Investigating the Factor Structure of the Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite and Cognitive Function Index across Racial/Ethnic, Sex, and Aß Status Groups in the A4 Study.

BACKGROUND: Disparities in Alzheimer's disease (AD) are well-documented among different racial/ethnic groups and between sex/genders. Neuropsychological assessment provides important information about cognitive changes and can offer valuable insights into disparities. However, neuropsychological measures must be comparable across racial/ethnic and sex/gender groups to accurately interpret disparities. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate measurement invariance (equivalence) of the Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite (PACC) and the Cognitive Function Index across racial/ethnic, sex/gender, and ß-amyloid (Aß) status groups. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional analysis of screening data from the Anti-Amyloid in Asymptomatic AD (A4) Study. The study enrolled participants aged 65-85 from sites across the United States, Canada, Australia, and Japan. MEASUREMENTS: Participants completed the PACC and the Cognitive Function Index. Participants classified as cognitively normal also underwent a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan to determine Aß status. RESULTS: Participants self-identified as non-Hispanic White (n=5241), non-Hispanic Black (n=267), Asian (n=228), or Hispanic White (n=225) as well as male (n=2885) or female (n=3076). Among those who underwent a PET scan, 3115 were classified as Aß- and 1309 were classified as Aß+. We found support for a one-factor model for both the PACC and Cognitive Function Index across the full sample and in samples stratified by race/ethnicity, sex/gender, and Aß status. The one-factor model of the PACC and Cognitive Function Index demonstrated scalar measurement invariance across racial/ethnic, sex/gender, and Aß status groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that performance on the PACC and Cognitive Function Index can be compared across the racial/ethnic, sex/gender, and Aß status groups examined in this study.

Dynamics between psychological distress and body mass index throughout adult life; evidence from 3 large cohort studies.

BACKGROUND: Associations between body mass index (BMI) and psychological distress (PD) have been reported; however, few longitudinal studies have accounted for likely life-course differences in BMI and PD stability, consistency, and their interplay across time. METHODS: Via random intercepts cross-lagged panel models, we assessed the predictive effects (from BMI to PD or vice-versa) across the last two centuries in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults [CARDIA, beginning in 1985-6] study using the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale [CES-D], and in the National Child Development Study [NCDS, beginning in 1958] and British Cohort Study [BCS, beginning in 1970] using the Malaise Inventory [MI]), assessed at least 4 times in adult life. FINDINGS: In CARDIA (n = 4724), NCDS58 (n = 7149) and BCS70 (n = 5967), autoregressive effects were stronger for BMI than for PD, meaning that carry-over effects from one occasion to the next were larger for BMI than for PD. Small interindividual correlations between traits of higher BMI and higher PD were identified among females (rfemale<|0·2|) but not males (rmale<|0·03|) in CARDIA and NCDS. Cross-lagged effects were very weak or close to zero (standardized effects η<|0·1|). INTERPRETATION: In the United States, depressive symptoms and BMI were positively correlated at the trait level among females. In the United Kingdom, relationships between PD and BMI were inconsistent between generations, with effect sizes of unlikely clinical importance, indicating negligible dominance of an intraindividual effect of BMI on PD or vice versa.

Disentangling trait, occasion-specific, and accumulated situational effects of psychological distress in adulthood: evidence from the 1958 and 1970 British birth cohorts.

BACKGROUND: The trajectories of psychological distress differ between individuals, but these differences can be difficult to understand because the measures contain both consistent and situational features; however, in longitudinal studies these sources of information can be disentangled. In addition to occasion-specific features, interindividual differences can be decomposed into two sources of information: trait and carry-over effects between neighboring occasions that are not related to the trait (i.e. accumulated situational effects). METHODS: To disentangle these three sources of variance throughout adulthood, the consistency (trait and accumulated situational effects) and occasion specificity of nine indicators of psychological distress from the Malaise Inventory were examined in two birth cohorts, the 1958 National Child Development Study (NCDS58), and the 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS70). RESULTS: The scale was administered at ages 23, 33, 42, and 50 in NCDS58 (n = 7147), and at ages 26, 30, 34, and 42 in BCS70 (n = 6859). For each psychological symptom, more variance was consistent than occasion-specific. The majority of the consistency was due to trait variance as opposed to accumulated situational effects, indicating that an individual predisposed to be distressed at the beginning of the study remained more likely to be distressed over the whole period. Symptoms of rage were notably more consistent among males than females in both cohorts (78.1% and 81.3% variance explained by trait in NCDS58 and BCS70, respectively), and among females in the NCDS58 (69%). CONCLUSIONS: Symptoms of psychological distress exhibited high stability throughout adulthood, especially among men, due mostly to interindividual trait differences.

