“I just want to be skinny.”: A content analysis of tweets expressing eating disorder symptoms

There is increasing concern about online communities that promote eating disorder (ED) behaviors through messages and/or images that encourage a “thin ideal” (i.e., promotion of thinness as attractive) and harmful weight loss/weight control practices. The purpose of this paper is to assess the content of body image and ED-related content on Twitter and provide a deeper understanding of EDs that may be used for future studies and online-based interventions. Tweets containing ED or body image-related keywords were collected from January 1-January 31, 2015 (N = 28,642). A random sample (n = 3000) was assessed for expressions of behaviors that align with subscales of the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) 16.0. Demographic characteristics were inferred using a social media analytics company. The comprehensive research that we conducted indicated that 2,584 of the 3,000 tweets were ED-related; 65% expressed a preoccupation with body shape, 13% displayed issues related to food/eating/calories, and 4% expressed placing a high level of importance on body weight. Most tweets were sent by girls (90%) who were ≤19 years old (77%). Our findings stress a need to better understand if and how ED-related content on social media can be used for targeting prevention and intervention messages towards those who are in-need and could potentially benefit from these efforts.</div

An Investigation of Whether Vitamin E Preferentially Interacts with Polyunsaturated Lipids

poster abstractVitamin E (α-tocopherol) is a lipid-soluble antioxidant that has the role of protecting phospholipids from oxidation in membranes. A question that remains is how the low concentration of α-tocopherol found in whole cells can protect the relatively large concentration of polyunsaturated phospholipids found in membranes that are particularly vulnerable to oxidative attack. We hypothesize that α-tocopherol colocalizes with polyunsaturated phospholipids to optimize its role as an antioxidant. This project attempts to test this hypothesis by comparing the effect of α-tocopherol on the molecular organization of 1-palmitoyl-2-docosahexaenoyl-sn-glycerophosphatidylethanolamine (16:0-22:6PE, PDPE) and, as a monounsaturated control, 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycerophosphatidylethanolamine (16:0-18:1PE, POPE) in mixtures with sphingomyelin (SM). By solid-state 2H NMR spectroscopy, we directly observe order and phase behavior of POPE-d31 and PDPE-d31 (analogs of POPE and PDPE with a perdeuterated sn-1 chain) in the mixed membranes. In complementary X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry experiments we further probe phase behavior. The spectra observed for POPE-d31 in POPE/SM/α-tocopherol (2:2:1 mol) reveal that a transition from gel to liquid crystalline phase is no longer apparent. At higher temperatures there is a superposition of two spectral components that we ascribe to α-tocopherol promoting a transition from lamellar to inverted hexagonal (HII) phase. Analysis of depaked spectra shows that order is increased by about 8 % and that the amount of HII phase increases with temperature, ranging from 7 (31 °C) to 41 % (65 °C). In mixed membranes where POPE-d31 is replaced by PDPE-d31, we shall investigate whether there is a greater tendency for α-tocopherol to increase order and destabilize bilayer structure for the polyunsaturated phospholipid

Exploring social media recruitment strategies and preliminary acceptability of an mHealth tool for teens with eating disorders

(1) Background: The current study leveraged social media to connect with teens with EDs to identify population specific characteristics and to gather feedback on an mHealth intervention. (2) Methods: We recruited teens with EDs from social media in two phases: (1) Discovery Group, (2) Testing Group. The Discovery Group

Risky sexual behaviors and sexually transmitted diseases: a comparison study of cocaine-dependent individuals in treatment versus a community-matched sample

