Objective Previous research has found that conscientiousness has positive associations with preventative health-related behaviors and self-perceived health, but little is known about the links between changes in these variables over time. In the present study, we examined how levels and changes in conscientiousness were linked to levels and changes in both preventative health-related behaviors and self-perceived physical health. Method Personality and health questionnaires were administered to participants in two waves, with an interval of approximately 3 years. Participants ranged in age from 19 to 94. To elucidate the tripartite relations between conscientiousness, preventative health-related behaviors, and self-perceived physical health, we used latent change models to estimate levels and changes of these latent constructs over time. Results Changes in conscientiousness were significantly and positively correlated with changes in preventative health behaviors and changes in self-perceived physical health. Changes in preventative health behaviors partially mediated the relation between changes in conscientiousness and changes in self-perceived physical health. Conclusion This longitudinal study extends previous research on conscientiousness and health by exploring the relations between latent variables over a 3-year period. It provides evidence that increases in conscientiousness and preventative health-related behaviors are associated with improvements in self-perceived health over the same time period.

Aim:Severe gastrointestinal bleeding sometimes occurs in patients with aortic stenosis (AS), known as Heyde's syndrome. This syndrome is thought to be caused by acquired von Willebrand syndrome and is characterized by reduced large von Willebrand factor (vWF) multimers. However, the relationship between the severity of AS and loss of large vWF multimers is unclear. Methods: We examined 31 consecutive patients with severe AS. Quantitative evaluation for loss of large vWF multimers was performed using the conventional large vWF ratio and novel large vWF multimer index. This novel index was defined as the ratio of large multimers of patients to those of controls. Results: Loss of large vWF multimers, defined as the large vWF multimer index 80%, was detected in 21 patients (67.7%). The large vWF multimer ratio and the large vWF multimer index were inversely correlated with the peak aortic gradient (R 0.58, p 0.0007, and R 0.64, p 0.0001, respectively). Anemia defined as hemoglobin 9.0 g/dl was observed in 12 patients (38.7%), who were regarded as Heyde's syndrome. Aortic valve replacement was performed in 7 of these patients, resulting in the improvement of anemia in all patients from a hemoglobin concentration of 7.5 1.0 g/dl preoperatively to 12.4 1.3 g/dl postoperatively (p 0.0001). Conclusions: Acquired von Willebrand syndrome may be a differential diagnosis in patients with AS with anemia. The prevalence of AS-associated acquired von Willebrand syndrome is higher than anticipated.

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This study used data from a nationwide survey in Japan to model the developmental course of social skills during early childhood. The goals of this study were to identify longitudinal profiles of social skills between 2 and 5 years of age using a group-based trajectory approach, and to investigate whether and to what extent parenting practices at 2 years of age predicted developmental trajectories of social skills during the preschool period. A relatively large sample of boys and girls (N > 1,000) was assessed on three social skill dimensions (Cooperation, Self-control, and Assertion) at four time points (ages 2, 3, 4, and 5), and on four parenting practices (cognitive and emotional involvement, avoidance of restriction and punishment, social stimulation, and social support for parenting) at age 2. The results indicated that for each social skill dimension, group-based trajectory models identified three distinct trajectories: low, moderate, and high. Multinomial regression analysis revealed that parenting practice variables showed differential contributions to development of child social skills. Specifically, Cooperation and Assertion were promoted by cognitive and emotional involvement, Self-control by social stimulation, and Assertion by avoidance of restriction and punishment. Abundant social support for parenting was not associated with higher child social skills trajectories. We found heterogeneity in developmental profiles of social skills during the preschool ages, and we identified parenting practices that contributed to different patterns of social skills development. We discussed the implications of higher-quality parenting practices on the improvement of child social skills across early childhood.