Neural responses to instructed positive couple interaction: an fMRI study on compliment sharing.

Love is probably the most fascinating feeling that a person ever experiences. However, little is known about what is happening in the brains of a romantic couple-the central and most salient relationship during adult age-while they are particularly tender and exchanging loving words with one another. To gain insight into nearly natural couple interaction, we collected data from N = 84 individuals (including N = 43 heterosexual couples) simultaneously in two functional magnetic resonance imaging scanners, while they sent and received compliments, i.e. short messages about what they liked about each other and their relationship. Activation patterns during compliment sharing in the individuals revealed a broad pattern of activated brain areas known to be involved in empathy and reward processing. Notably, the ventral striatum, including parts of the putamen, was activated particularly when selecting messages for the partner. This provides initial evidence that giving a verbal treat to a romantic partner seems to involve neural reward circuitry in the basal ganglia. These results can have important implications for the neurobiological mechanisms protecting and stabilizing romantic relationships, which build a highly relevant aspect of human life and health.

Why a Simple Act of Kindness Is Not as Simple as It Seems: Underestimating the Positive Impact of Our Compliments on Others.

A simple compliment can make someone's day, start a new friendship, or just make the world a better, kinder place. So, why don't people give more compliments? Perhaps people misforecast the effect their compliment will have. Five studies explored this possibility. In Studies 1a and 1b, compliment givers underestimated how positively the person receiving their compliment would feel, with consequences for their likelihood of giving a compliment. Compliment givers also overestimated how bothered and uncomfortable the recipient would feel (Study 2)-and did so even in hindsight (Study 3). Compliment givers' own anxiety and concern about their competence led to their misprediction, whereas third-party forecasters were accurate (Study 4). Finally, despite compliment givers' anxiety at the prospect of giving compliments across our studies, they felt better after having done so (Study 4). Our studies suggest that people misestimate their compliments' value to others, and so they refrain from engaging in this prosocial behavior.

Assessment of quality, safety, and pre-clinical toxicity of an equine polyvalent anti-snake venom (Pan Africa): Determination of immunological cross-reactivity of antivenom against venom samples of Elapidae and Viperidae snakes of Africa.

Snakebite causes a large amount of morbidities and mortalities in Africa. The safety, efficacy, and homogeneity of anti-snake venoms are crucial for snakebite treatments to be effective with minimal adverse effects. We assessed the homogeneity of preparations of three different batches of Combipack snake venom antiserums (Pan Africa) [CSVAPA] by quantitatively analysing F(ab')2, IgG, and other contaminating proteins of plasma. LC-MS/MS analysis showed that approximately 92.4% of the proteins from the CSVAPA samples was IgG/F(ab')2 and the percent composition of contaminating proteins in CSVAPA varied from 0.07 to 4.6%. Batch 1 of the CSVAPA also contained a minor amount of undigested IgG and F(ab')2 aggregates. CSVAPA contained more than 60% venom-specific antibodies, showed moderate complement activation, no IgE contamination, safe level of endotoxin, and also showed pre-clinical safety. The immuno cross-reactivity of CSVAPA against 14 Viperidae and Elapidae snake venoms of Africa was tested by ELISA and immunoblotting, and the neutralization of major enzymatic venom activities, demonstrating that high molecular weight (>50 kDa) venom proteins are better recognized/neutralized compared to relatively low molecular weight (<20 kDa) venom proteins. CSVAPA at a dose of 3-12 times higher than the clinical dose did not cause deaths or adverse reaction of treated rabbits. The results suggest the satisfactory quality, safety, and efficacy of CSVAPA.

Primary Glomerulonephritis with Unique C4d Deposition and Concurrent Non-infectious Intermediate Uveitis: a Case Report and Literature Review.

