scholarly journals How can the study of biological processes help design new interventions for children with severe antisocial behavior?

2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 941-973 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie H. M. van Goozen ◽  
Graeme Fairchild

AbstractChildren with severe antisocial behavior have an increased risk of showing violently aggressive and other forms of problem behavior in adolescence and adulthood. It is well established that both biological and social factors are involved in the development of antisocial behavior. The primary aim of this paper is to discuss the evidence that specific neurobiological systems are involved in the etiology of childhood-onset antisocial behavior. These factors are responsible for the severity of the behavioral problems observed in antisocial children, but they also play a role in their persistence, because they influence children's interactions with their environment. We will discuss the possible causes of disruptions in neurobiological systems in childhood antisocial behavior and point out the implications of these findings for theory and clinical practice. We will argue that familial factors (e.g., genetic influences, early childhood adversity) are linked to negative behavioral outcomes (e.g., antisocial behavior problems) through the mediating and transactional interplay with neurobiological deficits. An investigation of neurobiological functioning in antisocial children might not only indicate which children are most likely to persist in engaging in severe antisocial behavior, but also guide the development of new interventions.

Neurology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. e226-e238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy Deng ◽  
Nicholas Wood ◽  
Kristine Macartney ◽  
Michael Gold ◽  
Nigel Crawford ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo compare the developmental and behavioral outcomes of children experiencing an initial vaccine-proximate (VP) febrile seizure (FS) to those having a non–VP-FS (NVP-FS) and controls who have not had a seizure.MethodsIn this prospective multicenter cohort study, children with their first FS before 30 months of age between May 2013 and April 2016 were recruited from 4 Australian pediatric hospitals and classified as having VP-FS or NVP-FS. Similar-aged children with no seizure history were recruited as controls. The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III) was administered to participants with FS 12 to 24 months after their initial FS and to controls 12 to 42 months of age at the time of assessment. The primary outcome was the Bayley-III cognitive score. Children's preacademic skills were assessed with the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement, Third Edition, and their behavior and executive functioning were obtained from parent questionnaires.ResultsThere was no significant difference in cognitive function between children with VP-FS (n = 62), those with NVP-FS (n = 70), and controls (n = 90) (F2,219 = 2.645, p = 0.07). There were no differences between the groups for all other measures and no increased risk of borderline/significant impairment or behavior in the clinical range in children with VP-FS compared to those with NVP-FS or controls.ConclusionVP-FS was not associated with an increased risk of developmental or behavioral problems in young children compared to children with NVP-FS or controls. Parents and providers should be reassured by the absence of adverse effects of VP-FS on the development of children.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 102 (Supplement_E1) ◽  
pp. 1293-1297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecelia McCarton

Low birth weight infants are at increased risk for behavioral and emotional problems. The Infant Health and Development Program was designed to evaluate the efficacy of intense pediatric and family support on reducing developmental and behavioral problems in low birth weight, premature infants. The major findings of this and other studies are presented in this article.


Author(s):  
Rose McDermott ◽  
Peter K. Hatemi

Genetic influences are often misinterpreted to mean that an individual with a particular genotype is inevitably predisposed to engage in a given behavior or that genetic influences operate outside of human agency and social context. This chapter undertakes a qualitative investigation of a genetically informed (MAOA) sample to illustrate the critical differences between population estimates and individual accountability. The sample includes those whose lives have revolved around violence (e.g., gang members) and those whose lives are committed to peace (e.g., Buddhist monks). It is found that genotype alone cannot predict any one individual’s social behaviors, and it is argued that any decisions or legal precedents targeted toward predicting how a specific individual may act based on his or her DNA sequence require a more nuanced appreciation of how social factors, genetic dispositions, and personal experience intertwine in the context of human agency.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1325.2-1326
Author(s):  
M. Chamurlieva ◽  
E. Loginova ◽  
T. Korotaeva ◽  
Y. Korsakova ◽  
E. Gubar ◽  
...  

