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Introduction: The transplant waiting list exceeds the number of organs available. One means of increasing the organ pool is to broaden potential donors to include those with chronic diseases. Research Questions: The study tested the effectiveness of using peer mentors to encourage individuals on dialysis to enroll on an organ donor registry. Design: Dialysis units were pair-matched by size and racial composition and then randomized to one of 2 interventions: meetings with a peer mentor (experimental intervention) or organ donation mailings (control). Peer mentors were trained to discuss organ donation with individuals on dialysis during in-person meetings at dialysis units. The primary outcome was verified registration in the state’s donor registry. Results: After adjusting for age, gender, race, income, and education and accounting for correlation within the dialysis center, there was a significant intervention effect. Among individuals in the intervention group, the odds of enrolling (verified) on the donor registry were 2.52 times higher than those in the control group. Discussion: The use of peer mentors to discuss donating organs after death with individuals on dialysis can increase enrollment on a donor registry. Dispelling myths about chronic illness and donation can counter widely held misconceptions and help persons make an informed choice about end-of-life decisions and present an opportunity to increase the number of organs and tissues available for transplant.

PURPOSE: Adolescents represent over half of the newly diagnosed sexually transmitted infections in the US annually. Emergency departments (ED) may serve as an effective, nontraditional setting to screen for Chlamydia/gonorrhea (CT/GC). The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of a universally offered CT/GC screening program in two pediatric ED settings. METHODS: This was a prospective, delayed start pragmatic study conducted over 18 months in two EDs within the same academic institution among ED adolescents ages 14-21 years with any chief complaint. Using a tablet device, adolescents were confidentially informed of CT/GC screening recommendations and were offered screening. If patients agreed to CT/GC testing, a clinical decision support tool was triggered to inform the provider and order testing. The main and key secondary outcomes were the proportion of CT/GC testing and positive CT/GC test results in each respective ED. RESULTS: Both EDs experienced modest but statistically significant increases in CT/GC testing post- vs. pre- intervention (main: 11.5% vs. 7.9%; CI: 2.9, 4.2; p < 0.0001 and satellite: 3.8% vs. 2.6%; 95% CI: 0.7, 1.7; p < 0.0001). Among those tested, the positivity rate at the main ED did not significantly change post- vs. pre-intervention (24.1% vs. 23.2%, 95% CI: −1.9, 3.8; p=0.71) but significantly decreased at the satellite ED (7.6% vs. 14.8%, 95% CI: −12.2, −2.2; p=0.01). CONCLUSION: A universally offered screening intervention increased the proportion of adolescents who were tested at both EDs and the detection rates for CT/GC at the main ED, but patient acceptance of screening was low.

Short sleep has been linked to adolescent obesity risk, but questions remain regarding the dietary mechanisms by which this occurs. We tested whether mildly shortening sleep influences how rewarding and appealing healthy adolescents find several kinds of foods. Eighty-eight healthy adolescents completed a within-subjects crossover sleep experiment comparing 5 days of Short Sleep (6.5 hour sleep opportunity) vs. 5 days of Healthy Sleep (9.5 hour sleep opportunity). Following each condition, adolescents completed measures of food appeal and reinforcing value of food across five food types: sweets/desserts, fruits/vegetables, lean meats/eggs, fast food entrees, and processed snacks. Adolescents averaged 2.2 hours/night longer sleep periods in Healthy Sleep vs. Short Sleep. We observed a significant interaction of experimental order with sleep condition on three of four primary outcomes related to the appeal and reinforcing value of foods (p’s.05). This study provides evidence that restricting adolescents’ sleep opportunity to 6.5 hours (compared to sleeping a healthy amount) increases the appeal and reinforcing value of a variety of foods, but this may occur only under protracted short sleep. Increased food reward may be one mechanism linking chronically shortened sleep with obesity risk in adolescence.

Objective To examine the frequency of behavioral problems after childhood traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their associations with injury severity, sex, and social environmental factors. Setting Children's hospitals in the Midwestern/Western United States. Participants 381 boys and 210 girls with moderate (n = 359) and severe (n = 227) TBI, with an average age at injury of 11.7 years (range 0.3-18) who were injured ≤3 years ago. Design Secondary data analysis of a multistudy cohort. Main measures Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) administered pretreatment. Results Thirty-seven percent had borderline/clinical elevations on the CBCL Total Problem Scale, with comparable rates of Internalizing and Externalizing problems (33% and 31%, respectively). Less parental education was associated with higher rates of internalizing, externalizing, and total problems. Time since injury had a linear association with internalizing symptoms, with greater symptoms at longer postinjury intervals. Younger boys had significantly higher levels of oppositional defiant symptoms than girls, whereas older girls had significantly greater attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms than boys. Conclusions Pediatric TBI is associated with high rates of behavior problems, with lower socioeconomic status predicting substantially elevated risk. Associations of higher levels of internalizing symptoms with greater time since injury highlight the importance of tracking children over time.

Threats to sexual health among U.S. Black men who have sex with men (MSM) may manifest in a context of social adverse experiences. Situational sex is one such context, which we characterize as sexual behaviors driven either by a desire to cultivate a specific sexual experience or attributable to social vulnerability. Two characterizations of situational sex explored in this study were drug use during sex and transactional sex. Guided by ecological and syndemic frameworks, we conducted a secondary data analysis of social conditions and sexual behaviors among a prospective cohort of Black MSM from the HIV Prevention Trial Network (HPTN) 061 study. Using structural equation modeling, this analysis examined the indirect effect of syndemic factors (substance use, depression, violence exposure) in the relationship between ecological constructs (anti-Black/homophobic stigma, childhood violence, and economic vulnerability) and situational sex (drug use during sex, transactional sex). Model fit indices, CFI (.870) and SRMR (.091), demonstrated reasonable fit. Significant indirect effects emerged via substance use for economic vulnerability (indirect effect = .181, 95% CI [.078, .294]) and anti-Black/homophobic violence and stigma (indirect effect = .061, 95% CI [.008, .121]) on drug use during sex; as well as on transactional sex (economic vulnerability indirect effect = .059, 95% CI [.018, .121] and anti-Black/homophobic stigma and violence indirect effect = .020, 95% CI [.003, .051]). Findings implicate the need for social and fiscal intervention to address upstream, ecological, and syndemic factors that influence inherent vulnerability of situational sex and overall threats to sexual health among Black MSM.

PURPOSE: Examine the impact of traumatic brain injury (TBI) on parenting behavior over time. METHOD: Included 206 children (3–7 years old) with moderate-severe TBI or orthopedic injury, using a prospective longitudinal cohort study design. Assessments completed at baseline, 6-months, 12-months, 18-months, 3.5 years, and 6.8 years after injury. Dependent variables included authoritative, permissive, and authoritarian parenting. RESULTS: Injury characteristics had limited impact on parenting behaviors over time. Levels of authoritative parenting remained stable over time; however, levels of warmth and involvement declined over time for those with TBI. Levels of permissive and authoritarian parenting declined for all participants by 3.5 years post injury. SES and stressors impacted parenting behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: While there was limited effect of TBI on parenting behavior over time, it remains unclear how individuals respond to these parenting behaviors years after injury. Clinicians should monitor family and parenting behaviors to foster an environment to promote positive recovery.

