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Virtual Fireside Chat & Networking Event – April 2nd, 4pm PST

March 25, 2021 by IISBR Leave a Comment

We are co-sponsoring a Fire Side Chat Event Open to the First 100 to RSVP this April 2nd at 4pm PST. This is specific to those interested or already working with salivary hormone data collected with the large (11,880 adolescents) Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (R) Study in the US. Join IISBR’s very own Kristina Uban at this fun round table and networking event!

Learn More

Filed Under: Events

Kelly F. M. Kazmierski, Ph.D.

September 12, 2019 by IISBR


Postdoctoral Fellow
University of California Irvine

Research Gate Profile

Research Areas:

  • Attachment relationships
  • Adversity/stress
  • Resilience
  • Health

Research Summary:

Dr. Kazmierski received her Ph.D. in Psychology, Clinical Science from the University of Southern California and joined UC Irvine as a post-doctoral fellow in Dr. Uma Rao’s Biobehavioral Research on Adolescent Development (BRoAD) Lab in August 2019. She was awarded the NIH NIMHD Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship to study parent-child relationships as sources of resilience from the health effects of adolescent stress, with a focus on the impact of discrimination-related stress on obesity-related health. Kelly received her B.A. in Psychology from Pomona College in 2012 and her M.A. in Clinical Science from USC in 2014; she completed her clinical internship in health services psychology at the VA West Los Angeles Medical Center. Kelly’s research measures how attachment relationships foster both emotional and physiological regulation in the face of stress. Her work focuses on how parent-child and romantic relationships might break links between exposure to adversity in childhood and adverse health-related outcomes in adolescence and adulthood.

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Filed Under: Post-Docs

Developmental Psychobiology: Call for Submissions

March 19, 2019 by IISBR

Advances and New Approaches to the Study of Stress, Early Experiences, and
Developmental (SEED) Science

This is an open call for submissions for a special issue on “Advances and New Approaches to the Study of Stress, Early Experiences, and Developmental (SEED)
Science” in Developmental Psychobiology. This special issue will be co-edited by Dr. Sarah Watamura and Dr. Erika Manczak.

We invite submissions across a range of topics that highlight innovative or important approaches to understanding the roles of stress, early experiences, and development in typical and disadvantaged environments. We are particularly interested in papers that emphasize mechanisms and processes that occur from the prenatal to adolescent period, including (but not limited to): genetic regulation and epigenetic modification, immune system functioning, hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis and/or autonomic nervous system regulation, the microbiome, and markers of oxidative stress, or that utilize large-scale data analysis (‘Big Data’) techniques to explore developmental psychobiological questions. We welcome research articles, research reviews, and brief reports. Interested authors should submit an abstract (250 words) to the editors that summarizes their proposed manuscript. From these abstracts, articles will be selected for full submission.

Abstracts are due by May 15, 2019; authors will be notified by June 1, 2019 regarding invitations for a full submission (due September 1, 2019). Publication date is expected for 2020. Please submit abstracts to the Developmental Psychobiology editorial office (deveditorial@wiley.com).

Filed Under: News

Female Primary & Secondary Psychopathic Variants Show Distinct Endocrine & Psychophysiological Profiles

March 10, 2019 by IISBR Leave a Comment

Abstract

Research with predominantly male samples supports primary and secondary developmental pathways to psychopathy that are phenotypically indistinguishable on aggressive and antisocial behavior. The aim of this study was to examine whether female variants of psychopathy show divergent endocrine (i.e., cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA], testosterone, and their interactions) and psychophysiological (i.e., heart rate variability [HRV]) reactivity to social provocation. We also tested whether variants differed on reactive aggression when performing a competitive reaction time task against the fictitious participant who previously insulted them. Latent profile analyses on 101 undergraduate women oversampled for high psychopathic traits identified a high-anxious, maltreated secondary variant (n=64) and a low-anxious primary variant (n=37). Although variants did not differ on aggression, secondary variants showed higher cortisol, testosterone, cortisol-to-DHEA ratios, and HRV following social provocation relative to primary variants. Findings suggest that the neurobiological mechanisms underpinning aggression in psychopathy may differ between women on primary versus secondary developmental pathways.

