Prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Detention Settings: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Previous studies have reported a high prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among people living in detention (PLD) corresponding to a five- to ten-fold increase compared to the general population. Our main study objective was to provide an updated ADHD prevalence rate for PLD, including PLD in psychiatric units. Sub-objectives included (i) comparing different ways of assessing ADHD, including DSM-5 criteria and (ii) identifying which types of PLD are more likely to have ADHD. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis following the PRISMA guidelines and the MOOSE checklist. PubMed/Medline, PsycINFO, and Web of Sciences were searched combining "ADHD" and "prison" keywords and synonyms for articles published between January 1, 1966 and January 2, 2018. Potential sources of variation to the meta-analytic ADHD prevalence rate were investigated using meta-regressions and subgroups analyses. Results: The meta-analysis pooled 102 original studies including 69,997 participants. The adult ADHD prevalence rate was 26.2% (95% confidence interval: 22.7-29.6). Retrospective assessments of ADHD in childhood were associated with an increased prevalence estimate (41.1, 95% confidence interval: 34.9-47.2, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the prevalence estimate between screenings and clinical interviews in adulthood. Only three studies used the DSM-5 definition of ADHD and results were non-significantly different with other DSM versions. We found no difference according to participants' characteristics. Conclusion: Our results confirmed the high prevalence rate of ADHD among PLD, corresponding to a five-fold increase compared to the general population. In light of such high ADHD prevalence, our results reinforce the importance of addressing this critical public health issue by (i) systematically offering ADHD screening and diagnosis to all individuals entering detention, and (ii) delivering treatment, monitoring, and care for ADHD during and after detention. These strategies may help reduce recidivism and reincarceration, as well as violence in detention settings, in addition to improving the health and wellbeing of people living in detention. Additionally, our study suggests that using screening scales may be a reliable way of assessing ADHD, although caution is needed because a complete evaluation by an experienced clinician is required to provide a formal diagnosis.

Fine tuning the disassembly time of thermoresponsive polymer nanoparticles.

Timed-released disassembly of nanoparticles without a remote trigger or environmental cues is demonstrated in this work. The reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization allowed the fine-tuning of the chemical composition in the diblock copolymers, in which the first block consisted of a hydrophilic monomer (DMA) and the second random block consisted of three different monomers: (a) the thermoresponsive NIPAM, (b) the self-catalyzed hydrolyzable DMAEA, and (c) the hydrophobic BA. These diblock copolymers were solubilized in water below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the thermoresponsive second block, and heated to 37 °C (i.e., >LCST) to form small micelle nanoparticles with a narrow particle size distribution. As DMAEA hydrolyzed to acrylic acid groups, the LCST of the diblock increased, and the time at the start of micelle disassembly (t(start)) corresponded to the point where the LCST was equal to the solution temperature (i.e., 37 °C). The high water content in the PNIPAM core allowed an even degradation of the core over time. The copolymer composition allowed fine control over t(start), as this time was linearly dependent upon the BA units in the second block. These nanoparticles could also be designed to be stable (i.e., not disassemble) over a wide pH range or disassemble below a pH of 7.3. Additionally, the time from the start of disassembly to full unimer formation (t(degrade)) could be controlled by the amount of DMAEA units in the second block. A longer t(degrade) (~5.5 h) was found when the number of DMAEA units was 42 compared to t(degrade) of 1.1 h for 25 units. The nanoparticles designed in this work, through fine control of the polymer chemical composition, have the potential for drug delivery purposes for timed-release of drugs and prodrugs and other wide-ranging applications where timed-release would be beneficial.

Timed-release polymer nanoparticles.

Triggered-release of encapsulated therapeutics from nanoparticles without remote or environmental triggers was demonstrated in this work. Disassembly of the polymer nanoparticles to unimers at precise times allowed the controlled release of oligo DNA. The polymers used in this study consisted of a hydrophilic block for stabilization and second thermoresponsive block for self-assembly and disassembly. At temperatures below the second block's LCST (i.e., below 37 °C for in vitro assays), the diblock copolymer was fully water-soluble, and when heated to 37 °C, the polymer self-assembled into a narrow size distribution of nanoparticles with an average diameter of approximately 25 nm. The thermoresponsive nature of the second block could be manipulated in situ by the self-catalyzed degradation of cationic 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate (DMAEA) units to negatively charged acrylic acid groups and when the amount of acid groups was sufficiently high to increase the LCST of the second block above 37 °C. The disassembly of the nanoparticles could be controlled from 10 to 70 h. The use of these nanoparticles as a combined therapy, in which one or more agents can be released in a predetermined way, has the potential to improve the personal point of care treatment of patients.

Oligonucleotide and polymer functionalized nanoparticles for amplification-free detection of DNA.

