Accumulative family risk factors can have a detrimental impact on young children's social emotional development and future school readiness. Identifying family risk and resilience factors can be a first step in linking families to needed services. Programs that serve families and children need a brief and valid screening tool that can quickly assess family strengths and needs. This study examined the validity and utility of the Environmental Screening Questionnaire (ESQ), a brief caregiver report of the family's situation. Participants included 324 parent/child (ages 3-60 months) dyads from a sample of programs that serve at-risk families (n = 72) and an online sample of caregivers (n = 252). Results from data analyses evaluating the validity and utility were promising. Validity was investigated by examining convergent validity using the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form. Caregivers from the online sample who had more family risk factors, as identified in the ESQ, were more likely to have elevated levels of stress (r = .23). Moreover, children from families with increased risk factors tended to have higher scores on the Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Social Emotional (ASQ:SE) for two age intervals, 6 and 48 months, for the online sample. Utility data were gathered from caregivers and program staff. Results suggest the ESQ is an effective and useful screening measure that can help professionals identify areas of resource need, organize referral information, and monitor family outcomes. Caregivers found the ESQ to be helpful in understanding personal areas of risk and how risk and resilience factors can affect children's social emotional development. This study assisted in developing preliminary "red flag" risk factors that may be useful to programs serving families and children. Testing of the "red flags" is discussed for future research. / 10000-01-01

Background: Despite consensus guidelines, only about half of at-risk relatives in families with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) undergo clinical screening and even fewer undergo predictive genetic testing, leaving those unscreened at risk for sudden cardiac death. The use of qualitative inquiry to examine family communication and complex factors influencing uptake of screening may inform interventions to increase uptake and prevent sudden cardiac death. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the engagement of at-risk relatives in family screening for HCM. Specific Aims: The specific aims were to (1) Describe the experience of communication of genetic risk of HCM in families with a causative variant for HCM; (2) Use the Theory of Engagement to identify facilitators and barriers to family screening in families with a causative variant for HCM; and (3) Identify strategies to increase uptake of clinical screening and predictive genetic testing in families with a causative variant for HCM. Framework: The Theory of Engagement, adapted from McAllister, was used as an initial framework for the study. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design with purposive and snowball sampling was used and data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: The overarching theme of Bringing Genetic Risk to the Foreground was comprised of three major themes: Cues to Action, Preferences for Knowledge and Gateways to Screening, reflecting factors that affect engagement with genetic risk and family screening throughout the lifespan. Conclusions: Integrated longitudinal care and access to genetic specialists are needed for patients and families with a causative variant for HCM.

Introdução: O miocárdio não compactado (MNC) é uma cardiomiopatia rara, cujas principais manifestações clínicas são insuficiência cardíaca, embolias e arritmias. A evolução desses pacientes é pouco conhecida. Dessa forma, o objetivo desse estudo é analisar o seguimento tardio de pacientes com MNC isolado ou associado a outras doenças, adultos e crianças com a doença, e de seus familiares, que foram acompanhados em hospital universitário de cardiologia, bem como avaliar os desfechos clínicos e de exames de imagem em cardiologia nesses pacientes. Métodos: Pacientes com diagnóstico de MNC confirmado por critérios ecocardiográficos e/ou ressonância magnética cardíaca (RMC) foram selecionados. Durante seu acompanhamento, foram convocados familiares de primeiro, segundo e terceiro graus para rastreamento da doença. Foram avaliados os seguintes desfechos: óbito, transplante cardíaco, eventos embólicos como acidente vascular cerebral (AVC) isquêmico, tromboembolismo pulmonar, embolia arterial periférica, internações hospitalares por insuficiência cardíaca (IC), ocorrência arritmias ventriculares complexas, e