Early Adolescent Period Research Articles

Understanding the barriers and facilitators of human papillomavirus vaccine uptake in Kwale and Mombasa counties in Kenya: A study protocol

Background Cervical cancer poses a significant public health problem globally. Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination protects against HPV types 16 and 18, responsible for approximately 70% of cervical cancer cases. The optimal vaccination age is in the early adolescent period before sexual debut with possible HPV infection. In 2019, through the Ministry of Health, the Kenya government introduced the HPV vaccine to 10-14-year-old girls. However, analysis of the vaccine coverage across the counties shows that uptake is suboptimal. Our study proposes to apply the World Health Organization (WHO) Measuring Behavioural and Social Drivers (BeSD) of the vaccination framework to understand the barriers and facilitators of HPV vaccine uptake in two counties of Kenya. Methods The study design will be cross-sectional, utilising a mixed methods approach for data collection. We will sample 668 girls aged 10–14 years, across the two counties of Kwale and Mombasa and collect data using using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Qualitative data will be collected through focus group discussions with CHEWs, and community leaders, and key informant interviews with nurses, clinical officers, vaccine program managers and national vaccine focal persons. We will use the WHO BeSDvaccination framework as our conceptual framework. Significance Understanding the barriers and facilitators for HPV vaccination will help in developing strategies to be applied for improving HPV vaccine uptake.

Factors Associated with Overweight/Obesity among Rural Secondary School Children in Bangladesh

Background & Objective: Unhealthy dietary patterns in combination with a sedentary lifestyle could be contributing to some major health issues worldwide. Obesity in children and adolescents can have short- and long-term adverse health consequences including early mortality. Although previously limited to urban areas, with the rapid adoption of urban lifestyle by the rural people the problem is now ubiquitous. It is difficult to develop a policy for promoting health and reducing obesity among adolescents living in rural regions since there is a lack of information on the factors that contribute to this problem. The present study was, therefore undertaken to evaluate the factors influencing overweight and obesity among rural adolescents. Methods: This cross-sectional study was done based on data collected by students of Rajshahi Medical College as part of their RFST (Rural Field-site Training) in 2019 from a rural area of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. A total of 535 students from two rural secondary schools participated in the study. Every alternate student of those schools from class VI-X was then included in the study as a respondent. The weight and height of the selected students were first taken followed by data collection on variables of interest. Using weight and height data, the body mass index (BMI) of the respondents was first determined and was plotted on a growth chart (recommended by CDC, Atlanta) to find the percentile. Then the nutritional status of the individual respondents was determined based on their percentile status and was classified as underweight, normal, overweight, or obese. Results: Almost one-fifth (18.2%) of the respondents was found overweight or obese. Upon comparing respondents’ demographic characteristics, food and exercise behaviour between overweight & obese and normal & underweight groups, the former group was found younger than the latter group. Respondents’ socioeconomic status (SES) was associated with their nutritional status with overweight & obese adolescents being significantly higher in the Middle- and rich SES group (78.4%) than in the poor and lower middle-class (61.4%). Neither dietary nor exercise behaviour was associated with the nutritional status of the respondents. Although the majority (84.2%) of normal & underweight adolescents preferred low to medium-calorie snacks, overweight and obese adolescents were more likely to choose high-calorie snacks. Fast walking and running were the more common forms of exercise behaviour and of longer duration among the overweight & obese cohort than those among normal & underweight cohorts. Conclusion: The study concluded that the period of early adolescence is vulnerable to developing obesity. Adolescents belonging to middle and well-off SES are more prone to be overweight or obese than those belonging to lower middle & poor SES. However, exercise, physical activity, and dietary habits of adolescents do not influence their nutritional status. Ibrahim Card Med J 2023; 13 (1&2): 19-25

Depressive symptoms in adolescence and adult educational and employment outcomes: a structured life course analysis.