C4 glomerulopathy is a recently introduced entity that presents with bright C4d staining and minimal or absent immunoglobulin and C3 staining. We report a case of a 62-year-old man with C4 glomerulonephritis (GN) and uveitis. He presented to the nephrology department with proteinuria and hematuria. The patient also had intermediate uveitis along with proteinuria and hematuria. A kidney biopsy that was performed in light of continuing proteinuria and hematuria showed a focal proliferative, focal sclerotic glomerulopathy pattern on light microscopy, absent staining for immunoglobulin or C3 by immunofluorescence microscopy, with bright staining for C4d on immunohistochemistry, and electron-dense deposits on electron microscopy. Consequently, C4 GN was suggested as the pathologic diagnosis. Although laser microdissection and mass spectrometry for glomerular deposit and pathologic evaluation of the retinal tissue were not performed, this is the first report of C4 GN in Korea and the first case of coexisting C4 GN and uveitis in the English literature.

Primary Glomerulonephritis with Unique C4d Deposition and Concurrent Non-infectious Intermediate Uveitis: a Case Report and Literature Review

C4 glomerulopathy is a recently introduced entity that presents with bright C4d staining and minimal or absent immunoglobulin and C3 staining. We report a case of a 62-year-old man with C4 glomerulonephritis (GN) and uveitis. He presented to the nephrology department with proteinuria and hematuria. The patient also had intermediate uveitis along with proteinuria and hematuria. A kidney biopsy that was performed in light of continuing proteinuria and hematuria showed a focal proliferative, focal sclerotic glomerulopathy pattern on light microscopy, absent staining for immunoglobulin or C3 by immunofluorescence microscopy, with bright staining for C4d on immunohistochemistry, and electron-dense deposits on electron microscopy. Consequently, C4 GN was suggested as the pathologic diagnosis. Although laser microdissection and mass spectrometry for glomerular deposit and pathologic evaluation of the retinal tissue were not performed, this is the first report of C4 GN in Korea and the first case of coexisting C4 GN and uveitis in the English literature.

Seeing a Blush on the Visible and Invisible Spectrum: A Functional Thermal Infrared Imaging Study.

So far blushing has been examined in the context of a negative rather than a positive reinforcement where visual displays of a blush were based on subjective measures. The current study used infrared imaging to measure thermal patterns of the face while with the use of a video camera quantified on the visible spectrum alterations in skin color related to a compliment. To elicit a blush a three-phase dialog was adopted ending or starting with a compliment on a female sample (N = 22). When the dialog ended with a compliment results showed a linear increase in temperature for the cheek, and forehead whereas for the peri-orbital region a linear decrease was observed. The compliment phase marked the highest temperature on the chin independent of whether or not the experiment started with a compliment contrary to other facial regions, which did not show a significant change when the experiment started with a compliment. Analyses on the visible spectrum showed that skin pigmentation was getting deep red in the compliment condition compared to the serious and social dialog conditions for both the forehead and the cheeks. No significant association was observed between temperature values and erythrocyte displays on the forehead and cheek. Heat is the physiological product of an arousing social scenario, however, preconceived notions about blushing propensity seem to drive erythrocyte displays and not necessarily conscious awareness of somatic sensations.

Summarizing techniques that combine three non-parametric scores to detect disease-associated 2-way SNP-SNP interactions.

Identifying susceptibility genes that influence complex diseases is extremely difficult because loci often influence the disease state through genetic interactions. Numerous approaches to detect disease-associated SNP-SNP interactions have been developed, but none consistently generates high-quality results under different disease scenarios. Using summarizing techniques to combine a number of existing methods may provide a solution to this problem. Here we used three popular non-parametric methods-Gini, absolute probability difference (APD), and entropy-to develop two novel summary scores, namely principle component score (PCS) and Z-sum score (ZSS), with which to predict disease-associated genetic interactions. We used a simulation study to compare performance of the non-parametric scores, the summary scores, the scaled-sum score (SSS; used in polymorphism interaction analysis (PIA)), and the multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR). The non-parametric methods achieved high power, but no non-parametric method outperformed all others under a variety of epistatic scenarios. PCS and ZSS, however, outperformed MDR. PCS, ZSS and SSS displayed controlled type-I-errors (<0.05) compared to GS, APDS, ES (>0.05). A real data study using the genetic-analysis-workshop 16 (GAW 16) rheumatoid arthritis dataset identified a number of interesting SNP-SNP interactions.