índices de exame de imagem como eletrocardiograma, Holter 24 horas, ecocardiograma transtorácico e RMC, que poderiam apresentar valor prognóstico nesses pacientes. Crianças (idade inferior a 12 anos) foram analisadas separadamente. Resultados: Foram acompanhados 215 pacientes com MNC, idade de 36,96 + 17,6 anos, 108 (50,2%) homens, que foram seguidos por 5,9 + 4,47 anos. Os pacientes foram divididos em 2 grupos: 193 com MNC isolado (Grupo 1) e 22 com MNC misto (associado a doenças genéticas, congênitas, doença de Chagas, coronariopatia, cardiomiopatia hipertrófica e miocardite de células gigantes; Grupo 2). A palpitação foi o sintoma clínico mais frequente, estando presente em 42,8% deles. A sobrevida foi menor nos pacientes do Grupo 2, nos que apresentaram FE do ventrículo esquerdo (VE) menor que 50% (p= 0,004), naqueles com aumento dos diâmetro e volume diastólicos finais do VE (p=0,018 e 0,017, respectivamente), com aumento do diâmetro do átrio esquerdo (p < 0,001), com disfunção diastólica do VE (p= 0,049), com disfunção sistólica do ventrículo direito (p= 0,003), nos que apresentaram internações hospitalares (p < 0,001), nos com eventos embólicos (p= 0,022), com arritmias ventriculares complexas (p= 0,010), com hipertensão arterial pulmonar pelo ecocardiograma (p < 0,001) . A ocorrência de FA foi estatisticamente significativa entre os pacientes com disfunção sistólica do VE (p= 0,0485) e todos os que apresentaram FA, tinham FEVE inferior a 40% (p= 0,048). Vinte e três pacientes eram crianças, seguidos por 4,41 ± 4,91 anos, idade média de 5,52 ± 3,62 anos, 12 (52,2%) do sexo masculino. A proporção de óbitos ou transplante cardíaco foi 3 vezes maior do que na população adulta (34,8%) e a IC foi o resultado mais comum. As arritmias cardíacas foram raras e os eventos embólicos não foram encontrados neste grupo. O rastreio familiar diagnosticou MNC em 36,7% dos pacientes. Na análise multivariada, a precocidade dos sintomas e a ocorrência de acidente vascular cerebral ou acidente isquêmico transitório foram os fatores mais importantes no prognóstico dos pacientes e capazes de predizer sobrevida (p < 0,001 e p= 0,008, respectivamente). Conclusão: O seguimento clínico e por métodos de imagens cardíacas por longo período de pacientes com MNC permite traçar um perfil dessa população e estimar o risco de complicações, reforçando a necessidade de diagnóstico e tratamento precoces. Em crianças, o MNC geralmente evolui de forma mais agressiva, com maior morbi-mortalidade. O rastreamento familiar consiste em uma ferramenta muito importante nesse contexto, permitindo a identificação de pacientes na fase subclínica da doença / Background: Non-compaction cardiomyopathy (NCC) is a rare disease, which main clinical manifestations are heart failure, arrhythmias and embolic events. The evolution of these patients is poorly known. Thus, the aims of this study was to analyze the late follow-up of patients with isolated NCC or associated with other diseases, adult and children with the disease and their relatives, which were followed at a university cardiology hospital, and to evaluate the clinical and the cardiology imaging outcomes in these patients. Methods: Patients with NCC confirmed by echocardiographic (echo) and / or cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) criteria were selected. During their follow-up, their first, second and third degree relatives were recruited to perform screening of the disease using echo. The following variables were included: death, cardiac transplantation, embolic events such as stroke, pulmonary embolism, peripheral arterial embolism, hospital admissions for heart failure, complex ventricular arrhythmias, and imaging indexes of imaging exams such as electrocardiogram, Holter 24 hours, echocardiogram and CMRI, which could have prognostic value in these patients. Children (under 12 years old) were analyzed separately. Results: Two hundred and fifteen patients with NCC were followed for 5.9 ± 4.47 years, mean age of 36,96 ±17,6 years, 108 (50.2%) males. Patients were divided into 2 groups: 193 with isolated NCC (Group 1) and 22 with mixed NCC (associated with genetic and congenital diseases, Chagas disease, coronary disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and giant cell myocarditis; Group 2). Palpitation was the most frequent clinical symptom, present in 42,8% of them. The survival rate was lower in Group 2 patients (p < 0.05), left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) less than 50% (p= 0.004), increased LV end-diastolic diameter and volume by echo (p= 0.018 and 0.017, respectively), with LV diastolic dysfunction (p= 0.049), with increased left atrium dimensions (p < 0,001), with right ventricular systolic dysfunction (p= 0.003), hospital