Efficacy of Oral Exfoliative Cytology in Diabetes Mellitus

Efficacy of Oral Exfoliative Cytology in Diabetes Mellitus EFFICACY OF ORAL EXFOLIATIVE CYTOLOGY IN DIABETES MELLITUS PATIENTS-A LIGHT MICROSCOPIC CONFOCAL MICROSCOPIC STUDY Abstract Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus has become a global problem. By monitoring the health status of these individuals, diabetic complications leading to morbidity can be prevented. Aim: We aimed to analyze alterations in the morphology and cytomorphometry of buccal epithelial cells of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients using oral exfoliative cytology technique and determine its importance in public health screening, diagnosis and monitoring of diabetes mellitus. Material Methods: The study was carried out in 100 Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients and 30 healthy individuals. Smears were taken from the right buccal mucosa and stained by the Papanicolaou technique. Staining with Acridine orange was carried out to view qualitative changes with confocal laser scanning microscope (LSM-510 Meta).The cytomorphometry was evaluated using IMAGE PRO PLUS 5.5 software with Evolution L.C camera. All findings were statistically analyzed. Results: The results showed that with increase in fasting plasma glucose levels, there is significant increase in nuclear area, decrease in cytoplasmic area, and increase in nuclear cytoplasmic ratio (P Conclusion: In the present study, we found significant alterations in the cytomorphometry and cytomorphology of buccal epithelial cells of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients. This study supports and extends the view that these cellular changes can alert the clinician to the possibility of diabetes and aid in monitoring of diabetes throughout the lifetime of the patient. Keywords: Confocal laser scanning microscope; Cytomorphometry; Diabetes mellitus; Oral exfoliative cytology. Introduction Diabetes mellitus (DM) is not a single disease entity but rather a group of metabolic disorders sharing the common underlying feature of hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia results from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action or both. The chronic hyperglycemia and resultant metabolic deregulation of carbohydrate, fat and protein may be associated with secondary damage in multiple organ systems, especially the kidneys, eyes, nerves and blood vessels.1Recent estimates indicate that the number of people with DM in 2010 is 285 million and is expected to be 438 million in 2030. The global prevalence rate is 6.6% in 2010 and is expected to rise to 7.8% in 2030.2 India leads the world with largest number of diabetic subjects earning the dubious distinction of being termed the â€Å"diabetes capital of the world†. According to the Diabetes Atlas 2009 published by the International Diabetes Federation, the total number of people with diabetes in India is 50.8 million and is expected to rise to 87 million in 2030.3 It can no longer be considered a disease of affluent nation alone, it has become a global problem, a major epidemic of the twentieth century, and one which shows no sign of abating. 3 DM is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease, adult-onset blindness and traumatic lower extremity amputations. The prevalence of DM is increasing sharply in the developing world as more people adopt a sedentary lifestyle, with India and China being the largest contributors to the world’s diabetic load.2 Oral Exfoliative cytology is a relatively simple and non-invasive clinical technique which has the potential to be developed as a routine investigation for screening of DM. It can be used chair-side during routine dental examination.4The various alterations in the cytomorphology of the oral mucosa in diabetes and characterization of these changes give clinicians a more accurate image of what really happens during diabetes. So in our study, the cytomorphometric and cytomorphologic changes were compared according to the different glucose levels of diabetes. In addition to light microscope, we used confocal laser scanning microscope, to ascertain the various cytomorphologic changes seen under light microscope. It is possible that the degree of cellular change depends on the progression of diabetes. Hence the present study was undertaken as this research area has received little attention to date. Materials Methods Selection of subjects: The study was carried out in Type 2 DM patients attending the diabetic outpatient department of General Medicine of Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, India. These patients were under regular monitoring of blood sugar levels and subsequent treatment. The experimental group included 100 Type 2 DM patients and the control group consisted of 30 healthy individuals free of any systemic diseases with clinically normal oral mucosa. Study groups: The entire study sample was grouped for statistical analysis, based on the recent Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) levels as follows: Group I: FPG 110-150mg/dl; Group II: FPG 150-200mg/dl; Group III: FPG >200mg/dl; Control: FPGExclusion criteria: Individuals with habit of tobacco use in any form, habitual alcohol intake, any other systemic illness, clinically evident nutritional deficiencies like