"It's what mothers do." A qualitative exploration of mothers' experiences of supporting their daughter to be physically active.

OBJECTIVE: Girls are more at risk than boys of the non-communicable diseases associated with insufficient levels of physical activity (PA), therefore it is important to explore the reasons why girls maintain or cease to be physically active. Maternal support plays an important role in girl's PA, yet the factors influencing mothers' support of their PA have received limited exploration. In response, the aim of this study was to explore, mothers' experiences of supporting their daughters to be physically active and their perceptions of the factors that might influence these experiences. METHOD: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of mothers (n = 29) of girls (Mean age = 10.9 years; SD = 0.6). Reflexive Thematic Analysis was used to analyse the data, with themes mapped to the relevant domains of the Theoretical Domains Framework. RESULTS: Themes highlighted how mothers described providing PA support as an inherent part of their parental role and how their role was influenced by their own PA identity. Mothers recognised that the type and amount of support they provided was impacted by the community setting in which they lived. Mothers acknowledged how the role of others (e.g., partners, grandparents, peers) added a layer of complexity to supporting their daughters to be active. CONCLUSION: This study advances our understanding of maternal PA support behaviours recognising the complex interplay of individual, social and environmental factors. Additionally, the use of the Theoretical Domains Framework presents an in-depth behavioural diagnosis which can be used to inform future theory-based interventions to promote parent support of children's PA.

Development and implementation of a worksite-based intervention to improve mothers' knowledge, attitudes, and skills in sharing information with their adolescent daughters on preventing sexual violence: lessons learned in a developing setting, Sri Lanka.

BACKGROUND: Sexual violence among adolescents has become a major public health concern in Sri Lanka. Lack of sexual awareness is a major reason for adverse sexual health outcomes among adolescents in Sri Lanka. This study was intended to explore the effectiveness of a worksite-based parent-targeted intervention to improve mothers' knowledge, and attitudes on preventing sexual violence among their adolescent female offspring and to improve mother-daughter communication of sexual violence prevention with the family. METHODS: "My mother is my best friend" is an intervention designed based on previous research and behavioral theories, to help parents to improve their sexual communication skills with their adolescent daughters. A quasi-experimental study was conducted from August 2020 to March 2023 in randomly selected two Medical Officer of Health (MOH)areas in Kalutara district, Sri Lanka. Pre and post-assessments were conducted among a sample of 135 mothers of adolescent girls aged 14-19 years in both intervention and control areas. RESULTS: Out of the 135 mothers who participated in the baseline survey, 127 mothers (94.1%) from the intervention area (IA) physically participated in at least one session of the intervention. The worksite-based intervention was effective in improving mothers' knowledge about adolescent sexual abuse prevention (Difference in percentage difference of pre and post intervention scores in IA and CA = 4.3%, p = 0.004), mother's attitudes in communicating sexual abuse prevention with adolescent girls (Difference in percentage difference of pre and post intervention scores in IA and CA = 5.9%, p = 0.005), and the content of mother-daughter sexual communication (Difference in percentage difference of pre and post intervention scores in IA and CA = 27.1%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Worksite-based parenting program was effective in improving mothers' knowledge about sexual abuse prevention among adolescent daughters and in improving the content of mother-daughter communication about sexual abuse prevention. Developing appropriate sexual health programs for mothers of different ethnicities, and cultures using different settings is important. Conduction of need assessment programs to identify the different needs of mothers is recommended.

Paternal Perspectives on Latino and Black Sons' Readiness for Sex and Condom Guidance: A Mixed Methods Study.

