Why the immorality of consuming alcohol during pregnancy cannot tell us that abortion is immoral: A reply to Hendricks.

Recently, Perry Hendricks argued that abortion is immoral even if the fetus is not a person. He did so by arguing that causing a future child to suffer from fetal alcohol syndrome is wrong because it is an impairment, and an abortion would be an even more substantial impairment. Here I reply that the argument depends on ignoring relevant facts that are essential for moral decision-making. Moreover, if we adapt the argument to consider these essential facts, then the argument fails because it no longer applies to the case under consideration.

Improving on and assessing ethical guidelines for digital tracking and tracing systems for pandemics.

So-called digital tracking and tracing systems (DTTSs) have been proposed as a means to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2. There are ethical guidelines and evaluations of such systems available. As part of a research project, I will build on and critically evaluate the foundations of such guidelines. The goal is to provide both incremental improvements of the specific requirements for DTTSs and to present and discuss more fundamental challenge, the risk for indirect effects and slippery slopes. The nature of slippery slopes makes ethical guidelines more difficult since it requires a more complex analysis than, for example, using a checklist allows for.

Against the De Minimis Principle.

According to the class of de minimis decision principles, risks can be ignored (or at least treated very differently from other risks) if the risk is sufficiently small. In this article, we argue that a de minimis threshold has no place in a normative theory of decision making, because the application of the principle will either recommend ignoring risks that should not be ignored (e.g., the sure death of a person) or it cannot be used by ordinary bounded and information-constrained agents.

Defining Information Security.

This article proposes a new definition of information security, the 'Appropriate Access' definition. Apart from providing the basic criteria for a definition-correct demarcation and meaning concerning the state of security-it also aims at being a definition suitable for any information security perspective. As such, it bridges the conceptual divide between so-called 'soft issues' of information security (those including, e.g., humans, organizations, culture, ethics, policies, and law) and more technical issues. Because of this it is also suitable for various analytical purposes, such as analysing possible security breaches, or for studying conflicting attitudes on security in an organization. The need for a new definition is demonstrated by pointing to a number of problems for the standard definition type of information security-the so-called CIA definition. Besides being too broad as well as too narrow, it cannot properly handle the soft issues of information security, nor recognize the contextual and normative nature of security.

Using a New Photo Scale to Compare Product Integration of Different Hyaluronan-Based Fillers After Injection in Human Ex Vivo Skin.

BACKGROUND: The rheological properties of HA products have been investigated thoroughly, and these properties have been used to predict the clinical performance of HA fillers. It has been suggested that firm gels have a better ability to withstand deformation, and softer gels have been claimed to integrate and spread more into the tissue since they are perceived to deform more easily. However, the scientific published data regarding product integration of filler products with different physicochemical properties is limited. Thus, there is a need to improve the understanding regarding links between rheological properties of the gel material and the clinical performance. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were: to develop and validate a photo scale for assessment of product distribution after intradermal injection, and to evaluate if product differences, such as overall rheological properties, gel particle size, swelling factor, and cohesivity effect the product distribution into the tissue after intradermal injections. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Intradermal injections of HA fillers were performed in ex vivo human abdominal skin samples. The skin samples were processed for histological evaluation. In order to evaluate the product integration after intradermal injection and compare the results between different products a 5-grade product integration scale (from 0 to 4) was developed based on representative microphotographs. The scale was validated and used for the evaluation of integration of the different products used in the study. The results were correlated with the rheological properties of the different products. RESULTS: G', the elastic modulus, is one important rheological parameter. Strong and firm gels have higher G' than weak and soft gels. When plotting the G' to mean product integration score in human skin obtained in the study, there was a statistically significant correlation with products with lowest G' having the highest integration score and products with high G' having the lowest integration scores. No statistical correlation could be seen when analyzing the score versus particle size, swelling factor, and cohesivity. CONCLUSION: The degree of product integration can be assessed and scored according to a 5-grade visual scale based on representative microphotographs. Products with different rheological properties distribute differently when injected into the skin. Firmer gel texture resulted in more targeted product integration whiles softer gel texture resulted in distributed product integration. J Drugs Dermatol. 2018;17(9):982-986.

Degradation of Hylauronic Acid Fillers Using Hyaluronidase in an In Vivo Model.

INTRODUCTION: Soft tissue fillers manufactured with hyaluronic acid (HA) dominate the filler market around the world and the fact that HA can be dissolved using hyaluronidase contributes to its popularity. Degradation of cross-linked HA products can be performed in situ and access to hyaluronidase is therefore essential for health care professionals (HCP) to perform safe filler treatments. The aim of the present study was to develop an in vivo model where hyaluronidase degradation of HA fillers can be studied in a standardized manner and then secondly, to explore the degradation of marketed HA fillers with different product characteristics. METHODS: Intradermal injections of HA fillers were performed and the injection sites were treated with hyaluronidase. The degradation was evaluated by measuring the heights of the injection site bumps during 5-7 days and with histology at day 7 post injection. RESULTS: The results showed that there was a correlation between the hyaluronidase dose and HA filler degradation. The onset of the degradation was fast for all products and the products were easily degraded. DISCUSSION: This standardized animal model proved efficient in the study of in vivo degradation of HA fillers using injected hyaluronidase where products manufactured with different technologies were evaluated. J Drugs Dermatol. 2018;17(5):548-553.

