Understanding consumer and clinician perceptions of a potential Lyme disease vaccine.

Each year, over 450 000 Lyme disease diagnoses are estimated to occur in the United States, and current preventive measures have been insufficient to stem the rising incidence. An effective human Lyme disease vaccine could be a powerful intervention for population-level impact. In advance of new Lyme disease vaccines coming to market, this study explored barriers to acceptability and motivations for the uptake of a new Lyme disease vaccine. Researchers conducted 9 online focus groups among consumers who may potentially benefit from the vaccine and 30 in-depth interviews among clinician groups who may provide the vaccine. All participants were recruited from three US regions of high Lyme disease incidence. Researchers found that participants shared common motivators to either recommend (clinicians) or accept (consumers) a Lyme disease vaccine, largely driven by perceived benefits of the vaccine, the lack of current effective preventive measures and a greater peace of mind. The concern about the challenges associated with diagnosing and treating Lyme disease is a primary motivator for clinicians to recommend the vaccine, while the concern about getting Lyme disease is a primary motivator for consumers to desire the vaccine.

Focus Groups Exploring U.S. Adults' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Related to Irradiation as a Food Safety Intervention, 2021.

Food irradiation has been studied comprehensively and has been determined to be a safe and effective process for improving food safety. Despite this potential public health impact and current use in developed countries, the technology is not commonly used in the United States, with consumer acceptance often cited as a barrier. Given changes in consumer food-purchasing trends, advancements in irradiation technology, and an increase in multistate foodborne outbreaks, it is an opportune time to revisit consumer acceptance and factors that influence the purchase of irradiated food. We conducted seven focus groups to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding irradiation as a food safety intervention. Meetings were virtual, lasted 90 min, and were held March 15-18, 2021. Participants were stratified into three groups using quota sampling: adults aged 18-64 years, parents of children aged 0-4 years, and adults aged 65 years and older. Consistent with past research, consumers were unaware of what food irradiation is. Facilitators for purchasing irradiated foods included protection from foodborne illness, reduced risk from certain foods, and support from public health agencies. Barriers included lack of knowledge, safety concerns, price, packaging, and a distrust of food technology. The results from these focus groups can inform public messaging and foodborne illness prevention strategies.

Explaining the relation between thin ideal internalization and body dissatisfaction among college women: the roles of social comparison and body surveillance.

Sociocultural models of disordered eating lack comprehensive explanations as to how thin ideal internalization leads to body dissatisfaction. This study examined two social psychological theories as explanations of this relation, namely social comparison and objectification theories, in a sample of 265 women attending a Southeastern university. Social comparison (both general and appearance-related) and body surveillance (the indicator of objectification) were tested as mediators of the relation between thin ideal internalization and body dissatisfaction using bootstrapping analyses. Results indicated that body surveillance was a significant specific mediator of this relation; however, neither operationalization of social comparison emerged as such. Results serve to elaborate upon the sociocultural model of disordered eating by providing a more comprehensive understanding of the processes by which thin ideal internalization manifests itself in body dissatisfaction. The current findings also highlight the importance of targeting body surveillance in clinical settings.

Novel method for determining hydrogel and silicone hydrogel contact lens transmission curves and their spatially specific ultraviolet radiation protection factors.

PURPOSE: Anterior ocular tissues exposed to high levels of toxic ultraviolet (UV) radiation may undergo physiologic changes leading to diseases that can alter the ocular surface, particularly in the stem cell-rich limbal region. UV radiation-blocking hydrogel contact lenses provide protection across the ocular surface, which varies according to the lens thickness. METHODS: A novel fiber optic spectrophotometer front-end system has been developed to measure lens transmission curves at test points across lens surfaces to determine optical properties based on the Beer-Lambert law. Factors determining the transmission curves include the hydrogel lens used, its refractive index, whether a UV radiation-blocking dopant is incorporated, the water content, and the thickness of the lens. Test lenses of equal power were placed over a detecting fiber optic and illuminated by a deuterium source, and transmission spectra were recorded. The small optical sampling size allowed the spectral transmission profile to be determined across the lens surface, and comparisons were made with different lenses. RESULTS: Transmission curves across the lenses showed greater UV radiation-blocking capacity at the thicker peripheral region, with the 50% cutoff wavelength moving toward the visible spectrum by 10 nm from the center to the periphery. In addition, the ability to determine the spatially specific absorption coefficient and the related UV radiation protection factor was demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: The system measures spatial variation in lens transmission and comparing different lens types while overcoming many of the handling limitations of cuvette-based spectrophotometer methods. The data show good agreement with published transmission curves and allow intralens and interlens comparisons.

Hyperhomocysteinemia leads to adverse cardiac remodeling in hypertensive rats.

Hyperhomocysteinemia (Hhe), linked to cardiovascular disease by epidemiological studies, may be an important factor in adverse cardiac remodeling in hypertension. Specifically, convergence of myocardial and vascular alterations promoted by Hhe and hypertension may exacerbate cardiac remodeling and myocardial dysfunction. We studied male spontaneously hypertensive rats fed one of three diets: control, intermediate Hhe inducing, or severe Hhe inducing. After 10 wk of dietary intervention, cardiac function was assessed in vitro, and cardiac and coronary arteriolar remodeling were monitored by histomorphometric, immunohistochemical, and biochemical techniques. Results showed that Hhe induced diastolic dysfunction, as characterized by the diastolic pressure-volume curve, without significant changes in baseline systolic function. Perivascular collagen levels were increased by Hhe, and there was an increase in left ventricular hydroxyproline levels. Myocyte size was not affected. Coronary arteriolar wall thickness increased with Hhe due to smooth muscle hyperplasia. Mast cells increased in parallel with Hhe and collagen accumulation. In summary, 10 wk of Hhe caused coronary arteriolar remodeling, myocardial collagen deposition, and diastolic dysfunction in hypertensive rats.