PURPOSE: Although a large proportion of males in the United States become sexually active during high school, condom use is decreasing and contributing to negative sexual health outcomes. Fathers are influential in promoting adolescent male sexual health; however, factors that shape fathers' decisions about when to discuss condom use with their sons remain understudied. We examined paternal perceptions of adolescent males' readiness for sex relative to fathers providing guidance for condom use in Latino and Black families. METHODS: We recruited 191 Latino and Black males aged 15-19 years and their fathers in the South Bronx, New York City. Dyads completed surveys, and a subset of fathers participated in audio-recorded sessions with a father coach, which included conversations about adolescent male condom use. A sequential explanatory mixed methods design identified adolescent male developmental predictors for paternal guidance for condom use and explored how fathers perceive their sons' readiness for sex. RESULTS: The quantitative findings indicate that paternal perception of their sons' readiness for sex is an important predictor of providing guidance for condom use, and that fathers consider other factors (beyond age and perceived sexual activity) in understanding their sons' developmental readiness for sex. The qualitative findings provide insights into these additional factors, which should be considered when engaging fathers in primary care around issues of adolescent male condom use. CONCLUSIONS: Fathers' perception of their sons' readiness for sex is a predictor of providing condom guidance. We provide practical suggestions for engaging fathers in primary care to promote correct and consistent condom use by adolescent males.

Current advances and development strategies of targeting son of sevenless 1 (SOS1) in drug discovery.

The Son of Sevenless 1 (SOS1) guanine nucleotide exchange factor, prevalent across eukaryotic species, plays a pivotal role in facilitating the attachment of RAS protein to GTP, thereby regulating the activation of intracellular RAS proteins. This regulation is part of a feedback mechanism involving SOS1, which allows both activators and inhibitors of SOS1 to exert control over downstream signaling pathways, demonstrating potential anti-tumor effects. Predominantly, small molecule modulators that target SOS1 focus on a hydrophobic pocket within the CDC25 protein domain. The effectiveness of these modulators largely depends on their ability to interact with specific amino acids, notably Phe890 and Tyr884. This interaction is crucial for influencing the protein-protein interaction (PPI) between RAS and the catalytic domain of SOS1. Currently, most small molecule modulators targeting SOS1 are in the preclinical research phase, with a few advancing to clinical trials. This progression raises safety concerns, making the assurance of drug safety a primary consideration alongside the enhancement of efficacy in the development of SOS1 modulators. This review encapsulates recent advancements in the chemical categorization of SOS1 inhibitors and activators. It delves into the evolution of small molecule modulation targeting SOS1 and offers perspectives on the design of future generations of selective SOS1 small molecule modulators.

Maternal Depressive Symptoms in the First Year after Childbirth Predict Long-Term Developmental Risks in Sons and Daughters.

Under-diagnosed and thus under-treated, maternal depression remains the most common complication of childbearing. Varying symptoms suggest persistence up to more than a decade following childbirth. This implies distinct vulnerabilities for the physical and emotional care of children. Using a prospective-longitudinal sex-stratified birth cohort of 2120 infants, we examined the relationship between early maternal depression symptoms and subsequent child psycho-social and relational characteristics. Mothers self-reported the severity and frequency of depressive symptoms 5 months after childbirth. Parents, teachers, and target participants reported on child mental health and relationships with adults, from kindergarten to tenth grade. A series of least-squares regressions were estimated, while controlling for pre-existing/concurrent child and family confounds. Both sons and daughters of mothers with more depressive symptoms were at risk of experiencing greater psycho-social impairment, classroom rule defiance, difficult relationships with teachers, less enjoyable mealtimes (age 6 years) and sleep, and coercive or inconsistent parenting practices in childhood and adolescence. For boys, these prospective associations were mostly consistent through ages 12 and 15 years. Girls also experienced more problematic interactions through to age 15 years. This study provides observations of distinct long-term vulnerabilities for sons and daughters in association with early maternal distress at important transitional periods of development in early, middle, and later childhood.

Mother-daughter technique for kinked catheter retrieval from radial artery.

Catheter kinking is not an uncommon scenario during cardiac catheterization via transradial access in patients with tortuous vascular anatomy. Several noninvasive and invasive methods have been described to unkink and retrieve the kinked catheter out of the vessel. We present a novel mother-daughter technique to retrieve a kinked radial artery catheter.

