Review of the Captain America Graphic Novel ‘TRUTH: Red,White and Black’ Focusing on Parallels with the Infamous USPHS Syphilis Study at Tuskegee

This review presents the first detailed presentation of the parallelism between the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and the Captain America graphic novel ‘TRUTH: Red, White and Black’, published as a graphic novel by Marvel Comics in 2004 as a paperback, and then in 2009 as a hardcover. First written, published and distributed monthly in 2003 as pre-sequel seven comic book series to tell the story of the origins of the WWII superhero Captain America. In 2003, Marvel Comics chose to tell a ‘very dark story’ to explain the origins of Captain America, a half century after the initial introduction of Captain America as a WWII action hero in 1940. By detailing—for the first time—nine parallel aspects between these two storylines, this review demonstrates how Marvel Comics brought the tragic Tuskegee Syphilis Study story into the popular press, thus reaching an audience far beyond traditional bioethics academicians. This review is intended to stimulate and guide classroom discussions on the ethical issues at the core of the infamous Tuskegee Syphilis Study allowing bioethical issues to be made more accessible to the general public, via school curriculums, by the use of graphic novels.     

Under inflammatory stimuli mesenteric mesothelial cells transdifferentiate into macrophages and produce pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6

Inflammation Research - Inflammatory stimuli inducing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) can transdifferentiate mesenteric mesothelial cells into macrophages. Sprague Dawley rat mesenteric...     

Exploring Lactation Consultant Views on Infant Safe Sleep

Objectives The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the infant safe sleep beliefs and occupational practices of lactation consultants and to determine if lactation consultants give advice to clients that is consistent with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations on this topic. Methods Focus groups were conducted with certified lactation consultants in two cities in Ohio. Participants discussed the role of lactation consultants, the infant sleep advice they provide to women, their views on the American Academy of Pediatrics’ infant safe sleep recommendations and related policies, and perceived benefits and barriers associated with providing infant safe sleep education as part of their work. A member-checking session was held to ensure the credibility of the findings. Results Four focus groups were conducted with 22 certified lactation consultants between September and November 2015. Major themes that emerged included: lactation consultants’ beliefs regarding the importance of bedsharing for supporting breastfeeding success; their disagreement with the infant safe sleep recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics; their frustration with policies that restrict consultants’ ability to discuss bedsharing; and the impact of infant safe sleep policies on their work and the advice they provide. Conclusions for Practice Lactation consultants interact with mothers of newborns at a critical time for infant safe sleep decision-making and may influence a woman’s choices related to this topic. Women may not be receiving messages from lactation consultants that are consistent with the infant safe sleep recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics.     

The relative plaque removal effect of a prebrushing mouthrinse

A total of 51 adult subjects participated in a three-period crossover trial to test plaque-removal effectiveness of a prebrushing mouthrinse. Subjects refrained from brushing to allow plaque to accumulate for 24 hours before the test. The accumulated plaque was graded using Turesky's method. The subjects then used one of three treatment regimens, were retested for accumulated plaque and regraded. The three treatments tested were a commercial prebrushing mouthrinse and no toothbrushing; a commercial prebrushing mouthrinse and brushing with a dentifrice for 30 seconds; a prebrushing water rinse and brushing with a dentifrice for 30 seconds. The analysis of the data found that both groups that brushed removed significantly more plaque than the group that did not brush. However, both the prebrushing rinse group and the water rinse group achieved the same amount of plaque removal through 30 seconds of toothbrushing with a dentifrice.     

Association between periodontal pockets and elevated cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels

BACKGROUND: Periodontitis is associated with increased prevalence of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality; however, the nature of this association is unclear. There is a rationale that indicates that the presence of periodontal pockets which can harbor pathogenic microorganisms and evoke a host response could elicit a systemic effect. The hypothesis of this study is that periodontal pockets may be associated with elevated blood lipid levels, a known risk factor for atherosclerotic disease. METHODS: The periodontal health of 10,590 Israeli military service men and women was assessed using the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN). The relationship of blood lipids and periodontal disease and CPITN index was tested, controlling for factors that are related to elevated cholesterol levels, including high body mass index (BMI), age, diastolic blood pressure, and smoking. RESULTS: The presence of periodontal pockets was positively associated with higher cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol blood levels in men. No significant association was found in women. CONCLUSIONS: In this large cohort study, the presence of periodontal pockets as measured by CPITN was positively associated with total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. The findings of the study support the reports linking increased prevalence of cardiovascular mortality among patients with periodontal disease.     

Nifedipine-induced gingival hyperplasia.

Gingival hyperplasia is an adverse reaction of nifedipine therapy. Oral manifestations of this condition include enlarged and painful gingiva accompanied by spontaneous bleeding. Nifedipine-induced gingival hyperplasia may be reversible once a proper drug substitution is made. Two cases of gingival hyperplasia resulting from nifedipine are described and the drug's possible mode of action is discussed.     

Effect of immune bovine milk on Streptococcus mutans in human dental plaque

The use of a mouthrinse of bovine milk containing antibodies to Streptococcus mutans resulted in an initial reduction in the numbers of recoverable Strep. mutans in a group of 9 individuals. Ten volunteers who used control bovine milk that contained no antibody activity to Strep. mutans had variable levels of plaque Strep. mutans. In addition, after culture on Mitis Salivarius and Gold's agar, the plaque Strep. mutans from subjects who used the immune bovine milk rinse formed smaller colonies than those from pre-treatment plaque and from all plaque samples of subjects who used the control rinse.     

Tooth length determination: a review

Tooth length determination is a crucial step in endodontic treatment. Until the late 1970s, tooth length determination was based mainly on radiographic interpretation. The advent of apex locators, which identify the difference in the electrical resistance between the root canal and the periodontal membrane, ushered in a new era for measuring tooth length. However, the accuracy of these devices has been questioned. Pertinent literature is discussed with the aim of providing information on the development of the concept, techniques, and devices for tooth length determination.     

Dental treatment for the patient on anticoagulant therapy: prothrombin time value--what difference does it make?

Thirty patients taking anticoagulants received routine dental treatment without altering their prothrombin time values. In a follow-up of 5 years, no serious complications were seen in patients with a prothrombin time value of up to 2.5. A protocol is suggested for dental treatment in these patients.