Family Resources and Development of Social Competence in Disadvantaged Children in India

Family resources in terms of their qualitative (process) and quantitative (structure) nature influences the development of social competence in children/adolescents. Present study aims at exploring the relationship of family resource variables with three measures of social competence of 300 adolescent belonging to different socio-cultural status. Socio-culturally advantaged group samples were found to have healthy family environment, whereas, socio-culturally disadvantaged group perceived themselves as at disadvantages and were deprived in seeking positive intra-family support. However inspite of their disadvantages, they were found to be more self-competent. On the other hand, advantaged group adolescents were found to be more competent in the areas of peer and teacher related social competence. Product-moment coefficient correlation analysis revealed that parental education, occupation and family income were found to be significantly associated with positive peer and teacher related social competence in case of the samples belonging to the advantaged socio-cultural group. However, negative responses and outside family support was found to be positively associated with the development of disadvantaged group adolescent's self-related competence. In general, present study supports the hypothesis that Indian family system still continues to be considered as the major source of support for the adolescents, in spite of their growing tendency for independence, self-definition and autonomy.     

The effects of an HIV/AIDS educational programme on the anxiety level of nursing students

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a serious disease that has special concern for the health care provider. AIDS has continued to grow despite control efforts. As the disease infectivity period remains lengthy, and the heterosexual population is affected to a greater degree, the level of anxiety has also risen despite educational endeavours. Many fears and anxieties have been associated with AIDS patients by health care workers. The reduction of stress, perceived risk and discomfort following educational efforts have been supported in past research. Educational programmes will need to be given for current health care workers at all levels as well as nursing students. Future nurses must be prepared to meet this challenge. This study was conducted using a convenience sample of nursing students at a university in western United States. Its purpose was to assess any changes that occurred in state anxiety following an educational presentation. Spielberge's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was used as the measurement instrument. Some anxiety levels were significantly reduced.     

Mothers' Anticipation and Prevention of Unintentional Injury to Young Children in the Home

Investigated anticipation and prevention of children's unintentionalinjuries in the home. 150 mothers of 1-, 2-, and 3-year-oldchildren kept weekly diaries of anticipated injuries and unanticipatedinjuries/near injuries to their child. Mothers anticipated between57 and 67% of all injury events, a majority when the child wasin the same room as the injury-causing agent prior to interactingwith it. Few anticipated injuries led to injury. In these casesno significant differences were found depending on child's ageand sex. In contrast, mothers of younger children most frequentlyreported preventing injury by physically restricting or movingthe child away and by changing the environment, whereas mothersof older children more frequently engaged in teaching.     

Characteristics of β-endorphin-induced histamine release from rat serosal mast cells Comparison with neurotensin,dynorphin and compound 48/80

Summary Rat peritoneal mast cells were exposed to the neurohormone and basic opioid peptide -endorphin. -Endorphin induced a dose-dependent release of histamine from the mast cells. A significant histamine release was found at 5 mol/l of -endorphin and maximal release (35% of total) at 20 mol/l. The histamine release process was very rapid and terminated within 30 s at 37°C, and in this sense is very similar to the histamine release induced by compound 48/80 or neurotensin. The histamine release was temperature-dependent showing an optimum release around 30°C, and it was independent of available extracellular calcium, but was inhibited in the presence of high extracellular calcium concentrations. Naloxone, only in very high concentrations (10 mmol/l), inhibited the release, and the very same concentration also inhibited the neurotensin — as well as the compound 48/80-induced histamine release. Cromoglycate and benzalkoniumchloride, a 48/80 antagonist, both produced a progressive dose-dependent inhibition of -endorphin-, neurotensin- as well as compound 48/80-induced histamine release. Taken together, the findings indicate that the opioid peptide -endorphin induces a selective, energy-dependent release of histamine from peritoneal rat mast cells. The pattern of release has much in common with that of compound 48/80 and other basic peptides, such as neurotensin and substance P. In addition this pattern of release is similar to that induced by dynorphin. Send offprint requests to Anita Sydbom at the above address     

HIV-1 Tat increases the adhesion of monocytes and T-cells to the endothelium in vitro and in vivo: implications for AIDS-associated vasculopathy

HIV-1-infected patients exhibit severe damages of the aortic endothelium, develop angioproliferative lesions such as Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), and have an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis. An increased adhesion of leukocytes to the endothelium is a common pathogenic parameter of AIDS-associated vascular diseases. Here we show that the HIV-1 Tat protein, a regulatory protein of HIV-1 released by infected cells, and TNF-alpha, a cytokine increased in sera and tissues of HIV-1-infected patients, activate synergistically the adhesion of leukocytes to endothelial cells both in vitro and in vivo. This effect is selectively mediated by HIV-1 Tat, since HIV-1 Nef, another HIV-1 regulatory protein, and the HIV-1 envelope protein gp41, had no effect. In vitro adhesion assays with PBMC and quantitative cell type analysis of adherent cells by FACS demonstrated that HIV-1 Tat selectively activates the adhesion of T-cells and monocytes but not of B-cells. Intravital microscopic studies in mice confirmed the synergistic activity of HIV-1 Tat and TNF-alpha on leukocyte adhesion to the endothelium in vivo. These data indicate that HIV-1 Tat in cooperation with TNF-alpha may contribute to the vascular damage and cardiovascular diseases observed in AIDS patients but also to the prominent extravasation of T-cells and monocytes which is a key process in the formation and progression of KS lesions.     

