The role of peer networks in adolescent pornography use and sexting in Croatia

ABSTRACT

Although communication about sexuality is a significant pathway through which peers influence adolescent sexual development, little research has examined the role of peer networks in the use of sexualized media. We applied a social network approach to assess the role of close peers in adolescent pornography use and sexting in a sample of Croatian high school students. Sexual conversation networks’ characteristics did not correlate with pornography use. In contrast, sexting was associated with the proportion of same gender peers, the proportion of older peers and the proportion of sexually experienced peers in the network – pointing to the role of peer influence. Participants’ gender did not moderate these associations. Specific mechanisms underlying the observed associations and the role of peer selection remain important tasks for future research.     

Type 2 diabetes: assessment of endothelial lesion and fibrinolytic system markers.

This study aimed to investigate whether endothelial cells are damaged and to evaluate fibrinolytic system function in patients with type 2 diabetes. For this proposal, plasma levels of von Willebrand factor (an endothelial marker of injury), homocysteine (an inductor of endothelial injury), D-dimer (a marker of coagulation cascade activation) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (a fibrinolysis marker) were measured in individuals with both type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, with type 2 diabetes, with high blood pressure and in healthy control individuals. No significant differences among groups were observed for von Willebrand factor and homocysteine plasma levels. The type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure group presented a significant difference to the other groups for D-dimer and also presented high values for plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. The high blood pressure group and type 2 diabetes group presented separately higher values of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 compared with the control group. High levels of D-dimer and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in patients with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure with normoalbuminuria therefore indicate a state of hypercoagulability and hypofibrinolysis, despite no evident microvascular injury supported by normal levels of von Willebrand factor and homocysteine.     

The relationship between parents’ cognitions,bedtime behaviours and sleep-related practices with their child's sleep

Certain parental cognitions about child sleep and bedtime behaviours used with their child have been linked to poorer child sleep. However, previous research has focused on mothers and explored only a limited range of sleep-related cognitions and practices. The present study investigated whether parental cognitions and sleep-related practices (both in connection with their own sleep and their child's sleep), alongside the bedtime behaviours used with their child were associated with and/or were predictive of their child's sleep. Mothers and fathers from 44 families (with a child aged 12–24 months) separately completed questionnaires reporting (i) their cognitions (about their own sleep and their child's sleep), (ii) sleep-related practices (used in connection with their own and their child's sleep) and (iii) bedtime behaviours used with their child. Child sleep was assessed through parental report and actigraphy. Both parents’ cognitions about their own sleep predicted cognitions about their child's sleep. Mothers’ own sleep-related practices predicted the types of practices they used with their child. Different patterns of maternal and paternal variables influenced parental perceptions of their child having a sleep problem. The present findings highlight the importance of including mothers and fathers in child sleep research. Parents’ dysfunctional cognitions (their own sleep) and broader sleep-related practices (their own and child sleep) should be considered when exploring influences on child sleep. Results have possible implications for targets of interventions for child sleep problems and also potential implications for theoretical models of child sleep.     

Ochratoxin A in blood of healthy population in Zagreb

Healthy blood donors from the city of Zagreb were checked for the presence of a nephrotoxic mycotoxin ochratoxin A (OTA) in the plasma. Samples of blood were collected in June, September, and December 1997, and March 1998, totalling 200 or 50 in each round. The concentrations of OTA were measured using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) method (detection limit 0.2 ng OTA/ml of plasma). The frequency of OTA-positive samples (> 0.2 ng/ml of plasma) showed significant seasonal variation (P < 0.001). The frequency of OTA-positive samples was the highest in March (65%) and it gradually decreased towards December (12%). The high frequency of positive samples coincided with seasons favouring growth of moulds and production of toxins. The daily intake of OTA by healthy persons in Zagreb was estimated from the mean concentration of OTA in samples collected during the whole year (0.19 ng OTA/ml plasma). The estimated daily intake was 0.26 ng/kg b.w., that is, substantially below the tolerable daily intake proposed by World Health Organization (16.0 ng/kg b.w.).     

Efficacy of Breast Conservation Therapy in Early Stage Bilateral Breast Cancer

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of patients with bilateral breast cancer as compared to unilateral breast cancer treated with breast conservation therapy. Sixty patients with bilateral breast cancer (BBC) and 1,080 unilateral breast cancer (UBC) patients treated with breast conservation therapy from 1977 to 1994 were analyzed for outcome. Of the 60 bilateral patients, 44 were metachronous bilateral breast cancer patients (MBBC) and 16 were synchronous bilateral breast cancer patients (SBBC). The majority of patients received lumpectomy, axillary node dissection, and localized radiation therapy. Median tumor size was 1.4 cm for BBC and 1.5 cm for UBC patients. Median total dose to the tumor bed was 60 Gy for both unilateral and bilateral patients. Of the 44 MBBC patients, 14 received breast conservation for both the first and second lesions, while 30 received breast conservation for only the second metachronous lesion. Thus 58 lesions in 44 patients were treated with breast conservation therapy. Of the SBBC patients, 13 of 16 patients received breast-conserving therapy for both breasts, while 3 received a mastectomy for the second synchronous primary. Median follow-up was 50 months for SBBC patients, 45 months for MBBC patients, and 52 months for UBC patients. Local control and survival were analyzed in patients with SBBC, MBBC, and UBC. The interval to development of local recurrence and survival were calculated from the time of development of the second breast lesion in patients with MBBC. No differences were found for survival and failure-free survival in patients with SBBC, MBBC, or UBC. Five-year overall survival by lifetable analysis was 76% for SBBC, 78% for MBBC, and 87% for UBC patients (p = 0.32 by log-rank analysis). The 5-year failure-free survival was 79% for SBBC, 73% for MBBC, and 85% for UBC patients (p = 0.28 by log-rank analysis). No significant differences were seen for median age, tumor size, pathologic node status, tamoxifen use, chemotherapy use, or median total radiation dose for SBBC, MBBC, or UBC patients. A significant difference was found in the incidence of family history of breast cancer in patients with unilateral versus bilateral breast cancer (p = 0.028 by chi-square analysis). However, there was no difference in outcome of patients by family history of breast cancer. The local control was identical in both BBC and UBC patients, with a local failure rate of 3%. Therefore, breast conservation therapy in local-regional, early stage breast cancer is a rational and efficacious treatment modality for patients with SBBC, MBBC, and UBC.     

Design,implement, and diffuse scalable and sustainable solutions for dementia care

Most innovations developed to reduce the burden of Alzheimer disease and other related dementias (ADRD) are difficult to implement, diffuse, and scale. The consequences of such challenges in design, implementation, and diffusion are suboptimal care and resulting harm for people living with ADRD and their caregivers. National experts identified four factors that contribute to our limited ability to implement and diffuse of evidence-based services and interventions for people living with ADRD: (1) limited market demand for the implementation and diffusion of effective ADRD interventions; (2) insufficient engagement of persons living with ADRD and those caring for them in the development of potential ADRD services and interventions; (3) limited evidence and experience regarding scalability and sustainability of evidence-based ADRD care services; and (4) difficulties in taking innovations that work in one context and successfully implementing them in other contexts. New investments in the science of human-centered design, implementation, and diffusion are crucial for meeting the goals of the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease under the auspices of the National Alzheimer's Project Act.     

Twin studies for the prognosis,prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions

Background

Musculoskeletal conditions are highly prevalent in our ageing society and are therefore incurring substantial increases in population levels of years lived with disability (YLD). An evidence-based approach to the prognosis, prevention, and treatment of those disorders can allow an overall improvement in the quality of life of patients, while also softening the burden on national health care systems.