Iris Damage Is Associated With Elevated Cytokine Levels in Aqueous Humor.

PubMed

Aketa, Naohiko; Yamaguchi, Takefumi; Suzuki, Terumasa; Higa, Kazunari; Yagi-Yaguchi, Yukari; Satake, Yoshiyuki; Tsubota, Kazuo; Shimazaki, Jun

2017-05-01

To evaluate the association between iris damage and cytokine levels in the aqueous humor (AqH). A total of 201 AqH samples from 201 consecutive patients (mean age 73.7 ± 10.6) were collected at the beginning of corneal transplantation or cataract surgery. Iris damage of each case was assessed from preoperative slit-lamp findings based on its severity. The subjects were classified into three groups: eyes without iris damage (126 eyes), eyes with mild iris damage (51 eyes), and eyes with severe iris damage (24 eyes). The levels of cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, IL-17a, interferon gamma-induced protein [IP]-10, monocyte chemotactic protein [MCP]-1, IFN-α, IFN-γ, macrophage inflammatory protein [MIP]-1α, MIP-1β, P-selectin, E-selectin, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule [sICAM]-1, TNF-α, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor [GM-CSF]) in AqH were measured by multiplex beads immunoassay. The levels of aqueous protein, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17A, MCP-1, TNF-α, E-selectin, P-selectin, and sICAM-1 in eyes with mild and severe iris damage were higher than in those without iris damage (P < 0.033). Multivariate analyses of clinical factors revealed that iris damage was associated with the history of complicated glaucoma, and the number of previous intraocular surgeries. The levels of AqH IL-6, IL-8, IL-13, MIP-1α, TNF-α, and sICAM-1 were significantly elevated in eyes with mild and severe iris damage in phakic eyes, and the levels of AqH IL-8 and sICAM-1 were significantly elevated in eyes with severe iris damage in pseudophakic eyes, compared with the eyes without iris damage (P < 0.045). Iris damage was associated with the elevation in the levels of aqueous protein and cytokines.

Dynamics of Inflammatory Factors in Aqueous Humor during Ranibizumab or Aflibercept Treatment for Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

PubMed

Motohashi, Ryosuke; Noma, Hidetaka; Yasuda, Kanako; Kotake, Osamu; Goto, Hiroshi; Shimura, Masahiko

2017-01-01

To evaluate the dynamic changes of the aqueous humor levels of inflammatory factors between patients receiving intravitreal ranibizumab injection (IRI) and aflibercept injection (IAI) in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The study was performed on 30 eyes with AMD that were scheduled to receive 3 doses of IRI (15 eyes) or IAI (15 eyes) at monthly intervals. Aqueous humor samples were collected when injection was done. The concentrations of VEGF, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-AA, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-8 were measured in aqueous humor samples from the 30 AMD patients and 10 cataract patients (as controls) by the suspension array method. Aqueous levels of the inflammatory factors (MCP-1, PDGF-AA, IL-6, and IL-8) were significantly correlated with each other. In both the IRI-treated eyes and the IAI-treated eyes, visual acuity and central macular thickness improved significantly, and the aqueous level of VEGF showed a significant decrease. In IAI-treated eyes, the aqueous levels of MCP-1 and PDGF-AA were significantly decreased at 2 months. These findings suggest that the inflammatory factors are involved in the pathogenesis of AMD and also the possibility that the interaction between these inflammatory factors and IRI or IAI is different. © 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Novel molecular insights into RhoA GTPase-induced resistance to aqueous humor outflow through the trabecular meshwork

PubMed Central

Zhang, Min; Maddala, Rupalatha; Rao, Ponugoti Vasantha

2008-01-01

Impaired drainage of aqueous humor through the trabecular meshwork (TM) culminating in increased intraocular pressure is a major risk factor for glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness worldwide. Regulation of aqueous humor drainage through the TM, however, is poorly understood. The role of RhoA GTPase-mediated actomyosin organization, cell adhesive interactions, and gene expression in regulation of aqueous humor outflow was investigated using adenoviral vector-driven expression of constitutively active mutant of RhoA (RhoAV14). Organ-cultured anterior segments from porcine eyes expressing RhoAV14 exhibited significant reduction of aqueous humor outflow. Cultured TM cells expressing RhoAV14 exhibited a pronounced contractile morphology, increased actin stress fibers, and focal adhesions and increased levels of phosphorylated myosin light chain (MLC), collagen IV, fibronectin, and laminin. cDNA microarray analysis of RNA extracted from RhoAV14-expressing human TM cells revealed a significant increase in the expression of genes encoding extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, cytokines, integrins, cytoskeletal proteins, and signaling proteins. Conversely, various ECM proteins stimulated robust increases in phosphorylation of MLC, paxillin, and focal adhesion kinase and activated Rho GTPase and actin stress fiber formation in TM cells, indicating a potential regulatory feedback interaction between ECM-induced mechanical strain and Rho GTPase-induced isometric tension in TM cells. Collectively, these data demonstrate that sustained activation of Rho GTPase signaling in the aqueous humor outflow pathway increases resistance to aqueous humor outflow through the trabecular pathway by influencing the actomyosin assembly, cell adhesive interactions, and the expression of ECM proteins and cytokines in TM cells. PMID:18799648

Fluorophotometric determination of aqueous humor flow rates in red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis).

PubMed

Jones, Michael P; Ward, Daniel A

2012-04-01

To determine aqueous humor flow rate (AHFR) in an avian species by use of anterior segment fluorophotometry. 9 healthy red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis; 4 males and 5 females) that ranged from 8 months to 8 years of age. A protocol was developed for fluorophotometric determination of AHFR. Topical administration of 10% fluorescein was used to load the corneas, and corneal and aqueous humor fluorescein concentrations were measured approximately 5, 6.5, and 8 hours later. Concentration-versus-time plots were generated, and slopes and cornea-to-aqueous humor concentration ratios from these plots were used to manually calculate flow rates. Mean ± SD AHFRs for the right eye, left eye, and both eyes were 3.17 ± 1.36 μL/min (range, 1.67 to 6.21 μL/min), 2.86 ± 0.88 μL/min (range, 2.04 to 4.30 μL/min), and 2.90 ± 0.90 μL/min (range, 1.67 to 4.42 μL/min), respectively. The AHFRs were similar for right and left eyes. These flow rates represented a mean aqueous humor transfer coefficient of 0.0082/min, which is similar to that of mammalian species. The AHFR in red-tailed hawks was similar to that of most mammalian species, and the fractional egress was almost identical to that of other species. This information will allow a greater understanding of aqueous humor flow in avian eyes, which is crucial when evaluating diseases that affect avian eyes as well as medications that alter aqueous humor flow.

Aqueous Humor Dynamics of the Brown-Norway Rat

PubMed Central

Ficarrotta, Kayla R.; Bello, Simon A.; Mohamed, Youssef H.; Passaglia, Christopher L.

2018-01-01

Purpose The study aimed to provide a quantitative description of aqueous humor dynamics in healthy rat eyes. Methods One eye of 26 anesthetized adult Brown-Norway rats was cannulated with a needle connected to a perfusion pump and pressure transducer. Pressure-flow data were measured in live and dead eyes by varying pump rate (constant-flow technique) or by modulating pump duty cycle to hold intraocular pressure (IOP) at set levels (modified constant-pressure technique). Data were fit by the Goldmann equation to estimate conventional outflow facility (\\begin{document}\

Corneal epithelial and aqueous humor acidification during in vivo contact lens wear in rabbits.

PubMed

Giasson, C; Bonanno, J A

1994-03-01

Based on contact lens-induced stromal acidification of the cornea, it has been suggested that the corneal epithelial and endothelial cells also become acidotic during contact lens wear. This alleged acidification may have a role in altered cell appearance and metabolism during contact lens wear. This study investigated the effects of anoxia, carbon dioxide retention, and contact lens gas transmissibility on the epithelial and aqueous humor pH in living rabbits. Epithelial intracellular pH (pHi) and aqueous humor pH were fluorophotometrically measured with a pH sensitive-dye (BCECF) during contact lens wear or exposure to various gas mixtures. Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) lens wear acidified epithelial cells by preventing CO2 efflux and by inducing hypoxia. Increasing lens oxygen transmissibility decreased epithelial acidification. After initiation of rigid, gas-permeable (RGP) lens wear or CO2-air exposure, pHi dropped transiently and then recovered partially. This recovery of pHi was not observed during anoxia, whether induced by PMMA lens wear or exposure to 100% N2. The aqueous humor also acidified during PMMA lens wear, a phenomenon not observed during RGP lens wear. Changes in aqueous pH were smaller, slower, and delayed when compared to their epithelial counterparts. Hypoxic contact lens wear acidifies the corneal epithelium and aqueous humor. The aqueous humor pH change indicates a probable endothelial acidification during hypoxic contact lens wear; the pH changes are caused by two separate and additive effects, CO2 retention and hypoxic acidosis. Increases in the oxygen transmissibility of the lens decrease the cellular acidosis, which might minimize cellular complications arising from contact lens wear. We estimate that a lens with an oxygen transmissibility (Dk/L) of 300 x 10(-11) (cm/sec)(ml O2/ml x mm Hg) is needed to prevent epithelial pHi changes in the open eye. In contrast, lenses with Dk/L as low as 18 x 10(-9) (cm/sec)(ml O2/ml x mm Hg) can

Noninvasive monitoring of Pirenoxine Sodium concentration in aqueous humor based on dual-wavelength iris imaging technique

PubMed Central

Zhou, Yong; Hu, Ye; Zeng, Nan; Ji, Yanhong; Dai, Xiangsong; Li, Peng; Ma, Hui; He, Yonghong

2011-01-01

We present a noninvasive method of detecting substance concentration in the aqueous humor based on dual-wavelength iris imaging technology. Two light sources, one centered within (392 nm) and the other centered outside (850 nm) of an absorption band of Pirenoxine Sodium, a common type of drugs in eye disease treatment, were used for dual-wavelength iris imaging measurement. After passing through the aqueous humor twice, the back-scattering light was detected by a charge-coupled device (CCD). The detected images were then used to calculate the concentration of Pirenoxine Sodium. In eye model experiment, a resolution of 0.6525 ppm was achieved. Meanwhile, at least 4 ppm can be distinguished in in vivo experiment. These results demonstrated that our method can measure Pirenoxine Sodium concentration in the aqueous humor and its potential ability to monitor other materials’ concentration in the aqueous humor. PMID:21339869

Detection of Leptospira spp. in the aqueous humor of horses with naturally acquired recurrent uveitis.

PubMed

Faber, N A; Crawford, M; LeFebvre, R B; Buyukmihci, N C; Madigan, J E; Willits, N H

2000-07-01

Leptospiral organisms have long been presumed to be associated with the presence of equine recurrent uveitis. This project was undertaken to determine the presence of Leptospira spp. in the aqueous humor of horses with uveitis to determine if there was an association with inflammation. Thirty horses were determined to have recurrent uveitis based on clinical evaluation or history. Sixteen horses were judged clinically and historically to be free of uveitis and were used as controls. Aqueous humor samples were cultured and evaluated by PCR for the presence of Leptospira DNA. Serum was collected and evaluated for the presence of antibodies against five serovars in a leptospirosis panel. Twenty-one of 30 horses with recurrent uveitis and one of 16 uveitis-free horses were positive by PCR for the presence of Leptospira DNA. Six of these 21 horses with uveitis were culture positive for leptospires from the aqueous humor. Serologic results did not correlate well with the presence of Leptospira DNA or organisms in the aqueous humor. Leptospira spp. are present in a high percentage of horses with naturally occurring recurrent uveitis.

Detection of Leptospira spp. in the Aqueous Humor of Horses with Naturally Acquired Recurrent Uveitis

PubMed Central

Faber, Nick A.; Crawford, Melissa; LeFebvre, Rance B.; Buyukmihci, Nedim C.; Madigan, John E.; Willits, Neil H.

2000-01-01

Leptospiral organisms have long been presumed to be associated with the presence of equine recurrent uveitis. This project was undertaken to determine the presence of Leptospira spp. in the aqueous humor of horses with uveitis to determine if there was an association with inflammation. Thirty horses were determined to have recurrent uveitis based on clinical evaluation or history. Sixteen horses were judged clinically and historically to be free of uveitis and were used as controls. Aqueous humor samples were cultured and evaluated by PCR for the presence of Leptospira DNA. Serum was collected and evaluated for the presence of antibodies against five serovars in a leptospirosis panel. Twenty-one of 30 horses with recurrent uveitis and one of 16 uveitis-free horses were positive by PCR for the presence of Leptospira DNA. Six of these 21 horses with uveitis were culture positive for leptospires from the aqueous humor. Serologic results did not correlate well with the presence of Leptospira DNA or organisms in the aqueous humor. Leptospira spp. are present in a high percentage of horses with naturally occurring recurrent uveitis. PMID:10878072

[Determination of cytomegalovirus IgG synthesis by the albumin correction in the aqueous humor of posner-schlossmann syndrome].

PubMed

Wang, X L; Wang, Z J; Tang, L; Cao, W W; Sun, X H

2017-02-11

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of albumin correction in determination of cytomegalovirus IgG in the aqueous humor of Posner-Schlossman syndrome (PSS) patients. Methods: Cases series studies. Forty-two patients (26 men and 16 women) who were diagnosed as PSS were enrolled from Oct. 2009 to Oct. 2015 at the Eye and ENT Hospital. During the same period, 20 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and 30 patients with bacterial endophthalmitis or retinal necrosis were enrolled as negative control group and inflammatory disease control group, respectively. Aqueous humor and serum samples were assayed to detect CMV IgG by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and albumin by scattering immunonephelometry. CMV DNA in aqueous humor was assayed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The ratio which was calculated as the (aqueous humor CMV IgG/serum CMV IgG)/(aqueous humor concentration of albumin/serum albumin concentration) over 0.6 was considered as intraocular antibody formation. Performance of differentiating control eyes from eyes with CMV-positive PSS was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic curve. The ANOVA test, Mann-Whitney test and Chi-square test were performed to compare the differences among groups. Results: The detectable rate of CMV IgG antibody in the aqueous humor was 76.2%, 100.0% and 10.0% in PSS, inflammatory disease control and POAG groups, respectively. The levels of CMV IgG antibody in the PSS groups were significantly higher than that of POAG groups ( Z= 4.23, P< 0.001).The positive rate corrected by the albumin was 71.4%, 3.3% and 0.0%.The corrected positive rate in PSS groups was significantly higher than that of the inflammatory disease control and POAG groups (χ(2)=30.38, P< 0.01; χ(2)= 24.89, P< 0.01), with a sensitivity of 75.0% and a specificity of 98.0%. The area under the curve for calibrated ratio was 0.942 (95% CI : 0.859 to 0.984) which was higher than that of CMV IgG ( Z= 6.19, P< 0.001).The corrected

Surgical outcome of cats treated for aqueous humor misdirection syndrome: a case series.