The purpose of this pilot quasi-experimental study was to examine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of using Facebook in a 10-week lifestyle intervention with Head Start caregiver–preschooler dyads to improve healthy behaviors and reduce body mass index. Sixty-nine dyads participated with 39 in the intervention group. Average preschooler attendance rate for the Head Start center-based program was 77%, and caregiver participation rate was 87%. About 94% of the caregivers were satisfied with the program, and 97% would recommend the program to others and/or participate again. The intervention decreased preschoolers’ body mass index z score (Cohen’s d = –.30) and screen time ( d = –.21), and increased their fruit and vegetable intake ( d = .40) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity ( d = .42). The intervention increased caregivers’ fruit and vegetable intake ( d = .40). The intervention is feasible, and preliminary efficacy is encouraging, but further investigation using a rigorous study design is warranted.

Objective Adolescent traumatic brain injury (TBI) contributes to deficits in executive functioning and behavior, but few evidence-based treatments exist. We conducted a randomized clinical trial comparing Teen Online Problem Solving with Family (TOPS-Family) with Teen Online Problem Solving with Teen Only (TOPS-TO) or the access to Internet Resources Comparison (IRC) group. Methods Children, aged 11 to 18 years, who sustained a complicated mild-to-severe TBI in the previous 18 months were randomly assigned to the TOPS-Family (49), TOPS-TO (51), or IRC group (52). Parent and self-report measures of externalizing behaviors and executive functioning were completed before treatment and 6 months later. Treatment effects were examined using linear regression models, adjusting for baseline symptom levels. Age, maternal education, and family stresses were examined as moderators. Results The TOPS-Family group had lower levels of parent-reported executive dysfunction at follow-up than the TOPS-TO group, and differences between the TOPS-Family and IRC groups approached significance. Maternal education moderated improvements in parent-reported externalizing behaviors, with less educated parents in the TOPS-Family group reporting fewer symptoms. On the self-report Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions, treatment efficacy varied with the level of parental stresses. The TOPS-Family group reported greater improvements at low stress levels, whereas the TOPS-TO group reported greater improvement at high-stress levels. The TOPS-TO group did not have significantly lower symptoms than the IRC group on any comparison. Conclusion Findings support the efficacy of online family problem solving to address executive dysfunction and improve externalizing behaviors among youth with TBI from less advantaged households. Treatment with the teen alone may be indicated in high-stress families.

Objectives To determine whether participation in a home visiting program increases and expedites utilization of early intervention services for suspected developmental delays. Methods Children participating in Every Child Succeeds (ECS), a large home visiting (HV) program serving greater Cincinnati, between 2006 and 2012, were propensity score matched to a sample of children identified from birth records who did not receive services from ECS. Data were linked to early intervention (EI) data acquired from the Ohio Department of Health. Descriptive statistics were employed to evaluate success of the matching. Chi square and log-rank tests evaluated whether the proportion of children accessing EI and the time to EI services differed for families participating in HV compared to eligible children not participating. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression modeled the associations. Results Among 3574 HV and 3574 comparison participants, there was no difference in the time to EI service utilization; however a higher percentage of HV participants accessed services. Overall, 6% of the HV group and 4.3% of the comparison group accessed services (p = 0.001). Modeling revealed an odd ratio = 1.43 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.16-1.78, p value = 0.001] and hazard ratio = 1.42 [95% CI 1.15-1.75, p value = 0.001]. Differences in utilization were greatest directly after birth and between approximately 2 and 3 years. Conclusions for Practise Participation in home visiting was associated with greater utilization of EI services during two important developmental time points, demonstrating that home visiting may serve as an important resource for facilitating access to early intervention services.

Background: Implicit gender bias leads to differences in assessment. Studies examining gender differences in resident milestone assessment data demonstrate variable results. The purpose of this study was to determine if observational entrustment scores differ by resident and assessor gender in a program of assessment based on discrete, observable skills. Methods: We analyzed overall entrustment scores and entrustment scores by Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) core competency for 238 residents (49% female) from 396 assessors (38% female) in one internal medicine residency program from July 2012 to June 2019. We conducted analyses at 1-12 months, 1-36 months, 1-6 months, 7-12 months, and 31-36 months. We used linear mixed-effect models to assess the role of resident and assessor gender, with resident-specific and assessor-specific random effect to account for repeated measures. Results: Statistically significant interactions existed between resident and assessor gender for overall entrustment at 1-12 months (p < 0.001), 1-36 months (p< 0.001), 1-6 months (p Conclusions: No significant differences in entrustment scores were found based on resident or assessor gender in our large, robust entrustment-based program of assessment. Determining the reasons for our findings may help identify ways to mitigate gender bias in assessment.

Objectives The objective of this study was to assess current treatment patterns of pediatric ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) patients, using data in the ImproveCareNow (ICN) registry. Methods Pediatric (2–17 years) patients in the United States who were newly diagnosed with UC or CD between June 1, 2013-December 31, 2019, who had their first recorded ICN visit within 6 months of diagnosis and who were actively followed for at least 12 months (± 90 days) were included in this study. Descriptive statistics of baseline patient demographics were summarized for the overall IBD patient population and separately for UC and CD. Treatment patterns (including use of corticosteroids, 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), 6-mercaptopurine/azathioprine (6-MP/AZA), methotrexate, tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) [adalimumab, infliximab, certolizumab, golimumab, and their biosimilars], ustekinumab, vedolizumab, and other medications [natalizumab and tofacitinib]) were assessed at the initial baseline visit, and at 1-year and 3-year time points. Results A total of 6,504 pediatric IBD patients (UC=1,784; CD=4,720) were included in this study. Patients had a mean age at diagnosis of 13.0 years (UC=13.2; CD=12.9), 57.1% were male (UC=49.6%; CD=60.0%), and 81.0% were White (UC=81.2%; CD=81.0%) (Table 1). At the initial ICN visit, 46.4% of UC patients were prescribed a corticosteroid, while 19.8% received a 5-ASA, 12.6% received a TNFi, 10.4% received a 6-MP/AZA, 3.0% received methotrexate, and 0.3% received vedolizumab. At the initial visit, 40.2% of CD patients were prescribed a corticosteroid, while 29.1% received a TNFi, 18.5% received a 6-MP/AZA, 12.4% received methotrexate, and 3.3% received a 5-ASA. At the 1-year and 3-year time points, rates of 5-ASA and corticosteroid use decreased among UC patients; however, rates of 6-MP/AZA, methotrexate, and TNFi increased (Table 2). Similarly, at the 1-year and 3-year time points, rates of corticosteroids among CD patients decreased; however, rates of methotrexate and TNFi increased (Table 2). There was also an increase in use of ustekinumab and vedolizumab over time among UC and CD patients. Conclusion These results highlight the current treatment patterns of pediatric UC and CD patients in the United States. At the initial ICN visit, the 46% of UC and 40% of CD patients were receiving corticosteroids, however, at 1-year and 3-years after initial visit, over 30% of UC patients and over 60% of CD patients were receiving TNF inhibitors with considerably reduced corticosteroid use.

