Smoking Cessation Programs for Seniors:A Group Model That Works

We describe an intensive group program for older adults, facilitated by a tobacco cessation specialist and a geriatric social worker, designed to focus on factors that maintain smoking behavior. Integral components dealt with issues specific to the older adult such as social isolation or economic need. Pharmacological therapy was provided. Participants with a mean age of 67 years who smoked an average of 19 cigarettes per day completed the program. Sixty-six percent of participants had been treated or were in treatment for depression and/or anxiety. Follow-up was completed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. The cessation rate across follow-up points was 68%. This program shows that older adults can maintain smoking cessation when provided with programs designed to address their issues.     

Lack of Alterations in Thyroid Hormones Following Exposure to Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether 47 during a Period of Rapid Brain Development in Mice

Thyroid alterations have been shown to occur following exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) mixtures, possibly indicating that disruptions in thyroid hormone levels may underlie behavior deficits observed in animals following postnatal PBDE exposure. This study determined whether acute postnatal exposure to PBDE-47 would alter thyroid hormones. Mice were dosed with PBDE-47 on postnatal day 10, and serum collected either 1, 5, or 10 days after the dose. No effect was observed on thyroxine and triiodothyronine levels at any age examined. This suggests that the neurological abnormalities reported in mice exposed to PBDE-47 are not due to acute changes in circulating thyroid hormones at these observed periods.     

THE LOSS RESPONSE LIST: A TOOL FOR MEASURING ADOLESCENT GRIEF RESPONSES

Single adolescent girls aged 13-19 years participated in pilot (n=40) and follow up (n=164) studies to develop the reliability and validity of the Loss Response List (LRL). The LRL measures physical, emotional, social, and cognitive grief responses by comparing groups based on pregnancy status (never pregnant, pregnant, perinatal loss, and perinatal loss and pregnant). The pilot study revealed significant results on emotional, social, and cognitive grief responses between the perinatal loss and no-perinatal loss groups. Follow-up study results indicated significant differences between the perinatal loss group and the other groups on grief subscales. Significant differences also occurred between perinatal loss and never pregnant groups on depression. The LRL should be useful in gathering information about adolescent grief responses, including perinatal loss.     

Problem-Solving Intervention for Caregivers of Children With Mental Health Problems

Building Our Solutions and Connections (BOSC) focused on enhancing problem-solving skills (PSS) of primary caregivers of children with mental health problems. Aims were determining feasibility, acceptability, and effect size (ES) estimates for depression, burden, personal control, and PSS. Methods: Caregivers were randomized to BOSC (n = 30) or wait-list control (WLC) groups (n = 31). Data were collected at baseline, post-intervention, and 3 and 6 months post-intervention. Results: Three-months post-intervention, ES for burden and personal control were .07 and .08, respectively. ES for depressed caregivers for burden and personal control were 0.14 and 0.19, respectively. Conclusions: Evidence indicates that the intervention had desired effects.     

Exercise training in obesity lowers blood pressure independent of weight change

PURPOSE: We used the rabbit model of obesity and exercise training to determine effects of exercise training during the development of obesity on resting blood pressure and heart rate, ventricular hypertrophy, blood volume, and hormonal profile. METHODS: Female New Zealand white rabbits were assigned to one of four groups: lean sedentary (L-S, N = 17), lean exercise-trained (L-EX, N = 16), obese sedentary (O-S, N = 18), and obese exercise-trained (O-EX, N = 15). Lean rabbits were fed a maintenance diet whereas obese rabbits were fed an ad libitum high fat (10% added fat) diet. Simultaneously, exercise-trained animals underwent a progressive treadmill exercise training protocol for 12 wk. After 12 wk of diet and exercise regimens, resting blood pressure and heart rate were measured from a central ear artery catheter. Ventricular hypertrophy was evaluated using wet ventricular weights. Blood volume was measured using the Evans blue dye procedure; hormonal profile was evaluated from arterial plasma/serum samples. RESULTS: After 12 wk, O-S and O-EX had similar body weights and similar percentage increases in body weight. Despite similar body weights, O-EX had an approximate 6-mm Hg lower mean blood pressure compared with the elevated pressure seen in O-S (P < or = 0.05). Obese rabbits had greater resting heart rate, plasma cholesterol and triglycerides, and plasma renin activity compared with lean rabbits, and these values were unaffected by exercise training. Plasma and blood volumes, as well as plasma insulin, cortisol, and aldosterone were unaffected by exercise training. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that exercise training, in the absence of differences in body weight, may be useful in the reduction of obesity-induced hypertension but that other therapies may be needed in order to control other cardiovascular risk factors.     

Psychiatric and Cognitive Effects of Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s Disease

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is effective for Parkinson’s disease (PD), dystonia, and essential tremor (ET). While motor benefits are well documented, cognitive and psychiatric side effects from the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and globus pallidus interna (GPi) DBS for PD are increasingly recognized. Underlying disease, medications, microlesions, and post-surgical stimulation likely all contribute to non-motor symptoms (NMS).