SafeCare®: Historical perspective and dynamic development of an evidence-based scaled-up model for the prevention of child maltreatment

SafeCare is an evidence-based parent-training program that reduces child maltreatment, particularly neglect. The risk of child maltreatment, a public health issue affecting millions of U.S. children each year, can be markedly reduced by interventions such as SafeCare that deliver in-home services. Drawing from applied behavioral analysis roots, SafeCare focuses on providing parents with concrete skills in three areas: health, home safety, and parent-child/-infant interaction. This paper will include an overview of the SafeCare model, an historical perspective of its history and dynamic development, description of the theoretical underpinnings of the model, a description of the program targets and content by describing its modules and delivery, an overview of program outcomes, and data discussion of dissemination and implementation (AU)

SafeCare es un programa basado en la evidencia de enseñanza de habilidades parentales que reduce el maltrato infantil, particularmente la negligencia. El riesgo de maltrato infantil, un problema público de salud que afecta cada año a millones de niños y niñas en Estados Unidos, puede ser reducido de forma notable mediante programas como el SafeCare, que desarrolla su intervención en el domicilio. Basado en la psicología conductual aplicada, el SafeCare se centra en dotar a los padres y madres de habilidades específicas en tres áreas: salud, seguridad en el hogar, e interacción padres-hijos. Este artículo expone una visión general del modelo de intervención del SafeCare, una perspectiva histórica de su desarrollo y evolución, sus bases teóricas, sus objetivos y contenido a través de la descripción de sus módulos y forma de provisión, recoge una visión general de sus resultados, y comenta los datos acerca de su diseminación e implantación (AU)

Identification of cardiac-specific myosin light chain kinase.

Two myosin light chain (MLC) kinase (MLCK) proteins, smooth muscle (encoded by mylk1 gene) and skeletal (encoded by mylk2 gene) MLCK, have been shown to be expressed in mammals. Even though phosphorylation of its putative substrate, MLC2, is recognized as a key regulator of cardiac contraction, a MLCK that is preferentially expressed in cardiac muscle has not yet been identified. In this study, we characterized a new kinase encoded by a gene homologous to mylk1 and -2, named cardiac MLCK, which is specifically expressed in the heart in both atrium and ventricle. In fact, expression of cardiac MLCK is highly regulated by the cardiac homeobox protein Nkx2-5 in neonatal cardiomyocytes. The overall structure of cardiac MLCK protein is conserved with skeletal and smooth muscle MLCK; however, the amino terminus is quite unique, without significant homology to other known proteins, and its catalytic activity does not appear to be regulated by Ca(2+)/calmodulin in vitro. Cardiac MLCK is phosphorylated and the level of phosphorylation is increased by phenylephrine stimulation accompanied by increased level of MLC2v phosphorylation. Both overexpression and knockdown of cardiac MLCK in cultured cardiomyocytes revealed that cardiac MLCK is likely a new regulator of MLC2 phosphorylation, sarcomere organization, and cardiomyocyte contraction.