Am J Public Health. 2016 Nov 17:e1-e8. [Epub ahead of print]

Twitter as a Tool for Health Research: a Systematic Review.

Sinnenberg L1, Buttenheim AM1, Padrez K1, Mancheno C1, Ungar L1, Merchant RM1.

Author information

• 1Lauren Sinnenberg, Kevin Padrez, Christina Mancheno, and Raina M. Merchant are with Penn Medicine Social Media and Health Innovation Lab, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Lyle Ungar is with the Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Pennsylvania. Alison M. Buttenheim is with Department of Family and Community Health, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, and Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics, University of Pennsylvania.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Researchers have used traditional databases to study public health for decades. Less is known about the use of social media data sources, such as Twitter, for this purpose.

OBJECTIVES:

To systematically review the use of Twitter in health research, define a taxonomy to describe Twitter use, and characterize the current state of Twitter in health research.

SEARCH METHODS:

We performed a literature search in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and CINAHL through September 2015.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

We searched for peer-reviewed original research studies that primarily used Twitter for health research.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS:

Two authors independently screened studies and abstracted data related to the approach to analysis of Twitter data, methodology used to study Twitter, and current state of Twitter research by evaluating time of publication, research topic, discussion of ethical concerns, and study funding source.

MAIN RESULTS:

Of 1110 unique health-related articles mentioning Twitter, 137 met eligibility criteria. The primary approaches for using Twitter in health research that constitute a new taxonomy were content analysis (56%; n = 77), surveillance (26%; n = 36), engagement (14%; n = 19), recruitment (7%; n = 9), intervention (7%; n = 9), and network analysis (4%; n = 5). These studies collectively analyzed more than 5 billion tweets primarily by using the Twitter application program interface. Of 38 potential data features describing tweets and Twitter users, 23 were reported in fewer than 4% of the articles. The Twitter-based studies in this review focused on a small subset of data elements including content analysis, geotags, and language. Most studies were published recently (33% in 2015). Public health (23%; n = 31) and infectious disease (20%; n = 28) were the research fields most commonly represented in the included studies. Approximately one third of the studies mentioned ethical board approval in their articles. Primary funding sources included federal (63%), university (13%), and foundation (6%).

CONCLUSIONS:

We identified a new taxonomy to describe Twitter use in health research with 6 categories. Many data elements discernible from a user's Twitter profile, especially demographics, have been underreported in the literature and can provide new opportunities to characterize the users whose data are analyzed in these studies. Twitter-based health research is a growing field funded by a diversity of organizations. Public health implications. Future work should develop standardized reporting guidelines for health researchers who use Twitter and policies that address privacy and ethical concerns in social media research.

China School Feeds Kids With Childhood Obesity Different Food

"Meanwhile, Liu Yeping, an associate professor at the Counseling Center of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, wants the kindergarten to address the labeling of “obese” and “fat” to ensure the psychological security of the children as they grow older. Instead of shaming them for their bodies, Yeping suggests that teachers and parents should always clarify that having a good body means having strength and good health, which are traits everyone should work to have." 

J Safety Res. 2016 Dec;59:53-60. doi: 10.1016/j.jsr.2016.10.001. Epub 2016 Oct 15.

The law isn't everything: The impact of legal and non-legal sanctions on motorists' drink driving behaviors.

Freeman J1, Szogi E2, Truelove V3, Vingilis E4.

Author information

• 1Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety-Queensland (CARRS-Q), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), K Block, 130 Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove 4059, Australia. Electronic address: je.freeman@qut.edu.au.
• 2Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety-Queensland (CARRS-Q), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), K Block, 130 Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove 4059, Australia. Electronic address: e.szogi@conect.qut.edu.au.
• 3Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety-Queensland (CARRS-Q), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), K Block, 130 Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove 4059, Australia. Electronic address: verity.truelove@connect.qut.edu.au.
• 4Population and Community Health Unit, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, 1465, Richmond St, London, Ontario, Canada N6G 2M1. Electronic address: evingili@uwo.ca.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

The effectiveness of drink driving countermeasures (such as sanctions) to deter motorists from driving over the legal limit is extremely important when considering the impact the offending behavior has on the community. However, questions remain regarding the extent that both legal and non-legal factors influence drink driving behaviors. This is of particular concern given that both factors are widely used as either sanctioning outcomes or in media campaigns designed to deter drivers (e.g., highlighting the physical risk of crashing).