Mistake is to Myth What Pretense is to Fiction: A Reply to Goodman.

In this reply I defend Kripke's creationist thesis for mythical objects (Reference and Existence, 2013) against Jeffrey Goodman's counter-argument to the thesis ("Creatures of fiction, objects of myth", Analysis, 74(1), 35-40, 2014). I argue that Goodman has mistaken the basis for when mythical abstracta are created. Contrary to Goodman I show that, as well as how, Kripke's theory consistently retains the analogy between creation of mythical objects and creation of fictional objects, while also explaining in what way they differ.

Phthalates in indoor dust and their association with building characteristics.

In a recent study of 198 Swedish children with persistent allergic symptoms and 202 controls without such symptoms, we reported associations between the symptoms and the concentrations of n-butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in dust taken from the childrens' bedrooms. In the present study we examined associations between the concentrations of different phthalate esters in the dust from these bedrooms and various characteristics of the home. The study focused on BBzP and DEHP because these were the phthalates associated with health complaints. Associations have been examined using parametric and nonparametric tests as well as multiple logistic regression. For both BBzP and DEHP, we found associations between their dust concentrations and the amount of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) used as flooring and wall material in the home. Furthermore, high concentrations of BBzP (above median) were associated with self-reported water leakage in the home, and high concentrations of DEHP were associated with buildings constructed before 1960. Other associations, as well as absence of associations, are reported. Both BBzP and DEHP were found in buildings with neither PVC flooring nor wall covering, consistent with the numerous additional plasticized materials that are anticipated to be present in a typical home. The building characteristics examined in this study cannot serve as complete proxies for these quite varied sources. However, the associations reported here can help identify homes where phthalate concentrations are likely to be elevated and can aid in developing mitigation strategies.

Multigene/multisubtype HIV-1 vaccine induces potent cellular and humoral immune responses by needle-free intradermal delivery.

Gene vaccination encounters problems different from those of gene therapy since both a short half-life of the gene and a strong immune response to the gene product are desirable. We have evaluated a DNA vaccine consisting of seven plasmids encoding nine HIV-1 proteins. Using a needle-free delivery device, the Biojector, together with recombinant mouse GM-CSF, this vaccine induced strong gp160 Env- and p24 Gag-specific cellular and humoral immune responses in mice. The rGM-CSF was crucial for inducing both antibodies and antigen-specific CD8(+) T cell responses against both gp160 and p24. A GMP-produced lot of this vaccine, intended for human use, was delivered intradermally or intramuscularly into BALB/c mice at a GLP-accredited animal facility. This vaccine induced strong cellular responses independent of the route of immunization; moreover, no signs of toxicity were detected after histopathological examination of various tissues. Overall, the results indicate that the intradermal delivery of multigene/multisubtype HIV DNA in combination with recombinant GM-CSF is a safe and efficacious strategy for inducing high levels of specific CD8(+) T cells and unusually high titers of antibodies. This vaccine has been approved by the Swedish Medicinal Products Agency and is currently in a Phase I clinical trial.

The association between asthma and allergic symptoms in children and phthalates in house dust: a nested case-control study.

Global phthalate ester production has increased from very low levels at the end of World War II to approximately 3.5 million metric tons/year. The aim of the present study was to investigate potential associations between persistent allergic symptoms in children, which have increased markedly in developed countries over the past three decades, and the concentration of phthalates in dust collected from their homes. This investigation is a case-control study nested within a cohort of 10,852 children. From the cohort, we selected 198 cases with persistent allergic symptoms and 202 controls without allergic symptoms. A clinical and a technical team investigated each child and her or his environment. We found higher median concentrations of butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP) in dust among cases than among controls (0.15 vs. 0.12 mg/g dust). Analyzing the case group by symptoms showed that BBzP was associated with rhinitis (p = 0.001) and eczema (p = 0.001), whereas di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was associated with asthma (p = 0.022). Furthermore, dose-response relationships for these associations are supported by trend analyses. This study shows that phthalates, within the range of what is normally found in indoor environments, are associated with allergic symptoms in children. We believe that the different associations of symptoms for the three major phthalates-BBzP, DEHP, and di-n-butyl phthalate-can be explained by a combination of chemical physical properties and toxicologic potential. Given the phthalate exposures of children worldwide, the results from this study of Swedish children have global implications.

