Perceptions Of Computer-Generated Child Pornography

The current study examined public perceptions of computer-generated child pornography (CGCP) and its association with pornographic material acceptance, usage, and sexual interests, as well as attitudes regarding children and sexual activities. Moral Foundations Theory was utilized to interpret these findings from a morality perspective. Additionally, the study explored public perceptions regarding the use of computer-generated child pornography in treatment and its effect on risk of contact offending. Participants included a community sample recruited using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. Results indicated that participants had significantly lower support for illegality of computer-generated child pornography when compared to child pornography; however, support for illegality of computer-generated images was still high. Additionally, participants believed viewing computer-generated child pornography would increase risk for committing a contact offense, and using such images in treatment would be inappropriate and ineffective. Pornography acceptance and usage were negatively associated with higher support for illegality of computer-generated child pornography, while a significant relationship with usage frequency of multiple pornography types was not found. Overall, participants with lower endorsements of cognitive schemas supporting children and sexual activities reported significantly higher support for illegality of computer-generated child pornography. Finally, it was found that support for illegality of computer-generated child pornography had a positive relationship with the Ingroup, Authority, and Purity foundations of Moral Foundations Theory. Implications for public policy and clinical practice are discussed

The Effect Of Child Sexual Exploitation Material Offender Age, Motivation For Use, And Treatment Interest On Public Perceptions Of Offense And Treatment

The purpose of the present study was to better understand factors that may influence public perceptions related to child sexual exploitation material offenders. Specifically, the current study aimed to examine the impact of offender age, motivation for use, and treatment seeking on public perceptions of the offense of child sexual exploitation material possession, as well as treatment implications. Furthermore, public perceptions regarding mandatory reporting of viewing and possessing child sexual exploitation material were explored. The study utilized a vignette in the style of a criminal case describing a situation in which a man is charged with possession of child sexual exploitation material. The vignettes were identical, apart from manipulations of offender age, motivation for use, and treatment seeking desire prior to arrest. Participants’ perceptions of the situation were measured using a series of questions in relation to the vignette. Results suggest that extralegal factors, such as offender age, partially influence observers’ perceptions and decisions in cases of CSEM even though the law does not specify or discriminate based on these extra-legal factors. Participants were more likely to agree that the offender should face prison time when the offender was 65 years old compared to the offender that was 15 years old. Participants did not appear to have a preference for when the offender participated in treatment as there was minimal support for treatment while awaiting trial, during incarceration, and upon release in the community. Implications are discussed

Serum Müllerian inhibiting substance levels are lower in premenopausal women with breast precancer and cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In preclinical studies, müllerian inhibiting substance (MIS) has a protective affect against breast cancer. Our objective was to determine whether serum MIS concentrations were associated with cancerous or precancerous lesions. Blood from 30 premenopausal women was collected and serum extracted prior to their undergoing breast biopsy to assess a suspicious lesion found on imaging or physical examination. Based on biopsy results, the serum specimens were grouped as cancer (invasive or ductal carcinoma <it>in situ</it>), precancer (atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma <it>in situ</it>), or benign.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Serum from women with cancer and precancer (p = .0009) had lower MIS levels than serum from women with benign disease.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings provide preliminary evidence for MIS being associated with current breast cancer risk, which should be validated in a larger population.</p

Breast cancer biomarkers predict weight loss after gastric bypass surgery

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Obesity has long been associated with postmenopausal breast cancer risk and more recently with premenopausal breast cancer risk. We previously observed that nipple aspirate fluid (n) levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) were associated with obesity. Serum (s) levels of adiponectin are lower in women with higher body mass index (BMI) and with breast cancer. We conducted a prospective study of obese women who underwent gastric bypass surgery to determine: 1) change in n- and s-adiponectin and nPSA after surgery and 2) if biomarker change is related to change in BMI. Samples (30-s, 28-n) and BMI were obtained from women 0, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>There was a significant increase after surgery in pre- but not postmenopausal women at all time points in s-adiponectin and at 3 and 6 months in n-adiponectin. Low n-PSA and high s-adiponectin values were highly correlated with decrease in BMI from baseline.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Adiponectin increases locally in the breast and systemically in premenopausal women after gastric bypass. s-adiponectin in pre- and nPSA in postmenopausal women correlated with greater weight loss. This study provides preliminary evidence for biologic markers to predict weight loss after gastric bypass surgery.</p

Carbohydrate antigens in nipple aspirate fluid predict the presence of atypia and cancer in women requiring diagnostic breast biopsy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The goal of this prospective study was to determine (a) concentrations of the carbohydrate biomarkers Thomsen Friedenreich (TF) antigen and its precursor, Tn antigen, in nipple discharge (ND) collected from women requiring biopsy because of a suspicious breast lesion; and (b) if concentration levels predicted pathologic diagnosis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Adult women requiring biopsy to exclude breast cancer were enrolled and ND obtained. The samples from 124 women were analyzed using an anti-TF and anti-Tn monoclonal antibodies in direct immunoassay.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The highest median concentration in ND for TF and Tn was in women with ductal carcinoma <it>in situ </it>(DCIS). TF was higher in women with 1) cancer (DCIS or invasive) vs. either no cancer (atypia or benign pathology, p = .048), or benign pathology (p = .018); and 2) abnormal (atypia or cancer) versus benign pathology (p = .016); and was more predictive of atypia or cancer in post- compared to premenopausal women. Tn was not predictive of disease. High TF concentration and age were independent predictors of disease, correctly classifying either cancer or abnormal vs. benign pathology 83% of the time in postmenopausal women.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>TF concentrations in ND were higher in women with precancer and cancer compared to women with benign disease, and TF was an independent predictor of breast atypia and cancer. TF may prove useful in early breast cancer detection.</p

