The Word Outside and the Pictures in Our Heads: Contingent Framing Effects of Labels on Health Policy Preferences by Political Ideology

This study uses data from systematic Web image search results and two randomized survey experiments to analyze how frames commonly used in public debates about health issues, operationalized here as alternative word choices, influence public support for health policy reforms. In Study 1, analyses of Bing (N = 1,719), Google (N = 1,872), and Yahoo Images (N = 1,657) search results suggest that the images returned from the search query “sugar-sweetened beverage” are more likely to evoke health-related concepts than images returned from a search query about “soda.” In contrast, “soda” search queries were more likely to incorporate brand-related concepts than “sugar-sweetened beverage” search queries. In Study 2, participants (N = 206) in a controlled Web experiment rated their support for policies to reduce consumption of these drinks. As expected, strong liberals had more support for policies designed to reduce the consumption of these drinks when the policies referenced “soda” compared to “sugar-sweetened beverage.” To the contrary, items describing these drinks as “soda” produced lower policy support than items describing them as “sugar-sweetened beverage” among strong conservatives. In Study 3, participants (N = 1,000) in a national telephone survey experiment rated their support for a similar set of policies. Results conceptually replicated the previous Web-based experiment, such that strong liberals reported greater support for a penny-per-ounce taxation when labeled “soda” versus “sugar-sweetened beverages.” In both Studies 2 and 3, more respondents referred to brand-related concepts in response to questions about “sugar-sweetened beverages” compared to “soda.” We conclude with a discussion of theoretical and methodological implications for studying framing effects of labels.     

How Narrative Focus and a Statistical Map Shape Health Policy Support Among State Legislators

This study attempts to advance theorizing about health policy advocacy with combinations of narrative focus and a statistical map in an attempt to increase state legislators’ support for policies to address the issue of obesity by reducing food deserts. Specifically, we examine state legislators’ responses to variations in narrative focus (individual vs. community) about causes and solutions for food deserts in U.S. communities, and a statistical map (presence vs. absence) depicting the prevalence of food deserts across the United States. Using a Web-based randomized experiment (N = 496), we show that narrative focus and the statistical map interact to produce different patterns of cognitive response and support for policies to reduce the prevalence of food deserts. The presence of a statistical map showing the prevalence of food deserts in the United States appeared to matter only when combined with an individual narrative, offsetting the fact that the individual narrative in isolation produced fewer thoughts consistent with the story’s persuasive goal and more counterarguments in opposition to environmental causes and solutions for obesity than other message conditions. The image did not have an impact when combined with a story describing a community at large. Cognitive responses fully mediated message effects on intended persuasive outcomes. We conclude by discussing the study’s contributions to communication theory and practice.     

The effect of preparation designs on the marginal and internal gaps in Cerec3 partial ceramic crowns

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the marginal and internal gaps in Cerec3 partial ceramic crowns (PCCs) of three different preparation designs in vitro using microcomputed tomography (μCT).

Methods

Cerec3 PCCs of three different preparation designs (n = 20) were fabricated according to the following: Group I-conventional functional cusp capping/shoulder preparation, Group II-horizontal reduction of cusps and Group III-complete reduction of cusps/shoulder preparation. After fixation of PCCs, the μCT scanning was performed. For obtaining the average internal gap (AIG), the μCT sections were reconstructed 3-dimensionally, and then the total volume of the internal gap was divided by the contact surface area. The 2-dimensional (2D) μCT views were used to investigate the gaps at predetermined key positions in seven bucco-lingual sections and three mesio-distal cross sections. The gaps were measured using the μCT at each reference point. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test.

Results

For the 3D reconstruction technique, the AIGs were as followed: Group I 197.3 ± 48.2 μm, Group II 171.2 ± 45.1 μm, and Group III 152.7 ± 27.1 μm. For the 2D μCT views, the gaps of each group were the smallest on the margins ranging from 35.4 ± 32.2 to 128.4 ± 69.5 μm, and the largest on the horizontal or angle walls ranging from 184.5 ± 41.2 to 406.5 ± 176.1 μm. According to the results, Group I showed larger marginal and internal gaps compared with the other groups.