anemia, presence of oral sepsis were excluded from the study. After selection of the patient, informed consent was obtained and the p rocedure was carried out. In addition, the biochemical hematological measurements were carried out to exclude anemia other systemic disease. Smear collection and preparation: Patients were asked to rinse their mouth to remove any debris. Following this, with a gentle scraping motion, cells were scraped from clinically normal appearing right buccal mucosa. The scrapings were then evenly smeared onto the glass slide and immersed in 95% isopropyl alcohol in a coplin jar, for half an hour. Staining technique: Smears from all the samples were stained by the Papanicolaou technique (PAP).For few samples two smears were taken from the same site, one stained using PAP and other using Acridine orange(AO), a fluorescent dye, to view with confocal laser scanning microscope. In cases with very high plasma glucose levels smear was stained with Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) technique to assess presence of candida. Cytomorphometric assessment: The cytomorphometric analysis was done using IMAGE PRO PLUS 5.5 software with Evolution L.C camera. In each of the PAP stained slide, ten fields were chosen by systematic sampling in a step wise manner, moving from left to right and then down and across in order to avoid measuring the same cells again. Cells with clearly defined cellular outlines were only chosen those that were clumped, overlapped or folded were excluded for analysis. The cells were projected on to the monitor via the camera at 40x magnification and images were captured. In the software main menu, the function ‘Measurement mode’ was selected and the icon specifying ‘polygon’ was enabled to analyze the area of interest. The nuclear area (NA) and cytoplasmic area (CA) were obtained by drawing around the nuclear and cell boundaries using the cursor. The areas were recorded in square microns. The nuclear cytoplasmic ratio (N/C) was calculated for all the cells. The various parameters calculated were by the Image analysis software thereby reducing the subjective error. Cytomorphologic assessment: The PAP PAS stained slides were viewed under light microscope whereas the AO stained slides were viewed under confocal laser scanning microscope (LSM-510 meta).Morphologic assessment included inflammatory component, cell degeneration, micronuclei, binucleation, intracytoplasmic inclusion, candida, keratinization, intracytoplasmic microorganisms any other changes. Results On comparison of the cytomorphometry between the various study groups, the results showed a significant increase in the NA N/C ratio (p Discussion DM has become a global problem. It is not a disease but a metabolic disorder. Early detection and subsequent monitoring of this disorder will definitely improve the health of individuals suffering from diabetes. By monitoring the health status of the individuals, diabetic complications leading to morbidity can be prevented, thus producing a healthy society. In the present study we aimed to analyze alterations in the morphology and cytomorphometry of buccal mucosal cells of Type 2 diabetics using exfoliative cytology technique and determine its importance in public health screening and monitoring of DM. The study showed a significant steady increase in NA with increase in blood sugar level (Figure1) from control group (Mean NA-51.03 µm2) to the diabetic Group III (Mean NA-81.21  µm2). This finding concurs with other previously reported studies who reported a significant increase in NA in diabetic patients.5-7 However all these studies did not categorize the patients based on the blood glucose levels. Similar studies using cytomorphometry have been done to analyze the effect of alcohol, tobacco, radiotherapy on buccal mucosa. 8-12 Nucleus contains the genomic DNA, histones and several proteins. The nuclear size can therefore be altered by change in the content of DNA or proteins. There is usually twice as much protein as DNA in a nucleus.13 Hyperglycemia induces a compensatory increase in insulin secretion which in turn causes increase in protein formation. Insulin has several mitogenic functions, including initiation of DNA synthesis in certain cells. These may account for the i ncrease in NA seen in diabetes patients.14 Our study revealed a decrease in CA with increase in blood sugar level i.e.GroupIII mean CA was 2270.63  µm 2 and control mean CA was 2771.6  µm2 (Figure1). This finding is contradictory to studies by Alberti et al 5 and Shareef et al6 who found that CA did not show any significant difference in diabetics and Hassan et al7 who reported a significant increase in CA. However this finding concurs with Prasad et al15 who reported increase in cell diameter and cytoplasmic diameter with increase in glycemic status. Ogden et al10 have reported a similar reduction in cell diameter in patients with habit of alcoholism. The reduction in CA in our study could be due to the dehydrated condition of the diabetics. Increased blood glucose causes dehydration, polyuria polydipsia, intracellular extracellular dehydration. Glucose does not diffuse easily through the pores of the cell membrane causing an increase in osmotic pressure. This increase in osmotic pressure in extracellular fluid causes o smotic transfer of water