Maternal postpartum depression and infant social withdrawal among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive mother-infant dyads.

Maternal postpartum depression poses significant risks for mother-child interaction and long-term infant outcomes. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status has also been implicated in the development of postpartum depression, but the association between maternal depression and infant social behavior in the context of HIV infection has not been fully investigated. First, we examined the relationship between maternal postpartum depression and infant social withdrawal at 10-12 months of age in HIV-infected mothers and infants. Second, we ascertained whether infant social withdrawal could be significantly predicted by maternal postpartum depression. The sample consisted of 83 HIV-infected mother-infant dyads. Mothers were assessed for postpartum depression with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and infant social withdrawal behavior was rated using the Modified Alarm Distress Baby Scale (m-ADBB). 42.2% of the mothers scored above the cut-off point for depression on the EPDS, and a third of infants (31%) were socially withdrawn. Notably, maternal depression did not predict infant social withdrawal as measured by the m-ADBB. Infant social withdrawal was also not significantly associated with failure to thrive or gender. These preliminary findings need further investigation with respect to the impact on long-term neurodevelopmental and behavioral outcomes.

The role of disability living allowance in the management of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the use of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) by families of children and adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and to discuss the implications for clinicians involved in their treatment. STUDY DESIGN: Opportunistic survey of patients attending ADHD clinic. SETTING: Urban area in the north-east of England. SUBJECTS: A total of 32 carers of children being treated for ADHD with methylphenidate. INTERVENTION: Semi-structured telephone interviews about receipt and use of DLA. This involved open and closed questions and a multiple-choice section. RESULTS: In total, 19 out of the 32 families were receiving DLA. They chose to use it mainly to replace clothes and furniture and to provide diversions and activities for the children concerned. Some families were unaware of potential eligibility for DLA, whereas a few had chosen not to apply. Only one family's application for DLA had been unsuccessful. Carers were unanimously positive about the extra income. CONCLUSIONS: Families view DLA as an important means to replace damaged items and to fund recreational activities to contain over-activity. Families receive little formal guidance on ways of using DLA money to support children with ADHD. Virtually no specific training in benefits awareness is provided to general practitioners and child health specialists, who are often asked to judge the child's level of impairment or incapacity. Applying for DLA may affect the therapeutic relationship for good or ill. There is a need for professionals in contact with children with ADHD to inform families of the possibility of receiving DLA and support them in applications. As diagnosis and treatment of ADHD becomes more commonplace, more families are likely to be entitled to claim DLA. This has definite implications for the social security budget.

The use of glass wool as an attachment surface for studying phenotypic changes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.

Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to demonstrate phenotypic differences between Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm cells and the planktonic counterpart cells under defined culture conditions. Glass wool was used as a substratum for cell attachment as it affords a large surface-to-volume ratio (1 g with a mean diameter of 15 microns = 1300 cm2), supports the growth of biofilms, allows for free movement of cells between the inter-strand spaces, and it facilitates the exchange of nutrients and oxygen. It also allows for the separation of the biofilm biomass from the surrounding surface influenced planktonic (SIP) cells for further characterization. Comparative analysis of the respective proteomes indicated striking differences in the protein patterns of planktonic, biofilm and SIP cells. We selected 41 proteins, the levels of which varied in a significant and reproducible way in the respective protein profiles. In the biofilm cells, a general up-regulation of the spots was seen, but in SIP cells expression of these spots were generally down-regulated. Altogether six unique proteins were seen in the planktonic cells, while the biofilm and SIP cells contained five and two unique proteins, respectively. Glass wool, therefore, appears to be an ideal attachment surface for the study of biofilm development.

Novel method for the proteomic investigation of a dairy-associated Bacillus cereus biofilm.

The biofilm proteome of a dairy-associated Bacillus cereus strain (B. cereus 5) was investigated. Biofilm biomass of sufficient concentration for 2D-PAGE was obtained by growing the culture in the presence of glass wool. B. cereus 5 readily attached to the glass wool and biofilms formed within 18 h. The biofilm proteome of whole-cell proteins revealed that 10 proteins were synthesized as a result of surface attachment of which four were unique to the biofilm profile. Seven proteins appeared to be absent in the biofilm profile. The altered proteomes indicated that changes took place in the regulation of protein expression when B. cereus 5 cells attached to surfaces.