Conclusions

For the PCCs, the simplified designs (Groups II and III) demonstrated superior results compared to the traditional cusp capping design (Group I). The marginal gaps were smaller than the internal gaps in all groups.     

CpG island methylation in familial colorectal cancer patients not fulfilling the Amsterdam criteria

To determine the role of methylation in colorectal cancer patients with a family history, we enrolled 25 colorectal cancer patients with a family history of colorectal cancer but without a mutation in the hMLH1 and hMSH2 genes. Thirty patients with sporadic colorectal cancer were included as control. The methylation status of COX2, MGMT, hMLH1, TIMP3, p16, and MINT2 in normal mucosa and tumor were assessed using methylation-specific PCR. In patients with a family history, the methylation frequency ranged from 4.0% for TIMP3 to 44.4% for MGMT, whereas, in patients with sporadic colorectal cancer, it ranged from 6.7% for TIMP3 to 50.0% for p16. Nine of the 25 patients with family history (36.0%) were classified as methylation-prone, and nine of the 30 patients with sporadic cancers (30.0%) were as methylation-prone, making their methylation indices 0.19 and 0.16, respectively (p=0.522). As for the individual genes, the methylation rate of MGMT was higher in colorectal cancer patients with family history (44.0% vs. 13.0%, p=0.016), whereas the methylation rate of p16 was higher in sporadic colorectal cancers (50.0% vs. 8.7%, p=0.046). While CpG island methylation of tumor suppressor genes may play a role in colorectal carcinogenesis, the genes involved may be different between tumors of patients with and without a family history of colorectal cancer.     

IS6110-restriction fragment length polymorphism and spoligotyping analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates for investigating epidemiologic distribution in Korea

The Beijing family of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been emerging in the world. However, there are few nationwide data of genotypic distribution in Korea. This study aimed to identify the genotypic diversity of clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis and to demonstrate the population of Beijing family in Korea. We collected 96 clinical M. tuberculosis isolates from 11 university hospitals nationwide in Korea from 2008 to 2009. We observed 24 clusters in IS6110-RFLP analysis and 19 patterns in spoligotyping. Seventy-five isolates were confirmed to be Beijing family. Two isolates of the K strain and 12 isolates of the K family strain were also found. We found that drug resistance phenotypes were more strongly associated with Beijing family than non-Beijing family (P=0.003). This study gives an overview of the distribution of genotypes of M. tuberculosis in Korea. These findings indicate that we have to pay more attention to control of M. tuberculosis strains associated with the Beijing family.     

Characterization of mutator pathway in younger-age-onset colorectal adenocarcinomas

The high-frequency microsatellite instability (MSI-H) phenotype, frequently identified in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), also accounts for approximately 15% of sporadic colorectal cancers. Microsatellite instability (MSI) occurs from the mutational inactivation of the DNA mismatch repair genes, i.e. hMSH2 and hMLH1 in HNPCC, as well as from epigenetic inactivation of hMLH1 in sporadic colorectal tumors. The mutator pathway including microsatellite instability, hMLH1 promoter methylation, and hMSH2 and hMLH1 mutation patterns were identified in 21 sporadic colorectal adenocarcinoma patients younger than 30 yr excluding HNPCC. More than half of tumors showed MSI, with five MSI-H and six MSI-L (low-frequency microsatellite instability). Three of six MSI-H tumors showed the hMLH1 promoter methylation and did not express the hMLH1 protein. On the other hand, all MSI-L and all MSS (microsatellite stable) tumors expressed both hMSH2 and hMLH1 proteins. Two novel mutations, i.e. a missense mutation in hMLH1 and a splice-site alteration in hMSH2, were identified in two patients respectively. Although mutator pathway was implicated in younger-age-onset colorectal carcinogenesis, many tumors appeared to evolve from different genetic events other than hMSH2 and hMLH1 mutations frequently identified in HNPCC.     