out of the cells explaining the reduction in CA.16 The comparison of N/C ratio between control and experiment groups showed a steady increase in N/C ratio (from Control-0.0188 to Group III-0.0369) with increasing blood glucose levels(Figure1) .This may be due to a real increase in NA and decrease in CA in diabetic patients, rather than just a deviation from normal. This finding concurs with Rivera et al17 and Prasad et al15 who also reported increase in N/C ratio. In the qualitative changes we found that micronuclei (MN) was present in 44 cases which was statistically significant (p=0.018). MN are known biomarkers of genome damage and has been studied in buccal cell systems. They provide a convenient and reliable index of both chromosome breakage and chromosome loss.MN is found in cells that have completed nuclear division.MN was judged according to criteria by Tolbert et al. 18 Another biomarker of genome damage is nuclear bud formation which was also visualized but not statistically analyzed.16 The nuclear bud has the same morphology and staining properties as the nucleus, however, its diameter may range from a half to a quarter of that of the main nucleus. Hyperglycemia results in formation of Advanced Glycation End products (AGE), endothelial nitric oxide synthase uncoupling, activation of protein kinase C activation of polyol pathway. This in turn causes activation of reactive oxygen species which results in induction of oxidative stress . Oxidative stress is an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species and the biological systems ability to readily detoxify the reactive intermediates or to repair the resulting damage. The effects of oxidative stress depend upon the size of these changes, wherein a cell can overcome small perturbations and regain its original state. However, more severe oxidative stress can cause cell death and even moderate oxidation can trigger apoptosis, while more intense stresses may cause necrosis. Oxidative stress has been found to cause genomic damage in DM. 19 This supports the observation of MN in diabetic patients. Few other studies also showed increase in MN in lymphocyte cultures of type 2 diabetics.20, 21 This is the first reported study in which an attempt has been made to study qualitative changes of buccal smear using confocal microscopy. The use of fluorescence dye (Acridine Orange) and visualization under confocal laser scanning microscope enhanced the demonstration of nuclei and micronuclei. They also helped to avoid false positive results. Statistical analysis revealed that cell degeneration was present in 44 cases out of 100 cases. It was statistically significant (p=0.05) implying that increase in blood glucose level leads to oxidative stress and showed increase in degeneration and necrosis. The various qualitative changes included karyorrhexis, pyknosis, apoptosis chromatin abnormalities. Previous studies by Alberti et al5 Shareef et al6 also demonstrated qualitative changes of karyorrhexis. Another significant qualitative change found was the presence of keratinization. This finding is in accordance with an earlier study by Zimmermann et al22 who stated that endocrine dis orders like DM had increased keratinized cell count in the buccal mucosa. The increase in this keratinization may be a compensation for decreased salivary flow.5 Binucleation was present in 45 cases out of 100 but showed no statistically significant result. The significance of these binucleate cells is unknown, but they are probably indicative of failed cytokinesis following the last nuclear division in the basal cell layer. Studies by Alberti et al5 and Shareef et al6 also showed similar findings of binucleation. Increased number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes was observed in the experiment group than chronic inflammatory cells. Increase in inflammation could be due to decreased salivary flow found in diabetics owing to hypofunction of the salivary glands. Hassan et al7 in their study found that incidence of inflammation was higher in diabetic smears. Figure2 Figure3 shows the various qualitative changes viewed under light microscope and confocal microscope. Conclusion: From our study, we could conclude that diabetes produces significant alterations in the cytomorphometry and cytomorphology of buccal epithelial cells. The use of confocal laser scanning microscopy demonstrated qualitative changes with higher resolution and clarity and helped in reducing the possibility of recording false positive and/or false negative observations. Clinical significance: Exfoliative cytology is helpful in diabetic patients who have aversion and fear to needle pricks as it is painless and can be carried out regularly .The minimal time and ease of the procedure is beneficial in mass screening and public health awareness programme. They also aid in monitoring of diabetes mellitus throughout the lifetime of the patient, thereby decreasing the morbidity and preventing long term complications. Acknowledgements Authors would like to thank the Central Research Facility Department of General Medicine of Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai. We would also like to thank the lab assistant Department of Oral pathology and statistician for their valuable help in the study. No conflict of interest. No source of funding.

