Exome sequencing of 20,979 individuals with epilepsy reveals shared and distinct ultra-rare genetic risk across disorder subtypes.

Identifying genetic risk factors for highly heterogeneous disorders like epilepsy remains challenging. Here, we present the largest whole-exome sequencing study of epilepsy to date, with >54,000 human exomes, comprising 20,979 deeply phenotyped patients from multiple genetic ancestry groups with diverse epilepsy subtypes and 33,444 controls, to investigate rare variants that confer disease risk. These analyses implicate seven individual genes, three gene sets, and four copy number variants at exome-wide significance.

Bidirectional associations between family conflict and child behavior problems in families at risk for maltreatment.

Background: Children's exposure to family conflict is associated with the development of behavior problems. However, it remains unclear whether this association (1) functions bidirectionally and (2) exists independent of more severe forms of violent victimization.

Objective: The present study aimed to examine bidirectional and transactional associations between family conflict and children's behavioral problems, controlling for time-varying violent victimization experiences.

Conduct Problems As a Pathway From Childhood Adversity to Community Violence Exposure: The Protective Roles of Caregiver Knowledge and Involvement.

Exposure to community violence (ECV) poses a prevalent threat to the health and development of adolescents. Research indicates those who have more Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are at higher risk for ECV, which further exacerbates risk of negative mental and physical health impacts. Additionally, those with more ACEs are more likely to exhibit conduct problems, which has also been linked to risk for ECV.

Trajectories of adolescent psychopathology among youth who were maltreated and placed in out-of-home care.

Background: Although researchers have found an increased risk for psychopathology among maltreated adolescents placed in out-of-home care, different trajectories of psychopathology by out-of-home placements have not been previously studied.

Objective: The current study is built on previous investigation of youth in different long-term out-of-home placements and examined the trajectories of adolescent psychopathology by out-of-home placement classes.

Participants And Setting: We leveraged data from the Southwestern site of the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect.

Obesity Has a Systemic Effect on Immune Cells in Naïve and Cancer-Bearing Mice.

Obesity is a major risk factor for developing cancer, with obesity-induced immune changes and inflammation in breast (BC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) providing a potential link between the two. This study investigates systemic effects of obesity on adaptive and innate immune cells in healthy and tumour-bearing mice. Immune cells from lean and obese mice were phenotyped prior to implantation of either BC (C57mg and EO771.

Differences in late adolescent psychopathology among youth with histories of co-occurring abuse and neglect experiences.

Background: Knowledge about the impacts of child abuse and neglect (CAN) experiences on late adolescent psychopathology has been limited by a failure to consider the frequent co-occurrence of CAN types and potential unique impacts of specific combinations.

Objective: Using person-centered analyses, we aimed to identify unobserved groups of youth with similar patterns of lifetime CAN experiences before age 16 and differences in psychopathology symptom counts between groups two years later.

Participants And Setting: Participants were 919 adolescent-caregiver dyads (56% female; 56% Black, 7% Latina/o, 13% mixed/other).

Racial/ethnic group differences in parenting attitudes among at-risk emerging adults: The roles of adversity, relationship quality, and caregiver involvement and attitudes.

Background: Healthy parenting attitudes are foundational for positive parenting and child well-being. However, few studies explore their formation and mediators explaining racial/ethnic group differences.

Objective: The present study prospectively examines potential mediators for racial/ethnic group differences in parenting attitudes in a diverse sample of emerging adults (EA).

Intergenerational Transmission of Abusive Parenting: Role of Prospective Maternal Distress and Family Violence.

Parents who were abused as children are at increased risk for perpetuating maladaptive parenting practices, yet the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear. This study prospectively examined maternal distress (a latent variable consisting of depressive symptoms and daily stress) and family violence as potential mediators in the intergenerational transmission of abusive (i.e.

Examining the Factor Structure and Measurement Invariance of the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children in a Diverse Sample of Trauma-Exposed Adolescents.

The Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSCC) is a widely used youth assessment of broad, transdiagnostic symptomatology following trauma. However, its factor structure has not been thoroughly tested in diverse samples. Youth ( = 738) exposed to interpersonal violence, including physical and sexual abuse, completed the TSCC.

Depression Treatment Status of Economically Disadvantaged African American Older Adults.

Background: It is known that depression remains largely untreated in underserved communities. Hence, it is desirable to gain more knowledge on the prevalence and correlates of untreated depression among African-American (AA) older adults in economically disadvantaged areas. This knowledge may have the public health benefit of improving detection of AA older adults with depression who are at high risk of not receiving treatment, thereby reducing this health disparity.

Mental and Physical Health Correlates of Financial Difficulties Among African-American Older Adults in Low-Income Areas of Los Angeles.

While financial difficulties correlate with mental and physical health status, less is known about these associations among economically disadvantaged African-American (AA) older adults. This study explored mental and physical health correlates of financial difficulties among AA older adults in low-income areas of south Los Angeles. A cross-sectional study on 740 AA older adults (age ≥ 55 years) conducted in South Los Angeles between 2015 and 2018.

Depressive Symptoms among Economically Disadvantaged African American Older Adults in South Los Angeles.

Background: Although social, behavioral, and health factors correlate with depressive symptoms, less is known about these links among economically disadvantaged African American (AA) older adults.

Objective: To study social, behavioral, and health correlates of depressive symptoms among economically disadvantaged AA older adults.

Methods: This survey was conducted in South Los Angeles between 2015 and 2018.

Comparing to ingroup and outgroup members: Do we assimilate, contrast, or neither?

Previous work studying social comparisons suggests that people are likely to assimilate to ingroup members (e.g. Ledgerwood & Chaiken, 2007) but can also contrast from ingroup members if outgroup members are present (Blanton, Miller, & Dye, 2002).

Nothing to sneeze at! A study into intra-operative contamination.

Purpose: We performed a prospective study of sneezes from orthopaedic registrars to assess the potential for intra-operative contamination from a masked surgeon, and to determine if head position can alter the potential for contamination.

Type Of Study: Prospective controlled trial.

Methods: Four orthopaedic registrars from the Gold Coast Hospital each inhaled pepper to precipitate a sneeze.