A cross-national comparison of the Twitter feeds of popular alcohol brands in India and Australia

Aims: To evaluate (i) the types of techniques alcohol marketers utilise to facilitate user engagement with content on leading Indian and Australian Twitter alcohol brand pages and (ii) the extent to which users engage with this content in two diverse national contexts.

Methods: The 10 alcohol brands per country with the greatest Twitter presence were identified based on the number of ‘followers’. Number of tweets, photos, and videos were collected and the type of content noted for each brand between 1 January 2016 and 29 February 2016. The data were analysed via an inductive coding approach using NVivo10.

Results: In total, the brands had accumulated up to 150,386 followers (Indian: 110,032; Australian: 40,354). The techniques utilised were a mix of those that differed by country (e.g. India: sexually suggestive content versus Australia: posts related to the brand’s tradition or heritage) and generic approaches (e.g. alcohol sponsorship of sport, music, and fashion; offering consumption suggestions; organising competitions; giveaways; and use of memes).

Conclusions: The flexibility of Twitter, which complements traditional marketing, allows brands to adapt and deliver their online alcohol content in specific national contexts and to capitalise on the cultural meanings users invoke in their interactions with the brands.     

Successful Transplantation of Kidneys From Elderly Circulatory Death Donors by Using Microscopic and Macroscopic Characteristics to Guide Single or Dual Implantation

Most kidneys from potential elderly circulatory death (DCD) donors are declined. We report single center outcomes for kidneys transplanted from DCD donors over 70 years old, using preimplantation biopsy Remuzzi grading to inform implantation as single or dual transplants. Between 2009 and 2012, 43 single transplants and 12 dual transplants were performed from elderly DCD donors. Remuzzi scores were higher for dual than single implants (4.4 vs. 3.4, p < 0.001), indicating more severe baseline injury. Donor and recipient characteristics for both groups were otherwise similar. Early graft loss from renal vein thrombosis occurred in two singly implanted kidneys, and in one dual‐implanted kidney; its pair continued to function satisfactorily. Death‐censored graft survival at 3 years was comparable for the two groups (single 94%; dual 100%), as was 1 year eGFR. Delayed graft function occurred less frequently in the dual‐implant group (25% vs. 65%, p = 0.010). Using this approach, we performed proportionally more kidney transplants from elderly DCD donors (23.4%) than the rest of the United Kingdom (7.3%, p < 0.001), with graft outcomes comparable to those achieved nationally for all deceased‐donor kidney transplants. Preimplantation biopsy analysis is associated with acceptable transplant outcomes for elderly DCD kidneys and may increase transplant numbers from an underutilized donor pool.     

‘I know it's wrong,but . . .’: a qualitative investigation of low‐income parents' feelings of guilt about their child‐feeding practices

In the developed world, child overweight and obesity rates are highest among the disadvantaged. This has resulted in calls for more research with low socio‐economic families to better understand their experiences with disadvantage and how they might lead to poorer weight outcomes. The present study, conducted in Australia, adopted a qualitative approach to investigate the factors affecting low socio‐economic parents' child‐feeding practices. Methods used to collect data were introspections, interviews and focus groups. In total, 37 parents of overweight or obese children aged between 5 and 9 years took part in the 6‐month study. Guilt emerged as an emotion that parents regularly experienced when allowing their children to consume too much food or foods high in fat, salt and/or sugar. Parents attributed their guilt‐inducing child‐feeding practices to both external and internal factors. Time scarcity and cost were factors that were primarily characterized by an external locus of control. The factors characterized by an internal locus of control were fear of their children experiencing hunger, the perceived need to secure their children's affection through the provision of treat foods, perceptions of their ability to balance their children's diets across eating situations and perceived laziness. Recommendations are provided for addressing guilt‐inducing child‐feeding practices.     

Differentiation of radicular cyst and granulomas using computerized tomography

Abstract The purpose of this investigation was to study periapical lesions by means of computerized tomography to ascertain if this noninvasive method could be of value in distinguishing between radicular cysts and granulomas. Periapical radiographs were taken of the teeth of 60 human cadavers. Periapical radiolucencies were seen in conjunction with 33 teeth. Based on the periapical radiographs, an oral radiologist (J.P.) attempted to select 4 granulomas and 4 cysts from the 33 radiolucencies. Computerized tomography was performed on the root tips and the periapical lesions of these 8 teeth. The roots and periapical lesions were then surgically removed and prepared histologically for microscopic examination. In the tomographs, 7 of the periapical lesions had a cloudy appearance with a density similar to each other and to the surrounding soft tissue. In the eighth lesion a homogeneous dark area with a distinctly lower density could be distinguished from surrounding cloudy areas. Histologically, the dark area was shown to be an epithelialized cyst cavity. The other 7 lesions were granulomas. Thus, a cyst could be differentiated from periapical granulomas by computerized tomography because of a marked difference in density between the content of the cyst cavity and granulomatous tissue.     

