Good News for Families with Housing Problems

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Effects of sex and generation on hepatitis B viral load in families with hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM To explore factors associated with persistent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in a cohort of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-affected families and then investigate factors that correlate with individual viral load among hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive relatives. METHODS questionnaire. Demographics, relationship to index case, HBsAg status of mothers and index cases were evaluated for association with the HBV persistent infection or viral load by generalized estimating equation analysis. RESULTS Among 729 relatives enrolled, parent generation (P = 0.0076), index generation (P = 0.0044), mothers positive for HBsAg (P = 0.0007), and HBsAg-positive index cases (P = 5.98 x 10(-8)) were associated with persistent HBV infection. Factors associated with HBV viral load were evaluated among 303 HBsAg-positive relatives. Parent generation (P = 0.0359) and sex (P = 0.0007) were independent factors associated with HBV viral load. The intra-family HBV viral load was evaluated in families clustered with HBsAg-positive siblings. An intra-family trend of similar HBV viral load was found for 27 of 46 (58.7%) families. Male offspring of HBsAg-positive mothers (P = 0.024) and older siblings were associated with high viral load. CONCLUSION Sex and generation play important roles on HBV viral load. Maternal birth age and nutritional changes could be the reasons of viral load difference between generations.

Outbreak Information Delivery to Families with (Pre)School Children and Its Contribution

Background: Infection transmission among them occurs easily and sometimes causes outbreaks at facilities where children live in groups. Early response is necessary for infection control measures to avoid larger clusters. In Japan, (Nursery) School Absenteeism Surveillance System ((N)SASSy), which is a kind of school absenteeism surveillance, has activated since 2007 and covers about 60% of all schools and 40% of all nursery schools in 2017. Objective: The objective of the present paper is investigation and demonstration of how caregivers receive information related to infectious diseases in Japan and how (N)SASSy contributes health of children. Method: We randomly selected subjects with children by pre-fecture in October, 2017. The survey questionnaire asked background information and information about infectious diseases to maintain health in children. We regressed health concern variables on background information and information provision situation about community outbreaks using weighted logistic regression. Results: We received responses from 1172 people. Estimation results showed higher concern about a facility providing information about community outbreak. Caregivers whose children attend facilities provided about community outbreak or covered (N)SASSy significantly higher opportunity to arrange a schedule when a child has a high fever. Discussion: The obtained results demonstrated that activation in (N)SASSy affects the possibility of arranging a schedule when a child has a high fever. This capability might improve community health.

Desired Lifestyle of Older Adults with Dementia Living at Home from Their Perspective and That of Their Families with Support from Care Providers

Objective: This study aimed to determine the lifestyle of older adults with dementia living at home, how their families perceive them, and how care providers support their desired lifestyle. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 pairs of older adults with dementia, their families, and care providers followed by a qualitative descriptive study. Results: Older adults with dementia described their lifestyle as follows: “I continue to take pride in the way I have lived so far,” “I want to do what I can now even if I cannot do it well,” “I live peacefully with my family,” “I go out and interact with people,” and “I live this time today with care.” Families regarded the lifestyle of older adults with dementia as a desire “to continue living at home peacefully,” “to live on their own,” and that they “probably do not want anything.” Care providers’ support was based on “respect (for an older adult with dementia) as a person,” “drawing out and making use of what they can do with their current abilities through providing care,” “supporting families and confirming their sense of satisfaction with life,” and “predicting the future course and supporting decision-making.” Conclusions: To support the lifestyle of older adults with dementia, it is important to ensure that they continue to have dignity and are comfortable living with their families and in their communities without intimidation.

Cu,Zn SOD in Shandong families with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Objective: To understand the relationship between Cu,Zn SOD and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Methods: The patients were clinically examined and classified according to the E1 Escorial Criteria, then we obtained blood samples from the patients for Cu,Zn SOD analysis and SOD assay. Amino acid analysis of Cu,Zn SOD were fully automated in instruments called amino acid analyzers. SOD assay was determined by cytochrome c method Results: Amino acid analysis of Cu,Zn SOD from patients with familial ALS was normal. The activity of Cu,Zn SOD was normal both in familial and sporadic form of ALS compared with normal person. Conclusion: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is not related to Cu,Zn SOD.

