Biased recollections in older adults: The role of implicit theories of aging.

Explored how older adults recall the traits they possessed at an earlier age. It was hypothesized that older adults' recollections would be related to their theories about aging. In Study 1, a group of older Ss provided their theories concerning how various traits change with age. Another group of older Ss rated their current status on these traits and recalled the status they possessed at a younger age. In addition, a group of younger adults rated their current status on the same traits. On traits theorized to increase with age, older Ss recalled themselves as possessing lower levels at an earlier age than the younger group reported possessing. On traits theorized to decrease with age, older Ss recalled themselves as possessing higher levels at an earlier age than the younger group reported possessing. Study 2 indicated that this effect is obtained regardless of trait positivity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Prolongation of allograft survival by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3

BACKGROUND: 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3, the hormonal form of vitamin D, is now believed to play a significant role in the immune responses, both in vitro and in vivo, preventing the development of several autoimmune diseases. These studies suggest that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 may be effective in prolonging allograph survival. METHODS: To test the hypothesis that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 would prolong allograft survival, neonatal heart grafts were transplanted to allogeneic recipients receiving either 19-nor-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2 (200 ng/day) or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (50 ng/mouse/day) orally through the diet. The efficacy of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in prolonging graft survival in a vascularized model was determined by heterotopic ACI to Lewis heart transplants. RESULTS: The provision of exogenous 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 or an analog, 19-nor-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2, to mice markedly prolonged the survival of neonatal mouse heart allografts. Similar results were obtained with a vascularized heterotopic heart transplant model in rats. Cyclosporine at a maximum 25 mg/kg dose for mice proved less effective than 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Graft survival in mice differing at class I and class II loci (B10.A(4R) --> C57BL/10) increased from 13.0+/-1.1 days to 51.0+/-5.6 days and was significantly better than cyclosporine monotherapy (33.2+/-3.6). Rat heart survival in a high responder strain combination (ACI --> Lewis) increased from 6.2+/-0.3 to 25.2+/-2.8 days. The increased survival of the transplants brought about with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 was not accompanied by hypercalcemia in rats. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 can be used as an effective agent in preventing graft rejection.     

Abciximab therapy and unplanned coronary stent deployment: favorable effects on stent use, clinical outcomes, and bleeding complications. EPILOG Trial Investigators

BACKGROUND: Recent studies indicate that eradication of Helicobacter pylori might prevent peptic ulcer formation in patients treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). On the other hand, gastric adaptation after repeated exposures to aspirin (ASA) is well documented but the influence of H. pylori on this process remains to be elucidated. AIM: To compare gastric damage and adaptation following repeated exposures to ASA in a group of patients with H. pylori infection, before and after eradication of the bacterium, and in H. pylori-negative controls. METHODS: Eight healthy volunteers without H. pylori infection and eight patients with duodenal ulcer (DU) history and H. pylori infection before and after H. pylori eradication were given ASA 2 g/day for a period of 14 days. Mucosal damage was evaluated by endoscopy and histology of biopsy samples. Gastric microbleeding, DNA synthesis in the gastric mucosa and mucosal expression, as well as luminal content of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGFalpha) were determined on days 0, 3, 7 and 14 of the ASA course. RESULTS: In all patients aspirin-induced gastric damage reached a maximum on day 3. In H. pylori-positive patients, this damage was maintained at a similar level up to day 14, whereas in H. pylori-negative controls and H. pylori-eradicated patients this damage significantly lessened on day 14 and was accompanied by elevated DNA synthesis as well as increased mucosal expression and luminal release of TGFalpha.     