Autophagy is involved in the ischemic preconditioning

Autophagy is a key pathway for the clearance of damaged organelles. Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) and autophagy are enhanced by mild hypoxic insults, but the association between autophagy and IPC remains unclear. We investigated the existence and role of autophagy in IPC. In an in vitro PC12 cell model, IPC increased generation and degradation of autophagosomes, as revealed by increased LC3-II bands, cathepsin D positive cells, lysosomal activity and autophagic vacuoles on electron microscopy. Autophagic activity was blocked using 3-methyladenine during IPC, and cell viabilities were measured using FASC and WST-1 assays. Inhibition of autophagy, especially during reperfusion or lethal oxygen-glucose deprivation periods ameliorated the neuroprotective effects of IPC. Moreover, inhibiting autophagy also attenuated Hsp70 upregulation induced by IPC. These findings imply that autophagy participates in IPC-induced neuroprotection, and that autophagy might provide a means of neuroprotection against cerebral ischemia.     

Allelic variants of human TCR BV17S1 defined by restriction fragment length polymorphism, single strand conformation polymorphism, and amplification refractory mutation system analyses

Several human TCR BV gene subfamilies, including BV3, BV14, and BV17S1, are single member genes but are overutilized among activated CD4⁺ synovial T cells in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To define the role of these TCR BV genes in the pathogenesis of disease, it is critical to characterize the genomic organization and the allelic variations of these genes. In this study we describe allelic variations of BV17S1 defined by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP), and amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) analyses. A single nucleotide replacement (C/T) results in an amino acid substitution (F/L) in the leader and distinguishes BV17S1^*1 from BV17S1^*2. This nucleotide substitution was found to create a BsmAI restriction enzyme recognition site in BV17S1^*2. Therefore genotypic analyses can be performed either by the SSCP or RFLP method. The analyses of 75 unrelated individuals show that the frequency for allele BV17S1^*1 is 52.7% and for allele BV17S1^*2 is 47.3%. Both alleles are functionally expressed and are distributed within CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T cell subsets. Another point mutation in the CDR2 region of BV17S1, which results in the amino acid replacement of Gin by His, originally identified from a cDNA clone, has now been confirmed as an allele by ARMS analysis using genomic DNA preparations and designated to as BV17S1^*3. Screening of this CDR2 related variant among normal populations indicates that this is a rare allele (1 of 75). Although this variant may be of functional significance, the genotypic analysis and functional studies are difficult due to the low frequency of BV17S1^*3. In an attempt to define a correlation between BV17S1 allelic usage and susceptibility to RA, the germline distribution of BV17S1 alleles ^*1 and ^*2 has been examined in a small number of RA patients and no skewed usage has been identified.     

A pilot study of trans-arterial injection of 166Holmium-Chitosan complex for treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma

Percutaneous approaches, such as percutaneous ethanol injection and radiofrequency ablation, have been most widely used for hepatocellular carcinoma patients who were not eligible for surgery. New technologies to improve the efficacy are currently needed. (166)Holmium is a neutron activated radionuclide, and has several beneficial radiophysical characteristics for internal radiation therapy. (166)Holmium-Chitosan complex, in which chitosan is chelated with (166)Holmium, was developed as a radiopharmaceutical for cancer therapy. We have conducted a pilot study to evaluate the clinical efficacy of transarterial administration of (166)Holmium-Chitosan complex in patients with a single and small (< 3 cm) hepatocellular carcinoma. (166)Holmium-Chitosan complex, at a dose of 20 mCi per cm of tumor mass-diameter, was administered through the artery that directly fed the tumor. Twelve patients were treated with a median follow-up duration of 26 (range: 12-61) months. The tumor diameter ranged between 1.5 and 2.5 cm. Ten patients (83%) had complete response and two (17%) had partial response. The median complete response duration was not reached. The median AFP level declined from 83.8 to 8.3 ng/mL within 2 months after treatment. No grade III/IV toxicity was observed. Grade I and II toxicities were observed in four patients (2 abdominal pain, 1 fever, and 1 AST/ALT elevation). No toxic death occurred. This preliminary study shows a promising and durable complete response rate with an acceptable safety profile. Further studies with greater accrual of patients are warranted.