Perceptions of School Climate Among Subgroups of Aggressive and Victimized Youth

The present study examined how perceptions of school climate differ across subgroups of early adolescents with distinct patterns of involvement in aggression and victimization. We identified subgroups among 800 sixth-grade students (87% African American, 51% female) based on latent class analysis of items assessing aggression and victimization. Consistent with previous research, we found support for a four-class solution that identified the following subgroups: aggressive-victims (8%), predominant-victims (12%), predominant-aggressors (28%), and youth with limited involvement (52%). Predominant-aggressors and aggressive-victims reported lower levels of teacher support and consistency and clarity of school rules than nonaggressive subgroups. Among male adolescents, aggressive-victims reported more positive perceptions of peer interactions than predominant-aggressors. Findings provide evidence that perceptions of school climate are related to early adolescents’ pattern of involvement in aggression and victimization, which has implications for school-based interventions targeting aggressive behavior.     

Language Abilities of Russian Primary-School-Aged Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence from Comprehensive Assessment

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - The purpose of the present research was to comprehensively assess the language abilities of Russian primary-school-aged children with Autism Spectrum...     

Biperiden and mepazine effectively inhibit MALT1 activity and tumor growth in pancreatic cancer

MALT1 is a key mediator of NF-κB signaling and a main driver of B-cell lymphomas. Remarkably, MALT1 is expressed in the majority of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) as well, but absent from normal exocrine pancreatic tissue. Following, MALT1 shows off to be a specific target in cancer cells of PDAC without affecting regular pancreatic cells. Therefore, we studied the impact of pharmacological MALT1 inhibition in pancreatic cancer and showed promising effects on tumor progression. Mepazine (Mep), a phenothiazine derivative, is a known potent MALT1 inhibitor. Newly, we described that biperiden (Bip) is a potent MALT1 inhibitor with even less pharmacological side effects. Thus, Bip is a promising drug leading to reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis in PDAC cells in vitro and in vivo. By compromising MALT1 activity, nuclear translocation of c-Rel is prevented. c-Rel is critical for NF-κB-dependent inhibition of apoptosis. Hence, off-label use of Bip or Mep represents a promising new therapeutic approach to PDAC treatment. Regularly, the Anticholinergicum Bip is used to treat neurological side effects of Phenothiazines, like extrapyramidal symptoms.