Depression is a common mental health disorder that often starts during adolescence, with potentially important future consequences including 'Not in Education, Employment or Training' (NEET) status. We took a structured life course modeling approach to examine how depressive symptoms during adolescence might be associated with later NEET status, using a high-quality longitudinal data resource. We considered four plausible life course models: (1) an early adolescent sensitive period model where depressive symptoms in early adolescence are more associated with later NEET status relative to exposure at other stages; (2) a mid adolescent sensitive period model where depressive symptoms during the transition from compulsory education to adult life might be more deleterious regarding NEET status; (3) a late adolescent sensitive period model, meaning that depressive symptoms around the time when most adults have completed their education and started their careers are the most strongly associated with NEET status; and (4) an accumulation of risk model which highlights the importance of chronicity of symptoms. Our analysis sample included participants with full information on NEET status (N = 3951), and the results supported the accumulation of risk model, showing that the odds of NEET increase by 1.015 (95% CI 1.012-1.019) for an increase of 1 unit in depression at any age between 11 and 24 years. Given the adverse implications of NEET status, our results emphasize the importance of supporting mental health during adolescence and early adulthood, as well as considering specific needs of young people with re-occurring depressed mood.

Assessing Temperament Risk Factors in Late Childhood and Early Adolescence: Development and Validation of the Integrative Late Childhood Temperament Inventory.

Childhood temperament has a well-documented influence on later life outcomes, notably behavior problems, quality of interpersonal relationships, and academic achievement. However, there is at present a lack of brief measures that assess temperament characteristics which are represented across models of temperament in the late childhood and early adolescence period. To redress this gap, the aim of the current study was to develop and validate a short questionnaire that extends an earlier integrative measure of temperament, the Integrative Child Temperament Inventory (ICTI) to the late childhood period. The new measure (named Integrative Late Childhood Temperament Inventory, ILCTI) includes all five components of the ICTI (frustration, behavioral inhibition, attention/persistence, activity level, sensory sensitivity), plus affiliation. German- or English-speaking parents rated a total of 525 children, aged 8 to 14years. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the predicted structure of the new measure. Examination of fit indices and psychometric analyses showed that 24 items are sufficient to capture all six dimensions reliably. Next to convergent validity with established measures of temperament and personality, we also present analyses of associations with measures of externalizing problems, internalizing problems, and school failure all of which support the instrument's clinical utility. Thus, despite its brevity, the ILCTI is a reliable and valid measure of late childhood temperament that can be helpful in assessing risk of developing behavior problems or school failure.

Longitudinal Associations between Metacognition and Spontaneous and Deliberate Mind Wandering During Early Adolescence.

Although metacognition plays a pivotal role in theoretical accounts of mind wandering, their longitudinal relationships have not yet been investigated during the important developmental period of early adolescence. This study aimed to examine the developmental trajectories of spontaneous and deliberate mind wandering and the dynamic associations between metacognition and two types of mind wandering in early adolescence. A sample of 4302 Chinese students beginning in Grade 4 (47.4% female; initial Mage = 9.84, SDage = 0.47) completed questionnaires on five occasions over 2.5 years. The results showed that deliberate mind wandering, but not spontaneous mind wandering, gradually increased from Grade 4 to Grade 6. Metacognition was negatively related to spontaneous mind wandering but positively related to deliberate mind wandering. These findings provide empirical evidence for theoretical viewpoints from both individual differences and developmental perspectives.

Sexual Minorities and Loneliness: Exploring Sexuality through Social Media and Gender-Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Supports.

