Fitspiration Photos and Quotes: Effects on Body Image in University Women

Fitspiration refers to a type of social media that aims to inspire people to exercise using photos and/or quotes. However, while evidence suggests it can lead to increased exercise motivation, it has also been shown to have a negative effect on body image and mood. The purpose of this study was to investigate which component of Fitspiration messages (photos and/or quotes) causes a negative effect on body image and mood and to investigate if this content has an inspiring effect on related health behaviours. A total of 145 women aged 18-29 years were randomly assigned to view one of four Instagram accounts: Fitspiration photos, Fitspiration quotes, a combination of photos and quotes, or travel images (control condition). They completed pre and post-measures of body image and mood (i.e., body satisfaction, self-objectification, body appreciation and negative mood) as well as a measure of inspiration to exercise, eat healthy, and travel after viewing the account. Results of a series of ANCOVAs showed that women in the image-only condition reported lower body appreciation and higher negative mood compared to women in the travel condition. Further, women in the combination condition reported higher self-objectification and lower body satisfaction compared to those in the control condition. Women in the image group also reported greater inspiration to exercise than those in the travel group and greater inspiration to eat healthy than those in both the travel and quote groups. These results suggest that, in general, viewing Fitspiration images (either alone or with a quote) is associated with poorer body image and mood in young adult women, although it did lead to greater inspiration to engage in health behaviours. Given that social media, and Fitspiration in particular, is growing in popularity, it is important to develop protective measures, such as social media literacy programs, to reduce their negative impact

Fitspiration Photos and Quotes: Effects on Body Image in University Women

Fitspiration refers to a type of social media that aims to inspire people to exercise using photos and/or quotes. However, while evidence suggests it can lead to increased exercise motivation, it has also been shown to have a negative effect on body image and mood. The purpose of this study was to investigate which component of Fitspiration messages (photos and/or quotes) causes a negative effect on body image and mood and to investigate if this content has an inspiring effect on related health behaviours. A total of 145 women aged 18-29 years were randomly assigned to view one of four Instagram accounts: Fitspiration photos, Fitspiration quotes, a combination of photos and quotes, or travel images (control condition). They completed pre and post-measures of body image and mood (i.e., body satisfaction, self-objectification, body appreciation and negative mood) as well as a measure of inspiration to exercise, eat healthy, and travel after viewing the account. Results of a series of ANCOVAs showed that women in the image-only condition reported lower body appreciation and higher negative mood compared to women in the travel condition. Further, women in the combination condition reported higher self-objectification and lower body satisfaction compared to those in the control condition. Women in the image group also reported greater inspiration to exercise than those in the travel group and greater inspiration to eat healthy than those in both the travel and quote groups. These results suggest that, in general, viewing Fitspiration images (either alone or with a quote) is associated with poorer body image and mood in young adult women, although it did lead to greater inspiration to engage in health behaviours. Given that social media, and Fitspiration in particular, is growing in popularity, it is important to develop protective measures, such as social media literacy programs, to reduce their negative impact

Overcoming the myths of esketamine administration: different and not difficult

Intranasal esketamine for treatment-resistant depression has been introduced and approved by the FDA and EMA in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Since then, the administration practices were found different among countries. Major depression has a high impact on many humans lives worldwide and more than a third of treated people are not responding after several treatment attempts. Additional administration with esketamine closed this gap for more than the half of these non-responders. Guidelines for the treatment of major depression recommend starting with add-on esketamine after 2–4 serious attempts of treatment with standard antidepressants (SSRI/SNRI) irrespective of augmentation with others, e.g., second generation antipsychotics or lithium. Thus, intranasal esketamine became an important role in the evidence-based treatment of major depression. The authors review and critically evaluated published articles focusing on preparation, management and observation of intranasal esketamine treatment. There exists a clear recommendation for administrating intranasal esketamine in a medical environment, not limited to a clinical setting for selecting the dose, monitoring the improvements and managing adverse events. The administration of intranasal esketamine is considered as safe during the application itself and long-lasting or severe adverse events during long-term treatment are very rare. Since this is a new approach for treatment application psychiatrists face new different but not difficult treatment procedures compared to prescribing only a medication