Quantitative Study of Clothing Expenditure of Families with Different Education Level in shanghai

300 families were investigated,which belong to theFamily Investigation Net of Government Policy-makingInvestigating System of Shanghai Statistical Bureau.Thedata were analysed with SPSSWIN6.0 software.The re-gression models showed that families with different edu-cation level have different clothing expenditure models,that is,different affecting factors of clothing consumingin the second quarter.High education families’clothingexpenditure is mainly affected by the family living spaceand husband’s income,while middle education familiesby wife’s occupation and low education farmilies by hus-band’s income.The descriptive statistics showed:fromApril to June,families with different education levelwere quite different on the following aspects:(1)theclothing expenditure of the whole family and its mem-bers;(2)the structure of clothing consuming;(3)thepurchasing price of clothing;(4)the selection of clothingpurchase places.

NORMAL FAMILIES OF MEROMORPHIC FUNCTIONS WITH SHARED VALUES

We obtain some normality criteria of families of meromorphic functions sharing values related to Hayman conjecture, which improves some earlier related results.

Family empowerment and quality of life of parents raising children with Developmental Disabilities in 78 Japanese families

Objectives: The families of these children experience distress both at the time of diagnosis and afterward.A top priority is to understand family empowerment,family function,and family members' quality of life (QoL) and to effectively support these families in Japan.The objective of this study was to assess the actual conditions of families living with children having DDs and to explore the factors associated with family empowerment and parents' QoL.Methods: We surveyed ninety-three parents (78 mothers,15 fathers) from 78 families which lived with children with DDs in the capital region of Japan.We assessed two main outcomes using the Japanese versions of the following instruments: Family Empowerment Scale (FES),World Health Organization Quality of Life 26 (WHOQOL26),and other six outcomes.Correlation and multiple regression analyses were conducted.Results: No medication,cooperation with child rearing,assistance from a developmental support center,solved problems related to child rearing,and higher scores in Problem Solving contributed to higher FES scores.Higher WHOQOL26 scores were related to being a full-time housewife,higher self-esteem,no developmental support,a broad emotional support network,higher scores in Problem Solving and Role Function,and lower scores in Affective Reaction and General Function.Conclusions: We revealed that family empowerment and QoL of parents rearing children with DDs in Japan were affected by various subscales of family function and other family attributes.Effective interventions for improving family empowerment and QoL should be researched in the future.

Characteristics of Chinese Families in Which Children and Both Parents Are Diagnosed with Malignant Tumors:A Retrospective Study

Objective To characterize Chinese families in which both parents and at least one child are diagnosed with malignant diseases and provide reference for cancer screening or early detection in people whose both parents are diagnosed with cancer.Methods Medical records of all clients to the center of cancer screening and prevention of the National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital between January 2008 and February 2018 were screened to select families in which both parents and at least one child were diagnosed with malignant diseases.The cancer profiles of fathers,mothers,sons and daughters,their age distribution at diagnosis,and similarity of cancers between two generations were analyzed.The proportions of each cancer in males and females of the cohort were compared with corresponding data from the National Cancer Center Registry of China(NCCRC)in 2013.Results Totally 13S families were identified from records of 33200 clients.Proportion of lung cancer in fathers(40/135,29.6%)and in mothers(38/135,28.1%)were higher than the national data(23.9%in males and 14.9%in females,respectively).The proportion of breast cancer in daughters(35/109,32.1%)was higher than that of mothers(14/135,10.4%)and the national data(17.1%),In 71 father-son pairs of cancer,46.5%(33/71)were of the same systematic disease,and 16.9%(12/71)were of the same cancer.These two indexes were 31.2%(n=34)and 10.1%(n=l 1),respectively in the 109 father-daughter pairs of cancer,36.6%(n=26)and 8.5%(n=6)respectively in the 71 mother-son pairs of cancer,and 31.2%(n=34)and 20.2%(n=20)respectively in the 109 mother-daughter pairs of cancer.Sons were more likely to suffer from cancers originated from the same system as father s cancer than daughters(χ^(2)=4.299,P<0.05),and daughters were more likely to suffer from the same cancer as their mother's cancer than sons(χ^(2)=4.506,P<0.05).The age(mean±standard deviation)of the daughters(52.4±12.7)and the sons(59.4±10.9)at diagnosis were significantly younger than the fathers(65.5±12.2)and the mothers(65.7±12.5)(all P<0.001)・Conclusions For people whose both parents are diagnosed as cancer,screening or early detection examinations should cover a full range of cancers rather than the cancers their father and mother have suffered,or cancers stemmed from the same system as their parents cancers.We suggest screening or early detection program for these special population start earlier than that for the general population,with emphasis on cancers derived from digestive system for males and women-specific cancers,i.e.,breast cancer,ovarian cancer,cervical cancer and uterine cancer for females.

