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Early communication impairment is among the most-reported first concerns in parents of young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Using a parent-report questionnaire, we derived trajectory groups for early language and gesture acquisition in siblings at high risk for ASD and in children at low risk, during their first 2 years of life. Developmental skills at 6 months were associated with trajectory group membership representing growth in receptive language and gestures. Behavioral symptoms also predicted gesture development. All communication measures were strongly related to clinical and developmental outcomes. Trajectory groups further indicated slowest language/gesture acquisition in infants with later ASD diagnoses, in particular when associated with language delay. Overall, our results confirm considerable variability in communication development in high-risk infants.

Drawing on socio-cultural theory, this paper describes how teams of teachers and researchers have developed ways of embedding information and communications technology (ICT) into everyday classroom practices to enhance learning. The focus is on teaching and learning across a range of subjects: English, history, geography, mathematics, modern foreign languages, music and science. The influence of young people's out-of-school uses of ICT on in-school learning is discussed. The creative tension between idiosyncratic and institutional knowledge construction is emphasised and we argue that this is exacerbated by the use of ICT in the classroom.

This article analyzes the principal characteristics, trends and causes of the strikes that took place in Chile during the period 1979-1995, as well as the most important difierences currently found in the analysis of legal and ilegal strikes, type of industry, unionized and nonunionized strikers, public, private and state-owned companies, and municipal sectors. The number of strikes, workers involved, man-days lost and average duration was used in the analysis. The study is based on the universe of strikes that took place in the above mentioned period, and the sources of inlbnnation were the Directorate of Labor, Carabineros de Chile (police) and the written press. Some of the principal findings that should be mentioned are the important number of strikes that occurred in the public sector -in which they are forbidden-, the increase in the number of illegal strikes and the decrease in the number of legal stiikes in the private sector, and the wage increases and protests against discharge as the main causes of strikes.

