Ten-point Test Research Articles

Abstract P208: Anger During Young Adulthood Increases the Risk of Developing Coronary Heart Disease

Background: Some cohort studies have found that anger in adults aged 45+ is associated with incident coronary heart disease (CHD). However, this relationship has not been tested rigorously in young adults. We took advantage of longitudinal measures collected by the Bogalusa Heart Study to examine this association prospectively in young adults. Methods: From 1985-1986, 768 young adults from the Bogalusa Heart Study completed the State Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI) and were followed for cardiovascular risk factors. STAXI score is summed from a ten-point test with four response options (1=”never angry”; 2=”sometimes angry”; 3=”often angry”; 4=”almost always angry”). Multivariable linear regression, adjusted for race, BMI, pulse, blood glucose, and alcohol use, was used to test the association between anger and Framingham risk score as a global indicator of CHD risk. Participants were followed through 2010 and a general estimating equations model was used to assess the association between young adult anger (modeled using a restricted cubic spline function) and longitudinal development of CHD risk. Results: Our study population was (63.3%) female and (23.2%) black. At baseline, age ranged from 17-27 with a mean (SD) of 22.7 (2.4), and mean STAXI score was 18.6 (5.2). In cross-sectional analyses, STAXI score was not associated with CHD risk at baseline (p=0.20). However, after a median follow-up of 18 years, young adult anger was strongly associated (p=.006) with risk of CHD, with “always angry” subjects having a greater Framingham risk score at follow-up compared to “never angry” subjects (RR=1.71; 95%CI, 1.08 to 2.71), corresponding to a four-fold increase in 10-year risk of incident CHD (4% vs 1%, respectively). Conclusions: While it is currently established that anger in middle or late adulthood increases CHD risk, our analysis shows that, in fact, this relationship may be etiologically present much earlier in adulthood and among populations with a low overall CHD risk.

Breastfeeding knowledge among Polish healthcare practitioners supporting breastfeeding mothers

IntroductionThe aim of the study was to evaluate the level of breastfeeding knowledge among healthcare practitioners taking care for mothers and children in the perinatal period, the training needs for such practitioners, and the forms of breastfeeding support in Poland. Research DesignThe study involved a group of 361 health care practitioners, of whom 168 had followed a professional development course in breastfeeding knowledge, whilst the remaining 193 had not. A ten-point test was used with this group to assess their 2nd level of lactation knowledge as defined by Wellstart International guidelines. ResultsThe study included 227 midwives, 58 medical doctors, 40 nurses, 8 educators and psychologists and 28 members of other professions. Breastfeeding support was being provided by 309 of the participants (86.3%). The highest mean test score (7.58 points) was obtained by medical doctors who had completed a professional development course in the field of breastfeeding knowledge. The probability of achieving a high score was increased by: following a professional course in breastfeeding knowledge (OR = 8.73; 95% CI: 4.99–15.32), following the longest breastfeeding support skills training (OR = 4.80; 95% CI: 2.83–8.14) and IBLCE certification (OR = 5.07; 95% CI: 2.71–9.47). ConclusionSpecialist professional development courses are effective sources of knowledge for practitioners who provide breastfeeding support. There is a need to include breastfeeding education in curriculum for undergraduate medical training, as well as to organize professional development courses to provide evidence-based knowledge and practice to support breastfeeding mothers and babies.

Dark matter candidates: a ten-point test

An extraordinarily rich zoo of non-baryonic dark matter candidates has been proposed overthe last three decades. Here we present a ten-point test that a new particle has to pass inorder to be considered a viable DM candidate. (I) Does it match the appropriate relicdensity? (II) Is it cold? (III) Is it neutral? (IV) Is it consistent with BBN? (V) Does it leavestellar evolution unchanged? (VI) Is it compatible with constraints on self-interactions?(VII) Is it consistent with direct DM searches? (VIII) Is it compatible with gamma-rayconstraints? (IX) Is it compatible with other astrophysical bounds? (X) Can it be probedexperimentally?