bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heat Shock Protein 70 and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha in Taiwanese Patients with Dementia
Authors: Fung H.C. , Chen C.M. , Wu Y.R. , Hsu W.C. , Ro L.S. , Lin J.C. , Chang K.H. , Wang H.K. , Lin S.J. , Chan H. , Lin Y.Y. , Wei S.L. , Hsu Y. , Hwang J.C. , Tung L.C. , Lee-Chen G.-J.
Published: April 2005

This study was to determine whether polymorphisms of heat shock protein 70-1 (HSP70-1) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) are associated with the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD). Using the criteria of the NINCDS-ADRDA and NINDS-AIREN, 125 AD patients, 57 VaD patients and 109 ethnically matched nondemented controls were enrolled. The HSP70-1 –110 A/C and TNF-α –1031 T/C, –863 C/A and –857 C/T polymorphisms were analyzed by means of genotype or haplotype association methods. None of the four genotypes examined showed a statistically significant difference in genotype distribution between the AD cases and controls. However, the HSP70-1 –110 CC genotype occurred more frequently among AD cases (p = 0.0821; odds ratio: 2.08; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.92–4.98). The overall genotype distribution among the VaD cases tended to be different at the HSP70-1 –110 and TNF-α –1031 sites (p = 0.0604 and 0.0316, respectively). The HSP70-1 –110 CC genotype was more frequent (p = 0.0459), and the association of the –110 CC genotype with VaD was evident (p = 0.0207; odds ratio: 3.22; 95% CI: 1.20–8.87). The more frequent TNF-α –1031 TC genotype (p = 0.0614) was also evidently associated with VaD (p = 0.0209; odds ratio: 2.32; 95% CI: 1.14–4.78). Multivariate analysis demonstrated the synergistic effect of the HSP70-1 –110 CC and TNF-α –1031 TC/CC genotypes on VaD (p = 0.0091; odds ratio: 10.09; 95% CI: 2.01–75.97). Haplotype analysis among TNF-α –1031, –863, –857 sites revealed that –1031C–857C may act as a risk haplotype among VaD cases (p = 0.0132, odds ratio: 2.26; 95% CI: 1.19–4.33). Our results suggest a potential protective role for HSP70 in both VaD and AD, whereas TNF-α may act as a risk factor only for VaD, and not for AD.
Cognitive Reserve: A SPECT Study of 132 Alzheimer’s Disease Patients with an Education Range of 0–19 Years
Authors: Liao Yi-Chu , Liu Ren-Shyan , Teng Evenly Lee , Lee Yi-Chung , Wang Pei-Ning , Lin Ker-Neng , Chung Chih-Ping , Liu Hsiu-Chih
Published: April 2005

This study examines the associations between education, cerebral perfusion, and cognitive test performance among 132 patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The participants had had between 0 and 19 years of formal schooling, and had either mild or moderate dementia according to the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale. Cerebral perfusion was evaluated by the 99mTc-hexamethylpropylene amine oxime single photon emission computed tomography. The Mini-Mental State Examination and the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument were used to assess cognitive performance. For patients at each clinical dementia severity level, statistical parametric mapping was used to examine voxel by voxel the association between education and cerebral perfusion, and Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated between education and cognitive test scores. Years of formal schooling had negative associations with cerebral perfusion and positive associations with cognitive test scores. The brain regions showing a significant education effect on perfusion involved bilateral posterior association areas in mild dementia, and bilateral parieto-temporo-frontal areas in moderate dementia. The present findings indicate that the cognitive reserve effect starts at the low end of the education range. They also suggest that the main effect of more education is a more facile use of alternative brain circuits instead of locally increased synaptic connections.
Do Vascular Lesions and Related Risk Factors Influence Responsiveness to Donepezil Chloride in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease?
Authors: Fukui Toshiya , Taguchi Susumu
Published: April 2005

The purpose was to identify vascular influences on the responsiveness to donepezil chloride. The study included 50 untreated probable Alzheimer’s disease patients with the Modified Hachinski Ischemic Score <4. We assessed baseline cognitive status using the Revised Hasegawa Dementia Scale (HDS-R), Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) and the clock drawing test (CDT). The response to 5 mg of donepezil was monitored by the CDT for 12 months. Patients were classified as true responders (TR), unchanged (UC) and non-responders according to changes on the CDT in response to treatment. High HDS-R scores, low CDT scores, low CDR and presence of hypertension (HBP) and periventricular hyperintensities (PVH) predicted a TR- or UC-type outcome. Aggravation of executive function by HBP and/or PVH and its improvement by donepezil may have been detected by the CDT.
Differentiation of Dementia with Lewy Bodies from Alzheimer’s Disease Using Brain SPECT
Authors: Shimizu Soichiro , Hanyu Haruo , Kanetaka Hidekazu , Iwamoto Toshihiko , Koizumi Kiyoshi , Abe Kimihiko
Published: April 2005