We aimed to evaluate the existing evidence base for the efficacy of art therapy with parent-infant dyads. We undertook an integrative review, following the PRISMA protocol, systematically searching 4 electronic databases, and grey literature, for papers describing art therapy with parents and infants together. 14 papers were identified for inclusion. These were evaluated for quality, data was synthesised for evidence of change, and we undertook a narrative synthesis of intervention model and thematic analysis drawing together mechanisms of change within the art therapy process. Papers described a group approach to art therapy and contained a mixture of methodological approaches. Themes highlighted the beneficial aspects of the art therapy process that might be common to group psychotherapy approaches and those which were unique to art making, such as the qualities of the materials, the making process and the final art works. The themes identified provide a basis for further research into mechanisms of change within parent-infant art therapy. Those papers which presented quantitative evidence demonstrated promising evidence for the value of art therapy but we identify the need for larger participant numbers and control measures, for this evidence to confidently state the impact of art therapy. Plain language summary This paper is based on a review of the current evidence for an art therapy approach to working with parents and their infants together. We searched data bases and other online sources and put out calls for unpublished work to art therapy organisations. We looked for art therapy for parents together with their 0–3s and this could be with the individual pairs or with groups. We reviewed the papers we found and 14 were included in the final stage of this review. We have compared their models for art therapy work and their results and we have also looked for the common themes about why art therapy seems to be helping in order to provide a solid basis for future research in this area. We think there is promising early evidence that art therapy can help parents and infants in a number of areas, such as building the parent-infant relationship and improving parental well-being but this research highlights the need for further, larger scale and controlled studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human epidemiological studies have indicated that low birth weight associated with an adverse intrauterine environment is related to a greater incidence of cardiovascular disorders in later life. In the foetus, endogenous glucocorticoids generally increase if there is intrauterine nutrient deficiency. The consequent glucocorticoid hyperexposure has been hypothesised to cause in utero programming of atherogenic genes. We investigated the effect of oral treatment with the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone during early or late pregnancy in marmoset monkeys on oxidative and antioxidant status in the offspring. Urinary concentrations of F2-isoprostanes were quantified as markers for in vivo oxidative stress. Expression of the mRNAs for the antioxidant enzymes cytosolic glutathione peroxidase (GPx-1), phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (GPx-4), cytosolic Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1), mitochondrial Mn-superoxide dismutase (SOD2), glutathione reductase (GSR), modifier subunit of glutamate-cysteine ligase (GCLM) and catalase were determined in the aorta. Three groups of pregnant marmosets (10 animals per group) were treated orally for one week with vehicle, or with dexamethasone (5 mg/kg daily) during two gestation windows: early dexamethasone group, pregnancy day 42-48, and late dexamethasone group, pregnancy day 90-96. In one male sibling of each litter (10 males per group), aortas were taken at 2 years of age. In the late dexamethasone group a higher aortic mRNA expression for GPx-1 (p < 0.023), MnSOD (p < 0.016), GCLM (p < 0.019) and GSR (p < 0.014) in comparison to the controls was observed. Aortic expression in the early dexamethasone group was statistically significantly higher only for GSR mRNA (p < 0.038). No significant changes in urinary F2-isoprostane concentrations between controls, early and late dexamethasone groups at 2 years of age were observed. Hence, prenatal exposure to dexamethasone in the third trimester leads to increased mRNA expression of several aortic antioxidant enzymes in the offspring. This expression pattern was not temporally related to oxidative stress, and it may reflect in utero re-programming of aortic antioxidant gene expression during prenatal glucocorticoid exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its small size and the relative evolutionary proximity, the marmoset has been proposed as a model for studies of human drug interactions and metabolism. The current study investigated the expression and regulation of marmoset CYP3A using mass spectrometry and reporter gene techniques. Expression levels of hepatic marmoset CYP3A protein range from 51 to 123 pmol mg-1 total protein (mean 85.2 pmol mg-1, n = 10) and CYP3A21 is the dominant hepatic CYP3A protein in marmosets. The sequence similarity between human CYP3A4 and CYP3A21 across the first 7.5 kb of the cloned CYP3A21 promoter is 88% within the xenobiotic-responsive enhancer module (XREM) and the proximal promoter. Both regulatory modules confer transcriptional activation of CYP3A21-luciferase reporter gene constructs cotransfected with hPXR in intestinal LS174T cells. The pronounced response to rifampin and the moderate response to dexamethasone were similar to those observed with CYP3A4. Taken collectively, these data establish substantial similarities in expression and gene regulation between marmoset CYP3A21 and human CYP3A4. CYP3A21 may be an equivalent of CYP3A4 in New World monkeys, consistent with the phylogenetic relationship between these genes. The marmoset, therefore, appears to be a suitable in vivo model to study CYP3A4 function and regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: Neurological dysfunction is a common problem after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Cerebral ischaemia associated with the use of CPB may result in a release of neuronal-ischaemic markers and a subsequent cerebral inflammatory response which may additionally release inflammatory cytokines. In order to locate the origin and to quantify the release of neuronal-ischaemic markers and cytokines we investigated arterial-cerebral venous concentration gradients during and after CPB in a clinical setting. Methods: In twenty-five patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting surgery we measured the plasma concentration of neuron-specific enolase, S-100β protein as well as interleukins (IL) IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 from arterial and cerebral venous blood samples prior to surgery (baseline), during hypothermic CPB at 32°C, after termination of bypass, as well as 2, 4 and 6 h after admission to the intensive care unit. Results: Arterial-cerebral venous concentration gradients of neuron-specific enolase, S-100β, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 were neither detectable during nor after CPB. Compared to the baseline period, S-100β and neuron-specific enolase significantly increased during hypothermic CPB. After termination of CPB, neuronal-ischaemic markers as well as cytokines were increased and remained elevated during the investigated time course without reaching baseline values. Conclusions: Although we found an overall increase in plasma concentrations of neuronal-ischaemic markers, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 during and after CPB, arterial-cerebral venous gradients were not detectable for any of these parameters. Our results suggest that the increase of investigated parameters associated with the use of CPB are not primarily caused by a cerebral inflammatory response but rather reflect a release from other sources in the systemic circulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the ability of transvaginal ultrasound to detect cesarean scars and their defects in the nonpregnant state.Methods: Asymptomatic, parous volunteers underwent transvaginal ultrasound of the cervix, uterus, and adnexa. Uterine measurements, the presence or absence of a cesarean scar, and the presence of a scar defect, defined as fluid within the scar, were recorded. All subjects completed a self-report questionnaire regarding obstetric history. Sonographers and investigators were blinded to subject history.Results: A total of 70 subjects were enrolled. Of these, 38 women had a prior vaginal delivery and 32 women a prior cesarean delivery. One woman with a bicornuate uterus and three cesarean deliveries was excluded from data analysis. Real-time transvaginal ultrasound proved 100% sensitive (exact 95% confidence interval [CI] 88.8, 100) and 100% specific (exact 95% CI 90.7, 100). Stored image review had a sensitivity of 87% (exact 95% CI 70.2, 96.4) and a specificity of 100% (exact 95% CI 90.7, 100). Fluid was visualized within the scars of 13 of 31 subjects (42%) with a prior cesarean delivery. All 13 were found among the 23 subjects (56%) who had labored prior to cesarean delivery. Moreover, women with cesarean scar defects had a greater number of cesarean deliveries (P <.04) than women without scar defects.Conclusions: Transvaginal ultrasound is highly accurate in detecting cesarean hysterotomy scars. Cesarean scar defect, defined by the presence of fluid within the incision site, was more common when labor preceded cesarean delivery and with multiple cesarean deliveries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]