Challenging the imperative of health? Smoking and justifications of risk-taking

It has been argued that with the decline in the prevalence of smoking, a number of the remaining smokers have become more resilient to health-promotion efforts. In this article, the justifications of smoking in web discussions are analysed, concentrating on perceptions of risk. While previous research concerning lay knowledge has brought out ambivalent meanings of the concept, smoking as a well-known health risk provides an excellent example for studying counter-reactions to current health discourses. Analysis shows the similarities between justifications of smoking and current health ideologies: argumentation stressed personal responsibility and self-management. However, following rules and health recommendations was juxtaposed with ideals of the autonomous, competent individual. While argumentation reflected the basic principles of the imperative of health, a challenging feature emerged through the accounts that disregarded risk. It is suggested that disregard of risks represents a real challenge for the imperative of health by ignoring the notions of autonomy and competence.     

Effect of sampling frames on response rates in the WHO MONICA risk factor surveys

Sample surveys are used to investigate occurrence and determinants of diseases in populations. Their reliability is influenced by quality of sampling frame and response rate. We investigated relationship between sampling frame type and response rates and assessed their impact on non-response bias, using data from the WHO MONICA Project, where 37 centres in 20 countries conducted sample surveys, employing the best locally available sampling frame. Sampling frames fell into three categories: Population registers (PR), electoral registers (ER), and health care registers (HR). Response rate (rrs) was factored into components reflecting quality of sampling frame (contact rate cr) and characterizing willingness of sample members to participate (enrolment rate er). The mean quality score for the sampling frames was 92 for PR, 87 for HR and 85 for ER; they contributed on average 23, 20, and 26 to the respective non-response rates. For all frame types and both sexes the lowest quality score occurred in the age group 35–44, suggesting a reduced ability to track migration of a highly mobile population group. The patterns in the age/sex distribution of er indicate at least for males in PR and females in HR a potential for non-response bias. Estimation of non-response bias through an abbreviated questionnaire failed because of low item response. We found that contact rate characterizes sampling frame quality. For all frame types it had a major influence on response rate. It is likely that low er and low cr cause different kind of bias, requiring different measures to minimize their effects.for the WHO MONICA Project** Sites and key personnel of the WHO MONICA Project are found at http://www.ktl.fi/publications/monica/rr_sframe/appendix.htm     

Reversible hearing loss associated with high-voltage electric shock

Hearing loss associated with high-voltage electric shock is a rare entity and minimal information is available in the current literature about this condition. To our knowledge, this article represents the first case report in the literature of improvement in sensorineural hearing loss sustained due to a high-voltage electric shock. A case report of a patient who incurred various otologic problems, including hearing loss and tinnitus, is presented. An improvement in hearing loss and tinnitus was observed in the subsequent follow up after one month. Audiological findings and possible pathophysiology of hearing loss are discussed. We recommend that further studies be done to investigate the incidence, severity and pathophysiology of hearing loss in such cases.     

P1 latency as a biomarker for central auditory development in children with hearing impairment

We used the latency of the P1 cortical auditory-evoked potential (CAEP) as a biomarker for the development of central auditory pathways in three children who received intervention through hearing aids and/or cochlear implants. Our goal was to examine the clinical feasibility of using the latency of the P1 CAEP as an objective tool to evaluate whether acoustic amplification for hearing-impaired children has provided sufficient stimulation for normal development of central auditory pathways. If clinicians have such a marker, then they can more confidently make a decision about whether to provide a child with a cochlear implant following an appropriate hearing-aid trial. Using the same marker, clinicians will also be able to monitor the maturation of central auditory pathways once electrical stimulation is initiated.     

Processing of highly novel auditory events in children and adults: an event-related potential study

In this study, the neural mechanisms of novelty detection in children and adults were examined by means of novelty-elicited event-related potentials. The gross morphology of the event-related potentials elicited by complex, novel stimuli was similar in children and adults, suggesting that processing of novel acoustic information is essentially similar across the age groups. The more frontally distributed P3 components and the larger late frontal negativities in children than in adults suggest an age-related change in activity in the frontal part of the brain. This is consistent with the findings showing that the structural maturation of the frontal cortex does not appear to be completed until late adolescence.     

