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Objective The purpose of this study is to investigate whether executive functioning will moderate the relationship of a history of mental illness on aggression in a male forensic population. Method Using an archival database from a larger study, 232 male inmates (ages 21 and 49 years old) from three medium/maximum Maryland Correctional facilities were recruited using a pseudo-random selection process during intake. Participants were administered three EF tasks (Cambridge Decision Making Task, Logan Stop-Signal Task, and Stroop Interference Task), history of mental illness was obtained using the Symptom Checklist-90, and aggression was assessed with the Novaco Reaction to Provocation Questionnaire. Results Hierarchical multiple regressions were conducted. For overall aggression reactivity, inhibition moderated depression (IR2 =.025, F(3, 224) = 9.977, p <.001, β = -.246, p =.015) and psychoticism (IR2 =.019, F(3, 224) = 8.216, p <.001, β = -.136, p =.031). For reactive aggression subtype, inhibition moderated depression (IR2 =.025, F(3, 224) = 2.679, p =.048, β =.071, p =.017). For proactive aggression subtype, cognitive flexibility moderated anxiety (IR2 =.018, F(3, 224) = 4.731, p =.003, β = -.014, p =.039); and depression (IR2 =.022, F(3, 224) = 3.888, p =.010, β = -.017, p =.025). Conclusions Overall, there was mixed findings for inhibition. On Cambridge Decision Making task, inhibition moderated the predictive relationship of depression on reactive aggression and psychoticism and overall aggression but not for other measures of inhibition. For another inhibition task (Stroop), inhibition did not significantly moderate any mental illness on severity of aggression. Cognitive flexibility moderated the predictive relationships of anxiety and depression on proactive aggression. Findings suggest targeting cognitive flexibility for inmates diagnosed with anxiety depression, and psychosis when treating aggression in a male forensic population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To examine whether demographic variables can assist in predicting executive dysfunction in individuals with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Method Data were collected from presurgical evaluations of 13 individuals with TLE (67% females, mean age 34 ± 12) at the University of California, San Francisco Epilepsy Center. Executive functions were assessed using subtests from the D-KEFS (Verbal Fluency and Color/Word Interference Tests) and the Trail Making Test B. Given that depression and anxiety symptoms have been previously shown to be associated with poorer executive performance in individuals with TLE (Paradiso et al. 2001), predictability of the BDI-II and BAI scores were also tested. Linear regression analyses were used to test predictive values of demographic variables (age, age at seizure onset [ASO], years of education, gender, and right vs. left temporal epileptogenic source). Results ASO (β =.75, p =.021), gender (β =.632, p =.041), and education (β =.555, p =.05) explained 66% of the variance in the Verbal Fluency Switching scaled scores (R²=.66, F(4,8)= 3.876, p =.049). Education (β =.772, p =.009) and ASO (β =.686, p =.023) explained 70% of the variance in Verbal Fluency Switching Accuracy scaled scores (R² =.708, F(4,8) = 4.844, p =.028). Age (β = -.862, p =.003) and seizure onset (β =.457, p =.049) explained 52% of the variance in BAI scores (R² =.525, F(4,16) = 3.319, p =.032). Conclusions ASO predicted category switching and anxiety severity, while none of the demographic variables explored in this study predicted visuomotor switching. Further research should explore the efficacy of early interventions to protect against future executive dysfunction in TLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is regarded as the first choice for long term enteral feeding and is traditionally placed by two physicians endoscopist and assistant. However, PEG insertion is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Pre-assessment and PEG insertion by a dedicated nurse practitioner (NP) may reduce these risks. Authors present data from before and after the appointment of a NP at their hospital. The data confirm the safety of PEG insertion by a dedicated NP. Furthermore, since there is no obvious change in age or indication for PEG it may be that the significant reduction in aspiration and PEG displacement and the trend toward lower mortality rates is due to more appropriate patient selection, through pre-assessment by the NP and the development of a specialist PEG team.

Cryptosporidium parvum is an infectious enteric protozoan parasite that causes waterborne disease, severe gastroenteritis and is associated with high mortality in immunocompromised individuals. Detection of oocysts in water is very difficult and current methodologies do not determine viability. This project has focused on low level detection of Cryptosporidium parvura in environmental samples using a unique cultural method. Previously, cell culture methods have been used to assess the developmental stages of Cryptosporidium; however, no cultural methods have been employed with environmental samples. The percentage of viable oocysts can be estimated by detecting intracellular developmental stages of the parasite using fluorescently labelled antibodies. Other methods are not capable of low level detection or high sensitivity. We are evaluating detection of single foci of infection, indicating that one of the four sporozoites released from the viable oocyst has infected a single cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]