Measuring impact of New Mexico prekindergarten on standardized test scores and high school graduation using propensity score matching.

The long-term impact of prekindergarten programs is an important consideration given the trend of dedicating more resources to these programs. However, long-term impact of prekindergarten programs is not well-understood and recent studies have shown preschool effectiveness can vary across states and programs. A state run prekindergarten program in New Mexico was examined using propensity score matching to minimize selection bias.

Pediatric Cancer Survivorship: Impact Upon Hair Cortisol Concentration and Family Functioning.

A clearer understanding of the association between a biomarker of long-term stress reactivity and family functioning among pediatric cancer survivors may guide both survivorship research and clinical practice. The current study examined the relationship between a long-term measure of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) activity (cortisol concentration; CORT) and parent-reported family functioning (Family Environment Scale; FES) in a cross-sectional sample of survivors (n = 26) and controls (n = 53). Child CORT was not different in survivors and controls, though treatment severity was significantly related to child survivor CORT.

Normalized Cortisol Reactivity Predicts Future Neuropsychological Functioning in Children With Mild/Moderate Asthma.

Cortisol reactivity to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) has been associated with neuropsychological processes including attention and memory in children with asthma. While cortisol reactivity to a psychological stressor is often considered a measure of current neuroendocrine functioning, this study examines the association of the cortisol reactivity and subsequent neuropsychological functioning. Using prospective data from the Childhood Asthma Management Program (CAMP), we explored the predictive ability of cortisol reactivity to ACTH and children's later attention and memory using traditional and an alternative cortisol reactivity (normalized cortisol) measures.

Association Between Executive Functioning and Functional Impairment Among Pediatric Cancer Survivors and Controls.

Objective: To examine the impact of cancer treatment upon neurocognitive and functional impairment; and to explore the relationship between these constructs in pediatric cancer survivors compared to controls.

Method: A cross-sectional cohort of survivors (n = 26) and controls (n = 53) was included. Survivors were off treatment an average of 6.

Enhancing offspring hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) regulation via systematic novelty exposure: the influence of maternal HPA function.

In the rat, repeated brief exposures to novelty early in life can induce long-lasting enhancements in adult cognitive, social, emotional, and neuroendocrine function. Family-to-family variations in these intervention effects on adult offspring are predicted by the mother's ability to mount a rapid corticosterone (CORT) response to the onset of an acute stressor. Here, in Long-Evans rats, we investigated whether neonatal and adulthood novelty exposure, each individually and in combination, can enhance offspring hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) regulation.