Age-related differences in resting state functional connectivity in pediatric migraine

Background Migraine affects roughly 10% of youth aged 5–15 years, however the underlying mechanisms of migraine in youth are poorly understood. Multiple structural and functional alterations have been shown in the brains of adult migraine sufferers. This study aims to investigate the effects of migraine on resting-state functional connectivity during the period of transition from childhood to adolescence, a critical period of brain development and the time when rates of pediatric chronic pain spikes. Methods Using independent component analysis, we compared resting state network spatial maps and power spectra between youth with migraine aged 7–15 and age-matched controls. Statistical comparisons were conducted using a MANCOVA analysis. Results We show (1) group by age interaction effects on connectivity in the visual and salience networks, group by sex interaction effects on connectivity in the default mode network and group by pubertal status interaction effects on connectivity in visual and frontal parietal networks, and (2) relationships between connectivity in the visual networks and the migraine cycle, and age by cycle interaction effects on connectivity in the visual, default mode and sensorimotor networks. Conclusions We demonstrate that brain alterations begin early in youth with migraine and are modulated by development. This highlights the need for further study into the neural mechanisms of migraine in youth specifically, to aid in the development of more effective treatments.

The Association between Gait Speed and Falls in Community Dwelling Older Adults with and without Mild Cognitive Impairment

(1) Background: Falls are common in older adults and result in injuries, loss of independence, and death. Slow gait is associated with falls in older adults, but few studies have assessed the association between gait speed and falls among those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). (2) Methods: The association between gait speed and falls was assessed in 2705 older adults with and without MCI participating in the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory Study. Gait speed was measured via a 15-foot walk test and fall history through self-report. We used data collected at the 12-month (2001–2003) and 18-month visits (2002–2004). (3) Results: Participant average age was 78.5 years (sd = 3.2); 45% were female, and 14% had MCI at baseline. The average gait speed was 0.93 m/s (sd = 0.20). Sixteen percent (n = 433) and 18% (n = 498) reported at least one fall at the 12-month and 18-month visits, respectively. Faster gait speed was associated with decreased risk of falling (RR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.91, 0.99) for every 10 cm/s increase in gait speed adjusted for age, gender, study arm, site, and MCI status. (4) Conclusions: The relationship between gait speed and risk of falling did not vary by MCI status (interaction p-value = 0.78).

The associations of hostility and defensiveness with telomere length are influenced by sex and health status

Background Shorter telomere length (TL) may indicate premature cellular aging and increased risk for disease. While there is substantial evidence for shorter TL in individuals suffering from psychiatric disorders, data is scarce on maladaptive personality traits related to coronary artery disease (CAD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of TL with hostility and defensiveness in individuals with CAD or other non-cardiovascular illnesses and whether associations were moderated by CAD status and sex. Methods One thousand thirty-six individuals (Mage = 65.40 ± 6.73 years) with and without CAD completed the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale and the Cook–Medley Hostility Scale. Relative TL was measured via quantitative polymerase chain reaction of total genomic DNA samples. Analyses involved hierarchical regressions on TL, performed separately for hostility and defensiveness, controlling for pertinent sociodemographic, behavioural, and medical risk factors. Separate analyses were performed on 25 healthy participants. Results A hostility by sex interaction emerged (β = − .08, p = .006) in the patient groups, where greater hostility was associated with shorter TL in women only (p < .01). A Defensiveness by CAD status interaction (β = − .06, p = .049) revealed longer TL in more defensive CAD patients only (p = .06). In healthy men, shorter TL was observed in those with greater defensiveness (β = .52, p = .006) but lower hostility (β = − .43, p = .049). Conclusion Hostility and defensiveness are differentially associated with TL as a function of sex and health status. The implication of these results for health remains to be determined, but propose an additional pathway through which the effect of maladaptive personality traits may contribute to CV and other disease.

The Young Environmental Citizens in Nordic Countries: Their Concerns, Values, Engagement, and Intended Future Actions

This chapter presents an analysis of students’ concerns, values, engagement, and intended future participation on environmental issues in relation to their home socioeconomic background, gender, and migrant status. Analyzing IEA International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS) 2016 data of Nordic countries, we first present descriptions of student responses to all questions related to environmental issues and compare Nordic results with European and international averages. Then, we construct a composite score of student environmental citizenship for investigating its relationship with student background factors such as gender, migrant status, and home socioeconomic status through comparing means between student groups with different background characteristics. Lastly, we apply factorial ANOVA analysis method to examine the effect sizes of student background factors and the interactions between them on youth environmental citizenship in the four countries. The results show that there are both similarities and small variations in elements of student environmental citizenship among the Nordic countries and in comparison with their European and international peers. Nordic students stand out as the concerned environmental citizens while they are somehow lower than their European and international peers in engagement, values, and intended participation of environmental citizenship. We find that student environmental citizenship is socially divided in all Nordic countries as it differs significantly between students from different socioeconomic strata and genders. Although not all differences of student environmental citizenship by migrant status are statistically significant among the Nordic countries, we find some significant influence of migrant status interaction with socioeconomic statuses and genders.

