Predicting therapeutic nanomedicine efficacy using a companion magnetic resonance imaging nanoparticle.

Therapeutic nanoparticles (TNPs) have shown heterogeneous responses in human clinical trials, raising questions of whether imaging should be used to identify patients with a higher likelihood of NP accumulation and thus therapeutic response. Despite extensive debate about the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect in tumors, it is increasingly clear that EPR is extremely variable; yet, little experimental data exist to predict the clinical utility of EPR and its influence on TNP efficacy. We hypothesized that a 30-nm magnetic NP (MNP) in clinical use could predict colocalization of TNPs by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

The Effects of Low Self-Control and Delinquent Peers on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drug Use in a Sample of Saudi Arabian Youth.

A considerable amount of research has examined patterns of substance use and the potential explanations of it among samples from the United States and other industrialized nations. To date, however, no research has explored these issues in a sample of Saudi Arabian youth. The current study addressed this gap in the literature and examined the lifetime use of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco among Saudi Arabian youth.

Revisiting the Association Between Television Viewing in Adolescence and Contact With the Criminal Justice System in Adulthood.

A substantial number of previous studies have reported significant associations between television viewing habits and a host of detrimental outcomes including increased contact with the criminal justice system. However, it remains unclear whether the results flowing from this literature are generalizable to other samples and whether previously observed associations are confounded due to uncontrolled genetic influences. The current study addresses these limitations using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health).

Considering the Genetic and Environmental Overlap Between Bullying Victimization, Delinquency, and Symptoms of Depression/Anxiety.

Emerging evidence from longitudinal research suggests that bullied children are more likely to develop antisocial tendencies and mental health problems later in life. Less research, however, has used genetically sensitive research designs to control for genetic confounding and examine whether the well-supported association between bullying victimization and maladaptive development is partially accounted for by common genetic and environmental influences. Using sibling data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, the current study used a series of bivariate liability-threshold models to disentangle the genetic and environmental influences on observed covariance between repeated bullying victimization, delinquent involvement, and symptoms of depression/anxiety.

Inflammation and Coagulation as Mediators in the Relationships Between Religious Attendance and Functional Limitations in Older Adults.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine inflammation and coagulation, which are positively linked to disability and inversely linked to increased religious attendance, as mediators in the cross-sectional relationships between religious attendance and functional status.

Method: Frequency of attendance and limitations in basic activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities (IADLs), and mobility were assessed in 1,423 elders.

Results: More frequent attendance was associated with fewer ADL, IADL, and mobility limitations, and with lower levels of inflammation and coagulation including interleukin-6, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule, and D-dimer.