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) improve the growth and nutrient use efficiency in maize (Zea mays L.) under water deficit conditions.

Drought is one of the major abiotic stresses that affects crop yield worldwide. An eco-friendly tool that can broadly improve plants' tolerance to water stress is bioionocula comprising plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). In this study, the effect of two PGPR Cupriavidus necator 1C2 (B1) and Pseudomonas fluorescens S3X (B2), singly and/or co-inoculated at two inocula sizes (S1 - 3 × 103 cells g-1 dry weight (dw) soil and S2 - 3 × 106 cells g-1 dw soil), on growth, nutrient uptake, and use efficiency was assessed in maize (Zea mays L.) plants grown at three levels of irrigation (80% of water holding capacity (WHC) - well-watered, 60% of WHC - moderate water deficit stress, and 40% of WHC - severe water deficit stress) in a greenhouse experiment. The impact of water deficit and bioinoculants on soil microbial activity (fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis) was also evaluated. Moderate and severe water deficit negatively affected soil microbial activity, as well as, maize growth, by reducing plants' shoot biomass and increasing root/shoot ratio at 60 and 40% of WHC. Bioinoculants mitigated the negative effects on shoot biomass, especially when PGPR were co-inoculated, increasing up to 89% the aerial biomass of plants exposed to moderate water deficit. Bioinoculation also increased nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) use efficiency, which may have led to higher maize growth under water deficit conditions. The size of the inocula applied had marginal influence on biometric and nutrient parameters, although the higher concentration of the mixture of PGPR was the most effective in improving shoot biomass under moderate water deficit. This study shows that rhizobacterial strains are able to increase nutrient use efficiency and to alleviate water stress effects in crops with high water demands and have potential applications to keep up with productivity in water stress scenarios.

A randomised clinical pilot trial to test the effectiveness of parent training with video modelling to improve functioning and symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disability.

BACKGROUND: Poor eye contact and joint attention are early signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and important prerequisites for developing other socio-communicative skills. Teaching parents evidence-based techniques to improve these skills can impact the overall functioning of children with ASD. We aimed to analyse the impact of conducting a group parent-training intervention with video modelling to improve the intelligent quotient (IQ), social and communication functioning and to minimise symptoms in children with ASD and intellectual disability (ID). METHODS: Study design: A multicentre, single-blinded, randomised clinical pilot trial of parent training using video modelling was conducted. SAMPLE: Sixty-seven parents of children with ASD, aged between 3 and 6 years and with IQs between 50 and 70, were randomised: 34 to the intervention group and 33 to the control group. Intervention program: The intervention group received parent training over 22 sessions, and the control group received the standard community treatment. INSTRUMENTS: Pre-evaluation and post-evaluation (week 28), the following were used: Autism Diagnostic Interview, Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale I, Snijders-Oomen Nonverbal Intelligence Test, Autism Behaviour Checklist and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. DATA ANALYSIS: Intention to treat and complier-average causal effect (CACE) were used to estimate the effects of the intervention. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant improvement in the Vineland standardized communication scores in CACE (Cohen's d = 0.260). There was a non-statistically significant decrease in autism symptomatology (Autism Behaviour Checklist total scores) and a significant increase in the non-verbal IQ in the intervention group. After the false discovery rate correction was applied, IQ remained statistically significant under both paradigms. The effect size for this adjusted outcome under the intention-to-treat paradigm was close to 0.4, and when considering adherence (CACE), the effect sizes were more robust (IQ's Cohen's d = 0.433). CONCLUSIONS: Parent training delivered by video modelling can be a useful technique for improving the care given to children with ASD and ID, particularly in countries that lack specialists.

