Association Analysis Between Interleukin 1 Beta Locus-511 Gene Polymorphism and Bipolar I Disorder: A Case-Control Study in an Iranian Population

Background: Bipolar I disorder (BP-I) is one of the significant disabling psychiatric disorders resulting in severe deficits in the social and personal function of suffering patients. Among its etiologies, immunologic and genetic disturbances are two important areas of interest. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the potential role of interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-511 polymorphism in BP-I pathogenesis based on a previous pilot study. Methods: After diagnostic interviews held by two psychiatrists using structured clinical interview for DSM disorder (SCID), 102 bipolar-diagnosed hospitalized patients in Ibn-e-Sina Hospital, Mashhad, Iran, were selected and compared with 102 healthy individuals of the control group. The DNA was extracted from the blood samples of each group. Genetic locus -511 of IL-1β was defined by its specific primers. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) were also carried out. The two groups’ results were compared by SPSS-20 using the chi-square test. Results: There were no significant differences in the genotypic frequency of IL-1β locus -511 (P = 1) and C/T allelic frequency (P = 0.42) between bipolar and control groups. There was also no significant difference in the allelic frequency between psychotic and non-psychotic subgroups (P = 0.218) and suicidal and non-suicidal subgroups of bipolar patients (P = 0.829). The genotypic distribution of -511 IL-1β polymorphisms in the control group was in the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Conclusions: In contrast with a previous pilot study, this study found no relationship between BP-I and genotypic and C/T allelic frequencies of -511 IL-1β polymorphism. There were also no associations between the allelic frequency and two subgroups of psychotic/non-psychotic and suicidal/non-suicidal of bipolar patients.

Bioequivalence Study of Two Multivitamin Formulations Containing Vitamin E and Folate in Healthy Adults

Objectives Bioequivalence of vitamin E and folate in a single oral dose multivitamin (MVI) gummy or tablet. Methods This crossover clinical trial involved healthy adults randomized to either gummy or tablet MVI containing vitamin E (VE – 279 IU gummy; 239 IU tablet) and folate (1860 µg gummy; 1877 µg tablet) as a single dose in Phase 1 with blood samples collected at pre-dose and 0.5-, 1-, 2-, 4-, 6-, 8-, 9-, 10-, 24-, and 48-hours after dosing, followed by a 2-week washout period. In Phase 2, participants crossed over to receive MVI in the form not previously given, with blood draws at the same timepoints. Maximum Concentration (Cmax), Time of Maximum Concentration (Tmax), and Area Under the Curve (AUC) were calculated for each subject for both vitamin forms. Bioequivalence for AUC, Tmax, and Cmax was defined as a 90% confidence interval (CI) for the gummy to tablet comparator ratio of the geometric mean between 80% and 125%. Results Nineteen participants completed the study. Both gummy and tablet demonstrated absorption for both vitamins. The ratio of geometric means demonstrated bioequivalence between gummy and tablet for both VE and folate with both AUC and Cmax. While bioequivalence was also demonstrated for VE with Tmax, folate absorption peaked earlier in the gummy group (Tmax 1.89 hrs) than the tablet group (Tmax 4.00 hrs), shifting Cmax values in the gummy group to earlier timepoints than in the tablet group without affecting total absorption AUC. These results were consistent with a previous pilot study. Conclusions Overall, under the conditions of this study, both gummy and tablet showed similar absorption of vitamin E and folate. Funding Sources Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

Which activities do great-grandparents and great-grandchildren share in family contexts? An analysis of a new intergenerational relationship.