We compared regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) patterns in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and investigated the diagnostic utility of SPECT study in differentiating between DLB and AD. SPECT data on 20 patients with DLB and 75 patients with AD were analyzed using three-dimensional stereotactic surface projections. Regional CBF reduction was determined by quantitative analysis using stereotactic extraction estimation method. The DLB group showed a significant CBF reduction in the temporoparietal, frontal lobe and posterior cingulate, similar to the CBF pattern in the AD group, but regional CBF in the medial and lateral occipital lobes decreased significantly in patients with DLB compared with patients with AD. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that regional CBF measurement of the medial occipital lobe, including the cuneus and lingual gyrus, yielded a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 85% in discriminating DLB from AD. Objective and quantitative CBF measurement in the medial occipital lobe may be useful in the clinical differentiation of DLB and AD.
Lack of de novo Sensitization to Tropomyosin in a Group of Mite-Allergic Patients Treated by House Dust Mite-Specific Immunotherapy
Authors: Asero Riccardo
Published: April 2005

Background: There is some evidence that specific immunotherapy may induce de novo sensitization to proteins contained in the allergen extract. This raises the possibility that the novel sensitization to cross-reacting allergens may cause food allergies. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess whether injection of mite-specific immunotherapy (SIT) may induce sensitization to shrimp tropomyosin. Methods: Seventy mite-allergic subjects who did not show any shrimp sensitization at baseline were followed up for at least 3 years. Thirty-one of them underwent a 3-year SIT course, 39 served as controls. At the follow-up visit, SPTs with both fresh shrimp and commercial extract were performed, and patients underwent an open oral challenge with shrimp. Results: Neither patient nor control had become sensitized to shrimp allergens at the end of the study period. Both patients and controls reported the regular intake of crustaceans and/or molluscs. Conclusion: Injection SIT with house dust mite extracts does not seem to induce de novo tropomyosin sensitization in mite-allergic patients.
Dementia, Stroke and Parkinson’s Disease in Spanish Populations: A Review of Door-to-Door Prevalence Surveys
Authors: del Barrio José Luis , de Pedro-Cuesta Jesús , Boix Raquel , Acosta Jesús , Bergareche Alberto , Bermejo-Pareja Félix , Gabriel Rafael , de Yébenes María Jesús García , García Francisco José , López-Pousa Secundino , María Manubens José , Mateos Raimundo , Matías-Guiu Jordi , María Olivé Josep , Reñé Ramón , Rodríguez Fernanda , Saz Pedro
Published: April 2005

We identified 14 door-to-door prevalence surveys on dementia, parkinsonism or stroke in Spanish populations fulfilling specific criteria and combined selected age- and sex-specific data using logistic regression and taking Pamplona as a reference. The prevalence of dementia and of Alzheimer’s disease varied significantly with space. However, the largest variation was seen for vascular dementia: odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for Gerona were 6.42 (3.23–12.3) in women and 2.30 (1.10–4.79) in men. Stroke was particularly frequent among Arevalo’s women, with OR 2.10 and 95% CI 1.26–3.49. The prevalence of Parkinson’s disease was twofold higher in Cantalejo. Although differences in methodology make the interpretation of results problematic, the prevalence of stroke and vascular dementia in Spain seems to vary spatially, indicating a space for prevention.
Vascular Wall Remodeling in Patients with Supravalvular Aortic Stenosis and Williams Beuren Syndrome
Authors: Dridi S.M. , Foucault Bertaud A. , Igondjo Tchen S. , Senni K. , Ejeil A.L. , Pellat B. , Lyonnet S. , Bonnet D. , Charpiot P. , Godeau G.
Published: April 2005

Supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS) and Williams Beuren syndrome (WBS) can be considered as inherited diseases affecting the whole arterial tree and causing narrowing of the vessels. It has been reported that abnormal deposition of elastin in arterial walls of patients with SVAS and WBS leads to increased proliferation of arterial smooth muscle cells (SMC), which result in the formation of hyperplastic intimal lesions. In this work, we conducted morphological and morphometrical analysis with stenotic aortas from patients suffering from SVAS and WBS and from healthy control subjects and demonstrated that the amount of elastic fibers and the loss of integrity of vascular elastic fibers in the aortas reflect similar changes in the skin of patients with SVAS or WBS, as reported in our previous work conducted on skin in these pathological states. On the other hand, we conducted investigations on metalloproteinases (MMP2, MMP9, MMP7) and their specific tissue inhibitors TIMP1 and TIMP2 to verify their possible involvement in the etiopathogeny of SVAS and WBS. We particularly evidenced an altered MMP9/TIMP1 balance in favor of matrix degradation which could facilitate SMC migration and neointimal hyperplasia. Our findings suggest that elastinolytic enzymes secreted by arterial SMC, possibly including matrilysin 1, are critical for the development of arterial lesions in SVAS and WBS and contribute to perpetuate arterial stenosis in either SVAS or WBS.
Predictors of Benefit in Angina Patients One Year after Completing Enhanced External Counterpulsation: Initial Responders to Treatment versus Nonresponders
Authors: Lawson William E. , Hui John C.K. , Kennard Elizabeth D. , Barsness Gregory , Kelsey Sheryl F.
Published: April 2005

Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) has been shown to reduce Canadian Cardiovascular Society angina class. This study examines the factors that affect the reduction at 1 year, especially in patients who do not demonstrate an initial response. The data of 2,007 consecutive patients enrolled in the International EECP Patient Registry were analyzed. After 36.6 ± 4.9 h of EECP, angina was reduced by at least one class in 82.7%. At 1 year, 35.4% of initial nonresponders and 70.6% of responders remained improved by at least one angina class and free of major adverse cardiovascular events. Multivariate predictors of 1-year benefit are initial response to treatment (odds ratio 4.5, 95% CI 3.5–5.8), baseline angina class compared with class IV (odds ratios: class I 2.1, CI 0.93–4.81; class II 0.62, CI 0.43–0.87; class III 0.80, CI 0.62–1.01) and no history of congestive heart failure (odds ratio 1.41, CI 1.14–1.74).
Apolipoprotein A-I Mimetic Peptides
Authors: Navab Mohamad , Anantharamaiah G.M. , Reddy Srinivasa T. , Hama Susan , Hough Greg , Grijalva Victor R. , Yu Nicholas , Ansell Benjamin J. , Datta Geeta , Garber David W. , Fogelman Alan M.
Published: April 2005

Despite identical amino acid composition, differences in class A amphipathic helical peptides caused by differences in the order of amino acids on the hydrophobic face results in substantial differences in antiinflammatory properties. One of these peptides is an apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) mimetic, D-4F. When given orally to mice and monkeys, D-4F caused the formation of pre-β high-density lipoprotein (HDL), improved HDL-mediated cholesterol efflux, reduced lipoprotein lipid hydroperoxides, increased paraoxonase activity, and converted HDL from pro-inflammatory to antiinflammatory. In apolipoprotein E (apoE)-null mice, D-4F increased reverse cholesterol transport from macrophages. Oral D-4F reduced atherosclerosis in apoE-null and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-null mice. In vitro when added to human plasma at nanomolar concentrations, D-4F caused the formation of pre-β HDL, reduced lipoprotein lipid hydroperoxides, increased paraoxonase activity, and converted HDL from pro-inflammatory to antiinflammatory. Physical-chemical properties and the ability of various class A amphipathic helical peptides to activate lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) in vitro did not predict biologic activity in vivo. In contrast, the use of cultured human artery wall cells in evaluating these peptides was more predictive of their efficacy in vivo. We conclude that the antiinflammatory properties of different class A amphipathic helical peptides depends on subtle differences in the configuration of the hydrophobic face of the peptides, which determines the ability of the peptides to sequester inflammatory lipids. These differences appear to be too subtle to predict efficacy based on physical-chemical properties alone. However, understanding these physical-chemical properties provides an explanation for the mechanism of action of the active peptides.
Systemic Endothelial Dysfunction as an Early Predictor of Adverse Outcome in Heart Failure
Authors: Heitzer Thomas , Baldus Stephan , von Kodolitsch Yskert , Rudolph Volker , Meinertz Thomas
Published: April 2005

Objective—

Endothelial dysfunction is an early event in the natural progression of heart failure. Increased oxidative stress has been linked to impaired endothelial function and both may play a prognostic role.

Methods and Results—

Endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilatation were determined in 289 patients with mild left ventricular dysfunction by measuring forearm blood flow responses to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside using venous occlusion plethysmography. Vascular effects of the coadministration of the antioxidant vitamin C at pharmacological doses (24 mg/min) were assessed. Occurrence of death, heart transplantation, and readmission with worsening heart failure were recorded as clinical outcome parameters during a follow-up period of 4.8 years. Patients experiencing adverse events (n=79) had lower vasodilator responses to acetylcholine (
P
<0.001) and to sodium nitroprusside (
P
=0.03) compared with patients without events. However, beneficial effects of vitamin C did not differ between both groups. Cox proportional hazards model demonstrated that age (
P
=0.001), renal function (
P
=0.001), and blunted acetylcholine-induced vasodilatation (
P
=0.007) remained independent predictors of adverse outcome.

Conclusions—

Impaired peripheral endothelial function independently predicts long-term adverse outcome in patients with early-stage heart failure. The findings suggest that assessment of peripheral endothelial function may represent an additional mean for risk stratification and therapy management in these patients.
Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells by Macrophages Is Impaired in Atherosclerosis
Authors: Schrijvers Dorien M. , De Meyer Guido R.Y. , Kockx Mark M. , Herman Arnold G. , Martinet Wim
Published: April 2005

Objective—

Apoptotic cell death has been demonstrated in advanced human atherosclerotic plaques. Apoptotic cells (ACs) should be rapidly removed by macrophages, otherwise secondary necrosis occurs, which in turn elicits inflammatory responses and plaque progression. Therefore, we investigated the efficiency of phagocytosis of ACs by macrophages in atherosclerosis.

Methods and Results—

Human endarterectomy specimens and human tonsils were costained for CD68 (macrophages) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) (apoptosis). Free and phagocytized ACs were counted in both tissues. The ratio of free versus phagocytized AC was 19-times higher in human atherosclerotic plaques as compared with human tonsils, indicating a severe defect in clearance of AC. Impaired phagocytosis of AC was also detected in plaques from cholesterol-fed rabbits and did not further change with plaque progression. In vitro experiments with J774 or peritoneal mouse macrophages showed that several factors caused impaired phagocytosis of AC including cytoplasmic overload of macrophages with indigestible material (beads), free radical attack, and competitive inhibition among oxidized red blood cells, oxidized low-density lipoprotein and ACs for the same receptor(s) on the macrophage.