Family empowerment and associated factors in Japanese families raising a child with severe motor and intellectual disabilities

Objectives:Family caregivers raising children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities(SMID)experience the enormous burden of care.The concept of family empowerment is one of the important assessment indexes of family nursing from the perspective of providing comprehensive support for these families.The objective of this study was to identify the factors associated with the empowerment of families raising a child with SMID in Japan.Methods:We conducted a nationwide questionnaire survey involving 1659 primary caregivers raising a child with SMID through 89 special schools.We assessed the main outcomes using the Family Empowerment Scale(FES).We then conducted a multiple linear regression analysis to reveal the factors associated with family empowerment.Results:In total,1362 primary caregivers were included in our study.Our results show that factors contributing to high FES scores are higher age of the primary caregiver,higher education,greater recognition of regional support,lower childcare burden,higher utilization of home visit services,higher usage of a childcare institution,higher household income,and stronger family bonding.Conclusion:Healthcare professionals should carefully assess the state of family empowerment of the primary caregivers who are younger and those who have low education,low household income,high childcare burden,and fragile bonding with the family.Second,they should encourage such families to use regional support resources for childcare.That is,policy makers should consider ways to promote home visits and institutional services for the care of children with SMID,aiming especially for the provision of well-coordinated care and services.

NORMAL CRITERION FOR FAMILIES OF HOLOMORPHIC MAPS OF SEVERAL COMPLEX VARIABLES INTO P^N(C)WITH MOVING HYPERSURFACES

This article gives a normal criterion for families of holomorphic mappings of several complex variables into P N(C)for moving hypersurfaces in pointwise general position,related to an Eremenko’s theorem.

Mutation of Arg723Gly in β-myosin heavy chain gene in five Chinese families with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Background Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy （HCM） is a form of cardiomyopathy with an autosomal dominant inherited disease, which is caused by mutations in at least one of the sarcomeric protein genes. Mutations in the beta-myosin heavy chain （β-MHC） are the most common cause of HCM. This study was to reveal the disease-causing gene mutations in Chinese population with HCM, and to analyze the correlation between the genotype and phenotype. Methods The exons 3 to 26 of MYH7 were amplified by PCR, and the PCR products were sequenced in five non-kin HCM patients. A 17-year-old patient was detected to be an Arg723Gly mutation carrier. Then his family was gene-screened, and the correlation between genotype and phenotype was analyzed. Results The mutation of Arg723Gly in a Chinese family with HCM was detected for the first time. With a C-G transversion in nucleotide 13 619 of the MYH7 gene, located at the essential light chain interacting region in S1, the replacement of arginine by glycine took place at amino acid residue 723. A two-dimensional echocardiogram showed moderate asymmetrical septal hypertrophy with left atria enlargement. There was no obstruction in the left ventricular outflow tract. In his family, a total of 13 individuals were diagnosed HCM and 5 of them were dead of congestive heart failure at a mean age of 66-year-old. Eight living members were all detected to carry the mutation, in which 3 developed progressive heart failure. Moreover, the heart function of the people evidently deteriorates when their age are older than 50. The mutation and the disease show co-separated. Conclusion The Arg723Gly mutation is a malignant type. In Chinese the mutation has the similar characters to the former report but has low degree malignant.

Assessment of Quality of Life, Family Function and Family Empowerment for Families Who Provide Home Care for a Child with Severe Motor and Intellectual Disabilities in Japan

Background: About 70% of Japanese children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities (SMID) live at home, and the number is increasing. Family members have an enormous burden of daily physical care for these children. A top priority is to understand quality of life (QoL), family function, and family empowerment to effectively support these families. We aimed to assess current living situations of families with a SMID child, and to reveal the relationships between QoL, family function, and family empowerment. Methods: Sixty-five family members from 34 families with a SMID child participated in this study. We assessed 5 parameters using the Japanese versions of the following instruments: World Health Organization Quality of Life 26 (WHOQOL26), Kinder Lebensqualitats Fragebogen (KINDL), Family Assessment Device (FAD), Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale KG-4 (FACESKG-4), and Family Empowerment Scale (FES). Correlation and multiple regression analyses were conducted;QoL score was the objective variable. Results: Participants included 54 parents (34 mothers, 20 fathers) and 11 siblings. The mean age of SMID children was 10.4 ± 5.03 years. Twenty-two children needed multiple types of medical care. The mean age of parents and siblings was 41.5 ± 6.16 years and 15.5 ± 2.35 years, respectively. The mean QoL score (3.28 ± 0.5) was similar to the Japanese average. The mean KINDL score (77.2 ± 12.1) was higher than those of previous studies. The mean FAD score was 1.97 ± 0.32. For FACEKG-4, the score of adaptability was correlated with WHOQOL score (r = 0.459, p < 0.05). The mean score of FES was 113.6 ± 14. As the result of multiple regression analysis, lower family FAD scores ([sb] = ?0.61, p < 0.01) indicated higher family function and greater age of participants (sb = 0.495, p < 0.01) was correlated with higher WHOQOL scores (F = 15.208, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Our results indicated that the individual QoL depended on the age of participants (equals the years of experience caring for a SMID child) and the recognition of family function as a whole. Thus, to improve family members’ QoL, we should focus on individuals and also approach the family as a whole.

