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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are used in a multitude of processes and products, including nonstick coatings, food wrappers, and fire-fighting foams. These chemicals are environmentally-persistent, ubiquitous, and can be detected in the serum of 98% of Americans. Despite evidence that PFASs alter adaptive immunity, few studies have investigated their effects on innate immunity. The report here presents results of studies that investigated the impact of nine environmentally-relevant PFASs [e.g. perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid potassium salt (PFOS-K), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS), ammonium perfluoro(2-methyl-3-oxahexanoate) (GenX), 7H-perfluoro-4-methyl-3,6-dioxaoctane sulfonic acid (Nafion byproduct 2), and perfluoromethoxyacetic acid sodium salt (PFMOAA-Na)] on one component of the innate immune response, the neutrophil respiratory burst. The respiratory burst is a key innate immune process by which microbicidal reactive oxygen species (ROS) are rapidly induced by neutrophils in response to pathogens; defects in the respiratory burst can increase susceptibility to infection. The study here utilized larval zebrafish, a human neutrophil-like cell line, and primary human neutrophils to ascertain whether PFAS exposure inhibits ROS production in the respiratory burst. It was observed that exposure to PFHxA and GenX suppresses the respiratory burst in zebrafish larvae and a human neutrophil-like cell line. GenX also suppressed the respiratory burst in primary human neutrophils. This report is the first to demonstrate that these PFASs suppress neutrophil function and support the utility of employing zebrafish larvae and a human cell line as screening tools to identify chemicals that may suppress human immune function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate assessment and effective treatment of mood disorders, particularly depression, is critically important for the millions of youth who are experiencing such symptomatology and who are at risk for a multitude of deleterious outcomes. Although the extant empirical literature provides substantial guidance for the assessment and treatment of depression, real-life complexities necessitate the inclusion of sound clinical judgment throughout the diagnostic, treatment planning and intervention phases. The purpose of this article is to present an example of a real-life case study reliant on evidence-based practices and sound clinical judgment in the assessment and treatment of depression. We first review the extant diagnostic, epidemiological, assessment, and treatment literature. The case study is intended to highlight the therapist's use of evidence-based treatment (i.e., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), while also considering points during treatment at which the therapist was required to use clinical judgment. Outcomes of the case are described and limitations reviewed.

The objective of this study was to examine the association between biomedical markers of disease management and psychosocial constructs, while also assessing the correlates and predictors of variability for satisfaction with life (SWL) among African American and Hispanic participants with type 2 diabetes. Data were collected from 142 participants during their first visit within a collaborative care program. Pearson product moment correlations, a multiple linear regression, and a one-way analysis of variance were used to examine the research questions. Researchers found psychological distress, social support, and spirituality accounted for twice the amount of variance in SWL for African American participants compared to Hispanic participants. Social support was the strongest predictor of SWL for African American participants, while psychological distress was the strongest predictor of SWL for Hispanic participants. Social support moderated the relationship between psychological distress and SWL for Hispanic participants, but not African American participants. Spirituality did not moderate the relationship for either ethnic group. One significant relationship was noted for BMI and somatization; otherwise, no significant relationships were documented between psychosocial-spiritual and biomedical constructs, which may relate to limited variability in HbA1c. Clinicians and researchers who work with underserved minority patients with uncontrolled diabetes may see improvement in patients' SWL when screening, treating, and/or studying psychological distress, interpersonal strain, and existential struggles. It is important for practitioners and researchers to consider ethnic group differences in their work since some dissimilarity existed.

Background: Past researchers have focused primarily on the associated negative impact of caring for a child with special needs. In this study, caregivers report the enrichment and stress of caring for a child with an autism spectrum disorder. Method Eighty caregivers completed the "Social Communication Questionnaire" (SCQ), "Effects of the Situation Questionnaire" (ESQ), and "Posttraumatic Growth Inventory" (PTGI). Enrichment and stress scores were compared to symptom severity data and posttraumatic growth scores. Results Consistent with prior research, caregivers reported greater levels of stress than enrichment. On just over half of the stress/enrichment variables, parental ratings of stress and enrichment were negatively correlated. Scores of total stress and enrichment were not correlated to the severity of the individual's symptoms or caregivers' growth scores. Conclusions These findings suggest that although stress is a major concern for caregivers, enrichment and growth may also occur in varying degrees. (Contains 1 table.)

Background: Caregivers in this qualitative study reported the multidimensional implications of having a child with autism on their family's lives and overall functioning. Method: The Effects of the Situation Questionnaire (Yatchmenoff, Koren, Friesen, Gordon, & Kinney, 1998) was used to gather qualitative data from 80 caregivers. Colaizzi's (1978) phenomenological data analysis method was used to analyse the caregivers' written narratives. Biopsychosocial-spiritual, systemic, and ecological theoretical lenses were used to conceptualise the recorded experiences. Results: Seven thematic content areas emerged from the caregivers' data. They include: psychological implications, familial implications, social implications, services, spiritual benefits, economic challenges, and focus on the future of having a child diagnosed with autism. Conclusions: The results of this study offer valuable insight into how helping professionals may attend to the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions of those caring for an individual with autism. (Contains 1 table.)

The research on diabetes has shown the need to move from a traditional medical model to a patient-team orientation. This has lead to a number of collaborative programs targeting the [...]