Effects of a post-weaning cafeteria diet in young rats: metabolic syndrome, reduced activity and low anxiety-like behaviour.

Among adolescents, overweight, obesity and metabolic syndrome are rapidly increasing in recent years as a consequence of unhealthy palatable diets. Animal models of diet-induced obesity have been developed, but little is known about the behavioural patterns produced by the consumption of such diets. The aim of the present study was to determine the behavioural and biochemical effects of a cafeteria diet fed to juvenile male and female rats, as well as to evaluate the possible recovery from these effects by administering standard feeding during the last week of the study. Two groups of male and female rats were fed with either a standard chow diet (ST) or a cafeteria (CAF) diet from weaning and for 8 weeks. A third group of males (CAF withdrawal) was fed with the CAF diet for 7 weeks and the ST in the 8th week. Both males and females developed metabolic syndrome as a consequence of the CAF feeding, showing overweight, higher adiposity and liver weight, increased plasma levels of glucose, insulin and triglycerides, as well as insulin resistance, in comparison with their respective controls. The CAF diet reduced motor activity in all behavioural tests, enhanced exploration, reduced anxiety-like behaviour and increased social interaction; this last effect was more pronounced in females than in males. When compared to animals only fed with a CAF diet, CAF withdrawal increased anxiety in the open field, slightly decreased body weight, and completely recovered the liver weight, insulin sensitivity and the standard levels of glucose, insulin and triglycerides in plasma. In conclusion, a CAF diet fed to young animals for 8 weeks induced obesity and metabolic syndrome, and produced robust behavioural changes in young adult rats, whereas CAF withdrawal in the last week modestly increased anxiety, reversed the metabolic alterations and partially reduced overweight.

An 8-Item Short Form of the Inventory of Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA) Among Young Swiss Men.

Emerging adulthood is a period of life transition, in which youths are no longer adolescents but have not yet reached full adulthood. Measuring emerging adulthood is crucial because of its association with psychopathology and risky behaviors such as substance use. Unfortunately, the only validated scale for such measurement has a long format (Inventory of Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood [IDEA]-31 items). This study aimed to test whether a shorter form yields satisfactory results without substantial loss of information among a sample of young Swiss men. Data from the longitudinal Cohort Study on Substance Use Risk Factors were used (N = 5,049). IDEA, adulthood markers (e.g., parenthood or financial independence), and risk factors (i.e., substance use and mental health issues) were assessed. The results showed that an 8-item, short-form scale (IDEA-8) with four factors (experimentation, negativity, identity exploration, and feeling in between) returned satisfactory results, including good psychometric properties, high convergence with the initial scale, and strong empirical validity. This study was a step toward downsizing a measure of emerging adulthood. Indeed, this 8-item short form is a good alternative to the 31-item long form and could be more convenient for surveys with constraints on questionnaire length. Moreover, it should help health care practitioners in identifying at-risk populations to prevent and treat risky behaviors.

Prospective pathways between heroin use and nonmedical use of prescription opioids: Trajectories among young Swiss men

BACKGROUND. So far few studies have focused on the last steps of drug-use trajectories. Heroin has been described as a final stage, but the non-medical use of prescription opioids (NMUPOs) is often associated with heroin use. There is, however, no consensus yet about which one precedes the other. AIMS. The objective of this study was to test which of these two substances was likely to be induced by the other using a prospective design. MATERIAL AND METHODS. We used data from the Swiss Longitudinal Cohort Study on Substance Use Risk Factors (C-SURF) to assess exposure to heroin and NMUPO at two times points (N = 5,041). Cross-lagged panel models provided evidence regarding prospective pathways between heroin and NMUPOs. Power analyses provided evidence about significance and clinical relevance. RESULTS. Results showed that heroin use predicted later NMUPO use (? = 1.217, p < 0.001) and that the reverse pathway was non-significant (? = 0.240, p = .233). Heroin use seems to be an important determinant, causing a 150% risk increase for NMUPO use at follow-up, whereas NMUPO use at baseline increases the risk of heroin use at follow-up by a mere non-significant 20%. CONCLUSIONS. Thus, heroin users were more likely to move to NMUPOs than non-heroin users, whereas NMUPO users were not likely to move to heroin use. The pathway of substance use seemed to include first heroin use, then NMUPO use.

