Search

Abstract: Theory of Mind (ToM) and Executive Function (EF) have been associated with autism and with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and hence might play a role in similar syndromes found following profound early institutional deprivation. In order to examine this possibility the current study included a group of 165 Romanian adoptees, of whom 144 were adopted into the UK from deprived institutional settings before 43months of age, and a group of 52 within-UK adoptees, all adopted before 6months of age. Both groups were assessed at 6 and 11years. The Strange Stories task was used to assess ToM and the Stroop task was used to assess EF, both at age 11. The Romanian adoptees displayed deficits in both ToM and EF compared with the within-UK adoptee group. The degree of deficit was greater for children who had experienced more than 6months of institutional deprivation. Deficits in both domains (ToM and EF) were associated with each of the three apparently deprivation-specific problems, namely quasi-autism, disinhibited attachment and inattention/overactivity. Statistical analyses indicated a mediating role for both ToM and EF with respect to quasi-autism; possibly a partial mediating role for EF with respect to inattention/overactivity; and probably no mediating role for either ToM or EF in the case of disinhibited attachment. In conclusion, there is evidence for a possible mediating role for ToM and EF in the development of some apparently deprivation-specific difficulties in institution-reared Romanian adoptees, but neither accounts for the overall pattern of deprivation-related difficulties.

Although the toxic effects of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) on children are well established, there is emerging evidence about the dynamics and associated demographics of drinking patterns across pregnancy, with risky drinking more likely to take place in the period before pregnancy awareness. This study investigated the use of complementary measurement tools in the understanding of alcohol use across pregnancy and reports on the rates and patterns of alcohol use in a community antenatal setting. Data on alcohol consumption before and after awareness of pregnancy were collected via multiple measurement tools: anonymous lifestyle questionnaire, TWEAK (Tolerance, Worried, Eye‐opener, Amnesia, K/Cut down) screener questionnaire, and Substance Use Inventory interviews across multiple pregnancy timepoints. Additionally, phosphatidylethanol (PEth), a direct biomarker of alcohol metabolism, collected from newborns’ dried blood spot cards, was analyzed. The TWEAK screener was more likely to identify risky drinking behavior than the lifestyle questionnaire. When pregnancy was unplanned, women were more likely to find out they are pregnant significantly later (p< 0.001) and consume alcohol at moderate–heavy levels (p= 0.03), prolonging the risk to the fetus. There was an association between maternal self‐reported alcohol use on the lifestyle questionnaire and Substance Use Inventory interviews, but no association between maternal reports of alcohol use and PEth results (p= 0.72). Women self‐reported moderate–heavy alcohol use in early pregnancy only and a positive PEth screen indicated PAE in late pregnancy, suggesting that these methods may identify different groups of women. Multiple measurement tools and methods are needed to identify PAE at different points across pregnancy. Prospective sensitive interviewing is better suited to detecting PAE in early pregnancy, but not later when social desirability bias is stronger, and the use of an objective biomarker, such a PEth, may be useful for identifying the risk of PAE in late pregnancy. The findings highlight the time before pregnancy awareness as a high‐risk period for maternal drinking. Multiple methodologies are needed to identify prenatal alcohol exposure at different points across pregnancy. Sensitive interviewing is better suited to detecting PAE in early pregnancy, but not later when social desirability bias is stronger. An objective biomarker, such a PEth, may be useful for identifying risk of PAE in late pregnancy, but caution should be applied when interpreting for clinical or forensic purposes.

Sleep disturbances occur in one third of the US population, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control has deemed insufficient sleep to be a public health problem. Knowledge about sleep and skills to screen sleep disorders and to promote sleep health have been recommended for physical therapists. Furthermore, in survey studies, physical therapists overwhelmingly agree that sleep is important for health and poor sleep impairs function. Sleep is critical for the proper functioning of the body, including immune function, tissue healing, pain modulation, cardiovascular health, cognitive function, and learning and memory. Sleep disruptions occur across the life span and in individuals with various conditions that are typically treated by physical therapists. Therefore, the purpose of this perspective paper is to (1) discuss the relevance of sleep to physical therapist practice, (2) recommend tools to screen for the 3 most common sleep disorders, and (3) provide suggestions for how therapists can integrate sleep health in prevention, health promotion, and wellness interventions.

Early institutional deprivation is a risk factor for AttentionDeficitHyperactivity Disorder ADHD symptoms. However not all individuals are affected. We tested the hypothesis that this heterogeneity is influenced by gene x environment GxE interaction and that genetic polymorphisms involved in dopamine neurotransmission moderate the effects of severe early institutional deprivation on symptoms of ADHD sADHD. Using a prospectivelongitudinal design sADHD were measured at ages 6, 11, and 15 years in a sample of individuals who experienced severe institutional deprivation up to 42 months of age in Romanian orphanages and a noninstitutionalized comparison group. Individuals were genotyped for polymorphisms in the dopamine D4 receptor DRD448bp VNTR in exon 3 and dopamine transporter gene DAT1haplotypes combining a 40bp VNTR in 3UTR and a 30bp VNTR in intron 8. The risk for sADHD associated with early institutional deprivation was moderated by the DAT1but not the DRD4genotypes; an effect that was first apparent in early, and persisted to midadolescence. The results i provide evidence for developmental continuities in G x E interaction, ii explain some of the heterogeneity in ADHD outcomes following institutional deprivation and, iii add to our understanding of environmental determinants of sADHD. © 2009 WileyLiss, Inc.