Participation of AT1 and AT2 receptor subtypes in the tonic inhibitory modulation of baroreceptor reflex response by endogenous angiotensins at the nucleus tractus solitarii in the rat

Although myelin basic protein (MBP)-recognizing T cells are not readily obtained after immunization of BALB/c mice with MBP (reflecting the BALB/c resistance to actively induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE)), they can be expanded and cloned after several rounds of in vitro culture. The majority of BALB/c-derived clones recognize an epitope defined by MBP peptide 59-76. When transferred to naive BALB/c recipients, these clones cause classical EAE, with characteristic inflammation and demyelination of the central nervous system (CNS). We previously showed that two related clones recognizing a minor epitope, defined by MBP peptide 151-168, cause inflammation and demyelination preferentially of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Because MBP has alternatively spliced isoforms, residues 151-168 are not present contiguously in all MBP isoforms. In order to determine whether induction of PNS disease is idiosyncratic to these sister clones, or related to their properties of epitope recognition, an independent T-cell line with similar recognition properties was studied. Clone 116F, derived from a BALB/c shiverer mouse, expresses a different T-cell receptor (TCR), with distinct TCR contact residues, but like the previously described T cells, this clone requires residues from both exons 6 and 7 for optimal stimulation. When adoptively transferred to BALB/c recipients, this clone preferentially induces disease of the PNS. A control BALB/c shiverer-derived MBP 59-76-recognizing clone, in contrast, induces CNS disease. These data strongly suggest that the site of disease initiation may correlate with epitope recognition, particularly when alternative isoforms are involved.     

Association between human immunodeficiency virus and herpes simplex virus type 2 seropositivity among male factory workers in Zimbabwe

To determine the seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), to identify correlates of infection, and to describe the correlation with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositivity, 224 HIV-negative and 191 HIV-positive male factory workers in Zimbabwe were screened for HSV-2-specific antibodies. HSV-2 seroprevalence was 35.7% among HIV-negative subjects and 82.7% among HIV-positive subjects. The weighted estimate of HSV-2 seroprevalence in this population is 44.6%. The correlation between HIV and HSV-2 remained significant after controlling for multiple sex partners, paying for sex, and history of sexually transmitted disease (adjusted odds ratio, 8.0; 95% confidence interval, 4.8-13.1). If the association between HSV-2 and HIV is causal, then the high seroprevalence of HIV and HSV-2 suggests that suppressive HSV-2 treatment should be considered as a strategy to reduce HIV transmission in this population. HSV-2 seroconversion may be a suitable surrogate end point to evaluate HIV prevention interventions.     

Haloperidol does not affect motivational processes in an operant runway model of food-seeking behavior.

The present experiment examined the effects of dopamine receptor antagonism on subjects' motivation to seek food. Rats were trained to discriminate between 2 olfactory cues predicting either the presence (S+) or absence (S–) of food reinforcement in the goal box of a straight-arm runway. Rats learned to traverse the alley quickly when presented with the S+ and much more slowly when presented with the S–. Haloperidol pretreatment was unable to alter this pattern of behavior (i.e., rats still ran quickly when presented with the scent that predicted food availability). Thus, it seems that the same dopamine antagonist treatments that have been shown to disrupt food reinforcement do not prevent the food-seeking behavior produced by presentation of food-predictive cues. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Haemonchus contortus glycoproteins contain N-linked oligosaccharides with novel highly fucosylated core structures

Structural studies on the N-linked oligosaccharides of Haemonchus contortus, an economically important nematode that parasitizes domestic ruminants, have revealed core fucosylation of a type not previously observed in any eukaryotic glycoprotein. Mass spectrometric analyses were performed on detergent extracts of homogenized adult H. contortus and on purified H11, a glycoprotein isolated from intestinal brush borders which has been previously shown to be an effective vaccine antigen. The major N-linked glycans identified in the present study have up to three fucose residues attached to their chitobiose cores. The fucoses are found at the 3- and/or 6-positions of the proximal GlcNAc and at the 3-position of the distal GlcNAc. The latter substitution is unique in N-glycans. Most anti-H11 monoclonal antibodies are known to recognize carbohydrate epitopes, and it is possible that the newly discovered multifucosylated core structures are highly immunogenic in this glycoprotein.