Conclusion—

Our data demonstrate that phagocytosis of ACs is impaired in atherosclerotic plaques, which is at least partly attributed to oxidative stress and cytoplasmic saturation with indigestible material.
Humoral Immune Response Against Defined Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein Antigens Reflects Structure and Disease Activity of Carotid Plaques
Authors: Gonçalves Isabel , Gronholdt Marie-Louise M. , Söderberg Ingrid , Ares Mikko P.S. , Nordestgaard Borge G. , Bentzon Jacob F. , Fredrikson Gunilla Nordin , Nilsson Jan
Published: April 2005

Background—

Immune responses against oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) play an important role in atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate if humoral immune response against specific oxidized LDL antigens, such as aldehyde-modified peptide sequences of apolipoprotein B-100, reflects disease activity and structure of atherosclerotic plaques.

Methods and Results—

Plaques were obtained from 114 symptomatic subjects referred to carotid endarterectomy and characterized immunohistochemically and histologically. Plasma levels of IgG and IgM against aldehyde-modified apolipoprotein B-100 amino acid sequences 661 to 680, 3136 to 3155 (peptide 210), and 3661 to 3680 (peptide 240) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. High levels of IgG against peptide 210 were associated with increased plaque content of lipids (
r
=0.24,
P
<0.05) and hemorrhage (
r
=0.27,
P
=0.005), with decreased content of fibrous tissue (
r
=−0.25,
P
=0.01), but also with lower total plaque volume (
r
=−0.21,
P
<0.05). In contrast, high levels of IgM against peptide 240 were associated with plaques with more fibrous tissue (
r
=0.35,
P
<0.001), less lipids (
r
=−0.34,
P
<0.001), and less macrophages (
r
=−0.24,
P
<0.05). IgM against peptide 210 were found to be associated with plaque fibrous tissue (
r
=0.20,
P
<0.05), less lipids (
r
=−0.21,
P
<0.05), and less macrophages (
r
=−0.27,
P
=0.01).

Conclusion—

These findings support the notion that immune responses against oxidized LDL epitopes are involved in atherosclerosis and that the level of circulating antibodies against these structures may reflect disease activity in the arterial wall.
Modulation of the Cardiac Sodium Channel Na
V
1.5 by Fyn, a Src Family Tyrosine Kinase
Authors: Ahern Christopher A. , Zhang Ji-Fang , Wookalis Marilyn J. , Horn Richard
Published: April 2005

Dynamic modulation of ion channels can produce dramatic alterations of electrical excitability in cardiac myocytes. This study addresses the effects of the Src family tyrosine kinase Fyn on Na
V
1.5 cardiac sodium channels. Sodium currents were acquired by whole cell recording on HEK-293 cells transiently expressing Na
V
1.5. Acute treatment of cells with insulin caused a depolarizing shift in steady-state inactivation, an effect eliminated by the Src-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor PP2. Sodium channels were coexpressed with either constitutively active (Fyn
CA
) or catalytically inactive (Fyn
KD
) variants of Fyn. Fyn
CA
caused a 10-mV depolarizing shift of steady-state inactivation compared with Fyn
KD
without altering the activation conductance-voltage relationship. Comparable effects of these Fyn variants were obtained with whole-cell and perforated-patch recording. Tyrosine phosphorylation of immunoprecipitated Na
V
1.5 was increased in cells expressing Fyn
CA
compared with Fyn
KD
. We show that Fyn is present in rat cardiac myocytes, and that Na
V
1.5 channels from these myocytes are tyrosine-phosphorylated. In HEK-293 cells the effect of Fyn
CA
on Na
V
1.5 inactivation is abolished by the single point mutation Y1495F, a residue located within the cytoplasmic linker between the third and fourth homologous domains of the sodium channel. We provide evidence that this linker is a substrate for Fyn in vitro, and that Y1495 is a preferred phosphorylation site. These results suggest that cardiac sodium channels are physiologically relevant targets of Src family tyrosine kinases.
Gavestinel Does Not Improve Outcome After Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: Haley E. Clarke , Thompson John L.P. , Levin Bruce , Davis Stephen , Lees Kennedy R. , Pittman John G. , DeRosa Janet T. , Ordronneau Paul , Brown Devin L. , Sacco Ralph L.
Published: April 2005

Background and Purpose—

Glycine Antagonist in Neuroprotection (GAIN) International and GAIN Americas trials were prospectively designed, randomized, placebo-controlled trials of gavestinel, a glycine-site antagonist and putative neuroprotectant drug administered within 6 hours of suspected ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. Both trials reported that gavestinel was ineffective in ischemic stroke. This analysis reports the results in those with primary intracerebral hemorrhage.

Methods—

The primary hypothesis was that gavestinel treatment did not alter outcome, measured at 3 months by the Barthel Index (BI), from acute intracerebral hemorrhage, based on pooled results from both trials. The BI scores were divided into 3 groups: 95 to 100 (independent), 60 to 90 (assisted independence), and 0 to 55 (dependent) or dead.

Results—

In total, 3450 patients were randomized in GAIN International (N=1804) and GAIN Americas (N=1646). Of these, 571 were ultimately identified to have spontaneous intracerebral hematoma on baseline head computerized tomography scan. The difference in distribution of trichotomized BI scores at 3 months between gavestinel and placebo was not statistically significant (
P
=0.09). Serious adverse events were reported at similar rates in the 2 treatment groups.

