Does paternal mental health in pregnancy predict physically aggressive behavior in children?

The aim was to study the association between paternal mental health and physically aggressive behavior in children. This study is based on 19,580 father–child dyads from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). Fathers’ mental health was assessed by self-report (Symptom Checklist-5, SCL-5) in week 17 or 18 of gestation. Children’s behavior (hitting others) was obtained by mothers’ reports. A multinomial logistic regression model was performed. Expectant fathers’ high level of psychological distress was found to be a significant risk factor only for girls hitting, adjusted OR = 1.46 (1.01–2.12), p = 0.043, but not for boys. High levels of mental distress in fathers predict their daughters’ hitting at 5 years of age.     

Analysis of immediate changes of water-soluble metabolites in alkali-burned rabbit cornea, aqueous humor and lens by high-resolution 1H-NMR spectroscopy

PURPOSE: To investigate immediate changes in water-soluble metabolites of ocular tissue in alkali-burned eyes by using high-resolution 1H-NMR spectroscopy. METHODS: Adult New Zealand rabbit eyes were burned with 1 M NaOH for 1 min. Normal eyes were used as control. Samples from aqueous humor and perchloric acid extracts of the cornea and lens were analyzed on a NMR spectrometer operating at 500 MHz for protons. Metabolites were quantified by comparing peak area with an added internal standard, TSP (3'-trimethylsilylpropinate-2,2,3,3-d4). RESULTS: Alkali burn of corneal surface causes immediate changes in concentration of many water-soluble metabolites in the anterior segment. Even as far away as the lens a significant increase in lactate was found. Cornea showed a significant increase in glucose and a significant decrease in hypo-taurine concentration. Most changes were observed in aqueous humor, with significant increases in succinate, creatine, scyllo- and myo-inositol and a significant decrease in citrate concentration. Furthermore, a small decrease in ascorbate concentration in aqueous humor was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides a valuable contribution to the knowledge of metabolic alterations in alkali-burned eyes. It shows that 1H-NMR spectroscopy is well suited for simultaneous qualitative and quantitative analysis of changes of metabolite concentrations in damaged tissues. This can help us to better evaluate and understand the biological alterations due to alkali burn.     

Extensive hookworm-related cutaneous larva migrans in Norwegian travellers to the tropics

Hookworm-related cutaneous larva migrans is a common dermatosis in travellers to the tropics and typically presents as one or a few migrating serpiginous lesions on the lower extremities or buttocks. We present two Norwegian holidaymakers who developed extensive disease after returning from Brazil and Tanzania, respectively. Both patients responded to the treatment with ivermectin.     

Microcirculation and red cell transfusion in patients with sepsis

Early identification of sepsis followed by diagnostic blood cultures and prompt administration of appropriate intravenous antibiotics covering all likely pathogen remains the corner stone in the initial management of sepsis. Source control, obtained by harvesting microbiological cultures and removal or drainage of the infected foci, is mandatory. However, optimization of hemodynamically unstable patients including volume support supplemented with vasopressor, inotropic and transfusion of red blood cells (RBCs) in case of persistent hypoperfusion have the potential to reduce morbidity and mortality. Given the imbalance between the ability of the cardiovascular system to deliver enough oxygen to meet the oxygen demand, transfusion of RBCs should theoretically provide the ideal solution to the challenge. However, both changes in the septic patients’ RBCs induced by endogenous factors as well as the storage lesion affecting transfused RBCs have negative effects on the microcirculation. RBC morphology, distribution of fatty acids on the membrane surface, RBC deformability needed for capillary circulation and the nitrogen oxide (NO) signaling systems are involved. Although these deteriorating effects develop during storage, transfusion of fresh RBCs has not proven to be beneficial, possibly due to limitations of the studies performed. Until better evidence exists, transfusion guidelines recommend a restrictive strategy of RBC transfusion i.e. transfuse when hemoglobin (Hb) <7 g/dL in septic patients.     

