The gendered behaviors displayed by Disney protagonists.

Previous research suggests that the portrayal of male and female protagonists in Disney animations may be changing over time. The current study examined the portrayal of gendered behaviors displayed within some of Disney's most successful animated feature length films, including those beyond the Disney princess franchise. Extending the scope of the Disney animated films analyzed was important because both young girls and young boys report little personal interest in male characters within the Disney princess animations. This suggests that it is important to look beyond the Disney princess franchise to understand the gendered behaviors displayed by potentially influential male Disney protagonists. The current study also considered a greater number of masculine and feminine behaviors as well as some gender-neutral traits which had yet to be incorporated. A quantitative content analysis of 39 Disney protagonists from films released between 1937 and 2021 was conducted. The results revealed that male and female protagonists were statistically higher in feminine than masculine traits. Female protagonists from the earliest animations were the most feminine. However, there was no statistical difference in the gendered portrayals of females in the animations released in the 1990s and those released from 2009 to 2021 suggesting some continued stereotyping in females' profiles. Alternatively, male characters were more feminine relatively consistently across time-points. This study concludes that Disney is persistently portraying stereotyped female protagonists, and this could have implications on young females' behavioral profiles. However, the extent to which feminine traits are being celebrated when displayed by male protagonists needs to be examined, as well as the potential relationship between such messages and boys' behaviors and children's conceptualizations of gender more broadly.

The portrayal of gender in Marvel and Star Wars media targeted towards children.

An abundance of previous research has investigated how gender has been portrayed within feature length films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, particularly those within the Disney princess franchise. However, the Disney corporation acquired the Marvel and Star Wars franchises in 2009 and 2012, respectively, which was likely a strategy for the corporation to obtain characters that would capture the imagination of boys and men. The current qualitative study explored how gender is portrayed by leading protagonists in these texts, utilising thematic analysis, which was necessary considering little is currently known in this domain. The researchers analysed series one of Avengers Assemble and series one of Star Wars Rebels. Interpretation of the data led to the development of several themes and subthemes based on the gendered portrayals within each series. Overall, the findings suggest that there was more overt gender stereotyping in Avengers Assemble when compared with Star Wars Rebels, meaning that the former could be particularly problematic for children who may replicate its messages. The current study has facilitated a greater understanding of the gendered messages that may be consumed by children who engage with Marvel and Star Wars media. Future research is needed to assess the relationship between such messages and children's behaviour.

Mechanisms of synthetic lethality between BRCA1/2 and 53BP1 deficiencies and DNA polymerase theta targeting.

A synthetic lethal relationship exists between disruption of polymerase theta (Polθ), and loss of either 53BP1 or homologous recombination (HR) proteins, including BRCA1; however, the mechanistic basis of these observations are unclear. Here we reveal two distinct mechanisms of Polθ synthetic lethality, identifying dual influences of 1) whether Polθ is lost or inhibited, and 2) the underlying susceptible genotype. Firstly, we find that the sensitivity of BRCA1/2- and 53BP1-deficient cells to Polθ loss, and 53BP1-deficient cells to Polθ inhibition (ART558) requires RAD52, and appropriate reduction of RAD52 can ameliorate these phenotypes. We show that in the absence of Polθ, RAD52 accumulations suppress ssDNA gap-filling in G2/M and encourage MRE11 nuclease accumulation. In contrast, the survival of BRCA1-deficient cells treated with Polθ inhibitor are not restored by RAD52 suppression, and ssDNA gap-filling is prevented by the chemically inhibited polymerase itself. These data define an additional role for Polθ, reveal the mechanism underlying synthetic lethality between 53BP1, BRCA1/2 and Polθ loss, and indicate genotype-dependent Polθ inhibitor mechanisms.

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals transcriptional changes of human choroidal and retinal pigment epithelium cells during fetal development, in healthy adult and intermediate age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most prevalent cause of blindness in the developed world. Vision loss in the advanced stages of the disease is caused by atrophy of retinal photoreceptors, overlying retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and choroidal endothelial cells. The molecular events that underline the development of these cell types from in utero to adult as well as the progression to intermediate and advanced stages AMD are not yet fully understood. We performed single-cell RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) of human fetal and adult RPE-choroidal tissues, profiling in detail all the cell types and elucidating cell type-specific proliferation, differentiation and immunomodulation events that occur up to midgestation. Our data demonstrate that progression from the fetal to adult state is characterized by an increase in expression of genes involved in the oxidative stress response and detoxification from heavy metals, suggesting a better defence against oxidative stress in the adult RPE-choroid tissue. Single-cell comparative transcriptional analysis between a patient with intermediate AMD and an unaffected subject revealed a reduction in the number of RPE cells and melanocytes in the macular region of the AMD patient. Together these findings may suggest a macular loss of RPE cells and melanocytes in the AMD patients, but given the complex processing of tissues required for single-cell RNA-Seq that is prone to technical artefacts, these findings need to be validated by additional techniques in a larger number of AMD patients and controls.