The role of mindful parenting and children's weight in mothers' child-feeding practices.

PURPOSE: This study explores whether mindful parenting dimensions and children's body mass index (BMI) z-scores are associated with mothers' concern about child weight and child-feeding practices (i.e., responsibility for child feeding, pressure to eat, restriction, food reward, and monitoring). METHODS: The sample included 576 mothers of children/adolescents (7-18 years old) with normal weight (BMI = 3-85th percentiles) and 490 mothers of children/adolescents with overweight/obesity (BMI ≥ 85th percentile; 59% undergoing nutritional treatment). Mothers completed the Portuguese versions of the Interpersonal Mindfulness on Parenting Scale and the Child Feeding Questionnaire. RESULTS: Mothers of children with overweight/obesity undergoing nutritional treatment presented lower levels of emotional awareness of the child, nonjudgmental acceptance of parental functioning, and pressure to eat and higher levels of concern about child weight, restriction and monitoring than the other groups presented. Almost all mindful parenting dimensions and children's zBMI were significantly associated with mothers' concern and child-feeding practices. CONCLUSIONS: Mindful parenting dimensions and children's weight seem to be important predictors of mothers' child-feeding practices and of their concern about child weight, which suggests that a mindful approach in parenting might help mothers adopt more adaptive and weight-adapted child-feeding practices. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, case-control analytic study.

Ankle kinematics and kinetics during gait in healthy and rheumatoid arthritis post-menopausal women.

Objective: In the literature, it is not clear whether rheumatoid arthritis (RA) post-menopausal women have different ankle biomechanical parameters than healthy post-menopausal women. This study aimed to compare the ankle kinematics and kinetics during the gait stance phase of RA post-menopausal women with age-matched healthy post-menopausal women. Materials and methods: A three-dimensional motion analysis system (9 cameras; 200 Hz) synchronised with a force plate (1000 Hz) was used to assess ankle kinematics and kinetics during barefoot walking at a natural and self-selected speed. A biomechanical model was used to model body segments and joint centres (combined anthropometric measurements and the placement of 39 reflective markers). Thirty-six women (18 RA post-menopausal women and 18 age-matched healthy post-menopausal women) performed 14 valid trials (comprising seven left and seven right footsteps on a force plate). Lower limb muscle mass was evaluated by an octopolar bioimpedance analyser. Results: RA post-menopausal women yielded a longer stance phase and controlled dorsiflexion sub-phase (p < 0.001), higher dorsiflexion at the final controlled dorsiflexion sub-phase and lower plantar flexion at toe off (p < 0.05), lower angular displacements (p < 0.05), and lower ankle moment of force peak and ankle power peak (p < 0.001). No intergroup differences were found in lower limb muscle mass. Conclusions: RA post-menopausal women yielded changes in ankle kinematic and kinetic parameters during the gait stance phase, resulting in a lower capacity to produce ankle moment of force and ankle power during the propulsive gait phase.

How can mindful parenting be related to emotional eating and overeating in childhood and adolescence? The mediating role of parenting stress and parental child-feeding practices.

