Evidence of Psychological Manipulation in the Process of Violent Radicalization: An Investigation of the 17-A Cell.

Introduction: Radicalization leading to violence is a complex social process that frequently targets young people. In this study, we examine the 17-A cell, which carried out terrorist attacks in the Spanish cities of Barcelona and Cambrils on August 17, 2017. We focus on the psychological manipulation techniques used to radicalized members of the cell. Methods: Using deductive content analysis, we examined the judicial order of the National High Court related to "Operation Ramblas" and the police proceedings of Cuerpo de Mossos d'Esquadra (CME) associated with the Barcelona and Cambrils attacks. Our goal was to determine whether psychological manipulation was used on the cell members and, if so, how frequently. Results: Our results suggest that different psychological manipulation techniques were used on the 17-A cell members to facilitate their use of ideological violence. The most frequent strategies were cognitive control (control of attention, group identification, and denigration of critical thinking), environmental control (control of information), and emotional control (authoritarian leadership). Conclusions: This study provides evidence that psychological manipulation techniques were used in the radicalization of 17-A cell members. The results are discussed in the context of previous research on the psychology of violent extremism and terrorism. We highlight the need for prevention and psychosocial interventions to steer young people away from violent extremism.

Social inclusion level of Spanish and foreign adolescents: Proposal for an evaluation instrument.

Social exclusion is one of the most complex and sensitive social problems nowadays. Of all social groups, adolescents are among the most vulnerable to social exclusion, which can interfere with their social development. Consequently, the evaluation of this construct in adolescents is an important matter. The aim of this investigation was to develop the Social Inclusion for Adolescents Scale (SIAS). Firstly, five psychosocial factors were proposed, which potentially contribute to social inclusion: (1) covered needs, (2) self-efficacy, (3) social support, (4) job training, and (5) social integration. From these five factors, a set of items was created and reduced using qualitative evaluations. The final set of items was used in three studies, with a Spanish population (N = 1540) and a foreign population (N = 460), to test the psychometric properties of the scale, its dimensional structure, the measurement invariance between Spanish and foreign people, the reliability of the instrument and the evidence of the validity of its measurements. The results indicate that this scale is psychometrically reliable enough to assess social inclusion in adolescents. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-020-01201-5.

Deciphering intratumoral heterogeneity using integrated clonal tracking and single-cell transcriptome analyses.

Cellular heterogeneity is a major cause of treatment resistance in cancer. Despite recent advances in single-cell genomic and transcriptomic sequencing, it remains difficult to relate measured molecular profiles to the cellular activities underlying cancer. Here, we present an integrated experimental system that connects single cell gene expression to heterogeneous cancer cell growth, metastasis, and treatment response. Our system integrates single cell transcriptome profiling with DNA barcode based clonal tracking in patient-derived xenograft models. We show that leukemia cells exhibiting unique gene expression respond to different chemotherapies in distinct but consistent manners across multiple mice. In addition, we uncover a form of leukemia expansion that is spatially confined to the bone marrow of single anatomical sites and driven by cells with distinct gene expression. Our integrated experimental system can interrogate the molecular and cellular basis of the intratumoral heterogeneity underlying disease progression and treatment resistance.

The role of vulnerable environments in support for homegrown terrorism: Fieldwork using the 3N model.

The 3N model of radicalization proposes that violent radicalization is the result of the contribution of needs, networks, and narratives. Although research has mainly been supportive of this perspective, a substantial amount of ground remains uncovered regarding the network component of the model. Within this framework, we examine why individuals living in certain social environments tend to harbor more positive attitudes toward homegrown terrorism than others. Building on prior research, we hypothesized that individuals living in social environments known to be vulnerable (vs. less vulnerable) are more likely to experience a sense of significance loss (i.e., lack of social integration, perceived conflicts between religious groups), find solace in religious social networks (i.e., mosques), and thus adhere to radical narratives (i.e., legitimization of terrorism). A study with 365 young Muslims from different cities in Spain (Almería, Barcelona, Ceuta, and Melilla)supported these predictions. Theoretical and practical implications for the study of violent extremism are discussed.

