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Objective: Reassurance seeking, a behavior prominent in anxiety disorders and depression, is associated with poorer quality of interpersonal relationships and acts as a mechanism of stress generation. However, little research has elucidated momentary associations between state anxiety and reassurance seeking behaviors., Method: In a sample of 104 university-affiliated young adults, we sought to replicate cross-sectional associations of reassurance seeking with trait anxiety (Aim 1) and intolerance of uncertainty (Aim 2). We then used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to evaluate concurrent fluctuations in daily anxiety and reassurance seeking across 14 consecutive days (Aim 3). Hierarchical multi-level models for intensive longitudinal data were used to evaluate the relationship between state anxiety and daily reassurance seeking., Results: In baseline analyses, trait anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty were significantly associated with greater trait reassurance seeking, controlling for depression. Analyses of the EMA data showed that daily reassurance seeking behaviors fluctuated concurrently with daily anxiety during the 14 days, while controlling for trait anxiety and depression., Conclusion: Given evidence of concurrent fluctuations between state anxiety and reassurance seeking, the behavior should be considered as a potential target in treatment for anxiety disorders., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Most cancers associated with the human papillomavirus are preventable through vaccination. However, adolescent series completion rates are at 75.8%. Two vaccine doses are recommended for adolescents, but factors influencing 2-dose series completion are not well explored. The purpose of this study is to examine individual-level and community-level factors associated with timely human papillomavirus vaccine series completion among adolescents in the Southeastern U.S., Methods: Series completion was assessed from January 2018 to February 2019 among a cohort of adolescents initiating vaccination in 2017. Factors influencing overall series completion and timely series completion were assessed using multivariable logistic regression., Results: Among the sample, 64.4% completed the vaccine series and 53.8% completed it timely (e.g., 14 months). Higher odds of series completion were among adolescents who were younger at vaccine initiation (AOR=1.94, 95% CI=1.50, 2.50), who traveled moderate distances to the clinic (AOR=1.62, 95% CI=1.03, 2.56), and who lived in low-deprivation neighborhoods (AOR=1.85, 95% CI=1.31, 2.60), and lower among Hispanic (AOR=0.62, 95% CI=0.45, 0.87) and non-Hispanic Black (AOR=0.66, 95% CI=0.54, 0.81) adolescents and among those without private insurance (AOR=0.68, 95% CI=0.56, 0.83). Timely series completion resulted in similar findings; however, lower odds were among Hispanic (AOR=0.63, 95% CI=0.43, 0.95) and non-Hispanic Black (AOR=0.68, 95% CI=0.50, 0.92) adolescents than among non-Hispanic other adolescents., Conclusions: Individual-level and community-level factors continue to influence adolescent series completion, despite a reduction in doses. Future research is needed to understand racial/ethnic and regional disparities in human papillomavirus vaccine series completion and to develop interventions to promote series completion., (Copyright © 2021 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: In general, in obese people a state of hyperleptinemia may impair both energy balance and the inflammatory process. However, it has not been fully investigated whether there is a relationship between hyperleptinemia and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and resting energy expenditure (REE), in obese women., Methods: 83 obese women were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Anthropometric measures, body composition, REE, CRF and serum concentration of leptin were measured. Pearson's correlation coefficient was performed to examine the relationship between circulating leptin level and other clinical variables. Multiple regression analysis was applied to determine predictors of REE and CRF. Effects were considered significant at p≤0.05., Results: The most important finding in the present study is that the hyperleptinemia state was inversely correlated with CRF (r=-0.382, p=0.001) and REE (r=-0.447, p<0.001). Moreover, a positive correlation with fat mass was confirmed (r=0.419, p<0.001). In addition, hyperleptinemia was an independent negative predictor of REE (r 2 =-2.649, p=0.010) and CRF (r 2 =-2.335, p=0.023)., Conclusion: Together our results may suggest a vicious cycle between the state of hyperleptinemia and a decrease in energy expenditure and cardiorespiratory fitness in obese women, which can impair whole body energy homeostasis. This information is important to contribute to clinical practices., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a long-term interdisciplinary lifestyle modification therapy on food intake, body composition, and anthropometric measurements of obese women., Methods: Seventy obese women (age 41 ± 5.9 y) attended the interdisciplinary therapy, with nutrition, physical exercise, physiotherapy, and psychological support during the course of 1 y. Usual food intake was estimated by 3-d dietary record. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry was performed to determine body fat and fat-free mass. Waist and hip circumferences also were measured. Student's t test and Wilcoxon test were used for comparisons among categories; P < 0.05 was considered significant., Results: The assessment of dietary intake showed significant changes after interdisciplinary therapy. A reduction in intake of total calories (18.3%), carbohydrates (15.6%), and total fats (13.1%) was observed. Total micronutrient intake did not change positively after therapy, as the intake level of 16 micronutrients was still lower than recommended. The therapy was effective in reducing significantly body weight (5.9%), body mass index (6.1%), body fat (4.7%), and waist (5.2%) and hip (3.8%) circumferences., Conclusions: Long-term interdisciplinary therapy was effective in decreasing the intake of calories, carbohydrates, and fats. The therapy positively changed the body composition and reduced anthropometric measurements. However, the intake of some micronutrients after therapy was still significantly lower than recommended. These results demonstrated that the proposed interdisciplinary methodology can be effective in treating obesity; however, the present study reinforced the need to address the micronutrient deficiency in the target population., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Glioblastoma (GBM), the highest grade astrocytoma, is one of the most aggressive and challenging cancers to treat. The standard treatment is usually limited due to the intrinsic resistance of GBM to chemotherapy and drug non-specific effects. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies need to be developed to target tumor cells, sparing healthy tissues. In this context, the inhibitor-of-apoptosis protein (IAP) survivin emerges as an ideal target for a gene silencing approach, since it is sharply differentially expressed in cancer tissues. In this work, two different families of cationic gemini surfactants (bis-quat conventional and serine-derived) were tested regarding their efficiency to deliver small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) in a human GBM cell line (U87), in order to select an effective siRNA anti-survivin carrier. Importantly, survivin downregulation combined with administration of the chemotherapeutic agents temozolomide or etoposide resulted in a synergistic cytotoxic effect, thus revealing to be a promising strategy to reduce the chemotherapeutic doses for GBM treatment., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Gemini surfactants have been extensively used for in vitro gene delivery. Amino acid-derived gemini surfactants combine the special aggregation properties characteristic of the gemini surfactants with high biocompatibility and biodegradability. In this work, novel serine-derived gemini surfactants, differing in alkyl chain lengths and in the linker group bridging the spacer to the headgroups (amine, amide and ester), were evaluated for their ability to mediate gene delivery either per se or in combination with helper lipids. Gemini surfactant-based DNA complexes were characterized in terms of hydrodynamic diameter, surface charge, stability in aqueous buffer and ability to protect DNA. Efficient formulations, able to transfect up to 50% of the cells without causing toxicity, were found at very low surfactant/DNA charge ratios (1/1-2/1). The most efficient complexes presented sizes suitable for intravenous administration and negative surface charge, a feature known to preclude potentially adverse interactions with serum components. This work brings forward a new family of gemini surfactants with great potential as gene delivery systems., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To examine perceived poor sleep quality and its association with unhealthy lifestyle and self-reported morbidities among Brazilian workers., Methods: This study was part of a national survey involving 47,477 workers who received a questionnaire about lifestyle. Chi-square tests and logistic regression (OR=Odds Ratio) were conducted., Results: Poor sleep quality was reported by 21% of workers and was more prevalent among women (p<0.01). After being adjusted for socio-demographic indicators, negative perception of health, well-being, stress, self-reported morbidities, physical inactivity during leisure-time (OR: 1.18) in both genders, and inadequate fruit and vegetable intake (OR(men): 1.15; OR(women): 1.17), as well as excessive alcohol consumption (OR: 1.15) in men remained associated with poor sleep quality. With respect to morbidities, only diabetes in women (OR: 1.46) and hypertension in men (OR: 1.18) were associated with poor sleep quality., Conclusions: Our findings indicate that certain unhealthy behaviors and self-reported morbidities were associated with poor sleep quality. Efficient initiatives should be implemented to promote a healthier lifestyle among workers, which could reduce or control glucose levels and blood pressure in addition to improving perceived sleep quality., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The purpose of this report is to examine relations between extreme thinking, as measured by the Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale, and the maintenance of gains among adolescents who participated in the Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS). We examine extreme thinking among 327 adolescents (mean age=14.56, 57% female, 75% White) who received cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), fluoxetine (FLX), or a combination of CBT and FLX (COMB). Among those who met remission status on the Children's Depression Rating Scale - Revised (CDRS-R≤28; 56 at week 12, 79 at week 18) extreme thinking did not predict failure to maintain remission. This is in contrast to findings with depressed adults. Treatment influenced level of extreme thinking, and this appeared to be driven by greater endorsement of positively valenced beliefs as opposed to a decrease in negatively valenced beliefs. Developmental or investigation characteristics may account for the discrepancy in findings., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Studies suggest that deficits in social problem-solving may be associated with increased risk of depression and suicidality in children and adolescents. It is unclear, however, which specific dimensions of social problem-solving are related to depression and suicidality among youth. Moreover, rational problem-solving strategies and problem-solving motivation may moderate or predict change in depression and suicidality among children and adolescents receiving treatment. The effect of social problem-solving on acute treatment outcomes were explored in a randomized controlled trial of 439 clinically depressed adolescents enrolled in the Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS). Measures included the Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R), the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire--Grades 7-9 (SIQ-Jr), and the Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised (SPSI-R). A random coefficients regression model was conducted to examine main and interaction effects of treatment and SPSI-R subscale scores on outcomes during the 12-week acute treatment stage. Negative problem orientation, positive problem orientation, and avoidant problem-solving style were non-specific predictors of depression severity. In terms of suicidality, avoidant problem-solving style and impulsiveness/carelessness style were predictors, whereas negative problem orientation and positive problem orientation were moderators of treatment outcome. Implications of these findings, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed., (Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)