scholarly journals ‘Gut health’ and the microbiome in the popular press: a content analysis

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. e052446
Author(s):  
Alessandro R Marcon ◽  
Stuart Turvey ◽  
Timothy Caulfield
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
General Context ◽  
Gut Health ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Health Trends ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
Lifestyle Choices ◽  
Almost All

ObjectiveExtensive research and important discoveries on the microbiome have led to a growth in media coverage. This study explores how the microbiome has been portrayed in press sources popular among American and Canadian audiences.DesignContent analysis.MethodsUsing the FACTIVA Database, we compiled a finalised data set of (N=830) articles from press sources popular among American and Canadian audiences which were published between 1 January 2018 and 11 October 2019 and which contained at least one of the following search terms: ‘microbiome’, ‘microbiota’, ‘gut health’, ‘healthy gut’, ‘unhealthy gut’, ‘gut bacteria’, ‘probiotic’ or ‘probiotics.’ We performed content analysis on the articles to determine how often ideas of the microbiome were presented as beneficial, in which health contexts, and whether actions could be taken to reap stated benefits. We compared this portrayal of benefits with critical portrayals of the microbiome.ResultsAlmost all of the articles (94%) described health benefits associated with the microbiome with many (79%) describing actions which could be taken to reap stated benefits. Articles most often described health benefits in more broad, general context (34%) and most commonly outlined actions related to food/drug (45%) as well as probiotic (27%) intake. Only some articles (19%) provided microbiome-related critiques or limitations. Some of the articles (22%) were focused on highlighting specific research developments, and in these articles, critiques or limitations were more common.ConclusionsArticles discussing the microbiome published for American and Canadian audiences typically hype the microbiome’s impact and popularise gut health trends while only offering a little in the way of communicating microbiome science. Lifestyle choices including nutrition, taking probiotics, stress management and exercise are often promoted as means of reaping the microbiome-related health benefits. The trend of actionable ‘gut health’ is foregrounded over more evidence-based descriptions of microbiome science.

scholarly journals Content analysis of Twitter chatter about indoor tanning

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Molly E Waring ◽  
Katie Baker ◽  
Anthony Peluso ◽  
Christine N May ◽  
Sherry L Pagoto
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Indoor Tanning ◽  
Health Warnings ◽  
Full Data ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
Falling Asleep ◽  
Tanning Bed ◽  
Positive Sentiment ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract Twitter may be useful for learning about indoor tanning behavior and attitudes. The objective of this study was to analyze the content of tweets about indoor tanning to determine the extent to which tweets are posted by people who tan, and to characterize the topics of tweets. We extracted 4,691 unique tweets from Twitter using the terms “tanning bed” or “tanning salon” over 7 days in March 2016. We content analyzed a random selection of 1,000 tweets, double-coding 20% of tweets (κ = 0.74, 81% agreement). Most tweets (71%) were by tanners (n = 699 individuals) and included tweets expressing positive sentiment about tanning (57%), and reports of a negative tanning experience (17%), burning (15%), or sleeping in a tanning bed (9%). Four percent of tweets were by tanning salon employees. Tweets posted by people unlikely to be tanners (15%) included tweets mocking tanners (71%) and health warnings (29%). The term “tanning bed” had higher precision for identifying individuals who engage in indoor tanning than “tanning salon”; 77% versus 45% of tweets captured by these search terms were by individuals who engaged in indoor tanning, respectively. Extrapolating to the full data set of 4,691 tweets, findings suggest that an average of 468 individuals who engage in indoor tanning can be identified by their tweets per day. The majority of tweets were from tanners and included reports of especially risky habits (e.g., burning, falling asleep). Twitter provides opportunity to identify indoor tanners and examine conversations about indoor tanning.

Searching Online for Methods of Suicide

Crisis ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Christian Ulrich Eriksen ◽  
Flemming Konradsen ◽  
Thilde Vildekilde
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
English Language ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
Online Content ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
Methods Of Suicide

Abstract. Background: Information on methods of suicide is available online, and access to information on methods of suicide appears to contribute to a small but significant proportion of suicides. There is limited documentation of how methods of suicide are being profiled, as well as what content exists in other languages than English. Aim: We aimed to analyze and compare how methods of suicide are profiled on Danish and English-language websites. Method: We applied a categorization and content analysis of websites describing methods of suicide. Sites were retrieved by applying widely used Danish and English-language search terms. Results: A total of 136 English-language websites and 106 Danish-language websites were included for analysis. Websites were more often categorized as prevention or support sites, academic or policy sites, and against suicide sites than dedicated suicide sites (i.e., pro-suicide sites), or information sites. However, information on methods of suicide was available, and 20.1% and 8.9% of the English and Danish-language sites, respectively, suggested that a particular method of suicide was quick, easy, painless, or certain to result in death. Limitations: Only one author coded and analyzed all websites. A further operationalization of the content analysis checklist is warranted to increase reliability. Conclusion: The websites primarily had a prevention or anti-suicide focus, but information on methods of suicide was available, requiring an increased focus on how to diminish the negative effects of harmful online content.

