Determinants of Child-Parent Agreement in Quality-of-Life Reports: A European Study of Children With Cerebral Palsy

OBJECTIVES: The differences between child self-reports and parent proxy reports of quality of life in a large population of children with cerebral palsy were studied. We examined whether child characteristics, severity of impairment, socioeconomic factors, and parental stress were associated with parent proxy reports being respectively higher or lower than child self-reports of quality of life. METHODS. This study was conducted in 2004–2005 and assessed child quality of life (using the Kidscreen questionnaire, 10 domains, each scored 0–100) through self-reports and parent proxy reports of 500 children aged 8 to 12 years who had cerebral palsy and were living in 7 countries in Europe. RESULTS: The mean child-reported scores of quality of life were significantly higher than the parent proxy reports in 8 domains, significantly lower for the finances domain, and similar for the emotions domain. The average frequency of disagreement (child-parent difference greater than half an SD of child scores) over all domains was 64%, with parents rating their child’s quality of life lower than the children themselves in 29% to 57% of child-parent pairs. We found that high levels of stress in parenting negatively influenced parents’ perception of their child’s quality of life, whereas the main factor explaining parents’ ratings of children’s quality of life higher than the children themselves is self-reported severe child pain. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the factors associated with disagreement are different according to the direction of disagreement. In particular, parental wellbeing and child pain should be taken into account in the interpretation of parent proxy reports, especially when no child self-report of quality of life is available. In the latter cases, it may be advisable to obtain additional proxy reports (from caregivers, teachers, or clinicians) to obtain complementary information on the child’s quality of life.

Parenting practices in Northern Ireland: evidence from the Northern Ireland Household Panel Survey

The impact of parental child-rearing practices on child outcomes has been the subject of much research and debate for many years. Studies carried out within a variety of disciplines and across a number of different countries in the world have indicated that parents tend to use a different pattern of rearing their sons than their daughters, and that child-rearing practices are related to the gender of the parent, as well as to the age and developmental stage of the child. However, there has been little research in Northern Ireland on child-rearing behaviours. In order to address this shortfall, this paper presents an analysis of parents’ perceptions of their interactions with their children. Data from Wave 3 of the Northern Ireland Household Panel Survey were analysed to explore aspects of ‘‘negative’’ parenting practices (arguing, yelling and use of physical punishment) as well as ‘‘positive’’ parenting practices (talking, praising and hugging). The participants were all parents (aged 16 years and over) with children under the age of 16 years living in the same household. Each parent reported his/her interaction with each child (up to a maximum of six children), and in total 1,629 responses were recorded. The results of the research supported previous findings from the United Kingdom and elsewhere, and indicated that the parenting styles of respondents in Northern Ireland were indeed related to the gender and age of the children and to the gender of the parents. The survey found that parents in Northern Ireland tend to have a harsher, more negative style of parenting boys than girls and that children in their teenage years have fewer positive interactions with their parents than younger children. The same parents and children will be followed up in 2007 in order to provide a longitudinal analysis of parent/child relationships in Northern Ireland.

Residues of nitrofuran antibiotic parent compounds and metabolites in eyes of broiler chickens

Nitrofuran antibiotic residues in food continue to be of international concern. The finding of sources of semicarbazide (SEM), other than through the misuse of nitrofurazone, present a challenge to the use of SEM as a definitive marker residue for this drug. Detection of intact (parent) nitrofurazone would avoid confusion over the source of SEM residues. Broiler chickens were fed sub-therapeutic nitrofuran-containing diets and their tissues were analysed for parent compounds and metabolites by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry detection (LC-MS/MS). Depletion half-lives in muscle were longer for tissue-bound metabolite residues, 3.4 days - 3-amino-2-oxazolidinone (AOZ), 3-amino-5-morpholinomethyl-2-oxazolidone (AMOZ) - to 4.5 days (SEM), than total metabolite residues, 2.0 days (AOZ) to 3.2 days (SEM). Metabolite concentrations were higher in eyes than in muscle. Metabolite half-lives in eyes ranged from 8.5 days (1-aminohydantoin (AHD)) to 20.3 days (SEM). Nitrofuran parent compounds were also detected in eyes. Furaltadone was detected in single eyes after 21 days' withdrawal of a 6 mg kg -1 furaltadone diet. When 50 eyes from broilers containing metabolites in muscle close to the 1 µg kg -1 minimum required performance level (MRPL) were pooled into single samples, 1.2 ng of furazolidone and 31.1 ng of furaltadone were detected, but nitrofurazone was not detected due to the long depletion half-life of SEM in muscle. Further studies are required to improve LC-MS/MS nitrofurazone sensitivity and refine the sample size necessary to use nitrofurazone detection in pooled eyes as a complement to SEM detection in muscle.

