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Objectives: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is commonly indicated for refractory psychiatric disorders. However, little research has compared response across diagnoses. Here, we aimed to evaluate the relative impact of diagnosis and clinical staging as response predictors in a crossdiagnostic sample. Methods: In a retrospective cohort of adult inpatients (n=287) who underwent at least six sessions of ECT, we investigated predictors of complete response (a clinical global impression of 1) to ECT. We use adjusted regression models to estimate the impact of clinical diagnosis and staging on complete response and dominance analysis to assess the relative importance of these predictors. Results: Those for whom a depressive episode was a primary indication for treatment were the most likely to have complete improvement, while those with psychosis were the least likely; clinical stage had a significant influence on outcome in all diagnoses. A diagnosis of psychosis was the strongest predictor of non-response. Conclusions: A diagnosis of psychosis (mainly schizophrenia) was the strongest predictor of nonresponse. We also found that clinical staging can aggregate information on ECT response that is independent of clinical diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the moderating effects of diagnosis and gender on the influence of age on the outcome of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The study included adult inpatients who underwent ECT for acute mental illness and analyzed the relationship between age, diagnosis, gender, and remission. The results showed that age alone was not a significant predictor of remission, but when diagnosis and gender were taken into account, older age predicted a higher likelihood of nonremission. The study suggests that diagnosis and gender may be important factors to consider when examining the relationship between age and ECT outcomes. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: This study examines the association between mental health problems in adolescence and general practice (GP) costs during adulthood up to age 50 in the UK. Methods: We conducted secondary analyses of three British birth cohorts (individuals born in single weeks in 1946, 1958 and 1970). Data for the three cohorts were analysed separately. All respondents who participated in the cohort studies were included. Adolescent mental health status was assessed in each cohort using the Rutter scale (or, for one cohort, a forerunner of that scale) completed in interviews with parents and teachers when cohort members were aged around 16. Presence and severity of conduct and emotional problems were modelled as independent variables in two-part regression models in which the dependent variable was costs of GP services from data collection sweeps up to mid-adulthood. All analyses were adjusted for covariates (cognitive ability, mother's education, housing tenure, father's social class and childhood physical disability). Results: Adolescent conduct and emotional problems, particularly when coexisting, were associated with relatively high GP costs in adulthood up to age 50. Associations were generally stronger in females than males. Conclusion: Associations between adolescent mental health problems and annual GP cost were evident decades later, to age 50, suggesting that there could be significant future savings to healthcare budgets if rates of adolescent conduct and emotional problems could be reduced. Trial registration: Not applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although low-grade inflammation is associated with onset and persistence of depression, most biomarkers display modest predictive effects. GlycA (glycoprotein acetylation) is a unique metabolomic composite of pro-inflammatory acute-phase glycoproteins. We hypothesized that GlycA levels would predict depression incidence, remission and persistence, with higher accuracy than high-sensitivity c-reactive protein (hsCRP). We also explored the additive predictive value of GlycA above and beyond hsCRP.Methods: Cohort design using the sample of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil)'s São Paulo site. Baseline GlycA and hsCRP levels were measured in blood plasma. Depression incidence, remission, and persistence were assessed using the Clinical Interview Scheduled Revised (CIS-R) at two time points separated by a mean of 3.8 years. Multivariable Poisson, logistic and linear regression models were used for prediction. Models were adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical confounders, including age, gender, ethnicity, education, cardiovascular assessments, antidepressant and anti-inflammatory drug use, anxiety disorders, alcohol use, and body mass index.Results: We included 4,364 participants (53.2% females, mean age 51.4 ± 8.9 years) with no autoimmune disorders. GlycA robustly predicted depression persistence (relative risk of 7.28, 95% confidence interval 1.33-45.57, p = 0.023 in the fully-adjusted model), but not depression onset. Although hsCRP also predicted depression persistence, its effects were fully explained by confounders and by GlycA levels. GlycA also predicted worsening of depressive symptoms in depressed patients and depression persistence vs. remission in fully-adjusted models.Limitations: Brief depressive episodes could not be measured by our assessments.Conclusions: GlycA might be a new inflammatory prognosis biomarker for depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aliphatic polyurethane (PU) nanocomposites were prepared using modified titanate nanotubes (TNTs) as filler in order to improve the mechanical and thermal properties of the initial polymer. With a view to achieving greater interaction between the polymer chains and TNTs, the latter was functionalized with hexamethylene diisocyanate (H) and/or aminopropyl trimethoxysilane groups (A), producing the modified nanotubes TNTH, TNTA, or TNTHA. The thermogravimetric analyses used to quantify the amount of anchored diisocyanate or/and silanol groups in the nanotubes identified the H function as the best functional group in terms of improving the filler–PU compatibility. Transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy analyses of the PU nanocomposites containing the three different fillers showed good TNT dispersion. The TNTHA nanotubes functionalized with both groups through the reaction between the H function already anchored on the TNTs and the A group, forming a monourea anchored group, significantly improved the mechanical and thermal properties of PU nanocomposites. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:2292–2300, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individual differences in cognitive abilities emerge early during development, and children with poorer cognition are at increased risk for adverse outcomes as they enter adolescence. Caregiving plays an important role in supporting cognitive development, yet it remains unclear how specific types of caregiving behaviors may shape cognition, highlighting the need for large‐scale studies. In the present study, we characterized replicable yet specific associations between caregiving behaviors and cognition in two large sub‐samples of children ages 9—10 years old from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study® (ABCD). Across both discovery and replication sub‐samples, we found that child reports of caregiver monitoring (supervision or regular knowledge of the child's whereabouts) were positively associated with general cognition abilities, after covarying for age, sex, household income, neighborhood deprivation, and parental education. This association was specific to the type of caregiving behavior (caregiver monitoring, but not caregiver warmth), and was most strongly associated with a broad domain of general cognition (but not executive function or learning/memory). Additionally, we found that caregiver monitoring partially mediated the association between household income and cognition, furthering our understanding of how socioeconomic disparities may contribute to disadvantages in cognitive development. Together, these findings underscore the influence of differences in caregiving behavior in shaping youth cognition. Research Highlights: Caregiver monitoring, but not caregiver warmth, is associated with cognitive performance in youthCaregiver monitoring partially mediates the association between household income and cognitionResults replicated across two large matched samples from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study® (ABCD) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To distinguish normative fears from problematic fears and phobias. Methods: We investigated 2,512 children and adolescents from a large community school-based study, the High Risk Study for Psychiatric Disorders. Parent reports of 18 fears and psychiatric diagnosis were investigated. We used two analytical approaches: confirmatory factor analysis (CFA)/item response theory (IRT) and nonparametric receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: According to IRT and ROC analyses, social fears are more likely to indicate problems and phobias than specific fears. Most specific fears were normative when mild; all specific fears indicate problems when pervasive. In addition, the situational fear of toilets and people who look unusual were highly indicative of specific phobia. Among social fears, those not restricted to performance and fear of writing in front of others indicate problems when mild. All social fears indicate problems and are highly indicative of social phobia when pervasive. Conclusion: These preliminary findings provide guidance for clinicians and researchers to determine the boundaries that separate normative fears from problem indicators in children and adolescents and indicate a differential severity threshold for specific and social fears. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocomposites of Titanates Nanotubes (TNTs) and waterborne polyurethane were prepared by physical mixture using ultra turrax disperser. TNTs were synthesized by hydrothermal method and added in different contents: 1, 3, and 5% w/w in relation to polymer weight. Films were prepared and characterized by DSC, TGA, DMA and SEM. The increase of fillers content reduced the thermal stability of DPU nanocomposites compared to pure DPU and did not modify the glass transition temperature. To mechanical properties, the addition of 3% and 5% of TNT increased the Young's modulus when compared with pure DPU, but nanocomposite with 1% of TNT presented a decrease in Young's modulus. The stress × strain curves of DPU/TNT 5% presented characteristic behavior of rigid material, with low deformation, unlike other nanocomposites and pure DPU. SEM and TGA analysis proves that the preparation method used promoted the incorporation and good filler dispersion in the polymer matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate how a set of positive social and personality characteristics called 'positive attributes' affects the emergence and persistence of Psychotic Experiences (PE) in adolescence.Method: We used data from a community-based Brazilian High-Risk Cohort (HRC). 2511 6-12 year-old children were evaluated at baseline, and 80.05% completed a 3-year follow-up interview. At baseline, childhood trauma was assessed using parent- and self-report, and positive attributes were assessed by parent-report. Trained psychologists rated self-reported PE at both time points. Linear models evaluated the effect of childhood trauma and positive attributes on PE at follow-up. Mediation models tested i.) the indirect effect of positive attributes on the association between childhood trauma and follow-up PE and, ii.) the indirect effect of childhood trauma and positive attributes on the relationship between PE at baseline and follow-up.Results: Higher levels of baseline PE (B = 0.157, p < .001) and higher childhood trauma (B = 0.110, p < .001) were associated with increased follow-up PE. Higher positive attributes predicted lower PE after 3 years, adjusting for the prevalence of baseline PE and childhood trauma (B = -0.042, p < .022). Positive attributes partially mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and follow-up PE. The indirect pathway of childhood trauma and positive attributes mediated the association between baseline and follow-up PE.Conclusions: Higher levels of positive social and behavioral traits in childhood may diminish the subsequent emergence of PE. As these attributes can be promoted, our findings suggest that positive attributes may represent a novel target for preventive interventions in children at risk of developing PE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]