State Medical Boards' Perceptions of a Minimum Data Set and Current Practices for Collecting Physician Information

2013 ◽  
Vol 99 (4) ◽  
pp. 40-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Young ◽  
Philip Davignon ◽  
Margaret B. Hansen ◽  
Mark A. Eggen
Keyword(s):  
Media Coverage ◽  
The United States ◽  
Minimum Data Set ◽  
Direct Patient Care ◽  
Physician Workforce ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Minimum Data ◽  
State Medical Boards ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Current Practices

ABSTRACT Recent media coverage has focused on the supply of physicians in the United States, especially with the impact of a growing physician shortage and the Affordable Care Act. State medical boards and other entities maintain data on physician licensure and discipline, as well as some biographical data describing their physician populations. However, there are gaps of workforce information in these sources. The Federation of State Medical Boards' (FSMB) Census of Licensed Physicians and the AMA Masterfile, for example, offer valuable information, but they provide a limited picture of the physician workforce. Furthermore, they are unable to shed light on some of the nuances in physician availability, such as how much time physicians spend providing direct patient care. In response to these gaps, policymakers and regulators have in recent years discussed the creation of a physician minimum data set (MDS), which would be gathered periodically and would provide key physician workforce information. While proponents of an MDS believe it would provide benefits to a variety of stakeholders, an effort has not been attempted to determine whether state medical boards think it is important to collect physician workforce data and if they currently collect workforce information from licensed physicians. To learn more, the FSMB sent surveys to the executive directors at state medical boards to determine their perceptions of collecting workforce data and current practices regarding their collection of such data. The purpose of this article is to convey results from this effort. Survey findings indicate that the vast majority of boards view physician workforce information as valuable in the determination of health care needs within their state, and that various boards are already collecting some data elements. Analysis of the data confirms the potential benefits of a physician minimum data set (MDS) and why state medical boards are in a unique position to collect MDS information from physicians.

scholarly journals Elicitation of Stress-Induced Phenolic Metabolites for Antimicrobial Applications against Foodborne Human Bacterial Pathogens

Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 109
Author(s):  
Ashish Christopher ◽  
Dipayan Sarkar ◽  
Kalidas Shetty
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Bacterial Pathogens ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Antimicrobial Properties ◽  
Pentose Phosphate ◽  
Plant Food ◽  
Gut Health ◽  
Phenolic Metabolites ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
Specific Objective

Foodborne bacterial pathogens in consumed foods are major food safety concerns worldwide, leading to serious illness and even death. An exciting strategy is to use novel phenolic compounds against bacterial pathogens based on recruiting the inducible metabolic responses of plant endogenous protective defense against biotic and abiotic stresses. Such stress-inducible phenolic metabolites have high potential to reduce bacterial contamination, and particularly improve safety of plant foods. The stimulation of plant protective response by inducing biosynthesis of stress-inducible phenolics with antimicrobial properties is among the safe and effective strategies that can be targeted for plant food safety and human gut health benefits. Metabolically driven elicitation with physical, chemical, and microbial elicitors has shown significant improvement in the biosynthesis of phenolic metabolites with antimicrobial properties in food and medicinal plants. Using the above rationale, this review focuses on current advances and relevance of metabolically driven elicitation strategies to enhance antimicrobial phenolics in plant food models for bacterial-linked food safety applications. Additionally, the specific objective of this review is to explore the potential role of redox-linked pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) regulation for enhancing biosynthesis of stress-inducible antibacterial phenolics in elicited plants, which are relevant for wider food safety and human health benefits.

Observers in analytic groups: A content analysis study from the participant perspective

2021 ◽  
pp. 053331642110076
Author(s):  
Christian Peter Endler ◽  
Angelika Enzian ◽  
Günter Dietrich ◽  
Stefan Schacht ◽  
Gabriele Sachs
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Group Leader ◽  
Analysis Study ◽  
Survey And Evaluation ◽  
Literature Group ◽  
Almost All

What perceptions do group participants have about silent observers, what transferences are involved, what function can the listeners have for the group? In an anonymous survey and evaluation based on content analysis, almost all participants reported positive, and two thirds also negative impressions and perceptions. Observers were perceived as being familiar or supportive and as threatening or constraining to an approximately equal extent. There was no outright demonization or perception of a divide between the group leader(s) and the observers, as described in the older literature. Group participants also appear to perceive observers as representatives of their own superego, which are ‘silenced’.

scholarly journals Probiotics and Oral Health

2010 ◽  
Vol 04 (03) ◽  
pp. 348-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Haukioja
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Oral Cavity ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Probiotic Bacteria ◽  
Gut Health ◽  
Gastrointestinal Infections ◽  
Viable Bacteria ◽  
Clinical Interest ◽  
Probiotic Lactobacilli