Making Uniforms Mandatory for High Schools Essay -- School Uniforms Dr

Making Uniforms Mandatory for High Schools School uniforms in high schools are becoming increasingly popular across Canada. In fact, most school boards are positive towards making uniforms mandatory. Uniforms at high schools should be mandatory. Can uniforms really make a difference in a student’s academic performance? Of course, they can. First of all, uniforms create an atmosphere of equality at school. When worn by all students, uniforms reduce the gap between the rich and the poor and therefore, promote equality. Moreover, in the absence of uniforms, the wealthier students tend to look down and shun the poorer students as it gives them a chance to flaunt their wealth. For instance, other students mock at a student who does not keep up with the latest fashion, because he/she cannot afford it. However, introduction of uniforms gets rid of this problem because all the students wear the same clothes to school and no one has a reason to mock at the poorer students. Consequently, equality and freedom are established in the schools. Reduction in economic differences, as a result of wearing uniforms, creates an environment of equality at high schools. In addition to promoting equality, uniforms also decrease the violence levels at high schools and improve discipline. School uniforms play a major role in reducing potentially dangerous altercations among students. Many unsuspecting and vulnerable students unknowingly wear gang-coloured or gang-affiliated clothes to school. Ma...

Whittington Castle :: European Europe History

Whittington Castle When assigned the England project, I wanted to research something having to do with my heritage. My ancestors originate from England. Correspondingly, I chose Whittington Castle. According to an old English legend, one of my family ancestors, Dick Whittington, set out from the castle for London, in search of his fortune. After residing in London for a time, Dick Whittington went on to be "thrice Lord Mayor of London". That piece of history supposedly occurred in 1368, but the first construction of Whittington Castle was in 845 and modeled after the Norman Motte and Bailey castles of the time. Entirely, my information on Whittington Castle came from Internet sources. Because of the unfortunate ruination of ancient castle, it is almost forgotten today. Except for several small web sites, I found little or no information on Whittington castle. One such site was http://www.data-wales.co.uk/whitt.htm. Another site was http://www.btinternet.com/~whittington.castle/. Intriguing was the next site I found: http://www.castlewales.com/whittng.html. Constructing the Whittington castle in 845, the builders designed it after the Motte and Bailey style castles. But it was later remodeled in 1221 replacing the old structure with stone. Originally, the castle was assembled with seven towers, each about 18 meters high, with wall 3.7 meters thick, and a drawbridge over 12 meters long. Now, only the gatehouse remains. Around the castle, extensive marshlands acted as protection in medieval days. The remnants of Whittington castle are situated in the small village of Whittington, a few miles outside of Shrewsbury, England. Originally, the motte castle of Whittington was built by the Welsh Prince Ynyr ap Cadfarch. After being seized by Roger de Montgomery, the castle was given to Sir William Perveril of Peak. Perveril had no male heir; therefore his eldest daughter Mellet inherited the castle. Passing down through marriage to the fitz Warren family, King Henry III granted the fitz Warrens permission to build a stone fortress on the motte foundation. Although friends with King Henry, the fitz Warrens had an interesting love/hate relationship with the English monarchy. Fulk fitz Warren is reputed to have quarreled with Prince John, eventually causing Warren to flee France. He avoided certain death. Subsequent to Fulk's exile and pardon, he was able to return and repossess Whittington castle. Judiciously, the fitz Warren family held the fortress and its grounds until 1420. Interesting is one legend concerning the heirs of Whittington Castle. In the ruins it said that people have seen and heard two children peering out of the twin towers. Whittington Castle :: European Europe History Whittington Castle When assigned the England project, I wanted to research something having to do with my heritage. My ancestors originate from England. Correspondingly, I chose Whittington Castle. According to an old English legend, one of my family ancestors, Dick Whittington, set out from the castle for London, in search of his fortune. After residing in London for a time, Dick Whittington went on to be "thrice Lord Mayor of London". That piece of history supposedly occurred in 1368, but the first construction of