Family environment modulates linkage of transdiagnostic psychiatric phenotypes and dissociable brain features in the developing brain.

BACKGROUND: Family environment has long been known for shaping brain function and psychiatric phenotypes, especially in childhood and adolescence. Accumulating neuroimaging evidence suggests that across different psychiatric disorders, common phenotypes might share common neural bases, indicating latent brain-behavior relationships beyond diagnostic categories. However, the influence of family environment on the brain-behavior relationship from a transdiagnostic perspective remains unknown. METHOD: We included a community-based sample of 699 subjects (5-22 yrs.) and applied partial least squares regression analysis to determine latent brain-behavior relationships from the whole brain functional connectivity and comprehensive phenotypic measures. Comparisons were conducted between diagnostic and non-diagnostic groups to help interpret the latent brain-behavior relationships. A moderation model was introduced to examine the potential moderating role of family factors in the estimated brain-behavior association. RESULTS: Four significant latent brain-behavior pairs reflecting relationship of dissociable brain network and general behavioral problems, cognitive and language skills, externalizing problems, and social dysfunction, respectively, were identified. The group comparisons exhibited interpretable variations across different diagnostic groups. Warmth family environment was found to moderate the brain-behavior relationship of core symptoms in internalizing disorders. However, in neurodevelopmental disorders, family factors were not found to moderate the brain-behavior relationship of core symptoms, but were found to affect brain-behavior relationship in other domains. CONCLUSION: Our findings leveraged the transdiagnostic analysis investigating the moderating effects of the family factors on brain-behavior association, emphasizing the different role family factors take in developmental period across distinct diagnostic groups.

Latent profiles of bullying perpetration and victimization: Gender differences and family variables.

BACKGROUND: School bullying is a prevalent issue that threatens the psychological and social well-being of adolescents. However, little research has investigated how gender and family variables were related to bullying-involvement patterns among adolescents with siblings. OBJECTIVE: This study explored gender differences in the profiles of bullying involvement and the relationship between sibling, parental variables, and these profiles among Chinese adolescents. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Participants (N = 1,060; 46.0 % boys; Mage = 15.53) were recruited from junior and senior high schools in Jiangxi and Guizhou Provinces, China. METHODS: Bullying involvement, sibling warmth and conflict, and parental psychological maltreatment and neglect were assessed by self-report questionnaire. Latent profile analysis was used to identify subgroups with distinct bullying involvement patterns, then multiple logistic regressions were performed to investigate the associations between family variables and bullying-involvement subgroups. RESULTS: We found gender differences in both the latent profiles of bullying involvement and the associations between profiles and family variables. Only boys were identified severe bully-victims (3.39 %), while only girls were categorized as relational bully-victims (20.18 %). Boys and girls were similarly represented among uninvolved students (70.76 % vs. 66.85 %), moderate bully-victims (15.25 % vs. 6.49 %), and victims (10.59 % vs. 6.49 %). Students with more sibling warmth manifested less likelihood of engaging in bullying-related profiles, with more parental psychological maltreatment, and more parental neglect manifested more likelihood of engaging in bullying-related profiles only among girls. While students with more sibling conflict were related to more bullying-related profiles among boys than girls. CONCLUSIONS: The findings emphasize the importance of developing gender-specific bullying intervention strategies that also consider relevant family factors.

Family Facilitators of, Barriers to and Strategies for Healthy Eating among Chinese Adolescents: Qualitative Interviews with Parent-Adolescent Dyads.

