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22q11.2ds Deletion Syndrome: Developmental Milestones In Infants And Toddlers, Nancy Roizen, Kevin Antshel, Wanda Fremont, Nuria Abdulsabur, Anne Marie Higgins, Robert Shprintzen, Wendy Kates

Robert J. Shprintzen

The majority of children with 22q11.2DS deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) have learning disabilities, and a substantial number have mental retardation. Although cognitive data have been reported on several samples of children with 22q11.2DS, data on their early developmental milestones are limited. Methods: The present study used a retrospective design and asked parents to recall developmental milestones. The participants were 88 children with 22q11.2DS, 47 community controls, and 29 sibling controls. Results: Although very early gross motor and expressive language milestones did not differ significantly from comparison groups, subsequent gross motor and expressive language milestones did, suggesting that children with 22q11.2DS may …

Loading Rate In Self-Initiated Vertical Jump Landings: Developmental And Gender Comparisons, Pamela Russell, Erik Swartz, Ron Croce, Laura Decoster

Pamela J. Russell

The study compared gender and developmental differences in vertical loading rate upon a two-footed landing from a self-initiated VJ. Fifty-seven subjects grouped by age (pre-pubescent (8-11 yrs); post-pubescent (19-29 yrs)) and gender consented to participate. Subjects jumped for a ball set at 50% of their maximum VJ height, and landed on two feet, facing forward, with only their dominant foot on the force plate. Motion analysis (3-D) and ground reaction force (GRF) data were collected. Statistical analyses indicated significant developmental differences in vertical loading rate normalized to kinetic energy, but no gender differences. Children may have higher loading rates because …

Gene X Environment Effects Of Serotonin Transporter, Dopamine Receptor D4, And Monoamine Oxidase A Genes With Contextual And Parenting Risk Factors On Symptoms Of Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Anxiety, And Depression In A Community Sample Of 4-Year-Old Children, John Lavigne, Laura Herzing, Edwin Cook, Susan Lebailly, Karen Gouze, Joyce Hopkins, Fred Bryant

Fred B. Bryant

Genetic factors can play a role in the multiple level of analyses approach to understanding the development of child psychology. The present study examined gene-environment correlations and Gene x Environment interactions for polymorphisms of three target genes, the serotonin transporter gene, the D4 dopamine reactor gene, and the monoamine oxidase A gene in relation to symptoms of anxiety, depression, and oppositional behavior. Saliva samples were collected from 175 non-Hispanic White, 4-year-old children. Psychosocial risk factors included socioeconomic status, life stress, caretaker depression, parental support, hostility, and scaffolding skills. In comparison with the short forms (s/s, s/l) of the serotonin transporter …

The Increasing Incidence Of Suicide: Economic Development, Individualism, And Social Integration, Gregory Scott, Joseph Ciarrochi, Frank Deane

joseph Ciarrochi

Despite significant improvement in physical health, suicide continues to represent a significant burden in the economically advanced countries. Given that the causes of suicide are not fully known, and that suicide cannot be predicted nor prevented at the individual level, national suicide rates might best be reduced by reducing the overall number of people exposed to suicide risk factors. However, economic development promotes individualism and low social integration, both of which increase suicide risk. For example, high female labor force participation and divorce, indicative of low social integration, are associated with higher suicide rates. Similarly, there appear to be social …

Development Of The Levels Of Emotional Awareness Scale For Children (Leas-C), Joseph Ciarrochi, Frank Deane, Jane Bajgar, Richard Lane

joseph Ciarrochi

A performance-based assessment of the structure and complexity of emotional awareness was developed, the Levels of Emotional Awareness Scale for Children (LEAS-C). A pilot study (N=6, ages 9-12, M(age) =10.2 years) was conducted to construct, trial, and select scenarios suitable for the scale. A larger validity study (N=51, ages 10-11, M(age) =10.3 years) examined the relationship between the LEAS-C and two emotion knowledge tasks: emotion expressions and emotion comprehension; two verbal tasks: vocabulary and verbal productivity; and a cognitive developmental measure: the Parental Descriptions Scale (PDS). Gender differences in LEAS-C performance were also examined. The LEAS-C was significantly related to …

Action Learning: Training And Development Considerations., Pauline Joyce

Pauline Joyce

This paper recommends the use of action learning to support organisational change initiatives. Action learning is understood to be a dynamic process where a team meets regularly to help individual members address issues through a highly structured, facilitated team process of reflection and action. Appropriate training and development in action learning is vital to ensure a positive experience for all involved.

The Development And Management Of A Primary Care Research Network, 1978-87, Donald Iverson, B Calonge, R Miller, L Niebauer, F Reed

Don C. Iverson

The Ambulatory Sentinel Practice Network (ASPN) was created to increase the knowledge of primary care. Building on the experiences of other national and regional primary care research networks, ASPN has evolved as a North American network including practices in 25 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces in 1987. This paper summarizes ASPN's growth and development since 1978, the involvement of the ASPN practices, and the mechanisms used in developing and managing studies.

Defining Research Priorities For Pancreatic Cancer In Australia: Results Of A Consensus Development Process, Monica Robotin, Sandra Jones, Andrew Biankin, Louise Waters, Donald Iverson, Helen Gooden, Bruce Barraclough, Andrew Penman

Don C. Iverson

Introduction: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the sixth leading cause of cancer death in Australia and the fourth in the United States, yet research in PC is lagging behind that in other cancers associated with a high disease burden. In the absence of agreed processes to reliably identify research areas which can deliver significant advances in PC research, the Cancer Council NSW established a strategic partnership with the NSW Pancreatic Cancer Network to define critical research issues and opportunities that could accelerate progress in this field in Australia. Materials and methods: The process consisted of five distinct stages: a literature review …

Differential Expression Of Gap Junctions In Neurons And Astrocytes Dervied From P19 Embryonal Carcinoma Cells, Daniel Belliveau, J. Bechberger, K. Rodgers, C. Naus

Daniel J. Belliveau

The P19 embryonal carcinoma cell line represents a pluripotential stem cell that can differentiate along the neural or muscle cell lineage when exposed to different environments. Exposure to retinoic acid induces P19 cells to differentiate into neurons and astrocytes that express similar developmental markers as their embryonic counterparts. We examined the expression of gap junction genes during differentiation of these stem cells into neurons and astrocytes. Untreated P19 cells express at least two gap junction proteins, connexins 26 and 43. Connexin32 could not be detected in these cells. Treatment for 96 hr with 0.3 mM retinoic acid induced the P19 …

Redistribution Of Insoluble Interphotoreceptor Matrix Components During Photoreceptor Differentiation In The Mouse Retina, Kristina Mieziewska, Agoston Szel, Theo Van Veen, Gustavo D. Aguirre, Nancy Philp

Gustavo D. Aguirre, VMD, PhD