Knowledge of cervical cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV), and acceptance of the HPV vaccine among parents of daughters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is the eighth most prevalent cancer among women nationwide, with 358 new cases reported annually. One of the strategies to prevent it is getting vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV), the leading cause of this cancer. METHODS: A survey-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to evaluate the acceptance of the HPV vaccine among parents of daughters and their knowledge of three domains: cervical cancer, HPV, and the HPV vaccine. RESULTS: 390 parents participated in the study, with 88.2% female, 39.74% of the participants aged between 36-62 years old, and 62.56% holding a bachelor's degree or above. Parents were more aware of cervical cancer (78.97%), followed by HPV (50%) and the HPV vaccine (41.28%). Awareness levels about cervical cancer were significantly different among males and females, while awareness of HPV and the HPV vaccine was significantly associated with parents' education levels. For instance, parents with a bachelor's degree or higher (54.9%) demonstrated greater awareness of HPV compared to parents with a high school diploma (41.9%) or a middle school diploma or less (41.5%). The overall participants' knowledge scores in all three domains were poor, with an average below 50%. 60% of parents believed their daughters should receive the HPV vaccine. CONCLUSION: More than half of the study participants are willing to vaccinate their daughters with the HPV vaccine despite their poor knowledge of the assessed domains. Awareness levels of HPV and the HPV vaccine are associated with education levels. We believe raising awareness among parents is necessary to improve the acceptance level of the HPV vaccine.

Sons al Balcó: A Comparative Analysis of WASN-Based LAeq Measured Values with Perceptual Questionnaires in Barcelona during the COVID-19 Lockdown.

The mobility and activity restrictions imposed in Spain due to the COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant improvement in the urban noise pollution that could be objectively measured in those cities with acoustic sensor networks deployed. This significant change in the urban soundscapes was also perceived by citizens who positively appraised this new acoustic scenario. In this work, authors present a comparative analysis between different noise indices provided by 70 sound sensors deployed in Barcelona, both during and before the lockdown, and the results of a perceptual test conducted in the framework of the project Sons al Balcó during the lockdown, which received more than one hundred contributions in Barcelona alone. The analysis has been performed by clustering the objective and subjective data according to the predominant noise sources in the location of the sensors and differentiating road traffic in heavy, moderate and low-traffic areas. The study brings out strong alignments between a decline in noise indices, acoustic satisfaction improvement and changes in the predominant noise sources, supporting the idea that objective calibrated data can be useful to make a qualitative approximation to the subjective perception of urban soundscapes when further information is not available.

¿Qué son nevos melanocíticos congénitos?

Los nevos melanocíticos congénitos (NMC) son un tipo especial de lunares. Los NMC ocurren cuando las células que hacen los pigmentos (melanocitos) crecen en exceso en la piel de un feto en formación antes de nacer. No son causados por nada que la madre haya hecho ni haya dejado de hacer durante el embarazo. Estos lunares ya están allí cuando el bebé nace, se mantienen en su piel de por vida y aumentan de tamaño mientras el niño crece.

Exploring mother-daughter communication and social media influence on HPV vaccine refusal for daughters aged 9-17 years in a cross-sectional survey of 11,728 mothers in China.

This study investigated the influences of mother-daughter communication and social media on mothers' HPV vaccine refusal for their daughters aged 9-17. A cross-sectional online survey among 11,728 mothers of girls aged 9-17 in Shenzhen, China was implemented between July and October 2023. Multi-level logistic regression models were fitted. Among 11,728 participants, 43.2% refused to have their daughters receive an HPV vaccination. In multivariate analysis, more openness in the mother-daughter communication (AOR: 0.99, 95%CI: 0.98, 0.99), perceived more positive outcomes of mother-daughter communication (AOR: 0.77, 95%CI: 0.75, 0.79), higher frequency of exposure to testimonials about daughters' HPV vaccination (AOR: 0.81, 95%CI: 0.78, 0.85) and information encouraging parents to vaccinate their daughters against HPV on social media (AOR: 0.76, 95%CI: 0.73, 0.79), and thoughtful consideration of the veracity of the information specific to HPV vaccines (AOR: 0.80, 95%CI: 0.77, 0.83) were associated with lower vaccine refusal. Mothers who were not the main decision-makers of daughters' HPV vaccination (AOR: 1.28 to 1.46), negative outcome expectancies of mother-daughter communication (AOR: 1.06, 95%CI: 1.04, 1.08), and mothers' HPV vaccine refusal (AOR: 2.81, 95%CI: 2.58, 3.06) were associated with higher vaccine refusal for their daughters. The level of mothers' HPV vaccine refusal for their daughters was high in China. Openness and outcome expectancies of mother-daughter communication and information exposure on social media were considered key determinants of HPV vaccine refusal for daughters. Future HPV vaccination programs should consider these interpersonal factors.

