Weight information labels on media models reduce body dissatisfaction in adolescent girls

PurposeTo examine how weight information labels on variously sized media models affect (pre)adolescent girls' body perceptions and how they compare themselves with media models.MethodsWe used a three (body shape: extremely thin vs. thin vs. normal weight) × three (information label: 6-kg underweight vs. 3-kg underweight vs. normal weight) experimental design in three age-groups (9–10 years, 12–13 years, and 15–16 years; n = 184). The girls completed questionnaires after exposure to media models.ResultsWeight information labels affected girls' body dissatisfaction, social comparison with media figures, and objectified body consciousness. Respondents exposed to an extremely thin body shape labeled to be of “normal weight” were most dissatisfied with their own bodies and showed highest levels of objectified body consciousness and comparison with media figures. An extremely thin body shape combined with a corresponding label (i.e., 6-kg underweight), however, induced less body dissatisfaction and less comparison with the media model. Age differences were also found to affect body perceptions: adolescent girls showed more negative body perceptions than preadolescents.ConclusionsWeight information labels may counteract the generally media-induced thin-body ideal. That is, when the weight labels appropriately informed the respondents about the actual thinness of the media model's body shape, girls were less affected. Weight information labels also instigated a normalization effect when a “normal-weight” label was attached to underweight-sized media models. Presenting underweight as a normal body shape, clearly increased body dissatisfaction in girls. Results also suggest age between preadolescence and adolescence as a critical criterion in responding to media models' body shape.     

Mucosal IgA responses in influenza virus infections; thoughts for vaccine design

The current challenge in influenza vaccine design is to induce long-lasting protection not only against the vaccine strain, but also against drifted (point mutations in the surface antigens HA or NA) and even shifted (exchange of genome segments) strains. Several immune mediators that can induce cross-protection have been described, such as CD4 T-cells, CD8 T-cells and antibodies, including IgA. However, most vaccines are now administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously and subsequently relatively little is known on the role of local, mucosal responses. Since local IgA responses have been shown to play an important role in responses to natural infection, and IgA responses in mice were shown to also be involved in cross-protection, the research on mucosal influenza vaccines is currently expanding. However, the functioning of the mucosal immune system, especially in the respiratory tract, is just beginning to be revealed. Here, the current knowledge on the induction of IgA, the role of influenza specific IgA producing B-cells in anti-influenza immunity as well as the role of humoral memory responses induced upon vaccination will be reviewed.     

The foot function index with verbal rating scales (FFI-5pt): A clinimetric evaluation and comparison with the original FFI

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinimetric value of the Dutch version of the Foot Function Index (FFI) in comparison with the original FFI using verbal rating scales (FFI-5pt) rather than visual analog scales (VAS). METHODS: A prospective study was performed on 206 patients with nontraumatic forefoot complaints. Scoring, internal consistency, and construct validity of the FFI-5pt were compared with those of the original FFI, which rates all items on VAS. We also studied agreement between the scores at baseline and after one and 8 weeks and the scale scores with regard to sex, age, presence of osteoarthritis, limitation of mobility, bodily pain, and poor physical functioning (using SF-36). RESULTS: Some items were not applicable; removal of these items left 2 scales (Pain and Disability) with high internal consistency (alpha = 0.88 to 0.94) and good agreement between both versions (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.64 to 0.79). Principal component analysis with varimax rotation using a forced 2 factor model fitted well (65% explained variance). Test-retest reliability was high (ICC 0.70 to 0.83), while the stability over 8 weeks was lower, but still good (ICC 0.63 to 0.71). Responsiveness to change was low to moderate. However, a small number of patients reported an overall change (19%). Scores of patients with limited mobility and poor physical health (SF-36) were higher than those of patients with fewer physical problems, indicating good concurrent validity. CONCLUSION: The FFI-5pt is a suitable generic measure. Its clinimetric properties are comparable with those of the original FFI. Its administration and data entry are less time consuming. However, responsiveness has to be more exactly assessed in an intervention study.     

Requirement of posttranslational modifications for the generation of biologic activity of glycosylation-inhibiting factor.

Secretion of bioactive glycosylation-inhibiting factor (GIF) appears to be restricted to suppressor T (Ts) cells, although various human and murine cell line cells secrete the 13-kDa peptide that reacts with anti-GIF. Nucleotide sequences of GIF cDNA from the Ts and non-Ts cells are identical, indicating that bioactive GIF and inactive GIF have an identical amino acid sequence. A stable transfectant of human GIF (hGIF) cDNA in BMT10 cells secretes inactive GIF peptide, whereas transfection of a chimeric cDNA encoding a fusion protein consisting of the N-terminal region of procalcitonin precursor and hGIF into the same cells results in secretion of bioactive GIF. Evidence was obtained that the fusion protein goes into the endoplasmic reticulum and is cleaved for the secretion of mature GIF peptide, whereas the inactive 13-kDa peptide synthesized by the former transfectant does not go through the endoplasmic reticulum. However, a stable transfectant of hGIF cDNA in mouse Ts hybridoma contains inactive GIF in the cytosol and secretes bioactive hGIF without participation of the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi system. Heterogeneity of the 13-kDa hGIF from the transfectant was detected in two-dimensional electrophoresis. The results suggested that Ts cells have a machinery that converts a portion of inactive cytosolic GIF peptide to bioactive GIF during secretion.     

Beziehungen zwischen Icterus neonatorum und Wasserhaushalt

Zusammenfassung Von 1500 Neugeborenen zeigtendie schwerikterischen durchschnittlich das niedrigste, die nichtikterischen das höchste Geburtsgewicht. Die physiologische Gewichtsabnahme ist bei schwerikterischen Neugeborenen, absolut und auf das Geburtsgewicht bezogen am größten. Dieser höhere Wasserverlust des Organismus ist nicht etwa durch eine geringere Flüssigkeitsaufnahme bedingt, er steht vielmehr einergrößeren Trinkmenge des ikterischen Neugeborenen gegenüber. DerNeugeborenenikterus verlängert die physiologische Gewichtsabnahme und verzögert ihren Ausgleich. Der Icterus neonatorum beeinflußt den Wasserbestand des Neugeborenenorganismus im Sinne erhöhter Wasserabgabe.