PubMed

Atkins, Rosalie M; Armour, Micki D; Hyman, Jennifer A

2016-07-01

To evaluate the clinical outcome of cats treated surgically for aqueous humor misdirection syndrome. A retrospective analysis of cats treated surgically between January 1, 2006, and January 1, 2013, for aqueous humor misdirection syndrome was performed. Signalment, medical therapy, eyes affected, intraocular pressures prior to and after surgery, surgical procedures performed, postoperative complications, and visual status were evaluated. Seven cats (nine eyes) fit the inclusion criteria. Six of seven cats were female, and five of seven cats were diagnosed with bilateral aqueous humor misdirection syndrome. Three surgical approaches were evaluated as follows: (i) phacoemulsification and posterior capsulotomy, (ii) phacoemulsification, posterior capsulotomy and anterior vitrectomy, and (iii) phacoemulsification, posterior capsulotomy, anterior vitrectomy, and endocyclophotocoagulation. The mean age at diagnosis was 12.9 years. Seven of nine eyes had controlled intraocular pressure (≤25 mmHg) during the first 6 months postoperatively. All cats were visual with controlled intraocular inflammation at 1 year postoperatively; however, one eye had an elevated intraocular pressure. All cats were continued on topical antiglaucoma and anti-inflammatory medications following surgery with the mean number of drops per day decreasing from 3.9 drops/day prior to surgery to 2.2 drops/day postoperatively. Surgical management for feline aqueous humor misdirection syndrome may be a viable option to maintain a visual and normotensive status in cats that no longer have successful control of intraocular pressure with medical therapy. © 2016 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.

Vanadate and aqueous humor dynamics. Proctor Lecture.

PubMed

Becker, B

1980-10-01

Topical administration of 0.5% vanadate lowers intraocular pressure in monkey and rabbit eyes. This appears to be a consequence of a reduction in the rate of aqueous humor secretion, probably resulting from the inhibition of ciliary epithelium membrane. NaK ATPase. The ubiquitous vanadate and its interactions with catecholamines and ascorbate may play a role in regulating the sodium pump of the ciliary epithelium. Adrenergic blocking agents may also lower intraocular pressure by inhibiting the NaK ATPase of the ciliary epithelium.

Polymorphisms in sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter genes and plasma, aqueous humor and lens nucleus ascorbate concentrations in an ascorbate depleted setting.

PubMed

Senthilkumari, Srinivasan; Talwar, Badri; Dharmalingam, Kuppamuthu; Ravindran, Ravilla D; Jayanthi, Ramamurthy; Sundaresan, Periasamy; Saravanan, Charu; Young, Ian S; Dangour, Alan D; Fletcher, Astrid E

2014-07-01

We have previously reported low concentrations of plasma ascorbate and low dietary vitamin C intake in the older Indian population and a strong inverse association of these with cataract. Little is known about ascorbate levels in aqueous humor and lens in populations habitually depleted of ascorbate and no studies in any setting have investigated whether genetic polymorphisms influence ascorbate levels in ocular tissues. Our objectives were to investigate relationships between ascorbate concentrations in plasma, aqueous humor and lens and whether these relationships are influenced by Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter genes (SLC23A1 and SLC23A2). We enrolled sixty patients (equal numbers of men and women, mean age 63 years) undergoing small incision cataract surgery in southern India. We measured ascorbate concentrations in plasma, aqueous humor and lens nucleus using high performance liquid chromatography. SLC23A1 SNPs (rs4257763, rs6596473) and SLC23A2 SNPs (rs1279683 and rs12479919) were genotyped using a TaqMan assay. Patients were interviewed for lifestyle factors which might influence ascorbate. Plasma vitamin C was normalized by a log10 transformation. Statistical analysis used linear regression with the slope of the within-subject associations estimated using beta (β) coefficients. The ascorbate concentrations (μmol/L) were: plasma ascorbate, median and inter-quartile range (IQR), 15.2 (7.8, 34.5), mean (SD) of aqueous humor ascorbate, 1074 (545) and lens nucleus ascorbate, 0.42 (0.16) (μmol/g lens nucleus wet weight). Minimum allele frequencies were: rs1279683 (0.28), rs12479919 (0.30), rs659647 (0.48). Decreasing concentrations of ocular ascorbate from the common to the rare genotype were observed for rs6596473 and rs12479919. The per allele difference in aqueous humor ascorbate for rs6596473 was -217 μmol/L, p < 0.04 and a per allele difference in lens nucleus ascorbate of -0.085 μmol/g, p < 0

Fluid and structure coupling analysis of the interaction between aqueous humor and iris.

PubMed

Wang, Wenjia; Qian, Xiuqing; Song, Hongfang; Zhang, Mindi; Liu, Zhicheng

2016-12-28

Glaucoma is the primary cause of irreversible blindness worldwide associated with high intraocular pressure (IOP). Elevated intraocular pressure will affect the normal aqueous humor outflow, resulting in deformation of iris. However, the deformation ability of iris is closely related to its material properties. Meanwhile, the passive deformation of the iris aggravates the pupillary block and angle closure. The nature of the interaction mechanism of iris deformation and aqueous humor fluid flow has not been fully understood and has been somewhat a controversial issue. The purpose here was to study the effect of IOP, localization, and temperature on the flow of the aqueous humor and the deformation of iris interacted by aqueous humor fluid flow. Based on mechanisms of aqueous physiology and fluid dynamics, 3D model of anterior chamber (AC) was constructed with the human anatomical parameters as a reference. A 3D idealized standard geometry of anterior segment of human eye was performed. Enlarge the size of the idealization geometry model 5 times to create a simulation device by using 3D printing technology. In this paper, particle image velocimetry technology is applied to measure the characteristic of fluid outflow in different inlet velocity based on the device. Numerically calculations were made by using ANSYS 14.0 Finite Element Analysis. Compare of the velocity distributions to confirm the validity of the model. The fluid structure interaction (FSI) analysis was carried out in the valid geometry model to study the aqueous flow and iris change. In this paper, the validity of the model is verified through computation and comparison. The results indicated that changes of gravity direction of model significantly affected the fluid dynamics parameters and the temperature distribution in anterior chamber. Increased pressure and the vertical position increase the velocity of the aqueous humor fluid flow, with the value increased of 0.015 and 0.035 mm/s. The results

[Effect of melatonin instillations on the clinical course of experimental uveitis and biochemical processes in tears and aqueous humor].

PubMed

Chesnokova, N B; Beznos, O V; Lozinskaya, N A; Beyshenova, G A; Nesterova, T V

2016-01-01

Acute immunogenic uveitis was modeled in rabbits via the subcutaneous and intravitreal injections of normal horse serum. We studied the effect of instillations of 0.1% melatonin solution on the clinical course of uveitis and biochemical parameters of tear fluid and aqueous humor: antioxi-dant activity, protein concentration and α(2)-macroglobulin level. Melatonin instillations decreased clinical manifestations of uveitis. We found that the antioxidant activity in tears of the rabbits treated with melatonin was substantially higher and the α(2)-macroglobulin level lower than in untreated animals. Antioxidant activity in aqueous humor taken on day 10 of uveitis was also twice higher while protein and α(2)-macroglobulin levels were 1.5-2 times lower than in untreated animals. These data indicate that instillations of melatonin increase the local antioxidant activity and decrease the acuity of inflammation and permeability of hematoophthalmic barrier in uveitis.

Sildenafil Stimulates Aqueous Humor Turnover in Rabbits

PubMed Central

Alvarez, Lawrence J.; Zamudio, Aldo C.; Candia, Oscar A.

2013-01-01

Sildenafil citrate increases ocular blood flow and accelerates the rate of anterior chamber refilling after paracentesis. The latter effect could have resulted from a reduction in outflow facility or from an increase in aqueous humor (AH) production. In this study, we used scanning ocular fluorophotometry to examine the effects of sildenafil on AH turnover, and thus, AH production in eyes of live normal rabbits. For this, the rate of aqueous humor flow (AHF) was quantified with a commercially available fluorophotometer that measured the rate of fluorescein clearance from the anterior segment, which predominantly occurs via the trabecular meshwork. After ≈ 2 hrs of control scans to determine the baseline rate of AHF, the rabbits were fed 33 mg of sildenafil and allowed ≈ 45 min for the drug to enter the systemic circulation. Thereafter, fluorescence scans were retaken for an additional 90–120 min. Sildenafil ingestion increased AHF by about 36%, from 2.31 μL/min to 3.14 μL/min (P< 0.001, as two-tailed paired data, n= 20 eyes). This observation indicates that sildenafil citrate, which is a phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitor currently marketed as a vasodilator (e.g., Viagra, Revatio), stimulates AHF in rabbits. Our results seem consistent with reports indicating that the drug dilates intraocular arteries and augments intraocular vascular flow. These physiological responses to the agent apparently led to increased fluid entry into the anterior chamber. As such, the drug might have utility in patients with ocular hypotony resulting from insufficient AH formation. PMID:23562660

Review Of Applied Mathematical Models For Describing The Behaviour Of Aqueous Humor In Eye Structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dzierka, M.; Jurczak, P.

2015-12-01

In the paper, currently used methods for modeling the flow of the aqueous humor through eye structures are presented. Then a computational model based on rheological models of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids is proposed. The proposed model may be used for modeling the flow of the aqueous humor through the trabecular meshwork. The trabecular meshwork is modeled as an array of rectilinear parallel capillary tubes. The flow of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids is considered. As a results of discussion mathematical equations of permeability of porous media and velocity of fluid flow through porous media have been received.

Value of PCR for Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in Aqueous Humor and Blood Samples from Immunocompetent Patients with Ocular Toxoplasmosis

PubMed Central

Bou, Germán; Figueroa, Marta S.; Martí-Belda, Paloma; Navas, Enrique; Guerrero, Antonio

1999-01-01

Toxoplasma gondii infection is an important cause of chorioretinitis in the United States and Europe. Most cases of Toxoplasma chorioretinitis result from congenital infection. Patients are often asymptomatic during life, with a peak incidence of symptomatic illness in the second and third decades of life. Diagnosis is mainly supported by ophthalmological examination and a good response to installed therapy. However, establishment of a diagnosis by ophthalmological examination alone can be difficult in some cases. To determine the diagnostic value of PCR for the detection of T. gondii, 56 blood and 56 aqueous humor samples from 56 immunocompetent patients were examined. Fifteen patients with a diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis had increased serum anti-T. gondii immunoglobulin G levels but were negative for anti-T. gondii immunoglobulin M (group 1), and 41 patients were used as controls (group 2). Samples were taken before antiparasitic therapy was initiated, and only one blood sample and one aqueous humor sample were obtained for each patient. Single nested PCRs and Southern blot hybridization were performed with DNA extracted from these samples. The results obtained showed sensitivity and specificity values of 53.3 and 83%, respectively. Interestingly, among all patients with ocular toxoplasmosis, a positive PCR result with the aqueous humor sample was accompanied by a positive PCR result with the blood sample. This result suggests that ocular toxoplasmosis should not be considered a local event, as PCR testing of blood samples from patients with ocular toxoplasmosis yielded the same result as PCR testing of aqueous humor samples. PCR testing may be useful for discriminating between ocular toxoplasmosis and other ocular diseases, and also can avoid the problems associated with ocular puncture. PMID:10523535

Prospective evaluation of external ocular microbial growth and aqueous humor contamination during cataract surgery.

PubMed

Tervo, T; Ljungberg, P; Kautiainen, T; Puska, P; Lehto, I; Raivio, I; Järvinen, E; Kuusela, P; Tarkkanen, A

1999-01-01

To analyze the route of aqueous humor contamination leading to the development of postoperative endophthalmitis. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Helsinki, Finland. Forty-nine eyes of 49 patients (31 having phacoemulsification and 18 extracapsular cataract extraction [ECCE]) participated in the study. Four bacterial cultures were taken: preoperative conjunctival swab, lid margin culture, intraoperative lacrimal lake sample, and immediate postoperative anterior chamber fluid sample. Preoperative lid margin cultures were positive in 59.2% of eyes, conjunctival cultures in 69.4%, and lacrimal lake cultures in 24.9%. Four aqueous humor samples (8.2%) showed bacterial growth in the anterior chamber aspirate: 3 in the phacoemulsification and 1 in the ECCE group. The bacteria isolated in this study, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Propionibacterium acnes (2 positive isolates each) were sensitive to the preoperative topical antibiotics used. No aqueous humor sample or any from other locations showed gram-negative microbe growth. The most frequently recovered microbes in all samples collected from the 3 other sources were S epidermidis and other coagulase-negative staphylococcus species, followed by P acnes and other propionibacterium species. Staphylococcus aureus, and diptheroids. The ocular surface significantly contributed to the transmission of microbes into the eye during cataract surgery. These microbes could not be eradicated by topical preoperative antibiotics. However, no patient developed postoperative endophthalmitis. Natural defense mechanisms appear to fend off a minor inoculum with these microbes of relatively low pathogenicity.

Antimicrobial efficacy and aqueous humor concentration of preoperative and postoperative topical trimethoprim/polymyxin B sulfate versus tobramycin.