Objectives To assess disease activity, steroid-free remission, and clinical outcome assessments among pediatric UC and CD patients who initiated a biologic after being enrolled in the ICN registry. Methods Pediatric patients who were diagnosed with UC or CD between June 1, 2013-Dec 31, 2019, who, after enrollment in the ICN registry, initiated a biologic and were actively followed for at least 12 months after first maintenance dose were included in this study. Descriptive statistics of baseline patient demographics were summarized for the overall IBD patient population and separately for UC and CD. PUCAI, partial Mayo score, and PGA were assessed in UC patients; and the sPCDAI and PGA were assessed in CD patients at first maintenance dose, 1-year and 3-year time points. Kappa coefficients were used to assess the level of agreement between the PUCAI, Mayo clinical score, and PGA for UC patients and the level of agreement between the sPCDAI and PGA for CD patients at different time points. Results A total of 1,887 pediatric IBD patients (UC=350; CD=1,537) were included in this study. Patients had a mean age at diagnosis of 12.9 years, 57.1% were male, and 80.6% were White. Mean PUCAI scores of UC patients decreased from 12.1 at first maintenance dose, to 5.7 at 1-year, and 3.7 at 3-years; the proportion of UC patients in steroid-free remission by PUCAI increased from 46.2% at first maintenance dose, to 75.0% at 1 year and 80.4% at 3 years. The proportion of UC patients that were quiescent based on PGA also increased from 67.2% at first maintenance dose, to 84.2% at 1-year and 92.6% at 3-years. The proportion of UC patients that were in remission based on Partial Mayo score also increased from 72.1% at first maintenance dose, to 87.5% at 1-year and 92.3% at 3-years. Mean sPCDAI score of CD patients decreased from 9.5 at first maintenance dose, to 6.7 at 1-year, and 6.3 at 3-years; the proportion of CD patients in steroid-free remission by sPCDAI increased from 63.8% at first maintenance dose, to 81.2% at 1-year and 85.4% at 3-years. The proportion of CD patients who were quiescent based on PGA also increased from 69.2% at first maintenance dose, to 85.3% at 1-year and 89.6% at 3-years. In UC patients, the kappa coefficients between PUCAI and PGA ranged from 0.46–0.66, PUCAI and partial Mayo ranged from 0.52–0.72, and PGA and Partial Mayo score ranged from 0.73–1.00 at different time points. For CD patients, the kappa coefficient between sPCDAI and PGA ranged from 0.40–0.48 at different time points. Conclusion This study found that disease activity scores improved over time, with more pediatric UC and CD patients achieving steroid-free remission 1-year and 3-years after first biologic maintenance dose. There was modest correlation between disease activity assessments, with the correlation between the PGA and Partial Mayo score being the strongest.

Context With healthy behaviors becoming established in the preschool years, intervening with preschool children to assist them in establishing a healthy lifestyle and maintaining a long-term healthy weight is critical. To optimize future intervention designs, this meta-analysis aimed to estimate the effects of lifestyle interventions on BMI among preschool children and explore potential intervention moderators. Evidence acquisition In October 2015, a search of PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, ERIC, and Cochrane library databases yielded 52 eligible articles with 42 randomized intervention–control comparisons (31 prevention and 11 treatment). In 2016, weighted standardized mean differences for BMI were calculated using random-effects models to estimate effect sizes. Evidence synthesis The effect sizes were –0.19 (95% CI=–0.28, –0.09) and –0.28 (95% CI=–0.48, –0.09) kg/m 2 for prevention and treatment interventions, with sustained effect sizes of –0.21 (95% CI=–0.35, –0.08) and –0.23 (95% CI=–0.43, –0.04) kg/m 2 , respectively. Child mean age, percentage Hispanic, and parental intervention sessions were common significant moderators. School-based or prevention interventions with active parental involvement did not yield better outcomes. Interventions targeting parents with parenting skill training and behavioral change strategies, and children with general health and nutrition education, resulted in greater effects. Conclusions Although publication bias limits the validity of the study findings, the meta-analysis results highlight the promising intervention approaches of parenting skill training and behavioral change strategies to target parents. However, for children, general health and nutrition education should be employed.

Objective To determine the stability and influence of adherence barriers on medication adherence and seizure control in pediatric epilepsy. Methods Caregivers of 118 children aged 2-12 years old with epilepsy completed the Pediatric Epilepsy Medication Self-Management Questionnaire at nine time points over 2 years post diagnosis. Electronically monitored antiepileptic drug adherence and seizure outcome data were collected. Results Hierarchical linear modeling results for overall barriers remained stable over 2 years. Specific item-level barriers were also generally stable over time, with the exception of running out of medication becoming more of a barrier over time. No specific barriers were related to seizure control; however, difficulties swallowing medication, forgetting, and medication refusal were related to electronically monitored adherence over time. Conclusions Assessing for specific adherence barriers over time may lead to identification of interventions that result in improved adherence and care.

The objectives of the study were to characterize long-term neuropsychological outcomes following traumatic brain injury (TBI) sustained during early childhood, and determine whether identified neuropsychological impairments mediated the effect of TBI on long-term adaptive functioning. Participants included 16 children with severe TBI, 42 children with moderate TBI, and 72 children with orthopedic injuries (OI) sustained between ages 3 and 7 years. Children completed neuropsychological tests and caregivers completed a structured interview of child adaptive functioning at 6.9 (±1.10) years post-injury. Profile analysis and multiple mediator modeling were employed. Children with severe TBI demonstrated poorer fluid reasoning and inhibitory control than both children with moderate TBI and OI, as well as slower processing speed than the OI group. Both fluid reasoning and processing speed were significant independent mediators of the effect of severe TBI on adaptive functioning. No neuropsychological measure significantly mediated the effect of moderate TBI on adaptive functioning. Children sustaining early severe TBI demonstrate persisting neuropsychological impairments into adolescence and young adulthood. The impact of severe TBI on children's long-term adaptive functioning is mediated in part by its effects on fluid reasoning and processing speed.

Healthcare disparities exist in pediatric asthma in the United States. Children from minority, low-income families in inner-city areas encounter barriers to healthcare, leading to greater rates of poorly controlled asthma and healthcare utilization. Finding an effective way to deliver high-quality healthcare to this underserved population to improve outcomes, reduce morbidity and mortality, and reduce healthcare utilization is of the utmost importance. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and efficacy of a novel school-based care delivery model that incorporates video-based telehealth (VBT) medical and self-management visits with electronic inhaler monitoring to improve asthma outcomes. Over a 6-month period, children from inner-city, low-income schools with uncontrolled asthma completed seven scheduled medical visits with an asthma specialist and five self-management visits with an adherence psychologist at school using VBT. Composite Asthma Severity Index (CASI) scores and electronic inhaler monitor data were recorded and analyzed. A total of 21 patients were enrolled in the study. Study subjects with higher baseline severity (CASI ≥ 4 at visit 1) demonstrated a greater reduction in their score than those with lower baseline severity (CASI < 4 at visit 1). The CASI domains showed improvement in daytime symptoms, nighttime symptoms, and exacerbations. Adherence results demonstrated a significant improvement in adherence from baseline to postintervention. Study retention was 100%. This study demonstrates that a multicomponent medical and behavioral interventional program delivered by VBT to a school-based setting is feasible and can significantly improve asthma outcomes and care in a challenging population.