Importance of vascular phenotype by basic fibroblast growth factor, and influence of the angiogenic factors basic fibroblast growth factor/fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 and ephrin-A1/EphA2 on melanoma progression

The expression of several angiogenic factors and receptors was examined in a series of vertical growth phase cutaneous melanomas using high-throughput tissue microarray technology and immunohistochemistry. The results were correlated with microvessel density, clinicopathological features, and patient survival. Expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was significantly associated with increased microvessel density. Also, we found an independent prognostic importance of vascular phenotype by endothelial cell expression of bFGF; cases with positive vessels had the best prognosis and these tumors revealed a low frequency of vascular invasion (14%) when compared with bFGF-negative vessels (47%). This bFGF-negative phenotype was significantly increased in metastatic lesions. Strong tumor cell expression of FLT-4, ephrin-A1, and EphA2 was associated with increased melanoma thickness, and ephrin-A1 staining was related to decreased survival (P = 0.039). Expression of EphA2 in tumor cells was associated with increased tumor cell proliferation (Ki-67 positivity), indicating possible autocrine growth stimulation. Thus, our findings indicate the presence of phenotypic diversity among tumor-associated vessels, and subgroups defined by bFGF expression may be of clinical importance. bFGF was associated with microvessel density, whereas the ephrin-A1/EphA2 pathway might also be important for tumor cell proliferation and patient survival.     

Differences in metastatic patterns in relation to time between primary surgery and first relapse from breast cancer suggest synchronized growth of dormant micrometastases

A significant variation in the metastatic pattern among breast cancer patients exists. Clinical observations suggest that these differences are related to time to recurrence (TTR), thus suggesting a common systemic growth signal at the time of surgery. Our goal was to identify a marker for synchronized growth of micrometastases. To quantify the metastatic pattern at first relapse, 180 patients with metastatic breast cancer were studied. Standard deviation (SD) of lesions size and lesion number was calculated and served as a marker for variation. Patients with low SD (multiple/similar sized lesions) were assumed to have synchronized growth, whereas patients with high SD were assumed to have unsynchronized growth. Patients were grouped according to TTR; early (< 3 years-) or late (> 3 years- after surgery). In patients not receiving systemic adjuvant treatment, median SD was significantly lower in the early group (2.5 mm) compared with 6.4 mm in the late group (p = 0.005). In node negative patients, median SD was significantly lower in the early group (3.0 mm) when compared with the late group (5.7 mm, p = 0.02). An additional drop in SD was observed immediately after end of adjuvant endocrine therapy. Our results identify SD as a marker of synchronized metastatic growth in breast cancer. A metastatic phenotype characterized by multiple similar sized metastases, suggesting synchronized onset of growth of micrometastases was predominantly found in patients recurring early after surgery and was counteracted by adjuvant treatment. Systemic growth signals caused by surgery might be antagonized during the time window following surgery.     

Psychometric properties of Psychopathology checklists for Adults with Intellectual Disability (P-AID) on a community sample of adults with intellectual disability

The DC-LD is a new classification system providing operationalized diagnostic criteria in recognition of lacking applicability of standard psychiatric criteria for adults with intellectual disability. This study attempts to evaluate internal consistency, inter-rater reliability and factor structure of the Psychopathology Checklists for Adults with Intellectual Disability (P-AID), a set of checklists developed from the DC-LD. The P-AID checklists comprising 10 psychiatric diagnoses and 8 types of problem behaviors were filled in by staff at community based homes for adults with intellectual disability in Western Norway. A total of 593 were returned (66%) of which 83 had two sets of checklists. Intellectual disability was administratively defined. Alpha (α) values for the total P-AID checklists indicating high internal consistency. The inter-rater reliability measured by ICC showed values between 0.63 and 0.88 in 8 of 10 psychopathology Checklists. Factor analysis indicated four orthogonal units measured by the P-AID. Issues regarding sensitivity and specificity are discussed. This study is the first attempt to develop and evaluate Psychopathology Checklists based on the DC-LD. The results from this study indicate the P-AID can be used in identifying mental health needs at a detailed diagnostic level.