PubMed

Osher, R H; Amdahl, L D; Cheetham, J K

1994-01-01

We compared trimethoprim sulfate 0.1%/polymyxin B sulfate 10,000 units/mL with tobramycin 0.3% for preoperative sterilization of the ocular surface, aqueous humor concentration, and ocular safety and comfort in 99 patients who had cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation. The organisms most frequently cultured from the conjunctiva at baseline were Staphylococcus epidermidis, Corynebacterium species, and Staphylococcus aureus, which were isolated from 66%, 15%, and 8% of the 95 specimens eligible for evaluation. All organisms identified in positive baseline conjunctival cultures except Staphylococcus epidermidis were completely eradicated in both groups on the day of surgery and five to seven days postoperatively. Staphylococcus epidermidis was eradicated on the day of surgery in 58% of patients in the trimethoprim/polymyxin group and in 68% in the tobramycin group. This organism was eradicated five to seven days postoperatively in 85% of patients in both groups. Mean aqueous humor concentration of trimethoprim sulfate at surgery was greater than the mean tobramycin concentration, but neither reached clinically significant inhibitory levels for most organisms. No significant differences were found in ocular safety and comfort.

Looking into aqueous humor through metabolomics spectacles - exploring its metabolic characteristics in relation to myopia.

PubMed

Barbas-Bernardos, Cecilia; Armitage, Emily G; García, Antonia; Mérida, Salvador; Navea, Amparo; Bosch-Morell, Francisco; Barbas, Coral

2016-08-05

Aqueous humor is the transparent fluid found in the anterior chamber of the eye that provides the metabolic requirements to the avascular tissues surrounding it. Despite the fact that metabolomics could be a powerful tool in the characterization of this biofluid and in revealing metabolic signatures of common ocular diseases such as myopia, it has never to our knowledge previously been applied in humans. In this research a novel method for the analysis of aqueous humor is presented to show its application in the characterization of this biofluid using CE-MS. The method was extended to a dual platform method (CE-MS and LC-MS) in order to compare samples from patients with different severities of myopia in order to explore the disease from the metabolic phenotype point of view. With this method, a profound knowledge of the metabolites present in human aqueous humor has been obtained: over 40 metabolites were reproducibly and simultaneously identified from a low volume of sample by CE-MS, including among others, a vast number of amino acids and derivatives. When this method was extended to study groups of patients with high or low myopia in both CE-MS and LC-MS, it has been possible to identify over 20 significantly different metabolite and lipid signatures that distinguish patients based on the severity of myopia. Among these, the most notable higher abundant metabolites in high myopia were aminooctanoic acid, arginine, citrulline and sphinganine while features of low myopia were aminoundecanoic acid, dihydro-retinoic acid and cysteinylglycine disulfide. This dual platform approach offered complementarity such that different metabolites were detected in each technique. Together the experiments presented provide a whelm of valuable information about human aqueous humor and myopia, proving the utility of non-targeted metabolomics for the first time in analyzing this type of sample and the metabolic phenotype of this disease. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights

Stability indicating HPLC-DAD method for analysis of Ketorolac binary and ternary mixtures in eye drops: Quantitative analysis in rabbit aqueous humor.

PubMed

El Yazbi, Fawzy A; Hassan, Ekram M; Khamis, Essam F; Ragab, Marwa A A; Hamdy, Mohamed M A

2017-11-15

Ketorolac tromethamine (KTC) with phenylephrine hydrochloride (PHE) binary mixture (mixture 1) and their ternary mixture with chlorpheniramine maleate (CPM) (mixture 2) were analyzed using a validated HPLC-DAD method. The developed method was suitable for the in vitro as well as quantitative analysis of the targeted mixtures in rabbit aqueous humor. The analysis in dosage form (eye drops) was a stability indicating one at which drugs were separated from possible degradation products arising from different stress conditions (in vitro analysis). For analysis in aqueous humor, Guaifenesin (GUF) was used as internal standard and the method was validated according to FDA regulation for analysis in biological fluids. Agilent 5 HC-C18(2) 150×4.6mm was used as stationary phase with a gradient eluting solvent of 20mM phosphate buffer pH 4.6 containing 0.2% triethylamine and acetonitrile. The drugs were resolved with retention times of 2.41, 5.26, 7.92 and 9.64min for PHE, GUF, KTC and CPM, respectively. The method was sensitive and selective to analyze simultaneously the three drugs in presence of possible forced degradation products and dosage form excipients (in vitro analysis) and also with the internal standard, in presence of aqueous humor interferences (analysis in biological fluid), at a single wavelength (261nm). No extraction procedure was required for analysis in aqueous humor. The simplicity of the method emphasizes its capability to analyze the drugs in vivo (in rabbit aqueous humor) and in vitro (in pharmaceutical formulations). Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

PENETRATION OF RADIOACTIVE SODIUM AND CHLORIDE INTO CEREBROSPINAL FLUID AND AQUEOUS HUMOR

PubMed Central

Wang, Jun-Ch'uan

1948-01-01

1. Experiments were performed on six dogs to determine the rate of penetration of Cl33 and Na24 across the blood-aqueous humor and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barriers after intravenous injection of the radioactive ions. The radioactivity measurements were made with an immersion type of Geiger-Müller counter. 2. The concentrations of the labelled ions in the anterior chamber and the cisterna magna increase slowly to approach that of plasma. The rate of penetration k is calculated from a simple exponential equation with the half-value interval t 0.5 or the time required for the labelled-ion concentration in the fluid to reach 50 per cent of that of plasma. The average t 0.5 for Cl38 and Na24 in aqueous humor are 34.3 ± 9 and 27.3 ± 9 minutes, respectively, while those for cerebrospinal fluid are 90 ± 6 and 95 ± 6 minutes, respectively. 3. A study of the radioactivity in plasma was made to determine the per cent remaining after a steady state was reached. By means of this determination the sodium and chloride space was calculated to be 33 ± 5 per cent. PMID:18920614

Patterns of intraocular pressure elevation after aqueous humor outflow obstruction in rats.

PubMed

Jia, L; Cepurna, W O; Johnson, E C; Morrison, J C

2000-05-01

To determine the diural intraocular pressure (IOP) response of Brown Norway rat eyes after sclerosis of the aqueous humor outflow pathways and its relationship to optic nerve damage. Hypertonic saline was injected into a single episcleral vein in 17 animals and awake IOP measured in both the light and dark phases of the circadian cycle for 34 days. Mean IOP for light and dark phases during the experimental period were compared with the respective pressures of the uninjected fellow eyes. Optic nerve cross sections from each nerve were graded for injury by five independent masked observers. For fellow eyes, mean light- and dark-phase IOP was 21 +/- 1 and 31 +/- 1 mm Hg, respectively. For four experimental eyes, mean IOPs for both phases were not altered. Six eyes demonstrated significant mean IOP elevations only during the dark phase. Of these, five showed persistent, large circadian oscillations, and four had partial optic nerve lesions. The remaining seven eyes experienced significant IOP elevations during both phases, and all had extensive optic nerve damage. Episcleral vein injection of hypertonic saline is more likely to increase IOP during the dark phase than the light. This is consistent with aqueous outflow obstruction superimposed on a circadian rhythm of aqueous humor production. Because these periodic IOP elevations produced optic nerve lesions, both light- and dark-phase IOP determinations are necessary for accurate correlation of IOP history to optic nerve damage in animals housed in a light- dark environment.

Altered Antioxidant-Oxidant Status in the Aqueous Humor and Peripheral Blood of Patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa

PubMed Central

Martínez-Fernández de la Cámara, Cristina; Salom, David; Sequedo, Ma Dolores; Hervás, David; Marín-Lambíes, Cristina; Aller, Elena; Jaijo, Teresa; Díaz-LLopis, Manuel; Millán, José María; Rodrigo, Regina

2013-01-01

Retinitis Pigmentosa is a common form of hereditary retinal degeneration constituting the largest Mendelian genetic cause of blindness in the developed world. It has been widely suggested that oxidative stress possibly contributes to its pathogenesis. We measured the levels of total antioxidant capacity, free nitrotyrosine, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) formation, extracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD3) activity, protein, metabolites of the nitric oxide/cyclic GMP pathway, heme oxygenase-I and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in aqueous humor or/and peripheral blood from fifty-six patients with retinitis pigmentosa and sixty subjects without systemic or ocular oxidative stress-related disease. Multivariate analysis of covariance revealed that retinitis pigmentosa alters ocular antioxidant defence machinery and the redox status in blood. Patients with retinitis pigmentosa present low total antioxidant capacity including reduced SOD3 activity and protein concentration in aqueous humor. Patients also show reduced SOD3 activity, increased TBARS formation and upregulation of the nitric oxide/cyclic GMP pathway in peripheral blood. Together these findings confirmed the hypothesis that patients with retinitis pigmentosa present reduced ocular antioxidant status. Moreover, these patients show changes in some oxidative-nitrosative markers in the peripheral blood. Further studies are needed to clarify the relationship between these peripheral markers and retinitis pigmentosa. PMID:24069283

Differential CXC and CX3C Chemokine Expression Profiles in Aqueous Humor of Patients With Specific Endogenous Uveitic Entities.

PubMed

El-Asrar, Ahmed M Abu; Berghmans, Nele; Al-Obeidan, Saleh A; Gikandi, Priscilla W; Opdenakker, Ghislain; Van Damme, Jo; Struyf, Sofie

2018-05-01

To determine the levels of the neutrophil chemoattractants CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL5, CXCL6, and CXCL8, the T helper 1 chemoattractants CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11, the lymphoid chemokines CXCL12 and CXCL13 and the soluble form of the transmembrane chemokines CXCL16 and CX3CL1, in aqueous humor samples from patients with specific uveitic entities. Aqueous humor samples from patients with active uveitis associated with Behçet's disease (n = 13), sarcoidosis (n = 8), HLA-B27-related inflammation (n = 12), Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease (n = 12), and healthy controls (n = 9) were assayed with the use of a multiplex assay. All chemoattractant levels were significantly higher in all patients than in the controls. The levels of all neutrophil chemoattractants and CXCL10, CXCL16, and CX3CL1 were significantly higher in nongranulomatous uveitis (Behçet's disease and HLA-B27-associated uveitis) than in granulomatous uveitis (sarcoidosis and VKH disease), whereas the levels of the B cell chemoattractant CXCL13 were significantly higher in granulomatous uveitis than in nongranulomatous uveitis. CXCL13 levels were highest in the patients with VKH disease. CXCL9, CXCL11, and CXCL12 levels did not differ significantly. Inflammation in nongranulomatous uveitis appears to be driven by neutrophils and T helper 1 lymphocytes, whereas B lymphocytes may contribute to the inflammatory process in granulomatous uveitis, particularly in VKH disease.

Design of a novel system for spectroscopy measurements of the aqueous humor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miller, Joe; Uttamchandani, Deepak G.

2001-06-01

The authors report on the design of a system which will enable real time measurements of (therapeutic) drug concentrations in the anterior chamber of the eye. Currently the concentration of therapeutic drugs in the anterior chamber is determined by analyzing samples which have been removed from the aqueous humor of laboratory animal eyes. This sampling via paracentesis can be painful and does not provide a continuous measurement. Our system will be far less invasive, removing the need for sampling via paracentesis, and also providing a continuous measurement, enabling a more complete understanding of the kinetics of ophthalmic drugs. A key component in our novel system is a specially constructed contact lens. We report on the design, optimization and manufacture of such a contact lens system capable of directing UV/VIS light in, across and out of the anterior chamber of the eye, thereby enabling absorption spectroscopy measurements of the aqueous humor to be undertaken. Design of the one piece contact lens/mirror system was achieved using the Zemax optical design software package and the lens was fabricated from synthetic fused silica. Results from modeling of the lens and experimental measurements on light propagation across the anterior chamber of animal eyes assisted by the lens will be reported.

Effect of UV-A and UV-B irradiation on the metabolic profile of aqueous humor in rabbits analyzed by 1H NMR spectroscopy.

PubMed

Tessem, May-Britt; Bathen, Tone F; Cejková, Jitka; Midelfart, Anna

2005-03-01

This study was conducted to investigate metabolic changes in aqueous humor from rabbit eyes exposed to either UV-A or -B radiation, by using (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and unsupervised pattern recognition methods. Both eyes of adult albino rabbits were irradiated with UV-A (366 nm, 0.589 J/cm(2)) or UV-B (312 nm, 1.667 J/cm(2)) radiation for 8 minutes, once a day for 5 days. Three days after the last irradiation, samples of aqueous humor were aspirated, and the metabolic profiles analyzed with (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The metabolic concentrations in the exposed and control materials were statistically analyzed and compared, with multivariate methods and one-way ANOVA. UV-B radiation caused statistically significant alterations of betaine, glucose, ascorbate, valine, isoleucine, and formate in the rabbit aqueous humor. By using principal component analysis, the UV-B-irradiated samples were clearly separated from the UV-A-irradiated samples and the control group. No significant metabolic changes were detected in UV-A-irradiated samples. This study demonstrates the potential of using unsupervised pattern recognition methods to extract valuable metabolic information from complex (1)H NMR spectra. UV-B irradiation of rabbit eyes led to significant metabolic changes in the aqueous humor detected 3 days after the last exposure.

Measurements of canine aqueous humor inflammatory mediators and the effect of carprofen following anterior chamber paracentesis.

PubMed

Pinard, Chantale L; Gauvin, Dominique; Moreau, Maxim; Martel-Pelletier, Johanne; Pelletier, Jean-Pierre; Troncy, Eric

2011-09-01

Phase I: To evaluate levels of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2) ), nitrites and nitrates (NO(x) ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and expression of inducible cyclo-oxygenase (COX-2), nitric oxide synthase (NOS-2), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-3 and -9) in canine aqueous humor following repeated anterior chamber paracenteses (ACP). Phase II: to evaluate the effect of carprofen on PGE(2) , NO(x) , and TNF-α in canine aqueous humor following ACP. Four beagles in phase I and 8 beagles in phase II. Phase I: ACP was performed at time (T) 0, 4 and 8 h. Phase II: A randomized, placebo-controlled cross-over design with four dogs per group where carprofen was given 4.4 mg/kg/day on day (D) 1, 2 and 3. ACP was performed at T0 and T1.5 on D3. Statistical analysis was performed with repeated measures anova and post hoc Tukey-Kramer multiple-comparison procedure. In phase II, TNF-α level was analyzed with a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Phase I: PGE(2) significantly increased (P < 0.0001) to plateau at T4. NO(X) was decreased at T4 (P < 0.06), but increased at T8 (P < 0.0001). COX-2 showed detectable expression only at T8. TNF-α, NOS-2, MMP-3 and -9 were undetectable at all time points. Phase II: At T1.5, PGE(2) was significantly elevated in both groups but was lower in the carprofen group (P = 0.037). NO(x) and TNF-α did not statistically increase in either group. Following ACP, significant increases in PGE(2) levels confirmed inflammation characterized by a rise of COX-2. The NO(x) pathway took longer to induce as compared with PGE(2) . Carprofen decreased PGE(2) levels and could help control intraocular inflammation. © 2011 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.