Objectives: We conducted joint analyses from five randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of online family problem-solving therapy (OFPST) for children with traumatic brain injury (TBI) to identify child and parent outcomes most sensitive to OFPST and trajectories of recovery over time. Methods: We examined data from 359 children with complicated mild to severe TBI, aged 5–18, randomized to OFPST or a control condition. Using profile analyses, we examined group differences on parent-reported child (internalizing and externalizing behavior problems, executive function behaviors, social competence) and family outcomes (parental depression, psychological distress, family functioning, parent–child conflict). Results: We found a main effect for measure for both child and family outcomes [F(3, 731) = 7.35, p < .001; F(3, 532) = 4.79, p = .003, respectively], reflecting differing degrees of improvement across measures for both groups. Significant group-by-time interactions indicated that children and families in the OFPST group had fewer problems than controls at both 6 and 18 months post baseline [t(731) = −5.15, p < .001, and t(731) = −3.90, p = .002, respectively, for child outcomes; t(532) = −4.81, p < .001, and t(532) = −3.80, p < .001, respectively, for family outcomes]. Conclusions: The results suggest limited differences in the measures’ responsiveness to treatment while highlighting OFPST’s utility in improving both child behavior problems and parent/family functioning. Group differences were greatest at treatment completion and after extended time post treatment.

Introduction Most cochlear implant (CI) users have difficulty in listening tasks that rely strongly on perception of frequency changes (e.g., speech perception in noise, musical melody perception, etc.). Some previous studies using behavioral or subjective assessments have shown that short-term music training can benefit CI users’ perception of music and speech. Electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings may reveal the neural basis for music training benefits in CI users. Objective To examine the effects of short-term music training on CI hearing outcomes using a comprehensive test battery of subjective evaluation, behavioral tests, and EEG measures. Design Twelve adult CI users were recruited for a home-based music training program that focused on attentive listening to music genres and materials that have an emphasis on melody. The participants used a music streaming program (i.e., Pandora) downloaded onto personal electronic devices for training. The participants attentively listened to music through a direct audio cable or through Bluetooth streaming. The training schedule was 40 min/session/day, 5 days/week, for either 4 or 8 weeks. The pre-training and post-training tests included: hearing thresholds, Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ12) questionnaire, psychoacoustic tests of frequency change detection threshold (FCDT), speech recognition tests (CNC words, AzBio sentences, and QuickSIN), and EEG responses to tones that contained different magnitudes of frequency changes. Results All participants except one finished the 4- or 8-week training, resulting in a dropout rate of 8.33%. Eleven participants performed all tests except for two who did not participate in EEG tests. Results showed a significant improvement in the FCDTs as well as performance on CNC and QuickSIN after training (p < 0.05), but no significant improvement in SSQ scores (p > 0.05). Results of the EEG tests showed larger post-training cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEPs) in seven of the nine participants, suggesting a better cortical processing of both stimulus onset and within-stimulus frequency changes. Conclusion These preliminary data suggest that extensive, focused music listening can improve frequency perception and speech perception in CI users. Further studies that include a larger sample size and control groups are warranted to determine the efficacy of short-term music training in CI users.

PURPOSE: To examine the long-term consequences of early childhood traumatic brain injury (TBI), approximately 7 years post-injury, on cognitive communication competency within a complex interplay of individual, contextual, and psychosocial factors. Additionally, we were interested in looking at the association of communication competence with social competence and overall functioning. METHODS: 64 children with orthopedic injury, 40 children with moderate traumatic brain injury, and 14 children with severe traumatic brain injury who were between 3 years and 6 years 11 months at injury completed a narrative discourse task and clinical measures in a single visit at a longer term follow up in early adolescence, an average of 6.8 years post injury. Analyses of covariance were conducted to compare groups on the discourse task, and hierarchical linear regressions were conducted to examine the association of discourse measures with clinical measures of cognitive and psychosocial functioning. RESULTS: Children with severe traumatic brain injury performed worse than children with moderate traumatic brain injury and orthopedic injury on all discourse indices and clinical measures. Injury severity, pragmatic skills, and socioeconomic status were associated with discourse gist. Discourse gist was the most sensitive measure of communication competence, and it was significantly associated with psychosocial outcomes independent of group. CONCLUSION: Children who sustain a severe traumatic brain injury in early childhood are at risk for long-term cognitive communication impairments that may be related to a complex interplay of injury, individual, and social factors.

A series of five randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) conducted between 2002 and 2015 support the potential efficacy of online family problem-solving treatment (OFPST) in improving both child and parent/family outcomes after pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, small sample sizes and heterogeneity across individual studies have precluded examination of potentially important moderators. We jointly analyzed individual participant data (IPD) from these five RCTs, involving 359 children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 18 years, to confirm the role of previously identified moderators (child's age and pre-treatment symptom levels, parental education) and to examine other potential moderators (race, sex, IQ), using IPD meta-analysis. This reanalysis revealed statistically strong evidence that parental education, child age at baseline, IQ, sex, and parental depression level pre-treatment moderated the effect of OFPST on various outcomes. In particular, children of parents with a less than high school education exhibited fewer internalizing problems and better social competence. Children injured at an older age exhibited fewer externalizing behaviors and less executive dysfunction following OFPST. Child IQ moderated the effect of OFPST on social competence, with significantly better competence for children with lower IQ who received OFPST. Lower levels of parental depression followed OFPST among subgroups with lower IQ, boys, and higher parental depression scores at baseline. Our findings indicate that the optimal application of OFPST is likely to involve older children, those with lower IQ scores, or those from families with lower socioeconomic status (SES).

Background African, Caribbean, and Black (Black) men account for 16.5% of new HIV diagnoses among men in Ontario. There is substantial evidence that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are associated with increased likelihood of HIV infection; however, little is known regarding the prevalence of HIV/STI co-infections among Black men in Toronto. Progress has been made in understanding factors contributing to racial/ethnic disparities in HIV between among men who have sex with men (MSM). In this study, we investigate within-racial group patterns of HIV/STI infection between Black MSM and Black men who only have sex with women (MSW). Methods A cross-sectional descriptive epidemiological study was conducted with a non-probability sample of Black men recruited from Toronto, Ontario. Audio Computer Assisted Self-Interviews (ACASI) surveys were used to collect demographic and behavioral data. Biological specimens were collected to screen for HIV and other STIs. Chi-Square tests were used to compare the prevalence of (1) HIV and current STIs between MSM and MSW and (2) current STIs between people living with HIV and people not living with HIV. Logistic regression models were constructed to assess whether or not history of STIs were associated with current HIV infection. Results The prevalence of HIV (9.2%), syphilis (7.2%), hepatitis B (2.7%), and high-risk anal HPV (8.4%) and penile HPV (21.3%) infections were high in Black men (N = 487) and were significantly increased in Black MSM compared with MSW; the prevalence of syphilis and high-risk HPV were also increased in men living with HIV. Men with a history of syphilis (OR = 6.48, 95% CI: 2.68,15.71), genital warts (OR = 4.32, 95% CI: 1.79,10.43) or genital ulcers (OR = 21.3, 95% CI: 1.89,239.51) had an increased odds of HIV infection. Conclusions The HIV/STI prevalence was high among this sample of Black men, although the study design may have led to oversampling of men living with HIV. The associations between STIs and current HIV infection highlight the need for integrated of HIV/STI screening and treatment programs for Black men. Public health strategies are also needed to reduce disproportionate HIV/STI burden among Black MSM—including improving HPV vaccine coverage.

