Kansan Guardian Perceptions of HPV and the HPV Vaccine and the Role of Social Media

Introduction. Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates in Kansas historically have been low among children and adolescents. How Kansas parents and guardians perceive the HPV vaccine may influence vaccination rates among Kansas youth. Social media messages also may influence perceptions, suggesting implications for current and future disease and cancer burden. Methods. Eligible Kansas guardians of children aged 9 - 17 years completed an online survey. The survey assessed their perceptions about a) HPV and the HPV vaccine, b) HPV and HPV vaccine representation on social media, and c) the effects that social media has on their perceptions about HPV and the HPV vaccine. Results. Most Kansas guardians (n = 55, 57.9%) indicated seeing information about HPV and the HPV vaccine on social media. Kansas guardians who had reported seeing information on social media about the HPV vaccine were significantly more likely to perceive that the HPV vaccine could kill their child than those who had not seen information (t(79) = 0.019). Additionally, children of wealthier Kansan guardians were vaccinated more than children of less wealthy guardians. Conclusion. Social media messages may be influencing Kansan guardians to think the HPV vaccine is lethal in their children. Future campaigns increasingly should be focused on HPV vaccine safety and effectiveness

Who Gives a “Like” About the HPV Vaccine? Kansan Parent/Guardian Perceptions and Social Media Representations

Among U.S. states, Kansas children’s HPV vaccination rates remain low. Parent/guardian HPV vaccine-beliefs likely influence vaccination rates. Additionally, Facebook’s popularity suggests that this forum’s representation may influence parent/guardian decisions to vaccinate children. This dissertation explores how Kansan parents/guardians of HPV vaccine-eligible children perceive the vaccine in the contexts of the health belief model (Rosenstock, 1974; Rosenstock, Strecher, & Becker, 1988) and the social amplification of risk framework (R. Kasperson et al., 1988), parent/guardian engagement with HPV vaccine-related information, and Facebook representations by general users and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the vaccine’s first decade on the market. Results indicate HPV vaccine risk perceptions among some Kansan parents/guardians, social media as an active and passive source of information, and the HPV vaccine’s representation on Facebook as increasingly negative. HPV vaccine promotion strategies should consider focusing on the vaccine’s representation and risk attenuating messages

Estrogen receptor transcription and transactivation: Structure-function relationship in DNA- and ligand-binding domains of estrogen receptors

Estrogen receptors are members of the nuclear receptor steroid family that exhibit specific structural features, ligand-binding domain sequence identity and dimeric interactions, that single them out. The crystal structures of their DNA-binding domains give some insight into how nuclear receptors discriminate between DNA response elements. The various ligand-binding domain crystal structures of the two known estrogen receptor isotypes (α and β) allow one to interpret ligand specificity and reveal the interactions responsible for stabilizing the activation helix H12 in the agonist and antagonist positions

Cleaning efficacy of hand and rotary instrumentation techniques in oval-shaped root canals : scanning electron microscopic study

Objective: To assess the cleaning efficacy of the Mtwo rotary system, hand instrumentation and their combination in oval-shaped root canals. Methods: Thirty human mandibular incisors were divided into three groups (G): GMtwo – basic series (10.04, 15.05, 20.06, 25.6) and instruments 30.05, 35.04, 40.04 from complementary series; GMtwo + Hand – basic series of Mtwo followed by sizes 30 to 40 hand instruments; GHand – classic technique with sizes 15 to 40 hand instruments. Teeth were longitudinally sectioned and then the buccal and lingual root canal walls were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Central images of each canal third were obtained and classified into scores based on the amount of smear layer (SL) and organic debris (OD). Data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Friedman tests. Results: There was no significant difference between groups (P>0.05) regarding SL. The coronal third showed significantly lower scores than the other segments (P0.05). Conclusion: None of the techniques were completely effective in cleaning oval-shaped root canals. The apical third was the area with higher amount of SL

Cleaning efficacy of hand and rotary instrumentation techniques in oval-shaped root canals : scanning electron microscopic study

Objective: To assess the cleaning efficacy of the Mtwo rotary system, hand instrumentation and their combination in oval-shaped root canals. Methods: Thirty human mandibular incisors were divided into three groups (G): GMtwo – basic series (10.04, 15.05, 20.06, 25.6) and instruments 30.05, 35.04, 40.04 from complementary series; GMtwo + Hand – basic series of Mtwo followed by sizes 30 to 40 hand instruments; GHand – classic technique with sizes 15 to 40 hand instruments. Teeth were longitudinally sectioned and then the buccal and lingual root canal walls were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Central images of each canal third were obtained and classified into scores based on the amount of smear layer (SL) and organic debris (OD). Data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Friedman tests. Results: There was no significant difference between groups (P>0.05) regarding SL. The coronal third showed significantly lower scores than the other segments (P0.05). Conclusion: None of the techniques were completely effective in cleaning oval-shaped root canals. The apical third was the area with higher amount of SL