Effect of gatifloxacin ophthalmic solution 0.3% on human corneal endothelial cell density and aqueous humor gatifloxacin concentration.

PubMed

Price, Marianne O; Quillin, Clorissa; Price, Francis W

2005-07-01

To evaluate the effect of gatifloxacin ophthalmic solution 0.3% (Zymar, Allergan, Inc., Irvine, CA, USA) on corneal endothelial cell density and morphology and to measure gatifloxacin penetration into aqueous humor. This was a single-center, open-label clinical study. Ten patients undergoing standard cataract surgery and 20 nonsurgical subjects instilled gatifloxacin 0.3% four times per day for 2 days, then every 10 min for 1 hr on the third day (the surgery day for the cataract patients). Corneal endothelial cells were counted using noncontact specular microscopy. Anterior chamber fluid was withdrawn from the surgical patients, and the gatifloxacin concentration was quantified by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Baseline endothelial cell counts (mean +/- SD) were 2400 +/- 442 in the surgical group and 2520 +/- 212 in the nonsurgical group. The mean differences from baseline 1 hr after the last dose of gatifloxacin 0.3% were -51 +/- 213 (p = 0.23) in the surgical group and -7 +/- 150 (p = 0.42) in the nonsurgical group. In the nonsurgical group, the mean difference from baseline 3 weeks after the last dose was 18 +/- 147 (p = 0.71). The mean concentration (+/- SD) of gatifloxacin in aqueous humor was 1.26 +/- 0.55 microg/ml. A preoperative, prophylactic course of gatifloxacin 0.3% ophthalmic solution did not significantly affect endothelial cell density or morphology, while meaningful drug concentration was achieved in the aqueous humor.

Induction of FGF-2 synthesis by IL-1beta in aqueous humor through P13-kinase and p38 in rabbit corneal endothelium.

PubMed

Song, Jong-Suk; Lee, Jeong Goo; Kay, EunDuck P

2010-02-01

To determine whether the elevated level of interleukin (IL)-1beta in aqueous humor after transcorneal freezing upregulates FGF-2 synthesis in rabbit corneal endothelium through PI3-kinase and p38 pathways. Transcorneal freezing was performed in New Zealand White rabbits to induce an injury-mediated inflammation. The concentration of IL-1beta was measured, and the expression of FGF-2, p38, and Akt underwent Western blot analysis. Intracellular location of FGF-2 and actin cytoskeleton was determined by immunofluorescence staining. Massive infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) to the corneal endothelium was observed after freezing, and IL-1beta concentration in the aqueous humor was elevated in a time-dependent manner after freezing. Similarly, FGF-2 expression was increased in a time-dependent manner. When corneal endothelium was stained with anti-FGF-2 antibody, the nuclear location of FGF-2 was observed primarily in the cornea after cryotreatment, whereas FGF-2 in normal corneal endothelium was localized at the plasma membrane. Treatment of the ex vivo corneal tissue with IL-1beta upregulated FGF-2 and facilitated its nuclear location in corneal endothelium. Transcorneal freezing disrupted the actin cytoskeleton at the cortex, and cell shapes were altered from cobblestone morphology to irregular shape. Topical treatment with LY294002 and SB203580 on the cornea after cryotreatment blocked the phosphorylation of Akt and p38, respectively, in the corneal endothelium. These inhibitors also reduced FGF-2 levels and partially blocked morphologic changes after freezing. These data suggest that after transcorneal freezing, IL-1beta released by PMNs into the aqueous humor stimulates FGF-2 synthesis in corneal endothelium via PI3-kinase and p38.

Aqueous Humor Penetration and Biological Activity of Moxifloxacin 0.5% Ophthalmic Solution Alone or with Dexamethasone 0.1.

PubMed

Gomes, Rachel L R; Viana, Rodrigo Galvão; Melo, Luiz Alberto S; Cruz, Alessandro Carvalho; Suenaga, Eunice Mayumi; Kenyon, Kenneth R; Campos, Mauro

2017-03-01

To compare aqueous humor concentrations of topically applied moxifloxacin 0.5% ophthalmic solution alone or in combination with dexamethasone 0.1% and to correlate these concentrations with the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for common endophthalmitis-causing organisms. Sixty-eight patients undergoing routine phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation received either moxifloxacin 0.5% alone or moxifloxacin 0.5% combined with dexamethasone. For both groups, 1 drop of the test solution was instilled 4 times daily 1 day preoperatively and 1 drop 1 h preoperatively. An aqueous humor sample obtained immediately before paracentesis was submitted to high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to determine the moxifloxacin concentration. The mean concentrations of moxifloxacin were 986.6 ng/mL in the moxifloxacin with dexamethasone group and 741.3 ng/mL in the moxifloxacin group (P = 0.13). Moxifloxacin concentrations of all samples exceeded the MICs for Staphylococcus epidermidis, S. aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. All samples in the moxifloxacin with dexamethasone group and 94% in the moxifloxacin group achieved the MIC for Enterococcus species. For quinolone-resistant S. aureus, the MIC was achieved in 29% in the moxifloxacin with dexamethasone group and 9% in the moxifloxacin group (P = 0.06). Aqueous humor moxifloxacin concentrations were higher when topically administrated in combination with dexamethasone compared to the moxifloxacin alone. However, this difference was not statistically significant. Nevertheless, the MICs of the most common pathogens associated with endophthalmitis were exceeded in both study groups.

Penetration of topically administered ofloxacin and trimethoprim into aqueous humor.

PubMed

Price, Francis W; Dobbins, Kendall; Zeh, William

2002-10-01

Ocular penetration of two topical antibiotics used to treat bacterial conjunctivitis was assessed in adult volunteers scheduled for cataract surgery. In this randomized, parallel-group study, patients instilled trimethoprim sulfate 0.1%/polymyxin B (n = 23) or ofloxacin 0.3% (n = 25) QID for 3 days, plus 4 instillations in the hour before surgery. Analysis of aqueous humor samples obtained during surgery showed a 2.4-fold greater concentration of ofloxacin over trimethoprim (1.135 micro g/ml vs 0.470 micro g/ml; P <.0001). The greater concentration of ofloxacin in ocular tissue coupled with its superior antibacterial activity profile supports its use as an alternative to trimethoprim/polymyxin B for treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis.

Urea, Uric Acid, Prolactin and fT4 Concentrations in Aqueous Humor of Keratoconus Patients.

PubMed

Stachon, Tanja; Stachon, Axel; Hartmann, Ulrike; Seitz, Berthold; Langenbucher, Achim; Szentmáry, Nóra

2017-06-01

Keratoconus is a noninflammatory disease of the cornea associated with progressive thinning and conical shape. Metabolic alterations in the urea cycle, with changes in collagen fibril stability, oxidative stress, thyroid hormones and prolactin with regulatory effect on biosynthesis and biomechanical stability of corneal stroma, may all play a role in keratoconus etiology. Our purpose was to determine urea, uric acid, prolactin and free thyroxin (fT4) concentrations in human aqueous humor (hAH) of keratoconus and cataract patients. hAH was collected from 100 keratoconus (penetrating keratoplasty) (41.9 ± 14.9 years, 69 males) and 100 cataract patients (cataract surgery) (71.2 ± 12.4 years, 58 males). Urea, uric acid, prolactin and fT4 concentrations were measured by Siemens clinical chemistry or immunoassay system. For statistical analysis, a generalized linear model (GLM) was used. Urea concentration was 11.88 ± 3.03 mg/dl in keratoconus and 16.44 ± 6.40 mg/dl in cataract patients, uric acid 2.04 ± 0.59 mg/dl in keratoconus and 2.18 ± 0.73 mg/dl in cataract groups. Prolactin concentration was 3.18 ± 0.34 ng/ml in keratoconus and 3.33 ± 0.32 ng/ml in cataract patients, fT4 20.57 ± 4.76 pmol/l in KC and 19.06 ± 3.86 pmol/l in cataract group. Urea concentration was effected through gender (p = 0.039), age (p = 0.001) and diagnosis (p = 0.025). Uric acid concentration was not effected through any of the analyzed parameters (p > 0.056). Prolactin and fT4 concentration were effected only through diagnosis (p = 0.009 and p = 0.006). Urea and prolactin concentrations are decreased, fT4 concentration is increased in aqueous humor of keratoconus patients, and uric acid concentration remains unchanged. Urea concentration in aqueous humor is also increased in older and male patients. Therefore, metabolic disorder and hormonal balance may both have an impact on keratoconus development. Further studies are necessary to assess the specific impact.

Expression profile of IL-1 family cytokines in aqueous humor and sera of patients with HLA-B27 associated anterior uveitis and idiopathic anterior uveitis.

PubMed

Zhao, Binbin; Chen, Wei; Jiang, Rui; Zhang, Rui; Wang, Yan; Wang, Ling; Gordon, Lynn; Chen, Ling

2015-09-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cytokine expression profile of specific IL-1 family members in the aqueous humor and sera of patients with HLA-B27 associated acute anterior uveitis (AAU) and idiopathic AAU. Following informed consent, a total of 13 patients with HLA-B27 associated AAU, 12 patients with idiopathic AAU and 9 controls were recruited to this study from May 2013 to July 2014. Each individual received a complete ophthalmologic examination. Aqueous humor and sera samples were collected and 11 inflammation-related cytokines of the IL-1 family (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-1 receptor antagonist [IL-1Ra], IL-18, IL-36 receptor antagonist [IL-36Ra], IL-33, IL-36α, IL-36β, IL-36γ, IL-37, IL-38) were quantitatively measured and analyzed for statistical significance between groups. The degree of inflammation, anterior chamber cell or flare, correlated with expression of IL-1β, IL-1Ra, and IL-18. The highest levels of IL-1β, IL-1Ra, IL-18, and IL-36Ra were seen in the aqueous of patients with HLA-B27 associated AAU and this was statically significant when compared to the controls, but not to idiopathic AAU. Expression of IL-18 was statistically higher in the aqueous of patients with HLA-B27 associated AAU in comparison to either idiopathic AAU or controls, but this may reflect greater inflammation in this patient group. In the sera only IL-1α was statistically higher in the HLA-B27 associated AAU in comparison to the control. Cytokine analysis reveals elevation of multiple IL-1 family members in the aqueous humor of patients with AAU as compared to controls. The specific signature of inflammation may potentially be useful in developing new future therapies for AAU. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Study of free radicals in aqueous humor in glaucoma and cataracts: differences in presence or absence of diabetes mellitus and neovascular glaucoma].

PubMed

Oshida, Eiki; Arai, Kiyomi; Sakai, Miki; Chikuda, Makoto

2014-09-01

This study was conducted for the purpose of comparing differences in the types of free radicals in the aqueous humor of glaucoma and cataract patients. Free radicals in the aqueous humor of 44 glaucoma eyes and 15 cataract eyes were measured by electron spin resonance (ESR), followed by comparing the detection rates. In addition, subgroup analyses were also conducted for the presence or absence of complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) and neovascular glaucoma (NVG) in the patients. Three types of free radicals were measured, ascorbate-free radical (AFR), AFR containing a trace amount of superoxide (SO) (AFR +), and SO containing a trace amount of AFR (SO +). Significant differences were observed in the detection rates of each type between the glaucoma group (maximum SO +) and the cataract group (maximum AFR), between the DM group (maximum SO +) and the non-DM group (maximum AFR) in the glaucoma, and between the DM group (maximum AFR +) and the non-DM group (maximum AFR) in the cataract. SO + was detected in all cases of NVG regardless of whether they were DM or non-DM. Glaucoma cases are more susceptible to the generation of SO in the aqueous humor than cataracts, and they are more liable to occur in DM than in non-DM in both glaucoma and cataract cases. This study suggest an evidence for a strong correlation with SO and vascularization in NVG.

Intraocular levels of methotrexate after oral low-dose treatment in chronic uveitis.

PubMed

Puchta, Joachim; Hattenbach, Lars-Olof; Baatz, Holger

2005-01-01

To determine the intraocular levels of methotrexate in low-dose treatment of noninfectious uveitis. One day after oral administration, the methotrexate level was measured in the aqueous humor and serum of a patient with noninfectious uveitis, who underwent cataract surgery. A fluorescence polarization immunoassay was used for determination. After oral administration, methotrexate was only measurable in aqueous humor but not in serum. In uveitis, orally administered low-dose methotrexate reaches detectable levels in aqueous humor, even in the absence of detectable levels in serum. Copyright (c) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Comparison of the effects of IV administration of meloxicam, carprofen, and flunixin meglumine on prostaglandin E(2) concentration in aqueous humor of dogs with aqueocentesis-induced anterior uveitis.

PubMed

Gilmour, Margi A; Payton, Mark E

2012-05-01

To compare the effects of meloxicam, carprofen, and flunixin meglumine administered IV on the concentration of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) in the aqueous humor of dogs with aqueocentesis-induced anterior uveitis. 15 adult dogs with ophthalmically normal eyes. Each dog was assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups. Treatment groups were saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (1 mL, IV), meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg, IV), carprofen (4.4 mg/kg, IV), and flunixin meglumine (0.5 mg/kg, IV). Each dog was anesthetized, treatment was administered, and aqueocentesis was performed on each eye at 30 and 60 minutes after treatment. Aqueous humor samples were frozen at -80°C until assayed for PGE(2) concentration with an enzyme immunoassay kit. For all 4 treatment groups, PGE(2) concentration was significantly higher in samples obtained 60 minutes after treatment, compared with that in samples obtained 30 minutes after treatment, which indicated aqueocentesis-induced PGE(2) synthesis. For aqueous humor samples obtained 60 minutes after treatment, PGE(2) concentration did not differ significantly among groups treated with saline solution, meloxicam, and carprofen; however, the PGE(2) concentration for the group treated with flunixin meglumine was significantly lower than that for each of the other 3 treatment groups. Flunixin meglumine was more effective than meloxicam or carprofen for minimizing the PGE(2) concentration in the aqueous humor of dogs with experimentally induced uveitis. Flunixin meglumine may be an appropriate pre-medication for use prior to intraocular surgery in dogs.