Simultaneous use of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis in relation to severity of substance dependence: a study among young Swiss men

Objective: This study investigated patterns of the simultaneous use of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis among young polydrug users, and whether use of one substance might be a cue for use of another and associations with the severity of substance dependence. Methods: The study focused on 3 subsamples from the ongoing Swiss Cohort Study on Substance Use Risk Factors (C-SURF, N=5,990). It used 12 months of data on alcohol/tobacco co-users, alcohol/cannabis co-users and tobacco/cannabis co-users (N=2,660, 1,755 and 1,460 respectively. Simultaneous use, numbers of symptoms of substance dependence, and hazardous use of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis were assessed. The effect of simultaneous polydrug use (SPU) on the numbers of symptoms of substance dependence was tested using analysis of variance. Results: Polydrug use was most common as SPU, and less common as non/occasional SPU. Moreover, when participants started to use one substance while using another, the severity of substance dependence was more strongly associated with the triggered substance than with cue. Conclusions: This study highlights the necessity to take SPU into account. First, SPU rather than separate drug use was the most common pattern for polydrug users. Second, frequent SPU was associated with increased numbers of symptoms of substance dependence compared to non/occasional SPU. Furthermore, SPU may reveal the severity of substance use dependence, when substance use is triggered by a cue substance. For these reasons, SPU should be a serious cause for concern for prevention and intervention purposes.

Est-ce qu'en discuter fait la différence ? Opinions de jeunes adultes atteints de maladies chroniques après avoir été transférés vers des soins pour adultes [Does talking about it make a difference? Opinions of chronically ill young adults after being transferred to adult care].

1) Introduction: pour les jeunes souffrant de maladie chronique, l'objectif de la transition vers les soins pour adultes est d'optimiser leur fonctionnement et leur potentiel. Le but de cette étude pilote était d'évaluer si les jeunes adultes souffrant de maladie chronique jugeaient que le passage vers les soins adultes était plus facile lorsque la question de la transition avait été discutée au préalable avec leur pédiatre. 2) Matériel et méthodes: deux groupes de jeunes adultes atteints de maladie chronique ont été identifiés selon l'existence (n = 70) ou non (n = 22) d'une discussion préalable avec leur pédiatre à propos de la transition vers une prise en charge pour adultes. Ces deux groupes ont été comparés pour des variables démographiques et de santé. Les variables significatives en analyse bivariée ont été incluses dans une régression logistique descendante pas à pas. 3) Résultats: les jeunes adultes qui avaient discuté de la transition étaient significativement plus nombreux à se sentir prêts (72,9 % vs 45,5 %) et accompagnés (58,6 % vs 27,3 %) pour le transfert, à avoir consulté leur spécialiste pour adultes (60 % vs 31,8 %) et à voir leur médecin sans la présence de leurs parents (70 % vs 40,9 %). En analyse multivariée, seuls, le fait de se sentir accompagné (odds ratio ajustée [ORa] : 3,56) et celui d'avoir consulté leur spécialiste pour adultes (ORa : 4,14) étaient significatifs. 4) Conclusions: la préparation des jeunes souffrant de maladie chronique au transfert vers les soins pour adultes semble bénéfique. Cependant, le transfert lui-même n'est qu'une petite partie du concept beaucoup plus large de la transition vers la vie adulte. Une transition bien planifiée doit permettre à ces jeunes adultes d'atteindre tout leur potentiel. INTRODUCTION: The goal of transition in healthcare for young people with chronic illnesses is to maximize their functioning and potential. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess whether young adults with chronic illnesses found that the transition to adult care was easier when the transition was discussed in advance with their pediatric specialist. METHODS: Two groups were created according to whether patients had discussed (n=70) or not (n=22) the transition with their pediatric specialist and compared regarding demographic and health-related variables. All the significant variables at the bivariate level were included in a backward stepwise logistic regression. RESULTS: Youth who had discussed the transition were significantly more likely to feel ready for the transfer (72.9% vs 45.5%) and accompanied (58.6% vs 27. %) during transfer, to have consulted their specialist for adults (60.0% vs 31.8%), and seen their doctor without the presence of their parents (70.0% vs 40.9%). At the multivariate level, only feeling accompanied during transfer (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 3.56) and having consulted their specialist for adults (aOR: 4.14) remained significant. CONCLUSIONS: Preparing chronically ill youths for transfer to adult care appears to be beneficial for them. However, transfer is only a small part of the much broader transition that is preparation for adult life. A well-planned transition should allow these young people to reach their full potential.