We examined online and offline social supports for sexual minority adolescents, underscoring the understudied developmental period of early adolescence and the mental outcome of loneliness. Stemming from a larger study in the northeast U.S., 967 youth participants were 26% sexual minority, 53% female, 45% male, and 2% other/nonbinary (mean age = 13.1, SD = 1.52). LGBTQ+ youth reported significantly higher levels of loneliness compared to their heterosexual counterparts. To understand potential sources of social support while exploring their sexual identities, we compared the experiences of LGBTQ+ youth at both ends of the loneliness spectrum. Gaining knowledge about their sexual orientation from LGBTQ+ organization websites, participating in gender-sexuality alliances, and using TikTok or Instagram were associated with lower levels of loneliness. Providing social support to online friends was associated with lower loneliness; however, receiving online support was not associated with lower loneliness. Furthermore, proactive social media engagement such as posting uplifting content, joining online communities, or raising awareness about social issues were associated with lower levels of loneliness. The results provide guidance on specific youth behaviors and online communities beyond a focus on screen time while highlighting the continued need for social support to ameliorate loneliness, such as gender-sexuality alliance networks.

Psychometric properties of the Chinese Family Assessment Instrument: evidence from mainland China.

Regarding the assessment of family functioning in Chinese people, there are several research gaps. First, although there are some instruments in the field, there are very few validated instruments. Second, while some translated measures have been developed, there are very few assessment tools based on indigenous Chinese concepts. Third, compared to Hong Kong, research on family assessment is relatively inactive in mainland China. Fourth, there are very few family assessment tools to assess perceived family functioning in older children and early adolescents. Fifth, few studies used large samples to validate family assessment tools. Sixth, researchers seldom utilized longitudinal data to examine the psychometric properties of family assessment tools. Finally, few studies have examined factorial validity across samples and time to demonstrate the stability of Chinese family assessment measures. In Hong Kong, based on focus group data (i.e., indigenous concepts of family functioning) and an integration with the family science literature, we have developed the Chinese Family Assessment Instrument (C-FAI) to assess perceived family functioning according to the perception of adolescents. Results showed that the C-FAI possessed good reliability and validity. Specifically, five dimensions of the measure (mutuality, communication, conflict, parental concern and parental control) were supported via exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Convergent validity and reliability of the C-FAI were illustrated. To understand the psychometric properties of the C-FAI in mainland China, we collected three waves of data from students in the period of preadolescence and early adolescence in mainland China (N = 3,732). Based on the data, we examined the psychometric properties of the measure, particularly factor invariance in different samples and at different times. Confirmatory factor analysis provided support for the five dimensions in C-FAI, including factorial invariance in terms of configuration, factor loading, intercepts, and over time. There was evidence for convergent validity and discriminant validity of the measure. Finally, reliability analyses showed that the total C-FAI scale and its subscales are internally consistent. The present findings suggest that family researchers and practitioners can use the C-FAI to objectively assess perceived family functioning in preadolescence and early adolescence in different Chinese communities.

Early- but not late-adolescent Western diet consumption programs for long-lasting memory impairments in male but not female rats

Early life Western diet (WD) consumption leads to impaired memory function, particularly for processes mediated by the hippocampus. However, the precise critical developmental window(s) during which WD exposure negatively impacts hippocampal function are unknown. Here, we exposed male and female rats to a WD model involving free access to a variety of high-fat and/or high-sugar food and drink items during either the early-adolescent period (postnatal days [PN] 26–41; WD-EA) or late-adolescent period (PN 41–56; WD-LA). Control (CTL) rats were given healthy standard chow throughout both periods. To evaluate long-lasting memory capacity well beyond the early life WD exposure periods, we performed behavioral assessments after both a short (4 weeks for WD-EA, 2 weeks for WD-LA) and long (12 weeks for WD-EA, 10 weeks for WD-LA) period of healthy diet intervention. Results revealed no differences in body weight or body composition between diet groups, regardless of sex. Following the shorter period of healthy diet intervention, both male and female WD-EA and WD-LA rats showed deficits in hippocampal-dependent memory compared to CTL rats. Following the longer healthy diet intervention period, memory impairments persisted in male WD-EA but not WD-LA rats. In contrast, in female rats the longer healthy diet intervention reversed the initial memory impairments in both WD-EA and WD-LA rats. Collectively, these findings reveal that early-adolescence is a critical period of long-lasting hippocampal vulnerability to dietary insults in male but not female rats, thus highlighting developmental- and sex-specific effects mediating the relationship between the early life nutritional environment and long-term cognitive health.

