Force of Beauty or Object of Desire? The Priming Effects of Makeup Video Advertisements on Self-Objectification in College Women

Women are too often valued for their beauty and have shifted their focus from character to body improvement (Brumberg, 1998). Objectification theory (Frederickson & Roberts, 1997) posits that sexual objectification socializes females to evaluate themselves based on looks. Self-objectification is the attempt to control this external perception by monitoring one’s physical appearance. Women are more likely to think “How do I look?” than “What am I capable of?” The priming effects of positive and negative body-focused makeup advertisements on college-aged women’s level of self-objectification were examined in two separate studies. In study one, 87 participants viewing positive vs. negative advertisements reported more traits and abilities; this was especially true for high self-objectifiers. Participants viewing positive advertisements reported more positive emotions, suggesting the salutary role that positive messaging may play. Results were replicated in study two, with 172 participants who viewed positive vs. negative advertisements reporting significantly fewer body shape statements, more trait and abilities, as well as more physical competence statements. In addition, individuals who viewed advertisements with non-objectifying content responded with a significantly greater number of positively valenced statements and significantly fewer negative statements about themselves in comparison to women who viewed objectifying advertisements. These results suggest that marketers should eschew advertising that sexually objectifies women and promotes unattainable beauty goals. Future research should evaluate cumulative and long-term effects of advertisement and examine whether exposure that leads to lower levels of objectification also minimizes negative consequences associated with objectifying media influences (e.g., body shame, depression, eating disorder)

Preventing Needle Stick Injuries: A Quality Improvement Project

Needlestick injuries (NSI) affect approximately 1,000 people per day across U.S. hospitals. Needlestick injuries cost an estimated $3,042 per victim annually, according to the report. The costs go toward laboratory fees for testing exposed employees, associated labor and counseling and post-exposure follow-ups. (Beckner\u27s Clinical Leadership & Infection Control, 2020). It was noted at an urban teaching hospital that needlestick injuries are an issue. Researchers believe this number is an underestimate of the actual amount of needle stick injuries. The purpose is to increase the education of staff nurses on the topic of needle stick injuries. We thoroughly reviewed 56 studies to gather information for preventing needlestick injuries. 15 studies were cross sectional, 1 was methodological, 5 were meta-analyses, 6 were experimental, 3 correlational, 7 were descriptive, 1 was a prospective survey, 1 retrospective analysis, 1 systematic literature review, 4 exploratory, 7 phenomenological, 5 quasi-experimental. Common themes identified were nurses are the most likely to have needlesticks out of healthcare workers, education and training was the prevention strategy most likely to prevent needlesticks, safety devices once educated on decreased needlesticks, most common factor that causes this is burnout and stress, most are not reported so the actual number is underreported, and the need to get tested for disease transmission after.https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/celebration_posters_2021/1034/thumbnail.jp

Unravelling the clinical spectrum and the role of repeat length in C9ORF72 repeat expansions

Since the discovery of the C9orf72 repeat expansion as the most common genetic cause of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, it has increasingly been associated with a wider spectrum of phenotypes, including other types of dementia, movement disorders, psychiatric symptoms and slowly progressive FTD. Prompt recognition of patients with C9orf72-associated diseases is essential in light of upcoming clinical trials. The striking clinical heterogeneity associated with C9orf72 repeat expansions remains largely unexplained. In contrast to other repeat expansion disorders, evidence for an effect of repeat length on phenotype is inconclusive. Patients with C9orf72-associated diseases typically have very long repeat expansions, containing hundreds to thousands of GGGGCC-repeats, but smaller expansions might also have clinical significance. The exact threshold at which repeat expansions lead to neurodegeneration is unknown, and discordant cut-offs between laboratories pose a challenge for genetic counselling. Accurate and large-scale measurement of repeat expansions has been severely hindered by technical difficulties in sizing long expansions and by variable repeat lengths across and within tissues. Novel long-read sequencing approaches have produced promising results and open up avenues to further investigate this enthralling repeat expansion, elucidating whether its length, purity, and methylation pattern might modulate clinical features of C9orf72-related diseases

Effect of a Nurse-Led Community Health Worker Intervention on Latent Tuberculosis Medication Completion Among Homeless Adults.

