Correlates of Mental Health in Adolescents and Young Adults with Cerebral Palsy: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the MyStory Project.

Background: It is important to gain a better understanding of mental health issues in adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cerebral palsy (CP). In this cross-sectional study, we explore if demographics, social and clinical questionnaire scores, and cortisol levels in hair samples from AYA with CP are associated with higher scores on anxiety and/or depression questionnaires.

Methods: Data from a community-based sample of 63 AYA with CP (30 females; ages 16 to 30 (median age of 25)) were analyzed.

Limbic system activation is affected by prenatal predator exposure and postnatal environmental enrichment and further moderated by dam and sex.

Epilepsy is a relatively common and chronic neurological condition, affecting 1-2% of the population. However, understanding of the underlying pathophysiology remains incomplete. To identify potential factors in the early environment that may increase the risk for experiencing seizures, maternal stress and environmental enrichment (EE) were utilized.

Expression of maternal behavior and activation of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis during predatory threat exposure: modulatory effects of transport stress.

Past work has established that levels of maternal care provided to rat pups during the postpartum period plays an important role in shaping development of the stress response system, such that high levels of pup licking and grooming and active nursing behaviors are associated with more efficient hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal responses to stressors in adulthood. Furthermore, a prior study from our laboratory has demonstrated facilitation of maternal care for five days following a one-hour predator odor exposure on the day of giving birth. The present study was an investigation of the effects on maternal care during a one-hour predator odor exposure administered on the day of giving birth, with or without the addition of transport stress immediately prior to the odor exposure.

Role of estradiol withdrawal in 'anhedonic' sucrose consumption: a model of postpartum depression.

Previously, a hormone-simulated pregnancy (HSP), and the subsequent 'postpartum' withdrawal in estradiol has been shown to precipitate depressive-like behaviours in the forced swim test in female rats. In this study, we used the HSP and 'postpartum' withdrawal to investigate the impact on sucrose consumption, a model of anhedonia. Rats were assigned to "postpartum", "postpartum"+EB (estradiol benzoate), "postpartum"+IMI (imipramine; a tricyclic antidepressant), "postpartum"+DPN (diarylpropionitrile; an ERbeta agonist), or ovariectomized (OVX) controls and OVX+IMI treatments.

Adult hippocampal cell proliferation is suppressed with estrogen withdrawal after a hormone-simulated pregnancy.

Estradiol withdrawal after pregnancy is hypothesized to precipitate depressive symptoms in vulnerable women. A hormone-simulated pregnancy was induced in female rats and the effects of a 'postpartum' drop in estradiol on hippocampal cell proliferation were examined. All groups were ovariectomized or given sham surgery prior to treatment.

Influence of genotype, dose and sex on pruritogen-induced scratching behavior in the mouse.

Itch features considerable interindividual variability in humans, and initial studies using animal models have demonstrated a likely role of genetic factors in mediating such variability. In an attempt to systematically study genetic mediation of itch in the mouse such that gene identification by linkage mapping might be achieved, we examined scratching behavior induced by histamine and chloroquine in mice of 11 inbred mouse strains. Multiple chloroquine drug doses were used, revealing the existence of inverted-U dose-response relationships in every strain, allowing us to determine strain-dependent peak scratching behavior over the entire dose range.

Does this woman have osteoporosis?

Context: Although recent US Preventive Services Task Force guidelines recommend bone densitometry for all women older than 65 years, identifying younger women at increased risk for osteoporosis and women with occult vertebral fractures remains a clinical challenge. We investigated whether physical signs are useful as a screening tool either for early referral to bone densitometry or for occult spinal fractures.

Objective: To review the accuracy and precision of physical examination findings for the diagnosis of osteopenia, osteoporosis, or spinal fracture.