Purpose: To examine the long-term consequences of early childhood traumatic brain injury (TBI), approximately 6.8 years post-injury, on cognitive communication competency within a complex interplay of individual, contextual, and psychosocial factors. Additionally, we were interested in looking at the association of communication competence with social competence and overall functioning. Methods: 64 children with orthopedic injury, 40 children with moderate traumatic brain injury, and 14 children with severe traumatic brain injury who were between 3 years and 6 years 11 months at injury completed a narrative discourse task and clinical measures in a single visit at a longer term follow up in early adolescence, an average of 6.8 years post injury. Analyses of covariance were conducted to compare groups on the discourse task, and hierarchical linear regressions were conducted to examine the association of discourse measures with clinical measures of cognitive and psychosocial functioning. Results: Children with severe traumatic brain injury performed worse than children with moderate traumatic brain injury and orthopedic injury on all discourse indices and clinical measures. Injury severity, pragmatic skills, and socioeconomic status were associated with discourse gist. Discourse gist was the most sensitive measure of communication competence, and it was significantly associated with psychosocial outcomes independent of group. Conclusion: Children who sustain a severe traumatic brain injury in early childhood are at risk for long-term cognitive communication impairments that may be related to a complex interplay of injury, individual, and social factors.Implications for rehabilitationThe assessment and treatment of cognitive communication impairments after traumatic brain injury are complex and require consideration of individual, contextual, and psychosocial factors.Discourse, in general, and gist reasoning specifically, is a sensitive measure for detecting cognitive communication competence several years after pediatric traumatic brain injury.Treatments to address gist reasoning deficits may support improvements in global and social functioning. The assessment and treatment of cognitive communication impairments after traumatic brain injury are complex and require consideration of individual, contextual, and psychosocial factors. Discourse, in general, and gist reasoning specifically, is a sensitive measure for detecting cognitive communication competence several years after pediatric traumatic brain injury. Treatments to address gist reasoning deficits may support improvements in global and social functioning.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To determine whether online family problem-solving treatment (OFPST) is more effective in improving behavioral outcomes after pediatric traumatic brain injury with increasing time since injury. METHODS: This was an individual participant data meta-analysis of outcome data from 5 randomized controlled trials of OFPST conducted between 2003 and 2016. We included 359 children ages 5 to 18 years who were hospitalized for moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury 1 to 24 months earlier. Outcomes, assessed pre- and posttreatment, included parent-reported measures of externalizing, internalizing, and executive function behaviors and social competence. RESULTS: Participants included 231 boys and 128 girls with an average age at injury of 13.6 years. Time since injury and age at injury moderated OFPST efficacy. For earlier ages and short time since injury, control participants demonstrated better externalizing problem scores than those receiving OFPST (Cohen’s d = 0.44; P = .008; n = 295), whereas at older ages and longer time since injury, children receiving OFPST had better scores (Cohen’s d = −0.60; P = .002). Children receiving OFPST were rated as having better executive functioning relative to control participants at a later age at injury, with greater effects seen at longer (Cohen’s d = −0.66; P = .009; n = 298) than shorter (Cohen’s d = −0. 28; P = .028) time since injury. CONCLUSIONS: OFPST may be more beneficial for older children and when begun after the initial months postinjury. With these findings, we shed light on the optimal application of family problem-solving treatments within the first 2 years after injury.

Nonresponse is very common in epidemiologic surveys and clinical trials. Common methods for dealing with missing data (e.g., complete-case analysis, ignorable-likelihood methods, and nonignorable modeling methods) rely on untestable assumptions. Nonresponse two-phase sampling (NTS), which takes a random sample of initial nonrespondents for follow-up data collection, provides a means to reduce nonresponse bias. However, traditional weighting methods to analyze data from NTS do not make full use of auxiliary variables. This article proposes a method called nonrespondent subsample multiple imputation (NSMI), where multiple imputation (Rubin 1987) is performed within the subsample of nonrespondents in Phase I using additional data collected in Phase II. The properties of the proposed methods by simulation are illustrated and the methods applied to a quality of life study. The simulation study shows that the gains from using the NTS scheme can be substantial, even if NTS sampling only collects data from a small proportion of the initial nonrespondents.

The objective of this study is to identify the demographic and payer factors that are associated with lumbar fusion surgery.A case-control study was conducted utilizing a population of 38,092 patients from the 2010 Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), USA hospital discharge data. The case population included 16,236 records with any of five ICD-9-CM principal procedure codes for initial lumbar fusion. The control group was comprised of 21,856 patients who were admitted for the same principal diagnoses as the cases, but who did not have initial fusion surgery. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association of age, gender, race and principal payer type with initial lumbar fusions. The interaction between age and payer was also examined, as payer type may moderate the association between age and lumbar fusion surgery.Gender, race, principal payer and age were all found to be significantly associated with lumbar fusion surgery. The interaction of payer and age was also found to be significant. Being female was significantly associated with having a fusion (OR = 1.11, 95 % CI 1.07-1.16). The association between age and receiving surgery was greatest for the less than 20 age group (OR = 10.43, 95 % CI 8.74-12.45). Employees and dependents of Federal government agencies (Tricare, etc.) and patients with commercial insurance were significantly associated with surgery (OR = 1.48, 95 % CI 1.29-1.70 and OR = 1.12, 95 % CI 1.04-1.20, respectively). Patients insured through Medicaid (a social health care program for those with low incomes and limited resources), and the uninsured were negatively associated with surgery (OR = 0.53, 95 % CI 0.47-0.60 and OR = 0.52, 95 % CI 0.46-0.58, respectively).Lumbar fusion surgery is not recommended in clinical practice guidelines for the top four principal diagnoses in this study. Yet, patients covered by certain types of insurance were found to be significantly associated with fusion surgery.

Exposure to childhood religious affiliations where the majority of members discourage homosexuality may have negative psychological impacts for Black men who have sex with men. This study tested the hypothesis that exposures to these environments during childhood were associated with adulthood human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually transmitted infection (STI) behavioral risk and HIV infection, because these exposures influenced HIV/STI risk by undermining race/sexual identity congruence and increasing internalized homophobia and interpersonal anxiety. Structural equation modeling as well as logistic and Poisson regressions were performed using baseline data from HIV Prevention Trials Network 061 ( N = 1,553). Childhood religion affiliations that were more discouraging of homosexuality were associated with increased likelihood of HIV infection; however, the association was no longer significant after adjusting for age, income, and education. Having a childhood religion affiliation with high prevalence of beliefs discouraging homosexuality was associated with increased numbers of sexual partners (adjusted odds ratio = 4.31; 95% confidence interval [3.76, 4.94], p < .01). The hypothesized path model was largely supported and accounted for 37% of the variance in HIV infection; however, interpersonal anxiety was not associated with HIV/STI risk behaviors. Structural interventions are needed that focus on developing affirming theologies in religious institutions with Black men who have sex with men congregants.