Association of Cigarette Use and Substance Use Disorders among US Adults with and without a Recent Diagnosis of Cancer

Background: Few studies have examined substance use disorders (SUDs) in cancer patients and it is unclear whether SUDs differentially impact cigarette smoking in patients with vs. without cancer. This study used epidemiological data to estimate current cigarette smoking prevalence and quit ratios among US adults with and without SUDs by cancer status. Methods: Data were drawn from the 2015–2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (n = 170,111). Weighted current smoking prevalence and quit ratios were estimated across survey years by SUDs (with vs. without) and by cancer status (with vs. without). Results: Among those with cancer, current smoking prevalence was higher for those with vs. without SUDs (47% vs. 13%, p < 0.001) and quit ratios lower for those with vs. without SUDs (45% vs. 71%, p = 0.002). A similar pattern was observed in adults without cancer, with higher smoking prevalence (56% vs. 21%, p < 0.001) and lower quit ratios (23% vs. 51%, p < 0.001) observed for those with vs. without SUDs, respectively. In adjusted logistic regressions, the SUD × cancer status interaction was not significant for smoking prevalence or quit ratios (AOR = 1.2; 95% CI: 0.7, 2.1, p = 0.56; AOR = 1.0; 95% CI: 0.5, 2.0, p = 0.91, respectively), though smoking prevalence was lower and quit ratios higher for adults with vs. without cancer (ps < 0.05). Conclusions: Among US adults with and without cancer, individuals with SUDs evidenced higher cigarette smoking and lower quit ratios than those without SUDs. Addressing SUDs and their impact on smoking cessation is critical in cancer patients with implications for improving health and treatment outcomes.

Postprint BuckfieldSinclairGlautier (2020) Slow associative learning in alcohol dependence and the Alcohol Cue Exposure Treatment Paradox

The published version is available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/add.15210 AimsTo examine two explanations for the observation that cue-exposure treatment has not been clearly effective in the treatment of alcohol dependence: do alcohol dependent individuals have either 1) slower extinction and/or 2) greater contextual specificity of extinction than non-dependent individuals? DesignIn two exploratory laboratory experiments we used mixed factorial designs with two-group between-subjects factors and within-subjects factors corresponding to performance in different parts of a computer-based learning task.SettingUniversity of Southampton psychology research laboratories and two addiction treatment services in the city of Southampton, UK.ParticipantsExperiment 1: Seventy-four (54 female) undergraduates from the University of Southampton (age M=20.4 years). Experiment 2: One-hundred and two (40 female) participants from the University of Southampton, the local community, and from two Southampton alcohol treatment services (age M=41.3 years). MeasurementsThe Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, a 1-week time-line follow-back alcohol consumption questionnaire, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (11th Ed), and a computerised learning task. Experiment 2 additionally used the 44-item Big Five Inventory, a drug use history checklist, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. FindingsExperiment 1: light and heavy drinkers did not differ significantly in extinction (extinction block x drinking status interaction, p=.761, η_p^2=.005, 95% confidence interval (0,.028)) or on contextual control of extinction (recovery block x drinking status interaction, p=.514, η_p^2=.009, 95% confidence interval (0,.084)). Experiment 2: slower extinction in abstinent alcohol dependent participants compared with light drinkers (extinction block x drinking status interaction, p=.023, η_p^2=.031, 95% confidence interval (0,.069)) but no significant difference on contextual control of extinction (recovery block x drinking status interaction, p=.069, η_p^2=.033, 95% confidence interval (0,.125)). ConclusionAbstinent alcohol dependent people may have slower extinction learning for alcohol-related cues, than non-dependent light drinkers.

