Product Placement and its Influence on Children

Despite the growing body of research concerning the practice of product placement, a notable research gap exists pertaining to the influence of product placement on children, and its link to childhood obesity. This study will provide an insight to the influence of product placement on children. Its objective is to analyze the placement of food and beverage products on children of various ages. An experimental approach will be taken whereby child-respondents will be divided into groups and each group will see the same television clip but with different placements (digitally inserted) of various types of food and beverages. All groups will be shown a short clip (20 minutes) from Pop Idol – the British equivalent of American Idol. Explicit and implicit responses to these product placements will be measured in order to understand their influence

Bakteriendichtigkeit von Wurzelkanalfüllungen nach Einsatz verschiedener Obturationstechniken – Eine In-vitro-Studie

Bei der Pathogenese endodontischer Beschwerdebilder stellen Bakterien und ihre Toxine die häufigste Ursache dar. Ein langfristig endodontischer Behandlungserfolg ist daher nur gewährleistet, wenn dauerhaft eine bakteriendichte Obturation des endodontisch behandelten Wurzelkanals erfolgt. Ziel dieser In-vitro-Studie war es, die apikale Dichtigkeit einer Wurzelkanalfüllung aus AH Plus und Guttapercha unter Verwendung verschiedener Obturationstechniken anhand eines Bakterien-penetrationstests zu überprüfen. Es wurden 44 humane Front- und Seitenzähne mit einem Wurzelkanal und einem runden Wurzelkanalquerschnitt ausgewählt. Die Einteilung der Probenzähne erfolgte randomisiert in 4 Gruppen zu je 10 Zähnen, sowie in eine positive und negative Kontrollgruppe mit jeweils 2 Zähnen. Die Gruppeneinteilung beruhte auf den 4 gewählten Obturationstechniken: Single-cone-Technik (SCT), Lateral-compaction-Technik (LCT), Non-compaction-Technik (NCT) und Thermafil-Technik (TT). Die Probenzähne wurden auf eine einheitliche Länge von 10 mm gekürzt und mit Hilfe von FlexMaster und ProFile-Instrumenten bis .04/#45 maschinell aufbereitet. Neben einer intermittierenden Spülung mit Natriumhypochlorit (5 %) wurde eine abschließ-ende Spülsequenz bestehend aus Natriumhypochlorit (5 %), Zitronensäure (40 %) und Ethanol (70 %) gewählt. Nach Trocknung der Wurzelkanäle, wurde der Sealer AH Plus in den Gruppen der Kaltfülltechniken mit der EZ-Fill Bi-directional Spiral, in der Thermafil-Gruppe mittels Papierspitzen, eingebracht. Je nach Obturationstechnik wurden die Probenzähne weiterhin mit einem Masterpoint, einem Masterpoint und mehreren Satellitenstiften oder mit Hilfe eines Thermafil-Stiftes gefüllt. Nach einer Aushärtungszeit von 28 Tagen erfolgte die Versiegelung der Wurzeloberfläche aller Probenzähne mit Cyanoacrylat, mit Ausnahme der apikalen 1-2 mm und der koronalen Schnittstelle. Anschließend wurden die versiegelten Probezähne in ein Doppelkammersystem eingebaut. Nachdem die untere Kammer mit einer klaren Nährlösung befüllt war, konnte der komplette Versuchsaufbau sterilisiert werden. Der Versuchsaufbau wurde komplettiert durch die Inkubation der oberen Kammer mit einer geeigneten konnte Lactobacillus-Kultur. Ab diesem Zeitpunkt wurde ein tägliches Ableseprotokoll über die Bakteriendurchlässigkeit der einzelnen Proben geführt. Zeigte eine der unteren Kammern eine Trübung des Nährmediums, konnte auf ein Bakterienwachstum und folglich auf eine bakterielle Penetration geschlossen werden. Der Beobachtungszeitraum wurde auf 180 Tage festgelegt. Die statistische Datenanalyse der Penetrationszeiten erfolgte mit dem Auswertungsprogramm SPSS Statistics 22.0. In dem Beobachtungszeitraum der vorliegenden In-vitro-Studie konnte gezeigt werden, dass ein statistisch signifikanter Zusammenhang zwischen der jeweiligen Obturationstechnik und der Dichtigkeit einer Wurzelkanalfüllung besteht. Zum Ende des Beobachtungszeitraums waren 31 der 40 Proben bakteriell penetriert. Die ersten Eintrübungen konnten bei den Proben Single-cone-Technik festgestellt werden. Ähnlich schlechte Werte zeigte die Non-compaction-Technik. Deutlich und zum Großteil statistisch signifikant besser war die Dichtigkeit der Proben, die mit der lateralen Kompaktionstechnik und der Thermafil-Technik gefüllt worden waren. Wird der Verlust der Dichtigkeit zwischen den Gruppen betrachtet, konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Kombination von AH Plus und Guttapercha unter Verwendung der lateralen Kompaktion die geringste bakterielle Durchlässigkeit besitzt und somit für die klinische Anwendung empfohlen werden kann. Thermafil als moderne Warmfülltechnik zeigt sich in den Testergebnissen als potenzielle Alternative. Weder die Non-compaction-Technik noch die Einstifttechnik können auf Grundlage der vorliegenden Untersuchungsergebnisse zum praktischen Einsatz empfohlen werden