Characterization of ocular biometrics and aqueous humor dynamics in primary angle closure suspects.

PubMed

Guo, Li; Deng, Yuan; Fang, Li; Liu, Chaoqi; Guo, Tao

2017-02-01

Detailed characterizations of ocular biometrics and parameters of aqueous humor dynamics are lacking in primary angle closure suspect (PACS) patients. This study aims to characterize these parameters and compare them with age-matched healthy volunteers.Elderly healthy volunteers (60.6 ± 7.2 years of age, mean ± SD, n = 28) and PACS patients (64.1 ± 11.6 years, n = 30) completed the study. Parameters investigated were axial length (AXL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior chamber volume (ACV), central cornea thickness (CCT), intraocular pressure (IOP), aqueous flow (Fa), outflow facility (C), episcleral venous pressure (EVP), and uveoscleral outflow (Fu). Comparisons and correlations were made between and within groups.In healthy volunteers, ocular biometric parameters, IOP, and EVP correlated very well between the 2 eyes of each individual, but Fa, C, and Fu were not significantly correlated. Biometric parameters of the PACS group significantly (P < 0.001) differed from those of the healthy controls: AXL (23.31 ± 1.03 mm [PACS] vs 22.39 ± 1.04 mm [Control]; mean ± SD), ACD (2.44 ± 0.33 mm [PACS] vs 1.86 ± 0.25 mm [Control]), ACV (136.0 ± 36.1 μL [PACS] vs 81.4 ± 21.8 μL [Control]), CCT (526.9 ± 37.0 μm [PACS] vs 556.1 ± 28.4 μm [Control]). There was no significant change in IOP, Fa, C, EVP, or Fu between Control and PACS. Furthermore, IOP showed no significant correlations with AXL, ACD, ACV, CCT, or C in both groups.The PACS eyes had a shorter AXL, a shallower ACD, and a smaller ACV, but a thicker CCT. Despite these morphological changes, the PACS eyes did not have any significant changes in IOP, and aqueous humor dynamics parameters. This is consistent with the findings that IOP did not show significant correlations with biometrics, or C.

The Influence of Scleral Flap Thickness, Shape, and Sutures on Intraocular Pressure (IOP) and Aqueous Humor Flow Direction in a Trabeculectomy Model.

PubMed

Samsudin, Amir; Eames, Ian; Brocchini, Steve; Khaw, Peng Tee

2016-07-01

Intraocular pressure and aqueous humor flow direction determined by the scleral flap immediately after trabeculectomy are critical determinants of the surgical outcome. We used a large-scale model to objectively measure the influence of flap thickness and shape, and suture number and position on pressure difference across the flap and flow of fluid underneath it. The model exploits the principle of dynamic and geometric similarity, so while dimensions were up to 30× greater than actual, the flow had similar properties. Scleral flaps were represented by transparent 0.8- and 1.6-mm-thick silicone sheets on an acrylic plate. Dyed 98% glycerin, representing the aqueous humor was pumped between the sheet and plate, and the equilibrium pressure measured with a pressure transducer. Image analysis based on the principle of dye dilution was performed using MATLAB software. The pressure drop across the flap was larger with thinner flaps, due to reduced rigidity and resistance. Doubling the surface area of flaps and reducing the number of sutures from 5 to 3 or 2 also resulted in larger pressure drops. Flow direction was affected mainly by suture number and position, it was less toward the sutures and more toward the nearest free edge of the flap. Posterior flow of aqueous humor was promoted by placing sutures along the sides while leaving the posterior edge free. We demonstrate a new physical model which shows how changes in scleral flap thickness and shape, and suture number and position affect pressure and flow in a trabeculectomy.

Effect of Cromakalim Prodrug 1 (CKLP1) on Aqueous Humor Dynamics and Feasibility of Combination Therapy With Existing Ocular Hypotensive Agents

PubMed Central

Roy Chowdhury, Uttio; Rinkoski, Tommy A.; Bahler, Cindy K.; Millar, J. Cameron; Bertrand, Jacques A.; Holman, Bradley H.; Sherwood, Joseph M.; Overby, Darryl R.; Stoltz, Kristen L.; Dosa, Peter I.; Fautsch, Michael P.

2017-01-01

Purpose Cromakalim prodrug 1 (CKLP1) is a water-soluble ATP-sensitive potassium channel opener that has shown ocular hypotensive properties in ex vivo and in vivo experimental models. To determine its mechanism of action, we assessed the effect of CKLP1 on aqueous humor dynamics and in combination therapy with existing ocular hypotensive agents. Methods Outflow facility was assessed in C57BL/6 mice by ex vivo eye perfusions and by in vivo constant flow infusion following CKLP1 treatment. Human anterior segments with no trabecular meshwork were evaluated for effect on pressure following CKLP1 treatment. CKLP1 alone and in combination with latanoprost, timolol, and Rho kinase inhibitor Y27632 were evaluated for effect on intraocular pressure in C57BL/6 mice and Dutch-belted pigmented rabbits. Results CKLP1 lowered episcleral venous pressure (control: 8.9 ± 0.1 mm Hg versus treated: 6.2 ± 0.1 mm Hg, P < 0.0001) but had no detectable effect on outflow facility, aqueous humor flow rate, or uveoscleral outflow. Treatment with CKLP1 in human anterior segments without the trabecular meshwork resulted in a 50% ± 9% decrease in pressure, suggesting an effect on the distal portion of the conventional outflow pathway. CKLP1 worked additively with latanoprost, timolol, and Y27632 to lower IOP, presumably owing to combined effects on different aspects of aqueous humor dynamics. Conclusions CKLP1 lowered intraocular pressure by reducing episcleral venous pressure and lowering distal outflow resistance in the conventional outflow pathway. Owing to this unique mechanism of action, CKLP1 works in an additive manner to lower intraocular pressure with latanoprost, timolol, and Rho kinase inhibitor Y27632. PMID:29114841

An Adult Case of Fulminant Mumps Keratitis With Positive Viral RNA in Aqueous Humor Detected by RT-PCR.

PubMed

Shibata, Teppei; Takahashi, Yoriko; Okamoto, Ayako; Sasaki, Hiroshi; Kitagawa, Kazuko

2016-04-01

To report an adult case of mumps keratitis with mumps virus in aqueous humor and decreased corneal endothelial cell density. Case report. A 60-year-old female with a 39°C fever and bilateral parotid swelling diagnosed with mumps and treated for photophobia, pain, redness, and decreased vision in 1 eye, was referred to our hospital when her condition deteriorated despite receiving betamethasone phosphate instillation and antiglaucoma agents for elevated intraocular pressure (52 mm Hg) and iritis. Her right eye was normal, whereas her left eye showed 20/400 visual acuity, 21 mm Hg intraocular pressure, ciliary injection and edema, opacity, and Descemet folds in the entire cornea. Round white keratic precipitates were present on the posterior corneal surface, whereas anterior chamber cells could not be examined in detail because of corneal edema. Mumps virus was detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in an aqueous humor sample taken at the time of admission. Following diagnosis of keratitis, administration of 30 mg oral prednisolone daily and frequent instillation of betamethasone phosphate steadily improved her corneal edema and opacity. In her left eye, visual acuity recovered to 20/16 and keratitis was resolved at 4 weeks; however, corneal endothelial cell density was significantly decreased to less than 400 per square millimeter. Mumps keratitis may cause severe corneal endothelial cell loss.

Point-of-service, quantitative analysis of ascorbic acid in aqueous humor for evaluating anterior globe integrity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gartia, Manas R.; Misra, Santosh K.; Ye, Mao; Schwartz-Duval, Aaron; Plucinski, Lisa; Zhou, Xiangfei; Kellner, David; Labriola, Leanne T.; Pan, Dipanjan

2015-11-01

Limited training, high cost, and low equipment mobility leads to inaccuracies in decision making and is concerning with serious ocular injuries such as suspected ruptured globe or post-operative infections. Here, we present a novel point-of-service (POS) quantitative ascorbic acid (AA) assay with use of the OcuCheck Biosensor. The present work describes the development and clinical testing of the paper-based biosensor that measures the changes in electrical resistance of the enzyme-plated interdigitated electrodes to quantify the level of AA present in ocular fluid. We have demonstrated the proof-of-concept of the biosensor testing 16 clinical samples collected from aqueous humor of patients undergoing therapeutic anterior chamber paracentesis. Comparing with gold standard colorimetric assay for AA concentration, OcuCheck showed accuracy of >80%, sensitivity of >88% and specificity of >71%. At present, there are no FDA-approved POS tests that can directly measures AA concentration levels in ocular fluid. We envisage that the device can be realized as a handheld, battery powered instrument that will have high impact on glaucoma care and point-of-care diagnostics of penetrating ocular globe injuries.

Point-of-service, quantitative analysis of ascorbic acid in aqueous humor for evaluating anterior globe integrity.

PubMed

Gartia, Manas R; Misra, Santosh K; Ye, Mao; Schwartz-Duval, Aaron; Plucinski, Lisa; Zhou, Xiangfei; Kellner, David; Labriola, Leanne T; Pan, Dipanjan

2015-11-03

Limited training, high cost, and low equipment mobility leads to inaccuracies in decision making and is concerning with serious ocular injuries such as suspected ruptured globe or post-operative infections. Here, we present a novel point-of-service (POS) quantitative ascorbic acid (AA) assay with use of the OcuCheck Biosensor. The present work describes the development and clinical testing of the paper-based biosensor that measures the changes in electrical resistance of the enzyme-plated interdigitated electrodes to quantify the level of AA present in ocular fluid. We have demonstrated the proof-of-concept of the biosensor testing 16 clinical samples collected from aqueous humor of patients undergoing therapeutic anterior chamber paracentesis. Comparing with gold standard colorimetric assay for AA concentration, OcuCheck showed accuracy of >80%, sensitivity of >88% and specificity of >71%. At present, there are no FDA-approved POS tests that can directly measures AA concentration levels in ocular fluid. We envisage that the device can be realized as a handheld, battery powered instrument that will have high impact on glaucoma care and point-of-care diagnostics of penetrating ocular globe injuries.

Point-of-service, quantitative analysis of ascorbic acid in aqueous humor for evaluating anterior globe integrity

PubMed Central

Gartia, Manas R.; Misra, Santosh K.; Ye, Mao; Schwartz-Duval, Aaron; Plucinski, Lisa; Zhou, Xiangfei; Kellner, David; Labriola, Leanne T.; Pan, Dipanjan

2015-01-01

Limited training, high cost, and low equipment mobility leads to inaccuracies in decision making and is concerning with serious ocular injuries such as suspected ruptured globe or post-operative infections. Here, we present a novel point-of-service (POS) quantitative ascorbic acid (AA) assay with use of the OcuCheck Biosensor. The present work describes the development and clinical testing of the paper-based biosensor that measures the changes in electrical resistance of the enzyme-plated interdigitated electrodes to quantify the level of AA present in ocular fluid. We have demonstrated the proof-of-concept of the biosensor testing 16 clinical samples collected from aqueous humor of patients undergoing therapeutic anterior chamber paracentesis. Comparing with gold standard colorimetric assay for AA concentration, OcuCheck showed accuracy of >80%, sensitivity of >88% and specificity of >71%. At present, there are no FDA-approved POS tests that can directly measures AA concentration levels in ocular fluid. We envisage that the device can be realized as a handheld, battery powered instrument that will have high impact on glaucoma care and point-of-care diagnostics of penetrating ocular globe injuries. PMID:26525715

Multiplex Cytokine Analysis of Aqueous Humor in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis-Associated Anterior Uveitis With or Without Secondary Glaucoma.

PubMed

Bauer, Dirk; Kasper, Maren; Walscheid, Karoline; Koch, Jörg M; Müther, Philipp S; Kirchhof, Bernd; Heiligenhaus, Arnd; Heinz, Carsten

2018-01-01

Patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis often develop chronic anterior uveitis (JIAU). JIAU patients possess a particularly high risk for developing secondary glaucoma when inflammatory inactivity has been achieved. By using multiplex bead assay analysis, we assessed levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, or metalloproteinases in the aqueous humor (AH) of patients with clinically inactive JIAU with (JIAUwG) or without secondary glaucoma (JIAUwoG), or from patients with senile cataract as controls. Laser-flare photometry analysis prior to surgery showed no significant differences between JIAUwG or JIAUwoG. Compared with the control group, levels of interleukin-8, matrix metalloproteinase-2, -3, -9, serum amyloid A (SAA), transforming growth factor beta-1, -2, -3 (TGFβ-1, -2, -3), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the AH were significantly higher in patients with clinically inactive JIAUwG or JIAUwoG. Samples from JIAwoG patients displayed significantly higher levels of SAA ( P  < 0.0116) than JIAUwG patients. JIAUwG patients showed an increased level of TGFβ-2 in AH samples compared with JIAUwoG ( P  < 0.0009). These molecules may contribute to the clinical development of glaucoma in patients with JIAU.

Simultaneous determination of diclofenac and oxybuprocaine in human aqueous humor with HPLC and electrochemical detection.

PubMed

Kuhlmann, O; Stoldt, G; Struck, H G; Krauss, G J

1998-09-01

A sensitive and selective bioanalytical method for simultaneous determination of diclofenac and oxybuprocaine in human aqueous humor using reversed-phase HPLC and electrochemical detection is described. Chromatographic separation was achieved by using a Regis SPS 100 RP-8 column (5 microns; 150 x 4.6 mm I.D.). This support is coated with a hydrophilic polyoxyethylenepolymer. It allows protein-containing samples to be injected directly onto the column. The electrochemical detector permit a detection limit of 500 pg diclofenac per ml (daily relative standard deviation 6.3%) and 50 ng oxybuprocaine per ml (daily R.S.D. 2.6%), respectively. Results of administered and measured drug-concentrations in time dependent decrease are presented.