Healthy eating is vital in preventing obesity and long-term non-communicable diseases. This study explores potential family facilitators of, barriers to and strategies for healthy eating among adolescents in Chinese families to guide the development of effective interventions in the future. Parent-adolescent dyads were purposively sampled by age, gender, fruit and vegetable intake and household income. Key family factors were identified by thematic analysis. Fourteen themes under five domains were identified: family health with (1) illness experienced in the family; parental knowledge of (2) dietary recommendations, (3) the preparation of healthy food and (4) healthy food choice; parental attitudes towards (5) the importance of healthy eating and (6) the priority of family health; socioeconomic factors of (7) time concerns and (8) cost concerns; and food parenting practices in (9) nutritional education, (10) role modeling, (11) food provision, (12) child involvement, (13) parental supervision and (14) the cultivation of food preference. Useful strategies included incorporating healthy ingredients in adolescents' favorite recipes and providing a variety of fruit and vegetables at home. There is a need to empower parents with practical nutrition knowledge, to be more authoritative in food parenting practices, to discuss healthy eating with children and to acquire practical skills related to time- and cost-saving healthy cooking.

Factores asociados al consumo de alcohol en adolescentes residentes en Lima, Perú / Factors associated with alcohol consumption in adolescents living in Lima, Peru

Introducción: El consumo de alcohol es particularmente alto en América Latina y el Caribe. Los estudios en Perú sobre prevención y consumo de drogas en estudiantes de educación secundaria lo reportan como problema de salud. Objetivo: Determinar las variables del factor personal, familiar y social que están asociadas con el consumo de alcohol en adolescentes de un colegio particular del distrito de Villa María del Triunfo, Lima, en 2016. Material y Métodos: Estudio transversal, con una muestra de 194 adolescentes, se aplicó muestreo aleatorio estratificado, donde los estratos fueron los grados de estudio del primero al quinto grados de secundaria. Se recolectó la información mediante la aplicación de un cuestionario estructurado. Resultados: 47,4 por ciento de los escolares consumió alcohol en el último año; con respecto al factor personal a los estudiantes que les ofrecieron bebida alcohólica tuvieron 11,84 (OR = 11,84; 95 por ciento CI 5,31:26,4; p** <0,001) veces más de probabilidad de consumirla respecto a los estudiantes que no les ofrecieron. Con respecto al factor familiar, los estudiantes que no tienen ningún familiar enfermo en casa tienen 2,21 (OR = 2,21; IC 95 por ciento 1,11:4,36; p** <0,001) veces más de uso de medicamentos. Las variables del factor social no fueron factores de riesgo. Conclusiones: Casi la mitad de los adolescentes consumieron bebidas alcohólicas en el último año y según los factores favorecedores del consumo destaca en primer lugar el factor personal, seguido de familiares; el factor social no estuvo asociado con el consumo de alcohol(AU)

Introduction: Alcohol consumption is particularly high in Latin America and the Caribbean. Studies conducted on drug prevention and use in high school students in Peru report it as a health problem. Objective: To determine the variables related to personal, family and social factors associated with alcohol consumption in adolescents from a private school in the district of Villa María del Triunfo, Lima, in 2016. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional study with a sample of 194 adolescents, using a stratified random sampling where the strata were the study grades from the first to the fifth grades of secondary school. The information was collected by applying a structured questionnaire. Results: Our results show that 47,4 percent of schoolchildren consumed alcohol in the last year; with respect to the personal factor, the students who were offered alcoholic drinks were 11,84 (OR = 11,84; 95 percent CI 5,31:26,4; p** <0,001) times more likely to consume an alcoholic beverage compared to the students who were not offered them. Regarding family factor, the students who did not have a sick family member at home were 2,21 (OR = 2,21; IC 95 percent 1,11:4,36; p** <0,001) times more likely to consume alcoholic beverages compared to students who had a sick family member at home. The variables related to social factor were not risk factors. Conclusions: Almost half of the adolescents consumed alcoholic beverages in the last year and according to the factors favoring consumption, the personal factor stands out in the first place, followed by relatives; the social factor was not associated with alcohol consumption(AU)

Influence of genetic polymorphism in renin-angiotensin system-candidate genes on urinary trefoil family factor 3 levels in children with congenital anomalies of kidney and urinary tract.