Contextual determinants of generational continuation of female genital mutilation among women of reproductive age in nigeria: analysis of the 2018 demographic and health survey.

BACKGROUND: Female genital mutilation (FGM) has negative health implications and has long been recognised as violating sexual rights. Despite the huge efforts expended on eradicating FGM, generational continuation of the practice, i.e. the act of mutilated women also mutilating their daughters, persists in Nigeria. This study investigated the individual, household, and community factors associated with generational continuation of FGM among women in Nigeria. METHODS: The study analysed data from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). A weighted sample of 3835 women with FGM history and who had given birth to female children was analysed. Models were estimated using mixed-effects multilevel logistic regression with Stata 16.0. RESULTS: The results showed that 40.0% of women continued FGM for their daughters. Regional prevalence of FGM continuation ranged from 14.9% in the South-South (the lowest) to 64.3% in the North-West (the highest). Women aged 15-24 years (uaOR = 0.40; 95% CI:0.28-0.57) and rich (uaOR = 0.44; 95% CI:0.35-0.56) had the least likelihood of generational continuation of FGM. In communities with low proportions of women unexposed to the media, the likelihood of FGM continuation was significantly higher (uaOR = 1.85; 95% CI:1.35-2.53). Generational continuation of FGM was significantly lower in communities with moderate proportions of uneducated mothers (aOR = 0.6; 95% CI:0.42-0.86). CONCLUSION: FGM continuation was high in Nigeria, and it was most common among older and poor mothers and in communities with large proportions of uneducated women and those unexposed to the media. Existing National Policy and Plan on FGM elimination should be strengthened to target these characteristics.

Female genital mutilation/cutting among girls aged 0-14: evidence from the 2018 Mali Demographic and Health Survey data.

BACKGROUND: Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is considered a social norm in many African societies, with varying prevalence among countries. Mali is one of the eight countries with very high prevalence of FGM/C in Africa. This study assessed the individual and contextual factors associated with female FGM/C among girls aged 0-14 years in Mali. METHODS: We obtained data from the 2018 Mali Demographic and Health Survey. The prevalence of FGM/C in girls was presented using percentages while a multilevel binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the predictors of FGM/C and the results were presented using adjusted odds ratios with associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: The results indicate that more than half (72.7%, 95% CI = 70.4-74.8) of women in Mali with daughters had at least one daughter who has gone through circumcision. The likelihood of circumcision of girls increased with age, with women aged 45-49 having the highest odds compared to those aged 15-19 (aOR = 17.68, CI = 7.91-31.79). A higher likelihood of FGM/C in daughters was observed among women who never read newspaper/magazine (aOR = 2.22, 95% CI = 1.27-3.89), compared to those who read newspaper/magazine at least once a week. Compared to women who are not circumcised, those who had been circumcised were more likely to have their daughters circumcised (aOR = 53.98, 95% CI = 24.91-117.00). CONCLUSION: The study revealed the age of mothers, frequency of reading newspaper/magazine, and circumcision status of mothers, as factors associated with circumcision of girls aged 0-14 in Mali. It is, therefore, imperative for existing interventions and new ones to focus on these factors in order to reduce FGM/C in Mali. This will help Mali to contribute to the global efforts of eliminating all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation by 2030.