Entropy of Quantum Dynamical Systems and Sufficient Families in Orthomodular Lattices with Bayessian State

The purpose of the present paper is to study the entropy hs（Ф） of a quantum dynamical systems Ф = （ L, s, Ф）, where s is a bayessian state on an orthomodular lattice L. Having introduced the notion of entropy hs（ Ф, A） of partition A of a Boolean algebra B with respect to a state s and a state preserving homomorphism Ф, we prove a few results on that, define the entropy of a dynamical system hs（Ф）, and show its invariance. The concept of sufficient families is also given and we establish that hs （Ф） comes out to be equal to the supremum of hs （Ф,A）, where A varies over any sufficient family. The present theory has then been extended to the quantum dynamical system （ L, s, Ф）, which as an effect of the theory of commutators and Bell inequalities can equivalently be replaced by the dynamical system （B, s0, Ф）, where B is a Boolean algebra and so is a state on B.

ON CONSTRUCTING THE NATURAL EXPONENTIAL FAMILIES WITH POLYNOMIAL VARIANCE FUNCTIONS

In this paper,we discuss the regular exponential family(REF),a natural exponentialfamily with minimum dimension and with the mean function m=E_θX taken as a new parameter.Wepoint out the importance of the REF with polynomial variance function(PVF-REF).When m is asingle factor of PVF and the left end of its defined domain is zero,the corresponding REF is givenas the single-side lattice distribution family;other PVF-REFs can be obtained by a limit process.As an illustration,the results for all seven cases of polynomial variance functions of third degreeare given.

The Existence of (v,4,1) Disjoint Difference Families with a Prime Power

A （v, k, λ） difference family （（v, k, λ）-DF in short） over an abelian group G of order v, is a collection F=（Bi｜i ∈ I} of k-subsets of G, called base blocks, such that any nonzero element of G can be represented in precisely A ways as a difference of two elements lying in some base blocks in F. A （v, k, λ）-DDF is a difference family with disjoint blocks. In this paper, by using Weil＇s theorem on character sum estimates, it is proved that there exists a （p^n, 4, 1）-DDF, where p = 1 （rood 12） is a prime number and n ≥1.

Genetic analysis of four consanguineous multiplex families with inflammatory bowel disease

Background:Family studies support a genetic predisposition to inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD),but known genetic variants only partially explain the disease heritability.Families withmultiple affected individuals potentially harbour rare and highimpact causal variants.Long regions of homozygosity due to recent inbreedingmay increase the risk of individuals bearing homozygous loss-of-function variants.This study aimed to identify rare and homozygous genetic variants contributing to IBD.Methods:Four families with known consanguinity and multiple cases of IBD were recruited.In a family-specific analysis,we utilised homozygosity mapping complemented by whole-exome sequencing.Results:We detected a single region of homozygosity shared by Crohn’s disease cases from a family of Druze ancestry,spanning 2.6Mb containing the NOD2 gene.Whole-exome sequencing did not identify any potentially damaging variants within the region,suggesting that non-coding variation may be involved.In addition,affected individuals in the families harboured several rare and potentially damaging homozygous variants in genes with a role in autophagy and innate immunity including LRRK1,WHAMM,DENND3,and C5.Conclusion:This study examined the potential contribution of rare,high-impact homozygous variants in consanguineous families with IBD.While the analysis was not designed to achieve statistical significance,our findings highlight genes or loci that warrant further research.Non-coding variants affecting NOD2 may be of importance in Druze patients with Crohn’s disease.