BACKGROUND: This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the influence of genetic polymorphism in two renin-angiotensin system (RAS)-candidate genes on urinary trefoil family factor 3 (TFF3) levels in children with congenital anomalies of kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT). METHODS: The study included fifty children with CAKUT (PUV, VUR, and PUJO) and twenty age-matched controls. Urinary TFF3 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Detection of genetic polymorphisms in two genes, i.e., I/D polymorphism (SNP at rs4340) in angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and A/T polymorphism in the angiotensin II receptor type-2 (AT2R) due to point mutation at rs3736556 was performed by polymerase chain reaction. Progressive deterioration in kidney function was defined as fall in GFR to < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 and/or progressive scarring. RESULTS: In our cohort, the genotypic distribution of patients and controls showed no difference. Progressive functional deterioration was significantly associated with the presence of D allele (p = 0.0004), A allele (p = 0.005), and both (p < 0.0001) in patients. Significantly raised TFF3 levels were detected in the urine of children having D allele (D/D > I/D > I/I; p < 0.0001) and A allele (A/A > A/T > TT; p < 0.0001). Also, children with both D/D and A/A allelic genotypes had significantly elevated urinary TFF3 compared to those having either of them. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of D allele and/or A allele is significantly associated with progressive functional deterioration and elevated urinary TFF3 levels. These findings support the role of angiotensin II-AT2R-NF-κB interaction in progressive deterioration of kidney function and subsequent TFF3 expression in CAKUT.

Effects of moxibustion on miRNA-133b, Pitx3/TH, and neurotransmitters in the midbrain of rats with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of moxibustion in the treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D), by observing the effects of moxibustion at Tianshu (ST25) and Shangjuxu (ST37) on microRNA-133b (miRNA-133b), pituitary homeobox family factor 3 (Pitx3)/tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and neurotransmitters in the brain tissue of IBS-D rats. Methods: Healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a moxibustion group, and a Western medicine group, with 12 rats in each group. Except for the normal group, the IBS-D rat model was established by mother-offspring separation and acetic acid enema combined with restraint stress stimulation in all the other groups. No intervention was performed in the normal and model groups. Mild moxibustion was applied to both Tianshu (ST25) and Shangjuxu (ST37) in the moxibustion group. Rifaximin was given by gavage in the Western medicine group. The physical status of rats in each group was observed at different periods. After the intervention, hematoxylin- eosin staining was performed to observe the histopathological morphology of rat colon; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the levels of dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NE), and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in plasma, colon, and midbrain tissue of rats; the relative expression levels of miRNA-133b, Pitx3 mRNA, and TH mRNA in the midbrain tissue were measured by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and the relative expression levels of Pitx3 and TH proteins in the midbrain tissue were measured by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. Results: The body weights of rats among groups and at different time points were statistically different (P<0.01). The body weight of the normal group was higher than that of the other groups over time (P<0.01). After modeling, the minimum volume threshold of abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) was significantly lower (P<0.01) and the loose stool rate was significantly higher (P<0.01) in the model, moxibustion, and Western medicine groups compared with the normal group; the miRNA-133b expression in the midbrain tissue was significantly lower (P<0.01), the expression levels of Pitx3 and TH in the midbrain tissue were significantly higher (P<0.01), and the levels of DA, NE, and 5-HT in plasma, colon and midbrain tissue were significantly higher (P<0.01). After the intervention, the minimum volume threshold of AWR was significantly higher (P<0.01), the loose stool rate was significantly lower (P<0.01), the miRNA-133b expression was significantly increased (P<0.01 or P<0.05) and the expression levels of Pitx3 and TH were significantly decreased (P<0.01) in the midbrain tissue, the levels of DA, NE, and 5-HT in plasma, colon, and midbrain tissue were significantly reduced (P<0.01) in the moxibustion and Western medicine groups compared with the model group; the levels of 5-HT in the colon and midbrain tissue of the moxibustion group were significantly lower than those in the Western medicine group (P<0.05), and there was no statistical difference compared with the remaining groups (P>0.05). Linear correlation analysis showed that miRNA-133b was negatively correlated with Pitx3 (r<0, P<0.01); Pitx3 with TH, TH with DA, and NE with 5-HT were positively correlated (r>0, P<0.01).Conclusion: Moxibustion at Tianshu (ST25) and Shangjuxu (ST37) improves diarrhea symptoms and visceral hypersensitivity in IBS-D rats. The mechanism may be related to up-regulating miRNA-133b, inhibiting Pitx3/TH, and reducing neurotransmitter expression levels in the midbrain tissue.