Gender differences among Canadian spousal caregivers at the end of life

The purpose of this study was to examine gender differences in spousal caregiving at the end of life. The primary research question was to determine gender differences in caregiver strain among spousal caregivers. Secondary research questions investigated included (i) the presence of gender differences among spousal caregivers in the duration of care provided; (ii) gender differences among spousal caregivers in formal service use and unmet service needs; and (iii) whether support to care recipients in activities of daily living varied according to the gender of the spousal caregiver. The study was conducted over a 2-year period (2000-2002) in south-central Ontario, Canada. The study sample included 283 informal spousal caregivers (198 females, 85 males) each of whom were caring for a terminally ill spouse at the time they participated in a cross-sectional telephone survey. The analysis showed that females reported a significantly greater level of caregiving strain than males (t = -2.12, d.f. = 281, P = 0.035). When considering source of support in activities of daily living for the care recipient, differential assistance was noted on the basis of caregiver gender. Female caregivers had almost twice the odds of providing support in toileting-related tasks than male caregivers (odds ratio (OR) = 1.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.01-3.85, P = 0.044), while male caregivers had approximately twice the odds of providing support in mobility-related tasks (OR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.21-0.81, P = 0.011). Care recipients who had a female caregiver had lower odds of receiving support from family and friends in tasks associated with personal care (OR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.05-0.53, P = 0.002). To address gender differences in caregiving, a realistic home-based palliative care approach must take into account the importance of informal caregivers. © 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Parent ratings of child cognition and language compared with Bayley-III in preterm 3-year-olds

Background
Parent ratings on questionnaires may provide valid and cost-effective tools for screening cognitive development of children at risk of developmental delay.

Aims
In this study, we examined the convergent validity of combining parent-based reports of non-verbal cognitive abilities (PARCA3) and verbal abilities (CDI-III) in relation to the Bayley-III cognitive scale in 3-year-olds born late pre-term.

Methods
Mothers of 185 late-preterm children were asked to complete the PARCA3 and the CDI-III shortly before children reached age three; children were then assessed using the Bayley-III close to their third birthday.

Results
The two maternal questionnaires were significantly and moderately correlated with the Bayley-III cognitive scores. Together the maternal ratings accounted for 15% of the variance in the Bayley-III cognitive scores, after controlling for other covariates in regression analysis. In particular, the PARCA3 contributed significantly to explain variance in the Bayley-III cognitive scores when controlling for the CDI-III. However, the CDI-III was also independently associated with the Bayley-III cognitive scores.

Conclusions
Parent ratings of child cognition and language together may provide cost-effective screening of development in “at risk” preschoolers.