Whittington Castle was in 845 and modeled after the Norman Motte and Bailey castles of the time. Entirely, my information on Whittington Castle came from Internet sources. Because of the unfortunate ruination of ancient castle, it is almost forgotten today. Except for several small web sites, I found little or no information on Whittington castle. One such site was http://www.data-wales.co.uk/whitt.htm. Another site was http://www.btinternet.com/~whittington.castle/. Intriguing was the next site I found: http://www.castlewales.com/whittng.html. Constructing the Whittington castle in 845, the builders designed it after the Motte and Bailey style castles. But it was later remodeled in 1221 replacing the old structure with stone. Originally, the castle was assembled with seven towers, each about 18 meters high, with wall 3.7 meters thick, and a drawbridge over 12 meters long. Now, only the gatehouse remains. Around the castle, extensive marshlands acted as protection in medieval days. The remnants of Whittington castle are situated in the small village of Whittington, a few miles outside of Shrewsbury, England. Originally, the motte castle of Whittington was built by the Welsh Prince Ynyr ap Cadfarch. After being seized by Roger de Montgomery, the castle was given to Sir William Perveril of Peak. Perveril had no male heir; therefore his eldest daughter Mellet inherited the castle. Passing down through marriage to the fitz Warren family, King Henry III granted the fitz Warrens permission to build a stone fortress on the motte foundation. Although friends with King Henry, the fitz Warrens had an interesting love/hate relationship with the English monarchy. Fulk fitz Warren is reputed to have quarreled with Prince John, eventually causing Warren to flee France. He avoided certain death. Subsequent to Fulk's exile and pardon, he was able to return and repossess Whittington castle. Judiciously, the fitz Warren family held the fortress and its grounds until 1420. Interesting is one legend concerning the heirs of Whittington Castle. In the ruins it said that people have seen and heard two children peering out of the twin towers.

The Raven and The Haunted Palace by Edgar Allan Poe Essay -- poem, symb

â€Å"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,† (â€Å"The Raven† 1). â€Å"The Raven† arguably one of the most famous poems by Edgar Allan Poe, is a narrative about a depressed man longing for his lost love. Confronted by a talking raven, the man slowly loses his sanity. â€Å"The Haunted Palace† a ballad by Poe is a brilliant and skillfully crafted metaphor that compares a palace to a human skull and mind. A palace of opulence slowly turns into a dilapidated ruin. This deterioration is symbolic of insanity and death. In true Poe style, both â€Å"The Raven† and â€Å"The Haunted Palace† are of the gothic/dark romanticism genre. These poems highlight sadness, death, and loss. As to be expected, an analysis of the poems reveals differences and parallels. An example of this is Poe’s use of poetic devices within each poem. Although different in structure, setting, and symbolism these two poems show strikin g similarities in tone and theme. The structure and setting of these poems is quite different. â€Å"The Raven† is a narrative poem consisting of 18 stanzas. Each stanza consists of six lines. Conversely, â€Å"The Haunted Palace† is a ballad consisting of only 6 stanzas and a total of 48 lines. The setting of â€Å"The Raven† takes place in a chamber. We are not sure what type of room the chamber is; only that it is dark as the fire is dying and throwing shadows on the floor (â€Å"The Raven† 1-8). The setting of â€Å"The Haunted Palace† takes place in a palace in a valley. At first, the palace is beautiful and peaceful, but it turns to a dark sad ruin. Recall the palace is a metaphor (allegory) for the mind, so the setting also includes the healthy mind growing insane (Meyer, p. 893). While the structure and setting are dissimilar, the same... ...s, and demons. Upon a deeper inspection, I feel the two poems are reflective of Poe himself. Poe was a troubled soul that dealt with these themes during the course of his life. This could be an indication as to why the dark themes is so prevalent in these poems. Regardless of the reason for the similarities, much like the darkness that surrounded Poe’s life, the connected correlations of these poems will persist evermore. Works Cited Meyer, M. (2013). Bedford introduction to literature: Reading, thinking, writing. Boston: Bedford Bks St Martin’s. Poe, E. A. â€Å"The Haunted Palace.† Bedford introduction to literature: Reading, thinking, writing. 10th ed. Boston: Bedford Bks St Martin’s. 2013. 891-893. Print. Poe, E. A. â€Å"The Raven.† Bedford introduction to literature: Reading, thinking, writing. 10th ed. Boston: Bedford Bks St Martin’s. 2013. 789-791. Print.