A rare case of severe bilateral Graves' orbitopathy involving an anophthalmic socket.

Summary: This is a report of a rare case of Graves' hyperthyroidism associated with severe bilateral Graves' orbitopathy, in a patient with an anophthalmic eye socket. On clinical review her prosthetic eye (left eye) was tilting upwards, along with worsening of Graves' orbitopathy (GO) in the only seeing eye. As she refused IV glucocorticoids, she was offered rituximab which only caused a transient improvement in the clinical activity score of the eye. She had persistent right upper lid retraction of 6 mm, associated with lagophthalmos. To protect her seeing eye from corneal ulceration, the patient received a botulinum toxin injection to the right upper eyelid to induce blepharoptosis as an interim measure prior to right upper eyelid blepharotomy in April 2021. This patient remains biochemically euthyroid on block and replace therapy and her TRAb level is falling over time. Treatment for active GO is ongoing and the patient required a redo blepharotomy for painful corneal exposure in the right eye. Learning points: Graves' orbitopathy (GO) does not actually primarily affect the eyeball itself but the orbital contents as well. Patients with severe GO in an only seeing-eyed patient should be referred early to a multidisciplinary Joint Thyroid Eye clinic for expert review and management. Patient outcomes including sight loss are likely to be improved by the extended range of medical and surgical treatment modalities available at specialist clinics treating GO, including the use of immunomodulatory drugs like rituximab or teprotumumab.

Patterns of attendances to the hospital emergency eye care service: a multicentre study in England.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To characterise the patterns of presentation and diagnostic frequencies in Hospital Emergency Eye Care Services (HEECS) across 13 hospitals in England. METHODS: Retrospective, cross-sectional, observational multi-centre (n = 13) study to assess HEECS attendances over a 28-day study period. Data derived included: number of consecutive attendances, patient demographics and diagnoses. Age and gender variations, the impact of day of the week on attendance patterns, diagnostic frequencies and estimates of the annual incidence and attendance rates were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 17,667 patient (mean ± standard deviation age = 49.6 ± 21.8 years) attendances were identified with an estimated HEECS annual new attendance rate of 31.0 per 1,000 population. Significantly more females (53%) than males (47%) attended HEECS (p < 0.001). Female attendances were 13% higher in those ≥50 years of age. Weekends were associated with a significant reduction in attendances compared to weekdays (χ2 = 6.94, p < 0.001). Among weekdays, Mondays and Fridays were associated with significantly higher attendances compared with midweek (χ2 = 2.20, p = 0.032). Presenting pathologies involving the external eye, cornea and conjunctiva accounted for 28.6% of the caseload. CONCLUSION: This is the largest multicentre study assessing attendance patterns in HEECS in England. We have, for the first time, observed a "weekend effect" in relation to attendance to HEECS. Differences in health-seeking behaviour and lack of awareness of HEECS weekend services may be partly attributed to the differences observed. Our findings, along with the type of presentations, have the potential to guide commissioners with future planning of HEECS.

A single cell atlas of human cornea that defines its development, limbal progenitor cells and their interactions with the immune cells.