Dynamic modulation of phosphoprotein expression in ovarian cancer xenograft models

The authors thank Medical Research Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council. This work was su pported by Medical Research Scotland [FRG353 to V.A.S.]; the FP7 -­‐ Directorate -­‐ General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission [EU HEALTH -­‐ F4 -­‐ 2012 -­‐ 305033 to Coordinating Action Systems Medicine -­‐ D.J.H.]; the Chief Scientist Office of Scotland [D.J.H.], the Scottish Funding Council [D.J.H. and S.P.L.]. Health Canada Scholarship (Indspire) [KEF], Scottish Overseas Research Student Award Scheme (University of Edinburgh)[KEF] and the Three Fires Award (Wikwemikong Board of Education)[KEF].Background: The dynamic changes that occur in protein expression after treatment of a cancer in vivo are poorly described. In this study we measure the effect of chemotherapy over time on the expression of a panel of proteins in ovarian cancer xenograft models. The objective was to identify phosphoprotein and other protein changes indicative of pathway activation that might link with drug response. Methods: Two xenograft models, platinum-responsive OV1002 and platinum-unresponsive HOX424, were used. Treatments were carboplatin and carboplatin-paclitaxel. Expression of 49 proteins over 14 days post treatment was measured by quantitative immunofluorescence and analysed by AQUA . Results: Carboplatin treatment in the platinum-sensitive OV1002 model triggered up-regulation of cell cycle, mTOR and DDR pathways, while at late time points WNT, invasion , EMT and MAPK pathways were modulated. Estrogen receptor-alpha (ESR1) and ERBB pathways were down-regulated early, within 24h from treatment administration. Combined carboplatin-paclitaxel treatment triggered a more extensive response in the OV1002 model modulating expression of 23 of 49 proteins. Therefore the cell cycle and DDR pathways showed similar or more pronounced changes than with carboplatin alone . In addition to expression of pS6 and pERK increasing, components of the AKT pathway were modulated with pAKT increasing while its regulator PTEN was down-regulated early. WNT signaling, EMT and invasion markers were modulated at later time points. Additional pathways were also observed with the NFκB and JAK/STAT pathways being up-regulated. ESR1 was down-regulated as was HER4, while further protein members of the ERB B pathway were upregulated late. By contrast, in the carboplatin-unresponsive HOX 424 xenograft, carboplatin only modulated expression of MLH1 while carboplatin-paclitaxel treatment modulated ESR1 and pMET.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Prioritizing Residents\u27 Needs: On the Creation of a Residents as Teachers and Leaders Program

Introduction: Residents are responsible for the majority of medical student teaching and directly supervise, instruct, and evaluate students. Many organizations now recommend that residency training programs include venues specifically designed to develop resident teaching skills. [See PDF for abstract]

Insights into the Membrane Interactions of the Saposin-Like Proteins Na-SLP-1 and Ac-SLP-1 from Human and Dog Hookworm

Saposin-like proteins (SAPLIPs) from soil-transmitted helminths play pivotal roles in host-pathogen interactions and have a high potential as targets for vaccination against parasitic diseases. We have identified two non-orthologous SAPLIPs from human and dog hookworm, Na-SLP-1 and Ac-SLP-1, and solved their three-dimensional crystal structures. Both proteins share the property of membrane binding as monitored by liposome co-pelleting assays and monolayer adsorption. Neither SAPLIP displayed any significant haemolytic or bactericidal activity. Based on the structural information, as well as the results from monolayer adsorption, we propose models of membrane interactions for both SAPLIPs. Initial membrane contact of the monomeric Na-SLP-1 is most likely by electrostatic interactions between the membrane surface and a prominent basic surface patch. In case of the dimeric Ac-SLP-1, membrane interactions are most likely initiated by a unique tryptophan residue that has previously been implicated in membrane interactions in other SAPLIPs

A method for quantifying sectoral optic disc pallor in fundus photographs and its association with peripapillary RNFL thickness