Hawthorne?s Symbolism In The House Of Seven Gables Essay examples -- e

American Literature reflects life, and the struggles that we face during our existence. The great authors of our time incorporate life’s problems into their literature directly and indirectly. The stories themselves bluntly tell us a story, however, an author also uses symbols to relay to us his message in a more subtle manner. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s book The House of Seven Gable’s symbolism is eloquently used to enhance the story being told, by giving us a deeper insight into the author’s intentions in writing the story. The book begins by describing the most obvious symbol of the house itself. The house itself takes on human like characteristics as it is being described by Hawthorne in the opening chapters. The house is described as "breathing through the spiracles of one great chimney"(Hawthorne 7). Hawthorne uses descriptive lines like this to turn the house into a symbol of the lives that have passed through its halls. The house takes on a persona of a living creature that exists and influences the lives of everybody who enters through its doors. (Colacurcio 113) "So much of mankind’s varied experience had passed there - so much had been suffered, and something, too, enjoyed - that the very timbers were oozy, as with the moisture of a heart." (Hawthorne 27). Hawthorne turns the house into a symbol of the collection of all the hearts that were darkened by the house. "It was itself like a great human heart, with a life of its own, and full of rich and somber reminiscences" (Hawthorne 27). Evert Augustus Duyckinck agrees that "The chief perhaps, of the dramatis personae, is the house itself. From its turrets to its kitchen, in every nook and recess without and within, it is alive and vital." (Hawthorne 352) Duyckinck feels that the house is meant to be used as a symbol of an actual character, "Truly it is an actor in the scene"(Hawthorne 352). This turns the house into an interesting, but still depressing place that darkens the book in many ways. Hawthorne means for the house’s gloomy atmosphere to symbolize many things in his book. The house also is used to symbolize a prison that has darkened the lives of its inmates forever. The house is a prison because it prevents its inhabitants form truly enjoying any freedom. The inhabitants try to escape from their incarceration twice. Initially, as Phoebe and C... .... Hawthorne meant to not only entertain with his writings, but also to inform if possible. This explains the extensive use of symbolism in his work. Overall, Hawthorne did not just write a story, he wrote a classic that has stood the test of time. Works Cited Abel, Darrel. The Moral Picturesque: Studies in Hawthorne’s Fiction. Indiana: Purdue UP, 1988. Arac, Jonathan. "The House and the Railroad: Dombey and Son and The House of the Seven Gables." The New England Quarterly volume LI (1978) : 3 - 22. Colacurcio, Michael. "The Sense of an Author: The Familiar Life and Strange Imaginings of Nathaniel Hawthorne." ESQ 103 (1981) : 113. Crowley, Donald. Hawthorne: The Critical Heritage. London: W & J Mackay Co. Ltd., 1970. Erlich, Gloria. Family Themes and Hawthorne’s Fiction: The Tenacious Web. New Jersey: Rutgers UP, 1984. Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The House of Seven Gables: An Authoritative Text Backgrounds and Sources Essays in Criticism. Ed. Seymour Gross. New York: W W Norton & Co.,1967. Kaul, A., ed. Hawthorne: A Collection of Critical Essays. New Jersey : Prentice - Hall Inc., 1966. Rountree, Thomas, ed. Critics on Hawthorne. Florida: U of Miami P, 1972.