To explore whether the association between mindful parenting and children/adolescents' disordered eating behaviors (i.e., emotional eating and overeating) may be mediated by parenting stress and parental child-feeding practices. The sample comprised 726 family dyads composed of a mother (79.8%) or a father (20.2%) and their child (7-18 years old), of which 362 children/adolescents had normal weight (BMI = 5-85th percentile) and 364 had overweight or obesity (BMI ≥ 85th percentile) according to the WHO Child Growth Standards. Parents completed self-report measures of mindful parenting, parenting stress, and child-feeding practices, and children/adolescents completed measures of emotional eating and overeating. The path model was estimated in AMOS. Mindful parenting was negatively associated with children's emotional eating through lower levels of parenting stress followed by less frequent use of food as a reward and through less frequent use of food as a reward only. Mindful parenting was linked to children's overeating through lower levels of parenting stress. Moreover, mindful parenting was associated with less frequent use of food as a reward, pressuring to eat and monitoring through lower levels of parenting stress, among parents of girls, mostly from the early stage of adolescence. Additionally, higher levels of parenting stress were associated with using food as a reward and, consequently, with higher levels of emotional eating among girls, and with more restriction and, consequently, with more overeating among early-stage adolescents. A comprehensive model suggesting that mindful parenting can help children/adolescents engage less in disordered eating behaviors through lower levels of parenting stress and the adoption of more adaptive child-feeding practices is proposed. Parental practices, particularly mindful parenting, may have an important role in promoting healthier eating behaviors among children/adolescents.

Poor stimulus discriminability as a common neuropsychological deficit between ADHD and reading ability in young children: a moderated mediation model.

BACKGROUND: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is frequently associated with poorer reading ability; however, the specific neuropsychological domains linking this co-occurrence remain unclear. This study evaluates information-processing characteristics as possible neuropsychological links between ADHD symptoms and RA in a community-based sample of children and early adolescents with normal IQ (⩾70). METHOD: The participants (n = 1857, aged 6-15 years, 47% female) were evaluated for reading ability (reading single words aloud) and information processing [stimulus discriminability in the two-choice reaction-time task estimated using diffusion models]. ADHD symptoms were ascertained through informant (parent) report using the Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA). Verbal working memory (VWM; digit span backwards), visuospatial working memory (VSWM, Corsi Blocks backwards), sex, socioeconomic status, and IQ were included as covariates. RESULTS: In a moderated mediation model, stimulus discriminability mediated the effect of ADHD on reading ability. This indirect effect was moderated by age such that a larger effect was seen among younger children. CONCLUSION: The findings support the hypothesis that ADHD and reading ability are linked among young children via a neuropsychological deficit related to stimulus discriminability. Early interventions targeting stimulus discriminability might improve symptoms of inattention/hyperactivity and reading ability.

Pain reduction and improvement of function following ultrasound-guided intra-articular injections of triamcinolone hexacetonide and hyaluronic acid in hip osteoarthritis.

The scientific literature has shown positive results regarding intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid in osteoarthritic joints. When injecting in the hip joint, the guidance of ultrasound can provide higher injection accuracy and repeatability. However, due to the methodological limitations in the current available literature, its recommendation in the current practice is still controversial. This study shows that ultrasound-guided intra-articular injections of triamcinolone hexacetonide and hyaluronic acid can improve pain, function and quality of life in patients with symptomatic and radiographic hip osteoarthritis. In addition, the administration of triamcinolone hexacetonide and hyaluronic acid to the hip joint in these patients can delay the need for interventional surgery.

Inflammation, neurotrophism and oxidative stress and childhood psychopathology in a large community sample.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between peripheral biomarkers and child psychopathology in a large community sample. METHOD: A total of 625 aged 6- to 13-year old subjects were recruited from a community school-based study. Psychopathology was assessed using the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL). Psychiatric diagnosis was evaluated using the Development and Well-Being Assessment. The following biomarkers were examined in peripheral blood: brain-derived neurotrophic factor, cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, IFN-g, and TNF-α), chemokines (eotaxin/CCL11, IP-10, MCP-1), cytokine receptors (sTNFR1 and sTNFR2), and the oxidative stress marker TBARS. RESULTS: We found significant associations between sTNFR2, eotaxin/CCL11 and CBCL total score, as well as with specific dimensions of psychopathology. There were different patterns of association between these biomarkers and psychological and behavioural symptoms in children with and without a mental disorder. TBARS, IL-6 and MCP-1 were more specific to some clusters of symptoms in children with a psychiatric diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Our data support the potential use of biomarkers, especially those involved in immune-inflammatory pathways, in investigating neurodevelopmental psychopathology. Their association with different dimensions of symptoms might be of useful when analyzing illness severity and clusters of symptoms within specific disorders.