Partnering with Batswana Youth and Families for HIV and AIDS Prevention

Introduction: This qualitative study triangulated data from adolescents, parents, and key informants in Gaborone, Botswana on adolescents’ risks for HIV infection, STIs and pregnancy, the types of relationships they get into, and preventive measures they use to protect themselves against HIV infection. The goal of this qualitative research is to inform adaptation of an intervention originally developed, implemented, and evaluated in the US that was effective in reducing the risk of HIV infection and early pregnancy by delaying initiation of sexual relationships of abstinent adolescents and lowering sexual risk behaviours of adolescents who were already sexually active. The objectives of this study were to conduct in-depth interviews with youth, key informants and parents;determine the behavioural risks that young people face;Assess youth and parents’ attitudes toward providing a risk reduction programme for adolescents and Use the data to adapt an evidence-based programme for Botswana. Methodology: In-depth qualitative interviews with 40 youth, 20 key informants and 40 parents elicited information on the risks and relationships that youth engaged in and their suggestions how their risky behaviours could be minimized or counteracted. Findings: Youth of both sexes engage in risky sexual behaviours that could predispose them to contracting HIV and STI infections or unplanned pregnancies. Risks were associated with use of alcohol and drugs: commonly marijuana, and engaging in unsafe sexual relations. Youth, key informants and parents showed a high level of acceptability for offering a primary prevention intervention program for adolescents. In addition, all groups of participants concurred on the importance of offering a separate program for parents to equip them with skills that can enable to them to guide their adolescents to safely transit into adulthood through education and family communication skills. Other risks confronting adolescents included sexual initiations from either older men or women (sugar daddy and mummy syndrome) in exchange for material and financial gains. Conclusion: Informants endorsed the need for primary prevention programs addressing adolescents and their families to reduce risk behaviours among Batswana youth to provide them with skills and minimise the risk of HIV infection among adolescents.

Empirical Study on the Empowerment of Families Raising Children with Severe Motor and Intellectual Disabilities in Japan: The Association with Positive Feelings towards Child Rearing

Background: “Children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities” refers to children with markedly limited activity due to severe overlapping of physical and intellectual disabilities. The physical and mental burden placed on families raising severely disabled children, particularly the primary caregivers, is great in home settings. For families to effectively utilize services and over-come child rearing problems, the families themselves need the “strength” to cooperate with others for the purpose of raising a severely disabled child. The ultimate goal of family support is to enable such families to achieve satisfaction and self-growth in child rearing. Methods: We used a questionnaire to survey 75 primary caregivers to empirically elucidate the empowerment and positive feelings towards child rearing of families raising children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities and the related factors. The t-test and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient were used to examine the association with bivariates. A multiple regression analysis was conducted for empowerment and positive feelings. Results: Results revealed that life events, livelihood, awareness of social support and the child’s sleep problems were factors related to empowerment. Of these, awareness of social support from outside of the family was found to contribute the most to empowerment. Furthermore, improvement and maintenance of positive feelings towards child rearing reaffirmed the existence of empowerment in addition to reducing negative feelings towards child rearing and ensuring social support. Conclusions: Raising children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities requires specialist knowledge and skills. Support from professionals to empower the entire family is therefore important in order to strengthen positive feelings towards child rearing.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with the Anxio-Depressive Symptoms of the Families of Patients in Intensive Care Unit at Gabriel Toure University Hospital, Bamako, Mali

Introduction: Hospitalization in intensive care is a source of stress and anxiety for close to the patients. Anxio-depressive symptoms appear to be common in intensive care and their prevalence is poorly evaluated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of anxio-depressive symptoms in families. Materials and method: Observational prospective study in families of patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit for a period of 5 months. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were measured using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) during hospitalization. Anxiety and depression were defined by a score greater than 10. Factors associated with the onset of anxious-depressive symptoms were sought. The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder in close relatives was measured by the Impact Event Scale-Revised scale (IES-R). Results: A total of 107 patients were admitted to the intensive care unit, of which 49 families agreed to participate in our study. Overall mortality was 32.2% during this period. Fifty-eight (58) patients were not included for the following reasons: death or hospitalization of less than 48 hours, refusal of families, institution, and lack of parents speaking French. Forty-nine (49) relatives completed the HADS questionnaire. Forty-three families completed the IES-R questionnaire, a return rate of 87.7%. The prevalence of anxiety was 61.2% among parents in early hospitalization. The level of anxiety was significantly associated with male parents (p = 0.035) and those with lower education (p = 0.046). The prevalence of depressive symptoms in parents was evaluated 53% at D3. Education level (p = 0.048) and male parents (p = 0.048) appeared to be a significant depression factor. The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder was 55.1% among the relatives of the patients. The lack of co-morbidity in admission patients was significantly associated with the occurrence of post-traumatic stress disorder in the family. Conclusion: The prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms was high in our study. Men were at greater risk of developing these symptoms. The parents of the patients carburized appear as a population with higher risk manifestation of psychological disorders;further research is needed in this group.