admissions (p < 0.001), embolic events (p= 0.022), complex ventricular arrhythmias (p = 0.010) and pulmonary hypertension by echo (p < 0.001). All patients with isolated NCC and AF presented LVEF less than 0.40, and between patients without AF, only 41.7% presented LVEF less than 0.40 (p = 0.048). Twenty-three patients was children, followed for 4.41 ± 4.91 years, mean age of 5.52 ± 3.62 years, 12 (52.2%) males. The proportion of deaths or cardiac transplantation was 3 times higher than in the adult population (34,8%) and heart failure was the most common outcome. Cardiac arrhythmias were rare, and the embolic events were not found in this group. The familiar screening diagnosed NCC in 36.7% of the patients. In the multivariate analysis, the precocity of the symptoms and the occurrence of stroke or transient ischemic attack were the most important factors in the prognosis of this patients and it is able to predict survival (p < 0.001 and p= 0.008, respectively). Conclusion: The clinical and cardiac imaging methods allows us to draw a profile of this population and to estimate the risk of complications, emphasizing the need for early diagnosis and treatment. In children, NCC used to develop more severe disease. Family screening is a very important tool, allowing the identification of patients with subclinical stage of the disease

Introdução: O miocárdio não compactado (MNC) é uma cardiomiopatia rara, cujas principais manifestações clínicas são insuficiência cardíaca, embolias e arritmias. A evolução desses pacientes é pouco conhecida. Dessa forma, o objetivo desse estudo é analisar o seguimento tardio de pacientes com MNC isolado ou associado a outras doenças, adultos e crianças com a doença, e de seus familiares, que foram acompanhados em hospital universitário de cardiologia, bem como avaliar os desfechos clínicos e de exames de imagem em cardiologia nesses pacientes. Métodos: Pacientes com diagnóstico de MNC confirmado por critérios ecocardiográficos e/ou ressonância magnética cardíaca (RMC) foram selecionados. Durante seu acompanhamento, foram convocados familiares de primeiro, segundo e terceiro graus para rastreamento da doença. Foram avaliados os seguintes desfechos: óbito, transplante cardíaco, eventos embólicos como acidente vascular cerebral (AVC) isquêmico, tromboembolismo pulmonar, embolia arterial periférica, internações hospitalares por insuficiência cardíaca (IC), ocorrência arritmias ventriculares complexas, e índices de exame de imagem como eletrocardiograma, Holter 24 horas, ecocardiograma transtorácico e RMC, que poderiam apresentar valor prognóstico nesses pacientes. Crianças (idade inferior a 12 anos) foram analisadas separadamente. Resultados: Foram acompanhados 215 pacientes com MNC, idade de 36,96 + 17,6 anos, 108 (50,2%) homens, que foram seguidos por 5,9 + 4,47 anos. Os pacientes foram divididos em 2 grupos: 193 com MNC isolado (Grupo 1) e 22 com MNC misto (associado a doenças genéticas, congênitas, doença de Chagas, coronariopatia, cardiomiopatia hipertrófica e miocardite de células gigantes; Grupo 2). A palpitação foi o sintoma clínico mais frequente, estando presente em 42,8% deles. A sobrevida foi menor nos pacientes do Grupo 2, nos que apresentaram FE do ventrículo esquerdo (VE) menor que 50% (p= 0,004), naqueles com aumento dos diâmetro e volume diastólicos finais do VE (p=0,018 e 0,017, respectivamente), com aumento do diâmetro do átrio esquerdo (p < 0,001), com disfunção diastólica do VE (p= 0,049), com disfunção sistólica do ventrículo direito (p= 0,003), nos que apresentaram internações hospitalares (p < 0,001), nos com eventos embólicos (p= 0,022), com arritmias ventriculares complexas (p= 0,010), com hipertensão arterial pulmonar pelo ecocardiograma (p < 0,001) . A ocorrência de FA foi estatisticamente significativa entre os pacientes com disfunção sistólica do VE (p= 0,0485) e todos os que apresentaram FA, tinham FEVE inferior a 40% (p= 0,048). Vinte e três pacientes eram crianças, seguidos por 4,41 ± 4,91 anos, idade média de 5,52 ± 3,62 anos, 12 (52,2%) do sexo masculino. A proporção de óbitos ou transplante cardíaco foi 3 vezes maior do que na população adulta (34,8%) e a IC foi o resultado mais comum. As arritmias cardíacas foram raras e os eventos embólicos não foram encontrados neste grupo. O rastreio familiar diagnosticou MNC em 36,7% dos pacientes. Na análise multivariada, a precocidade dos sintomas e a ocorrência de acidente vascular cerebral ou acidente isquêmico transitório foram os fatores mais importantes no prognóstico dos pacientes e capazes de predizer sobrevida (p < 0,001 e p= 0,008, respectivamente). Conclusão: O seguimento clínico e por métodos de imagens cardíacas por longo período de pacientes com MNC permite traçar um perfil dessa