From Oppression to Violence: The Role of Oppression, Radicalism, Identity, and Cultural Intelligence in Violent Disinhibition.

Violent radicalization and terrorism continue to pose social and security problems. Starting from the theoretical framework offered by the significance quest theory, the purpose of this research was to analyze the different roles that radical intentions play in the relationship between the loss of significance and violent disinhibition in Muslims and non-Muslims. For this reason, we carried out two studies: the first one with 133 Muslims and 126 non-Muslims, and the second with 98 Muslims and 167 non-Muslims. Specifically, we measured how perceived oppression influenced violent disinhibition through radical intentions. Secondly, we also measured the impact of identity and cultural intelligence in these relations. The main finding of the research was that there was an indirect effect of perceived oppression on violent disinhibition through radical intentions in the Muslim sample, whereas, in the non-Muslim sample, the effect of perceived oppression on violent disinhibition was not mediated by radical intentions. These results were replicated in both studies. Additionally, we found that identity and culture were factors that moderated the proposed relations. This work therefore shows that the conjunction of the loss of significance and radical intentions seems to strongly exacerbate the likelihood of a process of violent disinhibition for those who are considered to be in marginal contexts. Overall, different pathways and intervening factors are in the process of radicalizing Muslims and non-Muslims in Western societies.

The road to extremism: Field and experimental evidence that significance loss-induced need for closure fosters radicalization.

The present studies examined the hypothesis that loss of personal significance fuels extremism via the need for cognitive closure. Situations of significance loss-those that make one feel ashamed, humiliated, or demeaned-are inconsistent with the desire for a positive self-image, and instill a sense of uncertainty about the self. Consequently, individuals become motivated to seek certainty and closure that affords the restoration of personal significance. Extremist ideologies should thus increase in appeal, because they promise clear-cut strategies for such restoration. These notions were supported in a series of studies ranging from field surveys of political extremists imprisoned in the Philippines (Study 1) and Sri Lanka (Study 2) to experiments conducted with American samples (Studies 3-4). Implications of these findings are considered for the psychology of extremism, and for approaches to counterradicalization, and deradicalization. (PsycINFO Database Record

Factors associated with substance use among Spanish military personnel involved in "Bosnia-Herzegovina". / Factores asociados al consumo de drogas en una muestra de militares españoles desplegados en "Bosnia-Herzegovina".

The use of both legal and illegal drugs has rarely been investigated among the Spanish military population involved in multinational military operations. The aim of the current study was to examine the consumption of drugs by Spanish military personnel in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the variables associated with such substance use. A total of 605 military personnel participated in the cross-sectional study. The participants' mean age was 25.9 years (SD = 5.9), and 93.9% of the sample was male. The majority of the participants were enlisted personnel (83.5%). The most widely used drugs were tobacco (54.2%), and alcohol (39.9%). With respect to illegal drugs, the results showed that the drug with the highest prevalence of "use at some point during a lifetime" was cannabis (36.2%), followed by cocaine (14.9%) and amphetamines (12.1%). The most important variable associated with a decrease in the consumption of illegal drugs was social support. Conversely, participants with friends who have used illegal drugs had an increased likelihood of drug consumption. Given that the use of drugs can adversely affect soldiers' performance, preventive measures should be applied in multinational military operations.

El consumo de drogas legales e ilegales ha sido muy poco investigado en población militar española destinada en zonas de operaciones multinacionales. El objetivo de la investigación fue evaluar el nivel de consumo de drogas en militares españoles que realizaban misiones en Bosnia-Herzegovina, e identificar las posibles variables asociadas con dicho consumo. En el estudio transversal participaron 605 militares. La edad media de los participantes fue de 25,9 años (DT = 5,9) y el 93,9% de la muestra eran hombres. La mayoría de los participantes pertenecían a las escalas de tropa y marinería (83,5%). Las drogas más usadas fueron el tabaco (54,2%), y el alcohol (39,9%). En relación a las drogas ilegales, los resultados muestran que la droga con una mayor prevalencia de consumo "alguna vez en su vida" fue el cannabis (36,2%), seguida de la cocaína (14,9%) y las anfetaminas (12,1%). La variable más relevante asociada con una disminución en el consumo de drogas ilegales ha sido el apoyo social. En cambio, los participantes quienes tenían amigos consumidores de drogas ilegales incrementaban la probabilidad de consumo de drogas. Se resalta la importancia de la prevención en zonas de operaciones multinacionales para evitar el efecto negativo que podría tener el consumo de drogas en el desempeño adecuado de las misiones encomendadas.