PURPOSE: Single cell (sc) analyses of key embryonic, fetal and adult stages were performed to generate a comprehensive single cell atlas of all the corneal and adjacent conjunctival cell types from development to adulthood. METHODS: Four human adult and seventeen embryonic and fetal corneas from 10 to 21 post conception week (PCW) specimens were dissociated to single cells and subjected to scRNA- and/or ATAC-Seq using the 10x Genomics platform. These were embedded using Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP) and clustered using Seurat graph-based clustering. Cluster identification was performed based on marker gene expression, bioinformatic data mining and immunofluorescence (IF) analysis. RNA interference, IF, colony forming efficiency and clonal assays were performed on cultured limbal epithelial cells (LECs). RESULTS: scRNA-Seq analysis of 21,343 cells from four adult human corneas and adjacent conjunctivas revealed the presence of 21 cell clusters, representing the progenitor and differentiated cells in all layers of cornea and conjunctiva as well as immune cells, melanocytes, fibroblasts, and blood/lymphatic vessels. A small cell cluster with high expression of limbal progenitor cell (LPC) markers was identified and shown via pseudotime analysis to give rise to five other cell types representing all the subtypes of differentiated limbal and corneal epithelial cells. A novel putative LPCs surface marker, GPHA2, expressed on the surface of 0.41% ± 0.21 of the cultured LECs, was identified, based on predominant expression in the limbal crypts of adult and developing cornea and RNAi validation in cultured LECs. Combining scRNA- and ATAC-Seq analyses, we identified multiple upstream regulators for LPCs and demonstrated a close interaction between the immune cells and limbal progenitor cells. RNA-Seq analysis indicated the loss of GPHA2 expression and acquisition of proliferative limbal basal epithelial cell markers during ex vivo LEC expansion, independently of the culture method used. Extending the single cell analyses to keratoconus, we were able to reveal activation of collagenase in the corneal stroma and a reduced pool of limbal suprabasal cells as two key changes underlying the disease phenotype. Single cell RNA-Seq of 89,897 cells obtained from embryonic and fetal cornea indicated that during development, the conjunctival epithelium is the first to be specified from the ocular surface epithelium, followed by the corneal epithelium and the establishment of LPCs, which predate the formation of limbal niche by a few weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Our scRNA-and ATAC-Seq data of developing and adult cornea in steady state and disease conditions provide a unique resource for defining genes/pathways that can lead to improvement in ex vivo LPCs expansion, stem cell differentiation methods and better understanding and treatment of ocular surface disorders.

Access to intraoperative tumour margin control: a survey of the British Oculoplastic Surgery Society.

BACKGROUND: Periocular malignancy is common and in most cases will undergo excision with pre-determined margins and subsequent histological examination. Intraoperative margin control (IOMC) modalities such as fast frozen section (FFS), fast paraffin (FP) and Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) are being increasingly widely used, though there is a lack of information regarding utility. The aim of this study was to survey members of the British Oculoplastic Surgery Society (BOPSS) to determine attitudes and access to different modalities of IOMC. METHODS: A 12-question online survey was disseminated via an e-mail to full members of the BOPSS. The survey was hosted using Qualtrics software via the University of Sussex. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 64 of 165 (38.8%). MMS was readily available in a neighbouring trust to 23 of 64 respondents (35.9%). Seven respondents (10.9%) reported no regional access to MMS. Twenty-nine members had readily available access to FFS (45.3%) and 37 of 64 to FP (57.8%) in their own institution. There is variation in what tumour types would be considered appropriate for IOMC, though most thought clinically ill-defined (morphoeic) basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) should undergo one form of IOMC (90.6% and 81.3%, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study highlights variation in availability and utilisation of IOMC amongst oculoplastic surgeons and in different regions of the UK. While the exact place of IOMC in periocular tumour excision is debated, there is a consistent view that it should be available for some tumours. Greater consistency in provision may improve patient outcomes.

A British Ophthalmological Surveillance Unit (BOSU) study into dysthyroid optic neuropathy in the United Kingdom.

This prospective British Ophthalmological Surveillance Unit (BOSU) study on dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON) determines the incidence, presenting features and management throughout the UK. New cases were identified through the BOSU yellow card and an initial questionnaire and a subsequent 9-month follow-up questionnaire were posted out. From August 2015 to August 2016 DON was reported in 49 patients with 71 eyes affected, 22 patients had bilateral DON. The most common presenting symptom was blurred vision (83%) and the most common examination finding was upgaze restriction (85%). 85% of patients were initially treated with 3 days of either 1 g or 500 mg intravenous methyl prednisolone. We received 25 follow-up questionnaires (51% of the initial cohort) with 38 eyes treated for DON and 13 bilateral cases. The average steroid dose over 9 months was 4.5 g and 47% of patients had a surgical orbital decompression. The mean visual acuity gain after 9 months of follow-up for all patients was 0.25 LogMAR. The mean visual acuity gain after just medical therapy was 0.25 LogMAR and after both medical therapy and orbital decompression it was 0.24 LogMAR. In conclusion, the incidence of DON in the UK from this study is 0.75 per million population per annum. The majority of patients are treated with initial medical therapy and almost half of all patients subsequently went on to have an orbital decompression. With either medical therapy or medical and surgical therapy, vision can improve in patients with DON.

Can drones count gulls? Minimal disturbance and semiautomated image processing with an unmanned aerial vehicle for colony-nesting seabirds.