TGF-β concentrations and activity are down-regulated in the aqueous humor of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

PubMed

Tosi, Gian Marco; Neri, Giovanni; Caldi, Elena; Fusco, Fiorella; Bacci, Tommaso; Tarantello, Antonio; Nuti, Elisabetta; Marigliani, Davide; Baiocchi, Stefano; Traversi, Claudio; Barbarino, Marcella; Eandi, Chiara M; Parolini, Barbara; Mundo, Lucia; Santucci, Annalisa; Orlandini, Maurizio; Galvagni, Federico

2018-05-23

Controversy still exists regarding the role of the TGF-β in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), a major cause of severe visual loss in the elderly in developed countries. Here, we measured the concentrations of active TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3 by ELISA in the aqueous humor of 20 patients affected by nAMD, who received 3 consecutive monthly intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF-A antibody. Samples were collected at baseline (before the first injection), month 1 (before the second injection), and month 2 (before the third injection). The same samples were used in a luciferase-based reporter assay to test the TGF-β pathway activation. Active TGF-β1 concentrations in the aqueous humor were below the minimum detectable dose. Active TGF-β2 concentrations were significantly lower at baseline and at month 1, compared to controls. No significant differences in active TGF-β3 concentration were found among the sample groups. Moreover, TGF-β pathway activation was significantly lower at baseline compared to controls. Our data corroborate an anti-angiogenic role for TGF-β2 in nAMD. This should be considered from the perspective of a therapy using TGF-β inhibitors.

The Effects of Netarsudil Ophthalmic Solution on Aqueous Humor Dynamics in a Randomized Study in Humans.

PubMed

Kazemi, Arash; McLaren, Jay W; Kopczynski, Casey C; Heah, Theresa G; Novack, Gary D; Sit, Arthur J

2018-06-01

Netarsudil, an inhibitor of Rho kinase and a norepinephrine transporter, has been shown to lower elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in controlled studies of patients with open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension, and in healthy volunteers. The mechanism of this ocular hypotensive effect in humans is unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of netarsudil 0.02% on aqueous humor dynamics (AHD) parameters. In this double-masked, vehicle-controlled, paired-eye comparison study, 11 healthy volunteers received topical netarsudil ophthalmic solution 0.02% or its vehicle once daily for 7 days (morning dosing). The primary endpoints were the change in AHD parameters, compared between active and vehicle-treated eyes. In netarsudil-treated eyes, diurnal outflow facility increased from 0.27 ± 0.10 μL/min/mmHg to 0.33 ± 0.11 μL/min/mmHg (+22%; P = 0.02) after 7 days of treatment. In placebo-treated eyes, diurnal outflow facility did not significantly change (P = 0.94). The difference between netarsudil and placebo eyes in diurnal change of outflow facility was 0.08 μL/min/mmHg (P < 0.001). Diurnal episcleral venous pressure (EVP) in netarsudil-treated eyes decreased from 7.9 ± 1.2 mmHg to 7.2 ± 1.8 (-10%; P = 0.01). Diurnal EVP was not significantly different between netarsudil- and placebo-treated eyes. There was a trend toward decreasing aqueous humor flow rate (-15%; P = 0.08). No treatment changes were seen in uveoscleral outflow rate. Once-daily dosing of netarsudil ophthalmic solution 0.02% lowered IOP through increasing trabecular outflow facility and reducing EVP. This suggests a combination of mechanisms that affect both the proximal and distal outflow pathways.

Cytokine concentration in aqueous humor of eyes with diabetic macular edema.

PubMed

Jonas, Jost B; Jonas, Rahul A; Neumaier, Michael; Findeisen, Peter

2012-01-01

To measure cytokine concentrations in aqueous humor of eyes with diffuse diabetic macular edema. The interventional clinical comparative study included a study group of 23 patients with diffuse diabetic macular edema and a control group of 22 patients undergoing cataract surgery. Cytokine concentrations were measured in aqueous humor samples using a Luminex xMAP suspension array technology. In the study group as compared with the control group, significantly higher concentrations were measured for epidermal growth factor (P < 0.001), human growth factor (P < 0.001), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1; P < 0.001), interleukin (IL)-1a2 (P = 0.04), IL-6 (P = 0.001), IL-8 (P < 0.001), interferon gamma-induced protein (P = 0.004), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (P < 0.001), monokine induced by interferon gamma (P < 0.001), matrix metalloproteinase 1 (P = 0.02), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (P < 0.001), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (P < 0.001), placenta growth factor (P < 0.001), tissue growth factor beta (P = 0.003), vascular cell adhesion molecule (P < 0.001), and vascular endothelial growth factor (P < 0.001). Retinal macula thickness was significantly associated with the concentrations of the epidermal growth factor (P = 0.005; ρ = 0.45), ICAM-1 (P < 0.001; ρ = 0.65), IL-3 (P = 0.002; ρ = 0.48), IL-6 (P = 0.003; ρ = 0.47), IL-8 (P < 0.001; ρ = 0.71), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (P = 0.001; ρ = 0.53), monokine induced by interferon gamma (P < 0.001; ρ = 0.57), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (P < 0.001; ρ = 0.61), tissue growth factor beta (P = 0.01; ρ = 0.42), placenta growth factor (P = 0.004; ρ = 0.46), vascular cell adhesion molecule (P = 0.006; ρ = 0.44), and vascular endothelial growth factor (P = 0.01; ρ = 0.42). In multivariate analysis, macular thickness remained to be significantly associated with the concentration of ICAM-1 (P = 0.03; r = 0.30). Vascular endothelial growth factor concentrations were correlated with concentration

The Correlation Between Aqueous Humor Flow and IOP Before and After Trabectome: Developing a Grading System to Quantify Flow.

PubMed

Ueda, Toshihiko; Suzumura, Hirotaka; Johnstone, Murray; Uda, Shigekazu; Yoshida, Kazuhide

2018-06-01

To develop a grading system that provides objective quantification of flow through the conventional aqueous humor outflow (AHO) system. The technique gives clinicians an additional assessment option in the evaluation of glaucoma treatment approaches. This was a retrospective observational study. This study evaluated the eyes of all primary open-angle glaucoma patients who underwent a Trabectome (NeoMedix Corp., Tustin, CA, USA) procedure with or without cataract surgery in the interval between April and September 2016 (n = 73). The nasal hemisphere was divided into three regions. Utilizing a four-level grading system designed for this study, an aqueous humor outflow grade (G0-G3) was assigned to each region using a video taken during examinations. The individual grade levels of the three regions were combined to get a composite AHO score. The correlation between the composite AHO score and intraocular pressure (IOP) was then analyzed. Additionally, the speed of red blood cell (RBC) clusters in the episcleral veins (ESV) was calculated when made possible by the existence of pulsatile flow. At 3 months following the Trabectome procedure, average IOP decreased from 26 to 15 mmHg. Assessment of the relationship between AHO grade and IOP demonstrated that a high composite AHO score was correlated with lowered IOP (Tukey-Kramer method p < 0.05). Additionally, it was found that if one of the three regions had an AHO grade of ≥ G2, an IOP of < 20 mmHg could be predicted. (Fischer's exact test p < 0.0001). Calculated speed was as follows: at G1, the speed was 0.68 ± 0.26 mm/s (n = 7), at G2, the speed was 1.8 ± 0.84 mm/s (n = 5), and at G3, the speed was 6.8 ± 3.3 mm/s (n = 6). There was a significant correlation between an increase in the composite AHO score and a decrease in IOP. Additionally, the speed of RBC clusters as they traveled through the ESVs remained consistent for each of the grades, and the span of the

Cytokines, chemokines and soluble adhesion molecules in aqueous humor of children with uveitis.

PubMed

Sijssens, Karen M; Rijkers, Ger T; Rothova, Aniki; Stilma, Jan S; Schellekens, Peter A W J F; de Boer, Joke H

2007-10-01

Uveitis in childhood is a visual threatening disease with a complication rate of more than 75%. Despite extensive research, the etiology of uveitis is still unclear although the general opinion is now that uveitis is a T-cell mediated disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the profile of cytokines, chemotactic cytokines (chemokines) and soluble adhesion molecules in the aqueous humor (AqH) of children with uveitis in order to identify the factors that control the immune response in the eye. In this clinical laboratory investigation we analyzed, with a multiplex immunoassay, 16 immune mediators in the AqH of 25 children with uveitis and 6 children without uveitis. Increased levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, IL-18, interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, RANTES, IL-8 and interferon-inducible 10-kDa protein were found in the AqH of children with uveitis compared with controls. No significant differences were found for IL-1 beta, IL-4, IL-12 p-70, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and Eotaxin. Lower levels of IL-10 and IL-8 were found in quiet stage uveitis (surgical) samples compared with active uveitis (diagnostic) samples and in samples of patients treated with methotrexate (MTX) compared with samples of patients not treated with MTX. Lower levels of IL-10 were as well found in samples taken during the first 3 months after the diagnosis of uveitis than samples taken later during the disease process. No significant differences were found between patients treated with or without topical or systemic (perioperative and long term) corticosteroids. In conclusion, in children with uveitis, multiple intraocular cytokines, chemokines and soluble adhesion molecules are increased in the AqH regardless of active or inactive inflammation. Whether the IL-8 and IL-10 levels in AqH of children with uveitis are correlated with uveitis activity, early or late phase of the course of the disease

Intra-cameral level of ganciclovir gel, 0.15% following topical application for cytomegalovirus anterior segment infection: A pilot study.

PubMed

Waduthantri, Samanthila; Zhou, Lei; Chee, Soon-Phaik

2018-01-01

To investigate the intra-cameral level of ganciclovir following topical application of ganciclovir gel, 0.15% for cytomegalovirus (CMV) anterior segment infection. Non-randomized, prospective, interventional clinical study. Patients with active CMV anterior segment infection seen at Singapore National Eye Centre, confirmed by positive CMV real time PCR (RT-PCR) of the aqueous humor, that had not been treated with any form of ganciclovir in the preceding 1 month were recruited. They were treated with ganciclovir gel, 0.15% 1cc 5 times a day. Following 6 weeks of treatment, CMV load in the aqueous humor was measured using CMV RT-PCR and the ganciclovir drug levels in tears and aqueous humor were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The clinical features of the disease activity and the central corneal thickness (CCT) were recorded at the baseline and post-treatment. There were 29 eyes of 29 patients, of which 23 eyes had CMV anterior uveitis and 6 eyes had CMV endotheliitis. At the end of week 6, 26 eyes had undetectable CMV titre in the aqueous humor and no anterior chamber (AC) activity. Two patients had an increased CMV titre and increased AC inflammation. Both of these patients were non-compliant with the treatment. One patient had a reduced CMV titre in the aqueous humor with minimal AC inflammation. The mean ganciclovir concentration in the aqueous humor and the tears were 17.4 ± 30.6 ng/ml and 20,420.9 ± 33,120.8 ng/ml respectively. Mean CCT was 552.2 ± 42.3 microns. There was a weak correlation between the ganciclovir concentration in the aqueous humor and CCT (Spearmen's r = + 0.42, p = 0.025). There was no significant correlation between the ganiclovir concentration in the tears and CCT (Spearmen's r = + 0.39, p = 0.11). Ganciclovir levels in the aqueous humor was below the 50% inhibitory dose (ID50) for CMV replication, following topical application of the ganciclovir gel, 0.15%. SingHealth Centralized Institutional

Intra-cameral level of ganciclovir gel, 0.15% following topical application for cytomegalovirus anterior segment infection: A pilot study

PubMed Central

Zhou, Lei; Chee, Soon-Phaik

2018-01-01

Purpose To investigate the intra-cameral level of ganciclovir following topical application of ganciclovir gel, 0.15% for cytomegalovirus (CMV) anterior segment infection. Design Non-randomized, prospective, interventional clinical study. Methods Patients with active CMV anterior segment infection seen at Singapore National Eye Centre, confirmed by positive CMV real time PCR (RT-PCR) of the aqueous humor, that had not been treated with any form of ganciclovir in the preceding 1 month were recruited. They were treated with ganciclovir gel, 0.15% 1cc 5 times a day. Following 6 weeks of treatment, CMV load in the aqueous humor was measured using CMV RT-PCR and the ganciclovir drug levels in tears and aqueous humor were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The clinical features of the disease activity and the central corneal thickness (CCT) were recorded at the baseline and post-treatment. Results There were 29 eyes of 29 patients, of which 23 eyes had CMV anterior uveitis and 6 eyes had CMV endotheliitis. At the end of week 6, 26 eyes had undetectable CMV titre in the aqueous humor and no anterior chamber (AC) activity. Two patients had an increased CMV titre and increased AC inflammation. Both of these patients were non-compliant with the treatment. One patient had a reduced CMV titre in the aqueous humor with minimal AC inflammation. The mean ganciclovir concentration in the aqueous humor and the tears were 17.4 ± 30.6 ng/ml and 20,420.9 ± 33,120.8 ng/ml respectively. Mean CCT was 552.2 ± 42.3 microns. There was a weak correlation between the ganciclovir concentration in the aqueous humor and CCT (Spearmen's r = + 0.42, p = 0.025). There was no significant correlation between the ganiclovir concentration in the tears and CCT (Spearmen's r = + 0.39, p = 0.11). Conclusion Ganciclovir levels in the aqueous humor was below the 50% inhibitory dose (ID50) for CMV replication, following topical application of the ganciclovir gel, 0

Proteomic Alterations in Aqueous Humor From Patients With Primary Open Angle Glaucoma.