Factores asociados al consumo de drogas en una muestra de militares españoles desplegados en 'Bosnia-Herzegovina' / Factors associated with substance use among Spanish military personnel involved in 'Bosnia-Herzegovina'

El consumo de drogas legales e ilegales ha sido muy poco investigado en población militar española destinada en zonas de operaciones multinacionales. El objetivo de la investigación fue evaluar el nivel de consumo de drogas en militares españoles que realizaban misiones en Bosnia-Herzegovina, e identificar las posibles variables asociadas con dicho consumo. En el estudio transversal participaron 605 militares. La edad media de los participantes fue de 25,9 años (DT = 5,9) y el 93,9% de la muestra eran hombres. La mayoría de los participantes pertenecían a las escalas de tropa y marinería (83,5%). Las drogas más usadas fueron el tabaco (54,2%), y el alcohol (39,9%). En relación a las drogas ilegales, los resultados muestran que la droga con una mayor prevalencia de consumo 'alguna vez en su vida' fue el cannabis (36,2%), seguida de la cocaína (14,9%) y las anfetaminas (12,1%). La variable más relevante asociada con una disminución en el consumo de drogas ilegales ha sido el apoyo social. En cambio, los participantes quienes tenían amigos consumidores de drogas ilegales incrementaban la probabilidad de consumo de drogas. Se resalta la importancia de la prevención en zonas de operaciones multinacionales para evitar el efecto negativo que podría tener el consumo de drogas en el desempeño adecuado de las misiones encomendadas

The use of both legal and illegal drugs has rarely been investigated among the Spanish military population involved in multinational military operations. The aim of the current study was to examine the consumption of drugs by Spanish military personnel in Bosnia- Herzegovina, and the variables associated with such substance use. A total of 605 military personnel participated in the cross-sectional study. The participants' mean age was 25.9 years (SD = 5.9), and 93.9% of the sample was male. The majority of the participants were enlisted personnel (83.5%). The most widely used drugs were tobacco (54.2%), and alcohol (39.9%). With respect to illegal drugs, the results showed that the drug with the highest prevalence of use 'at some point during a lifetime' was cannabis (36.2%), followed by cocaine (14.9%) and amphetamines (12.1%). The most important variable associated with a decrease in the consumption of illegal drugs was social support. Conversely, participants with friends who have used illegal drugs had an increased likelihood of drug consumption. Given that the use of drugs can adversely affect soldiers' performance, preventive measures should be applied in multinational military operations

New insights into the conserved mechanism of pluripotency maintenance.

Pluripotent stem cells provide a powerful tool for both basic and translational research. The establishment and maintenance of germline-competent pluripotent stem cells in vitro, however, have only succeeded in the mouse and rat. From in vivo studies on pluripotency during embryogenesis and in vitro studies on existing pluripotent stem cells, several mechanisms have been uncovered for maintenance of both the naïve and the primed pluripotent states. Current clues strongly indicate that such mechanisms are likely conserved among different species. A better understanding of how these mechanisms work together to control cell fate choice will guide future research in both stem cell biology and regenerative medicine.

CD14-expressing cancer cells establish the inflammatory and proliferative tumor microenvironment in bladder cancer.

Nonresolving chronic inflammation at the neoplastic site is consistently associated with promoting tumor progression and poor patient outcomes. However, many aspects behind the mechanisms that establish this tumor-promoting inflammatory microenvironment remain undefined. Using bladder cancer (BC) as a model, we found that CD14-high cancer cells express higher levels of numerous inflammation mediators and form larger tumors compared with CD14-low cells. CD14 antigen is a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked glycoprotein and has been shown to be critically important in the signaling pathways of Toll-like receptor (TLR). CD14 expression in this BC subpopulation of cancer cells is required for increased cytokine production and increased tumor growth. Furthermore, tumors formed by CD14-high cells are more highly vascularized with higher myeloid cell infiltration. Inflammatory factors produced by CD14-high BC cells recruit and polarize monocytes and macrophages to acquire immune-suppressive characteristics. In contrast, CD14-low BC cells have a higher baseline cell division rate than CD14-high cells. Importantly, CD14-high cells produce factors that further increase the proliferation of CD14-low cells. Collectively, we demonstrate that CD14-high BC cells may orchestrate tumor-promoting inflammation and drive tumor cell proliferation to promote tumor growth.