No difference in platelet activation or inflammation markers after diets rich or poor in vegetables,berries and apple in healthy subjects

Summary.Background: High intake of vegetables and fruits is associated with decreased risk of coronary heart disease. Part of these cardioprotective effects may be mediated via the antithrombotic effects of compounds found in vegetables and fruits, such as flavonoids.Aim of the study: To study the effects of high and low intake of vegetables, berries and apple on platelet function and inflammatory markers.Methods: The study was a randomised, controlled parallel human dietary intervention with healthy female and male volunteers (n = 77, 19–52 y). Nineteen healthy volunteers served as controls. The volunteers consumed one of four strictly controlled isocaloric 6-week diets containing either 810 or 196 g/10 MJ of vegetables, berries and apple and rich either in linoleic acid (11% of energy, en%) or oleic acid (12 en%). Blood and three 24-hour urine samples were collected at the beginning and at the end of the study period for analyses of various markers of platelet function and inflammation.Results: No differences between the treatment groups were seen in platelet count or volume, markers of platelet activation (ex vivo aggregation to ADP and thrombin receptor activating peptide, protein kinase C activity, urinary 2,3-dinor-thromboxane B₂ excretion, plasma P-selectin), plasma intercellular adhesion molecule-1, sensitive C-reactive protein, or antiphospholipid antibodies.Conclusions: The results indicate that in healthy volunteers 6-week diets differing markedly in the amounts of vegetables, berries and apple do not differ in their effects on platelets or inflammation.     

Developmental toxicity of dioxin to mouse embryonic teeth in vitro: arrest of tooth morphogenesis involves stimulation of apoptotic program in the dental epithelium

Previous studies have shown that 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) can arrest molar tooth development in rats after in utero and lactational exposure, and that the sensitive stage is temporally restricted. To define the stage in which TCDD is able to arrest tooth development and the cellular background of the effect, mouse embryonic molar tooth explants including various early developmental stages from initiation to late cap stage were exposed to TCDD in organ culture. TCDD did not inhibit morphogenesis of the first molar teeth including the early bud-staged E12 first molars, but the teeth were smaller than in control cultures. Accordingly, the second molars underwent morphogenesis in the presence of TCDD when explanted at E15 when they were at the bud stage. TCDD arrested their development when explanted at E14 when they had not yet reached the early bud stage. Immunohistochemical localization of incorporated bromodeoxyuridine in cultured E14 teeth showed that TCDD did not affect cell proliferation. Localization of apoptosis by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) method revealed that TCDD enhanced apoptosis of dental epithelial cells, especially in the dental lamina of both the first and second molars, and in the inner dental epithelium at the cusp tips of the first molars. Thus, TCDD can arrest tooth development in vitro if the exposure starts at the initiation stage, whereas exposure at later stages leads to smaller tooth size and deformation of cuspal morphology. TCDD interferes with tooth development by stimulating apoptosis in those cells of the dental epithelium, which are predetermined to undergo apoptosis during normal development.     

Citalopram challenge in social anxiety disorder

The aim of the present study was to evaluate neuroendocrine and behavioural responses to a challenge with the selective serotonin (5-HT) reuptake inhibitor citalopram (Cit) in patients with social anxiety disorder (SAD). Cit was given intravenously (20 mg over 30 min) to 18 patients with SAD and 18 matched healthy subjects in a double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over design. Cit challenge resulted in the increased plasma concentrations of cortisol and prolactin relatively to placebo without significant differences between the patients and controls. The patients had higher ratings of anxiety that were not affected by Cit, and more headaches than controls after Cit. Thus, the neuroendocrine sensitivity to 5-HT stimulation with Cit in patients with SAD was not different from the response in controls indicating lack of major alterations in the function of 5-HT receptors. The increased headache in patients may suggest hypersensitivity of some subtypes of 5-HT receptors in SAD.