Scheimpflug photography study of ophthalmic viscosurgical devices during simulated cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate by Scheimpflug photography the capacity of several commercially available ophthalmic viscosurgical devices (OVDs) to remain in the anterior chamber and maintain anterior chamber depth (ACD) during simulated cataract surgery in porcine cadaver eyes. SETTING: Department of Preclinical Ophthalmology, Pharmacia & Upjohn AB, Uppsala, Sweden. METHODS: Eighty eyes from newly slaughtered pigs were used. They were distributed equally among 8 OVDs: Amvisc Plus (sodium hyaluronate 1.6%), Biolon (sodium hyaluronate 1.0%), Biolon Prime (sodium hyaluronate 1.2%), Healon (sodium hyaluronate 1.0%), Healon GV (sodium hyaluronate 1.4%), Healon5 (sodium hyaluronate 2.3%), Provisc (sodium hyaluronate 1.0%), and Viscoat (sodium hyaluronate 3.0%-chondroitin sulfate 4.0%). Scheimpflug photographs were taken using a Nidek EAS-1000 instrument before surgery (control), after injection of the OVD, after continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC), and after lens extraction by phacoemulsification. Differences in the ACD with a P value less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The retention capacity was visually assessed. RESULTS: Healon5 had a significantly higher capacity to maintain the ACD than the other OVDs after CCC and phacoemulsification. After injection, Healon5, Viscoat, and Biolon Prime showed similar ACD-maintaining capacities. CONCLUSIONS: The capacity of Healon5 to maintain the ACD during cataract surgery, ie, neutralizing the vitreous pressure and stabilizing the anterior segment of the eye, was significantly higher than that of the other OVDs.

Effect of 3-piece AcrySof and downsized heparin-surface-modified poly(methyl methacrylate) intraocular lenses in infant rabbit eyes.

PURPOSE: To evaluate after-cataract formation, ocular growth, and intraocular lens (IOL) behavior in lensectomized infant rabbit eyes implanted with a downsized heparin-surface-modified poly(methyl methacrylate) (HSM PMMA) IOL with long haptics or a 3-piece AcrySof(R) IOL (Alcon Laboratories, Inc.). SETTING: St. Erik's Eye Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. METHODS: Clear lens extraction was performed in both eyes of 3-week-old rabbits. In Group 1 (n = 9), a downsized HSM PMMA IOL with long haptics was implanted in 1 eye and in Group 2 (n = 9), a 3-piece AcrySof IOL was implanted in 1 eye. The fellow eyes remained aphakic. RESULTS: The amount of after-cataract was significantly less in the eyes with the IOLs than in the aphakic eyes. The eyes with the HSM PMMA IOL had significantly less after-cataract than those with the AcrySof IOL. No significant difference in axial length was noted between the IOL eyes and the aphakic eyes in either group. In the eyes with the 3-piece AcrySof IOL, there was anterior movement of the optic with occlusion of the pupil. CONCLUSIONS: Eyes with the HSM PMMA IOL and the AcrySof IOL had less after-cataract than the aphakic eyes. The HSM PMMA IOL, however, inhibited after-cataract production significantly better than the AcrySof IOL. The 3-piece AcrySof IOL was seriously deformed in the infant rabbit eyes and caused occlusion of the pupil. Surgeons should be cautious in implanting this AcrySof IOL in the eyes of newborns or in eyes with severe microphthalmia.

Catabolic enzyme activities in the pectoralis muscle of premigratory and migratory juvenile Reed Warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus (Herm.).

Differences in catabolic capacity in the pectoralis major muscle of premigratory and migratory Reed Warblers were examined. The oxidative capacity was greater in the migratory birds, probably reflecting a "training effect" caused by the increased locomotion activity just prior to migration.Fatty acid oxidation was already high in the premigratory birds, possibly reflecting a saving of carbohydrate for anabolic purposes (feather growth) during the moult. Glycolytic capacity was slightly increased in the migratory birds, suggesting an increased carbohydrate oxidation during migration in spite of the great contribution of fatty acid oxidation.

Seasonal variation in catabolic enzyme activities in breast muscle of some migratory birds.

Five bird species were examined in order to ascertain if any changes in flight muscle catabolism take place between breeding season and migration. Two different patterns were discovered. The first consists of a high oxidative capacity and a low glycolytic and anaerobic capacity during migration. The converse occurs during the breeding season, i.e. low oxidative, high glycolytic and anaerobic capacity. The pattern was found in those species that deposit large amounts of fat prior to migration. The second pattern was similar to the first, but there was no change in fatty acid oxidation capacity between breeding season and migration. The pattern was found in those species that do not deposit much fat towards migration. These changes are believed to reflect differences in migration strategy and differences in locomotory activity during different seasons. Deviations from these patterns are discussed.