The genetic-environmental etiology of parents' perceptions and self-assessed behaviours toward their 5-month-old infants in a large twin and singleton sample

BACKGROUND: Given the importance of parenting for the child's early socio-emotional development, parenting perceptions and behaviours, and their correlates, should be assessed as early as possible in the child's life. The goals of the present study were 1) to confirm, in two parallel population-based samples, including a large sample of twins, the factor structure of a new self-administered questionnaire assessing both parents' specific parenting perceptions and behaviours toward their 5-month-old infants (i.e., parental self-efficacy, perceived parental impact, parental hostile-reactive behaviours and parental overprotection), 2) to identify the specific risk factors associated with the negative side of these parenting dimensions, 3) to document the genetic-environmental etiology of these parenting dimensions through the twin method. METHODS: Parents (2,122 mothers and 1,829 fathers) of 5-month-old infants, and parents of 5-month-old infant twins (510 families) completed the questionnaire (28 items). The data were submitted to a series of confirmatory factor analyses. The contribution to parenting of a variety of risk factors was examined in the two samples using regression analyses. A series of quantitative genetic analyses were performed to quantify the different sources of variation in parenting. RESULTS: A consistent factor structure was found across informants and across samples. There were significant mean differences in parenting between mothers and fathers, as well as between parents of twins and parents of singletons. A differentiated pattern of association with risk factors was found for each dimension of parenting. The twin analyses revealed that shared environment accounted for each parenting dimension. Maternal hostile-reactive behaviours were also moderately related to genetic factors in the child and this association was mainly mediated by the infant difficultness. CONCLUSIONS: The overall pattern of results was consistent with Belsky's (1984) view of parenting as multiply determined. The longitudinal follow-up of these families should provide the means for testing developmental models about the determinants and outcomes of these parenting dimensions.     

Factors associated with fragmented sleep at night across early childhood

OBJECTIVE: To identify the factors most strongly associated with sleeping less than 6 consecutive hours at night for children aged 5, 17, and 29 months. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A randomized survey design used a representative sample of infants born in 1997-1998 in the Canadian province of Quebec. Data were collected by questionnaires and interviews. Interviews were scheduled at home with the mothers. The number of consecutive hours slept at night by 1741 children aged 5, 17, and 29 months was assessed from parental reports. Factors associated with fragmented sleep were investigated for each age in a cross-sectional design. RESULTS: At 5 months of age, 23.5% of children did not sleep 6 consecutive hours. Of the children who did not sleep 6 consecutive hours at night at 5 months or 17 months of age, 32.9% were still not sleeping 6 consecutive hours at night at 29 months of age. The factor most strongly associated with not sleeping at least 6 consecutive hours per night at 5 months of age was feeding the child after an awakening. Parental presence until sleep onset was the factor most strongly associated with not sleeping at least 6 consecutive hours per night at 17 months and 29 months of age. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep consolidation evolves rapidly in early childhood. Parental behaviors at bedtime and in response to a nocturnal awakening are highly associated with the child's sleep consolidation. The effects are probably bidirectional and probably create a long-term problem. Early interventions could possibly break the cycle.     

Characteristics of adolescent street youth with a history of pregnancy

This study examines characteristics of adolescent street youth with histories of pregnancy and documents important factors that merit consideration when providing global sexual health care. STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine social and behavioral factors associated with a history of pregnancy among adolescent street youth. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: In a prospective cohort study, female adolescent street youth (14-19 years) ever pregnant (AEP) were compared with adolescents never pregnant (ANP) using data from baseline questionnaires. RESULTS: Among the 225 participants, 41.8% were ever pregnant. Both groups were similar with respect to age (mean 17.8 years) and other socio-economic characteristics. However, AEP were more likely to have been kicked out of home (62.8% vs. 47.3%, P=0.022) and to have run away (78.7% vs. 64.9%, P=0.025) and were homeless younger (mean age: 13.9 vs. 14.7 years, P=0.011) and since a longer period (mean: 4.0 vs. 3.0 years, P=0.001). Both groups had problematic alcohol and drug use: 31.3% had a CAGE score >2; 72.2% had a DAST score >6. Almost half (44.0%) had ever injected drugs and AEP were younger at initiation into drug injection (15.2 years vs. 16.0 years, P=0.049). More AEP had experienced intra-familial or extra-familial sexual abuse (71.3% vs. 56.5%, P=0.024), and had had more than one abuser (71.6% vs. 50.0%, P=0.009). Among those abused by family members, abuse occurred at an earlier age for AEP (mean age: 7.4 vs. 8.9 years, P=0.090) and more AEP reported severe abuse: vaginal penetration (62.2% vs. 26.7%, P=0.004) and anal penetration (29.7% vs. 3.3%, P=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Histories of severe sexual abuse and early injection drug use are extremely frequent in ever pregnant street adolescents. These factors need to be addressed when planning global health care and sexual health education.     