Studies of the transplantation of autologous bone marrow cells (BMCs) in patients with chronic ischemic heart disease have assessed effects on viable, peri-infarct tissue. In this paper the authors conducted a single-blinded, randomized, controlled study to investigate whether intramuscular or intracoronary administration of BMCs into nonviable scarred myocardium during CABG improves contractile function of scar segments compared with CABG alone. Their data shows that injection of autologous BMCs directly into the scar or into the artery supplying the scar is safe but does not improve contractility of nonviable scarred myocardium, reduce scar size, or improve left ventricular function more than CABG alone.

The goal of the study was to objectively measure daytime sleepiness and alertness in patients undergoing treatment for idiopathic Parkinson disease (PD) and assess potential contributing factors.

OBJECTIVES

Motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of death and injury for children of all ages in the U.S., despite improved crashworthiness of vehicles and more effective restraint systems. Children who are too large for child safety seats (a child restraint system for children birth to 4 years old) are often restrained improperly or not at all. For effective protection, these children should be restrained in a booster seat (child safety seat for children 4–8 years of age) used with vehicle lap/shoulder belts. For this reason, the use and correct use of occupant protection for 4–8 year old children needs attention.A field study with 64 participants was conducted using pre- and post-intervention questionnaires to test the hypotheses that informational pamphlets will induce an increase in risk perception regarding the use of booster seats. Analyses indicated that an informational pamphlet intervention increased risk perception.

As new methods of electronic data storage and distribution appear in hospitals, newchallenges in protecting confidentiality have emerged. At the same time, demands for?seamless? care and the desire to share information between clinicians are motivatinghospitals to relax barriers to the transfer of patient information.Increasing numbers of users at multiple sites compound the difficulty of ensuringinformation systems security. Hospital policy may demand that requests by patientsto restrict the distribution of personal information be respected, while existingelectronic systems are not able to deliver on this promise.Compliance with the Information Privacy Principles of the Commonwealth PrivacyAct 1988 and the Australian Standard 4400?1995 ?Personal privacy protection inhealth care information systems? will provide a useful framework for managing these challenges. However, their implementation will require some forethought.

This paper evaluates the performance of the Hospital Morbidity Data System, maintained by the Health Statistics Branch (HSB) of the Health Department of Western Australia (WA). The time taken to process discharge summaries was compared in the first and second halves of 1995, using the number of weeks taken to process 90% of all discharges and the percentage of records processed within four weeks as indicators of throughput. Both the hospitals and the HSB showed improvements in timeliness during the second half of the year. The paper also examines the impact of a recently introduced electronic data transfer system for WA country public hospitals on the timeliness of morbidity data. The processing time of country hospital records by the HSB was reduced to a similar time as for metropolitan hospitals, but the processing time in the hospitals increased, resulting in little improvement in total processing time.

Removal of sympathetic noradrenergic input to the immune system by injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) triggers increases in antigen-specificin vitrosplenocyte proliferation and cytokine production in BALB/cJ and C57B1/6J mice. This examines the possible role of glucocorticoids in these previously reported changes. In both strains, chemical sympathectomy triggers an elevation of glucocorticoid levels immediately following injection of 6-OHDA, returning to normal within one to two days. In the BALB/cJ strain, glucocorticoid elevation is seen only after the initial 6-OHDA injection; levels in chronically denervated animals are not different from controls. In the C57B1/6J strain, the increase is seen even with chronically denervated animals. Prior implantation of mice with pellets containing the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU-486 does not abrogate denervation-induced increases in cytokine production or proliferation in either strain. In addition to the previously reported increased interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-4 production, there is an increase in IFN-γ production in the C57B1/6J strain following either acute or chronic denervation. The persistence of denervation-induced changes even when the effect of corticosterone is blocked with RU-486 or diminished with chronic denervation indicates that the changes are driven mainly by a glucocorticoid-independent mechanism.

The article focuses on the technique of sleeping properly, suggesting to focus on breathing to prevent thoughts that keep popping into the mind in the bed.

The article discusses the initiative of Eric and Naihma Deady in setting up Bike Commuter small business in Portland, Oregon. It mentions that they turn to microloans from Mercy Corps Northwest, the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber and the Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs. It notes that the couple seeks guidance in running a bike shop through a city business development program. It also emphasizes that they do industry research and meet with chamber counselor Carlos Calderón.

The article focuses on the approach of Portland, Oregon residents Carol Ellis and Serge Quattara in running their pet-supply store Tré Bone. It notes that Ellis and Quattara are divorced couple who continued their business partnership. Furthermore, it mentions the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)-backed SCORE, a nonprofit SBA partner that matches volunteer mentors with entrepreneurs, which has assisted Ellis and Quattara in running their business.

The article features Tré Bone, a pet supply store specializing in natural foods. Divorced couple Carol Ellis and Serge Ouattara opened the Portland, Oregon store by draining their retirement and savings account to come up with 65,000 U.S. dollars. The amount was reportedly just enough to cover the lease, equipment purchases and inventory. Nine months after opening, the business started to turn a profit.

The article focuses on the success of Tré Bone, a pet-supply store specializing in natural foods in Portland, Oregon. It mentions that the pet-supply store, which was opened in 2007 when Carol Ellis and Serge Ouattara were a newly married couple, was established through their retirement and savings account. It states that the St. John's Main Street program was joined by the couple to built a loyal clientele.