The number of products containing probiotics, viable bacteria with proven health benefits, entering the market is increasing. Traditionally, probiotics have been associated with gut health, and most clinical interest has been focused on their use for prevention or treatment of gastrointestinal infections and diseases; however, during the last decade several investigators have also suggested the use of probiotics for oral health purposes. The aim of this review is to examine potential mechanisms of probiotic bacteria in the oral cavity and summarize observed effects of probiotics with respect to oral health. The review focuses on probiotic lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, genera that are most used in various probiotic products. (Eur J Dent 2010;4:348-355)

P–469 Period Tracker Applications – are they giving women accurate menstrual cycle information?

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Worsfold ◽  
L Marriott ◽  
S Johnson ◽  
J Harper
Keyword(s):  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Cycle Length ◽  
Data Entry ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
Menstrual Cycles ◽  
Conflicting Information ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
Fertile Window ◽  
Registration Number ◽  
Almost All

Abstract Study question Are period trackers giving women accurate information about their periods and ovulation? Summary answer The top 10 period trackers gave conflicting information on period dates, ovulation day and the fertile window. What is known already Period tracking applications allow women to track their menstrual cycles and receive a prediction for their periods. The majority of applications also provide predictions of day of ovulation and the fertile window. Previous research indicates applications are basing predictions on assuming women undergo a textbook 28-day cycle with ovulation occurring on day 14 and a fertile window between days 10 and 17. Study design, size, duration An audit of menstrual cycle apps was conducted on the Apple app store using menstrual cycle tracker/period tracker as the search terms. The top ten apps that followed the inclusion and exclusion criteria were analysed and used for this study. All apps had the ability to allow retrospective data entry giving future cycle predictions and fertile window, and nine of the apps predicted a day of ovulation. Participants/materials, setting, methods Five women’s profiles for 6 menstrual cycles were created and entered into each app. Cycle length (CL) and ovulation day (OD) for the 6th cycle were; Woman 1 – Constant 28 day CL, 0D 16, Woman 2 – Average 23 day CL, OD 13, Woman 3 – Average 28 day CL, OD 17, Woman 4 – Average 33 day CL, OD 20 and Woman 5 – Irregular, average 31 day CL, OD 14. Main results and the role of chance For cycle length, the apps all predicted woman 1’s cycles correctly but for women 2–5, the apps predicted 0 to 8 days shorter or longer than expected. For day of ovulation; for woman 1, no apps predicted this correctly; the apps ranged from day 13–15. For woman 2, 1 app was correct and overall the apps showed a lot of variation from day 8 to 13. For woman 3, no apps got it right, with a range of day 13–16. For woman 4, 2 apps got it right, but the apps ranged from day 13–20. For woman 5, no apps got right; the apps ranged from day 13–21. Irrespective of cycle length, 7 apps predicted a fertile window of 7 days in almost all cases; except 1 app that predicted 6 days for woman 2 and a different app which predicted 8 days for woman 4. For the remaining 3 apps, one always predicted a 10 day fertile window. One app predicted an 11 day fertile window in 4/5 women. One app predicted a 12 day fertile window in 4/5 women. Limitations, reasons for caution The five profiles created spanned a range of observed cycle characteristics, but many permutations are possible. A Monte Carlo type analysis could be conducted to examine these possibilities to provide more precise assessment of app performance, but as data had to be added manually into apps, this was not possible. Wider implications of the findings: The apps do not use the same algorithm and show variation. The information given by these apps is not 100% accurate, especially for the day of ovulation and the fertile window which can only be predicted if using a marker of ovulation, such as basal body temperature or ovulation sticks. Trial registration number Not applicable

In vitro effectiveness of biapenem against IMP-producing Enterobacteriaceae

2021 ◽  
Vol 70 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuyoshi Gotoh ◽  
Makoto Miyoshi ◽  
I Putu Bayu Mayura ◽  
Koji Iio ◽  
Osamu Matsushita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Option ◽  
Small Data ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Almost All ◽  
New Treatments ◽  
Time Kill

The options available for treating infections with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) are limited; with the increasing threat of these infections, new treatments are urgently needed. Biapenem (BIPM) is a carbapenem, and limited data confirming its in vitro killing effect against CPE are available. In this study, we examined the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of BIPM for 14 IMP-1-producing Enterobacteriaceae strains isolated from the Okayama region in Japan. The MICs against almost all the isolates were lower than 0.5 µg ml−1, indicating susceptibility to BIPM, while approximately half of the isolates were confirmed to be bacteriostatic to BIPM. However, initial killing to a 99.9 % reduction was observed in seven out of eight strains in a time–kill assay. Despite the small data set, we concluded that the in vitro efficacy of BIPM suggests that the drug could be a new therapeutic option against infection with IMP-producing CPE.

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