Negative Hyperselection of Patients With RAS and BRAF Wild-Type Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Who Received Panitumumab-Based Maintenance Therapy

PURPOSE We assessed the prognostic/predictive role of primary tumor sidedness and uncommon alterations of anti–epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) primary resistance (primary resistance in RAS and BRAF wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer patients treated with anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies [PRESSING] panel) in patients with RAS/ BRAF wild-type (wt) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who were randomly assigned to panitumumab plus fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX-4) induction followed by maintenance with panitumumab with or without fluorouracil (FU) plus leucovorin (LV); Valentino trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02476045 ). PATIENTS AND METHODS This prespecified retrospective analysis included 199 evaluable patients with RAS/ BRAF wt. The PRESSING panel included the following: immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization for HER2/MET amplification, IHC with or without RNA sequencing for ALK/ROS1/NTRKs/RET fusions, next-generation sequencing for HER2/ PIK3CAex.20/PTEN/ AKT1 and RAS mutations with low mutant allele fraction, and multiplex polymerase chain reaction for microsatellite instability. PRESSING status (any positive biomarker v all negative) and sidedness were correlated with overall response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) in the study population and by treatment arm. RESULTS Overall, left- and right-sided tumors were 85.4% and 14.6%, respectively, and PRESSING-negative and -positive tumors were 75.4% and 24.6%, respectively. At a median follow-up of 26 months, inferior outcomes were consistently observed in right- versus left-sided tumors for ORR (55.2% v 74.1%; P = .037), PFS (8.4 v 11.5 months; P = .026), and OS (2-year rate: 50.2% v 65.1%; P = .062). Similar results were observed in the PRESSING-positive versus PRESSING-negative subgroup for ORR (59.2% v 75.3%; P = .030), PFS (7.7 v 12.1 months; P < .001), and OS (2-year rate: 48.1% v 68.1%; P = .021). The PFS benefit of FU plus LV added to panitumumab maintenance, reported in the study, was independent from sidedness and PRESSING status (interaction for PFS P = .293 and .127, respectively). However, outcomes were extremely poor in patients who received single-agent panitumumab and had right-sided tumors (median PFS, 7.7 months; 2-year OS, 38.5%) or PRESSING-positive tumors (median PFS, 7.4 months; 2-year OS, 47.0%). CONCLUSION The combined assessment of sidedness and molecular alterations of anti-EGFR primary resistance identified a consistent proportion of patients with RAS/ BRAF–wt mCRC who had inferior benefit from initial anti-EGFR–based regimens, particularly after maintenance with single-agent anti-EGFRs.

Phonological memory problems are magnified in children from language minority homes when predicting reading disability

Children from language minority (LM) environments speak a language at home that differs from that at school, are often from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, and are at risk for reading impairment. We evaluated the main effects and interaction of language status and phonological memory and awareness on reading disorder in 352 children from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. A significant phonological memory by language status interaction indicated that phonological memory problems were magnified in predicting reading impairment in children from LM versus English dominant (ED) homes. Among children without reading disorder, language minority status was unrelated to phonological processing.

The Luck of the Draw: How Attributions for Poverty Shape Support for Economic Inequality

Despite growing economic inequality the American population remains relatively un-motivatedto tackle this issue–why? In six studies (n = 34,198), I aimed to answer this question byexploring the link between both dispositional and situational attributions for poverty andsupport for economic inequality. In Study 1 I used cross-national data from 34 countriesto examine the relationship between attributions for poverty and support for economic inequality.I found that people demonstrated less support for economic inequality in countrieswhere the majority of respondents provided situational (as opposed to dispositional) attributionsfor poverty. In Study 2a I had participants complete an immersive online povertysimulation or play Monopoly. I found that relative to Monopoly, the poverty simulationled to an increase in situational attributions for poverty and turn diminished support foreconomic inequality and increased support for redistribution. In Study 2b I conducted ahigh-powered pre-registered replication and extension of these results. In Study 3a, I presentedparticipants with evidence counter to the stereotype that the poor are lazy by havingthem interact with a low-status (versus average-status) status confederate. I found that thecross-status interaction led to a decrease in dispositional attributions for poverty which inturn decreased support for economic inequality. In Study 3b I conducted a high-poweredpre-registered replication which strengthened the design of the previous study and largelyreplicated these results. Lastly, in Study 4, in order to determine the specificity of relationshipbetween causal attributions and support for economic inequality I conducted a fieldquasi-experiment in undergraduates enrolled in various introductory psychology classes. Icompared attributions for poverty and support for economic inequality over the course of asemester in students who were taking a class that explicitly highlights the situational causesof behaviour versus a series of classes without this explicit framing. I found that taking acourse centred around demonstrating the impact situational factors have in influencing behaviourdid not shift support for economic inequality relative to students in various controlclasses. Overall, this dissertation presents the first experiments showing how attributions forpoverty can shape broader economic attitudes, such as support for economic inequality andhow various simple and low-cost interventions can be leveraged to promote greater socialequality.