Genetic parameters for milk production traits and breeding goals for Gir dairy cattle in Brazil.

To implement an animal breeding program, it is important to define the production circumstances of the animals of interest to determine which traits of economic interest will be selected for the breeding goal. The present study defined breeding goals and proposed selection indices for milk production and quality traits of Gir dairy cattle. First, a bioeconomic model was developed to calculate economic values. The genetic and phenotypic parameters were estimated based on records from 22,468 first-lactation Gir dairy cows and their crosses for which calving occurred between 1970 and 2011. Statistical analyses were carried out for the animal model, with multitrait analyses using the restricted maximum likelihood method. Two situations were created in the present study to define the breeding goals: 1) including only milk yield in the breeding goal (HGL1) and 2) including fat and protein in addition to the milk yield (HGL2). The heritability estimates for milk, protein, and fat production were 0.33 ± 0.02, 0.26 ± 0.02, and 0.24 ± 0.02, respectively. All phenotypic and genetic correlations were highly positive. The economic values for milk, fat, and protein were US$0.18, US$0.27, and US$7.04, respectively. The expected economic responses for HGL2 and for HGL1 were US$126.30 and US$79.82, respectively. These results indicate that milk component traits should be included in a selection index to rank animals evaluated in the National Gir Dairy Breeding Program developed in Brazil.

Identificação de loci microssatélites com potencial de amplificação na espécie de Peixe-Rei (Odontesthes humensis) / Identification of microsatellite loci with amplification potential in "pejerrey" (Odontesthes humensis)

In this work, 25,806 potentially amplifiable microsatellite loci (PAL) were identified in pejerrey, (Odontesthes humensis), with 21% of dinucleotide, 22% trinucleotide, 37% tetranucleotide, 13% pentanucleotide and 7% hexanucleotide. Of the total loci, 167 were classified as "Best PAL", more likely to be variables in populations. The results show that with a small coverage of the genome it was possible to identify a large number of microsatellite loci...

Forensic evaluation of medical liability cases in general surgery.

Although medical liability (disciplinary, civil and criminal) is increasingly becoming an issue, few studies exist, particularly from the perspective of forensic science, which demonstrate the extent to which medical malpractice occurs, or when it does, the reasons for it. Our aims were to evaluate the current situation concerning medical liability in general surgery (GS) in Portugal, the reasons for claims, and the forensic evaluations and conclusions, as well as the association between these issues and the judicial outcomes. We analysed the Medico-Legal Council (CML) reports of the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Portugal related to GS during 2001-2010. The judicial outcomes of each case were requested from the Public Prosecutor Office (PPO) and the court. Alleged cases of medical liability in GS represented 11.2% of the total cases analysed by the CML. We estimated that in Portugal, 4:100,000 surgeries are subject to litigation. The majority of complaints were due to the patient's death (75.4%), with laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgeries representing 55.2% of cases. In 76.1% of the cases, the CML believed that there was no violation of legesartis and in 55.2% of cases, no causal nexus was found between the medical practice and the alleged harm. The PPO prosecuted physicians in 6.4% of the cases and resulted in one conviction. Finally, the importance of the CML reports as a relevant technical-scientific tool for judicial decision was evident because these reports significantly (p < 0.05) influenced the prosecutor's decision, whether to prosecute or not.

Pb2+ exposure induced microsatellite instability in Pisum sativum in a locus related with glutamine metabolism.

Lead (Pb) is a toxic element, but its putative mutagenic effects in plant cells, using molecular markers, remain to unveil. To evaluate if Pb induces mutagenicity, Pisum sativum L. seedlings were exposed to Pb(2+) (up to 2000 mg L(-1)) for 28 days and the instability of microsatellites (or Simple Sequence Repeats, SSR) was analyzed in leaves and roots. The analysis of eight selected microsatellites (SSR1-SSR8) demonstrated that only at the highest dosage microsatellite instability (MSI) occurred, at a frequency of 4.2%. Changes were detected in one microsatellite (SSR6) that is inserted in the locus for glutamine synthetase. SSR6 products of roots exposed to the highest concentration of Pb were 3 bp larger than those of the control. Our data demonstrate that: (a) SSR technique is sensitive to detect Pb-induced mutagenicity in plants. MSI instability is Pb dose dependent and organ dependent (roots are more sensitive); (b) the Pb-sensitive SSR6 is inserted in the glutamine synthetase locus, with still unknown relation with functional changes of this enzyme; (c) Pb levels inducing MSI are much above the maximum admitted levels in some European Union countries for agricultural purpose waters. In conclusion, we propose here the potential use of SSR to evaluate Pb(2+)-induced mutagenicity, in combination with other genetic markers.