Global genetic diversity of human metapneumovirus fusion gene

We analyzed 64 human metapneumovirus strains from eight countries. Phylogenetic analysis identified two groups (A and B, amino acid identity 93%-96%) and four subgroups. Although group A strains predominated, accounting for 69% of all strains, as many B as A strains were found in persons >3 years of age.     

Assessment of the durability of medical examination gloves

This study determined the durability of various types of medical examination gloves using a laboratory test developed by the researchers. Results of this testing are compared with a simulated clinical method, also developed by the researchers, found to produce failures at rates similar to actual clinical use. Ten types of exam gloves were tested. One set of gloves was tested using a glove durability method. A second set was worn and conditioned using a simulated clinical method for comparison. The third set consisted of a control set of gloves that were not stressed. Samples consisted of 100 gloves combined from 2 or 4 manufacturers. All gloves were water-leak tested as the last step. The glove durability method created failures at similar rates to the simulated clinical method. The majority of the defects were located in the finger regions of the gloves. Durability of powdered and powder-free vinyl gloves was inferior to that of other glove types tested, with failure rates ranging from 24% to 42%, compared with 3% to 17% for the other glove types tested. Glove durability was also affected by the powdered state of the gloves and the user having long fingernails.     

Suboptimal duration of antidepressant treatments in the older ambulatory population of Quebec: association with selected physician characteristics

OBJECTIVES: To assess the association between selected physician characteristics and suboptimal duration of antidepressant use in the older outpatient population. DESIGN: Follow-up of patients who were prescribed an antidepressant treatment by a cohort of physicians in Quebec. SETTING: Community-based older outpatient population in Quebec. PARTICIPANTS: Retrospective cohort of 1,301 general practitioners (GPs) and 236 psychiatrists followed from 1991 to 1997. MEASUREMENTS: Treatment duration of less than 180 days in 1996/97. RESULTS: Premature interruption of antidepressant treatment was very frequent (44.7%). GPs, physicians who practice in metropolitan or urban regions, and those who have a proportion of older patients in their practice of less than 50% show a higher rate of premature interruption. These associations could not be accounted for by the choice of products, dosage, or patient characteristics. CONCLUSION: We have identified physician characteristics that are associated with suboptimal duration of antidepressant use and conclude that further interventions should target subgroups of physicians.     

Gene transfer of a fibronectin peptide inhibits leukocyte recruitment and suppresses inflammation in mouse collagen-induced arthritis

OBJECTIVE: Cell adhesion plays an essential role in arthritis by recruiting and retaining leukocytes in the joint. Fibronectin, a major extracellular matrix component in synovium, plays a central role in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions through ligation of cell surface integrins. The present study was designed to determine the effects of gene transfer of a 15-amino acid peptide derived from the 33-kd carboxy-terminal cell and heparin-binding domain of fibronectin (FN-C/H-II) on established arthritis in mice. METHODS: Plasmid DNA encoding a FN-C/H-II minigene under control of the cytomegalovirus promoter was injected intravenously into mice with established collagen-induced arthritis, and the effects on leukocyte adhesion and recruitment to the joints was determined. RESULTS: Following injection, circulating FN-C/H-II could be detected for at least 5 days. Treated mice demonstrated a marked reduction in progression of arthritis. Not only was disease progression halted, but a significant improvement in joint swelling was observed within 2 days of treatment. Leukocyte adhesion and recruitment were inhibited by FN-C/H-II, both in vitro and in vivo. Histologic evaluation revealed a marked reduction in infiltration of both neutrophils and lymphocytes into synovium, persisting for at least 10 days. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that antagonism of cell adhesion by soluble fibronectin peptides may provide an approach to attenuating chronic arthritis.     

The impact of frozen embryos on emotional reactions during in vitro fertilization

BACKGROUND: Emotional reactions of couples were investigated during in vitro fertilization (IVF) at a private clinic in Sweden. The purpose was to compare such reactions between couples who obtained supernumerary embryos that could be cryopreserved and couples without such embryos. METHODS: Forty women and men undergoing IVF treatment monitored individually their emotional reactions daily for one complete treatment cycle from the first day of down-regulation until the outcome of treatment was known. Ratings were extracted and analyzed from two separate days; the very first day of treatment and the day of embryo transfer. RESULTS: The group of women (n=16; 40%) with supernumerary embryos suitable for cryopreservation reported a greater increase in optimism than the group (n=24; 60%) without such embryos (p=0.024). Correspondingly, women with supernumerary embryos reported less pessimism than women without such embryos (p=0.014). Among men there was no difference in optimism or pessimism between the groups. The women and men with supernumerary embryos did not differ in distress reactions compared to those women and men without such embryos. There was no correlation between optimism and distress on the day of embryo transfer in women; r=-0.167 and men; r=-0.135 respectively. CONCLUSION: The presence of frozen embryos increased optimistic and reduced pessimistic feelings about pregnancy among women undergoing IVF treatment. However, the couples' increased optimism on the day of embryo transfer did not seem to reduce their experience of distress.