Interrogation of short tandem repeats using fluorescent probes and melting curve analysis: a step towards rapid DNA identity screening

Current forensic DNA profiling methods rely on the analysis of samples at specialised laboratories with an average turnaround time of several days. The ability to rapidly determine a partial profile of short tandem repeats at the point-of-arrest would be of great benefit to police forces around the world, for example enabling a suspect to be rapidly included or excluded from an investigation. We have developed a homogeneous PCR method for the interrogation of STR loci utilising fluorescent oligonucleotide probes and melting curve analysis. Alleles of the D18S51, TH01 and D8S1179 loci were differentiated and identified on the basis of target length and probe melting temperature. Assay performance was evaluated by comparing melting peak data with the AmpFlSTR SGM Plus system. The method is compatible with direct analysis of unpurified buccal swab samples, enabling a partial STR profile to be generated within 1h.

A two-year prospective study of the health-related quality of life of children with chronic illness--the parents' perspective

The aim of this study was to assess prospectively changes in the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of children and adolescents with diabetes, asthma or cystic fibrosis (CF). One hundred and twenty-two parents of children aged 10-16 years with asthma, diabetes, or CF were recruited from specialist paediatric clinics. Parents described their children's HRQL using the Child Health Questionnaire (PF98) at baseline, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months post-baseline. They reported that the general health of children with CF was significantly worse than that of children with asthma and diabetes at baseline. In other domains there were few differences between the HRQL of children in the three groups. In several domains, the HRQL of children with asthma or diabetes improved over the 2 years of the study. This improvement was less evident for children with CF.

Ultra-rapid DNA analysis using HyBeacon probes and direct PCR amplification from saliva

We describe a novel probe technology, termed HyBeacons, which provides a new homogeneous method for fluorescence-based sequence detection and allele discrimination. Employing a single nucleotide polymorphism located in the N-acetyltransferase 2 gene as a model system, we demonstrate the utility of HyBeacon probes for rapid and reliable sequence analysis. We also demonstrate that homozygous and heterozygous samples may be accurately identified using a single HyBeacon oligonucleotide. Polymorphic DNA sequences were detected and differentiated by real-time PCR and melt peak methodologies, without performing extraction of genomic DNA prior to target amplification. Employing a combination of homogeneous HyBeacon analysis, the rapid thermal cycling conditions of the LightCycler and direct amplification from saliva, allowed samples to be genotyped within 30 min. Such rapid non-invasive diagnostic technologies may permit 'point-of-care' genetic testing to be performed in hospitals and doctor's surgeries.

HyBeacon probes: a new tool for DNA sequence detection and allele discrimination

Technologies that permit rapid investigation of DNA sequences, such as those containing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), are of great consequence to many sectors that perform molecular diagnostic analyses. We have developed a novel fluorescent oligonucleotide probe technology, termed HyBeacons, which provides a new homogeneous method for fluorescence-based sequence detection, allele discrimination and DNA quantification. Hybridization of HyBeacons to complementary DNA target sequences results in a measurable elevation of probe fluorescence emission. HyBeacon probes may be incorporated into real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays to detect the presence and monitor the accumulation of specific DNA sequences. Furthermore, closely related sequences differing by as little as a single nucleotide may be discriminated by measuring the melting temperatures (T(m)) of various probe/target duplexes and exploiting the differences in T(m) that exist between different duplexes. We demonstrate here that HyBeacon probes are efficient tools for rapid sequence analysis and that a single probe may be employed to reliably identify homozygous and heterozygous samples. Additional benefits exhibited by the HyBeacon technology derive from their simple mode of action, ease of design, relatively inexpensive synthesis and potential for multiplex analysis.