El objetivo general de este trabajo es conocer mejor el rol de bisabuelidad. Se entrevistó a un grupo de voluntarios con bisnietos (n=78) mediante un cuestionario, cuyo contenido fue pilotado previamente, con preguntas sobre sus características sociodemográficas, las actividades que solían compartir con sus bisnietos y su opinión del rol de bisabuelidad, con la satisfacción asociada. Los datos fueron registrados y analizados tanto con tablas de frecuencia y estadísticos descriptivos, como con la prueba no-paramétrica de Kruskal-Wallis. Los resultados obtenidos mostraron numerosas relaciones significativas entre las actividades compartidas y aspectos socio-demográficos de los bisabuelos como la edad (p≤ .05), el nivel educativo (p≤ .01), la salud (p≤ .05), la distancia a la que viven de sus bisnietos (p≤ .05). Además, de mostrar que perciben su rol de bisabuelidad en general como una continuidad del rol anterior de abuelidad, aunque desde una tipología intergeneracional formal, distinta a la tipología informal y, sobre todo, opuesta a la del rol sustituto/subrogado. La mayor satisfacción percibida estaba asociada a esa interacción típica del rol formal (p ≤ .01). Los bisabuelos podrían estar cumpliendo ya alguna función destacable en las familias actuales de cuatro generaciones. The main aim of this study was to find out more about the role of great-grandparenthood. A group of participants with great-grandchildren (n=78) was interviewed using a questionnaire containing questions that had been put through a previous pilot study, covering participants’ sociodemographics, the activities that participants shared with their great-grandchildren, and their view of the role of great-grandparent and their related degree of satisfaction. The data were recorded and analyzed both with frequency tables and descriptive statistics and with the Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric test. The results showed several significant relationships between the shared activities and the sociodemographic variables, such as great-grandparents’ age (p ≤ .05), education (p ≤ .01), health status (p ≤ .05), the distance at which they live from their great-grandchildren (p ≤ .05). Also, it was found that participants generally consider the role of great-grandparent to be a continuation of their prior role as grandparent, albeit from the perspective of a formal intergenerational typology, distinct from the informal typology and, above all, opposed to the role of substitute/surrogate. Greater perceived satisfaction was associated with this typical interaction of the formal role (p ≤ .01). Great-grandparents may already be fulfilling a notable function in today’s four-generation families.

If horses had toes: demonstrating mirror self recognition at group level in Equus caballus

Mirror self-recognition (MSR), investigated in primates and recently in non-primate species, is considered a measure of self-awareness. Nowadays, the only reliable test for investigating MSR potential skills consists in the untrained response to a visual body mark detected using a reflective surface. Here, we report the first evidence of MSR at group level in horses, by facing the weaknesses of methodology present in a previous pilot study. Fourteen horses were used in a 4-phases mirror test (covered mirror, open mirror, invisible mark, visible colored mark). After engaging in a series of contingency behaviors (looking behind the mirror, peek-a-boo, head and tongue movements), our horses used the mirror surface to guide their movements towards their colored cheeks, thus showing that they can recognize themselves in a mirror. The analysis at the group level, which ‘marks’ a turning point in the analytical technique of MSR exploration in non-primate species, showed that horses spent a longer time in scratching their faces when marked with the visible mark compared to the non-visible mark. This finding indicates that horses did not see the non-visible mark and that they did not touch their own face guided by the tactile sensation, suggesting the presence of MSR in horses. Although a heated debate on the binary versus gradualist model in the MSR interpretation exists, recent empirical pieces of evidence, including ours, indicate that MSR is not an all-or-nothing phenomenon that appeared once in phylogeny and that a convergent evolution mechanism can be at the basis of its presence in phylogenetically distant taxa.

Healing by Leaps and Gowns: A Novel Patient Gowning System to the Rescue

Patient attire is paramount to a patient’s dignity and hospital experience. The traditional hospital gown is dehumanizing, anachronistic, and was designed for providers’ convenience. In this descriptive, prospective follow-up to our previous pilot study, we evaluated male and female medical and surgical patients and provider preference and experience with a novel patient gowning system, the Patient Access Linen System (PALS). This study was conducted in 2 hospitals within our health system. Our objective was to assess patient and provider satisfaction, experience, and preference using the PALS. A multiple-choice, free response survey was administered to patients and providers following the use of an item. A total of 315 patients and 249 staff in 2 hospitals completed surveys regarding their experience using or providing care to patients using the PALS. Patients and providers had consistently positive experiences with the PALS, including questions about comfort and function. The data demonstrate a clear preference for the PALS compared to the traditional hospital gown and give additional supporting evidence that the comfort of hospital clothing is of paramount importance to patients.