Conclusions—

These observations from the combined GAIN International and GAIN Americas trials suggest that gavestinel is not of substantial benefit or harm to patients with primary intracerebral hemorrhage. These findings are similar to results previously reported in patients with ischemic stroke.
Patterns of Cerebral Infarction in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Rabinstein Alejandro A. , Weigand Stephen , Atkinson John L.D. , Wijdicks Eelco F.M.
Published: April 2005

Background and Purpose—

The aim of this study was to analyze the distribution patterns of delayed cerebral ischemia after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and the factors that determine their occurrence.

Methods—

We analyzed clinical and radiological data of 143 consecutive patients with aneurysmal SAH. Computed tomography scan revision was blinded to clinical information. Superficial infarctions were defined as territorial lesions with cortical involvement. Perioperative infarctions were excluded.

Results—

Fifty-six patients (39%) had cerebral infarctions. They were unilateral in 34 patients (61%) and involved a single territory in 29 (52%). Location was cortical in 34 patients (61%), deep in 10 (18%), and combined cortical and deep in 12 (21%). Single infarctions were cortical in 23 of 28 cases (79%). Deep territory ischemia was more common with multiple lesions (16/28, 57% versus 6/29 with single lesions, 21%;
P
<0.01). Single infarctions occurred frequently in the territory of the ruptured aneurysm (22/28 patients; 79%), whereas multiple infarctions were often distant to the site of rupture (21/28 cases, 75%). History of diabetes (
P
=0.05), early hydrocephalus (
P
=0.05), and requirement of external ventricular drainage (
P
=0.02) were associated with the occurrence of multiple infarctions on univariate analysis. On multivariable analysis, this association only remained significant for the requirement of external ventricular drainage.

Conclusion—

The 2 most common patterns of delayed cerebral ischemia after aneurysmal SAH are single cortical infarction, typically near the ruptured aneurysm, and multiple widespread lesions including subcortical locations and often unrelated to the site of aneurysm rupture. These 2 patterns may represent different pathophysiological mechanisms or different degrees of severity of the same vascular process.
Why Some Anti-Immigrant Parties Fail and Others Succeed
Authors: Van Der Brug Wouter , Fennema Meindert , Tillie Jean
Published: April 2005

Over the past 2 decades, some anti-immigrant parties have managed to gain substantial electoral support in various European countries, most notably, Austria ( Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs) and Flanders ( Vlaams Blok). However, in other countries, the success of such parties either has been insignificant or did not last. The most popular models of support for anti-immigrant parties focus primarily on the demand side of the electoral process. The authors develop a model to explain differences in aggregate-level support for these parties, which also takes into account the supply side. This model builds upon an explanation provided by Kitschelt. The model is tested empirically for 13 European anti-immigrant parties in the period from 1989 to 1999, altogether yielding 25 party-year combinations. The authors test the sociostructural model and their alternative model at the level of political parties. The sociostructural model explains 3% of the variance in success, whereas the authors’ model explains 83%.
Imitating Life, Imitating Television
Authors: Krcmar Marina , Vieira Edward T.
Published: April 2005

Parent-child dyads responded to a questionnaire investigating the relative impact of exposure to television violence, family communication patterns, and parents’ moral reasoning on the moral reasoning of children. Because previous research found an effect of exposure to television violence on children’s moral reasoning, this study tested whether children’s perspective taking mediated the link between exposure to television violence and moral reasoning. Results suggest that (a) communication orientation is negatively related and control orientation positively related to children’s exposure to television violence, (b) television violence has a negative effect on children’s moral reasoning, and (c) perspective taking mediates the link between exposure to fantasy violence and children’s moral reasoning about justified violence such that more exposure to fantasy violence leads to less advanced perspective taking that leads to less advanced moral reasoning. Even when the age of the child is controlled, parents’ moral reasoning is unrelated to that of their children.
Media, Interpersonal Discussion, and Electoral Choice
Authors: Cho Jaeho
Published: April 2005

Scholars of voting behavior have considered party identification, issue positions, and candidate images as key determinants of vote choice. Previous research, however, has not resolved whether the strength of the vote determinants differs across individual voters, depending on patterns of political communication during the course of an election campaign. Research has found both that television news stresses candidates’ character rather than policy issues and that political discussion is usually between people who hold similar political beliefs. Based on previous literature, this study hypothesizes that frequent television news viewers are more likely to rely on their perception of candidate image to make an electoral choice, whereas voters who frequently talk to others about politics are more likely to vote on the basis of party identification. National survey data support these hypotheses. Implications for future political communication effects research are discussed.
Linking Media to Prototype Activation and Subsequent Celebrity Attraction:
Authors: Mastro Dana E. , Tamborini Ron , Hullett Craig R.
Published: April 2005

The present study addresses the role of the media in the self-categorization-based process of depersonalized attraction. Results provide tentative support for the proposition that prototype embodiment impacts subsequent judgments of celebrity social attractiveness. Specifically, social attraction was most effectively predicted by ingroup prototype embodiment along the dimension of intelligence addressed in the induction, influencing liking of both ingroup (White) and outgroup (Black) target celebrities.
Relational Uncertainty and Relational Information Processing
Authors: Knobloch Leanne K. , Solomon Denise Haunani
Published: April 2005