Elevated serum C-reactive protein as a predictive factor for anastomotic leakage in colorectal surgery.

BACKGROUND: C-reactive protein (CRP) has been used as an indicator of postoperative complications in abdominal surgery. Its short half-life makes it a reliable marker of the systemic inflammatory response secondary to a surgical procedure or to the appearance of complications, rapidly returning to normal values with the recovery of the patient. AIM: To demonstrate the value of sequential serum determinations of postoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell counts (WBC) in the identification of increased risk of anastomotic leakage after colorectal surgery. METHODS: We reviewed the daily postoperative serum CRP and white blood cell counts in 173 patients who underwent surgery for colorectal disease with anastomosis, between January 2008 and October 2009. Patients with anastomotic leakage (Group A, n = 24) were compared to patients without leakage (Group B, n = 149). Patients with ongoing infections before surgery or with acquired postoperative infections other than leakage were excluded. Mean pre- and postoperative values of CRP and WBC were compared. RESULTS: The diagnosis of anastomotic leakage was made between the 4th and 11th postoperative day (POD; mean 7th POD). The daily average values of serum CRP were significantly higher in group A starting at the 2nd POD and remained significantly elevated until the diagnosis of leakage (p = 0.003). The cut-off value of 140 mg/L on the 3rd POD maximized the sensitivity (78%) and specificity (86%) of serum CRP in assessing the risk of leakage. Comparison of postoperative serum WBC values did not show any significant differences between the two groups until the 6th POD. CONCLUSION: According to these results, an early and persistent elevation of CRP after colorectal surgery with anastomosis, is a marker of anastomotic leakage. A cut-off value > 140 mg/L on POD3 maximizes sensitivity and specificity.

Electron cotunneling transport in gold nanocrystal arrays.

We describe current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of alkyl-ligated gold nanocrystals ~5 nm arrays in a long screening length limit. Arrays with different alkyl ligand lengths have been prepared to tune the electronic tunnel coupling between the nanocrystals. For long ligands, electronic diffusion occurs through sequential tunneling and follows activated laws, as a function of temperature σ∝e(-T(0)/T) and as a function of electric field I∝e(-E(0)/E). For better conducting arrays, i.e., with small ligands, the transport properties cross over to the cotunneling regime and follow Efros-Shklovskii laws as a function of temperature σ∝e(-(T(ES)/T)(1/2) and as a function of electric field I∝e(-(E)(ES)/E)(1/2). The data show that electronic transport in nanocrystal arrays can be tuned from the sequential tunneling to the cotunneling regime by increasing the tunnel barrier transparency.

Utilization of microsatellite markers to form families of "pejerrey" Odontesthes bonariensis in a genetic breeding program / Utilização de marcadores microssatélites para formação de famílias de "pejerrey" Odontesthes bonariensis em um programa de melhoramento genético

Foram identificadas a divergência e a variabilidade genética, por meio do polimorfismo de seis marcadores microssatélites, de duas populações de Odontesthes bonariensis, utilizadas em manejos de cultivo e com potencial para fornecimento de reprodutores para programas de melhoramento genético. Do total de seis loci, cinco demonstraram eficiência para análise genética nas duas populações de O. bonariensis. A diferenciação genética significante nas populações analisadas pode fornecer a base para futuros programas de melhoramentos genéticos, através da combinação de material das populações divergentes para o desenvolvimento de linhagens ou execução de um programa de seleção.