Split2 Protein-Ligation Generates Active IL-6-Type Hyper-Cytokines from Inactive Precursors

Trans-signaling of the major pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines Interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-11 has the unique feature to virtually activate all cells of the body and is critically involved in chronic inflammation and regeneration. Hyper-IL-6 and Hyper-IL-11 are single chain designer trans-signaling cytokines, in which the cytokine and soluble receptor units are trapped in one complex via a flexible peptide linker. Albeit, Hyper-cytokines are essential tools to study trans-signaling in vitro and in vivo, the superior potency of these designer cytokines are accompanied by undesirable stress responses. To enable tailor-made generation of Hyper-cytokines, we developed inactive split-cytokine-precursors adapted for posttranslational reassembly by split-intein mediated protein trans-splicing (PTS). We identified cutting sites within IL-6 (E¹³⁴/S¹³⁵) and IL-11 (G¹¹⁶/S¹¹⁷) and obtained inactive split-Hyper-IL-6 and split-Hyper-IL-11 cytokine precursors. After fusion with split-inteins, PTS resulted in reconstitution of active Hyper-cytokines, which were efficiently secreted from transfected cells. Our strategy comprises the development of a background-free cytokine signaling system from reversibly inactivated precursor cytokines.

Predictors of affective responses of mothers and fathers of children with cancer

We investigated predictors of affective responses for 125 parents (77 mothers, 48 fathers) of children with various types of cancer who varied in time of diagnosis from newly diagnosed to 13 years following cancer treatment. The primary rationale of the investigation was to determine whether cognitive appraisals, perceived social supports, and caregivers' perceptions of children's behavior would predict affective responses differentially for mothers and fathers. We defined affectivity as self-reported depressive symptoms, and state and trait anxiety symptoms. Parents did not differ on any of the variables, including affective responses, although differential predictors of affective responses were revealed for mothers and fathers. Affiliation-related attributions were associated with affective responses for mothers, and achievement-related attributions and perceived social support were associated with affective responses for fathers.

Attributions, coping, and adjustment in children with cancer

Assessed the influence of children's attribution style, coping style, social competence, parent coping, and demographic variables on the psychosocial adjustment of 86 pediatric oncology patients. Utilizing hierarchical multiple regression procedures, nearly one half of the variance in child depression was predicted by children's avoidance coping, depressive attributional style, and social competence. Child anxiety was predicted by a depressive attributional style, avoidance coping, and age at diagnosis. Child externalizing behavior was predicted by a depressive attributional style, parents' anxiety and SES. Implications for interventions and future research are discussed.

The use of scheduled awakenings to eliminate childhood sleepwalking

Evaluated the use of scheduled awakenings to eliminate sleepwalking using a noncurrent multiple baseline design across three subjects with persistent sleep-walking. Treatment procedure involves having parents awaken children several hours after they go to sleep and just before the typical time of the sleepwalking episode. This intervention proved immediately successful in eliminating sleep-walking in all three children. Treatment effects were maintained at 3 and 6 months posttreatment. Implications for intervention and future research are discussed.

The Child-Adult Medical Procedure Interaction Scale-Revised: an assessment of validity

Investigated the validity of the Child-Adult Medical Procedure Interaction Scale-Revised (CAMPIS-R) using multiple concurrent objective and subjective measures of child distress, approach-avoidance behavior, fear, pain, child cooperation, and parents' perceived ability to help their preschool children during routine immunizations. Parents', staffs', and children's behaviors in the treatment room were videotaped and coded. Results indicate that the validity of the CAMPIS-R codes of Child Coping and Distress, Parent Distress Promoting and Coping Promoting, and Staff Distress Promoting and Coping Promoting behavior were supported, with all significant correlations being in the predicted direction. An unanticipated finding was that the child, parent, and staff Neutral behaviors were inversely related to some measures of distress and positively related to some measures of coping. Interobserver reliability was high for each CAMPIS-R code.

Parent and staff behavior, previous child medical experience, and maternal anxiety as they relate to child procedural distress and coping

Assessed the influence of adult in-session behavior and psychological variables on 77 preschool children's coping and distress during routine immunizations. Maternal anxiety was not related to the behavior of the parent, staff, or child. However, in-session behavior by one person was highly correlated with in-session behavior by the other people in the treatment room. The effects of parent and staff in-session behaviors, previous child medical experience, and maternal anxiety on child distress and coping was examined using hierarchical multiple regression procedures. Child coping was predicted by parent and staff behavior whereas child distress was predicted by parent behavior and by the level of the child's distress during previous medical and dental experiences. Implications for intervention and future research are discussed.