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Background. Choice of adiposity measure may be important in the evaluation of relationships between adiposity and risk markers for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.Aim. We explored the strengths of risk marker associations with BMI, a simple measure of adiposity, and with measures provided by skinfold thicknesses and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).Subjects and Methods. We evaluated in three subgroups of white males (–349), participating in a health screening program, the strengths of relationship between measures of total and regional adiposity and risk markers relating to blood pressure, lipids and lipoproteins, insulin sensitivity, and subclinical inflammation.Results. Independent of age, smoking, alcohol intake, and exercise, the strongest correlations with adiposity measures were seen with serum triglyceride concentrations and indices of insulin sensitivity, with strengths of association showing little difference between BMI and skinfold and DXA measures of total and percent body fat (–0.46, ). Significant but weaker associations with adiposity were seen for serum HDL cholesterol and only relatively inconsistent associations with adiposity for total and LDL cholesterol and indices of subclinical inflammation.Conclusions. BMI can account for variation in risk markers in white males as well as more sophisticated measures derived from skinfold thickness measurements or DXA scanning.

Although waterpipe smoking is growing in popularity worldwide, its epidemiology remains poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and attitudes of waterpipe smoking among 489 medical students (54.6% female; mean age 20.4 ± 2.0 years) in the United Kingdom by conducting a cross-sectional survey. Waterpipe smoking was more common than cigarette smoking (current 11.0% vs. 6.3%, ever 51.7% vs. 16.8%). Mean age at waterpipe smoking initiation was 16.1 ± 2.6 years. Sex, ethnicity and sociodemographic factors did not predict current/ever waterpipe smoking. Tobacco control efforts need to consider waterpipe smoking in the light of this high prevalence.

Our motivation for this study is to provide new information to a researcher based on our field of study: Networking Systems. This is because Cyber crime is becoming very widespread and it is imperative to improve measures used to counteract such threats. There are various research gaps based on awareness of cyber security, and different methods used in enhancing and troubleshooting network security. This research area can offer many opportunities in which justice can be served, creating awareness, making cyber space a more secure area and creating a new business niche based on security. Hence, for our study on Network Security, we read through 24 research papers published between 2008 to 2014. These documents were retrieved online from CAIDA and IEEE, along with other computer journals and articles. The 24 research papers were then summarized into 7 different research gaps to help enlighten a researcher in the topic of Network Security. Therefore, researchers can then take the initiatives to come up with solutions to the issues raised in this paper.

Doctors will inevitably 1 day become patients. Whether as an acute emergency or as part of routine screening, doctors often find it difficult to recognise and act on their own healthcare needs. This article aims to provide a personal account and reflections from the point of view of a doctor in denial about his acute appendicitis, and a friend and fellow colleague9s attempts to convince him to seek help. We review the challenges, learning points and literature about why doctors ignore their health needs, both physical and psychological, and suggest potential changes to tackle this issue based on the current literature, support networks and personal experiences.

One of the recent advances in the field of dentistry is to provide prothesis that can replace lost natural teeth. Over several decades, researches were endeavouring to create dental implants with optimized criteria that allow long-term function and stability. After notable success, the use of dental implant has become an almost daily routine in dental practice. However, many factors can influence the success of dental implantation procedures. Primary implant stability remains the most reliable predictor of dental implants success, and many factors are known to have a considerable impact on the implant stability such as the thread morphology, the implant size and length, the implant body shape, the surgical technique use, and the underlying bone heath. Knowledge of these factors is essential for optimizing the outcome of dental implantation procedures even in unfavourable conditions. Therefore, this article aims at reviewing and discussing the various dental implants designs, characteristics, and stability.

Introduction. Waterpipe tobacco smoking prevalence is increasing worldwide despite its documented health effects. A general belief that it is less harmful than cigarettes may be fuelled by the lack of media campaigns highlighting its health effects. We aimed to create and assess the impact of a social media campaign about dangers of waterpipe smoking.Methods. The “ShishAware” campaign included three social media (Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube) and a website. Nine months after launch we collected data to assess use of, and reaction to, our media accounts.Results. Requiring limited maintenance resources, Facebook attracted campaign supporters but YouTube attracted opposers. Twitter enabled the most organisation-based contact but Facebook was the most interactive medium. Facebook users were more likely to “like” weekday than weekend statuses and more likely to comment on “shisha fact” than “current affairs” statuses. Follower subscription increased as our posting rate increased. Our YouTube video gained 19,428 views (from all world continents) and 218 comments (86% from pro-waterpipe smokers).Conclusions. Social media campaigns can be created and maintained relatively easily. They are innovative and have the potential for wide and rapid diffusion, especially towards target audiences. There is a need for more rigorous evaluation of their effects, particularly among the youth.