Philippine Newscasters Essay

If the world of mass media is dominated by men, would it be more powerful and more effective? What if females rule the news industry, will the audience feel more on the softer side of the news story? The distinction of men and women existed even before the written history of the Philippines. Women were limited when it comes to expressing their thoughts, opinions, and skills. However, in the present generation, gender discrimination is already evanescent. The capacities of the ladies have improved for them not to be surpassed by men. The society offers almost all occupations for both genders. In the field of news and public affairs, the newsmen and women affect the impact of the stories. The Farlex Incorporation (2012) defines news anchors as the personalities who â€Å"investigate, report or edit news stories†. They articulate news to inform the viewers on the latest events happening within a certain state. These people can convince the community of explorers, political analyzers and scholars. They are able to help educate and reform the society through informing and sharing life stories of human value (Robles & Corsino, 2009). News stories are treated as goods or commodities and as they deliver these goods wrapped with grandiloquent words, they expect to attract people to watch their program. Each newscaster has their own strategies and techniques in explaining news events. These practices differ based on many aspects such as their protocols in their telecommunication channels, their signature traits etc. However, it is apparent that newsmen and women have differences and similarities in doing such approaches. Appearance has a significant effect in the efficiency of news anchors particularly here in the Philippines wherein viewers judge reliability through the physical aspects. In 2010, the Spot Incorporated specifies the top ten cutest local newsmen and based from the description publ ished, â€Å"mestizo† and â€Å"moreno† looks and facial features are the common characteristics observed. Add to that is their trustworthy and charming faces, tidy hairstyle and clean-cut fashion sense. With these factors, their masculine impact gave the audience an impression of dependability and the authoritative presence due to their formal appeal. In terms of the actual coverage, attitude of newsmen still have commonalities in such a way that when they utter news reports, their faces exhibit seriousness (Tenedero,  2012). News anchors such as Ted Failon and Mike Enriquez speak faster; have louder and more powerful voices than newswomen which are evident in their late night news programs. Their technique in giving emphasis to significant details is through modulation and to make the news interesting to all audiences, newsmen sometimes add jesting commentaries. Female news anchors are most commonly known for their soft voices and appeal to the viewers. Torre (2006) characterizes local female newspersons as the people who give their efforts more on developing their appearance to draw the audience’s attentions. They turn to be celebrity-like public figures and more popular than men due to their formal trend (Uy, 2011). Tenedero (2012) stated that newswomen report expressively in a way the viewer senses strong feelings but still possess authoritative appeal to the masses. They also react through exaggerated facial expressions such as smirks and sighs (Torre, 2006). They also speak softly and slowly and with their hand gestures as a way to give emphasis on specific news details. Most of their reports express intellectual and adventurous stories which require fearless attitude. Men and women have the same opportunity in the news industry. News does not necessitate specific gender to fit in for reporting. Like the newsmen, female news reporters also give comments and their judgments but in a humorless manner. They also establish their persona to the viewers (Tenedero, 2012). During television coverage, it is expected that people of news and public affairs are in formal attire for them to prove their trustworthiness. News personalities must also maintain proper posture to show authoritative presence and to build good impression to the audience. Mass media is considered as an institution in the society and as a part of it, news anchors have the responsibility to serve the nation as the voice of the people when covering a news story. As they deliver information, they portray different types of approaches in which female and male news anchors are being weighed against each other. In terms of appearance, style and fashion sense, manner of reporting and habits, newsmen have several traits that are not visible with the female news anchors but all of them have one goal which is to reveal, inform and educate the citizens of the country. George Herbert once said, â€Å"There would be no great ones if there were no little ones†. In some ways, there is no reason for the people to judge news  personalities. Although they differ in many ways, it is difficult to say that one is better than the other. They have numerous distinctions and likeness. They have weaknesses and strength in many aspects. Reference List: Comparison and Contrast of Male and Female News Anchor in the Philippines (Tenedeero, H., personal interview, 2012) (2012).The Free Dictionary by Farlex Incorporation. Retrieved from http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/news+anchors Robles, E.M., & Corsino, C. B. (2003). English This Way 6. Quezon City: Phoenix Publishing House, Inc. Top 10 Cutest TV Newsmen in the Philippines. (August 2012). Spot Incorporation Torre, Nestor (2011, July 1). Focus on news, not on newscasters. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved from: http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view/20060701-7662/Focus_on_news,_not_newscasters Uy, S. M. Top 10 Hottest TV Newswomen in the Philippines: 2011 Edition. (December 2011). Retrieved from http://www.spot.ph/peopleparties/46372/top-10-hottest-tv-newswomen-in-the-philippines