Socialización académica de los estudiantes del régimen presencial de la escuela de enfermería de la UCV / Academic socialization of students in the classroom regime of the school of nursing at the UCV

El objetivo general del presente estudio fue describir la socialización académica de los estudiantes del tercer y sexto semestre del régimen presencial de la Escuela de Enfermería de la UCV, en el segundo semestre de 2006. Con tal fin se realizó una investigación descriptiva, transversal y de campo, donde los elementos socializadores evaluados fueron: la identificación, el compromiso, la disposición, la vinculación, el cumplimiento y la satisfacción. La población estuvo constituida por 128 estudiantes en los dos semestres. El muestreo se realizó según la fórmula de poblaciones conocidas, quedando la muestra representada por 33 estudiantes del tercer semestre y 63 del sexto semestre. Se aplicó la encuesta como técnica para la recolección de datos, y como instrumento de medición se realizó escala de Licker con tres alternativas. A través del juicio de expertos se realizó la validez de contenido, de constructo y aparente. El análisis estadístico se realizó de manera global, por dimensiones y por ítemes. En el análisis global y por dimensiones, se aplicó la mediana, y los ítemes se analizaron de manera absoluta y porcentual a través de cuadros y gráficos. Los resultados mostraron una socialización global, con una categoría satisfactoria. Las dimensiones tanto en el tercero como en el sexto semestre se categorizaron como favorables. En el análisis de los ítemes se evidenció que la respuesta a veces fue la que predominó, para el tercer semestre, en las categorías vinculación, cumplimiento e identificación, mientras que en el sexto semestre predominó la categoría a veces en la vinculación, la identificación y la satisfacción. En conclusión: Los elementos socializadores no se encontraron en una proporción que pudieran garantizar una socialización plena

The general mission of the present study was to describe the academic socialization of students on the third and sixth semester of the actual regime of the Nursing School of the UCV, in the second semester of the 2006. With this purpose was made a descriptive, cross-sectional investigation and field work, where the evaluating socializing elements were: identification, compromise, disposition, entail, compliment and satisfaction. The population was constituted by 128 students of both semestral. Sampling was made according to formula of the well known population, and it was represented by 33 students of third semester and 63 of sixth semester. It was applied a survey as a technique for data collection, and as measurement instrument a Scale of Licker was made with three alternatives. Through experts judgment were realized the validity of content, constructo and apparent. Statistical analysis was made in a global manner, by dimensions and items. In the general analysis and for each dimensions was applied the median, and items were analyzing by absolute and percentage statistical way into pictures and graphics. The results reported a global socialization, with a category satisfactory. The dimensions as well on third as sixth semester were categorized as favorable. On the analysis of items was demonstrated that category sometimes was predominant on third semester, on the elements compliment, entailment and identification, whereas on sixth semester the category sometimes predominated on the elements entailment, identification and satisfaction. In conclusion: The socializing elements were not finding on a proportion that could guarantee a full socialization

The immune function injury and its mechanism in drug abuser / 中国组织工程研究

Objective To explore the immune function injury and its mechanism in drug abuser.Methods The immune function changes in 50 drug abusers were compared with normal healthy populations by detection of the indexes of subgroups of Th cells, transformation rate of lymphocytes,IgA,IgM,IgG,IgE,compliment C3,C4,IL 1, IL 2,IL 6 TNF and NO.Result In peripheral blood the percentage of Th1 cell, transformation rate of lymphocyte, IgA, IgM, IgG, IgE content, compliment C4,C4, IL 1, IL 2,IL 6,and TNF levels were significantly lower than normal(P< 0.01).The value of Th1/Th2 was lower than normal as well(P< 0.05).NO content was significantly higher than normal(P< 0.001).Conclusion The mechanism of immune function injury in drug abuser might be correlative to direct injury of drugs and their inhibition effect on the thymus hypothalamus hypophysis adrenal axis.

The New Trend and Counter - plan of the Medical Services Today / 中国医学伦理学

Through analysis on compliment on drawbacks in medical services in a third - grade hospital during the year of 2003 - 2004, the author gives a picture of the stracture of the medical services today and tells a trend of such compliement goes from service itself security and guatity of the services. Facing the now challenge and charges on compliment today, the anthor holds the idea that establishing 3 new principles, 3 nes reformations and 3 new services to make sure the parients are satisfied.