população e estimar o risco de complicações, reforçando a necessidade de diagnóstico e tratamento precoces. Em crianças, o MNC geralmente evolui de forma mais agressiva, com maior morbi-mortalidade. O rastreamento familiar consiste em uma ferramenta muito importante nesse contexto, permitindo a identificação de pacientes na fase subclínica da doença / Background: Non-compaction cardiomyopathy (NCC) is a rare disease, which main clinical manifestations are heart failure, arrhythmias and embolic events. The evolution of these patients is poorly known. Thus, the aims of this study was to analyze the late follow-up of patients with isolated NCC or associated with other diseases, adult and children with the disease and their relatives, which were followed at a university cardiology hospital, and to evaluate the clinical and the cardiology imaging outcomes in these patients. Methods: Patients with NCC confirmed by echocardiographic (echo) and / or cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) criteria were selected. During their follow-up, their first, second and third degree relatives were recruited to perform screening of the disease using echo. The following variables were included: death, cardiac transplantation, embolic events such as stroke, pulmonary embolism, peripheral arterial embolism, hospital admissions for heart failure, complex ventricular arrhythmias, and imaging indexes of imaging exams such as electrocardiogram, Holter 24 hours, echocardiogram and CMRI, which could have prognostic value in these patients. Children (under 12 years old) were analyzed separately. Results: Two hundred and fifteen patients with NCC were followed for 5.9 ± 4.47 years, mean age of 36,96 ±17,6 years, 108 (50.2%) males. Patients were divided into 2 groups: 193 with isolated NCC (Group 1) and 22 with mixed NCC (associated with genetic and congenital diseases, Chagas disease, coronary disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and giant cell myocarditis; Group 2). Palpitation was the most frequent clinical symptom, present in 42,8% of them. The survival rate was lower in Group 2 patients (p < 0.05), left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) less than 50% (p= 0.004), increased LV end-diastolic diameter and volume by echo (p= 0.018 and 0.017, respectively), with LV diastolic dysfunction (p= 0.049), with increased left atrium dimensions (p < 0,001), with right ventricular systolic dysfunction (p= 0.003), hospital admissions (p < 0.001), embolic events (p= 0.022), complex ventricular arrhythmias (p = 0.010) and pulmonary hypertension by echo (p < 0.001). All patients with isolated NCC and AF presented LVEF less than 0.40, and between patients without AF, only 41.7% presented LVEF less than 0.40 (p = 0.048). Twenty-three patients was children, followed for 4.41 ± 4.91 years, mean age of 5.52 ± 3.62 years, 12 (52.2%) males. The proportion of deaths or cardiac transplantation was 3 times higher than in the adult population (34,8%) and heart failure was the most common outcome. Cardiac arrhythmias were rare, and the embolic events were not found in this group. The familiar screening diagnosed NCC in 36.7% of the patients. In the multivariate analysis, the precocity of the symptoms and the occurrence of stroke or transient ischemic attack were the most important factors in the prognosis of this patients and it is able to predict survival (p < 0.001 and p= 0.008, respectively). Conclusion: The clinical and cardiac imaging methods allows us to draw a profile of this population and to estimate the risk of complications, emphasizing the need for early diagnosis and treatment. In children, NCC used to develop more severe disease. Family screening is a very important tool, allowing the identification of patients with subclinical stage of the disease

The diploma thesis The influence of early diagnosis for family of children with ASD deals with problems with autistic spectrum disorders diagnostics. It is focused on families with ASD children. It also maps the period before the diagnosis. The main aim is to show the preceding situation and consequences after the diagnosis of one of the autistic spectrum disorders in the family. The thesis works with both, the psychic impacts influencing family members, but also many other factors. The acquired information is based on the narrative conversation with parents. It speaks about the first displayed symptoms and the attempt to solve the occurring problems. It also speaks about possible seeing doctors, and if so, what specialists and what approaches and diagnoses they met. Last but not least the thesis is interested in those who informed the family about ASD as the first, when it was diagnosed and the change of family life after the diagnosis.