In vivo clonal analysis reveals lineage-restricted progenitor characteristics in mammalian kidney development, maintenance, and regeneration.

The mechanism and magnitude by which the mammalian kidney generates and maintains its proximal tubules, distal tubules, and collecting ducts remain controversial. Here, we use long-term in vivo genetic lineage tracing and clonal analysis of individual cells from kidneys undergoing development, maintenance, and regeneration. We show that the adult mammalian kidney undergoes continuous tubulogenesis via expansions of fate-restricted clones. Kidneys recovering from damage undergo tubulogenesis through expansions of clones with segment-specific borders, and renal spheres developing in vitro from individual cells maintain distinct, segment-specific fates. Analysis of mice derived by transfer of color-marked embryonic stem cells (ESCs) into uncolored blastocysts demonstrates that nephrons are polyclonal, developing from expansions of singly fated clones. Finally, we show that adult renal clones are derived from Wnt-responsive precursors, and their tracing in vivo generates tubules that are segment specific. Collectively, these analyses demonstrate that fate-restricted precursors functioning as unipotent progenitors continuously maintain and self-preserve the mouse kidney throughout life.

Relaciones asociativas entre las creencias acerca del uso social de las drogas y el consumo en estudiantes jóvenes / Associative Relationships between Beliefs about the Social Use of Drugs and the Consumption among Young Students

El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer el contenido de las representaciones sociales acerca del consumo de drogas en adolescentes y adultos jóvenes, y si tales representaciones favorecían y, por lo tanto, predecían el consumo de las mismas. Para esto, se seleccionaron seis creencias acerca del uso social de las drogas -tales como tomar alguna droga es normal-, considerándolas como indicadores de dichas representaciones sociales. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 417 alumnos del Ciclo Formativo de Grado Medio y Programa de Garantía Social pertenecientes a distintos centros educativos de la ciudad de Granada, considerados de alto riesgo para el consumo. Los resultados mostraron que las creencias evaluadas estaban presentes entre los participantes, que predecían el consumo de drogas legales e ilegales y que estaban asociadas sobre todo al consumo de cannabis. En conclusión, en los programas preventivos sería de gran utilidad tener en cuenta las representaciones sociales sobre el uso de drogas.

The objective of the study was to know the content of social representations about the consumption of drugs and also if those representations contributed and predicted the consumption of drugs among young people. Six beliefs about the social use of drugs were selected, such as whether it is common to take drugs. These beliefs were considered indicators of those social representations. The study was carried out among 417 students of Associate Degree and Social Guarantee Program from different Educational Centres of Granada, who were considered high risk drug users. Results showed that evaluated beliefs were present among young people, these beliefs predicted the consumption of legal and illegal drugs and were specially associated with the consumption of cannabis. Thus, social representations about the consumption of drugs should be considered for prevention programs.

Cierre cognitivo, sexismo y religiosidad: diferencias y similitudes entre grupos de adolescentes con distinta cultura / Cognitive closure, sexism and religiosity: differences and similarities between teenagers with different culture

Desde el ámbito de la cognición social motivada, la necesidad de cierre cognitivo emerge como una variable crucial para la mejor comprensión de las diferencias individuales en variables psicosociales asociadas a la cultura y, además, susceptible de tener en cuenta en programas de intervención cuyo objetivo vaya dirigido a modificar actitudes ancladas en el prejuicio y la discriminación. En la presente investigación se ha realizado un estudio de este constructo motivacional y su relación con el sexismo y la religiosidad en una muestra de adolescentes cristianos y musulmanes, todos ellos residentes en un contexto social con un marcado carácter multicultural. De acuerdo con los datos obtenidos, no se han encontrado diferencias entre musulmanes y cristianos en necesidad de cierre cognitivo y sexismo. Sin embargo, se han encontrado diferencias por sexo en sexismo hostil. La necesidad de cierre cognitivo correlacionó de una forma estadísticamente significativa con el sexismo (hostil y benevolente), y es un buen predictor. Los musulmanes puntuaron de una forma significativamente más elevada que los cristianos en los indicadores de religiosidad. Se discuten los resultados en el marco de investigaciones previas (AU)

