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Background: Sexual minority students have higher risk for health-related behaviors. We examined 5 domains including 34 health risk behaviors and health conditions among sexual minorities and unsure students in Rhode Island. We also included sexual contact of heterosexually identified students to capture heterosexually identified students who may be considered sexual minorities by their behavior. Methods: We used the 2007-2015 Rhode Island Youth Risk Behavior Survey data (N = 14,264). We categorized students into 4 groups: students self-identified as heterosexual and reported no sexual contact with same sex only or both sexes (group 1); self-identified as heterosexual and reported sexual contact with same sex only or both sexes (group 2); self-identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual (group 3); and responded as unsure (group 4). We used multivariable adjusted logistic regression analyses to evaluate associations of sexual minority and unsure students with 34 health risk behaviors and health conditions accounting for complex sampling design. Results: Students in groups 2-4 were more likely to engage in health-risk behaviors including violent behaviors, attempted suicide, substance use, and no physical activity than their peers. Conclusions: As sexual minority youth continue to report higher rates of health-related risk behaviors, targeted evidence-based prevention approaches must focus on reducing these risk behaviors among those youth. [The Rhode Island Youth Risk Behavior Survey is conducted through a cooperative agreement between the CDC and the Rhode Island Department of Health. This publication was supported by CDC Cooperative Agreement #U87PS004179.]

This study aims to compare the developmental-behavioral profiles of 2-year-olds of mothers who experienced postpartum and/or current depression with profiles of toddlers of mothers without depression at either time using population-based Rhode Island data. Weighted data from Rhode Island Department of Health's Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System and Rhode Island's follow-up Toddlers Wellness Overview Survey distributed to mothers giving birth between 2006 and 2008 were analyzed. Compared with non-depressed mothers, those with any depression following childbirth reported more concerns with their toddlers' receptive language, social-emotional development, and their sleep and feeding behaviors. When adjusted for demographics, persistent depression remained associated with social-emotional (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 7.53, 2.78-20.34) and feeding concerns (aOR = 3.13, 1.36-7.22), and current depression was associated with social-emotional concerns (aOR = 2.52, 1.26-5.01). We conclude that pediatric providers should explore maternal mental health as a mediating and potentially modifiable factor beyond the postpartum period when toddlers present with developmental-behavioral challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tissue regression in the hair follicle is thought to be mediated through programmed cell death (7). However, it is unclear which cells within the follicle are removed and whether this [...], Tissue homeostasis is achieved through a balance of cell production (growth) and elimination (regression) (1,2). In contrast to tissue growth, the cells and molecular signals required for tissue regression remain unknown. To investigate physiological tissue regression, we use the mouse hair follicle, which cycles stereotypically between phases of growth and regression while maintaining a pool of stem cells to perpetuate tissue regeneration (3). Here we show by intravital microscopy in live mice (4-6) that the regression phase eliminates the majority of the epithelial cells by two distinct mechanisms: terminal differentiation of suprabasal cells and a spatial gradient of apoptosis of basal cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that basal epithelial cells collectively act as phagocytes to clear dying epithelial neighbours. Through cellular and genetic ablation we show that epithelial cell death is extrinsically induced through transforming growth factor (TGF)-β activation and mesenchymal crosstalk. Strikingly, our data show that regression acts to reduce the stem cell pool, as inhibition of regression results in excess basal epithelial cells with regenerative abilities. This study identifies the cellular behaviours and molecular mechanisms of regression that counterbalance growth to maintain tissue homeostasis.

Author(s): Samara Brown [1]; Cristiana M. Pineda [1]; Tianchi Xin [1]; Jonathan Boucher [1]; Kathleen C. Suozzi [1]; Sangbum Park [1]; Catherine Matte-Martone [1]; David G. Gonzalez [1]; Julie Rytlewski [...]

OBJECTIVES. Our objectives were to (a) estimate the prevalence of children's mental health problems, (b) assess family functioning, and (c) investigate the relationship between children's mental health and family functioning in Rhode Island. METHODS. From the 2003 National Survey of Children's Health, Rhode Island data for children 6 to 17 years of age were used for the analyses (N = 1326). Two aspects of family functioning measures, parental stress and parental involvement, were constructed and were examined by children's mental health problems, as well as other child and family characteristics (child's age, gender, race/ethnicity, special needs, parent's education, income, employment, family structure, number of children, and mother's general and mental health). Bivariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression were used to investigate the relationship. RESULTS. Among Rhode Island children, nearly I (19.0%) in 5 had mental health problems, 1 (15.6%) in 6 lived with a highly stressed parent, and one third (32.7%) had parents with low involvement. Bivariate analyses showed that high parental stress and low parental involvement were higher among parents of children with mental health problems than parents of children without those problems (33.2% vs 11.0% and 41.0% vs 30.3%, respectively). In multivariate logistic regression, parents of children with mental health problems had nearly 4 times the odds of high stress compared with parents of children without those problems. When children's mental health problems were severe, the odds of high parental stress were elevated. However, children's mental health was not associated with parental involvement. CONCLUSIONS. Children's mental health was strongly associated with parental stress, but it was not associated with parental involvement. The findings indicate that when examining the mental health issues of children, parental mental health and stress must be considered. Key Words children's mental health, family functioning, parental stress, parental involvement, National Survey of Children's Health, Rhode Island, AT LEAST 1 in 5 children in the United States has a mental health disorder, and 1 in 10 has a serious emotional disturbance. (1) These problems are a source [...]