Novel autosomal recessive progressive hyperpigmentation syndrome

We present a family of Iraqui origin with three siblings affected by a novel type of progressive hyperpigmentation syndrome. The generalized initially diffuse, later disseminated hyperpigmentation started in early infancy and increased during childhood. It also affected palms and soles, and the face but spared the cheeks. Additional features were dry, itchy and sunlight sensitive skin, dystrophy of toe nails, hair loss, and myopia, but normal sweat glands. Light and electron microscopy showed signs of pigment incontinence and compound melanosomes as well as fibrillar bodies. The occurrence of this entity in affected siblings from a consanguineous mating suggests autosomal recessive inheritance. Extensive review of the literature showed no previous report with this distinct combination of clinical and microscopic findings.     

Dynamic patterns of expression of BMP isoforms 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7 during chicken heart development

Bone morphogentic proteins (BMPs) play an important role in cardiac development. Using an in vitro explant analysis, we show that BMPs are crucial for myocardium formation. As a first approach to identify which BMP may be involved in myocardium formation in intra- and extracardiac mesenchyme in vivo, a survey of the expression patterns of BMP2, -4, -5, -6, and -7 mRNA is prepared by in situ hybridization in chicken embryonic hearts from HH5 to 44. During recruitment of mesodermal cells to the outflow tract myocardium (HH10-23), BMP2, -4, -5, and -7 mRNA are expressed in the distal myocardial border and the flanking mesenchyme. After completion, BMP2 and -4 mRNA become restricted to the mesenchyme and BMP5 and -7 mRNA to the myocardium. At the venous pole, BMP2, -5, and -7 mRNA are expressed in the distal myocardial border of the caval vein, while BMP2, -5, -6, and -7 mRNA are expressed in the distal myocardium around the pulmonary vein. BMP4 mRNA is expressed in the adjacent mesenchyme at both sides. During muscularization of the atrioventricular cushions and the tricuspid valve, the cardiomyocytes that protrude into the mesenchyme express BMP2, -4, -5, and -7 mRNA, whereas BMP6 mRNA is expressed in the cushion mesenchyme. The myocardial protrusions formed in the mesenchymal proximal outlet septum express BMP4, -5, and -7 mRNA, while BMP2 and -6 mRNA are expressed in the mesenchyme. The spatiotemporal expression patterns of these BMPs in relation to myocardium formation at the distal ends and within the heart suggest a role for BMPs in myocardium formation. During delamination of the valves, BMP4 and -6 mRNA are expressed at the ventricular side of the forming mitral valve, BMP4 mRNA at the ventricular side of the forming tricuspid valve, and BMP2, -4, and -6 mRNA at the vascular side of the forming semilunar valves.     

Molecular comparison of the fibre proteins of bovine adenovirus subtype A and subtype B

The fibre gene of the bovine adenovirus type 2 (BAdV2) subtype B was prepared for sequencing by using cloning, sub-cloning and PCR amplification techniques. The nucleotide sequence of the total fibre gene was determined, and it was found to consist of 1,647 nucleotides, coding for a polypeptide of 549 amino acids. The fibre gene regions of BAdV2 A and B subtypes were aligned. The nucleotide identity of the total fibre gene was found to be 60.5%; however, the homology showed great differences in the different subregions coding for the shaft and knob part of the fibre, and the two subtypes were almost identical in the tail subregion. Remarkable changes indicating deletion, insertion and point mutations were found in the shaft subregion when BAdV2/A and B subtypes were compared. We concluded that the differences found in the haemagglutinating activity of the two subtypes of BAdV2 can mostly be explained by the changes in the polypeptide structure of the fibre shaft.     

A novel 5q35.3 subtelomeric deletion syndrome

We observed a novel 3.5 Mb 5q subtelomeric deletion in a 3-year-old girl with developmental delay, hypotonia and multiple minor anomalies. Comparison of her phenotype with the few published patients with terminal 5q35 deletions revealed several overlapping features, but also showed remarkable differences such as shortness of stature versus macrosomia. After the report of 5q35.3 microdeletions in Sotos syndrome we integrated the published BACs into the public draft sequence and exactly mapped the deletion size in our patient by FISH analysis with 15 BAC probes. We demonstrated that the deletion in our patient is immediately adjacent to the reported Sotos syndrome deletion site. Subtracting the symptoms of Sotos syndrome from the published patients with larger 5q35.3 deletions allowed us to delineate a distinct phenotype of prenatal lymphedema with increased nuchal translucency, pronounced muscular hypotonia and delay of reaching motor milestones, but speech development within normal limits, wide fontanels, failure to thrive with postnatal short stature, and multiple minor anomalies such as mildly bell-shaped chest, minor congenital heart disease, and a distinct facial gestalt, associated with the novel 3.5 Mb cryptic deletion. We further showed in our patient that the deletion of the LCT(4) synthase gene results in a reduction of cysteinyl leukotriene synthesis to about 65% compared to normal values. The prenatal nuchal lymphedema associated with this deletion syndrome my be related to the deletion of the FLT4 gene causing autosomal dominant primary lymphedema and contributes to the differential diagnosis of increased fetal nuchal translucency.