Cocaine users routinely engage in high-risk sexual behaviors that place them at an elevated risk of contracting HIV and other blood-borne infections. The purpose of the present study was to compare trading sex for drugs and/or money, having 10 or more sexual partners in 1 year, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) of cocaine-dependent individuals in treatment for their dependence across race and gender and against participants who live in their community. Cocaine-dependent individuals (n = 459) were identified through nine publicly and privately funded inpatient and outpatient chemical dependency treatment centers in the St. Louis area during 2001–2006. Community-based participants (n = 459) were matched to cocaine-dependent participants on age, ethnicity, gender, and zip code of residence. Mean age of the sample was 36 years old, 50% were Caucasians, 50% were African American, and 47% were male. Nearly half of cocaine-dependent participants in treatment had traded sex for drugs and/or money and over one-third had more than 10 sexual partners in 1 year with a risk concentrated among African Americans even after controlling for income and educational attainment. Participants recruited from the community with some exposure to cocaine reported similar rates of high risk sexual behaviors as the cocaine dependent subjects from treatment settings. It is important for clinicians to recognize that once released from treatment, cocaine-dependent individuals may be returning to high-risk environments where sexual risk behaviors are occurring in the context of cocaine use

Smoking cessation is associated with lower rates of mood/anxiety and alcohol use disorders

BACKGROUND: The psychological outcomes that accompany smoking cessation are not yet conclusive but positive outcomes could help to persuade quitting. METHOD: We use data from the longitudinal National Epidemiological Study of Alcohol and Related Conditions. Logistic regression was used to examine associations between cigarette smoking reduction and Wave 2 status of addiction/mental health disorder among daily smokers at Wave 1, stratified by status of the diagnosis of interest at Wave 1. We adjusted for differences in baseline covariates between smokers with different levels of smoking reduction between Wave 1 and Wave 2 using propensity score regression adjustment. RESULTS: After adjusting for propensity scores and other mental health/addiction comorbidities at Wave 2, among daily smokers who had current or lifetime history diagnosis of the outcome of interest at Wave 1, quitting by Wave 2 predicted a decreased risk of mood/anxiety disorder (aOR 0.6, 95% CI 0.4, 0.9) and alcohol disorder (aOR 0.7, 95% CI 0.5, 0.99) at Wave 2. Among daily smokers with no lifetime history diagnosis of the outcome of interest at Wave 1, quitting smoking by Wave 2 predicted a decreased risk of drug use disorder at Wave 2 aOR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1, 0.9). CONCLUSIONS: There is no support in our data for the concern that smoking cessation would result in smokers’ increased risk of some mental disorders. To the contrary, our data suggest that smoking cessation is associated with risk reduction for mood/anxiety or alcohol use disorder, even among smokers who have had a pre-existing disorder

Vegetative Change on South Padre Island, Texas, over Twenty Years and Evaluation of Multispectral Videography in Determining Vegetative Cover and Species Identity

A comparative vegetation analysis of an island-wide transect of South Padre Island, Texas, was conducted in 1997 using aerial multispectral digital videography and line intercept ground truth techniques to assess the usefulness of videography in estimating vegetative cover and species identifications. Ground truth data were used to assess vegetative change occurring in the 20 years since the report of Judd et al. (1977) on the vegetation of South Padre Island. Estimates of total cover by ground truth and remote sensing techniques were similar (2.45% difference) on South Padre Island. Thus, airborne multispectral digital videography is an effective technique for assessing changes in total vegetative cover of Texas barrier islands. This technique will be an effective tool for documenting changes in total cover on barrier islands due to natural perturbations such as hurricanes and human disturbances including vehicular traffic. Imagery obtained at altitudes of 200 m or greater did not permit discrimination of dominant species in each of an island\u27s topographic zones. However, acquisition of imagery at a time of the year when dominant species are in specific phenological stages, such as flowering, and at a lower altitude may facilitate their recognition. Comparison of data from a single trans-island transect in 1997 with data from three trans-island transects and 18 transects across the foreshore, backshore, and primary dunes in 1977 suggests that there has been a marked decrease in species richness of the backshore and primary dune zones of South Padre Island. There also was a change in dominant species in the backshore zone. These changes in species richness and dominance may be largely attributable to vehicular traffic in these zones. - Un análisis comparativo de la vegetación de un transecto transinsular de la isla South Padre en el estado de Texas fue realizado en 1997 usando videografía aérea multiesprectral digital y técnicas de validación de intercepción linear terrestre para evaluar la utilidad de la videografía en la estimación de la cobertura vegetal e identificación de especies. Los datos de estudios de validación terrestre fueron utilizados para evaluar el cambio vegetativo que ocurrió durante 20 años después del informe de Judd et al (1977) sobre la vegetación de la isla South Padre. Las estimaciones de la cobertura total mediante técnicas de validación terrestres y de medición remota fueron similares (2.45% de diferencia) en la isla South Padre. Por lo tanto, la videografía multiesprectral digital aérea se considera una técnica eficaz para evaluar cambios en la cobertura vegetal de las islas barrera de Texas. Esta técnica será una herramienta efectiva para documentar los cambios de cobertura total en las islas barrera debido a las perturbaciones naturales tales como huracanes y disturbios humanos como tráfico vehicular. Las imágenes obtenidas en altitudes de 200 metros o mayores no permitieron la discriminación de las especies dominantes de las varias zonas topográficas de una isla. Sin embargo, la adquisición de imágenes de una época del año en que las especies dominantes están en etapas fenológicas específicas, tales como la floración, y desde una altitud menor, puede facilitar su reconocimiento. Al comparar datos de un transecto transinsular de 1977 con los de tres transectos transinsulares y de 18 transectos correspondientes a la parte frontal, trasera, y de las dunas primarias de la isla en 1977, se sugiere que ha habido una marcada disminución en la riqueza de especies en la parte trasera y en la zona de dunas primarias de la isla South Padre. También hubo un cambio de especies dominantes en la zona trasera. Estos cambios en la riqueza y dominancia de especies pueden ser atribuidos en gran parte al tráfico vehicular en estas zonas