METHOD:

This paper reports on an examination of 1,253 Queensland motorists' perceptions of legal and non-legal drink driving sanctions and the corresponding deterrent impact of such perceptions on self-reported offending behavior. Participants volunteered to complete either an online or paper version of the questionnaire.

RESULTS:

Encouragingly, quantitative analysis of the data revealed that participants' perceptions of both legal sanctions (e.g., certainty, severity and swiftness) as well as non-legal sanctions (e.g., fear of social, internal or physical harm) were relatively high, with perceptual certainty being the highest. Despite this, a key theme to emerge from the study was that approximately 25% of the sample admitted to drink driving at some point in time. Multivariate analyses revealed six significant predictors of drink driving, being: males, younger drivers, lower perceptions of the severity of sanctions, and less concern about the social, internal, and physical harms associated with the offense. However, a closer examination of the data revealed that the combined deterrence model was not very accurate at predicting drink driving behaviors (e.g., 21% of variance).

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS:

A range of non-legal deterrent factors have the potential to reduce the prevalence of drink driving although further research is required to determine how much exposure is required to produce a strong effect.

Ben Sasse: Everyone’s duty is to hope for Trump, work for America

"We are not North Koreans, swearing a loyalty oath to the “Dear Leader.” Nor are we the French Resistance, plotting against the new regime from day one. Rather, we should hope for his personal flourishing and his wisdom, and we should simultaneously vigorously debate his ideas."

I am running for a second term on the College of American Pathologists Board of Governors. Here is my vision.

Governor, the College of American Pathologists Board of Governors - running for a 2nd term

Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2016 Nov 7. [Epub ahead of print]

Diagnosis of Acute Cellular Rejection and Antibody-Mediated Rejection on Lung Transplant Biopsies: A Perspective From Members of the Pulmonary Pathology Society.

Roden AC1, Aisner DL, Allen TC, Aubry MC, Barrios RJ, Beasley MB, Cagle PT, Capelozzi VL, Dacic S, Ge Y, Hariri LP, Lantuejoul S, Miller RA, Mino-Kenudson M, Moreira AL, Raparia K, Rekhtman N, Sholl L, Smith ML, Tsao MS, Vivero M, Yatabe Y, Yi ES.

Author information

• 1From the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, Minnesota (Drs Roden, Aubry, and Yi); the Department of Pathology, University of Colorado, Denver (Dr Aisner); the Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (Dr Allen); the Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas (Drs Barrios, Cagle, Ge, and Miller); the Department of Pathology, Mount Sinai Health System, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, New York (Dr Beasley); the Department of Pathology, University of São Paolo, Brazil (Dr Capelozzi); the Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Dr Dacic); the Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston (Drs Hariri and Mino-Kenudson); Département de Biopathologie, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, Université Joseph Fourier INSERM U 823, Institut A. Bonniot, La Tronche, France (Dr Lantuejoul); the Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, New York (Dr Moreira); the Department of Pathology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois (Dr Raparia); the Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (Dr Rekhtman); the Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (Drs Sholl and Vivero); the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale (Dr Smith); the Department of Pathology, University Health Network/Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Dr Tsao); and the Department of Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Aichi Cancer Center, Nagoya, Japan (Dr Yatabe).

Abstract

CONTEXT:

- The diagnosis and grading of acute cellular and antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) in lung allograft biopsies is important because rejection can lead to acute graft dysfunction and/or failure and may contribute to chronic graft failure. While acute cellular rejection is well defined histologically, no reproducible specific features of AMR are currently identified. Therefore, a combination of clinical features, serology, histopathology, and immunologic findings is suggested for the diagnosis of AMR.