Knowledge and beliefs of Greek parents towards HPV infection and vaccination - are they willing to vaccinate their sons?

OBJECTIVES: Human papillomavirus (HPV) stands as one of the prevalent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and serves as the primary factor behind nearly all instances of cervical cancer, along with various other non-cancerous conditions like genital warts. Our objective was to explore the knowledge and beliefs of Greek parents regarding HPV infection and the vaccination of boys against HPV. METHODS: A cross-sectional study took place at a university hospital located in the Peloponnese region of Greece, from January to June 2021. The study employed convenience sampling as its methodology, and data gathering involved the distribution of self-administered questionnaires to parents who had at least one son between the ages of 9 and 18 years. RESULTS: The final sample consisted of 120 individuals. 65.8 % of parents have been informed about HPV vaccination, knew that the HPV vaccine provides immunity against genital warts (50 %), and that minimum of two doses is necessary (46.7 %). 30.8 % intended to vaccinate their boys against HPV if the vaccine were available for males. The most important reasons for vaccination were the perception that both genders share equal responsibility in the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (91.7 %) and the protection against cancer (87.6 %), whereas the fear of adverse reactions and the adequate knowledge about HPV-related diseases were most reported as reasons of the intentions to not vaccinate their sons with 31.7 % and 25.8 % respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although parents participating in the study know about HPV, however, there are significant lack of knowledge regarding HPV infection and the vaccine effects, which can significantly affect the acceptance of vaccination for boys.

Learning Our Son's Language.

In this narrative medicine essay, a pediatrician alters how she engages with and measures the developmental progress of her young son after he stops speaking.

Father-to-daughter transmission in late-onset OTC deficiency: an underestimated mechanism of inheritance of an X-linked disease.

BACKGROUND: Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency (OTCD) is an X-linked urea cycle disorder characterized by acute hyperammonemic episodes. Hemizygous males are usually affected by a severe/fatal neonatal-onset form or, less frequently, by a late-onset form with milder disease course, depending on the residual enzymatic activity. Hyperammonemia can occur any time during life and patients could remain non- or mis-diagnosed due to unspecific symptoms. In heterozygous females, clinical presentation varies based on the extent of X chromosome inactivation. Maternal transmission in X-linked disease is the rule, but in late-onset OTCD, due to the milder phenotype of affected males, paternal transmission to the females is possible. So far, father-to-daughter transmission of OTCD has been reported only in 4 Japanese families. RESULTS: We identified in 2 Caucasian families, paternal transmission of late-onset OTCD with severe/fatal outcome in affected males and 1 heterozygous female. Furthermore, we have reassessed the pedigrees of other published reports in 7 additional families with evidence of father-to-daughter inheritance of OTCD, identifying and listing the family members for which this transmission occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights how the diagnosis and pedigree analysis of late-onset OTCD may represent a real challenge for clinicians. Therefore, the occurrence of paternal transmission in OTCD should not be underestimated, due to the relevant implications for disease inheritance and risk of recurrence.

Characterizing 226Ra and its daughters in coastal zone groundwater of a typical human-activity affected bay: occurrence, safety, and source evaluation.