Effect ofMTHFR genotypes and hyperhomocysteinemia on patient and graft survival in kidney transplant recipients

Effect ofMTHFRgenotypes and hyperhomocysteinemia on patient and graft survival in kidney transplant recipients.BackgroundThe total homocysteine (tHcy) plasma level, which is partly determined by theMTHFR 677C→T genotype, may be associated with vascular disease. We prospectively examined the influence ofMTHFR genotypes (677C→T, 1298A→C) and tHcy plasma concentration on all cause mortality and graft outcomes of renal transplant recipients.MethodsBaseline tHcy plasma levels of 189 patients (three groups with either theMTHFR 677CC, CT or TT genotype, including 63 patients in each group, were matched for age, gender, body mass index and creatinine clearance at baseline), were obtained between September 1996 and May 1997. Follow-up data (time until return to dialysis therapy, time and cause of death) were collected from April to June 1999. Kaplan-Meier survival estimations were calculated and plotted, the groups (threeMTHFR 677C→T genotype groups, or threeMTHFR 1298A→C genotype groups, or two groups with tHcy plasma levels above/below 15 μmol/L) were compared by log-rank test. Age, gender, body mass index (BMI), time since transplantation, serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, combinedMTHFR 677C→T/1298A→C genotypes, tHcy, folate and vitamin B12 plasma levels were evaluated with regard to graft and patient survival in a multivariate Cox-proportional hazard regression model.ResultsDuring the follow-up period of 2.26 ± 0.66 years, 9 patients died (5 in the TT, 2 in the CT and 2 in the CC genotype group;P = 0.34) and 22 returned to dialysis treatment (7 in the TT, 9 in the CT and 6 in the CC genotype group;P = 0.65). There was also no influnce ofMTHFR 1298A→C genotypes (AA genotype, 114 patients; AC genotype, 64 patients; CC genotype, 11 patients) on patient or graft survival (P = 0.7087 andP = 0.1633, respectively). Two of 93 patients with a tHcy plasma level ≤15 μmol/L died, in contrast to 7 of 96 patients in the low tHcy > 15 μmol/L group,P = 0.0778. Two patients in the low tHcy group had to return to dialysis, in contrast to 20 patients in the high tHcy group (P = 0.0001). In the multivariate model there was no significant predictor of patient survival, and the serum creatinine was the only predictor of graft survival (P < 0.0001).ConclusionsIn summary, our study shows that neitherMTHFR 677C→T/1298A→C genotypes nor hyperhomocysteinemia are independently associated with patient or graft survival following kidney transplantation

Update on the Role of Actovegin in Musculoskeletal Medicine: A Review of the Past 10 Years

Background: Actovegin is a biological drug with a controversial history of use in the treatment of sports injuries during the past 60 years. Particular concerns have been raised about its ergogenic potential to enhance performance, but some of these have been based on little more than anecdote. Objectives: In this article, we review the most recent scientific evidence to determine the clinical efficacy, safety profile, and legal status of Actovegin. Methods: We considered all studies directly commenting on experience with Actovegin use as the primary intervention within the past 10 years. Outcomes included mechanisms of action, clinical efficacy in enhancing muscle repair, any report of safety issues, and any evidence for ergogenic effect. Results: Our database search returned 212 articles, abstracts were screened, and after inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied, 25 articles were considered: Publications included 11 primary research articles (7 in vitro studies and 4 clinical trials), 8 review articles, 5 editorials, and a single case report. Conclusions: Current literature is still yet to define the active compound(s) of Actovegin, but suggests that it shows antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties, and may also upregulate macrophage responses central to muscle repair. Clinical efficacy was supported by one new original research article, and the use of Actovegin to treat muscle injuries remains safe and supported. Two articles argued the ergogenic effect of Actovegin, but in vitro findings did not to translate to the outcomes of a clinical trial. An adequate and meaningful scientific approach remains difficult in a field where there is immense pressure to deliver cutting-edge therapies

Infections and infectious related morbidity during pregnancy : Short and long-term effects

