Interleukin-11 Overexpression and M2 Macrophage Density are Associated with Angiogenic Activity in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To investigate the expression of IL-11 and its receptor IL-11Rα and to quantify density of CD163⁺ M2 macrophages in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).     

Nursing Assessment of Altered Sexuality: A Review of Salient Factors and Objective Measures

TOPIC. Nursing assessment of altered sexuality.
PURPOSE. To review salient factors affecting assessment and objective measures available for use in assessment.
SOURCE. Literature specific to nursing assessment of sexuality and to instruments measuring altered sexuality.
CONCLUSIONS. Many standards of care include the assessment of sexuality, and nurses believe it to be an important aspect of care. However, the assessment of altered sexuality does not often occur in actual practice. The use of an objective measure of sexuality is recommended for both initial and on-going assessments in acute-care and community-based settings.     

Corticosterone release in response to repeated, short episodes of neonatal isolation : evidence of sensitization

Repeated isolation of neonatal rats produces persistent changes in physiology and behavior. In Experiment 1, we examined changes in plasma corticosterone (CORT) levels as a possible mechanism for the effects of isolation. Pups that were isolated from their mother and the nest for 1 h per day on postnatal days (PND) 2–9 were compared to control litters of pups that were either nonhandled or handled but not isolated. On PND 2, compared to nonhandled pups, handled pups had elevated CORT levels that returned to baseline levels within 30 to 60 min of return to the home cage. No significant elevation of CORT levels were found in handled pups on PND 9. The CORT levels of isolated pups were over twice those of nonhandled pups on PND 2 and four times those of nonhandled pups on PND 9. In Experiment 2, we investigated whether the increased CORT release in response to isolation on PND 9 was the result of the pups treatment on the previous six days as against an effect of maturation. Plasma CORT levels were measured in rat pups that were either isolated, handled or nonhandled on PNDs 2–8 during the conditions of isolation, handling and nonhandling on PND 9. There were no differences among the groups in basal plasma levels of CORT. Handling on PND 9 did not result in elevated CORT levels in any of the groups. All three groups showed a significant increase in plasma CORT levels after isolation on PND 9. However, the CORT response to isolation of pups previously isolated on PND 2–8 were significantly higher than pups that were either handled or nonhandled on PNDs 2–8. Thus, daily episodes of isolation potentiate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal response to stress.     

Listeria monocytogenes Cell Walls Induce Decreased Resistance to Infection

A significant decrease in murine resistance to Listeria monocytogenes was induced by using crude Listeria cell wall fraction (LCWF) and purified Listeria cell walls (PF). When equal amounts of these materials were injected, PF was more effective than LCWF in decreasing resistance. The PF effect was dose dependent when measured either as a decrease in 50% lethal dose of the Listeria challenge or as a decrease in survival time of the infected mice. PF apparently does not act directly on the Listeria since it (i) did not cause a change in in vitro growth of Listeria and (ii) did not increase the virulence of Listeria passaged in vivo or in vitro. The greatest decrease in resistance was observed when both PF and the Listeria challenge were injected intraperitoneally, which may suggest a localized effect. A decrease in resistance was seen when PF was given as early as 3 days before challenge. There was little or no decrease in resistance when PF was given 2 days after the Listeria challenge. Mice previously immunized with live Listeria were immune to Listeria challenge. However, after PF injection the immune mice showed a decreased resistance which was of the same order of magnitude as that seen in unimmunized mice. The effect of PF seems to be at least partially nonspecific, since a decrease in resistance to Salmonella typhimurium could also be demonstrated in PF-treated mice. Phagocytosis of Listeria both in vivo and in vitro did not appear to be inhibited by PF, although the ability of PF-treated mice to kill Listeria in the peritoneal cavity was inhibited.     

Nondisease genetic testing: reporting of muscle SNPs shows effects on self-concept and health orientation scales

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of genetic self-knowledge (nondisease genotype information) on individual self-concept and Health Orientation Scale (HOS). Adult volunteers (n=257) were recruited from an ongoing genetic association study identifying muscle quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Participants completed psychosocial assessments before and after 12 weeks of resistance training of the nondominant arm. At study exit, a genetic counselor informed participants of genetic test results on three to four genes that have an association with muscle-related traits, and counseled subjects on the potential significance of these findings. The second psychosocial assessment was performed immediately following this counseling session. The Tennessee Self-Concept Scale v.2 (TSCS:2) and the HOS showed female subjects to have a significantly greater positive change between first and second assessments, relative to male subjects. Most self-concept subscales improved significantly, when 'neutral' genotypes (no anticipated beneficial or deleterious impact) were reported, compared to positive genotypes. TSCS:2 subscales showing improvement included: total (P=0.013); physical (P=0.004); satisfaction (P=0.019); and behavioral (P=0.047). HOS subscales showing improvement included health image concern (P=0.006); and health expectations (P=0.047). In conclusion, these results suggest that genetic self-knowledge affects self-concept, consistent with the 'attribution' theory. Individuals who received neutral genetic information attributed positive changes from the exercise program to their own abilities, while those who received positive information were more likely to attribute positive changes to their genetics. This study is limited by the ability to determine the direction of the impact of nondisease genetic information presented to participants.     

Serum creatine kinase activity following forearm flexion isometric exercise

Summary The purpose of this study was to 1) compare serum creatine kinase (CK) activity following two forearm flexion isometric exercise regimens differing in work to rest ratio, and 2) examine the CK response to a repeated bout of isometric exercise. Eleven males were tested on two sessions (bouts) spaced 1 week apart. For bout 1, five subjects (group A) performed a forearm flexion isometric exercise consisting of 40 10-s maximal contractions with 20-s inter-trial rests (1020), while six (group B) performed 40 maximal 10-s contractions with 5-s inter-trial rests (105). The increase in serum CK activity following the 1020 exercise (143%) was significantly greater than that following the 105 exercise (52%). The 1020 exercise was also associated with greater tension generation over trials. One week later, both groups performed a bout of 1020 exercise. A substantial reduction in the serum CK response was found following this second bout. The data suggest that for bout 1 the isometric exercise associated with the greater overall tension levels resulted in the greater CK response. However, when the 1020 exercise was repeated 1 week later, a substantial reduction in the CK response was found which was unrelated to the tension generated.This study was supported by a University Faculty Research Grant No. 2-03021