Due to their extremely toxic properties, 226Ra and it daughters (222Rn, 210Pb, and 210Po) in drinking groundwater require monitoring. Recent studies have reported exceptionally high levels of natural 210Po (up to 10,000 Bq/m3), 226Ra, and 222Rn isotopes in groundwater. This study aims to provide background data on 226Ra and its daughter radionuclides in the typical agricultural-industrial Dongshan Bay (DSB) before the construction of Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Plant (Zhangzhou NPP). The measurement results indicate that no abnormally high activities of 210Po and 210Pb were detected in the investigated wells. Strong positive correlations between 210Pb and 210Po, as well as between 222Rn and 210Pb activities, suggest that the origins of 210Pb and 210Po in groundwater are strongly influenced by the decay of the parent radionuclides 222Rn and 210Pb, respectively. In the DSB coastal zone groundwater, significant deficiencies of 210Po relative to 210Pb and 210Pb relative to 222Rn were observed, providing further evidence that 210Po and 210Pb are also effectively scavenged due to their geochemical properties (specifically particle affinity) within the groundwater-aquifer system. A systematic comparison among all relevant water bodies in the DSB revealed that the activity concentrations of 210Pb and 210Po in groundwater were the highest, except for rainwater. Based on the evaluation of 210Pb sources, the results imply that submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is an important pathway for transferring radionuclides (such as 210Pb) from land to the nearshore marine environment, even though the study area has a lower 210Pb background groundwater. By considering all the 210Pb's sources in the DSB, we found low 210Pb background groundwater discharge still needs to be taken into account for small-scale bays. This is because SGD was calculated to be one of the most important 210Pb sources in the bay during observation season. Regardless of whether the system is in a normal state or a nuclear accident emergency state, greater attention should be paid to the groundwater discharge of radionuclides into the ocean.

Factors associated with parental Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination intention of daughter: A national survey in Finland.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are offered free of charge in Finland to 10-12-year-old children. Nationally about 80% of girls are vaccinated, with regional differences in first dose coverage varying from 62% to 82% in girls born in 2011. This study examined the factors associated with HPV vaccination intention. Furthermore, we assessed the realisation of HPV vaccination among the daughters of the participating parents. METHODS: A web-based survey was conducted for randomly selected parents of girls (N = 6 465) aged 10 to 14 years of age. Data was collected in February and March 2022 in five Finnish high and low coverage municipalities. The national vaccination register was employed to assess realisation of vaccination. RESULTS: Participation rate was 13.7% (n = 883 parents). Almost all parents were aware of the association between HPV and cervical cancer, but only one fifth was aware of other diseases associated with HPV. Adherence to the national vaccination programme, parents' mother tongue, and trusting in official information were associated with positive vaccination intention. The most often reported reason for non-vaccination was fear of adverse effects (22%). Overall, parental attitudes towards HPV vaccination were positive, with 83% of parents indicating their daughter had received or will receive the vaccination. Vaccination realisation was subsequently examined and 88% of the daughters were vaccinated. CONCLUSIONS: Despite low knowledge of HPV-related diseases overall, majority of parents held a positive intention to vaccinate their daughter. Realisation of intention was high in our study, higher than the national uptake. Foreign-origin parents had lower intention to vaccinate their daughters. As information on HPV and its vaccine is available in 11 languages, there is a need to re-think accessibility. In-depth interviews are needed to better explore the reasons behind non-vaccination.

Association Between Maternal Depression and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Their Primary School-Age Daughters: A Birth Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: Although maternal depression is associated with adverse outcomes in women and children, its relationship with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in offspring is less well-characterized. We examined the association between prenatal and postpartum maternal depression and LUTS in primary school-age daughters. DESIGN: Observational cohort study. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: The sample comprised 7148 mother-daughter dyads from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. METHOD: Mothers completed questionnaires about depressive symptoms at 18 and 32 weeks' gestation and 21 months postpartum and their children's LUTS (urinary urgency, nocturia, and daytime and nighttime wetting) at 6, 7, and 9 years of age. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between maternal depression and LUTS in daughters. RESULTS: Compared to daughters of mothers without depression, those born to mothers with prenatal and postpartum depression had higher odds of LUTS, including urinary urgency (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] range = 1.99-2.50) and nocturia (aOR range = 1.67-1.97) at 6, 7, and 9 years of age. Additionally, daughters born to mothers with prenatal and postpartum depression had higher odds of daytime wetting (aOR range = 1.81-1.99) and nighttime wetting (aOR range = 1.63-1.95) at 6 and 7 years of age. Less consistent associations were observed for depression limited to the prenatal or postpartum periods only. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to maternal depression in the prenatal and postpartum periods was associated with an increased likelihood of LUTS in daughters. This association may be an important opportunity for childhood LUTS prevention. Prevention strategies should reflect an understanding of potential biological and environmental mechanisms through which maternal depression may influence childhood LUTS.