29 radical prostatectomy samples and correlated with clinical outcome. RESULTS: Statistical analysis yielded seven putative markers of PCa progression, ANPEP, ABL1, PSCA, EFNA1, HSPB1, INMT and TRIP13. Two data transformation methods were utilised with only markers that were significant in both selected for further analysis. ANPEP and EFNA1 were significantly correlated with Gleason score. Models of progression co-utilising markers ANPEP and ABL1 or ANPEP and PSCA had the ability to correctly predict indolent or aggressive disease, based on Gleason score, in 89.7% and 86.2% of cases, respectively. Another model of TRIP13 expression in combination with preoperative PSA level and Gleason score was able to correctly predict recurrence in 85.7% of cases. CONCLUSION: This proof of principle study demonstrates a novel association of carcinogenic and tumourigenic gene expression with PCa stage and prognosis.

Self-injury in incarcerated juvenile females: contributions of mental health and traumatic experiences.

Despite evidence supporting a connection between child maltreatment and self-injury, there is disagreement regarding a particular connection to sexual abuse because types of trauma exposure often co-occur. To examine these associations efficiently, we considered a sample of incarcerated juvenile females, where rates of both trauma exposure and self-injury would be expected to be elevated. Adolescent females (N = 220) reported on history of self-injurious behavior on the Voiced Index of Self-injurious Actions, as well as psychiatric disorder. A common set of features was associated with cutting and with self-injury in general. Both were more likely in those initiating delinquent activities when younger and in those currently meeting criteria for major depressive disorder, or with a previous suicide attempt. Adjusting for those features, report of self-injury was approximately doubled among those disclosing prior traumatic exposure that was sexual, OR = 2.66, 95% CI [1.38, 5.15], or nonsexual, OR = 2.18, 95% CI [1.17, 4.04]. Exposure to early traumatic events, such as child maltreatment, likely contributes to a set of adverse experiences, including delinquent activity, mood disorder, and self-injury. Findings contribute to work demonstrating the importance of dissociation both as a consequence of victimization and as a key feature underlying self-injurious behavior.

Contributors to traumatic exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder in juvenile justice youths.

This study considers demographic, offense, and disorder contributors to exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a large (N = 9,611) dataset of standardized psychiatric assessments resulting from nationwide collaborations with justice agencies. Youths' antisocial history may elevate risk for traumatic exposure and PTSD; additionally, traumatic victimization increases risk for externalizing behavior. Rates of all types of traumatic exposure and PTSD were clearly elevated and expectably related to disorder and antisocial behavior. Males were significantly more likely than females to report assaultive violence, whereas females were significantly more likely than males to report forced sexual activity. Gender interactions with disorder and antisocial behavior were contributory only in predicting forced sexual activity: females' exposure was not conditional on features characterizing males' exposure. Findings highlight the high levels of trauma exposure at all levels of juvenile justice processing, and the particular vulnerability of males with internalizing psychopathology. Consistent with increased recent interest in the diagnosis of developmental trauma disorder, and given the likely interconnectedness between traumatic exposure and externalizing symptoms, treatment approaches for justice youths should address their co-occurrence.