OBJECTIVE:

- To describe the perspective of members of the Pulmonary Pathology Society (PPS) on the workup of lung allograft transbronchial biopsy and the diagnosis of acute cellular rejection and AMR in lung transplant.

DATA SOURCES:

- Reports by the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT), experience of members of PPS who routinely review lung allograft biopsies, and search of literature database (PubMed).

CONCLUSIONS:

- Acute cellular rejection should be assessed and graded according to the 2007 working formulation of the ISHLT. As currently no specific features are known for AMR in lung allografts, the triple test (clinical allograft dysfunction, donor-specific antibodies, pathologic findings) should be used for its diagnosis. C4d staining might be performed when morphologic, clinical, and/or serologic features suggestive of AMR are identified.

Med Health Care Philos. 2016 Nov 15. [Epub ahead of print]

Defining disease in the context of overdiagnosis.

Walker MJ1, Rogers W2.

Author information

• 1Philosophy Department, Macquarie University, Sydney, 2109, Australia. mary.walker@mq.edu.au.
• 2Philosophy Department and the Department of Clinical Medicine, Macquarie University, Sydney, 2109, Australia.

Abstract

Recently, concerns have been raised about the phenomenon of 'overdiagnosis', the diagnosis of a condition that is not causing harm, and will not come to cause harm. Along with practical, ethical, and scientific questions, overdiagnosis raises questions about our concept of disease. In this paper, we analyse overdiagnosis as an epistemic problem and show how it challenges many existing accounts of disease. In particular, it raises questions about conceptual links drawn between disease and dysfunction, harm, and risk. We argue that 'disease' should be considered a vague concept with a non-classical structure. On this view, overdiagnosed cases are 'borderline' cases of disease, falling in the zone between cases that are clearly disease, and cases that are clearly not disease. We then develop a précising definition of disease designed to provide practical help in preventing and limiting overdiagnosis. We argue that for this purpose, we can define disease as dysfunction that has a significant risk of causing severe harm to the patient.

Young New Zealanders can’t afford to pay for doctor visits

Young New Zealanders can’t afford to pay for doctor visits

“Our young people need to be able to go to their GP when they need help, and not feel they have to put off their health concerns until they escalate and may need urgent medical care,” Green Party health spokesperson Julie Anne Genter said.

“Going to the doctor should never be considered a nice-to-have or a luxury in New Zealand; if you need to go to the doctor, then you should be able to go.

Meet the Teen Health Advocate Trying to Combat Childhood Obesity

Haile Thomas launched her business when she was just 10 years old.

• by 
 
• Rafael Garcia

 NOVEMBER 14, 2016, 11:53 AM EST

Pathologist who discovered CTE in NFL players gets AMA’s highest honor

Physician who discovered CTE in NFL players gets AMA’s highest honor

NOV 12, 2016

Timothy M. Smith

"Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) was first diagnosed in an NFL player in 2002, and it has since been confirmed by postmortem examination in dozens of American athletes. The physician who made the initial discovery, forensic neuropathologist Bennet I. Omalu, MD, MBA, MPH, overcame massive efforts to discredit him and his research, and today CTE is widely recognized as a health risk in millions of patients with histories of repetitive brain trauma, including military veterans. The AMA on Saturday honored Dr. Omalu with its Distinguished Service Award during the opening session of the 2016 AMA Interim Meeting, in Orlando, Fla."

Michelle Obama Taking Steps to Protect the White House Garden

Isn’t healthy eating something people of ALL parties can agree on!?

"How is Michelle ensuring that the garden sticks around once Trump takes office on Jan. 20? First and foremost, she created a more permanent cement fixture around the South Lawn garden. She also secured $2.5 million in private funding to keep the garden alive, and the National Park Service has agreed to maintain upkeep of the garden, Politico reported. But there's also hope that healthy eating is a cause that anyone, regardless of political party, can get behind."