Accurate counts of wild populations are essential to monitor change through time, but some techniques demand specialist surveyors and may result in unacceptable disturbance or inaccurate counts. Recent technological developments in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) offer great potential for a range of survey and monitoring approaches. They literally offer a bird's-eye view, but this increased power of observation presents the challenge of translating large amounts of imagery into accurate survey data. Seabirds, in particular, present the particular challenges of nesting in large, often inaccessible colonies that are difficult to view for ground observers, which are commonly susceptible to disturbance. We develop a protocol for carrying out UAV surveys of a breeding seabird colony (Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Larus fuscus) and subsequent image processing to provide a semiautomated classification for counting the number of birds. Behavioral analysis of the gull colonies demonstrated that minimal disturbance occurred during UAV survey flights at an altitude of 15 m above ground level, which provided high-resolution imagery for analysis. A protocol of best practice was developed using the expertise from both a UAV perspective and that of a dedicated observer. A GIS-based semiautomated classification process successfully counted the gulls, with a mean agreement of 98% and a correlation of 99% with manual counts of imagery. We also propose a method to differentiate between the different gull species captured by our survey. Our UAV survey and analysis approach provide accurate counts (when comparing manual vs. semi-automated counts taken from the UAV imagery) of a wild seabird population with minimal disturbance, with the potential to expand this to include species differentiation. The continued development of analytical and survey tools whilst minimizing the disturbance to wild populations is both key to unlocking the future of the rapid advances in UAV technology for ecological survey.

A case series of anophthalmic socket cysts excised utilising fibrin sealant.

Anophthalmic socket cysts are challenging to remove and incomplete excision has been shown to increase the risk of recurrence. This case series describes a novel technique utilising the fibrin sealant Tisseel (Baxter AG, Vienna, Austria) to retain the socket cyst integrity during surgical removal to facilitate its complete excision. Five patients were included and followed up for a minimum of 1 year, and there were no signs of recurrence in any of the cases. The surgical technique is described and illustrated. This technique is a safe way of simplifying challenging socket cyst surgery.

Effects of Video Footage Versus Photographs on Perception of Dog Behavioral Traits.

Photographs are frequently used to promote adoption of dogs on rescue shelter websites. While physical traits are well illustrated via photographs, conveying a dog's behavioral traits is more problematic. Traits such as sociability, obedience, and friendliness are likely to be better displayed via video footage. This study explored the effects of video versus photographs on the perception of dog behavioral traits. Four dogs from a Gloucestershire Rescue Shelter (2 desirable breeds, 2 from a stigmatized breed) were individually photographed, and a 30-s video of each was recorded. Two questionnaires were produced containing either a video or photograph of each dog. Each questionnaire presented all 4 dogs but via different media. Participants rated their agreement with 12 statements relating to their perceptions of the dog seen. Dogs viewed via video were considered to be more trainable, intelligent, friendly, and gentle and less dominant, aggressive, and unsociable. This finding was observed in desired and stigmatized breeds. Perceived behavioral traits can impact the likelihood of adoption. These findings suggest that greater use of video footage by rehoming shelters could help promote dog adoptions.

PREGO (presentation of Graves' orbitopathy) study: changes in referral patterns to European Group On Graves' Orbitopathy (EUGOGO) centres over the period from 2000 to 2012.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The epidemiology of Graves' orbitopathy (GO) may be changing. The aim of the study was to identify trends in presentation of GO to tertiary centres and initial management over time. METHODS: Prospective observational study of European Group On Graves' Orbitopathy (EUGOGO) centres. All new referrals with a diagnosis of GO over a 4-month period in 2012 were included. Clinical and demographic characteristics, referral timelines and initial decisions about management were recorded. The data were compared with a similar EUGOGO survey performed in 2000. RESULTS: The demographic characteristics of 269 patients studied in 2012 were similar to those collected in the year 2000, including smoking rates (40.0% vs 40.2%). Mild (60.5% vs 41.2%, p<0.01) and inactive GO (63.2% vs 39.9%, p<0.01) were more prevalent in 2012. The times from diagnosis of thyroid disease to being seen in EUGOGO centres (6 vs 16 months) and from first symptoms of GO (9 vs 16 months) or from diagnosis of GO (6 vs 12 months) to first consultation in EUGOGO centres were shorter in 2012 (p<0.01). The initial management plans for GO were no different except surgical treatments for patients with mild inactive disease were more frequently offered in the 2012 cohort than in 2000 (27.3% vs 17%, p<0.05), and selenium supplements were offered only in the 2012 cohort (21.2% vs 0%, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the clinical manifestations of patients with GO may be changing over time in Europe.