This study reports the psychometric properties and correlates of a measure of organ donation attitudes and practices for African Americans. Methods. We surveyed 736 members from 14 alumni chapters of historically African American sororities and fraternities in Michigan. We constructed subscales and compared subscale values with two variables related to donation status: 1) enrollment status in the state donor registry, and 2) intentions for future enrollment. Results. Psychometric analyses indicated our measure tapped four distinct domains of attitudes concerning donation. The four subscales identified—General Benefits, Race Benefits, General Barriers, and Disparity Barriers—had good psychometric properties. For all four scales the more positive the attitudes toward donation held by the respondent, the more likely they were to report having signed up to be an organ donor. Discussion. An understanding of attitudes toward donation may help development of effective culturally sensitive intervention messages targeting the African American community.

Background Last-minute surgery cancellation represents a major wastage of resources and can cause significant inconvenience to patients. Our objectives in this study were: 1) To develop predictive models of last-minute surgery cancellation, utilizing machine learning technologies, from patient-specific and contextual data from two distinct pediatric surgical sites of a single institution; and 2) to identify specific key predictors that impact children’s risk of day-of-surgery cancellation. Methods and findings We extracted five-year datasets (2012–2017) from the Electronic Health Record at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. By leveraging patient-specific information and contextual data, machine learning classifiers were developed to predict all patient-related cancellations and the most frequent four cancellation causes individually (patient illness, “no show,” NPO violation and refusal to undergo surgery by either patient or family). Model performance was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) using ten-fold cross-validation. The best performance for predicting all-cause surgery cancellation was generated by gradient-boosted logistic regression models, with AUC 0.781 (95% CI: [0.764,0.797]) and 0.740 (95% CI: [0.726,0.771]) for the two campuses. Of the four most frequent individual causes of cancellation, “no show” and NPO violation were predicted better than patient illness or patient/family refusal. Models showed good cross-campus generalizability (AUC: 0.725/0.735, when training on one site and testing on the other). To synthesize a human-oriented conceptualization of pediatric surgery cancellation, an iterative step-forward approach was applied to identify key predictors which may inform the design of future preventive interventions. Conclusions Our study demonstrated the capacity of machine learning models for predicting pediatric patients at risk of last-minute surgery cancellation and providing useful insight into root causes of cancellation. The approach offers the promise of targeted interventions to significantly decrease both healthcare costs and also families’ negative experiences.

This study examined whether the ankyrin repeat and kinase domain containing 1 gene (ANKK1) C/T single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1800497 moderated the association of family environment with long-term executive function (EF) following traumatic injury in early childhood. Caregivers of children with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and children with orthopedic injury completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) at post-injury visits. DNA was collected to identify the rs1800497 genotype in the ANKK1 gene. General linear models examined gene-environment interactions as moderators of the effects of TBI on EF at two times post-injury (12 months and 7 years). At 12 months post-injury, analyses revealed a significant three-way interaction of genotype with level of permissive parenting and injury type. Post hoc analyses showed genetic effects were more pronounced for children with TBI from more positive family environments, such that children with TBI who were carriers of the risk allele (T-allele) had significantly poorer EF compared with non-carriers only when they were from more advantaged environments. At 7 years post-injury, analyses revealed a significant two-way interaction of genotype with level of authoritarian parenting. Post hoc analyses found that carriers of the risk allele had significantly poorer EF compared with non-carriers only when they were from more advantaged environments. These results suggest a gene-environment interaction involving the ANKK1 gene as a predictor of EF in a pediatric injury population. The findings highlight the importance of considering environmental influences in future genetic studies on recovery following TBI and other traumatic injuries in childhood.

Importance After traumatic brain injury (TBI), children often experience impairment when faced with tasks and situations of increasing complexity. Studies have failed to consider the potential for attention problems to develop many years after TBI or factors that may predict the development of secondary attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (SADHD). Understanding these patterns will aid in timely identification of clinically significant problems and appropriate initiation of treatment with the hope of limiting additional functional impairment. Objective To examine the development of SADHD during the 5 to 10 years after TBI and individual (sex, age at injury, and injury characteristics) and environmental (socioeconomic status and family functioning) factors that may be associated with SADHD. Design, Setting, and Participants Concurrent cohort/prospective study of children aged 3 to 7 years hospitalized overnight for TBI or orthopedic injury (OI; used as control group) who were screened at 3 tertiary care children’s hospitals and 1 general hospital in Ohio from January 2003 to June 2008. Parents completed assessments at baseline (0-3 months), 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 3.4 years, and 6.8 years after injury. A total of 187 children and adolescents were included in the analyses: 81 in the TBI group and 106 in the OI group. Main Outcomes and Measures Diagnosis of SADHD was the primary outcome. Assessments were all completed by parents. Secondary ADHD was defined as an elevated T score on the DSM-Oriented Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Problems Scale of the parent-reported Child Behavior Checklist, report of an ADHD diagnosis, and/or current treatment with stimulant medication not present at the baseline assessment. The Family Assessment Device–Global Functioning measurement was used to assess family functioning; scores ranged from 1 to 4, with greater scores indicating poorer family functioning. Results The analyzed sample included 187 children with no preinjury ADHD. Mean (SD) age was 5.1 (1.1) years; 108 (57.8%) were male, and 50 (26.7%) were of nonwhite race/ethnicity. Of the 187 children, 48 (25.7%) met our definition of SADHD. Severe TBI (hazard ratio [HR], 3.62; 95% CI, 1.59-8.26) was associated with SADHD compared with the OI group. Higher levels of maternal education (HR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.17-0.62) were associated with a lower risk of SADHD. Family dysfunction was associated with increased risk of SADHD within the TBI group (HR, 4.24; 95% CI, 1.91-9.43), with minimal association within the OI group (HR, 1.32; 95% CI, 0.36-4.91). Conclusions and Relevance Early childhood TBI was associated with increased risk for SADHD. This finding supports the need for postinjury monitoring for attention problems. Consideration of factors that may interact with injury characteristics, such as family functioning, will be important in planning clinical follow-up of children with TBI.