In the context of motivated social cognition, the need for cognitive closure emerges like a decisive factor for a better understanding of individual differences on psychosocial variables linked to culture. Besides, they are likely to be taken into account in intervention programmes which objectives would aim to modify attitudes anchored in prejudice and discrimination. The goal of this research is to study this motivational construct and its relationship with sexism and religiosity with a sample of Christians and Muslims teenagers, all of them living in a multicultural context. According to the gathered data, there are not any significant differences between Muslims and Christians in need for cognitive closure and sexism. However, there are significant differences between girls and boys in hostile sexism. The need for cognitive closure was positively related, in a statistically significant way, with sexism (hostile and benevolent), and it is a significant predictor. Muslims got higher scores than Christians on indicators of religiosity in a statistically significant way. Results are discussed in relation to previous research (AU)

Anti-CD47 antibody-mediated phagocytosis of cancer by macrophages primes an effective antitumor T-cell response.

Mobilization of the T-cell response against cancer has the potential to achieve long-lasting cures. However, it is not known how to harness antigen-presenting cells optimally to achieve an effective antitumor T-cell response. In this study, we show that anti-CD47 antibody-mediated phagocytosis of cancer by macrophages can initiate an antitumor T-cell immune response. Using the ovalbumin model antigen system, anti-CD47 antibody-mediated phagocytosis of cancer cells by macrophages resulted in increased priming of OT-I T cells [cluster of differentiation 8-positive (CD8(+))] but decreased priming of OT-II T cells (CD4(+)). The CD4(+) T-cell response was characterized by a reduction in forkhead box P3-positive (Foxp3(+)) regulatory T cells. Macrophages following anti-CD47-mediated phagocytosis primed CD8(+) T cells to exhibit cytotoxic function in vivo. This response protected animals from tumor challenge. We conclude that anti-CD47 antibody treatment not only enables macrophage phagocytosis of cancer but also can initiate an antitumor cytotoxic T-cell immune response.

Anti-KIT monoclonal antibody inhibits imatinib-resistant gastrointestinal stromal tumor growth.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common sarcoma of the gastrointestinal tract and arises from the interstitial cells of Cajal. It is characterized by expression of the receptor tyrosine kinase CD117 (KIT). In 70-80% of GIST cases, oncogenic mutations in KIT are present, leading to constitutive activation of the receptor, which drives the proliferation of these tumors. Treatment of GIST with imatinib, a small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor, inhibits KIT-mediated signaling and initially results in disease control in 70-85% of patients with KIT-positive GIST. However, the vast majority of patients eventually develop resistance to imatinib treatment, leading to disease progression and posing a significant challenge in the clinical management of these tumors. Here, we show that an anti-KIT monoclonal antibody (mAb), SR1, is able to slow the growth of three human GIST cell lines in vitro. Importantly, these reductions in cell growth were equivalent between imatinib-resistant and imatinib-sensitive GIST cell lines. Treatment of GIST cell lines with SR1 reduces cell-surface KIT expression, suggesting that mAb-induced KIT down-regulation may be a mechanism by which SR1 inhibits GIST growth. Furthermore, we also show that SR1 treatment enhances phagocytosis of GIST cells by macrophages, indicating that treatment with SR1 may enhance immune cell-mediated tumor clearance. Finally, using two xenotransplantation models of imatinib-sensitive and imatinib-resistant GIST, we demonstrate that SR1 is able to strongly inhibit tumor growth in vivo. These results suggest that treatment with mAbs targeting KIT may represent an alternative, or complementary, approach for treating GIST.

