Major Protective Factor Research Articles

A Theory-Based Parent Competency Model Incorporating Intervention Attendance Effects

This study tests a parent competency model that incorporates the effects of attendance in a parenting skills training intervention. Observational and self-report data from 209 families participating in a controlled study were used to test the model. Results generally supported the modeL for both mothers and fathers. Analyses also confirmed that child management behaviors mediated both parent conventionality and intervention attendance effects on affective quality, although these results differed for mothers and fathers. A THEORY-BASED PARENT COMPETENCY MODEL INCORPORATING INTERVENTION ATTENDANCE EFFECTS* Richard Spoth and Cleve Redmond The primary objective of the study reported in this article was to test a theory-based model of variables expected to influence protective parentchild interactions, including the effect of attendance in a skills training intervention intended to strengthen these interactions. Constructs related to protective parent-child interactions figure prominently in family interactional theory (Brook, Brook, Gordon, Whiteman, & Cohen, 1990) and in the social development model (Catalano & Hawkins, in press; Hawkins & Weis, 1985). These two theoretical formulations provide the conceptual framework for the model tested in this study. Family interactional theory guided specification of the paths of influence among predictors of parentchild interactions; the social development model suggested the inclusion of skills training attendance effects. Both of these theoretical formulations address the role of protective parent competencies in the etiology of adolescent problem behaviors. Parent competencies figure prominently in the etiology of adolescent problem behaviors (e.g., Brook et al., 1990; Dishion, Patterson, Stoolmiller, & Skinner, 1991; Hawkins, Catalano, & Miller, 1992; Institute of Medicine, 1994; Patterson, Reid, & Dishion, 1992). In addition to empirically-based risk factors that have been shown to directly increase the probability of adolescent problem behaviors, there are a number of parenting-related protective factors that can offset risk factor effects. Protective factors have frequently been described as those that either (a) mitigate the effects of exposure to risk factors (Catalano & Hawkins, in press; Farrington et al., 1990; Hawkins et al., 1992; Masten, in press; Masten, Best, & Garmezy, 1991; Rutter, 1990) or (b) reduce the likelihood that a risk factor will occur (Coie et al., 1993; Rutter, 1990). As noted in a recent report on risk reduction for mental disorders by the Institute of Medicine (1994), the quality of parent-child interactions is a major protective factor for a range of disorders, including adolescent substance abuse and antisocial conduct. In particular, effective child management behaviors and affective quality in parent-child interactions can serve as protective factors (Benard, 1991; Coie et al., 1993; Conger, Reuter, & Conger, in press; Coombs & Landsverk, 1988; Gest, Neeman, Hubbard, Masten, & Tellegen, 1993; Institute of Medicine, 1994; Masten, in press; Rutter, 1990; Stouthamer-Loeber et al., 1993). The study reported in this article sampled families with sixth and seventh graders because enhancing protective factors in the family environment can be particularly important as children enter the early adolescent, middle school years. The increased importance of peers as a socialization force and the transition from elementary to middle school environments can increase child exposure to a variety of risk factors (Catalano & Hawkins, in press; Eccles et al., 1993; Simmons & Blyth, 1987). Moreover, because young adolescents in rural families who are experiencing economic stress are more likely to be exposed to familyrelated risks (e.g., poor child management practices) than young adolescents in rural families without economic stress (Conger et al., 1992), the families in this study were selected from an economically stressed rural area. …

Secretory component (polymeric immunoglobulin receptor) expression on human keratinocytes by stimulation with interferon-γ and differences in response

Secretory IgA (sIgA) is a major protective factor in the mucosal immune system because of its great ability to form complexes with bacteria. Secretory component (SC) is an 80-kDa glycoprotein, a component of sIgA, which functions as a polymeric immunoglobulin receptor for IgA and aids the secretion of sIgA from the epithelial surface. We studied SC production by keratinocytes which were involved in the inflammatory process using interferon-γ (IFN-γ) as one of the major inflammatory promoters produced by helper T cells. Using two human squamous cell carcinoma cell lines (HSCs) and normal human keratinocytes (NHKs), results from flow cytometric analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and Northern blotting revealed that HSCs produced SC when stimulated with IFN-γ, although their responses differed; one line exhibited enhanced SC production whereas the production in the other line was suppressed. NHKs also exhibited SC expression on the cell surface by means of immunocytochemical analysis, flow cytometry and ELISA, however the responses were also different in each strain. Although the reason for the diversity of SC expression on keratinocytes is not clear, these differences may influence epidermal sIgA secretion level.