"...China has the highest diabetes prevalence on the planet..."

CHINA HAS A HIGH DIABETES PREVALENCE

NOV 14, 2016 BY TARA HAMILTON 

"Based on the latest survey, China has the highest diabetes prevalence on the planet, and scientists predict that the situation will not get any better.

Around ten percent of Chinese adults have diabetes, and roughly fifty percent of the entire Chinese population lives with prediabetes, according to the statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO)."

Veterans Day - Texas A&M Singing Cadets: God Bless The USA

Texas A&M Singing Cadets:  God Bless The USA

Veterans Day. "...gladly stand next to you..."

"...gladly stand next to you..."

"...a child’s consumption of sugary drinks or the amount of television they watch are not strong predictors of who will gain an unhealthy amount of weight."

Childhood obesity linked to irregular sleep and skipping breakfast

Study challenges view that soaring obesity rates among children are caused solely by eating too much

"The researchers also concluded that a child’s consumption of sugary drinks or the amount of television they watch are not strong predictors of who will gain an unhealthy amount of weight. The findings are published on Friday in the American medical journal Paediatrics."

Beating obesity: Hit the gym or not?

"A national average of all gyms indicate that slightly less than half of their members utilize the gym on a regular basis, meaning at least twice a week every week. So is it a good value for your money?

Then think hard about exactly why you want to join a gym. In my own case I did join a very inexpensive and basic gym and soon made this discovery. I would walk to the gym almost every day. When I got there I would use a treadmill for at least 30 minutes. Then I would use a few weights for a while and then I would walk home. Huh! I have a full set of weights at home and if I just walked an extra 30 minutes or so beyond my walk to the gym and back I would be achieving the exact same thing but without the added costs. I am no longer a member."

Are Pseudonyms Ethical in Science Publishing?

Sci Eng Ethics. 2016 Nov 9. [Epub ahead of print]

Are Pseudonyms Ethical in (Science) Publishing? Neuroskeptic as a Case Study.

Teixeira da Silva JA1.

Author information

• 1, P. O. Box 7, Miki-cho Post Office, Ikenobe 3011-2, Miki-cho, Kagawa-ken, 761-0799, Japan. jaimetex@yahoo.com.

Abstract

The blogosphere is full of personalities with masks, or pseudonyms. Although not a desired state of public communication, one could excuse the use of pseudonyms in blogs and social media, which are generally unregulated or weakly regulated. However, in science publishing, there are increasingly strict rules regarding the use of false identities for authors, the lack of institutional or contact details, and the lack of conflicts of interest, and such instances are generally considered to be misconduct. This is because these violations of publishing protocol decrease trust and confidence in science and bring disrepute to those scientists who conform to the rules set out by journals and publishers and abide by them. Thus, when cases are encountered where trust and protocol in publishing are breached, these deserve to be highlighted. In this letter, I focus on Neuroskeptic, a highly prominent science critic, primarily on the blogosphere and in social media, highlighting the dangers associated with the use of pseudonyms in academic publishing.

"All prisoners dream of freedom, perhaps never more so when they know there isn’t, and will never be, any possibility of escape."

Can We Escape from Time?

John Lanchester

"All this energy and brilliance, and yet we’re left feeling a little flat. The new idea, time travel, is appealing because we know time better than we used to. We know, much better than our ancestors, the exact lineaments of what Kipling called “the unforgiving minute.” Our time is more universal and more precise than ever, and we’re more than ever aware of the fact; it’s no wonder that we dream so much and think so fervently of ways in which time might be bent, stretched, reversed, made less unyielding and less unforgiving. All prisoners dream of freedom, perhaps never more so when they know there isn’t, and will never be, any possibility of escape."

Large BMI rise during puberty increases risk for CV death in men

Ohlsson C, et al. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2016;doi:10.1016/s2213-8587(16)30273-x.