Functional crosstalk between cardiac fibroblasts and adult cardiomyocytes by soluble mediators.

AIMS: Crosstalk between cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts in physiological conditions and during disease remains poorly defined. Previous studies have shown that fibroblasts and myocytes interact via paracrine communication, but several experimental confounding factors, including the use of immature myocytes and the induction of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression in fibroblasts by prolonged culture, have hindered our understanding of this phenomenon. We hypothesize that fibroblasts and myofibroblasts differentially affect cardiomyocytes viability, volume, and Ca(2+) handling via soluble mediators. More specifically here: (i) we compare the effects of freshly isolated fibroblasts and cultured fibroblasts from normal rat hearts on adult cardiomyocytes; (ii) we compare the effects of (freshly isolated) normal fibroblasts and myofibroblasts from pressure-overloaded hearts; and (iii) we study the contribution of TGF-ß and the importance of the crosstalk between the two cell types. METHODS AND RESULTS: We used co-culture methods and conditioned medium to investigate paracrine interaction between fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes. All fibroblast types reduce cardiomyocyte viability and increase cardiomyocyte volume but α-SMA-negative fibroblasts increase cardiomyocyte Ca(2+) transient amplitude, whereas cultured fibroblasts and myofibroblasts from pressure-overloaded hearts decrease Ca(2+) transient amplitude. In turn, cardiomyocytes release soluble mediators that affect fibroblast proliferation. Using SB431542 to block TGF-ß type 1 receptors, we determined that TGF-ß directly causes cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and participates in bi-directional regulatory signalling between fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Fibroblasts have different roles during physiology and disease in regulating myocardial function via soluble mediators. A crosstalk between fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes, controlled by TGF-ß, is crucial in this interaction.

Risk of injury associated with rugby union played on artificial turf.

The aim of this study was to compare the incidence, nature, and cause of injuries sustained in rugby union played on artificial turf and grass. The study comprised a two-season investigation of match injuries sustained by six teams competing in Hong Kong's Division 1 and training injuries sustained by two teams in the English Premiership. Injury definitions and recording procedures were compliant with the international consensus statement on epidemiological studies of injuries in rugby union. There were no significant differences in the overall incidence (rate ratio = 1.42; P = 0.134) or severity (P = 0.620) of match injuries sustained on the two surfaces. The lower limb and joint (non-bone)/ligament injuries were the most common location and type of match injury on both surfaces; the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injuries was nearly four times higher on artificial turf than grass but the difference was not statistically significant (rate ratio = 3.82; P = 0.222). There were no significant differences in the overall incidence (rate ratio = 1.36; P = 0.204) or severity (P = 0.302) of training injuries sustained on artificial turf and grass. The lower limb and muscle/tendon injuries were the most common location and type of training injury on both surfaces. The results indicate that the overall risks of injury on artificial turf are not significantly different from those experienced on grass; however, the difference in the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injuries on the two surfaces is worthy of further study.

Unilateral external ophthalmoplegia in Miller Fisher syndrome: case report.

BACKGROUND: A description of the diagnostic features of Miller Fisher syndrome. CASE PRESENTATION: The clinical presentation, investigation, and subsequent progress of our patient with clinical unilateral external ophthalmoplegia. CONCLUSION: Our case demonstrates the presentation of clinical unilateral external ophthalmoplegia as part of the full triad of Miller Fisher syndrome.

Hospital Episode Statistics and trends in ophthalmic surgery 1998-2004.

BACKGROUND: Hospital episode statistics (HES) is a UK national database for the National Health Service (NHS), now available online. The purpose of this study was to observe trends in ophthalmic operations performed during the period from 1998 to 2004, using this data. METHODS: From the 'Main Operation' codes within the 'Free data' section of the HES website we analysed data in regard to 28 specific ophthalmic operations. These represented each sub speciality within ophthalmology. RESULTS: The figures show a change in the total number and proportions of operations performed for many of the procedures. For example, there was an increase in numbers of orbital decompressions, but a decrease in numbers of glaucoma filtering operations. Changing trends could be seen in different surgical areas such as the change in operations used for corneal grafting and in retinal surgery. CONCLUSION: The HES database represents an important, potentially useful source of information. There are imitations in interpretation of and validity of such data related to coding inconsistencies. We suggest the benefit of the data comes from observing trends rather than exact numbers. As other studies using this data have suggested, it is important that clinicians are involved in improving the quality of this data.