Novel Methods for Screening: Contributions from Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up

Preventative interventions are needed across the lifespan, including for children who have experienced maltreatment. However, interventions’ effect sizes are typically smaller in real-world settings than in clinical trials. Identifying providers who are likely to implement interventions with fidelity could promote implementation outcomes through targeted allocation of training resources. This study tested two pre-training screening measures as predictors of provider fidelity to Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC), a preventative intervention for maltreated infants. One measure assessed valuing of attachment/openness, and the other used vignettes to assess initial skill in a key intervention component. In a sample of 42 providers across 197 sessions, both screening measures predicted future ABC fidelity, even when controlling for experience and education. These results support the development of screening measures for other interventions, suggesting approaches that target specific qualities and behaviors are likely to predict implementation fidelity.     

The secretion of plasminogen activators by human myeloid leukemic cells in vitro

Peripheral blood cell preparation from 23 normal subjects and 72 patients with acute and 32 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia were cultured in vitro and released plasminogen activators were analyzed. The quantity of plasminogen activator secreted by leukemic cells varied widely and could not be correlated with the clinical severity of the disease. Immunochemical and electrophoretic techniques have been used to show that normal peripheral blood granulocytes released exclusively urokinase-like plasminogen activator, whereas leukemic cells secreted either urokinase or a tissue activator-like enzyme. The molecular species of enzyme released by acute myeloid leukemic cells may serve as a diagnostic marker of relevance to the management of this disease, since patients with acute myeloid leukemia whose cells released only tissue plasminogen activator did not respond to combination chemotherapy. Tissue plasminogen activators released by leukemic cells may display an unusual electrophoretic pattern that resembles that shown by urokinase. Immunochemical procedures are therefore essential for the correct identification of these enzymes.     

Magnetically coupled balance platform

The purpose of this study was to develop a new device to assess balance in two planes and then to provide training paradigms for balance abnormalities. Based on the principal of a Biomechanical Ankle Platform System? (BAPS) board, the device is different than other devices that are on the market today in that this device allows assessment of balance during body sway movement in the forward\back and side-to-side directions. Like the BAPS board, individuals balance themselves on the board with a pivot in the centre. However, unlike the BAPS board, a variable viscosity magnetic fluid is used to vary the dampening on the board such that the board can be fixed in the forward\back or side-to-side plane. It can also be allowed to move either freely in both planes or with some dampening in any direction. This device offers a major improvement over other balance measuring devices in that it allows movement in multiple planes. It also allows for rapid alterations of movement in any plane to test an individual's ability to maintain their balance against a challenge.     

Seroepidemiological Study of Human Hydatidosis in Meshkinshahr District,Ardabil Province,Iran

Background

The aim of this study was to conduct a sero-epidemiological survey in Meshkinshahr, Ardabil Province, northwestern Iran to detect the rate of hydatidosis in the city and nearby villages. Literature shows that no such study has been conducted so far.

Methods

Overall, 670 serum samples were collected from 194 males and 476 females from patients referred to different health centers of the region. All patients filled out a questionnaire and an informed consent. Sera were analyzed using indirect-ELISA test. Ten µg /ml antigens (Antigen B derived from hydatid cyst fluid), serum dilutions of 1:500 and conjugate anti-human coombs with 1:10000 dilutions were utilized to perform the test. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software ver. 11.5.

Results

The seroprevalence of human hydatidosis was 1.79% by ELISA test in the region. This rate for females was 1.68% and males 2.6%, respectively. There was no significant difference as regards all factors studied and the seropositivity. According to job, farmers and ranchmen had the highest rate of infection as 3.17%. The sero-prevalence of infection was 2.6%% in illiterate people which showed the highest rate. As regards residency, urban life showed no significant difference with rural life (1.1% vs. 2.58%). Age group of 69–90 yr old, with 4.62% as prevalence had the highest rate of positivity.

Conclusion

Obtained sero-prevalence of hydatidosis shows more or less a resemblance to other cities of Iran, although due to the specific condition of the city we expected more rate of sero-positivity.     

Psychosocial impact of Von Hippel–Lindau disease: levels and sources of distress

Lammens CRM, Bleiker EMA, Verhoef S, Hes FJ, Ausems MGEM, Majoor‐Krakauer D, Sijmons RH, Luijt van der RB, Ouweland van den AMW, Van Os Tam, Hoogerbrugge N, Gomez‐Garcia EB, Dommering CJ, Gundy CM, Aaronson NK. Psychosocial impact of von Hippel–Lindau disease: levels and sources of distress. Von Hippel–Lindau disease (VHL) is a hereditary tumor susceptibility syndrome, characterized by an increased risk of developing multiple benign and malignant tumors at various sites and ages with limited preventive options. This study evaluates the prevalence of distress among VHL family members and factors associated significantly with such distress. Forty‐eight families with a VHL mutation were identified via the nine family cancer clinics in the Netherlands. In total, 171 family members (carriers, 50% at‐risk, non‐carriers) were approached, of whom 123 (72%) completed a self‐report questionnaire. Approximately 40% of the VHL family members reported clinically relevant levels of distress, approaching 50% among the carriers and, possibly even more striking, 36% among the non‐carriers. Having lost a first degree relative due to VHL during adolescence (OR 11.2; 95% CI 1.4–86.9) was related significantly to heightened levels of distress. Approximately, only one‐third of those who reported heightened levels of distress had received professional psychosocial support. A substantial percentage of family members experience clinically relevant levels of distress. We would recommend the introduction of a procedure for screening for distress in this vulnerable population. Special attention should be paid to those individuals who have lost a close relative due to VHL during adolescence.