November 11, 2016

"Compared with boys without overweight in childhood or young adulthood, boys who developed overweight during puberty (HR = 2.39; 95% CI, 1.86-3.09) and boys who had overweight throughout childhood and puberty (HR = 1.85; 95% CI, 1.28-2.67) had an increased risk for CV death in adulthood, according to researchers.

When including a quadratic term for BMI change during puberty in models, the association between BMI change during puberty and CV mortality in adulthood was nonlinear, according to researchers (P < .0001), and the association persisted after adjustment for childhood BMI (P = .0002)."

Irish Times: Climate change and public opinion

Climate change and public opinion

"In fact, I am passionate in my commitment to the right of every citizen to express (within the law) any opinion or belief of their choosing – no matter how bizarre, contrarian or delusional such belief may be."

Fighting fat: Obesity is gene linked but losing weight is an act of will

"You might be able to blame your genes for weighing more and increasing your risk of obesity, but you can no longer blame your genes for failing to lose weight, a comprehensive study has found.

Carriers of the FTO gene are known to be on average 3 kilos (6.6lbs) heavier and 70% more likely to be obese. However, researchers at Newcastle University…report that in a review of eight studies involving over 9,000 people, carrying this gene did not prevent them losing weight."

…

Curr Opin Pediatr. 2016 Dec;28(6):743-747.

The development of moral sense and moral thinking.

Carpendale JI1, Hammond SI.

Author information

• 1aDepartment of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia bUniversity of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW:

The review critically evaluates recent claims that infants have innate knowledge of morality and examines the sources of moral norms.

RECENT FINDINGS:

Many studies show that toddlers readily help adults with daily tasks. A more contentious set of studies suggests that young infants prefer actors who help others to those who hinder them. Some researchers have interpreted these findings as indicating that morality is innately present in humans. Others look to alternative explanations in developmental systems theory.

SUMMARY:

Explaining the emergence of morality as innate, or wholly socialized, is problematic; instead morality could emerge in a developmental system in which children's early capacities are shaped by interpersonal engagement. Children's improving ability to coordinate with others at a practical level is later transformed through language and reflective thought, as children gain the ability to talk about what was previously implicit in interaction. Throughout, parents and caregivers have many opportunities to foster children's moral development in daily interactions.

Soda Tax: "A beverage is classified as sweetened if it contains either sugar or artificial sweetener..."

New County Pop Tax Passes; Get Ready To Pay More for Soda

"A beverage is classified as sweetened if it contains either sugar or artificial sweetener, the county says.  The tax includes carbonated soft drinks, fruit beverages (except 100 percent fruit juice), sports drinks and energy drinks. 

Nonsweetened beverages, such as water, various kinds of milk and baby formula are exempt from the tax, the county says."

Isr J Health Policy Res. 2016 Nov 7;5:55. eCollection 2016.

Parental regret regarding children's vaccines-The correlation between anticipated regret, altruism, coping strategies and attitudes toward vaccines.

Hamama-Raz Y1, Ginossar-David E1, Ben-Ezra M1.

Author information

• 1School of Social Work, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Parental hesitancy for recommended childhood vaccines is a growing public health concern influenced by various factors. This study aimed to explore regret regarding parental decisions to vaccinate their children via possible correlations between anticipated regret, altruism, coping strategies, and parents' attitudes toward the vaccination of their children.

METHODS:

The study was conducted during 2014 in Israel. Data were collected via snowballing methodology (i.e., Internet forums, Facebook and e- mails). 314 parents of children ages 0-6 years participated in the study. Questionnaires were distributed and completed on-line including attitudes toward vaccines, altruism, coping strategies, regret and anticipated regret.

RESULTS:

Pearson analysis revealed a moderate negative association between attitudes toward vaccinations and regret. In addition, weak but significant positive associations emerged between anticipated regret and regret as well as between gender and regret. Performing hierarchical regression analysis revealed contribution of 35.9 % to the explained variance of regret suggesting that coping strategy of instrumental support, attitudes toward vaccinations and anticipated regret are linked significantly to regret.

