Genetic and environmental influences on the rate of progression to alcohol dependence in young women

Background: The development of alcohol dependence (AD) involves transitions through multiple stages of drinking behaviors and is shaped by both heritable and environmental influences. We attempted to capture this dynamic process by characterizing genetic and environmental contributions to the rate at which women progressed through 3 significant transitions along the pathway to AD: nonuse to initiation, initiation to onset of first alcohol‐related problem, and first problem to onset of AD. Methods: The sample consisted of 3,546 female twins from the Missouri Adolescent Female Twin Study. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 29 years. Retrospective reports of alcohol use histories were collected by telephone diagnostic interview and transition times between drinking milestones were coded ordinally. Standard genetic analyses were conducted in Mx to derive a trivariate model that provided estimates of genetic and environmental influences that were common as well as specific to the 3 transition times. Results: Heritable influences were found for rate of progression across all 3 transitions, accounting for 30 to 47% of the variance in transition times. Shared environmental contributions were evident only in rate of progression from nonuse to initiation (i.e., age at first drink). Heritable contributions to the rate of movement through successive drinking milestones were attributable to a common factor, whereas environmental influences were transition‐specific. Conclusions: The current study is unique in its use of a genetically informative design to document the rate of movement between drinking milestones in a female sample and to examine genetic contributions to multiple transition times over the course of AD development. Results indicate that an earlier report of heritability for males in rate of progression from regular drinking to AD generalizes to women and to other alcohol stage transitions. Findings also suggest the need to consider stage‐specific environmental contributions to alcohol outcomes in developing interventions.     

Injury Prevention in Baseball: from Youth to the Pros

Purpose of Review

This review examines recent literature on injury epidemiology and prevention in the sport of baseball from youth to professional levels.

Recent Findings

Overuse is the predominant mechanism of injury in youth baseball players. Newer stretching and exercise protocols may help prevent these injuries. At the professional level, however, overuse has not been proven to correlate with increased injury incidence, but pitch counts are still monitored. There continues to be a rise in operations performed for baseball-related injuries, including ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction, particularly in younger athletes. As the level of play increases, there is significant loss of participation due to injuries, such as the UCL in the upper extremity and the hamstrings in the lower extremity.

Summary

Baseball is a widely popular sport, which has led to a focus on injury epidemiology and prevention. While the majority of research regarding baseball injuries focuses on pitchers, fielders and catchers are also at risk. In an attempt to decrease non-contact injuries in the upper and lower extremities, stretching and strengthening exercises are vitally important. Because injury profiles demonstrate significant variability from youth to professional baseball, unique prevention strategies are likely necessary at each level. More research is needed to develop and validate appropriately targeted injury prevention programs.

     

Normal pulmonary artery and branch pulmonary artery sizes in children

To establish standards for pulmonary artery and branch pulmonary artery (PA and BPA) effective diameter (ED) and cross-sectional area (CSA) by using computed tomography (CT) data in children of a wide range of sizes and investigate the roundness of arteries. The ED (average of short and long axes) and CSA for the PA and BPA were measured using 1-mm collimation double-oblique reconstructions. Ordinary least squares regression was used to investigate models with various functional forms that related ED and CSA to patient size. Aspect ratio (AR), the short axis divided by long axis, was measured to evaluate roundness. The ideal diameter derived from CSA measurements was compared to ED, short axis, and long axis measurements. 108 CT examinations were analyzed in children without reason for abnormal PA size who ranged in age from 0 to 18 years (mean, 10.9 years; SD, 5.9 years). Interrater reliability was excellent. Data were modeled using a natural log-transformed response variable and a linear term for height as the independent variable. AR for the PA, right pulmonary artery, and left pulmonary artery measured <?0.9 for 38, 55, and 37%, respectively, indicating that many arteries are not round. Ideal diameter was not significantly different than ED but was for short- and long-axis diameter measurements. Normal ED and CSA for PA and BPA were determined for children of different sizes. Measurements outside of the normal range are consistent with dilatation or stenosis. Single diameter techniques are likely to introduce error.