Background:Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is heterogeneous in its clinical presentation and disease course, but many patients (pts) develop a destructive form of arthritis. Psoriasis (PsO) precedes arthritis by an average of 7 years. [1]. Theory of transition from PsO to PsA has been proposed recently [2]. But association between skin disease severity and joint disease are still unclear.Objectives:to evaluate association between bone erosion, PsO duration, skin and nail disease severity in PsA pts based on data from clinical practice (RU-PsART cohort).Methods:737 (M/F=350/387) PsA pts fulfilling the CASPAR criteria were included. Mean age 47.4±12.7 years (yrs), PsA duration 55[17;120] mos., PsO duration 165[74.5;292] mos., mean DAPSA 23.3[14;36.9] mos., HAQ-DI - 0.98 [0.5;1.38], CRP - 7.4 [2.1;18] mg/l. All pts underwent standard clinical examination (tender joins count (TJC)/68, swelling joints count (SJC)/66, CRP (mg/l), DAPSA, dactylitis, enthesitis by LEI + Plantar Facia (PF), HAQ-DI. Mild disease was defined as body surface area (BSA)≤10%, moderate to severe as BSA>10%. The presence/absent of nail PsO was evaluated. X-ray of feet and hand were done in 622 out of 737 pts. The one-factor model of logistic regression was used to identify a group of features that are associated with achievement MDA. M±SD, Me [Q25; Q75], Min-Max, %, t-test, Pierson-χ2, Manna-Whitney tests, ORs with 95% CI were performed. All p<0.05 were considered to indicate statistical significance.Results:PsO precedes of PsA by an average of 9.2 years. BSA≤10% was found in 615 out of 672 pts (91.5%), BSA>10% - in 57 out of 672 pts (8.5%). Nail PsO were seen in 230 out of 737 (31.2%). Bone erosion was found in 237 out of 622 of pts (38.1%). Among these pts nail PsO were seen in 67 out of 237 pts (28.3%). Enthesitis found in 236 out of 737 pts (42.1%), dactylitis – in 197 out 731 pts (27%), axial PsA – in 315 out of 731 pts (43.1%). Bone erosion significantly associated with PsO duration more than 5 yrs., skin and nail PsO severity, high PsA activity by DAPSA, axial manifestation and duration of PsA > 36 mos. (Figure 1).Figure 1Forest plot of factors associated with bone erosion in PsA pts.Conclusion:In our cohort the majority of PsA pts had mild PsO preceded PsA on average of 9.2 yrs. Bone erosion was found in 30% of PsA pts which associated with PsO duration, skin and nail disease severity as well as with PsA activity. Early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention within a “window of opportunity” are very important for improving outcomes and prevent structural damage in PsA.References:[1]Tillett W, et al. Interval between onset of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis comparing the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink with a hospital-based cohort. Rheumatol. 2017; 56, 2109–2113[2]Scher JU, et al. Preventing psoriatic arthritis: focusing on patients with psoriasis at increased risk of transition. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2019;15(3):153-166. doi: 10.1038/s41584-019-0175-0. PMID: 30742092.Disclosure of Interests:None declared.


Neonatology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Faiza Latheef ◽  
Hanna Wahlgren ◽  
Helene Engstrand Lilja ◽  
Barbro Diderholm ◽  
Mattias Paulsson

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a disease predominantly affecting preterm infants. The administration of hyperosmolar solutions could lead to the development of NEC. The objective of this study was to measure the osmolality of enteral medications used in clinical practice and to assess the risk of NEC following exposure to hyperosmolar medications. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A retrospective cohort study in extremely preterm infants (gestational age &#x3c;28 weeks) born between 2010 and 2016 at a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit in Sweden. 465 infants were identified via the Swedish Neonatal Quality register. Data relating to enteral administrations received during a two-week period were collected from the medical records. The osmolalities of medications were measured using an osmometer. Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratio of developing NEC. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A total of 253 patients met the inclusion criteria. The osmolalities of 5 commonly used medications significantly exceeded the recommended limit of 450 mOsm/kg set by the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP). Most patients (94%) received at least one hyperosmolar medication. No significant risk of developing NEC could be found. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The medications used in clinical practice can significantly exceed the limit set by the AAP. This study does not indicate an increased risk of developing NEC in extremely preterm infants following exposure to hyperosmolar medications. Further studies in larger cohorts are needed to determine the specific cut-off level of osmolality in relation to the pathogenesis of NEC.


Toxics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 97
Author(s):  
Tristan Furnary ◽  
Rolando Garcia-Milian ◽  
Zeyan Liew ◽  
Shannon Whirledge ◽  
Vasilis Vasiliou

Recent epidemiological studies suggest that prenatal exposure to acetaminophen (APAP) is associated with increased risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting 1 in 59 children in the US. Maternal and prenatal exposure to pesticides from food and environmental sources have also been implicated to affect fetal neurodevelopment. However, the underlying mechanisms for ASD are so far unknown, likely with complex and multifactorial etiology. The aim of this study was to explore the potential effects of APAP and pesticide exposure on development with regards to the etiology of ASD by highlighting common genes and biological pathways. Genes associated with APAP, pesticides, and ASD through human research were retrieved from molecular and biomedical literature databases. The interaction network of overlapping genetic associations was subjected to network topology analysis and functional annotation of the resulting clusters. These genes were over-represented in pathways and biological processes (FDR p < 0.05) related to apoptosis, metabolism of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and carbohydrate metabolism. Since these three biological processes are frequently implicated in ASD, our findings support the hypothesis that cell death processes and specific metabolic pathways, both of which appear to be targeted by APAP and pesticide exposure, may be involved in the etiology of ASD. This novel exposures-gene-disease database mining might inspire future work on understanding the biological underpinnings of various ASD risk factors.