OBJECTIVE To examine the moderating effects of parent marital status and participation on efficacy of an online family problem-solving intervention for pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS Participants were 132 adolescents (12-17 years) who had sustained a recent (

Background Diagnostic tests are performed in a subset of the population who are at higher risk, resulting in undiagnosed cases among those who do not receive the test. This poses a challenge for estimating the prevalence of the disease in the study population, and also for studying the risk factors for the disease. Methods We formulate this problem as a missing data problem because the disease status is unknown for those who do not receive the test. We propose a Bayesian selection model which models the joint distribution of the disease outcome and whether testing was received. The sensitivity analysis allows us to assess how the association of the risk factors with the disease outcome as well as the disease prevalence change with the sensitivity parameter. Results We illustrated our model using a retrospective cohort study of children with asthma exacerbation that were evaluated for pneumonia in the emergency department. Our model found that female gender, having fever during ED or at triage, and having severe hypoxia are significantly associated with having radiographic pneumonia. In addition, simulation studies demonstrate that the Bayesian selection model works well even under circumstances when both the disease prevalence and the screening proportion is low. Conclusion The Bayesian selection model is a viable tool to consider for estimating the disease prevalence and in studying risk factors of the disease, when only a subset of the target population receive the test.

Care decisions for young children presenting to the emergency department (ED) with head injury are often challenging (e.g. whether to obtain neuroimaging). We sought to identify factors associated with acute management of children at-risk for clinically important traumatic brain injury (ciTBI) and describe symptom management.Observational evaluation of children, ages 0-4years, presenting to a pediatric ED following minor head injury. Children with ≥1 risk element per the Pediatric Emergency Care Academic Research Network's decision rule were deemed "at-risk" for ciTBI. Clinician surveys regarding their initial clinical management were used to identify three care groups. Nonparametric tests analyzed group differences and logistic regression investigated associations of putative high-risk factors with neuroimaging.Of 104 children enrolled: (i) 30 underwent neuroimaging, (ii) 59 were observed, and (iii) 15 were discharged following the clinician's initial patient exam. Children with a non-frontal scalp hematoma were more likely to receive immediate neuroimaging and children not acting like themselves per caregiver report were more likely to be initially observed, relative to the other care groups (p≤0.01). Among high-risk factors, altered mental status (OR 5.12, 95% CI 1.8-21.1), presence of ≥3 risk elements of the decision rule (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.2-10.6), unclear skull fracture on exam (OR 31.3, 95% CI 5.4-593.8), and age3months (OR 5.3, 95% CI 1.5-21.9) were associated with neuroimaging. No child had ciTBI. TBI symptoms (e.g. vomiting) were infrequently treated.ED management varied for young children with similar risk stratification. Investigation of how age in concert with specific risk factors influences medical decision making would advance evidenced-based care.

Manganese is a trace mineral required for metabolism, growth and tissue formation, and reproduction. It is mainly obtained through food and water, as well as through occupational exposure. This study used data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, combining the 2011-12 and 2013-14 cycles. We conducted linear regression analyses on urinary manganese and blood pressure. Significant negative associations (p

Background The prevalence of HIV in Ghana is 1.3%, compared to 17% among men who have sex with men (MSM). There is limited empirical data on the current health care climate and its impact on HIV prevention services for Ghanaian MSM. The purposes of this study were to investigate (1) MSM’s experiences using HIV prevention resources, (2) what factors, including health care climate factors, influenced MSM’s use of prevention resources and (3) MSM self-identified strategies for improving HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention among MSM in Ghanaian communities. Methods We conducted 22 focus groups (n = 137) with peer social networks of MSM drawn from three geographic communities in Ghana (Accra, Kumasi, Manya Krobo). The data were examined using qualitative content analysis. Interviews with individual health care providers were also conducted to supplement the analysis of focus group findings to provide more nuanced illuminations of the experiences reported by MSM. Results There were four major findings related to MSM experiences using HIV prevention resources: (1) condom quality is low, condom access is poor, and condom use is disruptive, (2) inaccurate information undermines HIV testing (3), stigma undermines HIV testing, and (4) positive attitudes towards HIV prevention exist among MSM. The main healthcare climate factors that affected prevention were that MSM were not free to be themselves, MSM were not understood by healthcare providers, and that MSM did not feel that healthcare providers cared about them. To improve HIV prevention MSM suggested increased education tailored to MSM should be provided to enable self-advocacy and that education and awareness are needed to protect human rights of MSM in Ghana. Conclusion MSM in Ghana are exposed to negative health care climates. Health care spaces that are unsupportive of MSM’s autonomy undermine the uptake of prevention measures such as condoms, HIV testing, and accurate sexual health education. These findings contribute to knowledge to inform development of HIV prevention interventions for MSM in Ghana, such as culturally appropriate sexual health education, and digital technology to connect individuals with resources supportive of MSM.

Joint models of binary primary endpoint and a longitudinal continuous process have been proposed when their association is of interest. The dependence between these two submodels can be characterized by introducing a common set of latent random effects. An important consideration that has been less investigated is to choose appropriate link functions for the binary primary endpoint in this joint model. We introduce two families of flexible link functions based on the generalized extreme value distribution and the symmetric power logit distribution. Our work is the first to investigate the importance of an appropriate and flexible link function in improving the estimation and prediction of a Bayesian joint model. Markov chain Monte Carlo is used for the posterior computation and inference. Flexibility and gains of the proposed joint model are demonstrated through detailed studies on simulated data sets and a real data example. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The estimation of causal effects in observational studies is usually limited by the lack of randomization, which can result in different treatment or exposure groups differing systematically with respect to characteristics that influence outcomes. To remove such systematic differences, methods to ”balance” subjects on observed covariates across treatment or exposure levels have been developed over the past three decades. These methods have been primarily developed in settings with binary treatment or exposures. However, in many observational studies, the exposures are continuous instead of being binary or discrete, and are usually considered as doses of treatment. In this manuscript we consider estimating the causal effect of early childhood lead exposure on youth academic achievement, where the exposure variable blood lead concentration can take any values that are greater than or equal to 0, using three balancing methods: propensity score analysis, non-bipartite matching, and Bayesian regression trees. We find some evidence that the standard logistic regression analysis controlling for age and socioeconomic confounders used in previous analyses (Zhang et al. (2013)) overstates the effect of lead exposure on performance on standardized mathematics and reading examinations; however, significant declines remain, including at doses currently below the recommended exposure levels.

Although epidemiological studies support an association between smoking and cognitive impairment, existing data do not answer the question of whether this association is causal or arises from covariates. In this paper, we investigate smoking status, assessed from adolescence to adulthood, and subsequent cognitive problems in a large representative sample of youths. To analyze this data, we propose a method for causal effects using full matching based on the subject-specific random intercept and slope of the propensity scores. The findings suggest that earlier smoking is not a causal factor for later cognitive problem (odds ratio = 1.64, 95% CI: 0.97–2.80, p = 0.06).

