Substance use and associated emotional and behavioral problems in Nepalese adolescents

Background: Research has demonstrated that problem behavior has been associated with substance use, but knowledge is lacking on such associations in a low-income country like Nepal. Aims: This study aimed to find associations between emotional and behavioral problems and substance use among Nepalese adolescents. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the end of 2011, with participants from three schools in the Province 4 of Nepal. We selected 408 adolescents aged 12 to 18 (mean 15.2 years, 54% boys) at one urban and two rural schools. The data were collected using the Youth Self-Report and Adolescents’ Substance Use Measurement. Results: Higher scores on withdrawn/depressed symptoms, thought problems, attention problems, delinquent or aggressive behavior or internalizing or externalizing problems were associated with the use of tobacco, alcohol or other substances. In the broadband scales, only internalizing problems predicted the use of intoxicants. Higher scores for attention problems predicted the use of tobacco, any intoxicants, and high-risk user. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that problem behavior among Nepalese adolescents was associated with substance use. Future studies should explore the association between problem behavior and substance use, including causal factors, so that risky behavior among Nepalese adolescents can be prevented.     

Interpersonal positive reframing in the daily lives of couples coping with breast cancer

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined word use as an indicator of interpersonal positive reframing in daily conversations of couples coping with breast cancer and as a predictor of stress.

Design: The Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR) and Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) were used to examine naturally occurring word use conceptually linked to positive reframing (positive emotion, negative emotion, and cognitive processing words).

Sample: Fifty-two couples coping with breast cancer.

Methods: Couples wore the EAR, a device participants wear, that audio-recorded over one weekend (>16,000 sound files), and completed self-reports of positive reframing (COPE) and stress (Perceived Stress Scale). LIWC, a software program, measured word use.

Findings: Both partners’ word use (i.e., positive emotion and cognitive processing words) was associated with their own reported positive reframing, and spouses’ word use was also indicative of patients’ positive reframing. Results also revealed that, in general, words indicating positive reframing predicted lower levels of stress.

Conclusions: Findings supported the hypothesis that partners—and particularly spouses of breast cancer patients—may assist each other’s coping by positively reframing the cancer experience and other negative experiences in conversation.     

Reconstruction of parietal bone defects with adiposederived mesenchymal stem cells. Experimental study

Purpose:This study assessed the regeneration potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from adipose tissue associated with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in bone regeneration.Methods:Thirty Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus albinos) were divided into five groups (according to the grafting material and time to euthanasia): (1) autograft - 14 days (control), (2) autograft - 28 days (control), (3) MSC + PRP - 14 days, (4) MSC + PRP + papaverine - 14 days and (5) MSC + PRP + papaverine - 28 days. After euthanasia, the graft was removed and histological slides were prepared. They were assessed by a blinded pathologist using a previously published histological scale as parameter.Results:There was some degree of neoformed bone trabeculae (NBT) in 93.3% of the samples, as well as osteoblastic activity (OA). The autograft groups (14 and 28 days) had higher levels in the formation of bone trabeculae. Nonparametric data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test and proved not to be statistically significant at p < 0.05.Conclusions:Experimental parietal bone reconstruction, combining MSC, PRP and papaverine presented regeneration in all groups with no significant difference among them.Key words: Bone Regeneration, Platelet-Rich Plasma, Tissue Engineering, Rats