Adverse childhood experiences, childhood relationships and associated substance use and mental health in young Europeans

Background

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can increase risks of health-harming behaviours and poor health throughout life. While increases in risk may be affected by resilience resources such as supportive childhood relationships, to date few studies have explored these effects.

Methods

We combined data from cross-sectional ACE studies among young adults (n = 14 661) in educational institutions in 10 European countries. Nine ACE types, childhood relationships and six health outcomes (early alcohol initiation, problem alcohol use, smoking, drug use, therapy, suicide attempt) were explored. Multivariate modelling estimated relationships between ACE counts, supportive childhood relationships and health outcomes.

Results

Almost half (46.2%) of participants reported ≥1 ACE and 5.6% reported ≥4 ACEs. Risks of all outcomes increased with ACE count. In individuals with ≥4 ACEs (vs. 0 ACEs), adjusted odds ratios ranged from 2.01 (95% CIs: 1.70–2.38) for smoking to 17.68 (95% CIs: 12.93–24.17) for suicide attempt. Supportive childhood relationships were independently associated with moderating risks of smoking, problem alcohol use, therapy and suicide attempt. In those with ≥4 ACEs, adjusted proportions reporting suicide attempt reduced from 23% with low supportive childhood relationships to 13% with higher support. Equivalent reductions were 25% to 20% for therapy, 23% to 17% for problem drinking and 34% to 32% for smoking.

Conclusions

ACEs are strongly associated with substance use and mental illness. Harmful relationships are moderated by resilience factors such as supportive childhood relationships. Whilst ACEs continue to affect many children, better prevention measures and interventions that enhance resilience to the life-long impacts of toxic childhood stress are required.

Physicochemical and structural features of heat treated silver-silica nanocomposite and their impact on biological properties

In the last few decades, many nanostructures with varying properties and possible applications have been developed. These materials have been intended to work in various environmental temperature conditions. In this context, the main challenge has been to comprehend the impact of synergic interaction between individual elements included in non-annealed materials in relation to systems subjected to temperature impact. Another problem has corresponded to the impact of thermal modification on organisms such as bacteria and human cells. Such problems can be solved by the fabrication of a nanocomposite with mono-dispersed 8 nm silver (Ag⁰ or Ag⁺) embedded into a silica carrier, followed by the analysis of the impact of heat treatment under various temperature conditions on its physicochemical features. Therefore, methodical studies reported in this text have shown an increase of silver particle size up to 170 nm, a decrease of its concentration, as well as the formation of sub-nanometer Ag⁺ and/or Ag²⁺ clusters as the temperature rises to 1173 K. In turn, the structurally disordered silica carrier had been entirely transformed to cristobalite and tridymite only at 1473 K as well as partial reduction of Ag²⁺ to Ag⁺. Simultaneously, inhibition of growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as an increase in cytotoxicity towards human cells was observed as the temperature rose. As a final point, for the first time, a "pseudo" phase diagram of the structural alterations in the Ag/SiO₂ nanocomposite has been created, as well as a model of silver-silica transformation to biological systems has been developed.

E-cadherin, beta-catenin and stromelysin-3 expression in de novo carcinoma of the colorectum

An apparent exception to the colorectal adenoma-carcinoma carcinogenic pathway is the so-called "de novo" carcinoma that has no evidence of adenoma in its vicinity. Despite the fact that they are often quite small, these lesions appear to bhe more aggressive (i.e. have greater likelihood of lymph node metastases) than carcinomas that clearly arise from surrounding adenomas ("ex-adenoma carcinoma"). The purpose of the present immunohistochemical study was to compare rates of cell adhesion molecule (E-cadherin and beta-catenin) and protease (stromelysin-3 (ST-3)) expression in groups of de novo (n = 64) and ex-adenoma (n = 42) lesions in order to see if their more aggressive behavior is associated with decreased cell adhesion and increased protease expression. Although beta-catenin expression showed abnormalities (decreased or nuclear expression), it did not differ between the two groups. In contrast, the rates of extensive ST-3 expression and decreased E-cadherin expression were significantly higher in de novo group (P = 0.014 and 0.005, respectively). Histopathologically the de novo group had a significantly higher percentage of case with an infiltrative invasion pattern. These differences highlight the more aggressive phenotype of the de novo colorectal cancer and fit with a greater invasive potential of it.

[Angioid streaks. Pathogenesis and the clinical picture]

Angioid streaks were first described by Doyne in 1889. Since that time histopathology and diagnostic methods have been greatly improved. Angioid streaks of the fundus are not apparent at birth. The earliest form is known as "peau d'orange". The end stage is disciform macular degeneration, helicoid peripapillary atrophy or diffuse choroidal sclerosis. Moreover, macular hemorrhage and precipitation of angioid streaks have frequently been noted after trauma. Angioid streaks have been described in a diverse group of diseases including pseudoxanthoma elasticum, Paget's disease, hemoglobinopathies such as sickle cell anemia and beta-thalassemia.

Use of fibrin glue in sucrose gap method

Isolated frog nerves or rabbit sinus node strips were mounted in a single sucrose gap chamber. A fibrin glue Tissucol was used in this arrangement as an intercompartment seal. Under such conditions, the specimens produced stable trans-gap action potentials of relatively high amplitude. In other experiments the gap was filled with fibrin in place of sucrose solution. The results obtained in the fibrin gap experiments resembled these mentioned above.