Corresponding Author:

Natalie Goulter
Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada; BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Sponsor: Eva R. Kimonis; School of Psychology, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

Filed Under: Posters

Correlations of interleukin-6 across mucosal sites: Evidence for arousal-induced immunoredistribution

March 10, 2019 by IISBR Leave a Comment

Abstract

There is considerable interest in the potential utility of salivary measures of immune biomarkers such as proinflammatory cytokines. Recent research has found low correlations between salivary and serum measures of cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), reflecting poor agreement across samples taken from mucosal vs. circulatory sites. However, the associations of cytokines across mucosal sites are still unknown. The first goal of this project was to assess correlations of measures of IL-6 taken concurrently at two mucosal sites: in saliva and in vaginal fluid. The second goal was to test the hypothesis that sexual arousal stimulates migration of immune cells towards the reproductive tract, a process termed immunoredistribution. The immune system may interpret sexual arousal as a cue of the potential for sexually transmitted infection, and thus redistribute cells to address this potential threat. If so, we should expect that as the reproductive tract draws immune resources from other mucosal sites, the correlation between mucosal cytokines should become negative following sexual arousal. In the present study, forty healthy premenopausal women provided two samples each of their saliva and vaginal fluid during a laboratory-based sexual arousal induction paradigm. Participants self-collected their vaginal fluid with a tampon, and provided passive drool samples, before and after self-stimulation with a vibrator. Tampons were stored in sterile saline solution, and weighed prior to fluid extraction via centrifugation; vaginal fluid weights were used to adjust final IL-6 concentrations. Samples were assayed for IL-6 using validated electrochemiluminescence assay kits from MesoScale Development; inter-assay and intra-assay CVs were low (3.6 – 5.5% and 9.4 – 13.08%, respectively). The correlation between salivary and vaginal IL-6 was not significant among the pre-arousal samples (r(35) = -0.128, p = 0.463). However, in the post-arousal samples the correlation was significant and negative: r(40) = -0.348, p = 0.041), supporting the hypothesis that arousal may cue immunoredistribution from salivary to vaginal mucosa. Given the small sample, these findings should be treated as preliminary and warranting replication. Of particular importance is further research on whether measures of salivary cytokines truly reflect only oral immune response, or if they may also reveal activity of the mucosal immune system more broadly.

Corresponding Author:

Tierney Lorenz, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology and Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior, University of Nebraska- Lincoln

Sponsor: Jenna Riis, Ph.D., University of California, Irvine, School of Social Ecology, Irvine, CA, United States

Filed Under: Posters

Prenatal Tobacco & Cannabis Exposure: Associations With Cortisol Reactivity in Early School Age

March 10, 2019 by IISBR Leave a Comment

Abstract

Maternal tobacco use in the form of cigarettes and co-use of tobacco and cannabis during pregnancy constitutes a significant public health problem. The goal of this study was to 1) examine the role of tobacco exposure (TE) & tobacco + cannabis (TCE) co-exposure on stress reactivity in early school age – cortisol response to two laboratory stressors and 2) examine child sex, maternal depression/stress, and parenting as moderators. The sample consisted of 181 mother-child dyads participating in a longitudinal study since the prenatal period and over-recruited for TE in pregnancy. Results from multi-level modeling indicated that exposure to both tobacco + cannabis and higher maternal depression/stress or higher maternal harshness in early childhood was predictive of a blunted cortisol response. Results are supportive of toxic stress and allostatic load models indicating dual exposure to both substances combined with high postnatal caregiving stress posed by maternal depression/stress or harsh parenting increases risk for blunted stress response systems in children.

Corresponding Author:

Rina Das Eiden, PhD

Corresponding Author:

Rina D. Eiden
State University of New York at Buffalo

Sponsor: Rina D. Eiden, State University of New York at Buffalo

Filed Under: Posters

Sex differences in alterations of gonadal hormones in children and adolescents with prenatal alcohol exposure

March 10, 2019 by IISBR 2 Comments

Abstract

Prenatal alcohol exposure can produce a highly complex pattern of impairments in cognition, self-regulation, and adaptive functioning in the affected individual. All these impairments are included under the term: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

Animal models demonstrate that prenatal alcohol results in sexually dimorphic effects on neurobiology, and these sex differences are impact mediated in part through dysregulation of neuroendocrine systems.

In humans, very little research has examined sex differences in the effects of PAE. Here, we extend previous work demonstrating sex differences in FASD-related alterations in the brain, by exploring parallel alterations in gonadal hormones among kids with FASD. We found that the developmental trajectory of DHEA and Testosterone appears to be altered in boys, but not girls, with FASD. Specifically, the trajectory appears flatter across pre- to post- pubertal age groups for both hormones in boys with FASD compared to typically developing controls. In conclusion, if PAE leads to lifelong changes in hormone functioning, this may have lasting effects on the developing brains of children with FASD. The lack of human studies on HPG and brain development in FASD highlights a major gap in knowledge and potential future arena for hormone-based assessments and interventions.