Modelos para la evaluación del error humano en estudios de fiabilidad de sistemas / Models for assessment of human error in system reliability studies

El análisis probabilístico de riesgos aplicado a sistemas industriales o técnicos complejos demuestra que el error humano es un elemento muy importante del riesgo total, aunque su cuantificación exacta es dudosa. Por otra parte, las técnicas actuales para el modelado y cálculo de los errores humanos presuponen, de manera más o menos explícita, la elección de algún modelo de comportamiento humano; de tal manera que buena parte de las limitaciones que en esas técnicas refleja la literatura científica parecen debidas al empleo de los modelos de comportamiento denominados parciales, mientras que los modelos denominados generales, más ambiciosos, adolecen aún de desarrollo metodológico. El presente trabajo describe los métodos aplicados actualmente en los estudios de fiabilidad humana y señala la relación que subyace entre éstos y los modelos de representación del comportamiento humano, poniendo de manifiesto las líneas de investigación en curso para cubrir las carencias metodológicas. Para el avance de los estudios sobre fiabilidad humana, se manifiesta el protagonismo de la Psicología, tanto en la fundamentación de los modelos de comportamiento humano que subyacen en las técnicas de análisis de la fiabilidad, como en la crítica de estas mismas técnicas, en especial hacia las simplificaciones que, por hacerlas más manejables, tienen como efecto perverso un encubrimiento de los mecanismos psicológicos del error (AU)

The probabilistic analysis of risks applied to complex industrial systems demonstrates that human error is a very important part of the total risk, although its exact quantification is doubtful. On the other hand, the current techniques for modeling and calculating human errors presuppose, in a way not always explicit, the election of a certain pattern of human behavior; in such a way that many limitations revealed by the scientific literature seems due to the use of so named ‘partial’ behavior models, while the ‘general’ models, that are more ambitious, still need better methodological development. The present work describes the methods applied currently to human reliability studies and it points out the relationship that underlies between these and the models for human behavior representation, showing the investigation lines ongoing for covering methodological lacks. We declare the protagonism of Psychology about defining the human behavior models that underlie the reliability analysis techniques, and also about criticizing these techniques, especially on the simplifications that, to make them more governable, they have the perverse effect of hiding psychological mechanisms of errors (AU)

Conocimiento de las normas de tráfico en función de la edad y de la importancia para la seguridad vial / Knowledge of Traffic Rules According to the Age and the Importance for Road Safety

Un déficit en la memoria producido por la edad puede influir en el conocimiento de la normativa de tráfico. El presente estudio analiza las diferencias en el conocimiento de la normativa en función de la edad e importancia para la seguridad vial. Participaron 300 personas (18-75 años). Se elaboró un cuestionario de conocimiento sobre normativa de tráfico, según la importancia que desempeñan para la seguridad vial (poco importantes, importantes y muy importantes). En general, el conocimiento de los conductores sobre la normativa de tráfico fue pobre. Contrario a lo esperado, el rendimiento de los conductores mayores no siempre fue inferior al de los otros grupos de edad, presentando mejores resultados en preguntas poco importantes y muy importantes.

Age-associated memory impairment could worsen the knowledge of traffic rules. The present study analyses the differences in the knowledge of the traffic rules according to the age and the importance for road safety. 300 drivers participated (18-75 years-old). A questionnaire was developed to assess the knowledge of the traffic rules according to the importance for road safety (less important, important, and more important questions). Generally, the knowledge of the traffic rules was poor among drivers of all ages. Older drivers' scores were not always lower than the younger and adult drivers. These results are a little surprising and not the outcome we originally predicted, they show the older drivers had far better results in the less important and more important questions.

The CD47-signal regulatory protein alpha (SIRPa) interaction is a therapeutic target for human solid tumors.