Comparison of a photostimulable phosphor system with film for dental radiology

This study compared the imaging performance of a photostimulable phosphor system with E speed film for dental radiography. The response of each imaging system was measured as a function of radiation exposure. Measurements were also made of imaging performance in terms of the limiting spatial resolution and low contrast detectability. Photostimulable phosphors had a wider dynamic range in comparison with film. The limiting spatial resolution of the photostimulable phosphor was approximately 6.5 lp/mm and independent of image magnification. For film, the limiting spatial resolution was in the range 11 to 20 lp/mm depending on image magnification. At the same radiation exposure, low contrast detectability of the photostimulable phosphor was superior to that of film. Major benefits of photostimulable phosphor systems include the elimination of chemical processing and an improved low contrast detectability performance.     

No One-Size-Fits-All: Sexual Health Education Preferences in Patients with Breast Cancer

Annals of Surgical Oncology - Using explanatory mixed methods, we characterize the education that patients with breast cancer received about potential sexual health effects of treatment and explore...     

Blood loss and replacement in total hip arthroplasty: a multicenter study. The Preoperative Autologous Blood Donation Study Group

To determine blood loss, the number of transfusions, and the hemoglobin levels achieved in patients via transfusion in the course of total hip arthroplasty, 324 patient records from 1987 through 1989 were reviewed at three university and three community hospitals. Calculated blood loss was 3.2 +/- 1.3 units in primary procedures and 4.0 +/- 2.1 units in revision procedures (mean +/- SD). Of 777 red cell units transfused, 455 (59%) were autologous units. Transfused patients received 2.0 +/- 1.8 units for primary procedures and 2.9 +/- 2.3 units for revision procedures (mean +/- SD). The maximum number of units given to 95 percent of the transfused patients was 4 for primary procedures and 6 for revision procedures. The mean postoperative hemoglobin level after all transfusions was 103 to 110 g per L, regardless of patient age group of physical status, autologous donor status, or hospital. No difference in length of hospital stay was observed for patients less than 65 years old with hemoglobin concentrations of 80 to 139 g per L at discharge.     

Blood group A immunodeterminants on human red cells differ in biologic activity and sensitivity to alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase

BACKGROUND: Epitopes of blood group A antigen can be enzymatically cleaved from red cells (RBCs), but the extent of cleavage required for normal survival in allogeneic blood transfusion recipients is unknown. Therefore, the cleavage rates were studied for A antigen epitope binding of 1) complement-activating anti-A, 2) Dolichos biflorus anti- A, lectin, and 3) hemagglutinating anti-A during incubation with a purified alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase, E.C. 3.2.1.49 (alpha- GalNAc'ase). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Suspensions of group A RBCs were incubated with alpha-GalNAc'ase. Cells were removed at intervals, washed, and tested for loss of binding by monoclonal, polyclonal, and complement-activating anti-A, D. biflorus anti-A1 lectin, and Ulex europaeus anti-H lectin. RESULTS: A epitopes binding D. biflorus lectin were highly susceptible to alpha-GalNAc'ase; simultaneously with their loss, binding with U. europaeus lectin emerged. Loss of complement- mediated hemolysis was slower. A epitopes binding hemagglutinating anti- A were most resistant. Cleavage of A epitopes from membrane glycosphingolipids with short oligosaccharide chains was similarly resistant. Rates of cleavage from A1 and A2 RBCs were similar. CONCLUSION: RBC epitopes of blood group A differ in susceptibility to cleavage and biologic reactivity, which suggests that subsets mediating important biologic functions exist on functionally and topographically distinct membrane glycoconjugates.     

Complementary and alternative therapy use by older adults in three ethnically diverse populations: a pilot study

Americans have overwhelmingly embraced complementary and alternative therapies. Although the primary purpose of this study was to refine a questionnaire on complementary and alternative therapy use by older adults, the findings of this pilot study identified knowledge and use of complementary and alternative therapies in a convenience sample of 60 older adults, 54 to 92 years of age from three ethnically diverse senior centers. Eighty percent of the participants used two or more therapies. There were no significant differences in therapy use by ethnicity. The most commonly used therapies were prayer, vitamins, diet, massage, and meditation. The participants rated the effectiveness of therapies higher than their knowledge of the therapies. Older adults need accurate information from health care providers to make safe decisions regarding the combination of complementary therapies and prescribed treatments to reduce the risk of interaction.