Studying Gender in Conference Talks -- data from the 223rd meeting of the American Astronomical Society

We present a study on the gender balance, in speakers and attendees, at the recent major astronomical conference, the American Astronomical Society meeting 223, in Washington, DC. We conducted an informal survey, yielding over 300 responses by volunteers at the meeting. Each response included gender data about a single talk given at the meeting, recording the gender of the speaker and all question-askers. In total, 225 individual AAS talks were sampled. We analyze basic statistical properties of this sample. We find that the gender ratio of the speakers closely matched the gender ratio of the conference attendees. The audience asked an average of 2.8 questions per talk. Talks given by women had a slightly higher number of questions asked (3.2$\pm$0.2) than talks given by men (2.6$\pm$0.1). The most significant result from this study is that while the gender ratio of speakers very closely mirrors that of conference attendees, women are under-represented in the question-asker category. We interpret this to be an age-effect, as senior scientists may be more likely to ask questions, and are more commonly men. A strong dependence on the gender of session chairs is found, whereby women ask disproportionately fewer questions in sessions chaired by men. While our results point to laudable progress in gender-balanced speaker selection, we believe future surveys of this kind would help ensure that collaboration at such meetings is as inclusive as possible.

Correlates of reproductive success in a population of nine-banded armadillos: a preliminary report.

We used microsatellite DNA markers to identify the putative parents of 69 litters of nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) over 4 years. Male and female parents did not differ in any measure of body size in comparisons with nonparents. However, males observed paired with a female were significantly larger than unpaired males, although paired females were the same size as unpaired females. Females categorized as possibly lactating were significantly larger than females that were either definitely lactating or definitely not lactating. There was no evidence of assortative mating: body-size measurements of mothers were not significantly correlated with those of fathers. Nine-banded armadillos give birth to litters of genetically identical quadruplets. Mothers (but not fathers) of female litters were significantly larger than mothers of male litters, and maternal (but not paternal) body size was positively correlated with the number of surviving young within years, but not cumulatively. There were no differences in dates of birth between male and female litters, nor were there any significant relationships between birth date and maternal body size. Body size of either parent was not correlated with the body sizes of their offspring. Cumulative and yearly reproductive success did not differ between reproductively successful males and females. Average reproductive success (which included apparently unsuccessful individuals) also did not differ between males and females. The majority of adults in the population apparently failed to produce any surviving offspring, and even those that did usually did so in only 1 of the 4 years. This low reproductive success is unexpected, given the rapid and successful range extension of this species throughout the southeastern United States in this century.

Biotransformation of maximakinin, a bradykinin-related nonadecapeptide from toad venom, by mammalian kallikrein and salivary proteases

Maximakinin is an N-terminally extended bradykinin (DLPKINRKGPRPPGFSPFR) from the venom of a Chinese toad (Bombina maxima) that displays highly selective activity at mammalian arterial smooth muscle receptors. In this study, we report that incubation of maximakinin with either kallikrein or human saliva generates catabolites with enhanced bioactivity that retain the tissue selective effects of the parent molecule. In addition, we have observed that kallikrein rapidly cleaves the C-terminal arginyl residue of both maximakinin and bradykinin – a cleavage hitherto considered to be performed by a carboxypeptidase that facilitates selective bradykinin receptor targeting. Maximakinin has thus evolved as a `smart' defensive weapon in the toad with inherent resistance to the signal-terminating protease hardware in the potential predator. Thus, natural selection of amphibian skin peptides for antipredator defence, through interspecies delivery by an exogenous secretory mode, produces subtle structural stabilization modifications that can potentially provide new insights for the design of orally active and selectively targeted peptide therapeutics.