Social reasoning: a source of influence on aggression

Aggressive children show deficits and biases in their social information processing. Cognitions based on early experience and social schemas are also related to development and maintenance of aggressive behavior. Social reasoning can be linked to these aspects of social cognition, impacting on the situational cues individuals encode, their interpretations of events, and influencing response decisions. Past experience also influences development of social reasoning and social schema. Despite this, current discussion of the links between cognition and aggression rarely involves consideration of the influence of social reasoning. In this review, domain theory (E. Turiel, 1978, 1983) underpins an examination of links between social reasoning and aggression using empirical evidence drawn from research on the social reasoning of normal and aggressive children. Children as young as 3 appear to use consistent patterns of social reasoning when making judgments about transgressions and other social events, and these patterns are linked to social reasoning domains. We propose that aggressive children access information from the underlying social reasoning domains differently than their prosocial peers. This in turn affects their decision making and subsequent behavior in social situations. Our review explores developmental and clinical implications of the proposal and provides directions for future research.

Perceived self-efficacy and headache-related disability

BACKGROUND

Headache-specific self-efficacy refers to patients' confidence that they can take actions that prevent headache episodes or manage headache-related pain and disability. According to social cognitive theory, perceptions of self-efficacy influence an individual's adaptation to persistent headaches by influencing cognitive, affective, and physiological responses to headache episodes as well as the initiation and persistence of efforts to prevent headache episodes.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the present study was to construct and validate a brief measure of headache specific self-efficacy and to examine the relationship between self-efficacy and headache-related disability.

METHODS

A sample of 329 patients seeking treatment for benign headache disorders completed the Headache Management Self-Efficacy Scale and measures of headache-specific locus of control, coping, psychological distress, and headache-related disability. A subset of 262 patients also completed 4 weeks of daily headache recordings.

RESULTS

As predicted, patients who were confident they could prevent and manage their headaches also believed that the factors influencing their headaches were potentially within their control. In addition, self-efficacy scores were positively associated with the use of positive psychological coping strategies to both prevent and manage headache episodes and negatively associated with anxiety. Multiple regression analyses revealed that headache severity, locus-of-control beliefs, and self-efficacy beliefs each explained independent variance in headache-related disability.

Exteroceptive suppression periods and pericranial muscle tenderness in chronic tension-type headache: effects of psychopathology, chronicity and disability

We examined pericranial muscle tenderness and abnormalities in the second exteroceptive suppression period (ES2) of the temporalis muscle in chronic tension-type headache (CTTH; n = 245) utilizing a blind design and methods to standardize the elicitation and scoring of these variables. No ES2 variable differed significantly between CTTH sufferers and controls (all tests, P>0.05). We found no evidence that CTTH sufferers with daily or near daily headaches, a mood or an anxiety disorder, or high levels of disability exhibit abnormal ES2 responses (all tests, P>0.05). CTTH sufferers were significantly more likely than controls to exhibit pervasive tenderness in pericranial muscles examined with standardized (500 g force) manual palpation (P<0.005). Female CTTH sufferers exhibited higher levels of pericranial muscle tenderness than male CTTH sufferers at the same level of headache activity (P<0.0001). Elevated pericranial muscle tenderness was associated with a comorbid anxiety disorder. These findings provide further evidence of pericranial hyperalgesia in CTTH and suggest this phenomenon deserves further study. Basic research that better elucidates the biological significance of the ES2 response and the factors that influence ES2 assessments appears necessary before this measure can be of use in clinical research.

Evolutionary flux of P element regulation in a Drosophila melanogaster hybrid dysgenesis cline

Clines of P-induced hybrid dysgenesis provide a means for monitoring the evolution of transposition repression over space and time. We have studied the molecular and phenotypic profiles of flies taken from a 2900 km cline along the eastern coast of Australia, which had previously been characterized over 10 years ago as having P populations in the north, Q populations at central sites and M' populations in the south. We have found that Q and M' populations of flies have increased their range within the cline at the expense of P lines. Q populations were found to be in the north of the cline and M' populations in the south. Some of the northern Q lines transmit repression through both sexes and type I deletion elements have been isolated from them. We suggest that these elements are responsible for Q type repression. The results support our model that populations made up of Q individuals with strong biparentally transmitted repression form an evolutionarily stable strategy for the repression of hybrid dysgenesis in Drosophila melanogaster.