Validation of a Brief Measure of Aggression for Ecological Momentary Assessment Research: The Aggression-ES-A

Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) holds significant potential within aggression research. It affords researchers the possibility of collecting data in ecological context, in near real time. However, there is a lack of measures of aggression that have been developed and validated for use in EMA contexts. In this study, we report on the validation of a measure specifically designed to address this need: the Aggression-ES-A. Building on a previous pilot study, we evaluate the within- and between-person reliability, nomological net and associations with a validated trait measure of aggression of the Aggression-ES-A in a sample of N = 255 emerging adults from the Zurich Project on Social Development from Childhood to Adulthood (z-proso). Using multilevel confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling, we found support for the factorial validity, reliability, and concurrent validity of the Aggression-ES-A scores. Results support the use of the Aggression-ES-A in EMA studies utilizing community-ascertained samples.

Secondary Attack Rate (SAR) in household contacts of expired primary cases of COVID-19: A study from Western India

Secondary attack rate (SAR) in household contacts of expired primary COVID-19 cases is not well studied yet. Based on our previous pilot study conducted in Gandhinagar district of Gujarat state, we developed a new research protocol to understand SAR statistics in household contacts of COVID-19 cases that died/expired. The details of expired COVID positive primary cases were obtained from Government records and the details of secondary cases were retrieved using telephonic interviews of the household members. Forty-nine expired cases were registered between March to August, 2020. Out of 49 deaths, 28 families could be reached on phone. Rest were not reachable or refused to give information. These were interviewed after taking verbal consent. The study reported 25% SAR in household contact of expired primary cases with 7.4% of mortality in secondary cases. Though this is representative data only from a single district, it was observed that 75% of the household contacts were still not infected in spite of repeated contact with the sever cases. More such studies in various regions are needed to understand disease transmission.

COMPARING THE EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN IN UNDERGRADUATE ENGINEERING ACROSS DIFFERENT SCHOOLS

A previous study by the authors that was conducted on students in accredited undergraduate engineering programs showed significant differences between men’s and women’s experiences in their programs. That previous first-stage study highlighted that the causes of Canada’s low retention of women in the field may be at least partially attributable to women’s negative experiences at the beginning of their careers, in their undergraduate education. The research done thus far by the authors was largely explorative; there is now a need to begin identifying where and when students are experiencing negativity tied to their gender. The purpose of the research herein is to get a more comprehensive understanding of how specific behaviours and practices of professors, teaching assistants, peers, and other personnel in the classroom affect students will have significant consequences for what inclusive pedagogy in engineering should look like. As a part of this, the previous pilot study was revised, expanded and distributed to four accredited engineering institutions in North America. The results of the present study reinforce authors’ previous theories and indicate that across the institutions surveyed, peers and professors made up the primary source of discouragement and intimidation against students. In addition, institutional differences uncovered in this study suggest that specific programs and initiatives at the institutions in question at least partially affect student experiences, and later their retention in the field. The authors conclude that institutions need to begin targeting peers and professors for equity education, bias eradication training, and other initiatives.

Validation of a brief measure of aggression for experience sampling research: The Aggression-ES-A

Ecological momentary assessment holds significant potential within aggression research. It affords researchers the possibility of collecting data in ecological context, in near real time. However, there is a lack of measures of aggression that have been developed and validated for use in ecological momentary assessment contexts. In this study we report on the validation of a measure specifically designed to address this need: the Aggression-ES-A. Building on a previous pilot study, we evaluate the within- and between-person reliability, nomological net and associations with a validated trait measure of aggression of the Aggression-ES-A in a sample of N=255 emerging adults from the Zurich Project on Social Development from Childhood to Adulthood (z-proso). Using multi-level confirmatory factor analysis (ML-CFA) and structural equation modeling (ML-SEM), we found support for the factorial validity, reliability, and concurrent validity of the Aggression-ES-A scores. Results support the use of the Aggression-ES-A in ecological momentary assessment studies utilising community-ascertained samples.