Purpose: To develop an automatic method of quantifying optic disc pallor in fundus photographs and determine associations with peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (pRNFL) thickness. Methods: We used deep learning to segment the optic disc, fovea, and vessels in fundus photographs, and measured pallor. We assessed the relationship between pallor and pRNFL thickness derived from optical coherence tomography scans in 118 participants. Separately, we used images diagnosed by clinical inspection as pale (N=45) and assessed how measurements compared to healthy controls (N=46). We also developed automatic rejection thresholds, and tested the software for robustness to camera type, image format, and resolution. Results: We developed software that automatically quantified disc pallor across several zones in fundus photographs. Pallor was associated with pRNFL thickness globally (\b{eta} = -9.81 (SE = 3.16), p < 0.05), in the temporal inferior zone (\b{eta} = -29.78 (SE = 8.32), p < 0.01), with the nasal/temporal ratio (\b{eta} = 0.88 (SE = 0.34), p < 0.05), and in the whole disc (\b{eta} = -8.22 (SE = 2.92), p < 0.05). Furthermore, pallor was significantly higher in the patient group. Lastly, we demonstrate the analysis to be robust to camera type, image format, and resolution. Conclusions: We developed software that automatically locates and quantifies disc pallor in fundus photographs and found associations between pallor measurements and pRNFL thickness. Translational relevance: We think our method will be useful for the identification, monitoring and progression of diseases characterized by disc pallor/optic atrophy, including glaucoma, compression, and potentially in neurodegenerative disorders.Comment: 44 pages, 20 figures, 7 tables, submitte

PallorMetrics:Software for Automatically Quantifying Optic Disc Pallor in Fundus Photographs, and Associations With Peripapillary RNFL Thickness

Purpose: We sough to develop an automatic method of quantifying optic disc pallor in fundus photographs and determine associations with peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness.Methods: We used deep learning to segment the optic disc, fovea, and vessels in fundus photographs, and measured pallor. We assessed the relationship between pallor and pRNFL thickness derived from optical coherence tomography scans in 118 participants. Separately, we used images diagnosed by clinical inspection as pale (n = 45) and assessed how measurements compared with healthy controls (n = 46). We also developed automatic rejection thresholds and tested the software for robustness to camera type, image format, and resolution.Results: We developed software that automatically quantified disc pallor across several zones in fundus photographs. Pallor was associated with pRNFL thickness globally (β = -9.81; standard error [SE] = 3.16; P &lt; 0.05), in the temporal inferior zone (β = -29.78; SE = 8.32; P &lt; 0.01), with the nasal/temporal ratio (β = 0.88; SE = 0.34; P &lt; 0.05), and in the whole disc (β = -8.22; SE = 2.92; P &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, pallor was significantly higher in the patient group. Last, we demonstrate the analysis to be robust to camera type, image format, and resolution.Conclusions: We developed software that automatically locates and quantifies disc pallor in fundus photographs and found associations between pallor measurements and pRNFL thickness.Translational Relevance: We think our method will be useful for the identification, monitoring, and progression of diseases characterized by disc pallor and optic atrophy, including glaucoma, compression, and potentially in neurodegenerative disorders.</p

PallorMetrics:Software for Automatically Quantifying Optic Disc Pallor in Fundus Photographs, and Associations With Peripapillary RNFL Thickness

Purpose: We sough to develop an automatic method of quantifying optic disc pallor in fundus photographs and determine associations with peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness.Methods: We used deep learning to segment the optic disc, fovea, and vessels in fundus photographs, and measured pallor. We assessed the relationship between pallor and pRNFL thickness derived from optical coherence tomography scans in 118 participants. Separately, we used images diagnosed by clinical inspection as pale (n = 45) and assessed how measurements compared with healthy controls (n = 46). We also developed automatic rejection thresholds and tested the software for robustness to camera type, image format, and resolution.Results: We developed software that automatically quantified disc pallor across several zones in fundus photographs. Pallor was associated with pRNFL thickness globally (β = -9.81; standard error [SE] = 3.16; P &lt; 0.05), in the temporal inferior zone (β = -29.78; SE = 8.32; P &lt; 0.01), with the nasal/temporal ratio (β = 0.88; SE = 0.34; P &lt; 0.05), and in the whole disc (β = -8.22; SE = 2.92; P &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, pallor was significantly higher in the patient group. Last, we demonstrate the analysis to be robust to camera type, image format, and resolution.Conclusions: We developed software that automatically locates and quantifies disc pallor in fundus photographs and found associations between pallor measurements and pRNFL thickness.Translational Relevance: We think our method will be useful for the identification, monitoring, and progression of diseases characterized by disc pallor and optic atrophy, including glaucoma, compression, and potentially in neurodegenerative disorders.</p