Objective-Schizophrenia is associated with neurocognitive deficits, but its etiologic heterogeneity may complicate the delineation of a neurocognitive profile. Schizophrenia associated with 22q11 Deletion Syndrome (22qDS) represents a more genetically homogeneous subtype for study. We hypothesized that in adults with 22qDS the neurocognitive profiles would differ between those with and without schizophrenia.Method-Using a comprehensive battery of tests, we compared the neurocognitive performance profiles in those with schizophrenia (n=27; 14 M, 13 F; mean age=30.6 years, SD=7.7 years) and those with no history of psychosis (n=29; 16 M, 13 F; mean age=25.0 years, SD=9.0 years).Results-The 22qDS groups with and without schizophrenia had similar mean estimated IQ (71.6, SD=8.2 and 74.8, SD=6.1, respectively) and academic achievement, however the neurocognitive profiles of the two groups differed significantly on multivariate analysis (F(24,31)=2.25, p=0.017). The group with schizophrenia performed significantly more poorly on tests of motor skills, verbal learning, and social cognition (effect sizes≥0.8) after correction for multiple comparisons. Other tests, but not the attentional measures used, showed nominally significant differences.Conclusions-In adults with 22qDS, the pattern of neurocognitive differences between those with and without schizophrenia appears similar to that between patients with schizophrenia and controls. Attentional dysfunction may be a more general feature of 22qDS. The findings support 22qDS-schizophrenia as a genetic model for neurodevelopmental investigations of schizophrenia.

ObjectiveChildhood burns and scalds are a significant public health problem. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates whether home safety education and the provision of safety equipment increases burn and scald prevention practices and reduces thermal injuries.MethodA range of bibliographic databases were searched until April 2009. Search methods also included other electronic sources; hand searching of conference abstracts, IPJ and reference lists. We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), non-RCTs, and controlled before and after studies (CBA), involving children and young people aged 0–19 years, and their families.ResultsPreliminary results indicate that 49 studies met the inclusion criteria (29 RCTs, 6 non-RCTs, 13 CBAs and 1 CBA or non RCT). 27 studies were included in at least one meta-analysis. Families receiving home safety education +/– safety equipment were significantly more likely to have a functional smoke alarm (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.22 to 2.73) and to have safe hot-tap water temperatures (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.11 to 2.07). There was some evidence that interventions increased the prevalence of fireguards (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.94). The prevalence of fire extinguishers was increased only by interventions providing these (OR 4.67, 95% CI 1.78 to 12.25).ConclusionsHome safety education and the provision of safety equipment are effective in improving the prevalence of functioning smoke alarms and safe hot tap water temperatures. They may be effective in increasing the prevalence of fireguards and fire extinguishers. Further work is required to explore the effect of improving safety practices on thermal injury occurrence.