Longitudinal relationships between lifestyle risk factors and neurodevelopment in early adolescence.

The goal of this study is to investigate the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between clustered lifestyle risk factors (sleep, physical activity, body mass index [BMI], and screen time) and neurodevelopment over the early adolescent period. Data from the ABCD Study Data Release 3.0 consisted of 11,878 participants (aged 9-10 years) at baseline and 6,571 participants (aged 11-12 years) at 2-year follow-up. The interrelationships between lifestyle risk factors and brain structure were analyzed using bivariate multiple indicator latent change score models. Using confirmatory factor analysis, a single lifestyle risk factor domain (measured by sleep, physical activity, BMI, and screen time) was shown to fit the data well. Using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, seven brain structure domains were extracted and labeled as temporal-parietal, frontotemporal, occipital, orbitofrontal, temporal, cingulate, parietal, and cuneus domains. All bivariate latent change score models accounted for age, sex at birth, race/ethnicity, parental education, and marital status. Higher lifestyle risk was associated with smaller brain volume at baseline. Higher baseline lifestyle risk was also associated with a greater rate of change (i.e., greater decreases) in brain volume for the temporal-parietal, frontotemporal, orbitofrontal, parietal, and cuneus domains. Effects were not reciprocal; baseline brain volume did not predict changes in lifestyle behaviors over time. These findings are important for understanding the biological mechanisms underpinning health risk factors and can be used to target interventions and improve brain health during this critical developmental phase. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Patterns of respiratory sinus arrhythmia and trajectories of anxiety and depressive symptoms in early adolescence

In children and adults, individual differences in patterns of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA; i.e., interactions between resting RSA and RSA reactivity to stress) have emerged as a central predictor of internalizing symptoms. However, it is unclear whether individual differences in patterns of RSA also contribute to internalizing symptoms during the key developmental period of early adolescence, when rates of internalizing symptoms sharply increase. In the present multi-wave longitudinal study, we assessed whether patterns of RSA predicted trajectories of the two most common types of internalizing symptoms among adolescents: anxiety and depression. In the baseline session, we assessed RSA at rest and in response to a psychosocial stressor (Trier Social Stress Test [TSST]) in a sample of 75 early adolescents (Mage = 12.85). Youth then completed measures of anxiety and depressive symptoms at baseline and four times over approximately two years. Findings indicate that RSA patterns predicted trajectories of anxiety, but not depression. Specifically, region of significance analyses indicated that individuals with high resting RSA who demonstrated RSA augmentation to the lab stressor evinced decreasing anxiety over the follow-up period. In direct contrast, adolescents with high resting RSA in combination with RSA withdrawal to the stressor exhibited a trajectory of increasing anxiety. Findings provide preliminary evidence for understanding RSA as a developmentally salient risk or protective factor.

A case series of substance abuse among urban slum population during the COVID 19 pandemic.

The COVID 19 pandemic stuck the world already burdened with numerous diseases. The approach toward controlling the pandemic disturbed the healthcare delivery system and also aggravated the already existing problems of malnutrition, unemployment, economic inequalities, decreased routine immunization services, and substance abuse. Six individuals with multiple substance use histories were identified and in depth interviews were conducted in an urban slum under the field practice area of a medical college. Common features were identified and reported. The age of initiation of alcohol and tobacco use was found to be in the early adolescence period (10-14 years). Chronic substance abuse causes poor health, an economic burden on families, and domestic violence. Lack of self esteem due to unemployment, decreased social interaction, and multiple failed attempts at abstinence were the shared features among dependents. Measures employed during the COVID 19 pandemic to contain the virus have caused unanticipated adverse effects on health, finance, and social life. A holistic approach would play a pivotal role rather than reactionary and momentary interventions.

