The role of ethnicity and socioeconomic status in Southeast Asian mothers’ parenting sensitivity

Past research indicates that socioeconomic status (SES) accounts for differences in sensitivity across ethnic groups. However, comparatively little work has been conducted in Asia, with none examining whether ethnicity moderates the relation between SES and sensitivity. We assessed parenting behavior in 293 Singaporean citizen mothers of 6-month olds (153 Chinese, 108 Malay, 32 Indian) via the Maternal Behavioral Q-Sort for video interactions. When entered into the same model, SES (F(1,288) = 17.777, p < .001), but not ethnicity, predicted maternal sensitivity (F(2,288) = .542, p = .582). However, this positive relation between SES and sensitivity was marginally moderated by ethnicity. SES significantly positively predicted sensitivity in Chinese, but not Malay dyads. Within Indian dyads, SES marginally positively predicted sensitivity only when permanent residents were included in analyses. We discuss the importance of culture on perceived SES-associated stress. However, because few university-educated Malays participated, we also consider whether university education, specifically, positively influences sensitivity.     

Characterization of trisomy 8 in pediatric undifferentiated sarcomas using advanced molecular cytogenetic techniques

Pediatric undifferentiated soft tissue sarcomas (USTS) are a rare group of neoplasms that are unclassifiable despite the application of immunohistochemical, cytogenetic, and molecular techniques. To date, there is a dearth of studies looking at the cytogenetic and molecular genetic alterations in such tumors. Trisomy 8, a frequent molecular alteration in neoplasia, is seen in several soft tissue sarcomas, including Ewing sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor (ES/PNET), synovial sarcoma, and leiomyosarcoma. Because USTS share several clinicobiological features with the aforementioned tumors, the occurrence of alterations in chromosome 8 was studied in 11 pediatric USTS using a combination of interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), spectral karyotyping (SKY), and genomic profiling with oligonucleotide array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH). The copy number status of MYC was also assessed on the same tumors using dual-color FISH, with the aim of delineating the degree and intratumoral distribution of MYC amplification in this tumor. A near-uniform presence of an increase in MYC copy number was observed, along with an increase in chromosome 8 copy number in all the tumors. SKY and aCGH analysis of tumors exhibiting trisomy 8 confirmed the numerical imbalances. The occurrence of trisomy 8 in a subset of pediatric USTS confirms a shared genomic alteration with several other soft tissue sarcomas. Further studies are required to determine the clinical implications of such a finding.     

Persistent ectopic pregnancy--a case report

The following case report describes a case of persistent ectopic pregnancy following laparoscopic segmental salpingectomy. The patient had an unusual presentation of acute abdomen and focal haemorrhage from omental implantation of the trophoblastic tissue.     

Stem cell enrichment approaches

Adult somatic tissue, and the tumours that arise therein, are maintained by a small population of stem cells. In addition to the self-renewal potential and pluripotency, these stem cells express several phenotypic traits that can be used in isolation and enrichment strategies. Since most of the traits are not exclusive to the stem cells however, the resultant populations are typically heterogeneous and variable from one isolation to another. In this article, we review the strategies for isolation of stem cells, and the limitations thereof, with emphasis on mesenchymal tissue and bone tumours. The emerging evidence suggests that stem cell is not a distinct entity, but rather an indefinite state along a spectrum, characterized by phenotypic traits, epigenetic factors and the microenvironment.     

Genomic mechanisms and measurement of structural and numerical instability in cancer cells

The progression to cancer is often associated with instability and the acquisition of genomic heterogeneity, generating both clonal and non-clonal populations. Chromosomal instability (CIN) describes the excessive rate of numerical and structural genomic change in tumors. Mitotic segregation errors strongly influences copy number, while structural aberrations can occur at unstable genomic regions, or through aberrant DNA repair or methylation. Combined molecular cytogenetic analyses can evaluate cell-to-cell variation, and define the complexity of numerical and structural alterations. Because structural change may occur independently of numerical alteration, we propose the term structural chromosomal instability [(S)-CIN] to distinguish numerical from structural CIN.     

Dynamic interventions to control COVID-19 pandemic: a multivariate prediction modelling study comparing 16 worldwide countries

European Journal of Epidemiology - To date, non-pharmacological interventions (NPI) have been the mainstay for controlling the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. While NPIs are effective...     

Association Between Quality of Primary Care and Hospitalization for Coronary Heart Disease in England: National Cross-sectional Study

BACKGROUND A new pay-for-performance scheme for primary care physicians was introduced in England in 2004 as part of an initiative to link the quality of primary care with physician pay. OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between the quality of primary care and rates of hospital admissions for coronary heart disease. DESIGN Ecological cross-sectional study using data from the Quality and Outcomes Framework for family practice, hospital admissions, and census data. PARTICIPANTS All 303 primary care trusts in England, covering approximately 50 million people. MEASUREMENTS Rates of elective and unplanned hospital admissions for coronary heart disease and rates of coronary angioplasty and coronary artery bypass grafting were regressed against quality-of-care measures from the Quality and Outcomes Framework, area socioeconomic scores, and disease prevalence. RESULTS Correlations between prevalence, area socioeconomic scores, and admission rates were generally weak. The strongest relations were seen between area socioeconomic scores and elective and unplanned hospital admissions and revascularization procedures among the age group 45–74 years. Among those aged 75 years and over, the only positive association observed was between area socioeconomic scores and unplanned hospital admissions. CONCLUSIONS The lack of an association between quality scores and admission rates suggests that improving the quality of primary care may not reduce demands on the hospital sector and that other factors are much better predictors of hospitalization for coronary heart disease.