Corresponding Author:

Babette Steigelmann
Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands

Audio Introduction (1 Minute 37 Seconds)


https://iisbr.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/steigelmann_audio.m4a

Sponsor: Douglas A. Granger, MA, Ph.D., University of California, Irvine

Filed Under: Posters

Feasibility of Canine Support in Pediatric Dentistry a pilot study

March 10, 2019 by IISBR 2 Comments

Abstract

Objective: Evaluation of the feasibility of a therapy dog intervention for anxious and fearful child patients, 8-12 years of age, in the pediatric dental clinic.

Methodology: A pilot study (N=18) of a certified therapy dog intervention was conducted using the framework of Bowen’s model for feasibility of new healthcare interventions, which evaluates acceptability, adaptation, and expansion, was used as framework for study design. Measures of acceptability included observation, self- and parent-report regarding perception of experience pre- and post- questionnaires and pooled-saliva sampling. Salivary cortisol, alpha-amylase, and oxytocin levels were measured before the intervention (T0) and at two time-points during the intervention (T1=10 minutes and T2=15 minutes). Adaptation and expansion was assessed by the post-treatment dentist report regarding changes needed to augment the treatment room.

Results: The intervention as deemed acceptability by guardians with a very high rate of 83%. Guardians further supported the intervention with 100% stating that the liked the therapy dog’s presence for their child on their post-survey. No safety issues were observed. Additional chairs were used during all dental treatments; one chair for the dog-handler, and the other chair for dog. All saliva samples were successfully collected and analyzed at all three time points, for all patients. The average changes of each measurement were as follows: cortisol (T0-T1: -0.002pcg/mL, range -0.05-0.067, T1-T2: -0.02, -0.079-0.022), alpha-amylase (T0-T1: 14.80pcg/mL, -75-224.90, T1-T2: -19.58, -156.60-49.90), oxytocin (T0-T1: 1.36pcg/mL, -11.98-25.14, T1-T2: 5.15, 8.25-21.79).

Conclusion: The certified therapy dog intervention is feasible in the pediatric dentist clinic. Collection of saliva and measurement of salivary cortisol, alpha-amylase, and oxytocin levels is a practical method that can be used to evaluate biological change in emotional regulation of dental anxiety and fear during the therapy dog intervention.

Corresponding Author:

Aviva Vincent
Case Western Reserve University, Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences

Audio Introduction (1 Minute 20 Seconds)

https://iisbr.uci.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/vincent_audio.m4a

Sponsor: Douglas A. Granger, MA, PhD. University of California, Irvine, School of Social Ecology, Irvine, CA, United States

Filed Under: Posters

Assessing Human ProInflammatory Cytokines in Saliva by Multiplex Electrochemiluminescent Immunoassay

March 10, 2019 by IISBR Leave a Comment

Abstract

Through this poster, we explore the reliability and utility of using the MSD multiplex human proinflammatory cytokines immunoassay (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) with oral fluid samples by 1) examining cytokine concentrations and distributions in healthy young adults, 2) Determining Inter-assay precision by testing a spiked saliva pool across 75 MSD plates, and 3) Using data from 6 studies (3635-4098 unique samples) and different kits lots to determine intra-assay precision for each cytokine.

Corresponding Author:

Hillary Piccerillo
Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research, University of California, Irvine

Sponsor: Douglas A. Granger, MA, PhD. University of California, Irvine

Filed Under: Posters

Time-Stamped Sample Collection in Salivary Bioscience Field Research: Problems and Pitfalls

March 10, 2019 by IISBR 2 Comments

Abstract

Current best practice guidelines for salivary bioscience studies examining diurnal hormonal patterns include the use of MEMS caps or time-stamped photographs to record saliva sampling time. The present study explores compliance problems with these time-stamp protocols in an intensive, at-home, salivary bioscience study involving children with and without ADHD.

145 children provided saliva samples while using either MEMS caps or time-stamped photographs to digitally record the time of sampling. Descriptive statistics of problem MEMS and problem photograph time-stamp data (i.e., missingness, incorrect handling) were examined across sampling occasions, and variation in problem time-stamp data was examined across sampling time (morning vs. afternoon/evening) and study group (ADHD vs. Control).

More than a third of saliva samples had problematic time-stamp data, irrespective of time-stamp method (41% problem MEMS time-stamps, 33% problem photograph time-stamps).

The high prevalence of problematic time-stamp data raises concerns about the analysis and interpretation of salivary data collected in the field, including issues related to high rates of systematic missingness, non-random error, and uncertainty about saliva sampling time.

Corresponding Author:

Jacqueline Esslinger
University of Fribourg, Switzerland

Sponsor: Jenna L. Riis, Ph.D., University of California, Irvine

Filed Under: Posters

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