Glucose-6-phosphate: A key compound in glycogenosis I and favism leading to hyper- or hypolipidaemia

The glycogen storage disorders (GSD)-I, -III, -VI and -VIII are associated with hypertriglyceridaemia or mixed hyperlipidaemia which poses the question whether these patients have an increased risk for atherosclerosis. The atherogenicity of triglycerides has remained controversial, while increased plasma cholesterol levels are generally accepted as a significant risk factor for coronary heart disease. However, clinical data show that one has to differentiate between metabolic conditions where triglycerides are atherogenic and those which are not significantly related to early onset of atherosclerosis but may cause other disorders such as pancreatitis. Among the disorders of carbohydrate metabolism patients with diabetes mellitus frequently have enhanced plasma triglycerides associated with a higher risk for coronary heart disease, while patients with certain types of glycogen storage disease have high triglyceride levels but do not seem to have an enhanced risk for atherosclerosis. Here we have compared the biochemical abnormalities and the atherogenic risk of three different disorders of glucose metabolism including GSD-I (glucose-6-phosphatase deficiency), favism (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency), and diabetes mellitus which are related to either hyper- or hypolipidaemia. The available data indicate that glucose-6-phosphate (Glc-6-P) is a central molecule in cellular glucose metabolism which critically influences pentose phosphate cycle activity and, via NADPH2-generation, regulates glutathione peroxidase activity for radical detoxification and also cholesterol and triglyceride synthesis. Radical detoxification is a major protective factor for cell membrane integrity and together with an appropriate renewal of membrane lipids may protect against the development of atherosclerosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Halon replacement chemicals: Perspectives on the alternatives

Halon 1301 has served as a be all and end all fire extinguishing chemical for 20 plus years. Its rapid extinguishing action, coupled with its low toxicity, low installed system cost and cleanliness, had made many addicts to its use in place of the traditional not-in-kind alternative approaches (water, carbon dioxide, powders, and foams). Unfortunately for the fire protection community, it, along with all other chlorine and bromine containing halogens, is being phased out of production and use due to its now well established contribution to adverse impact on stratospheric ozone. The history of the theory and experimental verification of ozone depletion and the state of local, national and global regulations pertaining to the control of ozone depleting substances will not be addressed here except for the following observation: The realization by Rowland and Molina in 1973 (published in 1974) that stratospheric chlorine could destroy ozone occurred at around the same time that halon 1301 was becoming a major factor in industrial and commercial fire protection.

Immunisation against ovine caseous lymphadenitis: correlation between Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis toxoid content and protective efficacy in combined clostridial‐corynebacterial vaccines

Groups of sheep were dosed with vaccines containing Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis toxoid combined in varying amounts with 5 clostridial antigens. Resistance of the sheep to infection with C pseudotuberculosis was tested at 1, 6 and 12 months after vaccination by infection with pus from ovine lymph glands actively infected with C pseudotuberculosis. The outcome was assessed 3 months after challenge by slaughter and inspection of the sheep for caseous lymphadenitis lesions. Protection was demonstrated by a significant reduction in the proportion of immunised sheep exhibiting lesions compared with control sheep, and by fewer abscesses in affected immunised sheep than in affected control sheep. A positive correlation was found between amount of C pseudotuberculosis toxoid administered and degree of protection obtained. Chromatographically-purified toxoid induced essentially the same protection, suggesting that anti-toxic immunity is the major factor in protection.

The etiology of ABO hemolytic disease of the newborn.

The etiology of ABO hemolytic disease of the newborn is complex because of the natural presence of anti-A and/or anti-B in individuals who do not possess the A and/or B antigen. Although only IgG anti-A and anti-B can cross the placenta, these antibodies are found in the circulation of most newborn infants born to blood group O mothers. The A and B antigens are much weaker on the red blood cell of newborn infants than of adults. This relatively weak reactivity constitutes a major protective factor against maternal antibodies which have crossed the placental barrier. However, much variation was found in the strength or the reactivity of the A antigen among infants born at term. This variation was large enough to account for the poor quantitative relationship between maternal antibody levels and the ensuing hemolytic process in the infant. Thus, the variation in antigen strength among newborns constitutes an unpredictable factor in the etiology of ABO hemolytic disease. Infants with a relatively weak A antigen can tolerate a moderately high level of circulatory anti-A without any untoward effects, while in the presence of the same antibody level, infants with a relatively strong A antigen, a portion of the red blood cells will be destroyed.

Antimicrobial Defense Mechanisms in the Salmonella typhimurium Associated Ex-germfree Rat

SummaryGermfree rats were monoassociated with Salmonella typhimurium. Early responses included increases in serum α- and β-globulins and a decrease in albumin. A presumably nonimmune γ-globulin fraction of slow electrophoretic mobility showed a similar increase, while carbon clearance values increased 50- to 100-fold. During the second week of association γ-globulin levels increased substantially. This was paralleled by a considerable increase in homologous agglutinating antibody, which first became evident 3 days after association. Both gamma globulin concentration and agglutinating antibody reached a plateau after the second week. At the end of that week, albumin, α- and β-globulin levels, and the carbon clearance index had returned to practically preassociation levels. The nonimmune gamma globulin fraction likewise had regained its preassociation immunoelectrophoretic appearance. It is concluded that while nonspecific defense mechanisms are a major protective factor during the first week after associat...