This article seeks to understand how relational uncertainty coincides with people’s ability to process relational information. The general premise is that individuals experiencing relational uncertainty should have difficulty deriving inferences because they lack the knowledge necessary to identify and interpret relational cues. The authors use this reasoning to deduce hypotheses about how relational uncertainty may correspond with people’s perceptions of relationship talk, judgments of relational messages, and evaluations of the difficulty of interaction. They conducted a study of conversations between romantic partners (N = 120 couples). As predicted, relational uncertainty was negatively associated with people’s perceptions of relationship talk after controlling for the perceptions of third-party observers. Relational uncertainty was negatively associated with the extremity of people’s judgments about relational messages. Furthermore, relational uncertainty was positively associated with people’s perceptions of the difficulty of interaction. They conclude by discussing how these findings illuminate the connection between relational uncertainty and relational information processing.
How Behaviors are Influenced by Perceived Norms
Authors: Rimal Rajiv N. , Real Kevin
Published: April 2005

Normative restructuring strategies currently under way to combat alcohol-related problems among U.S. college students are based on the idea that students harbor inflated perceptions about the prevalence of drinking on campus and that if these misperceptions can be corrected, then alcohol consumption will decrease. Evidence for the effectiveness of these strategies is lacking, and there is little discussion in the literature about how or why people’s normative beliefs exert influence on their behaviors. The theory of normative social behavior that is proposed in this article includes three mechanisms—injunctive norms, outcome expectations, and group identity—that are hypothesized to moderate the influence of descriptive norms on behavior. This theory is tested through a survey (N = 1,352) conducted among incoming college students. Although all normative mechanisms predicted behavioral intention, four of the six variables also interacted with descriptive norms to influence intention, with relatively smaller effects. Overall, the model was able to predict 63% of the variance in intention to consume alcohol. Implications for health campaigns are discussed.
Written Emotional Expression and Emotional Well-Being: The Moderating Role of Fear of Rejection
Authors: Langens Thomas A. , Schüler Julia
Published: April 2005

Empirical research shows that individuals high in fear of rejection typically report low levels of perceived social support and are more vulnerable to stressful experiences. At the same time, writing about stressful experiences in an emotional way seems to help people adapt to current stressors and not-yet-assimilated stressful experiences. Therefore, the authors suggest that written emotional expression may be a particularly effective strategy to manage negative emotions for individuals high in fear of rejection. Three studies were conducted to test these assumptions. Study 1 found that high fear of rejection is linked to a lack of perceived social support. Longitudinal Studies 2 and 3 supported our main hypothesis, demonstrating that written emotional expression is linked to lower levels of negative mood among individuals high (but not among individuals low) in fear of rejection.
Perceivers’ Responses to In-Group and Out-Group Members Who Blame a Negative Outcome on Discrimination
Authors: Garcia Donna M. , Reser April Horstman , Amo Rachel B. , Redersdorff Sandrine , Branscombe Nyla R.
Published: April 2005

The authors extend recent research concerning the social costs of claiming discrimination by examining men’s and women’s responses to in-group and out-group targets who either blamed a failing grade on discrimination or answer quality. Although participants generally responded more negatively to targets who blamed discrimination, rather than answer quality, dislike was greatest and gender group identification was lowest when participants evaluated an in-group target. Moreover, an in-group target who claimed discrimination was perceived as avoiding personal responsibility for outcomes to a greater extent than was a similar out-group target. Perceptions that the target avoided outcome responsibility by claiming discrimination were shown to mediate the relationship between attribution type and dislike of the in-group target. The authors discuss their results in terms of intragroup processes and suggest that social costs may especially accrue for in-group members when claiming discrimination has implications for the in-group’s social identity.
Uncertainty Reduction, Self-Enhancement, and Ingroup Identification
Authors: Reid Scott A. , Hogg Michael A.
Published: April 2005

Two experiments tested the prediction that uncertainty reduction and self-enhancement motivations have an interactive effect on ingroup identification. In Experiment 1 (N = 64), uncertainty and group status were manipulated, and the effect on ingroup identification was measured. As predicted, low-uncertainty participants identified more strongly with a high- than low-status group, whereas high-uncertainty participants showed no preference; and low-status group members identified more strongly under high than low uncertainty, whereas high-status group members showed no preference. Experiment 2 (N = 210) replicated Experiment 1, but with a third independent variable that manipulated how prototypical participants were of their group. As predicted, the effects obtained in Experiment 1 only emerged where participants were highly prototypical. Low prototypicality depressed identification with a low-status group under high uncertainty. The implications of these results for intergroup relations and the role of prototypicality in social identity processes are discussed.
Is Short-Term Mating the Maladaptive Result of Insecure Attachment? A Test of Competing Evolutionary Perspectives
Authors: Schmitt David P.
Published: April 2005