Sustained selective attention in adolescence: Cognitive development and predictors of distractibility at school

Despite much research into the development of attention in adolescence, mixed results and between-task differences have precluded clear conclusions regarding the relative early or late maturation of attention abilities. Moreover, although adolescents constantly face the need to pay attention at school, it remains unclear whether laboratory measures of attention can predict their ability to sustain attention focus during lessons. Therefore, here we devised a task that was sensitive to measure both sustained and selective attention and tested whether task measures could predict adolescents’ levels of inattention during lessons. In total, 166 adolescents (aged 12–17 years) and 50 adults performed a sustained selective attention task, searching for letter targets while ignoring salient yet entirely irrelevant distractor faces, under different levels of perceptual load—an established determinant of attention in adults. Inattention levels during a just preceding classroom lesson were measured using a novel self-report classroom distractibility checklist. The results established that sustained attention (measured with response variability) continued to develop throughout adolescence across perceptual load levels. In contrast, there was an earlier maturation of the effect of perceptual load on selective attention; load modulation of distractor interference was larger in the early adolescence period compared with later periods. Both distractor interference and response variability were significant unique predictors of distractibility in the classroom, including when controlling for interest in the lesson and cognitive aptitude. Overall, the results demonstrate divergence of development of sustained and selective attention in adolescence and establish both as significant predictors of attention in the important educational setting of school lessons.

The Role of Oxytocin in Early-Life-Stress-Related Neuropsychiatric Disorders.

Early-life stress during critical periods of brain development can have long-term effects on physical and mental health. Oxytocin is a critical social regulator and anti-inflammatory hormone that modulates stress-related functions and social behaviors and alleviates diseases. Oxytocin-related neural systems show high plasticity in early postpartum and adolescent periods. Early-life stress can influence the oxytocin system long term by altering the expression and signaling of oxytocin receptors. Deficits in social behavior, emotional control, and stress responses may result, thus increasing the risk of anxiety, depression, and other stress-related neuropsychiatric diseases. Oxytocin is regarded as an important target for the treatment of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we describe the history of oxytocin and its role in neural circuits and related behaviors. We then review abnormalities in the oxytocin system in early-life stress and the functions of oxytocin in treating stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders.

Association of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection stage with lung function trajectory in children with cystic fibrosis

BackgroundPseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) infection in cystic fibrosis (CF) is characterized in stages: never (prior to first positive culture) to incident (first positive culture) to chronic. The association of Pa infection stage with lung function trajectory is poorly understood and the impact of age on this association has not been examined. We hypothesized that FEV1 decline would be slowest prior to Pa infection, intermediate after incident infection and greatest after chronic Pa infection. MethodsParticipants in a large US prospective cohort study diagnosed with CF prior to age 3 contributed data through the U.S. CF Patient Registry. Cubic spline linear mixed effects models were used to evaluate the longitudinal association of Pa stage (never, incident, chronic using 4 different definitions) with FEV1 adjusted for relevant covariates. Models contained interaction terms between age and Pa stage. Results1,264 subjects born 1992–2006 provided a median 9.5 (IQR 0.25 to 15.75) years of follow up through 2017. 89% developed incident Pa; 39–58% developed chronic Pa depending on the definition. Compared to never Pa, incident Pa infection was associated with greater annual FEV1 decline and chronic Pa infection with the greatest FEV1 decline. The most rapid FEV1 decline and strongest association with Pa infection stage was seen in early adolescence (ages 12–15). ConclusionsAnnual FEV1 decline worsens significantly with each Pa infection stage in children with CF. Our findings suggest that measures to prevent chronic infection, particularly during the high-risk period of early adolescence, could mitigate FEV1 decline and improve survival.