2021 ◽  
pp. 238008442110003
Author(s):  
T.M. Nguyen ◽  
U. Tonmukayakul ◽  
H. Calache

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has disrupted essential oral healthcare in Australia. Sources for COVID-19 transmission via dental settings is considered to have high potential due to the production of aerosols and because transmission can occur through the airborne route. However, COVID-19 cases in dentistry is reportedly low. Delayed timely dental care, where severe oral diseases remain undetected, untreated, or asymptomatic such as advanced dental caries, periodontitis, and head and neck cancer, can have detrimental consequences for individuals at increased risk for oral diseases. The dental profession should remain vigilant and advocate for the continuation of essential oral healthcare even in times of uncertainty. Knowledge Transfer Statement: The reportedly low COVID-19 transmission occurring in dental settings highlight achievements made by the dental profession. There are valid reasons to reconsider risk-based essential oral healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
P McEwan ◽  
L Hoskin ◽  
K Badora ◽  
D Sugrue ◽  
G James ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), heart failure (HF), resistant hypertension (RHTN) and diabetes are at an increased risk of hyperkalaemia (HK) which can be potentially life-threatening, as a result of cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac arrest leading to sudden death. In these patients, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi), are used to manage several cardiovascular and renal conditions, and are associated with an increased risk of HK. Assessing the burden of HK in real-world clinical practice may concentrate relevant care on those patients most in need, potentially improving patient outcomes and efficiency of the healthcare system. Purpose To assess the burden of HK in a real-world population of UK patients with at least one of: RHTN, Type I or II diabetes, CKD stage 3+, dialysis, HF, or in receipt of a prescription for RAASi. Methods Primary and secondary care data for this retrospective study were obtained from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) and linked Hospital Episode Statistics (HES). Eligible patients were identified using READ codes defining the relevant diagnosis, receipt of indication-specific medication, or, in the case of CKD, an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≤60 ml/min/1.73m2 within the study period (01 January 2008 to 30 June 2018) or in the five-year lookback period (2003–2007). The index date was defined as 01 January 2008 or first diagnosis of an eligible condition or RAASi prescription, whichever occurred latest. HK was defined as K+ ≥5.0 mmol/L; thresholds of ≥5.5 mmol/L and ≥6.0 mmol/L were explored as sensitivity analyses. Incidence rates of HK were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results The total eligible population across all cohorts was 931,460 patients. RHTN was the most prevalent comorbidity (n=317,135; 34.0%) and dialysis the least prevalent (n=4,415; 0.5%). The majority of the eligible population were prescribed RAASi during follow-up (n=754,523; 81.0%). At a K+ threshold of ≥5.0 mmol/L, the dialysis cohort had the highest rate of HK (501.0 events per 1,000 patient-years), followed by HF (490.9), CKD (410.9), diabetes (355.0), RHTN (261.4) and the RAASi cohort (211.2) (Figure 1). This pattern was still observed at alternative threshold definitions of HK. Conclusion This large real-world study of UK patients demonstrates the burden of hyperkalaemia in high-risk patient populations from the UK. There is a need for effective prevention and treatment of HK, particularly in patients with CKD, dialysis or HF where increased incidence rates are observed which in turn will improve patient outcomes and healthcare resource usage. Figure 1. Rates of HK by condition Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Private company. Main funding source(s): AstraZeneca


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Guo ◽  
◽  
Elisa Bettella ◽  
Paul C. Marcogliese ◽  
Rongjuan Zhao ◽  
...  

Abstract Postsynaptic density (PSD) proteins have been implicated in the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. Here, we present detailed clinical and genetic data for 20 patients with likely gene-disrupting mutations in TANC2—whose protein product interacts with multiple PSD proteins. Pediatric patients with disruptive mutations present with autism, intellectual disability, and delayed language and motor development. In addition to a variable degree of epilepsy and facial dysmorphism, we observe a pattern of more complex psychiatric dysfunction or behavioral problems in adult probands or carrier parents. Although this observation requires replication to establish statistical significance, it also suggests that mutations in this gene are associated with a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders consistent with its postsynaptic function. We find that TANC2 is expressed broadly in the human developing brain, especially in excitatory neurons and glial cells, but shows a more restricted pattern in Drosophila glial cells where its disruption affects behavioral outcomes.


2013 ◽  
Vol 202 (4) ◽  
pp. 269-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eamon J. McCrory ◽  
Stéphane A. De Brito ◽  
Philip A. Kelly ◽  
Geoffrey Bird ◽  
Catherine L. Sebastian ◽  
...  

BackgroundChildhood adversity is associated with significantly increased risk of psychiatric disorder. To date, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies of children have mainly focused on institutionalisation and investigated conscious processing of affect.AimsTo investigate neural response to pre-attentively presented affect cues in a community sample of children with documented experiences of maltreatment in the home.MethodA masked dot-probe paradigm involving pre-attentive presentation of angry, happy and neutral facial expressions was employed. Eighteen maltreated children were compared with 23 carefully matched non-maltreated peers.ResultsIncreased neural response was observed in the right amygdala for pre-attentively presented angry and happy faces in maltreated v. non-maltreated children. Level of amygdala activation was negatively associated with age at onset for several abuse subtypes.ConclusionsMaltreatment is associated with heightened neural response to positive and negative facial affect, even to stimuli outside awareness. This may represent a latent neural risk factor for future psychiatric disorder.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document