uPA is upregulated by high dose celecoxib in women at increased risk of developing breast cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>While increased urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) expression in breast cancer tissue is directly associated with poor prognosis, recent evidence suggests that uPA overexpression may suppress tumor growth and prolong survival. Celecoxib has been shown to have antiangiogenic and antiproliferative properties. We sought to determine if uPA, PA inhibitor (PAI)-1 and prostaglandin (PG)E₂expression in nipple aspirate fluid (NAF) and uPA and PGE₂expression in plasma were altered by celecoxib dose and concentration in women at increased breast cancer risk.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>NAF and plasma samples were collected in women at increased breast cancer risk before and 2 weeks after taking celecoxib 200 or 400 mg twice daily (bid). uPA, PAI-1 and PGE₂were measured before and after intervention.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Celecoxib concentrations trended higher in women taking 400 mg (median 1025.0 ng/mL) compared to 200 mg bid (median 227.3 ng/mL), and in post- (534.6 ng/mL) compared to premenopausal (227.3 ng/mL) women. In postmenopausal women treated with the higher (400 mg bid) celecoxib dose, uPA concentrations increased, while PAI-1 and PGE₂decreased. In women taking the higher dose, both PAI-1 (r = -.97, p = .0048) and PGE₂(r = -.69, p = .019) in NAF and uPA in plasma (r = .45, p = .023) were correlated with celecoxib concentrations.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Celecoxib concentrations after treatment correlate inversely with the change in PAI-1 and PGE₂in the breast and directly with the change in uPA in the circulation. uPA upregulation, in concert with PAI-1 and PGE₂downregulation, may have a cancer preventive effect.</p

Differential expression of cancer associated proteins in breast milk based on age at first full term pregnancy

Background: First full term pregnancy (FFTP) completed at a young age has been linked to low long term breast cancer risk, whereas late FFTP pregnancy age confers high long term risk, compared to nulliparity. Our hypothesis was that proteins linked to breast cancer would be differentially expressed in human milk collected at three time points during lactation based on age at FFTP. Methods: We analyzed breast milk from 72 lactating women. Samples were collected within 10 days of the onset of lactation (baseline-BL), two months after lactation started and during breast weaning (W). We measured 16 proteins (11 kallikreins (KLKs), basic fibroblast growth factor, YKL-40, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and transforming growth factor (TGF) b-1 and -2) associated with breast cancer, most known to be secreted into milk. Results: During lactation there was a significant change in the expression of 14 proteins in women \u3c 26 years old and 9 proteins in women \u3e = 26 at FFTP. The most significant (p \u3c .001) changes from BL to W in women divided by FFTP age (\u3c 26 vs. \u3e = 26) were in KLK3,6, 8, and TGFb2 in women \u3c 26; and KLK6, 8, and TGFb2 in women \u3e = 26. There was a significant increase (p = .022) in KLK8 expression from BL to W depending on FFTP age. Examination of DNA methylation in the promoter region of KLK6 revealed high levels of methylation that did not explain the observed changes in protein levels. On the other hand, KLK6 and TGFb1 expression were significantly associated (r2 = .43, p = .0050). Conclusions: The expression profile of milk proteins linked to breast cancer is influenced by age at FFTP. These proteins may play a role in future cancer risk

Differential expression of cancer associated proteins in breast milk based on age at first full term pregnancy

Abstract Background First full term pregnancy (FFTP) completed at a young age has been linked to low long term breast cancer risk, whereas late FFTP pregnancy age confers high long term risk, compared to nulliparity. Our hypothesis was that proteins linked to breast cancer would be differentially expressed in human milk collected at three time points during lactation based on age at FFTP. Methods We analyzed breast milk from 72 lactating women. Samples were collected within 10 days of the onset of lactation (baseline-BL), two months after lactation started and during breast weaning (W). We measured 16 proteins (11 kallikreins (KLKs), basic fibroblast growth factor, YKL-40, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and transforming growth factor (TGF) β-1 and -2) associated with breast cancer, most known to be secreted into milk. Results During lactation there was a significant change in the expression of 14 proteins in women = 26 at FFTP. The most significant (p = 26) were in KLK3,6, 8, and TGFβ2 in women = 26. There was a significant increase (p = .022) in KLK8 expression from BL to W depending on FFTP age. Examination of DNA methylation in the promoter region of KLK6 revealed high levels of methylation that did not explain the observed changes in protein levels. On the other hand, KLK6 and TGFβ1 expression were significantly associated (r2 = .43, p = .0050). Conclusions The expression profile of milk proteins linked to breast cancer is influenced by age at FFTP. These proteins may play a role in future cancer risk.</p