Nutrition Awareness of Middle School Students in the Early Adolescence Period

Healthy nutrition is essential in preventing possible diseases and treating existing diseases by controlling their course. Based on this importance, adolescence is one of the periods to be considered. Adolescence is a fundamental determinant of healthy life in adulthood and old age. Healthy nutrition awareness gained in this period will raise awareness of the adolescent individual herself/himself and the people around her/him. This research aimed to determine the nutrition awareness of middle school students in early adolescence. According to the phenomenology, the research was conducted with eight volunteer students in the 8th grade in a public middle school in the Central Anatolia region in Turkey. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with each student individually using the "Interview Form about Nutrition Awareness in Adolescence Period" prepared by the researchers. The data were analyzed by using content analysis. As a result of the research, it was determined that the nutrition awareness of middle school students in the early adolescence period was low. In this context, increasing middle school students' nutrition awareness was recommended.

REGULATORY AND PERSONALITY RESOURCES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN YOUNGER ADOLESCENTS: INDIVIDUAL AND TYPOLOGICAL ASPECT

The report presents a differential approach to the study of the individual-typological features of regulatory and personality resources of psychological well-being and academic achievement in younger adolescents. Conscious self-regulation is understood as a managing meta-level of the multilevel system of psychic self-regulation. It is assumed that conscious self-regulation includes subsystems of regulatory competencies allowing to consciously and independently put forward and achieve educational goals, as well as maintain the well-being of students when changing learning conditions. The period of early adolescence is particularly important in this regard, since it is during this period when the learning conditions in Russian schools change due to the students’ transition from the primary to the secondary stage of education. The approach to the study of differences in the context of person-oriented approach is a trend in modern psychology. The study of the individual-typological features of regulatory and personality resources of psychological well-being and academic achievement of students in grades , , and  (N=) was carried out within the framework of this approach. The results revealed individual-typological profi les of students with different levels of conscious self-regulation, psychological well-being and academic achievement. For the fi rst time, it was shown that, regulatory, personality, and motivational resources of academic achievement and psychological well-being vary across profi le type and respondents’ age. The results revealed age dynamics of students’ regulatory competencies as well as the specifi cs of their contribution to academic performance and psychological well-being. It was shown that high academic performance in early adolescence is consistently determined by developing personality, regulatory and motivational recourses. The results suggest that developing conscious self-regulation meta- resource among the younger adolescents can ensure stability of academic performance and their well-being during the transition from the primary to the middle stage of education.

In utero exposure to the Great Depression is reflected in late-life epigenetic aging signatures

Research on maternal-fetal epigenetic programming argues that adverse exposures to the intrauterine environment can have long-term effects on adult morbidity and mortality. However, causal research on epigenetic programming in humans at a population level is rare and is often unable to separate intrauterine effects from conditions in the postnatal period that may continue to impact child development. In this study, we used a quasi-natural experiment that leverages state-year variation in economic shocks during the Great Depression to examine the causal effect of environmental exposures in early life on late-life accelerated epigenetic aging for 832 participants in the US Health and Retirement Study (HRS). HRS is the first population-representative study to collect epigenome-wide DNA methylation data that has the sample size and geographic variation necessary to exploit quasi-random variation in state environments, which expands possibilities for causal research in epigenetics. Our findings suggest that exposure to changing economic conditions in the 1930s had lasting impacts on next-generation epigenetic aging signatures that were developed to predict mortality risk (GrimAge) and physiological decline (DunedinPoAm). We show that these effects are localized to the in utero period specifically as opposed to the preconception, postnatal, childhood, or early adolescent periods. After evaluating endogenous shifts in mortality and fertility related to Depression-era birth cohorts, we conclude that these effects likely represent lower bound estimates of the true impacts of the economic shock on long-term epigenetic aging.

A developmental analysis of dimensions of empathy during early adolescence: Behavioral empathy but not cognitive empathy is associated with lower psychopathology.