Reactions of One-Electron-Oxidized Methionine with Oxygen: An ab initio study

A one-electron oxidation of a methionine residue is thought to be a key step in the neurotoxicity of the beta amyloid peptide of Alzheimer's disease. The chemistry of the radical cation of N-formylmethioninamide (11+) and two model systems, dimethyl sulfide (1+) and ethyl methyl sulfide (6+), in the presence of oxygen have been studied by B3LYP/6-31G(d) and CBS-RAD calculations. The stable form of 11+ has a three-electron bond between the sulfur radical cation and the carbonyl oxygen atom of the i - 1 residue. The radical cation may lose a proton from the methyl or methylene groups flanking the oxidized sulfur. Both 11+ and the resultant C-centered radicals may add oxygen to form peroxy radicals. The calculations indicate that unlike C-centered radicals the sulfur radical cation does not form a covalent bond to oxygen but rather forms a loose ion-induced dipole complex with an S-O separation of about 2.7 Å, and is bound by about 13 kJ mol-1 (on the basis of 1+ + O2). Direct intramolecular abstraction of an H atom from the C site is unlikely. It is endothermic by more than 20 kJ mol-1 and involves a high barrier (G = 79 kJ mol-1). The -to-S C-centered radicals will add oxygen to form peroxy radicals. The OH BDEs of the parent hydroperoxides are in the range of 352-355 kJ mol-1, similar to SH BDEs (360 kJ mol-1) and C-H BDEs (345-350 kJ mol-1). Thus, the peroxy radicals are oxidizing species comparable in strength to thiyl radicals and peptide backbone C-centered radicals. Each peroxy radical can abstract a hydrogen atom from the backbone C site of the Met residue to yield the corresponding C-centered radical/hydroperoxide in a weakly exothermic process with modest barriers in the range of 64-92 kJ mol-1.

Assessment of data quality in a multi-centre cross-sectional study of participation and quality of life of children with cerebral palsy

Background: SPARCLE is a cross-sectional survey in nine European regions, examining the relationship of the environment of children with cerebral palsy to their participation and quality of life. The objective of this report is to assess data quality, in particular heterogeneity between regions, family and item non-response and potential for bias. Methods: 1,174 children aged 8–12 years were selected from eight population-based registers of children with cerebral palsy; one further centre recruited 75 children from multiple sources. Families were visited by trained researchers who administered psychometric questionnaires. Logistic regression was used to assess factors related to family non-response and self-completion of questionnaires by children. Results: 431/1,174 (37%) families identified from registers did not respond: 146 (12%) were not traced; of the 1,028 traced families, 250 (24%) declined to participate and 35 (3%) were not approached. Families whose disabled children could walk unaided were more likely to decline to participate. 818 children entered the study of which 500 (61%) self-reported their quality of life; children with low IQ, seizures or inability to walk were less likely to self-report. There was substantial heterogeneity between regions in response rates and socio-demographic characteristics of families but not in age or gender of children. Item non-response was 2% for children and ranged from 0.4% to 5% for questionnaires completed by parents. Conclusion: While the proportion of untraced families was higher than in similar surveys, the refusal rate was comparable. To reduce bias, all analyses should allow for region, walking ability, age and socio-demographic characteristics. The 75 children in the region without a population based register are unlikely to introduce bias

The electrochemical reduction of the purines guanine and adenine at platinum electrodes in several room temperature ionic liquids

The reduction of guanine was studied by microelectrode voltammetry in the room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) N-hexyltriethylammonium his (trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide [N-6.2.2.2][N(Tf)(2)], 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorosphosphate [C(4)mim] [PF6], N-butyl-N-methyl-pyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide [C(4)mpyrr][N(Tf)(2)], 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide [C-4mim][N(TF)(2)], N-butyl-N-methyl-pyrrolidinium dicyanamide [C(4)mpyrr][N(NC)(2)] and tris(P-hexyl)-tetradecylphosphonium trifluorotris(pentafluoroethyl)phosphate [P-14,P-6,(6,6)][FAP] on a platinum microelectrode. In [N-6,N-2,N-2,N-2][NTf2] and [P-14,P-6,P-6.6][FAP], but not in the other ionic liquids studied, guanine reduction involves a one-electron, diffusion-controlled process at very negative potential to produce an unstable radical anion. which is thought to undergo a dimerization reaction, probably after proton abstraction from the cation of the ionic liquid. The rate of this subsequent reaction depends on the nature of the ionic liquid, and it is faster in the ionic liquid [P-14,P-6,P-6.6[FAP], in which the formation of the resulting dimer can be voltammetrically monitored at less negative potentials than required for the reduction of the parent molecule. Adenine showed similar behaviour to guanine but the pyrimidines thymine and cytosine did not; thymine was not reduced at potentials less negative than required for solvent (RTIL) decomposition while only a poorly defined wave was seen for cytosine. The possibility for proton abstraction from the cation in [N-6,N-2,N-2,N-2],[NTF2] and [P-14,P-6,P-6.6][FAP] is noted and this is thought to aid the electrochemical dimerization process. The resulting rapid reaction is thought to shift the reduction potentials for guanine and adenine to lower values than observed in RTILs where the scope for proton abstraction is not present. Such shifts are characteristic of so-called EC processes where reversible electron transfer is followed by a chemical reaction. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The effects of sudden paternal death on young people and their family relationships: some implications for practice