Background: The purpose of this manuscript is to describe the PhenX RISING network and the site experiences in the implementation of PhenX measures into ongoing population-based genomic studies. Methods. Eighty PhenX measures were implemented across the seven PhenX RISING groups, thirty-three of which were used at more than two sites, allowing for cross-site collaboration. Each site used between four and 37 individual measures and five of the sites are validating the PhenX measures through comparison with other study measures. Self-administered and computer-based administration modes are being evaluated at several sites which required changes to the original PhenX Toolkit protocols. A network-wide data use agreement was developed to facilitate data sharing and collaboration. Results: PhenX Toolkit measures have been collected for more than 17,000 participants across the PhenX RISING network. The process of implementation provided information that was used to improve the PhenX Toolkit. The Toolkit was revised to allow researchers to select self- or interviewer administration when creating the data collection worksheets and ranges of specimens necessary to run biological assays has been added to the Toolkit. Conclusions: The PhenX RISING network has demonstrated that the PhenX Toolkit measures can be implemented successfully in ongoing genomic studies. The next step will be to conduct gene/environment studies. © 2014 McCarty et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Objectives:Nasal vestibular stenosis results in significant functional impairment and cosmetic deformity. Various techniques can be used, including excision of the deformed segment and replacement with healthy tissue using local flaps, composite or cartilage grafts, with or without stents. W-plasty, Z-plasty, and double-cross plasty techniques have also been described. We aimed to evaluate the following outcome measures: 1) Describe our modified Z-plasty technique to widen the ala base. 2) Report patient satisfaction with respect to functional and cosmetic improvement.Methods:A retrospective study over a 4-year period was conducted on patients who underwent modified Z-plasty of the ala. This is performed under general anaesthetic, with infiltration of 2% lignocaine, and 1:80,000 adrenaline to the lateral alar margin and adjacent soft tissue, overlying the piriform aperture margin. A Z-plasty incision is made around the lateral ala and anterior nasal process of maxilla. The two triangular flaps are transpo...

Antrochoanal polyps (ACPs) are benign lesions that originate from the mucosa of the maxillary sinus, and extend into the nasal cavity to reach the choana and naso- pharynx. The treatment of ACPs is surgical, with a num- ber of different surgical techniques having been described. We describe the first case series of ACPs from the UK and the endoscopic surgical technique that we have employed. A retrospective case note review of patients with ACPs managed under the care of the senior author was con- ducted. Demographic and clinical data for all patients were reviewed. The main outcome parameter measured was any sign of recurrence. A total of 29 consecutive patients were included for analysis from a 5-year study period, with 19 males and 10 females, and a mean age of 37.4 ± 13.6 years. Four patients within our group were referred to us with recurrent ACPs for revision surgery. All patients under- went surgery via the same endoscopic technique. The mean follow-up period was 14.7 ± 16.9 months, with an average follow-up of 22.5 months for the four revision cases. There were no recurrences in any of our patients. We describe the first reported series of endoscopic sinus surgery for antro - choanal polyps in the UK, and the largest worldwide series described for endoscopic management of ACPs in adults. We have had no recurrent cases, with a mean follow-up period of 14.7 months.

Accumulating mental health research encourages a shift in focus towards transdiagnostic dimensional features that are shared across categorical disorders. In support of this shift, recent studies have identified a general liability factor for psychopathology – sometimes called the ‘p factor’ – that underlies shared risk for a wide range of mental disorders. Identifying neural correlates of this general liability would substantiate its importance in characterizing the shared origins of mental disorders and help us begin to understand the mechanisms through which the ‘p factor’ contributes to risk. Here we first replicate the ‘p factor’ using cross-sectional data from a volunteer sample of 1,246 university students, and then, using high-resolution multimodal structural neuroimaging, demonstrate that individuals with higher ‘p factor’ scores show reduced structural integrity of white matter pathways, as indexed by lower fractional anisotropy values, uniquely within the pons. Whole-brain analyses further revealed that higher ‘p factor’ scores are associated with reduced gray matter volume in the occipital lobe and left cerebellar lobule VIIb, which is functionally connected with prefrontal regions supporting cognitive control. Consistent with the preponderance of cerebellar afferents within the pons, we observed a significant positive correlation between the white matter integrity of the pons and cerebellar gray matter volume associated with higher ‘p factor’ scores. The results of our analyses provide initial evidence that structural alterations in cortico-cerebellar circuitry supporting core functions related to the basic integration, coordination, and monitoring of information may contribute to a general liability for common mental disorders.