Parents reading with their 10-month-old babies: key predictors for high-quality reading styles

Sixty-five parent–infant dyads were observed reading an unfamiliar book at home. Parents’ use of language-stimulating and emotionally rich reading styles was measured via a specially developed Book Sharing Scale for Infants. Aspects of child temperament were assessed by the Infant Characteristics Questionnaire [Bates, J. E., Freeland, C. A. B., & Lounsbury, M. L. (1979). Measurement of infant difficultness. Child Development, 50(3), 794–803], and parents responsivity was measured by the Caregiver Interaction Scale [Arnett, J. (1989). Caregiver interaction scale. Princeton, NJ: Educational Testing Service]. Parents’ socio-economic status and education, parents’ impression of their child being unsociable and the warmth of the caregiver’s interaction were positively predictive of the quality of the reading interaction. This suggests that the extent to which parents employ high-quality reading styles with their 10-month-old babies, depends on socio-demographic variables, children’s ability to communicate with their parents, and the overall affective quality of their relationship.     

The effect of external fractionated irradiation on the distribution pattern of extracellular matrix proteins in submandibular salivary glands of the rat.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to analyse the distribution pattern of extracellular matrix proteins in the irradiated and non-irradiated rat submandibular salivary gland in order to provide a more detailed profile of the radiation injury following radiotherapy of the head and neck. MATERIAL AND METHODS: External X-ray exposure, restricted to the left skull base and neck region, was performed in 60 female Wistar rats, fractionated to daily applications of 2 Gy, up to total dosages of 20, 40 or 60 Gy. Both submandibular glands were excised after supravital anaesthesia 6 months or 1 year after completion of the irradiation. Spatial and temporal patterns of extracellular matrix proteins were investigated histologically and immunohistochemically. RESULTS: The polyclonal anti-human antisera used, identified the same antigens in rat tissue as in human tissues. The alterations in staining patterns and staining intensities between irradiated and non-irradiated salivary glands showed statistically significant differences. Different structures in irradiated glands reacted with different intensities, e.g. nerve tissue and the basement membranes of excretory ducts were intensely laminin-positive, fibronectin was predominantly found around the excretory ducts with transition to the interstitial tissues. CONCLUSION: Irradiation leads to statistically significant differences in the amount and composition of the extracellular matrix in salivary glands. The amount of extracellular matrix proteins in irradiated glands is dose-dependent. The higher the dosage the more extracellular matrix can be expected. Consecutively, total dosage is associated with greater loss of acini. Scatter effects of irradiation have also to be recognized. Immunohistochemical studies on salivary glands have to consider the pretreatment status, in particular those studies that investigate degenerative changes.     

Protection induced by commercially available live-attenuated and recombinant viral vector vaccines against infectious laryngotracheitis virus in broiler chickens

Viral vector vaccines using fowl poxvirus (FPV) and herpesvirus of turkey (HVT) as vectors and carrying infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) genes are commercially available to the poultry industry in the USA. Different sectors of the broiler industry have used these vaccines in ovo or subcutaneously, achieving variable results. The objective of the present study was to determine the efficacy of protection induced by viral vector vaccines as compared with live-attenuated ILTV vaccines. The HVT-LT vaccine was more effective than the FPV-LT vaccine in mitigating the disease and reducing levels of challenge virus when applied in ovo or subcutaneously, particularly when the challenge was performed at 57 days rather than 35 days of age. While the FPV-LT vaccine mitigated clinical signs more effectively when administered subcutaneously than in ovo, it did not reduce the concentration of challenge virus in the trachea by either application route. Detection of antibodies against ILTV glycoproteins expressed by the viral vectors was a useful criterion to assess the immunogenicity of the vectors. The presence of glycoprotein I antibodies detected pre-challenge and post challenge in chickens vaccinated with HVT-LT indicated that the vaccine induced a robust antibody response, which was paralleled by significant reduction of clinical signs. The chicken embryo origin vaccine provided optimal protection by significantly mitigating the disease and reducing the challenge virus in chickens vaccinated via eye drop. The viral vector vaccines, applied in ovo and subcutaneously, provided partial protection, reducing to some degree clinical signs, and challenge VIRUS replication in the trachea.     

Randomised controlled trial of parent groups for child antisocial behaviour targeting multiple risk factors: the SPOKES project

Background: There is a pressing need for cost‐effective population‐based interventions to tackle early‐onset antisocial behaviour. As this is determined by many factors, it would seem logical to devise interventions that address several influences while using an efficient means of delivery. The aim of this trial was to change four risk factors that predict poor outcome: ineffective parenting, conduct problems, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, and low reading ability. Methods: A randomised controlled trial was carried out in eight schools in London, England. Nine hundred and thirty‐six (936) 6‐year‐old children were screened for antisocial behaviour, then parents of 112 high scorers were randomised to parenting groups held in schools or control; 109 were followed up a year later. The intervention lasted 28 weeks and was novel as it had components to address both child behaviour (through the Incredible Years programme) and child literacy (through a new ‘SPOKES’ programme to help parents read with their children). Fidelity of implementation was emphasised by careful training of therapists and weekly supervision. Controls received an information helpline. Assessment of conduct problems was by parent interview, parenting by direct observation and child reading by psychometric testing. Results: At follow‐up parents allocated to the intervention used play, praise and rewards, and time out more often than controls, and harsh discipline less; effect sizes ranged from .31 to .59 sd (p‐values .046 to .005). Compared to control children, whose behaviour didn’t change, intervention children’s conduct problems reduced by .52sd, (p < .001), dropping from the 80th to the 61st percentile; oppositional‐defiant disorder (ODD) halved from 60% to 31% (p = .003). ADHD symptoms reduced by .44sd (p = .002), and reading age improved by six months (.36sd, p = .027). Teacher‐rated behaviour didn’t change. The programme cost £2,380 ($3,800) per child. Conclusions: Effective population‐based early intervention to improve the functioning of with antisocial behaviour is practically feasible by targeting multiple risk factors and emphasising implementation fidelity.     

Adenovirus‐based overexpression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 reduces tissue damage in the joints of tumor necrosis factor α transgenic mice

Objective

Rheumatoid arthritis is a prototype of a destructive inflammatory disease. Inflammation triggered by the overexpression of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) is a driving force of this disorder and mediates tissue destruction. Since matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are among the molecules activated by TNFα, we hypothesized that overexpression of their natural inhibitor, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP‐1), in TNFα transgenic mice could inhibit the development of destructive arthritis.

Methods

Systemic treatment was carried out by replication‐defective adenoviral vectors for TIMP‐1, β‐galactosidase, or phosphate buffered saline (PBS), which were applied once at the onset of arthritis. Clinical, serologic, radiologic, and histologic outcomes were assessed 18 days after the treatment.

Results

The AdTIMP‐1 group showed significantly reduced paw swelling and increased grip strength compared with the 2 control groups, whereas total body weight, TNFα, and interleukin‐6 levels were similar in all 3 groups. Radiographic assessment revealed a significant reduction of joint destruction in the AdTIMP‐1 group; this was confirmed by histologic analyses showing reduced formation of pannus and erosions in the AdTIMP‐1 group compared with the AdLacZ and PBS control groups. The formation of arthritis‐specific autoantibodies to heterogeneous nuclear RNP A2 was not observed in the AdTIMP‐1 group but was present in the 2 control groups.

Conclusion

These results indicate a central role of MMPs in TNFα‐mediated tissue damage in vivo and a promising therapeutic role for TIMP‐1.