BackgroundTuberculosis (TB) disproportionately affects marginalized and impoverished homeless adults. Although active TB can be prevented by treating latent TB infection (LTBI), individual factors, such as high prevalence of depression and anxiety, drug and alcohol use, and unstable housing, lead to poor LTBI treatment adherence and completion among homeless adults.ObjectivesWe hypothesized that the delivery of a tailored nurse-led, community health worker (RN/CHW) program across the LTBI continuum of care (e.g., screening, diagnosis, and treatment) that delivers 3HP treatment (3HP: rifapentine plus isoniazid) for homeless adults (e.g., sheltered and unsheltered) and is tailored to their health and social service needs will overcome existing treatment completion barriers. We also hypothesized that mental health symptoms (e.g., depression and anxiety), drug use score, and problematic alcohol use will decline over time among clients receiving this treatment.MethodsWe assessed the effect of delivering a theoretically guided, RN/CHW-based, single-arm study among eligible LTBI-positive homeless adults (N = 50) on completion of a weekly, directly observed, 12-dose 3HP LTBI treatment in Central City East (Skid Row). Completing 3HP treatment was compared to the only known historical, clinic-based control that obtained 65% completion among homeless adults. Secondary outcomes included drug and alcohol use, depression, and anxiety.ResultsThe RN/CHW program achieved a 91.8% 3HP treatment completion rate among homeless adults. Younger homeless adults (<50 years old) were less likely to complete 3HP treatment compared to those who were older. Neither drug use, depression, nor anxiety was associated with 3HP treatment completion. Decrease in anxiety was observed at 3 months, but not at 6 months, compared to baseline.DiscussionTo our knowledge, the pilot study is the first to evaluate an effective RN/CHW-delivered, community-based intervention, which can reduce the burden of active TB for homeless adults

Gabapentin Disrupts Binding of Perlecan to the α2δ1 Voltage Sensitive Calcium Channel Subunit and Impairs Skeletal Mechanosensation

Our understanding of how osteocytes, the principal mechanosensors within bone, sense and perceive force remains unclear. Previous work identified “tethering elements” (TEs) spanning the pericellular space of osteocytes and transmitting mechanical information into biochemical signals. While we identified the heparan sulfate proteoglycan perlecan (PLN) as a component of these TEs, PLN must attach to the cell surface to induce biochemical responses. As voltage-sensitive calcium channels (VSCCs) are critical for bone mechanotransduction, we hypothesized that PLN binds the extracellular α2δ1 subunit of VSCCs to couple the bone matrix to the osteocyte membrane. Here, we showed co-localization of PLN and α2δ1 along osteocyte dendritic processes. Additionally, we quantified the molecular interactions between α2δ1 and PLN domains and demonstrated for the first time that α2δ1 strongly associates with PLN via its domain III. Furthermore, α2δ1 is the binding site for the commonly used pain drug, gabapentin (GBP), which is associated with adverse skeletal effects when used chronically. We found that GBP disrupts PLN::α2δ1 binding in vitro, and GBP treatment in vivo results in impaired bone mechanosensation. Our work identified a novel mechanosensory complex within osteocytes composed of PLN and α2δ1, necessary for bone force transmission and sensitive to the drug GBP

Patient perspectives on care received at community acupuncture clinics: a qualitative thematic analysis

BACKGROUND: Community acupuncture is a recent innovation in acupuncture service delivery in the U.S. that aims to improve access to care through low-cost treatments in group-based settings. Patients at community acupuncture clinics represent a broader socioeconomic spectrum and receive more frequent treatments compared to acupuncture users nationwide. As a relatively new model of acupuncture in the U.S., little is known about the experiences of patients at community acupuncture clinics and whether quality of care is compromised through this high-volume model. The aim of this study was to assess patients’ perspectives on the care received through community acupuncture clinics. METHODS: The investigators conducted qualitative, thematic analysis of written comments from an observational, cross-sectional survey of clients of the Working Class Acupuncture clinics in Portland, Oregon. The survey included an open-ended question for respondents to share comments about their experiences with community acupuncture. Comments were received from 265 community acupuncture patients. RESULTS: Qualitative analysis of written comments identified two primary themes that elucidate patients’ perspectives on quality of care: 1) aspects of health care delivery unique to community acupuncture, and 2) patient engagement in health care. Patients identified unique aspects of community acupuncture, including structures that facilitate access, processes that make treatments more comfortable and effective and holistic outcomes including physical improvements, enhanced quality of life, and empowerment. The group setting, community-based locations, and low cost were highlighted as aspects of this model that allow patients to access acupuncture. CONCLUSIONS: Patients’ perspectives on the values and experiences unique to community acupuncture offer insights on the quality of care received in these settings. The group setting, community-based locations, and low cost of this model potentially reduce access barriers for those who might not otherwise consider using acupuncture. In addition, the community acupuncture model may offer individuals the opportunity for increased frequency of treatments, which raises pertinent questions about the dose–response relationship of acupuncture and health outcomes. This study provides preliminary data for future evaluations of the quality and effectiveness of community acupuncture. Future studies should include the perspectives of patients who initiated, and subsequently, discontinued community acupuncture treatment