Mitogen- and Stress-Activated Protein Kinase 1 Regulates Status Epilepticus-Evoked Cell Death in the Hippocampus

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling has been implicated in a wide range of neuronal processes, including development, plasticity, and viability. One of the principal downstream targets of both the extracellular signal-regulated kinase/MAPK pathway and the p38 MAPK pathway is M itogen- and S tress-activated protein K inase 1 (MSK1). Here, we sought to understand the role that MSK1 plays in neuroprotection against excitotoxic stimulation in the hippocampus. To this end, we utilized immunohistochemical labeling, a MSK1 null mouse line, cell viability assays, and array-based profiling approaches. Initially, we show that MSK1 is broadly expressed within the major neuronal cell layers of the hippocampus and that status epilepticus drives acute induction of MSK1 activation. In response to the status epilepticus paradigm, MSK1 KO mice exhibited a striking increase in vulnerability to pilocarpine-evoked cell death within the CA1 and CA3 cell layers. Further, cultured MSK1 null neurons exhibited a heighted level of N-methyl-D-aspartate-evoked excitotoxicity relative to wild-type neurons, as assessed using the lactate dehydrogenase assay. Given these findings, we examined the hippocampal transcriptional profile of MSK1 null mice. Affymetrix array profiling revealed that MSK1 deletion led to the significant (>1.25-fold) downregulation of 130 genes and an upregulation of 145 genes. Notably, functional analysis indicated that a subset of these genes contribute to neuroprotective signaling networks. Together, these data provide important new insights into the mechanism by which the MAPK/MSK1 signaling cassette confers neuroprotection against excitotoxic insults. Approaches designed to upregulate or mimic the functional effects of MSK1 may prove beneficial against an array of degenerative processes resulting from excitotoxic insults

Pelvic floor dysfunction in Mexican women

Background: Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is a term used to describe a variety of disorders that involve moderate to severe impairment of the pelvic floor muscles. Throughout their lives, up to 46% of women will present at least one form of PFD and may even have a combination of this pathology. These afflictions have a profound influence on women’s general well-being and quality of life, as well as being an immense economic burden for global health systems. Methods: This was a populational study which used surveys made in Google Forms of different questionnaires validated in Spanish [Urinary Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ), Female Sexual Function Index (IFSF), CPPQ Questionnaire for chronic pelvic pain, Wexner anal incontinence scale and quality of life] which were taken by women with access to social networks and who agreed to carry out an anonymous survey. Results: Seven hundred and twenty-one participants were evaluated, a total of 61.4% (443) responded positively to involuntary loss of urine, 35% had presented discomfort during sexual activity or lack of sexual interest, 14% had genital pain and 16% reported involuntary loss of feces or gas. Of all the patients that answered any of these questioners positively, only 33% had sought medical attention in the past. Conclusions: We concluded that in our population PFD is underdiagnosed. Our populations prevalence of urinary incontinence and pelvic pain is within the internationally described margins; anal incontinence is above international reports, and our population presented a lower prevalence of sexual dysfunction. With this new information we must impulse awareness to guide various preventive behaviors

