Assessing the Validity of Western Measurement of Online Risks to Children in an Asian Context

Before the advent of the Internet, television and film was the only audio-visual medium to which most children were exposed. The risks were primarily limited to children being exposed to sexual and violent materials, the nature of which were known and easy to control. Nowadays, children are surrounded by a variety of digital media and are exposed to different risks, many of which are still unknown. The Internet is fully integrated into children’s daily lives, along with the potential risks. The present study aimed to (i) describe the level of risks children are exposed to, and (ii) test the measurement validity of a total of 45 items assessing nine scales of online risk to children that were adapted from studies carried out in Europe and the United States. The study comprised 420 schoolchildren. The results showed that children were more exposed to ‘unwanted exposure to pornography’ and less to ‘conduct risk’ (e.g., accidental illegal downloading; creating profiles on inappropriate websites). Boys and older children were more exposed to the risks compared to girls and younger children. The study validated five dimensions (inappropriate materials, sexting, contact-related risks, risky online sexual behavior, and bullying/being bullied) assessing online risk to children by using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. The study found that scales developed in Europe and the United States are not wholly suitable to an Asian context and needed to be modified. Further investigation to classify online risks to children and offer a solutions to reducing the online risks.     

Amyloid-β disrupts ongoing spontaneous activity in sensory cortex

The effect of Alzheimer’s disease pathology on activity of individual neocortical neurons in the intact neural network remains obscure. Ongoing spontaneous activity, which constitutes most of neocortical activity, is the background template on which further evoked-activity is superimposed. We compared in vivo intracellular recordings and local field potentials (LFP) of ongoing activity in the barrel cortex of APP/PS1 transgenic mice and age-matched littermate Controls, following significant amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation and aggregation. We found that membrane potential dynamics of neurons in Aβ-burdened cortex significantly differed from those of nontransgenic Controls: durations of the depolarized state were considerably shorter, and transitions to that state frequently failed. The spiking properties of APP/PS1 neurons showed alterations from those of Controls: both firing patterns and spike shape were changed in the APP/PS1 group. At the population level, LFP recordings indicated reduced coherence within neuronal assemblies of APP/PS1 mice. In addition to the physiological effects, we show that morphology of neurites within the barrel cortex of the APP/PS1 model is altered compared to Controls. These results are consistent with a process where the effect of Aβ on spontaneous activity of individual neurons amplifies into a network effect, reducing network integrity and leading to a wide cortical dysfunction.     

Preparation and in vivo evaluation of anti-plasmodial properties of artemisinin-loaded PCL–PEG–PCL nanoparticles

Abstract

Purpose: Artemisinin (ART) has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-amyloid, and anti-malarial effects, but its application is limited due to its low water solubility and poor oral bioavailability. In this study, the bioavailability, water solubility, and anti-plasmodial property of ART were improved by PCL–PEG–PCL tri-block copolymers.

Methods: The structure of the copolymers was characterized by ¹H NMR, FT-IR, DSC, and GPC techniques. ART was encapsulated within micelles by a single-step nano-precipitation method, leading to the formation of ART-loaded PCL–PEG–PCL micelles. The obtained micelles were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The in vivo anti-plasmodial activity of ART-loaded micelles was measured against Plasmodium berghei infected Swiss albino mice.

Results: The results showed that the zeta potential of ART-loaded micelles was about ?8.37?mV and the average size was 91.87?nm. ART was encapsulated into PCL–PEG–PCL micelles with a loading capacity of 19.33?±?0.015% and encapsulation efficacy of 87.21?±?3.32%. In vivo anti-plasmodial results against P. berghei showed that multiple injections of ART-loaded micelles could prolong the circulation time and increase the therapeutic efficacy of ART.

Conclusion: These results suggested that PCL–PEG–PCL micelles would be a potential carrier for ART for the treatment of malaria.     

Personal medical documents management--how patients perceive, keep and manage their medical documents: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Absence of medical documents damages the quality of treatment and service. Despite the computerized medical folder, its use is still limited, and not all countries have a national health communications systems. That is why the patients are asked to bring with them the documents they hold. However, some patients lose the documents and others are uncooperative due to forgetfulness, and a lack of knowledge. OBJECTIVES: To examine how patients perceive, keep and manage medical documents. DESIGN: The research was conducted in the qualitative method. SETTINGS: A cardiology clinic, in a big medical center in Israel. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 28 patients suffering from ischemic heart disease and/or rhythm disorders. The sample was a convenience one, and were taken from the population visiting the Cardiology Clinic from May to October 2003. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were held with the participants. The data were processed by means of content analysis. RESULTS: The findings indicate that, even though the participants expressed that it is the health system's responsibility to manage medical documents, most of them kept, and some even managed, their medical documents via a personal folder. By keeping documents and deciding to whom and when to show them the patient functions as a self-care manager. This made them more involved in their treatment and, they felt in control and empowered. CONCLUSION: Patient's attention to documents, as keeper and router, results in demonstrations of responsibility and involvement in treatment, consequently empowering the patient.