Sensitive and quantitative nucleic acid testing from complex biological samples is now an important component of clinical diagnostics. Whereas nucleic acid amplification represents the gold standard, its utility in resource-limited and point-of-care settings can be problematic due to assay interferants, assay time, engineering constraints, and costs associated with both wetware and hardware. In contrast, amplification-free nucleic acid testing can circumvent these limitations by enabling direct target hybridization within complex sample matrices. In this work, we grew random copolymer brushes from the surface of silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles using azide-modified and hydroxyl oligo ethylene glycol methacrylate (OEGMA) monomers. The azide-functionalized polymer brush was first conjugated, via copper-catalyzed azide/alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), with herpes simplex virus (HSV)-specific oligonucleotides and then with alkyne-substituted polyethylene glycol to eliminate all residual azide groups. Our methodology enabled control over brush thickness and probe density and enabled multiple consecutive coupling reactions on the particle grafted brush. Brush- and probe-modified particles were then combined in a 20 min hybridization with fluorescent polystyrene nanoparticles modified with HSV-specific reporter probes. Following magnetic capture and washing, the particles were analyzed with an aggregate fluorescence measurement, which yielded a limit of detection of 6 pM in buffer and 60 pM in 50% fetal bovine serum. Adoption of brush- and probe-modified particles into a particle counting assay will result in the development of diagnostic assays with significant improvements in sensitivity.

Light extraction enhanced white light-emitting diodes with multi-layered phosphor configuration.

Phosphor-converted white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with separate red and yellow phosphor layers are investigated under current regulation conditions. This novel packaging scheme of bi-layered phosphors leads to more than 18% increase in luminous flux compared to conventional random mixed phosphor case at the same correlated color temperature. Lower junction temperatures of bi-layered phosphor white LEDs are also observed. This advantage in the thermal characteristics is due to the reduced back reflection of light inside the packages. It is also found that the phosphor conversion efficiency of bi-layered phosphor scheme is higher than that of mixed phosphor case. This is attributed to the enhanced light extraction from the LED packages. In addition, the chromaticity coordinates shifts compared bi-layered phosphor with mixed phosphor white LEDs are almost the same under current regulation conditions. The technology of bi-layered phosphor white LEDs with high efficiency and high color rendering index provides an appropriate solution for general white LED lighting.

Study of particle size effects on an optical fiber sensor response examined with Monte Carlo simulation.

Optical fiber sensors based on the total light transmittance are widely used to measure the volume fraction of particles in suspensions. However, the sensor response depends not only on the volume fraction but also on the particle size. The particle size effect is studied for a sensor configuration consisting of two linear arrays of fibers on each of two blocks: the emitting and receiving blocks. These two linear arrays are arranged with three adjacent fibers (one fiber on the first array, two fibers on the second array) forming a perfect triangle. The almost superimposition of the calculated sensor response versus the extinction factor for different particle sizes allows for the application of single- curve models. Two single-curve models that describe the sensor response for all particle sizes ranging from 36 to 200 microm are proposed. The models are validated by Monte Carlo simulation for different particle sizes and are valid within a detectable volume fraction. The single-curve models proposed provide an easier approach to creating a database for sensor calibration for suspended sediment concentration measurements.

Influence of individual differences and chronic fluoxetine treatment on cocaine-seeking behavior in rats.

RATIONALE: Clinical studies examining the efficacy of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, fluoxetine, in decreasing craving and cocaine use have been inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: To understand better the effects of fluoxetine treatment on incentive motivation for cocaine, the present study assessed the effects of chronic fluoxetine treatment on cocaine-seeking behavior in rats following exposure to a cocaine self-administration environment or a cocaine priming injection. METHODS: Rats were trained to press a lever for a cocaine reinforcer (0.5 mg/kg per 0.1 ml, i.v.) or received yoked administration of saline. They were then withdrawn from this regimen and given 20 daily injections of saline or fluoxetine (3.0 mg/kg, i.p.). Twenty-four hours after the last injection, the rats were placed in the self-administration environment and cocaine-seeking behavior (i.e., non-reinforced lever pressing) was measured for 90 min. Reinstatement of extinguished cocaine-seeking behavior was then measured for 60 min following a saline injection and for 90 min following a cocaine priming injection (15 mg/kg, i.p.). RESULTS: Chronic fluoxetine treatment attenuated cocaine-seeking behavior following exposure to the self-administration environment in most rats (n = 16), but enhanced cocaine-seeking behavior in two rats. Furthermore, the treatment failed to alter cocaine-seeking behavior following a cocaine priming injection. Interestingly, the amount of cocaine intake during self-administration training correlated with cocaine-seeking behavior following the cocaine priming injection. In fact, the priming injection reinstated cocaine-seeking behavior only in rats with high, but not low, cocaine intake based on a median split. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that chronic fluoxetine treatment decreases motivation for cocaine when animals are in a cocaine-free state. Furthermore, individual differences in cocaine use are related to individual differences in sensitivity to the incentive motivational effects of cocaine priming.