Psychological effects of multimedia-induced sexualisation of girls in middle childhood: a systematic literature review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to systematically review available literature pertaining to the psychological effects of multimedia-induced sexualisation of girls in middle childhood (between the ages of 6 and 12 years old). METHOD: A systematic review was conducted through a comprehensive electronic search. Nineteen studies were included in the review and the data was analysed by means of qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Two themes were identified, namely: 1) detrimental psychological effects of sexualisation; and 2) beneficial psychological effects of sexualisation. Findings appeared to indicate that the psychological effects on girls in middle childhood resulting from sexualisation, such as internalisation, mental health problems, objectification and gender stereotyping, were more likely to be detrimental than beneficial to their well-being. The review also found a paucity of research on the topic within developing countries. Consequently, the authors recommended a precautionary approach pertaining to sexualisation of girls in middle childhood. CONCLUSION: A thorough understanding of the topic is valuable as it can inform a preventative and proactive management approach. It can especially assist in informing policy as well as therapists by informing their developmental conceptualisation and treatment of girls in middle childhood.

Ultrastructure of the cardiac and pyloric glands of the gastric mucosa of the South African hedgehog, Atelerix frontalis.

The cardiac and pyloric glands in the gastric mucosa of the South African hedgehog, Atelerix frontalis, are described. The cardiac area of the stomach contains proper cardiac glands and lacks undifferentiated fundic glands. The cardiac glands are simple tubular, coiled, and lined with columnar cells ultrastructurally similar to those of the gastric surface epithelium. Secretory granules with varying electron densities fill the apical cytoplasm of these cells. In contrast to other mammals, these glands lack mucous neck cells. The neck of the pyloric glands contains only a single cell type, whereas the basal regions of these glands contain "light" and "dark" cells. The secretory granules in the "dark" cells and the pyloric neck cells have a moderate electron density and often contain an electron dense core. An electron-lucent cytoplasm with numerous polysomes is characteristic of the "light" cells. Some "light" cells contain electron-dense granules in the apical cytoplasm. The presence of only neutral mucins in the cardiac gland cells denotes the absence of mucous neck cells. The acidic mucins within the pyloric neck cells seem to indicate that these cells are mucous neck cells, whereas the neutral mucins within the basally located pyloric gland cells show at least a partial functional difference from the pyloric neck cells. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Light, electron microscopical, and immunocytochemical investigation of the stomach wall of the tigerfish Hydrocynus forskahlii.

The wall of the stomach of the tigerfish is described and compared with that of other vertebrates. Light microscopic and ultrastructural characteristics of the stomach wall correspond to a large extent to those of other vertebrates, although some differences are found. The mucosa contains (1) surface epithelium characterized by narrow columnar cells with abundant mucous granules; (2) gastric glands consisting of pepsinogenic cells of variable height, containing tubulovesicles and bearing microvilli; (3) five granulated cell types located basally in the epithelium (types 1-5); and (4) lamina propria and muscularis mucosae. Connective tissue separating smooth muscle fibers of the muscularis mucosae constitutes a stratum compactum. The submucosa contains a loose connective tissue, a tunica muscularis of inner circular and outer longitudinal layers, and a serosa of mesothelium and subjacent connective tissue. Immunocytochemical tests with antisera to five polypeptides show gastrin/cholecystokinin (CCK), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) immunoreactivities in some cells of the gastric glands, and somatostatin in cells lying among epithelial cells lining the gastric luminal surface or gastric pits.