Health-related quality of life in Australian children with asthma: lessons for the cross-cultural use of quality of life instruments

The development of Australian forms of the Childhood Asthma Questionnaires (CAQs) is reported. Focus group methods and psychometric analyses were used to establish the conceptual, semantic and technical equivalence of these forms with the UK versions. Both versions also provide for data collection from non-asthmatic youngsters. The internal consistency was found to be acceptable (Cronbach's alpha 0.52-0.90) and the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) scores were found to vary with asthma severity (p < 0.05). Comparison with the UK data revealed that the non-asthmatic scores were higher for Australian than British children (p < 0.001) but that the scores for children with asthma did not differ between the two countries. It was only in the Australian sample that the group with asthma reported impaired HRQoL when compared to their healthy peers. These findings were interpreted in the context of cultural expectations of life quality and conclusions are presented regarding the importance of the gap between experience and expectations. The difficulties raised by the developmental and cultural issues inherent in paediatric HRQoL research were discussed.

Western Australian primary school teachers' knowledge about childhood asthma and its management

A total of 164 primary school teachers from Perth, Western Australia anonymously completed a survey of their knowledge and attitudes about asthma. These teachers were active in assisting children with asthma management but most (91.5%) felt that they did not know enough about asthma. Attitudes toward children with asthma were positive; 97% agreed that such children should be encouraged to participate in sporting activities. Specific knowledge about asthma management and medications was, however, poor. This large sample of Western Australian teachers knew more than their European counterparts but asthma training is needed and should be targeted at improving knowledge of both regular and emergency treatments for asthma.

Exteroceptive suppression of temporalis and masseter muscle activity is enhanced in offspring of hypertensives

Exteroceptive suppression of temporalis and masseter muscle activity was examined in young men with and without a parental history of hypertension. Recent clinical studies suggest that the second exteroceptive suppression period is attenuated in several chronic pain disorders and that this brainstem reflex may serve as a noninvasive index of endogenous pain control. In the present study, offspring of hypertensives exhibited a significant protraction of the late exteroceptive suppression period for both muscle sites, suggesting that the decreased pain sensitivity previously observed in individuals at risk for hypertension may be related to enhanced central pain modulation.

The reproducibility of the Childhood Asthma Questionnaires: measures of quality of life for children with asthma aged 4-16 years

This paper reports the internal consistency and reproducibility of the Childhood Asthma Questionnaires, measures of quality of life and symptom distress in paediatric asthma. A total of 535 children aged 4-16 years completed age appropriate forms of the questionnaire, over 1- or 3-week intervals. Pearson correlation coefficients between 0.63 and 0.84 for subscales of the questionnaires indicated good test-retest reliability while intraclass correlation coefficients in a very similar range showed that scores also remained at the same level on the two occasions. Comparisons between children with asthma and healthy non-asthmatics indicate that these are likely to be true estimates of stability. Internal consistency varied widely but was higher for older children and longer subscales. Implications of the findings for the use of the questionnaires in the evaluation of new asthma treatments are discussed.

Decision-making style, driving style, and self-reported involvement in road traffic accidents

In an exploratory postal survey of 711 drivers stratified by age, sex, annual mileage, and accident involvement, decision-making style was measured using a Decision-Making Questionnaire (DMQ) and driving style was assessed using a Driving Style Questionnaire (DSQ). Responses to 21 items of the DMQ formed seven independent and internally coherent dimensions according to a principal components (PC) analysis. These were labelled: control, thoroughness, instinctiveness, social resistance, hesitancy, perfectionism, and idealism. PC analysis also revealed that responses to 15 items of the DSQ formed six independent dimensions of driving style. These were labelled: speed, calmness, social resistance, focus, planning, and deviance. Multiple regression analysis indicated that drivers of 60 years and under who scored lower on thoroughness were at greater risk of a traffic accident and that this relationship was mediated by faster driving. This relationship was independent of age, sex, annual mileage and all other factors measured. In the drivers over 60 years, lower thoroughness, greater hesitancy, and faster driving were independently associated with higher accident rates independent of all other factors measured. The results provide preliminary support for the view that people import aspects of their general decision-making style into the driving situation, and that in so doing they put themselves at differential risk of having a road traffic accident.