Testing the Spillover Effect of Intimate Partner Violence Victimization on Emotionally Abusive and Harsh Parenting Practices: The Application of Propensity Score Matching.

Prior research reported a significant association between intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization and negative parenting, but there was an overreliance on U.S. samples and families from low socioeconomic status backgrounds. Therefore, this quasi-experimental study examined the association between recent IPV victimization and abusive parenting practices in a sample of community-based women from Poland. Participants were mothers of children aged 2 to 5 years (N = 610) attending an outpatient clinic located in a city in south-eastern Poland. Mothers were asked about their IPV experiences in the past 12 months and were classed as either IPV positive or IPV negative. Outcome measures assessed emotionally abusive and harsh parenting practices. All data were collected online. To reduce bias in background characteristics (i.e., age, education, employment status, financial distress, self-esteem, childhood violence history, alcohol problems, current mental distress, social support, exposure to COVID-19-pandemic-related stressors, and child sex), we applied the propensity score matching (PSM) technique. Group differences before and after matching were examined using independent samples t-tests. Prematching analyses revealed that IPV-positive mothers used significantly more emotionally abusive and harsh parenting practices than IPV-negative mothers. However, the two samples differed substantially on six background characteristics which are known risk factors for IPV and child maltreatment (financial distress, self-esteem, childhood violence history, current mental distress, social support, and exposure to COVID-19-pandemic-related stressors). PSM was successful in reducing those imbalances. Postmatching group comparisons were statistically nonsignificant for emotionally abusive and harsh parenting, disproving the spillover hypothesis. We conclude that IPV victimization is not related to emotionally abusive and harsh parenting practices when controlling for confounding variables.

[Final results of the operatively treated femoral neck fractures in children and adolescents]. / Wyniki leczenia operacyjnego zlaman szyjki kosci udowej u dzieci i mlodziezy.

BACKGROUND: Femoral neck fractures in children occur 130 times more seldom than in adult's population. According to specific vascularisation the most common complication is avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head. Purpose of the study was the treatment's results analysis of the 15 children and adolescent's femoral neck fractures. METHODS: 15 patients at a mean age of 12.7 years (5-17 years) presenting with femoral neck fractures were analyzed. On the pre- and postoperatively X-rays we have determined the type of fracture in Delbet classification and compared femoral-neck angle with the healthy side. In the final clinical examination ROM, the equality of leg's length and quality of walking were checked. The results were determined in the Harris hip score and Ratliff score. We divided the patients into 3 groups that depended on the time of surgery: 1) operated up to 24 hours after injury (6 patients), 2) 24-72 hours post fracture (5), 3) after 72 hours (4). RESULTS: 10 fractures were classified to type 2, 3 fractures to type 3 according to Delbet scale (X-rays of 2 patients are missed). The final outcome after 7-163 months (57 on average) could be precised at 13 patients. Significant ROM decreasing was confirmed in 4 patients. The highest restriction was noticed in internal rotation (on average 14 degrees comparing with the healthy side). Other motions were slightly restricted. Inequality of limb's length amounted 0.5 cm on average. The average Harris hip score amounted 92.58 (76-100). The final results were assessed as very good at 8 patients, good at 4 and moderate in 1 patient. We haven't noticed bad results. AVN were suspected in 3 patients, 2 of them were scintigraphically confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: In order to avoid AVN the most important thing is an early (up to 24 hours since the injury) anatomic reposition and proper bone fragments stabilization.

STAT1 and STAT3 as intracellular regulators of vascular remodeling.

The roles of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) proteins are widely discussed in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. It is highly probable that STAT1 and STAT3 are activated during proliferation and inflammation inside atheromatous plaques. Luminal surfaces of endothelium become thrombogenic because of STAT1-dependent induction of MHC II and STAT3-regulated recruitment of phospholipase A2. As with STAT1, STAT3 seems to mediate stimulation of vascular wall cells by VEGF, HGF, and Ang II. STAT3 can contribute to counteracting apoptosis by eventual cooperation with c-fos and the bcl-xl gene. As pharmacological agents called statins are reported to regulate activities of STAT proteins, these signal messenger proteins could serve as targets for anti-atherogenic therapy. We attempted to review the role of STAT1 and STAT3 proteins in vascular remodeling.