Transactional sex and HIV risks - evidence from a cross-sectional national survey among young people in Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Transactional sex is associated with the HIV epidemic among young people in Uganda. Few quantitative studies based on nationally representative survey data explored the relationship between sexual behaviors, HIV infection, and transactional sex. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the associations between risky sexual behaviors, participation in transactional sex, and HIV sero-status among men and women aged 15-24 in Uganda. DESIGN: The study uses data from the Uganda AIDS Indicator Survey, a cross-sectional national HIV serological study conducted in 2011. We analyzed data on 1,516 men and 2,824 women aged 15-24 who had been sexually active in the 12 months preceding the survey. Private, face-to-face interviews were also conducted to record the sociodemographics, sexual history, and experiences of sexual coercion. Logistic regression analysis was performed to measure associations between sexual behaviors and transactional sex, and associations between HIV sero-status and transactional sex. RESULTS: Among young people who had been sexually active in the 12 months prior to the survey, 5.2% of young men reported paying for sex while 3.7% of young women reported receiving gifts, favors, or money for sex. Lower educational attainment (ORadjusted 3.25, CI 1.10-9.60) and experience of sexual coercion (ORadjusted 2.83, CI 1.07-7.47) were significantly associated with paying for sex among men. Multiple concurrent sexual relationships were significantly associated with paying for sex among young men (ORadjusted 5.60, CI 2.08-14.95) and receiving something for sex among young women (ORadjusted 8.04, CI 2.55-25.37). Paying for sex among young men and having three to five lifetime sexual partners among young women were associated with increased odds of testing positive for HIV. CONCLUSIONS: Transactional sex is associated with sexual coercion and HIV risk behaviors such as multiple concurrent sexual partnerships among young people in Uganda. In addition, transactional sex appears to place young men at increased risk for HIV in Uganda. Both sexes appear equally vulnerable to risks associated with transactional sex, and therefore should be targeted in intervention programs. In addition, strengthening universal education policy and improving school retention programs may be beneficial in reducing risky sexual behaviors and transactional sex.

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This clinical handbook is a valuable resource for any health professional who works with adolescents and young adults, whether in paediatric or adult acute care facilities or in the community. As a handbook it provides ready access to practical, clinically relevant and youth specific information. This clinical handbook fills a clear gap, as most adolescent texts are primarily directed at paediatricians. This handbook extends its scope beyond paediatrics for three important reasons. First, many adolescents are managed by adult trained clinicians who have not had much exposure to or training in adolescent health. Secondly, the important health conditions of adolescents are often the important health conditions in young adults. Thirdly, with increased survival rates in chronic illness over the last two to three decades, it is becoming essential that clinicians in adult health care are able to assess and manage conditions that have their origins in childhood.

History of offending behavior in first episode psychosis patients : a marker of specific clinical needs and a call for early detection strategies among young offenders

Plusieurs études suggèrent que les patients qui présentent un premier épisode psychotique et un passé délictueux présenteraient une clinique spécifique et nécessiteraient une prise en charge adaptée. A partir d'une cohorte de patients suivis pour un premier épisode psychotique dans la région de Melbourne {The Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre), nous avons analysé la prévalence d'actes délictueux dans leur passé (1), les caractéristiques cliniques à leur admission (2), l'évolution à court terme des patients ayant commis des délits par rapport aux autres patients (3). Nous avons également cherché à déterminer si des délits plus graves (atteinte à l'intégrité d'une personne) étaient corrélés à des caractéristiques cliniques particulières. Sur les 649 patients dont les données ont pu être analysées entre 1998 et 2000, 29% avaient un passé délictueux. Ils étaient en majorité des hommes et présentaient des difficultés sociales et scolaires plus importantes que les autres patients. Ils avaient également recours de manière plus régulière à des substances illicites et commis plus souvent des tentatives de suicide. Le tableau clinique qu'ils présentaient à leur admission dans le programme de soins était plus complexe et l'évolution globalement plus défavorable après 18 mois de traitement. Nous avons relevé aussi que la durée de psychose non traitée était plus longue que celle des autres patients. Enfin, les délits avec atteinte à l'intégrité d'une autre personne étaient plus fréquents en présence d'un insight faible et nécessitaient un plus grand nombre d'hospitalisation. Ces résultats confirment le besoin d'une recherche approfondie dans ce champ de la clinique et de stratégies de prévention et de soins plus spécifiques. Une détection précoce chez les jeunes hommes qui commettent des actes délictueux serait particulièrement importante puisque notre étude suggère que certains d'entre eux seraient dans une phase débutante et non reconnue d'un épisode psychotique. Une intervention plus rapide et adaptée pourrait avoir des conséquences positives à plusieurs niveaux.

Risk Behavior and Reciprocity of Organ Donation Attitudes in Young Men.

BACKGROUND: Lack of donor organs remains a major obstacle in organ transplantation. Our aim was to evaluate (1) the association between engaging in high-risk recreational activities and attitudes toward organ donation and (2) the degree of reciprocity between organ acceptance and donation willingness in young men. METHODS: A 17-item, close-ended survey was offered to male conscripts ages 18 to 26 years in all Swiss military conscription centers. Predictors of organ donation attitudes were assessed in bivariate analyses and multiple logistic regression. Reciprocity of the intentions to accept and to donate organs was assessed by means of donor card status. RESULTS: In 1559 responses analyzed, neither motorcycling nor practicing extreme sports reached significant association with donor card holder status. Family communication about organ donation, student, or academic profession and living in a Latin linguistic region were predictors of positive organ donation attitudes, whereas residence in a German-speaking region and practicing any religion predicted reluctance. Significantly more respondents were willing to accept than to donate organs, especially among those without family communication concerning organ donation. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, it was shown that high-risk recreational activities do not influence organ donation attitudes. Second, a considerable discrepancy in organ donation reciprocity was identified. We propose that increasing this reciprocity could eventually increase organ donation rates.