PubMed

Sharma, Shruti; Bollinger, Kathryn E; Kodeboyina, Sai Karthik; Zhi, Wenbo; Patton, Jordan; Bai, Shan; Edwards, Blake; Ulrich, Lane; Bogorad, David; Sharma, Ashok

2018-05-01

Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is the most prevalent form of glaucoma, accounting for approximately 90% of all cases. The aqueous humor (AH), a biological fluid in the anterior and posterior chambers of the eye, is involved in a multitude of functions including the maintenance of IOP and ocular homeostasis. This fluid is very close to the pathologic site and is also known to have a significant role in glaucoma pathogenesis. The purpose of this study was to identify proteomic alterations in AH from patients with POAG. AH samples were extracted from 47 patients undergoing cataract surgery (controls: n = 32; POAG: n = 15). Proteomic analysis of the digested samples was accomplished by liquid-chromatography-mass spectrometry. The identified proteins were evaluated using a variety of statistical and bioinformatics methods. A total of 33 proteins were significantly altered in POAG subjects compared with the controls. The most abundant proteins in POAG subjects are IGKC (13.56-fold), ITIH4 (4.1-fold), APOC3 (3.36-fold), IDH3A (3.11-fold), LOC105369216 (2.98-fold). SERPINF2 (2.94-fold), NPC2 (2.88-fold), SUCLG2 (2.70-fold), KIAA0100 (2.29-fold), CNOT4 (2.23-fold), AQP4 (2.11-fold), COL18A1 (2.08-fold), NWD1 (2.07-fold), and TMEM120B (2.06-fold). A significant increasing trend in the odds ratios of having POAG was observed with increased levels of these proteins. Proteins identified in this study are implicated in signaling, glycosylation, immune response, molecular transport, and lipid metabolism. The identified candidate proteins may be potential biomarkers associated with POAG development and may lead to more insight in understanding the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of this disease.

[Research on antibodies anti toxoplasma gondii in intraocular fluids (Aqueous and vitreous humor) from patients with ocular toxoplasmosis, in the City of Belém, Pará State].

PubMed

Carmo, Ediclei Lima do; Almeida, Edmundo Frota; Bichara, Cléa Nazaré; Póvoa, Marinete Marins

2005-01-01

Tests were performed for antibodies IgG, IgM and IgA anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in serum and intraocular fluids (Aqueous and vitreous humor) from patients with ocular toxoplasmosis. By the results obtained, it was verified that intraocular IgG and IgA anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies can be important markers for the diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis.

Effects of aqueous humor hydrodynamics on human eye heat transfer under external heat sources.

PubMed

Tiang, Kor L; Ooi, Ean H

2016-08-01

The majority of the eye models developed in the late 90s and early 00s considers only heat conduction inside the eye. This assumption is not entirely correct, since the anterior and posterior chambers are filled aqueous humor (AH) that is constantly in motion due to thermally-induced buoyancy. In this paper, a three-dimensional model of the human eye is developed to investigate the effects AH hydrodynamics have on the human eye temperature under exposure to external heat sources. If the effects of AH flow are negligible, then future models can be developed without taking them into account, thus simplifying the modeling process. Two types of external thermal loads are considered; volumetric and surface irradiation. Results showed that heat convection due to AH flow contributes to nearly 95% of the total heat flow inside the anterior chamber. Moreover, the circulation inside the anterior chamber can cause an upward shift of the location of hotspot. This can have significant consequences to our understanding of heat-induced cataractogenesis. Copyright © 2016 IPEM. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Aqueous penetration and biological activity of moxifloxacin 0.5% ophthalmic solution and gatifloxacin 0.3% solution in cataract surgery patients.

PubMed

Kim, Dianne H; Stark, Walter J; O'Brien, Terrence P; Dick, James D

2005-11-01

To measure the achievable perioperative aqueous concentration of the commercially available topically administered fourth generation fluoroquinolones, moxifloxacin 0.5% ophthalmic solution, and gatifloxacin 0.3% ophthalmic solution, and to correlate this concentration with the agents' biological efficacy in the aqueous humor of patients undergoing routine cataract surgery. Prospective, randomized, parallel, double-masked, clinical trial. Fifty patients undergoing cataract extraction. Patients (n = 25) were given perioperative topical moxifloxacin 0.5% or topical gatifloxacin 0.3% (n = 25). One drop of antibiotic was administered every 10 minutes for 4 doses beginning 1 hour prior to surgery. Aqueous humor was sampled via paracentesis and antibiotic concentrations were determined using validated high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedures. Dilution analyses were performed to determine the biological efficacy of the agents in the aqueous against Staphylococcus epidermidis, the most common cause of postcataract endophthalmitis. Aqueous humor antibiotic concentrations were measured using HPLC and microdilution bioassay techniques. Biological activity was measured as minimal inhibitory dilution and minimal bactericidal dilution. Aqueous humor concentrations for moxifloxacin via HPLC analysis were 1.80 (+/-1.21) microg/ml, whereas those for gatifloxacin were 0.48 (+/-0.34) microg/ml. This 3.8-fold difference in aqueous humor antibiotic concentrations was statistically significant (P = 0.00003). Similarly, the biological dilution analysis of the aqueous humor samples showed that moxifloxacin attained an estimated activity of 2.1 microg/ml, whereas the gatifloxacin activity was approximately 0.4 mug/ml, which represented a 4.9-fold difference. This study demonstrated that after topically administered perioperative antibiotics with cataract surgery, moxifloxacin 0.5% ophthalmic solution achieved a statistically significantly higher concentration in aqueous

Attitude Toward Humor in Patients Experiencing Depressive Symptoms

PubMed Central

Bokarius, Anna; Ha, Khanh; Poland, Russell; Bokarius, Vladimir; Rapaport, Mark H.

2011-01-01

Objective: This study measures the correlation between disposition to humor and level of depression to investigate openness to humorous interventions for the treatment of depression. Design, Participants, and Measurement: Individuals (n=200) with depression received questionnaires to assess their sense of humor and attitude toward humor using the Svebak's Humor Questionnaire and a disposition toward humor questionnaire. The correlation between Svebak's Humor Questionnaire scores and Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report scores was then measured. Results were further analyzed by race, age, and gender to assess any emerging trends within those groups. Results: Svebak's Humor Questionnaire mean scores remained high across gender, race, and age. However, there was not a statistically significant correlation between the level of depression and sense of humor (r=−0.22). The only significant relationship noted was between disposition toward humor and depression was for subjects aged 70 and older (r=−0.83). Conclusion: Though with certain limitations, these data provide preliminary support for the possibility that an appreciation of humor would persist despite symptoms of major depressive disorder. Clinicians could consider humor as part of an intervention in the treatment of depressive symptoms. The determination of the type of humor and manner of integrating it into therapy would require further study. PMID:22010061

Proteomic analysis of human aqueous humor using multidimensional protein identification technology

PubMed Central

Richardson, Matthew R.; Price, Marianne O.; Price, Francis W.; Pardo, Jennifer C.; Grandin, Juan C.; You, Jinsam; Wang, Mu

2009-01-01

Aqueous humor (AH) supports avascular tissues in the anterior segment of the eye, maintains intraocular pressure, and potentially influences the pathogenesis of ocular diseases. Nevertheless, the AH proteome is still poorly defined despite several previous efforts, which were hindered by interfering high abundance proteins, inadequate animal models, and limited proteomic technologies. To facilitate future investigations into AH function, the AH proteome was extensively characterized using an advanced proteomic approach. Samples from patients undergoing cataract surgery were pooled and depleted of interfering abundant proteins and thereby divided into two fractions: albumin-bound and albumin-depleted. Multidimensional Protein Identification Technology (MudPIT) was utilized for each fraction; this incorporates strong cation exchange chromatography to reduce sample complexity before reversed-phase liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometric analysis. Twelve proteins had multi-peptide, high confidence identifications in the albumin-bound fraction and 50 proteins had multi-peptide, high confidence identifications in the albumin-depleted fraction. Gene ontological analyses were performed to determine which cellular components and functions were enriched. Many proteins were previously identified in the AH and for several their potential role in the AH has been investigated; however, the majority of identified proteins were novel and only speculative roles can be suggested. The AH was abundant in anti-oxidant and immunoregulatory proteins as well as anti-angiogenic proteins, which may be involved in maintaining the avascular tissues. This is the first known report to extensively characterize and describe the human AH proteome and lays the foundation for future work regarding its function in homeostatic and pathologic states. PMID:20019884

LOL Teacher! Using Humor to Enhance Student Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Terrell, Shelly

2015-01-01

Laughing with students can help them connect on a deeper level with the teacher and the learning. This article offers the following four strategies to incorporate humor into teaching: (1) Integrate humorous bits to boost engagement; (2) Choose humorous materials; (3) Create interest with humorous web tools and apps; and (4) Teach with silly…

Relationship between raised intraocular pressure and ischemia-modified albumin in serum and humor aqueous: a pilot study in rabbits.

PubMed

Taskiran Comez, Arzu; Cakir, Dilek Ulker; Tutunculer, Funda Kirtay; Gencer, Baran; Tufan, Hasan Ali

2014-01-01

We evaluated the relationship between increased intraocular pressure (IOP), ischemia-modified albumin levels in serum (IMA-s) and in humor aqueous (IMA-HA) in rabbits. Twenty-five albino New Zealand rabbits weighing between 2.0 and 2.8 kg were used in this pilot study. With permission from Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University Animal Ethics Committee, the IOP of both eyes of each rabbit were recorded with a Tonopen (Tono-Pen XL, Reichart Inc., Depew, NY, USA) after the application of topical proparacaine 0.5% HCl anesthesia. Blood (4 mL) was collected from the marginal ear vein and an intracameral injection of 2.3 mg/mL sodium hyaluronate and subconjunctival dexamethasone was given in the right eye. Anterior chamber aqueous fluid was obtained using a limbal approach with a 27 gauge needle from both eyes. The left eyes were used as controls. IOP was measured on the 1(st), 3(rd) and 10(th) day after the initial injection, with Tonopen, IMA-s levels and IMA-HA examined simultaneously. Before the injections, IOP was 11.4±3.0 mm Hg in the right eye and 11.3±3.1 mm Hg in the left eye (P>0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between IMA-s levels before the IOP increase (IMA-s0) and IMA-s levels on the 1(st) and 3(rd) days after the increase in IOP (P=0.012 and P=0.01, respectively). No difference was observed between IMA-s0 and serum IMA levels on the 10(th) day (IMA-s10) after IOP increase (P=0.989). IMA-HA in the right eye in the first day after the injection was positively correlated with IOP (r=0.748; P=0.02). No other correlation is found between any other parameter with IMA-HA levels at any test time. A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between IMA-s values and IOP on the 1(st) and 3(rd) days (r=0.398, P=0.04 and r=0.382, P=0.04, respectively). There was no correlation between IMA-s levels and increased IOP on the 10(th) day after IOP increase (r=0.026, P=0.902). IMA may be an important indicator of acute damage caused by

Comparative evaluation of aqueous and plasma concentration of topical moxifloxacin alone and with flurbiprofen in patients of cataract surgery

PubMed Central

Halder, Sujash; Mondal, Kanchan Kumar; Biswas, Supreeti; Mandal, Tapan Kumar; Dutta, Bakul Kumar; Haldar, Mithilesh

2013-01-01

Objectives: To determine the aqueous and plasma concentrations of moxifloxacin administered topically alone and with flurbiprofen in patients undergoing cataract surgery. Materials and Methods: A total of 50 subjects scheduled for routine cataract surgery were randomly allocated to two groups (n = 25 each). Group-1 patients were treated with topical moxifloxacin alone: One drop 6 times/day for 3 days before surgery and one drop 4 times on the day of surgery: Group-2 patients were treated with topical moxifloxacin as in Group-1 and with topical flurbiprofen: One drop 4 times/day for 3 days before and on the day of surgery. The interval between two drugs was 30 min for last 3 days and 15 min on the day of surgery. Last dose was administered 1 h before aqueous humor and blood sampling for both the groups. The antibiotic concentration in aqueous humor and plasma were determined by using high performance liquid chromatography. Results: The mean concentration of moxifloxacin in aqueous humor was 1.71 ± 0.82 mg/ml in Group-1 and 2.39 ± 1.34 mg/ml in Group-2. Concentrations of moxifloxacin in aqueous humor were significantly higher in Group-2 than that of Group-1. Conclusion: Flurbiprofen may increase the concentration of moxifloxacin in aqueous humor. PMID:23833362

Circulating Humorous Antitobacco Videos on Social Media.

PubMed

Lee, Moon J; Chen, Fannin

2017-03-01

We investigated whether exposure to same humorous antitobacco videos via different types of social media platforms and contexts (health vs. humor) influences individual's health risk perceptions, attitudes, and behavioral intents. An experiment with a 2 (social media types: YouTube and Facebook) × 2 (message contexts: health-focused and humor-focused contexts) factorial design was conducted. It was found that those who watched the humorous antitobacco videos on Facebook in the health-context exhibited a higher level of risk perception of smoking, less positive attitude toward smokers, and a higher level of intention to avoid smoking in the future than the participants who viewed the same videos on YouTube in the health-context or on Facebook in the humor-context. These findings provide useful practical guidelines in using social media for health communication/promotion. Humorous health promotion messages are best circulated on social networking sites such as Facebook accompanied by others' support for the given health topic (i.e., in health-contexts). Practical/theoretical implications and limitations of the study were further discussed in this article.

Pharmacokinetics of timolol in aqueous humor sampled by microdialysis after topical administration of thermosetting gels.

PubMed

Wei, Gang; Ding, Ping-Tian; Zheng, Jun-Min; Lu, Wei-Yue

2006-01-01

In order to develop a thermosetting gel-based formulation, the ocular pharmacokinetics of timolol was studied utilizing microdialysis sampling technique after topical administration. A linear microdialysis probe was characterized and implanted in the anterior chamber of a rabbit. Dialysate samples collected from the aqueous humor (AH) were directly injected into the HPLC system without any pre-treatment and no interference was observed in the blank sample. The measured in vitro recovery of the probe was 57.67%; however, the in vivo recovery significantly decreased to 16.78% when assessed by the retrodialysis method, which was used to calculate the timolol concentration in AH. Although in the initial 15 min the drug concentrations in AH were comparable to that of the timolol solution, increased Cmax and significantly improved ocular bioavailability were obtained for the gel. When sodium deoxycholate (DC) was incorporated in the gel as a penetration enhancer, a 2-fold increment in the ocular bioavailability was achieved with an increased Cmax and significantly suspended Tmax. The results demonstrated that microdialysis coupled to HPLC is a powerful tool to investigate the ocular pharmacokinetic, and hence facilitates the design of ophthalmic formulations. Copyright 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Topically applied standardized aqueous extract of Curcuma longa Linn. suppresses endotoxin-induced uveal inflammation in rats.

