PTSD symptoms,forgiveness, and revenge among Israeli Palestinian and Jewish adolescents

Exposure to political terror and its psychological toll were assessed in 276 Israeli Palestinian and 1,469 Jewish adolescents using self‐report questionnaires. Israeli Palestinians displayed more posttraumatic symptoms, higher levels of objective exposure to terror, more negative life events, lower ability to forgive, and a higher need for vengeance than their Jewish counterparts. Although the two groups did not differ in fear levels, Israeli Palestinians expressed more favorable attitudes toward peace. Ethnicity played a major role in explaining the variance of posttraumatic symptomatology. Israeli Palestinians displayed increased vulnerability to mental distress when compared to their Jewish counterparts. The unique roles of subjective fear, attitudes towards peace, forgiveness, and revenge among Israeli Palestinians are discussed.     

Bioethics for clinicians: 22. Jewish bioethics

Jewish bioethics in the contemporary era emerges from the traditional practice of applying principles of Jewish law (Halacha) to ethical dilemmas. The Bible (written law) and the Talmud (oral law) are the foundational texts on which such deliberations are based. Interpretation of passages in these texts attempts to identify the duties of physicians, patients and families faced with difficult health care decisions. Although Jewish law is an integral consideration of religiously observant Jews, secularized Jewish patients often welcome the wisdom of their tradition when considering treatment options. Jewish bioethics exemplifies how an ethical system based on duties may differ from the secular rights-based model prevalent in North American society.     

Elaboration on posttraumatic growth in youth exposed to terror: the role of religiosity and political ideology

Objectives  

This study aims to examine competing explanations of the relationship between religious and political ideology commitment with posttraumatic growth.     

Observations of Ball-Lightning-Like Plasmoids Ejected from Silicon by Localized Microwaves

This paper presents experimental characterization of plasmoids (fireballs) obtained by directing localized microwave power (<1 kW at 2.45 GHz) onto a silicon-based substrate in a microwave cavity. The plasmoid emerges up from the hotspot created in the solid substrate into the air within the microwave cavity. The experimental diagnostics employed for the fireball characterization in this study include measurements of microwave scattering, optical spectroscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Various characteristics of these plasmoids as dusty plasma are drawn by a theoretical analysis of the experimental observations. Aggregations of dust particles within the plasmoid are detected at nanometer and micrometer scales by both in-situ SAXS and ex-situ SEM measurements. The resemblance of these plasmoids to the natural ball-lightning (BL) phenomenon is discussed with regard to silicon nano-particle clustering and formation of slowly-oxidized silicon micro-spheres within the BL. Potential applications and practical derivatives of this study (e.g., direct conversion of solids to powders, material identification by breakdown spectroscopy (MIBS), thermite ignition, and combustion) are discussed.     

Low Urine Secretion of Semaphorin3A in Lupus Patients with Proteinuria

Inflammation - Immune semaphorins are important in controlling both innate and adaptive immune responses. The regulatory role of semaphorin3A (sema3A) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE),...     

Resistant arterial hypertension is associated with higher blood levels of complement C3 and C-reactive protein

Arterial hypertension is associated with increased plasma levels of complement C3, C4, and C-reactive protein (CRP). The aim of the study was to compare these laboratory markers in patients with resistant arterial hypertension (RAH) and controlled arterial hypertension (CAH). Patients with RAH (n = 34), those with CAH (n = 34), and 26 normotensive controls were included. White blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rates, and blood levels of complement components C3, C4, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were compared among the study groups. In the RAH group, serum C3 (183.9+/-47.5 mg/dL) and hs-CRP (6.9+/-5.8 mg/L) were higher than in the CAH group (C3, 123.1+/-42.3 mg/dL; P < .001, hs-CRP, 4.2+/-4.8; P = .021, respectively). Significant positive correlations between systolic blood pressure and C3 (r = 0.6481; P < .001) and hs-CRP (r = 0.3968; P = .02) were observed in the RAH group. RAH is associated with higher blood levels of C3 and CRP.     

Second capsule endoscopy for patients with severe iron deficiency anemia

BACKGROUND: Patients with iron deficiency anemia are subjected to multiple endoscopic and radiologic examinations of the GI tract. If negative, some of the examinations are repeated, occasionally with positive findings. The diagnostic yield of a second capsule endoscopy in such patients is unknown. The aim of the current study was to assess the diagnostic yield of a second capsule endoscopy in patients with significant iron deficiency anemia and a previous negative evaluation. METHODS: Twenty patients with iron deficiency anemia (Hb < 10 g/dL) were enrolled. All had at least one normal evaluation of the GI tract, including capsule endoscopy. A second capsule endoscopy examination was offered to all patients. RESULTS: The time between the first and the second capsule endoscopy ranged from 2 months to 1 year. Depending on the nature of an abnormality and its relevance to blood loss, the findings were classified as positive, suspicious, clinically irrelevant, or negative. In 7 patients, the second capsule endoscopy disclosed findings that were classified as either positive or suspicious findings, including arteriovenous malformations (2), flat polypoid lesion (1), edematous inflamed mucosa (1), erosions (1), and hemorrhagic gastritis (1). Lesions were located in the small intestine (5), the stomach (1), and the cecum (1). Based on the findings of the second capsule endoscopy, therapy was changed in two patients (10%). CONCLUSIONS: A second capsule endoscopy should be considered for patients with severe iron deficiency anemia and negative initial evaluation.     

Role for mammalian chitinase 3‐like protein 1 in traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is accompanied by inflammatory infiltrates and CNS tissue response. The astrocytosis associated with TBI has been proposed to have both beneficial and detrimental effects on surviving neural tissue. We recently observed prominent astrocytic expression of YKL‐40/chitinase 3‐like protein 1 (CHI3L1) associated with severity of brain injury. The physiological role of CHI3L1 in the CNS is unknown; however, its distribution at the perimeter of contusions and temporal course of expression suggested that in TBI it might be an important component of the astrocytic response to modulate CNS inflammation. To address this hypothesis, we used serially sectioned brains to quantitatively compare the neuropathological outcomes of TBI produced by controlled cortical impact in wild type (WT) and chi3l1 knockout (KO) mice where the murine YKL‐40 homologue, breast regression protein 39 (BRP‐39/CHI3l1), had been homozygously disrupted. At 21 days post‐injury, chi3l1 KO mice displayed greater astrocytosis (increased GFAP staining) in the hemispheres ipsilateral and contralateral to impact compared with WT mice. Similarly, Iba1 expression as a measure of microglial/macrophage response was significantly increased in chi3l1 KO compared with WT in the hemisphere contralateral to impact. We conclude that astrocytic expression of CHI3L1 limits the extent of both astrocytic and microglial/macrophage facets of neuroinflammation and suggests a novel potential therapeutic target for modulating neuroinflammation.