Quantitative, Architectural Analysis of Immune Cell Subsets in Tumor-Draining Lymph Nodes from Breast Cancer Patients and Healthy Lymph Nodes

Background: To date, pathological examination of specimens remains largely qualitative. Quantitative measures of tissue spatial features are generally not captured. To gain additional mechanistic and prognostic insights, a need for quantitative architectural analysis arises in studying immune cell-cancer interactions within the tumor microenvironment and tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs). Methodology/Principal Findings: We present a novel, quantitative image analysis approach incorporating 1) multi-color tissue staining, 2) high-resolution, automated whole-section imaging, 3) custom image analysis software that identifies cell types and locations, and 4) spatial statistical analysis. As a proof of concept, we applied this approach to study the architectural patterns of T and B cells within tumor-draining lymph nodes from breast cancer patients versus healthy lymph nodes. We found that the spatial grouping patterns of T and B cells differed between healthy and breast cancer lymph nodes, and this could be attributed to the lack of B cell localization in the extrafollicular region of the TDLNs. Conclusions/Significance: Our integrative approach has made quantitative analysis of complex visual data possible. Our results highlight spatial alterations of immune cells within lymph nodes from breast cancer patients as an independent variable from numerical changes. This opens up new areas of investigations in research and medicine. Future application of this approach will lead to a better understanding of immune changes in the tumor microenvironment and TDLNs, and how they affect clinical outcome

Addressing the high cervical cancer rates along the Texas-Mexico border through community outreach, patient navigation, and provider training/telementoring

Objective: Cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates are 68% and 57% higher, respectively, along the Texas-Mexico border compared with the rest of the United States. This is likely due to a combination of low health literacy, limited access to affordable screening, and a lack of trained personnel to perform colposcopy, loop electrosurgical excision procedures (LEEP), and appropriate management of women with pre-invasive disease. The objective of our study was to increase cervical cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment rates in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV). Method: We initiated a comprehensive program at two health centers and one mobile clinic in the RGV consisting of (1) a public education program designed for community health workers to teach women about cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination coupled with patient navigation to participating clinics; (2) colposcopy and LEEP training for physicians and advanced-practice providers through locally held hands-on courses and mentoring program; and (3) implementation of Project ECHO (Extension for Community Health Outcomes), a well-established telementoring program using video conferencing to connect academic specialists with community providers for case-based learning. We compared screening, diagnosis, and treatment rates pre- and post-program implementation. Results: From November 2014 to June 2018, local providers screened 19,028 women with Pap ± HPV testing (baseline 12,460, 53% increase); performed colposcopy on 2,644 women with abnormal screening results (baseline 945, 180% increase); and performed 483 LEEP procedures for treatment of cervical dysplasia (baseline 0). Ten women were diagnosed with invasive cancer and navigated to one of the participating gynecologic oncologists for treatment (baseline N/A). Five additional providers in the RGV completed the mentoring program to be certified to perform colposcopy (100% increase from baseline of 5) and two additional providers to perform LEEP (baseline 0). ECHO telementoring video conferences have been held every two weeks for a total 94 sessions (average of 22 participants/session) with 182 patient cases presented and discussed. Conclusion: Our comprehensive approach has led to an increase in the number of women undergoing cervical cancer screening and diagnosis/treatment of dysplasia. If sustained, we anticipate these efforts will decrease cervical cancer rates in the RGV. The program is currently being expanded to additional medically underserved regions of Texas