Construct definitions of empathy have sought to distinguish between different dimensions of empathetic capacity that are significantly associated with psychological distress or wellbeing. Research has provided substantial evidence differentiating affective and cognitive empathy; however, more recent research has cited the importance of a third domain represented by empathetic behaviors and compassionate intent to comfort others. Examining developmental and maturational stage during the rapid transitional period of early adolescence is needed to model developmental trajectories, mechanisms of change and mental health outcomes. This study aims to assess relationships between pubertal developmental stage, dimensions of empathy, and depression, anxiety and externalizing behaviors among early adolescents. A cross-sectional survey among young adolescents ages 9-12 years was conducted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The relationships between pubertal developmental stage, affective, cognitive, and behavioral empathy scores and internalizing and externalizing symptoms were evaluated using hierarchical regression modeling. Structural equation modeling was used to test a theoretical model of structural paths between these variables. A sample of 579 very young adolescents (270 boys and 309 girls) aged 9-12 years participated in the study. Pubertal development scale scores were associated with affective, cognitive, and behavioral empathy. Adolescents who had greater behavioral empathy scores reported lower internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Adolescents who had transitioned further through puberty and had higher cognitive empathy scores and reported higher internalizing symptoms. These findings support the importance of pubertal developmental stage in assessing risk and protective paths to mental health during adolescence. While empathetic capacity is widely perceived to be a positive trait, dimensional analysis of empathy among early adolescents indicates that behavioral skills and compassionate acts may be particularly protective and promote positive mental health outcomes.

Evaluation of rapid versus slow maxillary expansion in early adolescent patients with skeletal maxillary constriction using cone-beam computed tomography: A short-term follow-up randomized controlled trial.

Maxillary expansion is one of the treatment options for the correction of the skeletal constriction of the upper jaw. However, evidence regarding the best treatment effects with the use of rapid vs. slow maxillary expansion in the early adolescence period (i.e., between the age of 12 and 16 years) is still lacking in the available literature. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of rapid and slow maxillary expansion in treating posterior skeletal constriction, and to compare the 2 techniques in terms of skeletal and dentoalveolar changes by using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). The sample consisted of 34 patients (15 males and 19 females) suffering from posterior skeletal constriction. They were randomly allocated either to the rapid maxillary expansion (RME) group (17 patients aged 13.76 ±0.32 years) or to the slow maxillary expansion (SME) group (17 patients aged 14.02 ±0.28 years). The skeletal and dental landmarks, and changes in the posterior dimensions were examined using CBCT radiographs at the beginning of treatment (T1) and at the end of the observation period (T2). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of skeletal and dental changes except the amount of change in the inter-premolar width at the root apex, which was greater in the SME group (p = 0.007), as well as the amount of change in the skeletal palatal width in the molar region, which was also greater in the SME group (p = 0.008). Both maxillary expansion protocols were effective in treating posterior skeletal constriction. The average changes in the skeletal and dental widths were generally similar in both groups. Therefore, SME can be considered as an alternative to RME in patients with skeletal maxillary constriction in the early adolescence period.

Short-Term Fish Oil Supplementation during Adolescence Supports Sex-Specific Impact on Adulthood Visuospatial Memory and Cognitive Flexibility.

Numerous studies have supported benefits of omega-3 supplementation using Menhaden fish oil (FO) to promote brain maturation and plasticity during critical developmental periods. The goal of this study was to determine sex-specific immediate and delayed impact of adolescent omega-3 supplementation on visuospatial memory and cognitive flexibility. Sixty-four Wistar rats (n = 32 males and females) received daily FO or soybean oil (CSO) supplementation via oral gavage (0.3 mL/100 g body weight) from postnatal day 28–47. The Barnes Maze Test (BMT) was used to measure visuospatial memory and reversal learning trials (RL) determined cognitive flexibility. Juveniles underwent testing immediately after the gavage period, while adults began testing on postnatal day 90. Adult rats showed reduced working memory errors (WME) and gradual decrease in escape latencies compared to juveniles. Importantly, adult FO-supplemented females displayed fewer WME than males, while males’ performance benefited from CSO supplementation. Overall, sex- and supplementation-dependent effects supported a positive impact of FO in female rats only. Our findings support the potential for supplementation limited to the early adolescence period to influence adulthood spatial learning and cognitive flexibility in a sex-specific manner.