The aim of this thesis was to elucidate the association between infections during pregnancy and risks of miscarriage, preterm delivery and later development of autism. We identified 60 755 women with singleton births between 1973 and 2000 in the counties of Uppsala and Gävleborg who had a Pap smear taken during pregnancy. Risk of adverse pregnancy outcome with respect to signs of infection on Pap smear was calculated in logistic regression models. Presence of Coccobacilli on Pap smear slightly increased the risk of delivery of an SGA infant and presence of Trichomonas increased the risk of moderately preterm delivery (32-36 weeks). When the analyses was restricted to Pap smears taken within four weeks before delivery we found that presence of Coccobacilli was associated with a fourfold increase in risk of very preterm delivery (<31 weeks). Among pregnant women in Stockholm County, we identified 235 cases with second trimester miscarriage, 269 cases with very preterm delivery and 301 controls with term delivery for which we had archived blood samples for Rubella serology screening in early pregnancy. Blood samples were analyzed for Parvovirus B19 and Herpes viruses. Viremia was found in 11 (4.7%) women with second trimester miscarriage and 10 (3.7%) women with very preterm birth, compared to 5 (1.7%) women who delivered at term, corresponding to adjusted odds ratios (95 percent confidence interval) of 3.32 (0.93-11.8) and 2.21 (0.71-6.84), respectively. A cohort of all primiparous women with live singleton births from 1987 through 2000 in Sweden (n= 601 883) was linked to the Swedish Hospital Discharge Register to obtain information on previous pregnancy losses. The risk of extremely preterm delivery (< 27 weeks), very preterm delivery (28-31 weeks), and moderately preterm delivery (32-36 weeks) associated with previous pregnancy loss was estimated in logistic regression models. Previous spontaneous abortions and previous missed abortions were associated with increased risks of preterm delivery, and the risks increased with severity of preterm delivery. Previous pregnancy losses were also foremost associated with increased risks of preterm PROM and preterm labor in deliveries before 32 weeks of gestation. Among children born in Sweden between 1987 and 2002 we identified 1216 children diagnosed with autism and 6080 matched controls. Risks of autism associated with maternal and pregnancy characteristics (including maternal prenatal infections and other infectious related diagnoses) or neonatal complications were estimated using logistic regression models. To study the mediating effect of perinatal factors on the association between gestational age and autism we adjusted the models for maternal and pregnancy characteristics as well as neonatal complications in a stepwise manner. Infectious-related exposures were not associated with increased risk of autism. Compared with children born at term, the unadjusted odds ratios of autism (95 percent confidence intervals) among very (<31 weeks) and moderately (32 to 36 weeks) preterm born children were 2.03 (1.13 to 3.64) and 1.52 (1.16 to 1.99), respectively. When we controlled for maternal and birth characteristics, corresponding risks were reduced to 1.48 (0.77 to 2.84) and 1.33 (0.98 to 1.81). After also controlling for neonatal complications, the risks of autism related to very and moderate preterm were further reduced. The reductions in risks of autism related to preterm birth were primarily attributed to preeclampsia, small-for-gestational age birth, congenital malformations, low Apgar score (0 to 6) at five minutes and neonatal brain injury

Voluntourism Discourse: A Case Study of ME to WE

Youth’s perceptions of international development and its related themes are being shaped through the messages relayed in the marketing of volunteer sending organizations. This research explores how one voluntourism sending organization, ME to WE, packages and portrays themes of international development and contributes to Heron’s “helping imperative” (2007), which is a desire to go abroad and make change by asserting one’s own values of development. It uses qualitative content analysis from ME to WE’s online youth trip pages and explores how the organization uses a discourse that focuses on the notion of “doing” development, selling adventure, the allure of the proximity to poverty, and leadership and social justice training. The research situates the findings in the scholarly debates on international volunteering and voluntourism and draws heavily on postcolonial analysis. It examines how ME to WE uses a rhetoric that promotes sustainable development, partnerships, building leaders, and global citizenship, however upon deeper analysis this promotion is superficial in that the themes in the discourse point to a lack of critical reflexivity in meaningful, thick conceptions of global citizenship education, an overwhelming support for egoistic motivations over altruism in youth going abroad, a consumer-first, consumption-based mentality, and a reinforcing of unequal power structures between the Global North and Global South, reverting back towards charity as opposed to solidarity