Different evolutionary perspectives offer competing views on short-term mating and attachment. Some theories argue that short-term mating results from insecure attachment, particularly the maladaptive attachment features of low self-esteem, interpersonal distrust, social avoidance, and emotional instability. Other theories posit that short-term mating is adaptive, having evolved as an ecologically contingent reproductive strategy. In this view, short-term mating has multiple origins—developmental, heritable, and situational—and may not be associated with the maladaptive traits of insecure attachment. Across several different cultures, short-term mating was moderately associated with insecure attachment, and insecure attachment was strongly related to maladaptive personality. However, short-term mating was largely independent of maladaptive personality. In some cases, especially among young men, short-term mating was associated with adaptive personality traits, especially higher self-esteem. It is argued that although insecure romantic attachment is somewhat associated with short-term mating, the causal links between early parent-child attachment and short-term mating are rather limited.
Stereotyping, Self-Affirmation, and the Cerebral Hemispheres
Authors: Shrira Ilan , Martin Leonard L.
Published: April 2005

The authors used the processing characteristics of the left and right cerebral hemispheres to gain some insight into the relation between self-affirmation and stereotyping. In Study 1, self-affirmation led to greater stereotyping (of a librarian) and to greater left hemisphere activation, which in turn mediated the self-affirmation/stereotyping relationship. Study 2 replicated these results but also found that self-affirmation decreased stereotyping for a stigmatized target. However, relative hemisphere activation did not mediate this self-affirmation/stereotyping relationship. These studies showed that self-affirmation can either increase or decrease stereotyping depending on the status of the target and that relative hemisphere activation may provide clues as to underlying processes of stereotyping. In both studies, relative hemisphere activation was assessed using a line bisection task. Discussion focuses on possible mechanisms of different kinds of stereotyping and on the ways in which a consideration of relative hemisphere activation could help researchers gain insights into those mechanisms.
Emotional Disclosure and Closeness Toward Offenders
Authors: Harber Kent D. , Wenberg Karen E.
Published: April 2005

Two studies tested whether emotional disclosure increases feelings of closeness toward offenders. In Study 1, participants recalled either someone who had offended them or a neutral acquaintance. “Disclosure” participants then expressed their thoughts and feelings regarding their targets, and “suppression” participants described their targets nonemotionally. As predicted, disclosure increased closeness toward offenders but not toward acquaintances. Study 2 extended these results by including a good friend to test whether disclosure selectively increases closeness toward offenders, and not simply toward any person who evokes strong feelings. This prediction was confirmed. Furthermore, the disclosure effect remained reliable even after controlling for mood. Studies 1 and 2 also showed that closeness toward offenders, but not toward friends or acquaintances, was positively related to the proportion of emotion-related words disclosed. Collectively, these findings suggest that confronting the emotions associated with an offense may be an important first step toward forgiveness.
Effects of Talker Gender on Dialect Categorization
Authors: Clopper Cynthia G. , Conrey Brianna , Pisoni David B.
Published: April 2005

The identification of the gender of an unfamiliar talker is an easy and automatic process for naïve adult listeners. Sociolinguistic research has consistently revealed gender differences in the production of linguistic variables. Research on the perception of dialect variation, however, has been limited almost exclusively to male talkers. In the present study, naïve participants were asked to categorize unfamiliar talkers by dialect using sentence-length utterances under three presentation conditions: male talkers only, female talkers only, and a mixed gender condition. The results revealed no significant differences in categorization performance across the three presentation conditions. However, a clustering analysis of the listeners’ categorization errors revealed significant effects of talker gender on the underlying perceptual similarity spaces. The present findings suggest that naïve listeners are sensitive to gender differences in speech production and are able to use those differences to reliably categorize unfamiliar male and female talkers by dialect.
Relative Coordination to Unknown “Weak Zeitgebers” in Free-Running Blind Individuals
Authors: Emens Jonathan S. , Lewy Alfred J. , Lefler Bryan J. , Sack Robert L.
Published: April 2005

Light is the primary synchronizer of the human biological clock. In more than half of those blind individuals who completely lack light perception, the absence of photic input to the hypothalamic circadian pacemaker results in rhythms that free-run (blind free-runners [BFRs]) with a period typically greater than 24 h. The remainder are entrained, although sometimes at an abnormal phase angle. It is presumed that weak as-yet-to-be-identified time cues provide the necessary resetting stimulus in these entrained individuals. These weak zeitgebers might be expected to modulate the observed circadian period in blind people who are not actually entrained by them. The authors report here the results from 5 BFRs (average linear regression period ±SD of 24.31 ± 0.06 h) who had high-resolution (many and frequent) phase assessments. All 5 subjects demonstrated a similar and reproducible pattern of changes in observed period (period response curves) indicative of relative coordination. The precise shape of the period response curve to weak zeitgebers has implications for the entrainment of BFRs using exogenous melatonin administration or other nonphotic stimuli. Sighted individuals may also be affected by such weak zeitgebers, which may be obscured by the stronger light/dark cycle.
Circadian Rhythm Phenotype of 5-HT₇ Receptor Knockout Mice: 5-HT and 8-OH-DPAT-Induced Phase Advances of SCN Neuronal Firing
Authors: Sprouse Jeffrey , Li Xingfang , Stock Jeffrey , McNeish John , Reynolds Linda
Published: April 2005