Study Objectives Published experimental sleep manipulation protocols for adolescents have been limited to the summer, limiting causal conclusions about how short sleep affects them on school nights, when they are most likely to restrict their sleep. This study assesses the feasibility and emotional impact of a school-night sleep manipulation protocol to test the effects of lengthening sleep in habitually short-sleeping adolescents. Methods High school students aged 14-18 years who habitually slept 5-7 hours on school nights participated in a 5-week experimental sleep manipulation protocol. Participants completed a baseline week followed in randomized counterbalanced order by two experimental conditions lasting 2 weeks each: prescribed habitual sleep (HAB; sleep time set to match baseline) and sleep extension (EXT; 1.5-hour increase in time in bed from HAB). All sleep was obtained at home, monitored with actigraphy. Data on adherence, protocol acceptability, mood and behavior were collected at the end of each condition. Results Seventy-six adolescents enrolled in the study, with 54 retained through all 5 weeks. Compared to HAB, during EXT, participants averaged an additional 72.6 minutes/night of sleep (p < .001) and had reduced symptoms of sleepiness, anger, vigor, fatigue, and confusion (p < .05). The large majority of parents (98%) and adolescents (100%) said they would "maybe" or "definitely" recommend the study to another family. Conclusions An experimental, school-night sleep manipulation protocol can be feasibly implemented which directly tests the potential protective effects of lengthening sleep. Many short-sleeping adolescents would benefit emotionally from sleeping longer, supporting public health efforts to promote adolescent sleep on school nights.

There have been few trials of interventions to facilitate recovery following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in adolescence. To address this gap, we developed and piloted a novel Web-based intervention, entitled Self-Management Activity Restriction and Relaxation Training (SMART), and examined its impact on symptom burden, functional disability, and executive functioning during the month following mTBI in adolescents.Open-label, single arm study. Adolescents with recent mTBI and a parent were recruited from the emergency department and provided access upon discharge to SMART-a Web-based program designed to facilitate recovery via self-management and education about symptoms and sequelae associated with mTBI. Symptom burden, functional disability, and executive functioning were rated by both the adolescent and the parent initially and at assessments at 1-, 2- and 4-weeks postinjury. Mixed models analyses were used to examine trajectories on these outcomes.Of the 21 adolescent/parent dyads enrolled, 13 engaged in the program and reported significant improvement in symptoms over the 4-week program (adolescent, p = 0.0005; parent, p = 0.004). Adolescents spent a median of 35.5 min (range 1.1-107.6) using the program. Parent ratings of the adolescent's functional disability and executive functioning significantly improved over the 4-week period from baseline (p = 0.009 and p = 0.03, respectively), whereas adolescents themselves did not report significant changes in either outcome. All participants improved and there were no adverse outcomes.The SMART program, a novel Web-based intervention, may serve as a self-management tool for adolescents and their parents to assist with the recovery following a recent mTBI.

To evaluate the effectiveness of Internet-based Interacting Together Everyday: Recovery After Childhood TBI (I-InTERACT) versus abbreviated parent training (Express) or access to online resources (internet resources comparison [IRC]) in improving parenting skills and decreasing behavior problems after early traumatic brain injury (TBI).In this randomized, controlled, clinical trial, 113 children 3 to 9 years old previously hospitalized for moderate to severe TBI were randomly assigned to receive Express (n = 36), I-InTERACT (n = 39), or IRC (n = 38). Express included 7 online parent skills sessions, and I-InTERACT delivered 10 to 14 sessions addressing parenting skills, TBI education, stress, and anger management. The 2 interventions coupled online modules with therapist coaching through a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant Skype link. The IRC group received access to online TBI and parent skills resources. Co-primary outcomes were blinded ratings of parenting skills and parent report of behavior problems and problem intensity on the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI). Outcomes were assessed before treatment and 3 and 6 months after treatment, with the latter constituting the primary endpoint.The Express and I-InTERACT groups displayed higher levels of positive parenting at follow-up. Only the I-InTERACT group had lower levels of negative parenting at 6 months. The Express group had lower ECBI intensity scores than the IRC group. Baseline symptom levels moderated improvements; children in the Express and I-InTERACT groups with higher baseline symptoms demonstrated greater improvements than those in the IRC group. Changes in parenting skills mediated improvements in behavior in those with higher baseline symptoms.Brief online parent skills training can effectively decrease behavior problems after early TBI in children with existing behavioral symptoms. Clinical trial registration information-Internet-based Interacting Together Everyday, Recovery After Childhood TBI (I-InTERACT)-RRTC; http://clinicaltrials.gov/; NCT01214694.

Background Improved exercise capacity (EC) and normal glucose tolerance (NGT) are independently associated with favorable outcomes in CF, however, little information on this relationship exists in patients with CF. Methods Cardiopulmonary exercise tests, oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT), and HbA1c values measured within a 12-month period were evaluated on 83 pediatric patients diagnosed with CF. Patients were categorized as having NGT, abnormal glucose tolerance (AGT), or CF-related diabetes (CFRD). Results EC decreased as severity of glucose intolerance increased across NGT, AGT, and CFRD groups (P = 0.02). Compared to patients with NGT, patients with CFRD had lower peak VO2 mL/kg/min (33.0 ± 7.3 vs 41.3 ± 9.4, P = 0.01), lower VO2% (81 ± 20 vs 93 ± 17, P = 0.03), and higher HbA1c (6.9 ± 1.7 vs 5.4 ± 0.4, P

BackgroundThe baroreflex and central autonomic brain regions together control the cardiovascular system. Baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) decreases with age in adults. Age-related changes in brain regions for cardiovascular control in children are unknown. We studied age-related changes in BRS, cardiac autonomic tone, and gray matter volume (GMV) of brain regions associated with cardiovascular control.MethodsBeat-to-beat blood pressure and heart rate (HR) were recorded in 49 children (6-14 years old). Spontaneous BRS was calculated by the sequence method. Cardiac autonomic tone was measured by spectral analysis of HR variability. GMV was measured using voxel-based morphometryin 112 healthy children (5-18 years old).ResultsAge-related changes in BRS were significantly different in children

Objectives The presence of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is known to impact long-term cardiovascular morbidity in adults; however, the long-term effects in children are poorly understood. We aimed to systematically review and synthesize studies published to date on the long-term effects of SDB in children. Study design Meta-analysis and systematic review using PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Scopus (all indexed years). Methods We searched for English-language articles containing original human data from prospective studies, with ≥7 participants, in children ≤18 years of age. Data regarding study design, demographics, clinical characteristics, outcomes, level of evidence, and risk of bias were obtained. Articles were independently reviewed by three investigators. Retrospective and cross-sectional studies were excluded. Results Of 1701 identified abstracts, 25 articles (combined n = 1418) were ultimately included. All studies reported longitudinal outcomes following treatment of SDB, 21 studies exclusively reporting outcomes after adenotonsillectomy. Therefore, studies were combined to objectively assess the effect of SDB treatment on cardiovascular outcomes. Although all cardiovascular parameters were within the normal range at baseline, at follow-up there was a significant decrease in mean pulmonary artery pressure, right ventricular end diastolic diameter, heart rate, mitral Em/Am ratio, and C-reactive protein. There was no significant change in interventricular septum thickness, left ventricular parameters (shortening fraction, systolic and end diastolic diameters, ejection fraction, posterior wall thickness, isovolumetric relaxation time), left atrial diameter, and aortic and pulmonary valve peak velocities. Conclusions Studies assessing the long-term cardiovascular effects of SDB in children are limited. The available literature indicates effects on autonomic function, right, and left heart function following treatment for SDB. However, well-designed, large-scale, prospective cohort studies (using standardized outcomes) are needed to better understand the relationship of cardiovascular morbidity in the context of pediatric SDB.