Urinary biomarkers as point-of-care tests for predicting progressive deterioration of kidney function in congenital anomalies of kidney and urinary tract: trefoil family factors (TFFs) as the emerging biomarkers.

BACKGROUND: Children with congenital anomalies of kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) are at high risk of progressive deterioration of kidney function and further developing stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD 5), even after a successful surgery. This prospective study was designed to determine whether urinary biomarkers can predict progressive deterioration of kidney function in children with CAKUT. METHODS: The study included 50 consecutive children, aged < 14 years, who were diagnosed with congenital uropathies (PUV, VUR, and PUJO) and 20 age-matched controls. Examination of four urinary biomarkers, i.e., trefoil family factors (TFF) 1 and 3, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and microalbuminuria (MALB) was done at the beginning of follow-up. Kidney function was assessed, at the beginning and after 12-months of follow-up, by technetium-99m diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) and technetium-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scans. Progressive deterioration in the kidney function was defined as a fall in the GFR from ≥ 60 to < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 on comparing the baseline and latest DTPA scans; and/or new-onset cortical scar/scars or increase in the size of previous scar/scars on serial DMSA scans. Group 1 and group 2 included children without and with progressive functional deterioration respectively. RESULTS: The median (IQR) age of children with CAKUT and controls was 3 (1.5-5) and 2.3 (1.2-3.6) years, respectively, and showed no significant difference (p = 0.29). Median concentrations of TFF1, TFF3, NGAL, and microalbumin in patients were 44.5, 176.5, 281.2, and 15.5 mcg/gCr, respectively, and were significantly elevated as compared to controls (p < 0.05). Children belonging to group 2 had significantly higher concentration of biomarkers as compared to those in group 1. TFF3 was found have the highest AUC (0.9198) on ROC curve for predicting progressive functional deterioration. CONCLUSION: Urinary TFFs, NGAL, and microalbumin significantly correlate with progressive deterioration of kidney function in children harboring CAKUT. TFF3, with the strongest prediction of functional deterioration, is an emerging peptide showing sufficient potential to be included in the biomarker panel. Graphical abstract.

A Common Family Factor Underlying Language Difficulties and Internalizing Problems: Findings From a Population-Based Sibling Study.

Studies have identified concurrent, longitudinal, and bidirectional associations between language difficulties and internalizing problems. This is commonly explained by social exclusion or withdrawal from peers, but underlying mechanisms are not well understood. This study uses sibling data to investigate if the comorbidity between language difficulties and internalizing problems is best explained by familial factors shared by siblings, such as genes or family environment, or nonfamilial factors specific to each child, such as peer environment. Data include 5,568 siblings at 5 years and 3,654 siblings at 8 years participating in the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). We constructed a latent factor model at 5 and 8 years, including a family comorbidity factor capturing correlations between language and internalizing problems that were equally strong between as within siblings. Results showed that the correlation between one sibling's internalizing problems and the other sibling's language problems was mostly accounted for by a family comorbidity factor. The best-fitting longitudinal model included stability of the family comorbidity factor and stability of language and internalizing problems within each sibling and no cross-sibling or cross-trait longitudinal associations. This suggests that the association between language and internalizing problems may be best explained by family factors.

Family factors and health behaviour of thin adolescent boys and girls.