Roles of Spartan Women

Question 1: With reference to source A, what does the evidence reveal about the roles and status of women in Spartan society. In Sparta, women were well respected and had multiple roles within society. They were given more freedom than in most other Greek societies. The main reason for this was the fact that Sparta had a warrior culture and the men were away either at war or training for war. while the men were away the women had multiple roles. The most important of which was to give birth to healthy Spartan children to become warriors.Some of the other roles women had included; participating in religious festivals, and managing the kleros. As mentioned above, the most important role of Spartan women was to give birth to healthy Spartan babies to become warriors. Xenophon stated â€Å"for free women the most important job was to bear children†. In order to produce healthy children, women underwent physical training. This was because it was thought that a healthy mother would produce a healthy child. Lycurgus stated that only women who died in childbirth would be allowed to have a marked grave.Archaeological evidence has been found to support this statement. This highlights the importance of childbirth in Spartan society. From birth, mothers disciplined their children and instilled the attitudes of the agoge. They implanted the ideas of performing at perfection and were responsible for raising children to conform and be loyal to Sparta. When their sons reached the age of seven, the mothers would freely give their sons to the agoge for their military training.Women would maintain the ideologies of the agoge and Spartan society by ridiculing men that were cowards and praising those who were heroes. Plutarch speaks of this in source A. In Sparta, â€Å"marriage by capture† was thought to have been practiced. As described by Plutarch, the bride would have her head shaved, she would be dressed in men’s clothes, and she would then lie in a dark r oom. The men would then come into the room, lift her onto the bed, have intercourse with her, and then return to his normal sleeping place. t is said that these customs were practiced in order to make the man feel more comfortable about having intercourse with a woman. From this point onwards, meetings between the couple were done in secret. Xenophon suggests that this was done to build up excitement and sexual tension so that when they finally did meet, the offspring produced would be stronger and healthier as a result. There is evidence to show that Spartan women had an important role in Spartan religion. Archaeological evidence has been found at the sanctuary of Artemis Orthia.This evidence includes hundreds of votive offerings. These offering were usually lead figurines in the shape of women. It is thought that these figurines symbolised childbirth and pregnant women would make these offerings either to ask for a successful childbirth or to ask to bear a strong, healthy son. Wom en also took part in three of the major festivals that took place in Sparta; the Karneia, the Hyakinthia and the Gymnopaediae. At the Hyakinthia, women rode in ceremonial chariots, marched in procession, sung, danced and took part in sacrifices.At the Gymnopaediae, women would compete with the males in athletic competitions. Spartan women also had a small, yet important role in the Spartan economy. Spartan women were required to oversee the kleros while the men were away at war or training. This meant that the men were dependent on their wife’s efficiency in order to provide their contribution to the syssitia. Women could also inherit property from her family’s estate. However, she did not own this land. Instead this land either formed part of a dowry or was passed onto her sons.According to Aristotle â€Å"nearly two-fifths of the whole country is held by women†. The main sources we have that relate to Spartan women all have limitations. Some of the main writer s that we gain information from are Herodotus, Aristotle, Thucydides, Plutarch and Xenophon. The reliability of these sources is limited due to the fact that none of the writers were from Sparta, they are all male, and the fact that it was seen has normal to make up stories rather than tell the whole truth.Some of the information provided may have been stereotypes created in order to emphasise the warrior nature of Sparta, however the information is nonetheless useful to modern day historians. In conclusion, Spartan women were a crucial part of Spartan society. without them, there would be no soldiers for the army nor would the kleros be run smoothly while the men were away at war or in training. It is through different sources, both archaeological and written, that it is evident that Spartan women had some degree of power and responsibilities within Spartan society.