PubMed

Agarwal, Renu; Gupta, S K; Agarwal, Puneet; Srivastava, Sushma

2013-10-01

Aqueous extract of C. longa when administered 4 h after induction of E. coli lipopolysaccharide-induced uveitis in rats showed significantly suppressed inflammation with a significantly lower mean clinical grade, histopathological grade and aqueous humor (AH) protein level compared to vehicle treated group. Although, prednisolone group showed significantly lower clinical grade, histopathological grades and AH protein levels compared to C. longa group, TNF-alpha levels did not differ significantly. Moreover, when the aqueous extract was administered starting from 3 days before induction of uveitis, the mean clinical and histopathological grade as well as AH protein and TNF-alpha levels were comparable to C. longa group when treatment was administered 4 h after induction of uveitis. It is concluded that topically applied standardized aqueous extract of C. longa suppresses endotoxin-induced uveitis in rats by reducing TNF-alpha activity.

Humor.

PubMed

Woodbury-Fariña, Michel A; Antongiorgi, Joalex L

2014-12-01

Humor has not been taken as seriously as it should be. Humor has many positive effects in the daily lives of patients and clinicians need to take advantage of these. Many indices of stress are attenuated and this serves to improve the therapeutic alliance. Freudian, rational emotive therapy, and kleinian views are presented, as well as examples of how to use playful therapy. In addition, advice on how to develop humor is given. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

To Be or Not To Be Humorous? Cross Cultural Perspectives on Humor

PubMed Central

Yue, Xiaodong; Jiang, Feng; Lu, Su; Hiranandani, Neelam

2016-01-01

Humor seems to manifest differently in Western and Eastern cultures, although little is known about how culture shapes humor perceptions. The authors suggest that Westerners regard humor as a common and positive disposition; the Chinese regard humor as a special disposition particular to humorists, with controversial aspects. In Study 1, Hong Kong participants primed with Western culture evaluate humor more positively than they do when primed with Chinese culture. In Study 2a, Canadians evaluate humor as being more important in comparison with Chinese participants. In Study 2b, Canadians expect ordinary people to possess humor, while Chinese expect specialized comedians to be humorous. The implications and limitations are discussed. PMID:27757091

Personality, Humor Styles and Happiness: Happy People Have Positive Humor Styles

PubMed Central

Ford, Thomas E.; Lappi, Shaun K.; Holden, Christopher J.

2016-01-01

The present study examined the relationships between four personality traits, humor styles, and happiness. Replicating previous research, happiness was positively correlated with four personality traits: extraversion, locus of control, self-esteem, and optimism. Further, happiness positively related to self-enhancing and affiliative humor styles; it related negatively to self-defeating and aggressive humor styles. Thus, happy people habitually engage in positive uses of humor and avoid engaging in negative uses of humor in daily life. We also found support for our hypothesis. People high in extraversion, locus of control, self-esteem, and optimism are happier because they engage in positive humor in daily life. PMID:27547251

How do emotional restrictions affect the use of humor? A behavior genetic analysis of alexithymia and humor styles.

PubMed

Atkinson, Breanna E; Lipton, Debra; Baughman, Holly M; Schermer, Julie A; Harris, Juliette; Vernon, Philip A

2015-04-01

This article reports the first behavioral genetic study of relationships between alexithymia and four styles of humor: affiliative, self-enhancing, self-defeating, and aggressive. A total of 509 MZ pairs and 264 DZ pairs of twins completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20) and the Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ). Consistent with our predictions, alexithymia correlated negatively with affiliative and self-enhancing humor and positively with self-defeating and aggressive humor. All but one of the 16 phenotypic correlations that we report are significant at the 0.01 level. Also consistent with our predictions, the phenotypic correlations between alexithymia and humor styles were primarily attributable to correlated genetic factors and to a lesser extent to correlated non-shared environmental factors. Correlated shared environmental factors had no significant effect. Implications and limitations of this study are discussed.

Characterization of the composition of the aqueous humor and the vitreous body of the eye of the frog Rana temporaria L.

PubMed

Panova, Ina G; Sharova, Natalia P; Dmitrieva, Svetlana B; Levin, Peter P; Tatikolov, Alexander S

2008-12-01

This study aimed to analyze the aqueous humor (AH) and the vitreous body (VB) of the eye of the adult frog Rana temporaria L. as a representative species of amphibians, which lead a semi-terrestrial life. The presence of collagen, albumin, uric acid and electron donors was shown in both media; however, there are slight differences in their concentrations. To determine collagen, a spectral-fluorescent probe, cyanine dye, was used. The presence of collagen in AH of the frog was found at the first time. The total content of electron donors (ascorbic and uric acids, tryptophan, and tyrosine) in VB and HA was roughly estimated at approximately 1.5x10(-4) mol/L. Both VB and AH absorb light in similar UV regions. The total protein and albumin contents in AH were found to be somewhat higher than those in VB. The uric acid content was at an equally low level in both intraocular media. It is supposed that the similarity of VB and AH compositions shown in this work is due to some exchange between VB and AH contents in the course of accommodation. The role of intraocular fluids in physiological functions of the eye and in protecting the retina against UV light is discussed.

Humor styles as mediators between self-evaluative standards and psychological well-being.

PubMed

Kuiper, Nicholas A; McHale, Nicola

2009-07-01

The authors examined how certain humor styles mediate the relations between self-evaluative standards (which form the primary evaluative component of the self-schema) and psychological well-being. As predicted, greater endorsement of positive self-evaluative standards led to the use of more affiliative humor, which, in turn, led to higher levels of social self-esteem and lower levels of depression. Also, as predicted, greater endorsement of negative self-evaluative standards led to the use of more self-defeating humor, which resulted in lower levels of social self-esteem and higher levels of depression. Further, affiliative humor also mediated the relation between negative self-evaluative standards and well-being. In this study, the greater endorsement of negative self-evaluative standards led to the use of less affiliative humor, which led to a decrease in social self-esteem. These results suggest that specific features associated with these 2 humor styles may contribute in a differential manner to an individual's level of well-being. In particular, the increased use of affiliative humor may facilitate the development and maintenance of social support networks that foster and enhance well-being. Alternatively, the greater use of self-defeating humor may result in the development of maladaptive social support networks that impede psychological well-being.

Neuropsychology of humor: an introduction. Part II. Humor and the brain.

PubMed

Derouesné, Christian

2016-09-01

Impairment of the perception or comprehension of humor is observed in patients with focal brain lesions in both hemispheres, but mainly in the right frontal lobe. Studies by functional magnetic resonance imaging in healthy subjects show that humor is associated with activation of two main neural systems in both hemispheres. The detection and resolution of incongruity, cognitive groundings of humor, are associated with activation of the medial prefrontal and temporoparietal cortex, and the humor appreciation with activation of the orbito-frontal and insular cortex, amygdala and the brain reward system. However, activation of these areas is not humor-specific and can be observed in various cognitive or emotional processes. Event-related potential studies confirm the involvement of both hemispheres in humor processing, and suggest that left prefrontal area is associated with joke comprehension and right prefrontal area with the resolution stage. Humor thus appears to be a complex and dynamic functional process involving, on one hand, two specialized but not specific neural systems linked to humor apprehension and appreciation, and, on the other hand, multiple interconnected functional brain networks including neural patterns underlying the moral framework and belief system, acquired by conditioning or imitation during the cognitive development and social interactions of the individual, and more distributed systems associated with the analysis of the current context of humor occurrence. Disturbances of the sense of humor could then result from focal brain alterations localized in one or two of the specialized areas underlying the comprehension or appreciation of humor, or from perturbations of the network interconnectivity in non-focal brain disorders such as Alzheimer's disease or schizophrenia.

Morphometric Analysis of Aqueous Humor Outflow Structures with Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

PubMed Central

Francis, Andrew W.; Kagemann, Larry; Wollstein, Gadi; Ishikawa, Hiroshi; Folz, Steven; Overby, Darryl R.; Sigal, Ian A.; Wang, Bo; Schuman, Joel S.

2012-01-01

Purpose. To describe morphometric details of the human aqueous humor (AH) outflow microvasculature visualized with 360-degree virtual castings during active AH outflow in cadaver eyes and to compare these structures with corrosion casting studies. Methods. The conventional AH outflow pathways of donor eyes (n = 7) and eyes in vivo (n = 3) were imaged with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and wide-bandwidth superluminescent diode array during active AH outflow. Digital image contrast was adjusted to isolate AH microvasculature, and images were viewed in a 3D viewer. Additional eyes (n = 3) were perfused with mock AH containing fluorescent tracer microspheres to compare microvasculature patterns. Results. Observations revealed components of the conventional outflow pathway from Schlemm's canal (SC) to the superficial intrascleral venous plexus (ISVP). The superficial ISVP in both our study and corrosion casts were composed of interconnected venules (10–50 μm) forming a hexagonal meshwork. Larger radial arcades (50–100 μm) drained the region nearest SC and converged with larger tortuous vessels (>100 μm). A 360-degree virtual casting closely approximated corrosion casting studies. Tracer studies corroborated our findings. Tracer decorated several larger vessels (50–100 μm) extending posteriorly from the limbus in both raw and contrast-enhanced fluorescence images. Smaller tracer-labeled vessels (30–40 μm) were seen branching between larger vessels and exhibited a similar hexagonal network pattern. Conclusions. SD-OCT is capable of detailed morphometric analysis of the conventional outflow pathway in vivo or ex vivo with details comparable to corrosion casting techniques. PMID:22499987

Humor in Educational Contexts.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gurtler, Leo

Humor can be a crucial factor of learning environments and of communication. Recent investigations of humor in educational settings mostly focus on learning performance. This paper shifts the attention to the enhancement of social climate through humor. Humor can be an element to solve critical social situations. To develop humor, it is necessary…

Instructional scientific humor in the secondary classroom

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wizner, Francine

This study is an examination of the manner in which educators employ scientific content humor and how that humor is perceived by their students. Content humor is a useful strategy in drawing the attention of students and improving their receptivity toward scientific information. It is also a useful tool in combating the growing distractions of the electronic classroom. Previous studies have found that humor has a positive effect on knowledge, memory, and understanding. However, few studies have been conducted below the undergraduate level and mainly quantitative measures of student recall have been used to measure learning. This study employed multiple data sources to determine how two secondary biology teachers used humor in order to explain scientific concepts and how their students perceived their teachers' use of scientific instructional humor. Evidence of student humor reception was collected from four students in each of the two classes. All of the scientific instructional humor used in the studied classrooms was cognitive in nature, varying among factual, procedural, conceptual, and metacognitive knowledge. Teachers tended to use dialogic forms of humor. Their scientific humor reflected everyday experiences, presented queries, poked fun at authority, and asked students to search out new perspectives and perform thought experiments. Teachers were the primary actors in performing the humorous events. The events were sometimes physical exaggerations of words or drawings, and they occurred for the purpose of establishing rapport or having students make connections between scientific concepts and prior knowledge. Student perceptions were that teachers did employ humor toward instructional objectives that helped their learning. Helping students become critical thinkers is a trademark of science teachers. Science teachers who take the risk of adopting some attributes of comedians may earn the reward of imparting behaviors on their students like critical thinking

The Dark Side of Humor: DSM-5 Pathological Personality Traits and Humor Styles

PubMed Central

Zeigler-Hill, Virgil; McCabe, Gillian A.; Vrabel, Jennifer K.

2016-01-01

Basic personality traits (e.g., extraversion) have been found to be associated with the humor styles that individuals employ. In the present study, we were interested in determining whether pathological personality traits were also associated with humor styles. We examined the associations between the pathological personality traits captured by the Personality Inventory for the DSM-5 (PID-5) and humor styles in a sample of college students (N = 594). Negative affectivity and detachment were negatively associated with the affiliative and self-enhancing humor styles. Antagonism was positively associated with the aggressive humor style but negatively associated with the affiliative humor style. Disinhibition was positively associated with the aggressive humor style, whereas disinhibition and psychoticism were both positively associated with the self-defeating humor style. Discussion focuses on the implications of these findings and how they can expand our understanding of the connections between the darker aspects of personality and humor. PMID:27547254

Identification of proteins in the aqueous humor associated with cataract development using iTRAQ methodology.

PubMed

Xiang, Minhong; Zhang, Xingru; Li, Qingsong; Wang, Hanmin; Zhang, Zhenyong; Han, Zhumei; Ke, Meiqing; Chen, Xingxing

2017-05-01

Proteins in the aqueous humor (AH) are important in the induction of cataract development. The identification of cataract-associated proteins assists in identifying patients and predisposed to the condition and improve treatment efficacy. Proteomics analysis has previously been used for identifying protein markers associated with eye diseases; however, few studies have examined the proteomic alterations in cataract development due to high myopia, glaucoma and diabetes. The present study, using the isobaric tagging for relative and absolute protein quantification methodology, aimed to examine cataract-associated proteins in the AH from patients with high myopia, glaucoma or diabetes, and controls. The results revealed that 445 proteins were identified in the AH groups, compared with the control groups, and 146, 264 and 130 proteins were differentially expressed in the three groups of patients, respectively. In addition, 44 of these proteins were determined to be cataract‑associated, and the alterations of five randomly selected proteins were confirmed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The biological functions of these 44 cataract-associated proteins were analyzed using Gen Ontology/pathways annotation, in addition to protein‑protein interaction network analysis. The results aimed to expand current knowledge of the pathophysiologic characteristics of cataract development and provided a panel of candidates for biomarkers of the disease, which may assist in further diagnosis and the monitoring of cataract development.

Automated circumferential construction of first-order aqueous humor outflow pathways using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Alex S.; Belghith, Akram; Dastiridou, Anna; Chopra, Vikas; Zangwill, Linda M.; Weinreb, Robert N.

2017-06-01

The purpose was to create a three-dimensional (3-D) model of circumferential aqueous humor outflow (AHO) in a living human eye with an automated detection algorithm for Schlemm's canal (SC) and first-order collector channels (CC) applied to spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Anterior segment SD-OCT scans from a subject were acquired circumferentially around the limbus. A Bayesian Ridge method was used to approximate the location of the SC on infrared confocal laser scanning ophthalmoscopic images with a cross multiplication tool developed to initiate SC/CC detection automated through a fuzzy hidden Markov Chain approach. Automatic segmentation of SC and initial CC's was manually confirmed by two masked graders. