Associations between children's television advertising exposure and their food consumption patterns: a household diary-survey study

In a diary-survey study in 234 households with children aged 4-12 years, we investigated the associations between children's exposure to food advertising and their consumption of (a) advertised food brands, (b) advertised energy-dense food product categories, and (c) food products overall. Relations were examined using multiple hierarchical regression analysis, while controlling for various child (i.e., age, sex, television viewing time) and family variables (i.e., family income and consumption-related communication styles). Results showed that children's exposure to food advertising was significantly related to their consumption of advertised brands (beta=.21) and energy-dense product categories (beta=.19). The relation between advertising exposure and overall food consumption only held in lower-income families (beta=.19). In addition, consumption-related family communication was an important moderator of the relations between advertising and the food consumption variables. Socio-oriented family communication (i.e., striving for harmony and conformity) was particularly successful in reducing these relations. In conclusion, consistent with communication theories predicting spill-over effects of advertising, the impact of television food advertising exceeded the advertised brand and generalized to more generic unhealthy consumption patterns. Theoretical and societal consequences, as well as the important role of the family are discussed.     

The properitoneal fat pad associated with the falciform ligament

Summary The configuration of the constant properitoneal body of fat with contained vasculature (ensiform vessels and portions of the ligamentum teres) and its relationship to the falciform ligament were studied by reviewing 122 computer tomographic scans of 103 patients with ascites. The maximal width was found in 57% at the level of the intrahepatic ligamentum teres immediately after entry into the liver but maximal thickness was mostly found higher up. Our measurements of mean maximal width and thickness of 7.2 cm and 1.2 cm respectively, corresponded well with disssection findings in the literature. A variety of pathologic conditions can affect the fat pad via connecting or adjacent structures like the falciform ligament, lesser omentum, properitoneal flank fat, mediastinal fat or transperitoneally. However, involvement by pathology was infrequent.

---

Le bourrelet adipeux propéritonéal. Etude par imagerie de ses relations avec le ligament falciforme. Déductions cliniques

Résumé Une étude morphologique du bourrelet adipeux pro-péritonéal médian, de son contenu et de ses relations avec le ligament falciforme a été faite à partir de l'analyse de 122 examens TDM effectués chez 103 patients présentant une ascite. La largeur maximale de ce capitonnage adipeux se situe dans 57 % des cas, juste après la pénétration du ligament rond du foie dans le parenchyme hépatique et l'épaisseur maximale se situe un petit peu plus haut. Les dimensions moyennes de la largeur et de l'épaisseur maximales de ce bourrelet adipeux sont respectivement de 7,2 cm et 1,2 cm, mesure identique à celle que l'on trouve dans la littérature à partir de travaux de dissection. Un certain nombre de modifications pathologiques des structures de voisinage, telles que le ligament falciforme, le grand épiploon, la graisse extra-péritonéale des flancs, la graisse médiastinale peuvent modifier ce capitonnage; toutefois, les lésions propres au bourrelet adipeux sont rares.

     

Plasmodium berghei ANKA Infection in ICR Mice as a Model of Cerebral Malaria

Background

Animal models with various combination of host-parasite have long been employed to study malaria pathogenesis. Here, we describe the combination of Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection in inbred ICR mice as a model of cerebral malaria (CM).

Methods

Infection in mice was initiated by intraperitoneal injection of 2 x 10⁷ (0.2ml) parasitized red blood cells (PRBCs).

Results

This model can produce a severe degree of infection presented by the high degree of parasitaemia followed by death 6-7 days post infection. Severe anemia, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly and discolourations of major organs were observed. Histopathological findings revealed several important features mimicking human CM including, microvascular sequestration of PRBCs in major organs, particularly in the brain, hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the kupffer cells in the liver, pulmonary edema and hyaline membrane formation in the lungs and haemorrhages in the kidney''s medulla and cortex. Proinflammatory cytokines TNFα, IFNγ, IL-1, IL-6 and IL-18, and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 were all found to be elevated in the plasma of infected mice.

Conclusion

This model can reproduce many of the important features of CM and therefore can be used as a tool to advance our understanding of the disease pathogenesis.     

Facial thermography in the diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease and in evaluation of carotid endarterectomy.

Some 60% of strokes are due to extracranial occlusive arterial lesions, most frequently at the bifurcation of the common carotid artery. Since these lesions are accessible to endarterectomy, their prestroke diagnosis is very important. Facial thermography quickly supplies reliqble information on the circulatory area in which these lesions occur, and this information can be atraumatically obtained in an out-patient setting. The success rate of facial thermography versus aortic arch angiography was 83% and 80%, respectively, in our case material, and this rate corresponds with data in the literature. In a series of 23 patients with facial thermograms and angiograms obtained before and after endarterectomy, facial thermography proved to be a useful diagnostic and prognostic aid in neurological out-patient guidance after carotid endarterectomy. By virtue of its rapidity and atraumatic character, because it can be carried out by technicians and because the findings are suitable for computer data processing, facial thermography would seem to be suitable for potential stroke screening of a high-risk asymptomatic population.     

Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer in families referred for fumarate hydratase germline mutation analysis

Smit DL, Mensenkamp AR, Badeloe S, Breuning MH, Simon MEH, van Spaendonck KY, Aalfs CM, Post JG, Shanley S, Krapels IPC, Hoefsloot LH, van Moorselaar RJA, Starink TM, Bayley J‐P, Frank J, van Steensel MAM, Menko FH. Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer in families referred for fumarate hydratase germline mutation analysis. Heterozygous fumarate hydratase (FH) germline mutations cause hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC), an autosomal dominant syndrome characterized by multiple cutaneous piloleiomyomas, uterine leiomyomas and papillary type 2 renal cancer. The main objective of our study was to evaluate clinical and genetic data from families suspected of HLRCC on a nationwide level. All families referred for FH mutation analysis in the Netherlands were assessed. We performed FH sequence analysis and multiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification. Families with similar FH mutations were examined for haplotype sharing. In 14 out of 33 families, we identified 11 different pathogenic FH germline mutations, including 4 novel mutations and 1 whole‐gene deletion. Clinical data were available for 35 FH mutation carriers. Cutaneous leiomyomas were present in all FH mutation carriers older than 40 years of age. Eleven out of 21 female FH mutation carriers underwent surgical treatment for symptomatic uterine leiomyomas at an average of 35 years. Two FH mutation carriers had papillary type 2 renal cancer and Wilms' tumour, respectively. We evaluated the relevance of our findings for clinical practice and have proposed clinical diagnostic criteria, indications for FH mutation analysis and recommendations for management.