In vitro neuronal recordings in the SCN have clearly documented shifts in the peak of unit activity following the application of serotonergic agents, and yet selectivity issues with these very tools have limited progress in establishing the precise receptor mechanisms. As an alternative strategy, mice werebred (C57BL/6J) lacking 1 serotonin receptor, the 5-HT7, to serve as a null background for this subtype; earlier work had documented the involvement of 5-HT7 receptors in the phase advances elicited by 8-OH-DPAT, a mixed 5-HT1A/7 agonist, in SCN slices prepared from rat donors. Single-unit recordings in sequential electrode passes revealed peaks of activity that occurred at nearly the same time in the knockout (KO; ZT4.2 ± 0.6) and wild-type animals (WT; ZT4.3 ± 0.1), where ZT0 marks the beginning of the light phase in a 12:12 LD cycle. Bath application of 8-OH-DPAT produced a phase advance in neuronal firing (2.1 ± 0.5 h) when applied 1 circadian cycle earlier at ZT6 (10 μM, 10 min), but surprisingly, the mean phase advance in slices prepared from KO mice (2.3 ± 0.1 h) was no different. Coapplication of 8-OH-DPAT with WAY-100,635 (10 μM), a highly selective 5-HT1A antagonist, significantly reduced the phase advance, both in experiments with WT and KO mice, suggesting the greater importance of this serotonin sub-type independent of genetic modification. 5-HT itself (0.5 ±M, 10 min) at ZT6 also yielded phase advances that were indistinguishable in slices prepared from WT and KO mice (1.8 ± 0.4 h and 2.1 ± 0.2 h, respectively) and that were also sensitive to WAY-100,635. Unlike the pattern with 8-OH-DPAT, however, 5-HT-induced phase advances, in both WT and KO mice, were blocked by ritanserin, in this paradigm useful as a 5-HT5A/7 antagonist (in addition to its more typical role as a 5-HT2A/2C antagonist). Serotonin antagonists when administered alone were without effect in slices from WT mice but produced significant phase shifts when administered to those from KO animals. Taken together, these results highlight the importance of the species used in establishing receptor mechanism. More provocatively, they support the involvement of multiple serotonin receptors in shifting the phase of circadian rhythms at ZT6.
Stability of Melatonin and Temperature as Circadian Phase Markers and Their Relation to Sleep Times in Humans
Authors: Benloucif S. , Guico M. J. , Reid K. J. , Wolfe L. F. , L’Hermite-Balériaux M. , Zee P. C.
Published: April 2005

Circadian rhythms of core body temperature and melatonin are commonly used as phase markers of the circadian clock. Melatonin is a more stable marker of circadian phase when measured under constant routine conditions. However, little is known about the variability of these phase markers under less controlled conditions. Moreover, there is little consensus about the preferred method of analysis. The objective of this study was to assess various methods of calculating melatonin and temperature phase in subjects with regular sleep schedules living in their natural environment. Baseline data were analyzed from 42 healthy young subjects who were studied on at least two occasions. Each hospital admission was separated by at least 3 weeks. Subjects were instructedto maintain a regular sleep schedule, which was monitored for 1 week before admission by sleep logs and actigraphy. Subjects spent one habituation night under controlled conditions prior to collecting baseline temperature and melatonin measurements. The phase of the melatonin rhythm was assessed by 9 different methods. The temperature nadir (Tmin) was estimated using both Cleveland and Cosine curve fitting procedures, with and without demasking. Variability between admissions was assessed by correlation analysis and by the mean absolute difference in timing of the phase estimates. The relationship to sleep times was assessed by correlation of sleep onset or sleep offset with the various phase markers. Melatonin phase markers were more stable and more highly correlated with the timing of sleep than estimates of Tmin. Of the methods for estimating Tmin, simple cosine analysis was the least variable. In addition, sleep offset was more strongly correlated with the various phase markers than sleep onset. The relative measures of melatonin offset had the highest correlation coefficients, the lowest study-to-study variability, and were more strongly associated with sleep timing than melatonin onsets. Concordance of the methods of analysis suggests a tendency for the declining phase of the melatonin profile to be more stable and reliable than either markers of melatonin onset or measures of the termination of melatonin synthesis.
The Thymus Is Similar to the Testis in Its Pattern of Circadian Clock Gene Expression
Authors: Alvarez J. D. , Sehgal Amita
Published: April 2005

The molecular basis for the circadian clock in mammals consists of a number of genes and proteins that form transcription-translation feedback loops. These loops result in a 24-h rhythm in the expression of mRNA and protein levels. Although the anatomical site of the central circadian clock is the SCN of the hypothalamus, all of the circadian clock genes are expressed in tissues other than the brain. Moreover, cyclic gene and protein expression occurs in mostof these tissues. The best known exception to this rule is the testis, which shows constant rather than cyclic expression of circadian clock genes. Indeed, the testis of multiple animal species displays constant circadian clock gene expression. In recent work, the authors showed that the thymus is similar to the testis in that expression of circadian clock genes is either constant over a 24-h period or cycles with a dampened amplitude, depending on which gene is examined. In the current study, they extend and confirm their findings regarding noncyclic circadian clock gene and protein expression in the testis and the thymus. More important, they also show that expression of these genes in both testis and thymus does not depend on the transcriptional activator, CLOCK, which is necessary for cyclic gene expression in the SCN and in other tissues. These results extend the molecular similarities between the thymus and the testis and suggest that similar mechanisms are at work for regulating expression of circadian clock genes in both tissues. One commonality between these 2 organs is that they are composed primarily of differentiating cells. The authors hypothesize that the circadian clock is not operational in immature, differentiating cells. Possibly, the clock starts in mature cells upon receipt of an initiating signal.