AIM: The aim of this study was to examine prevalence of extreme thinness and thinness in adolescent boys and girls and to study associations between family factors, health behaviour and thinness in boys and girls. BACKGROUND: Extreme thinness carries high health risks. The family and health behavioural factors related to adolescent thinness have not been studied previously using a nationally representative data. DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional quantitative study. METHODS: The nationally representative data were obtained from the Finnish School Health Promotion study conducted in 2013. The sample of this study included 12-17 year old adolescents (n = 71,973) who were categorised as extremely thin, thin and normal weight using international age and gender body mass index (BMI) cut-off points for children and adolescents. Associations with family factors and health behaviour were examined separately for boys and girls using cross-tabulations, Chi-square test and multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: Thinness and extreme thinness were more common in girls than in boys. Health behaviour, such as smoking and exercise, were associated with thinness and extreme thinness in both genders. Regarding family factors; low maternal education, family meal and parental knowledge of adolescents' friends and whereabouts were associated with thinness and, or extreme thinness in both boys and girls. However, there were gender differences in the associations. CONCLUSIONS: It is important for healthcare professionals working with adolescents to be aware of prevalence in thinness and aware of health behaviour and family factors that are associated with thinness and extreme thinness in adolescence.

Familial aggregation of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

BACKGROUND: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) aggregates in families. To date, the strength, pattern, and characteristics of the familial aggregation have not been thoroughly assessed in a population-based family sample. METHODS: In this cohort study, we identified relative pairs of twins, full and half-siblings, and full and half cousins from 1,656,943 unique individuals born in Sweden between 1985 and 2006. The relatives of index persons were followed from their third birthday to 31 December 2009 for ADHD diagnosis. Birth year adjusted hazard ratio (HR), that is, the rate of ADHD in relatives of ADHD-affected index persons compared with the rate of ADHD in relatives of unaffected index persons, was estimated in the different types of relatives using Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: During the follow-up, 31,865 individuals were diagnosed with ADHD (male to female ratio was 3.7). The birth year adjusted HRs were as follows: 70.45 for monozygotic twins; 8.44 for dizygotic twins; 8.27 for full siblings; 2.86 for maternal half-siblings; 2.31 for paternal half-siblings; 2.24 for full cousins; 1.47 for half cousins. Maternal half-siblings had significantly higher HR than in paternal half-siblings. The HR did not seem to be affected by index person's sex. Full siblings of index persons with ADHD diagnosis present at age 18 or older had a higher rate of ADHD (HR: 11.49) than full siblings of index persons with ADHD diagnosis only before age 18 (HR: 4.68). CONCLUSIONS: Familial aggregation of ADHD increases with increasing genetic relatedness. The familial aggregation is driven by not only genetic factors but also a small amount of shared environmental factors. Persistence of ADHD into adulthood indexes stronger familial aggregation of ADHD.