The importance for children and young people to be able to communicate openly about the death of a parent is evident from the literature. This small-scale investigation uses a case-study approach to illustrate the impact on siblings of the sudden death of a father. The abundance of comments from the young people in the study such as “talking is the only thing that helps” and “everybody has to get it out” emphasise the important role of communication within the family. Children tend to take their emotional cues from other family members and, paradoxically, restrict communication of their own grief in an attempt to protect others. Even if painful in the short term, certain lines of communication may need to be established if family members are to be able to support each other in dealing with the distressing experience of the death in a healthy manner. The study suggests that those who work with young people in such circumstances should take cognisance of these issues.

Comparative proteome analysis of triclabendazole response in the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica.

Control of Fasciola hepatica infections of livestock in the absence of vaccines depends largely on the chemical triclabendazole (TCBZ) because it is effective against immature and adult parasites. Overdependence on a single drug and improper application is considered a significant factor in increasing global reports of fluke resistant to TCBZ. The mode(s) of action and biological target(s) of TCBZ are not confirmed, delaying detection and the monitoring of early TCBZ resistance. In this study, to further understand liver fluke response to TCBZ, the soluble proteomes of TCBZ-resistant and TCBZ-susceptible isolates of F. hepatica were compared with and without in vitro exposure to the metabolically active form of the parent drug triclabendazole sulphoxide (TCBZ-SO), via two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). Gel image analysis revealed proteins displaying altered synthesis patterns and responses both between isolates and under TCBZ-SO exposure. These proteins were identified by mass spectrometry supported by a F. hepatica expressed sequence tag (EST) data set. The TCBZ responding proteins were grouped into three categories; structural proteins, energy metabolism proteins, and “stress” response proteins. This single proteomic investigation supported the reductionist experiments from many laboratories that collectively suggest TCBZ has a range of effects on liver fluke metabolism. Proteomics highlighted differences in the innate proteome profile of different fluke isolates that may influence future therapy and diagnostics design. Two of the TCBZ responding proteins, a glutathione transferase and a fatty acid binding protein, were cloned, produced as recombinants, and both found to bind TCBZ-SO at physiologically relevant concentrations, which may indicate a role in TCBZ metabolism and resistance.

TIME-RESOLVED RESONANCE RAMAN-SPECTROSCOPY AND RAMAN SPECTROELECTROCHEMISTRY OF (CO)(5)W[4,4'-BPY]W(CO)(5), PROBED IN THE VISIBLE AND NEAR-INFRARED

Time-resolved resonance Raman spectroscopy of the lowest energy excited state of the 4,4'-bipyridyl ligand-bridged complex, [(CO)(5)W(L)W(CO5] (1), and Raman spectroscopy of electrochemically reduced 1, both give bands characteristic of the the L(.-) species. This confirms that the ligand L is negatively charged in the lowest energy exicited state which is therefore metal-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) in character. Raman spectra of the radical anion of 1 excited in the far red (800 nm) exhibited a band near 2050 cm(-1) due to a vco symmetric CO stretching mode, compared to the corresponding band at 2070 cm(-1) in the spectrum of the parent, uncharged complex. The lower vco in the reduced complex supports the recent finding by time-resolved IR spectroscopy of a similar frequency decrease for nu(CO) in the longest lived (MLCT) excited state of 1 which was attributed to electron/hole localisation in this state on the IR time scale.