CD47, a "don't eat me" signal for phagocytic cells, is expressed on the surface of all human solid tumor cells. Analysis of patient tumor and matched adjacent normal (nontumor) tissue revealed that CD47 is overexpressed on cancer cells. CD47 mRNA expression levels correlated with a decreased probability of survival for multiple types of cancer. CD47 is a ligand for SIRPα, a protein expressed on macrophages and dendritic cells. In vitro, blockade of CD47 signaling using targeted monoclonal antibodies enabled macrophage phagocytosis of tumor cells that were otherwise protected. Administration of anti-CD47 antibodies inhibited tumor growth in orthotopic immunodeficient mouse xenotransplantation models established with patient tumor cells and increased the survival of the mice over time. Anti-CD47 antibody therapy initiated on larger tumors inhibited tumor growth and prevented or treated metastasis, but initiation of the therapy on smaller tumors was potentially curative. The safety and efficacy of targeting CD47 was further tested and validated in immune competent hosts using an orthotopic mouse breast cancer model. These results suggest all human solid tumor cells require CD47 expression to suppress phagocytic innate immune surveillance and elimination. These data, taken together with similar findings with other human neoplasms, show that CD47 is a commonly expressed molecule on all cancers, its function to block phagocytosis is known, and blockade of its function leads to tumor cell phagocytosis and elimination. CD47 is therefore a validated target for cancer therapies.

Antibody therapy targeting the CD47 protein is effective in a model of aggressive metastatic leiomyosarcoma.

Antibodies against CD47, which block tumor cell CD47 interactions with macrophage signal regulatory protein-α, have been shown to decrease tumor size in hematological and epithelial tumor models by interfering with the protection from phagocytosis by macrophages that intact CD47 bestows upon tumor cells. Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a tumor of smooth muscle that can express varying levels of colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF1), the expression of which correlates with the numbers of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) that are found in these tumors. We have previously shown that the presence of TAMs in LMS is associated with poor clinical outcome and the overall effect of TAMs in LMS therefore appears to be protumorigenic. However, the use of inhibitory antibodies against CD47 offers an opportunity to turn TAMs against LMS cells by allowing the phagocytic behavior of resident macrophages to predominate. Here we show that interference with CD47 increases phagocytosis of two human LMS cell lines, LMS04 and LMS05, in vitro. In addition, treatment of mice bearing subcutaneous LMS04 and LMS05 tumors with a novel, humanized anti-CD47 antibody resulted in significant reductions in tumor size. Mice bearing LMS04 tumors develop large numbers of lymph node and lung metastases. In a unique model for neoadjuvant treatment, mice were treated with anti-CD47 antibody starting 1 wk before resection of established primary tumors and subsequently showed a striking decrease in the size and number of metastases. These data suggest that treatment with anti-CD47 antibodies not only reduces primary tumor size but can also be used to inhibit the development of, or to eliminate, metastatic disease.

Cannabis consumption by female Psychology students: The influence of perceived stress, coping and consumption of drugs in their social environment / Consumo de cannabis en alumnas de Psicología: influencia del estrés percibido, afrontamiento y consumo de drogas en su entorno

The consumption of cannabis has increased in the female population. The risk and protection factors associated with an increase or decrease in its consumption may differ as a function of gender, age and substance con׳ sumed. The objectives of the present study were to examine the relevance to cannabis consumption by female students of legal drugs consumed by the university students and family members, the consumption of legal and illicit drugs by friends, sociodemographic factors and, psychological variables (perceived stress and different coping strategies). Three questionnaires were administered to 465 female students studying for Psychology degrees. The prevalence of cannabis consumption was 36.3%. The variables predicting its consumption were: a) consumption of illicit drugs and cocaine by friends; b) consumption of tobacco by the students and; c) emotion-oriented coping.

El consumo de cannabis se ha incrementando en la población femenina. Los factores de riesgo o de protección asociados con un incremento o disminución de su consumo, pueden diferir en función del género, edad o sustancia de consumo. Los objetivos del presente estudio fueron examinar la relevancia que tiene el consumo de drogas legales de las universitarias y familiares, el consumo de drogas legales e ilegales de amigos, factores sociodemográficos y variables psicológicas (estrés percibido y diferentes estrategias de afrontamiento) en el consumo de cannabis. Se administraron tres cuestionarios a 465 alumnas que cursaban la Licenciatura de Psicología. La prevalencia de consumo de cannabis fue de 36.3 %. Las variables que predecían su consumo fueron: a) consumo de drogas ilegales y cocaína en amigos; b) consumo de tabaco en las alumnas y c) afrontamiento orientado a la emoción.