Cannabis use and other predictors of the onset of daily cigarette use in young men: what matters most? Results from a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: According to the gateway hypothesis, tobacco use is a gateway of cannabis use. However, there is increasing evidence that cannabis use also predicts the progression of tobacco use (reverse gateway hypothesis). Unfortunately, the importance of cannabis use compared to other predictors of tobacco use is less clear. The aim of this study was to examine which variables, in addition to cannabis use, best predict the onset of daily cigarette smoking in young men. METHODS: A total of 5,590 young Swiss men (mean age = 19.4 years, SD = 1.2) provided data on their substance use, socio-demographic background, religion, health, social context, and personality at baseline and after 18 months. We modelled the predictors of progression to daily cigarette smoking using logistic regression analyses (n = 4,230). RESULTS: In the multivariate overall model, use of cannabis remained among the strongest predictors for the onset of daily cigarette use. Daily cigarette use was also predicted by a lifetime use of at least 50 cigarettes, occasional cigarette use, educational level, religious affiliation, parental situation, peers with psychiatric problems, and sociability. CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight the relevance of cannabis use compared to other potential predictors of the progression of tobacco use and thereby support the reverse gateway hypothesis.

Gamma-ray emission from massive young stellar objects

Context.Massive stars form in dense and massive molecular cores. The exact formation mechanism is unclear, but it is possible that some massive stars are formed by processes similar to those that produce the low-mass stars, with accretion/ejection phenomena occurring at some point of the evolution of the protostar. This picture seems to be supported by the detection of a collimated stellar wind emanating from the massive protostar IRAS 16547-4247. A triple radio source is associated with the protostar: a compact core and two radio lobes. The emission of the southern lobe is clearly non-thermal. Such emission is interpreted as synchrotron radiation produced by relativistic electrons locally accelerated at the termination point of a thermal jet. Since the ambient medium is determined by the properties of the molecular cloud in which the whole system is embedded, we can expect high densities of particles and infrared photons. Because of the confirmed presence of relativistic electrons, inverse Compton and relativistic Bremsstrahlung interactions are unavoidable. Aims.We aim to make quantitative predictions of the spectral energy distribution of the non-thermal spots generated by massive young stellar objects, with emphasis on the particular case of IRAS 16547-4247. Methods.We study the high-energy emission generated by the relativistic electrons which produce the non-thermal radio source in IRAS 16547-4247. We also study the result of proton acceleration at the terminal shock of the thermal jet and make estimates of the secondary gamma rays and electron-positron pairs produced by pion decay. Results.We present spectral energy distributions for the southern lobe of IRAS 16547-4247, for a variety of conditions. We show that high-energy emission might be detectable from this object in the gamma-ray domain. The source may also be detectable in X-rays through long exposures with current X-ray instruments. Conclusions.Gamma-ray telescopes such as GLAST, and even ground-based Cherenkov arrays of new generation can be used to study non-thermal processes occurring during the formation of massive stars.

Internet-Based Brief Intervention to Prevent Unhealthy Alcohol Use among Young Men: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Alcohol use is one of the leading modifiable morbidity and mortality risk factors among young adults. 2 parallel-group randomized controlled trial with follow-up at 1 and 6 months. Internet based study in a general population sample of young men with low-risk drinking, recruited between June 2012 and February 2013. Intervention: Internet-based brief alcohol primary prevention intervention (IBI). The IBI aims at preventing an increase in alcohol use: it consists of normative feedback, feedback on consequences, calorific value alcohol, computed blood alcohol concentration, indication that the reported alcohol use is associated with no or limited risks for health. Intervention group participants received the IBI. Control group (CG) participants completed only an assessment. Alcohol use (number of drinks per week), binge drinking prevalence. Analyses were conducted in 2014-2015. Of 4365 men invited to participate, 1633 did so; 896 reported low-risk drinking and were randomized (IBI: n = 451; CG: n = 445). At baseline, 1 and 6 months, the mean (SD) number of drinks/week was 2.4(2.2), 2.3(2.6), 2.5(3.0) for IBI, and 2.4(2.3), 2.8(3.7), 2.7(3.9) for CG. Binge drinking, absent at baseline, was reported by 14.4% (IBI) and 19.0% (CG) at 1 month and by 13.3% (IBI) and 13.0% (CG) at 6 months. At 1 month, beneficial intervention effects were observed on the number of drinks/week (p = 0.05). No significant differences were observed at 6 months. We found protective short term effects of a primary prevention IBI. Controlled-Trials.com ISRCTN55991918.