Internalized psychopathology dimensions in middle childhood: Cross-sectional and temporal associations

BackgroundAnxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms often onset during middle childhood and are major causes of disability in young individuals. A better understanding of how these symptoms are linked and unfold over time is important to develop valid etiological models and effective prevention and treatment.MethodsIn the present study, 950 community children (8–14 years) reported on a broad range of internalised symptoms at three time points over the course of a year. First, factor analysis was used to examine the overarching dimensions of these symptoms. Second, network analysis was used to examine unique cross-sectional associations among these empirically supported symptom dimensions. Last, longitudinal structural equation models (SEMs) were used to examine temporal associations among the symptom dimensions.ResultsSix broad symptom dimensions fitted the self-report data well at all time points. These dimensions were conceptualized as depression, general anxiety, situational fears, compulsivity, intrusive thoughts, and somatic anxiety. Network analysis showed that these dimensions formed a highly interconnected network with general anxiety and somatic anxiety being most central (i.e., most strongly associated with other dimensions) at all time points. Longitudinal SEMs supported the central role played by general anxiety in the temporal associations among these dimensions.ConclusionsOverarching expressions of internalized psychopathology are highly interconnected in middle childhood with possible central roles played by general and somatic anxiety. Interventions aimed at a general proneness for anxiety may be warranted in preventing and treating internalizing symptoms in middle childhood.     

The physiology and pharmacology of the lower urinary tract

The lower urinary tract comprises the urinary bladder, the urethra and prostate in men, and is concerned with the storage of urine and its voluntary expulsion from the body when socially convenient. These mutually exclusive states are mediated by complex neural networks that when dysfunctional generate bothersome and highly prevalent lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Lower urinary tract symptoms are often idiopathic and not pathology specific and most result from bladder outflow obstruction, disorders of bladder contractility or conditions which increase bladder sensitivity and a combination of any of these states. Despite the precise mechanisms of symptom generation being unclear, the receptor mechanisms involved in controlling lower urinary tract function can be pharmacologically manipulated to achieve useful clinical outcomes.     

Ameloblastoma: a retrospective single institute study of 34 subjects

Objective: This study aims to clarify demographic and clinical aspects of patients with ameloblastoma treated at a single Finnish institute during 1985–2016. Associations between predictor variables (gender and age) and outcome variables (location, tumour type, growth patterns and average tumour size) were sought.

Materials and methods: A retrospective cohort study was designed and implemented including 34 patients diagnosed with primary ameloblastoma and treated at the Helsinki University Central Hospital. Patient records were investigated, and tissue samples re-evaluated. The chi-square test was used on all categorized variables and t-test for continuous ones. A p value equal to or under .05 was considered significant.

Results: Males were slightly more predominant among the Finnish patients with ameloblastoma. Maxillary tumours were seen exclusively in male patients (p?=?.034). Additionally, these patients were older than patients with mandibular tumours (p?=?.007). A mixture in histological growth patterns was more common than originally anticipated. The study revealed a wide range of clinical signs and subjective symptoms, of which pain or other sensations were experienced most often.

Conclusions: This study of 34 subjects shows that southern Finnish patients with ameloblastoma do not substantially differ from patients in similar study designs.