CONCLUSION:

Parental attitudes toward vaccines and anticipated regret have a salient role when deciding whether or not to vaccinate children and contribute to the prediction of regret regarding vaccination. In order to increase parental consent to vaccination of their children, it is important to minimize possible regret through the strength of the recommendation and/or knowledge base about risk/benefit (perceived, heuristic) of vaccines that might influence parental attitudes and lessen their anticipated regret.

Pennsylvania police officer dead after 'ambush'

 1 Pennsylvania police officer dead after 'ambush'

District Judge David Mark, of Canonsburg, said he knew Officer Bashioum and his family well.

“He is a great guy, top to bottom. One of the best people I know inside and out,” District Judge Mark said. “I can’t imagine what the family is going through.”

Aaron Schock, ex-Illinois congressman, indicted on 24 criminal counts

Aaron Schock, ex-Illinois congressman, indicted on 24 criminal counts

"Former Rep. Aaron Schock was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury in Illinois on 24 criminal counts including theft of government funds, fraud, making false statements and filing false tax returns.

Schock, 35, a Republican from Peoria elected in 2008, resigned from the House last year amid a federal criminal investigation.

Several of the counts against him have maximum penalties of 20 years in prison. He is to appear in court in coming days."

The Dow Just Hit an All-Time High

• by 
 
• Lucinda Shen

 

• @ShenLucinda

 NOVEMBER 10, 2016, 2:52 PM EST

As the tech sector falls and financials rise.

"On Tuesday, U.S. markets shook off their fears about Donald Trump and embraced the president-elect.

U.S. stock markets, which fell whenever Trump rose in polls throughout the campaign trail, eked toward all-time highs Thursday. The Dow Jones industrial average soared by more than 250 points to an all-time high while the S&P 500 rallied shortly after markets opened."

"My daughter Peyton’s teachers are the sugar Nazis..."

Why teachers are telling parents what to feed their children, even when it isn’t their responsibility

"At some schools, monitoring student diets has become part of the job description. Whether they’re sending notes home to suggest healthy alternatives to cheese strings and yogurt tubes, or simply confiscating foods they see as unfit for snack-time consumption, educators are policing nutrition. In September, the Toronto Star reported that teachers in Durham, Ont., had outlawed granola bars, Goldfish crackers and other snacks due to concerns over nutritional content. And it’s not just happening in Durham.

“My daughter Peyton’s teachers are the sugar Nazis,” says Cheryl Brown, a mother of three in Victoria, B.C. “They’re always going on about ‘sugar this and sugar that’ and they told the kids they can no longer buy juice from the drink machine – that sits in the school’s foyer. It’s all very confusing and frustrating for parents.”

In the last decade, parents have increasingly found themselves facing public scrutiny around all things food-related. Did they breastfeed exclusively? Make their own baby food? Fail to cut every grape in half at preschool snack-time? Now, it’s the contents of kids’ school lunches that are making headlines, leaving parents to wonder where these new food rules are coming from – and to what extent they need to be followed."

"Overweight or obese Americans are often stigmatized as gluttonous and lazy. New research shows that while Americans have strong feelings about obesity, they also have many misconceptions."

Weighed Down with Misconceptions

NORC survey reveals Americans don’t understand causes, treatment options for obesity.

November 10, 2016 Author: Emma Fortel

"Overweight or obese Americans are often stigmatized as gluttonous and lazy. New research shows that while Americans have strong feelings about obesity, they also have many misconceptions."

Interesting - Median age of for-profit univ student: 27. Averge age of a Vietnam infantryman: 22. Average age of a WWII soldier: 26

"The median age of a student at a for-profit university is 27..."

"...the average age of an infantryman (MOS 11B) serving in Vietnam to be 19 years old is a myth, it is actually 22...The average man who fought in World War II was 26 years of age."