Effects of interleukin-6 in wound healing of human biliary epithelial cells / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective To investigate the mechanism of interlekin-6 (IL-6) in wound healing of human biliary epithelial cells ( BECs ).Methods BECs were cultured in IL-6 at different concentrations:0 ng/L(0 ng/L group),10 ng/L (10 ng/L group),50 ng/L (50 ng/L group),100 ng/L (100 ng/L group),1000 ng/L ( 1000 ng/L group).The effects of IL-6 on the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3( STAT3 ) and the expression of trefoil family factors 3 (TFF3) were detected.BECs were divided into untreated group,STAT3-RNAi group (BECs transfected with STAT3 RNAi adenovirus) and Control-RNAi group (BECs transfected with vacant RNAi adenovirus).The effects of IL-6 on the expression of TFF3 were detected after RNAi of STAT3.In vitro wound models were constructed for the untreated group,STAT3-RNAi group and Control-RNAi group,and the effects of IL-6 and TFF3 on BECs of the 3 groups were detected.All data were analyzed by using the Student's t test,analysis of variance or Sidak test.Results The expressions of phosphorylated STAT3 in the 50 ng/L group,100 ng/L group and 1000 ng/L group were 0.240 ± 0.052,0.714 ± 0.124,0.327 ± 0.069,respectively,which were significantly higher than 0.033 ± 0.011 of the 0 ng/L group (q =5.246,17.260,7.451,P ＜ 0.05 ).The contents of mRNA and protein of TFF3 increased as the increase of IL-6 concentration (q =12.045,9.889,P ＜ 0.05).After RNAi of STAT3 of the BECs,the expression of TFF3 decreased when the concentration of IL-6 was 1000 ng/L.The expression of TFF3 of the STAT3-RNAi group was 0.037 ± 0.005,which was significantly lower than 0.267 ± 0.038 of the Control-RNAi group and 0.301 ± 0.042 in the untreated group ( q =12.135,13.929,P ＜ 0.05 ).In the in vitro wound model,the speed of BECs migration in the STAT3-RNAi group was (9.1 ± 1.5 ) μm/h,which was slower than (25.1 ± 3.8 ) μm/h of the Control-RNAi group after 12 hours of interference with IL-6 (q =7.737,P ＜ 0.05 ).The speed of BECs migration of STAT3-RNAi group was (39.2 ± 4.7) μm/h after adding 1 g/L of recombinant TFF,which was significantly faster than that of the Control-RNAi group (q =14.507,P ＜0.05).Conclusion IL-6 promotes cell migration and wound healing by activating STAT3 and up-regulating TFF3 expression.

Behavior problems and family factors in children of off-farm workers of Shanghai / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To survey prevalence of behavior problems in children of off-farm workers and effects of family factors on children' s behavior problems.Methods The study was done in the whole 7 schools for off-farm workers' children in Shanghai Baoshan district,including all 3 ～ 6 grades students of primary school and 1 ～3 grades students of junior high school.Totally 4350 students finished survey (95.4％).Achenbach' s child behavior checklist ( CBCL,parent' s version) and general family questionnaire were used.Results ( 1 ) Prevalence of behavior problems in children was 11.2％ ; 12.8％ 12 ～ 16 years children had behavior problems( 14.7％boys and 10.4％ girls) ; 11.4％ of one-child children had behavior problems compared with that of 11.2％ child with siblings children ( x2 =0.038,P ＞ 0.05 ).(2) Total score ( 20.64 ± 17.67 ) and factor scores of thought problems,depressed,hyperactivity,delinquent rule-breaking behavior were higher than those of Chinese norm (P ＜0.05 or P ＜ 0.01 ) among 6 ～ 11 years boy group.Total score ( 17.23 ± 14.73 ) and scores of thought problems,depressed,social problems,hyperactivity,delinquent rule-breaking behavior were higher than those of Chinese norm (P ＜ 0.01 ) among 6 ～ 11 years girl group.Among 12 ～ 16 years boy group,total score (20.44 ± 19.32) and all factor scores of CBCL were higher than those of Chinese norm(P＜0.01 ).Total score ( 17.02 ± 16.72) and scores of immature,delinquent rule-breaking behavior,brutality were higher than those of Chinese norm(P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜0.01 ) among 6 ～ 11 years girl group.(3)Multi-regression analysis showed that poor parent-child relationship was the most important predict factor for higher score of CBCL among all family risk factors (P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusion Children of the off-farm workers and their families need special mental health care program.

Family Influence on Children's Development of Attachment Style / 中国临床心理学杂志

Parents and family background cast important influence on children's attachment style. Studies have consistently showed positive relations between maternal sensitivity and infant attachment security. Warm and harmonious family was also found to be an important factor. On the contrary, parents' poor marital status and high level of stress in family would result in insecure attachment style in children.

Family Factors in Mental Development of Children / 中国临床心理学杂志

Two major family factors: parenting style and parental behavior cast important influence on mentality and behaviour of children. Parenting style has considerable influence on children's cognitive development, emotional support and stress coping methods. It also affects children's understanding of filial belief and behavior. Apart from family violence, divorce and other direct factors, parenting style and parental behavior produce significant effects on children's mind and behavior.