The Kiddie-SADS allows a dimensional assessment of externalizing symptoms in ADHD children and adolescents

Objective of the study was the investigation of the psychometric properties of a scale derived from the Kiddie-SADS used for a dimensional assessment of externalizing symptoms in children and adolescents. The scale consists of 26 DSM-IV Kiddie-SADS items for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD, 18 items) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD, 8 items). Patients and their mothers were interviewed separately on the patients' symptoms during the last 2 weeks prior to interview. An ADHD-ODD sum score ranging between 0 and 26 was computed reflecting the number of fulfilled diagnostic criteria within the 2-week period under investigation. Interviews were videotaped and re-rated by an independent second rater. Additionally, mothers filled out two questionnaires on their children's symptoms (FBB-HKS, a German ADHD scale based on ICD-10 and DSM-IV criteria; strength and difficulties questionnaire, SDQ). We investigated 59 patients affected by AD(H)D according to DSM-IV recruited from our Department for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (39 males, 20 females; mean age: M=9.66, SD=2.30). Inter-rater correlation regarding the ADHD-ODD scores was r=0.98 with no significant differences in mean sum scores between rater 1 and rater 2. Internal consistency of the ADHD-ODD scale was 0.85 (Cronbach's alpha). Item difficulties and discriminative power of the items also proved to be adequate. Convergent and discriminant validity were indicated by middle to high correlations with mother-ratings of the children's externalizing symptoms and a low correlation with ratings of internalizing symptoms. Factor analysis revealed a three-factor solution mainly covering inattentive, hyperactive and oppositional symptoms. In summary, ADHD and ODD sections of the Kiddie-SADS allow a reliable and valid dimensional assessment of externalizing symptoms in AD(H)D children and adolescents.     

Stable Isotope Metabolic Labeling with a Novel 15N-Enriched Bacteria Diet for Improved Proteomic Analyses of Mouse Models for Psychopathologies

The identification of differentially regulated proteins in animal models of psychiatric diseases is essential for a comprehensive analysis of associated psychopathological processes. Mass spectrometry is the most relevant method for analyzing differences in protein expression of tissue and body fluid proteomes. However, standardization of sample handling and sample-to-sample variability are problematic. Stable isotope metabolic labeling of a proteome represents the gold standard for quantitative mass spectrometry analysis. The simultaneous processing of a mixture of labeled and unlabeled samples allows a sensitive and accurate comparative analysis between the respective proteomes. Here, we describe a cost-effective feeding protocol based on a newly developed ¹⁵N bacteria diet based on Ralstonia eutropha protein, which was applied to a mouse model for trait anxiety. Tissue from ¹⁵N-labeled vs. ¹⁴N-unlabeled mice was examined by mass spectrometry and differences in the expression of glyoxalase-1 (GLO1) and histidine triad nucleotide binding protein 2 (Hint2) proteins were correlated with the animals'' psychopathological behaviors for methodological validation and proof of concept, respectively. Additionally, phenotyping unraveled an antidepressant-like effect of the incorporation of the stable isotope ¹⁵N into the proteome of highly anxious mice. This novel phenomenon is of considerable relevance to the metabolic labeling method and could provide an opportunity for the discovery of candidate proteins involved in depression-like behavior. The newly developed ¹⁵N bacteria diet provides researchers a novel tool to discover disease-relevant protein expression differences in mouse models using quantitative mass spectrometry.     

Mitochondrial DNA Indicates Late Pleistocene Divergence of Populations of Heteronympha merope,an Emerging Model in Environmental Change Biology

Knowledge of historical changes in species range distribution provides context for investigating adaptive potential and dispersal ability. This is valuable for predicting the potential impact of environmental change on species of interest. Butterflies are one of the most important taxa for studying such impacts, and Heteronympha merope has the potential to provide a particularly valuable model, in part due to the existence of historical data on morphological traits and glycolytic enzyme variation. This study investigates the population genetic structure and phylogeography of H. merope, comparing the relative resolution achieved through partial DNA sequences of two mitochondrial loci, COI and ND5. These data are used to define the relationship between subspecies, showing that the subspecies are reciprocally monophyletic. On this basis, the Western Australian subspecies H. m. duboulayi is genetically distinct from the two eastern subspecies. Throughout the eastern part of the range, levels of migration and the timing of key population splits of potential relevance to climatic adaptation are estimated and indicate Late Pleistocene divergence both of the Tasmanian subspecies and of an isolated northern population from the eastern mainland subspecies H. m. merope. This information is then used to revisit historical data and provides support for the importance of clinal variation in wing characters, as well as evidence for selective pressure acting on allozyme loci phosphoglucose isomerase and phosphoglucomutase in H. merope. The study has thus confirmed the value of H. merope as a model organism for measuring responses to environmental change, offering the opportunity to focus on isolated populations, as well as a latitudinal gradient, and to use historical changes to test the accuracy of predictions for the future.     

Recruitment of underage test persons: motivators and barriers in an anthropological EU-survey on a sensitive topic

Recruiting test persons is crucial in many scientific fields. The recognition of motivators or barriers to survey participation may support the design and recruitment strategy of future studies. The recruitment of under age test persons is very complex and sensitive. This paperpresents and analyses the experiences in recruitment of female juveniles (10-18 years old) in Germany, Italy and Lithuania within the context of an EU funded project concerning the extremely sensitive topic of "child pornography". The purpose of the project was to develop a method for age estimation of juveniles on photographs and videos. The faces of the test persons were photographed and anthropologically measured after an informed consent was signed by their parents and themselves. The analysis of the recruitment strategies and response rates revealed that culturally influenced factors played a significant role in the individual decision for or against a participation in the study. In all countries, the sensitive topic of child pornography had a great influence on the decision process. Many German parents agreed especially in light of this topic while in Italy and Lithuania the word "child pornography" triggered a very negative response. In Germany, the anthropological investigation of the faces provoked negative associations with the anthropometric surveys in the Third Reich. Social and political climate were further relevant factors for decision-making especially in Lithuania. The "top-down" principle of recruitment proved to be very effective for this kind of study. The authorities of headmasters, scientists and institutions positively influenced the decisions of the parents.