Parental alcohol use and brain volumes in early- and late-onset alcoholics.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that alcoholics have smaller brain volumes than non-alcoholic cohorts, but an effect of family history (FH) of heavy drinking on brain volume has not been demonstrated. We examined the relationship between an FH of heavy drinking and both brain shrinkage as measured by the ratio of brain volumes to intracranial volume (ICV) as well as maximal brain growth as measured by ICV in early-onset and late-onset alcoholics. METHODS: With T1-weighted resonance imaging, we measured ICV, brain volume, and white and gray matter volume in adult treatment-seeking late-onset and early-onset alcoholics with either a positive or a negative FH of heavy alcohol use, and in healthy control subjects. We also calculated brain shrinkage using a ratio of soft tissue volumes to ICV. RESULTS: The FH positive alcoholic patients had significantly smaller ICVs than FH negative patients, suggesting smaller premorbid brain growth. Brain shrinkage did not correlate with FH. Late-onset alcoholics showed a greater difference in ICV between FH positive and FH negative patients than early-onset alcoholics. Late-onset FH positive patients also had significantly lower IQ scores than late-onset FH negative patients, and IQ scores were correlated with ICV. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide evidence that parental alcohol use might increase risk for alcoholism in offspring in part by a genetic and/or environmental effect that might be related to reduced brain growth.     

Women's Danger Management Strategies in an Inner‐City Housing Project*

The danger management strategies of low‐income African American women who live in a public housing community characterized by chronic violence are examined. Based on qualitative interviews with 18 single mothers, we explored the violent community dangers with which women contend, the nature of this violence, the strategies used to deal with community violence, and their benefits and costs to family and community life. Findings show that multiple types of violence characterized life in the community and that this violence has specific physical locations, a particular set of actors, and a temporal rhythm. Women's responses to violence were nonconfrontational and family focused in nature. These efforts were effective in keeping women and their children safe, but did not reduce the prevalence of violence.     

The use of the Impact on Sibling scale with families of children with chronic illness and developmental disability

Objective   This study evaluated the Impact on Sibling scale, a six-item measure of parents' perception of the effects of a child's illness on healthy siblings.
Methods   Participants were 122 parents of a child with chronic illness, developmental disability, or autism spectrum disorder, and a well sibling aged 4–13 years. Parents completed the Impact on Sibling scale and the Child Behavior Checklist about the sibling, and completed the revised Impact on Family scale and the Brief Symptom Inventory about themselves.
Results   The Impact on Sibling score was correlated with measures of sibling, parent and family functioning. The internal consistency of the Impact on Sibling scale was higher for families with children with chronic illness compared with the other two diagnostic groups.
Conclusion   The Impact on Sibling scale is a brief set of items that can help identify siblings who are negatively affected by a brother/sister's illness. Findings support further research on the Impact on Sibling scale, particularly with families of children with chronic illnesses.     

When work strain transcends psychological boundaries: an inquiry into the relationship between time pressure,irritation, work–family conflict and psychosomatic complaints

Against the theoretical background of the effort–recovery model and the action regulation theory, the author presents a cross‐sectional questionnaire study testing hypotheses about the relationship between work‐related time pressure, cognitive and emotional irritation, work–family conflict and psychosomatic complaints. Subjects were 576 female home care nurses. Results of a path analysis show that the relation of time pressure and psychosomatic complaints is partially mediated by experiencing a work–family conflict; also the relation of time pressure and work–family conflict is partially mediated by cognitive and emotional irritation. It is argued that cognitive and emotional irritation are fruitful concepts for a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between work stressors and the development of strain‐based work–family conflict. Implications for the prevention of work–family conflict are outlined. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

一种识别蛋白质的保守氨基酸残基的新方法

保守氨基酸残基在生物进化过程中具有较强的稳定性,一般不会发生太大的变化;生物信息学认为：氨基酸序列决定蛋白质结构,蛋白质结构决定蛋白质功能。因此,作者基于氨基酸的生化特性、几何特性和动态特性描述了一个新颖的算法去发现蛋白酶家族中的保守氨基酸残基,而保守氨基酸残基将对蛋白质的结构和功能的研究具有重要的意义。     

Familial risk of cancer among randomly selected cancer probands

Several investigators have reported that relatives of lung cancer probands have a greater-than-normal likelihood for developing some form of cancer. To evaluate whether this familial risk is general for probands with cancer at any site or limited to lung cancer probands, we did a case-control study in which probands having cancer affecting any body site were identified and their pedigree data were tabulated. Telephone interviews and a mailed questionnaire were used to obtain cancer histories and environmental exposures on the families of 41 lung cancer probands, 105 probands with cancer other than lung, and 127 spouse families. Cumulative tobacco exposure (P less than .05), occupational hazards (P less than .005), and age of the family relatives (P less than .0001) were found to be statistically significant predictors of cancer risk. With consideration given for these variables, we determined that siblings of lung cancer probands were at slightly greater risk of cancer of any kind (odds ratio [OR] = 1.43, P = .06) than siblings in the control group. Much of the elevated risk was attributable to an excess of lung cancer (OR = 2.49, P = .06). Siblings of non-lung/non-breast cancer probands were also determined to be at increased risk of lung cancer as well (OR = 1.61, P = .06). For parents, the risk was lower, although parental information may have been underreported.     

How Can and Do Australian Doctors Promote Physical Activity?

Background.Physical inactivity is recognized as an important public health issue. Yet little is known about doctors' knowledge, attitude, skills, and resources specifically relating to the promotion of physical activity. Our survey assessed the current practice, perceived desirable practice, confidence, and barriers related to the promotion of physical activity in family practice.Methods.A questionnaire was developed and distributed to all 1,228 family practitioners in Perth, Western Australia.Results.We received a 71% response (n= 789). Family practitioners are most likely to recommend walking to sedentary adults to improve fitness and they are aware of the major barriers to patients participating in physical activity. Doctors are less confident at providing specific advice on exercise and may require further skills, knowledge, and experience. Although they promote exercise to patients through verbal advice in the consultation, few use written materials or referral systems.Conclusions.There are significant differences between self-reports of current practice and perceived desirable practice in the promotion of physical activity by doctors. Future strategies need to address the self-efficacy of family physicians and involve resources of proven effectiveness. The potential of referral systems for supporting efforts to increase physical activity by Australians should be explored.     

A combined course of primary health care practice and family medicine at the University of Gezira

The community-based course presented is a longitudinal course running through four semesters in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Gezira, Sudan. Students combine their regular work in primary health care centres with attachments to a number of families in Wad Medani town. They continue to visit these families regularly throughout their entire medical course with the aim of studying them and helping them with some of their medical and psychosocial problems.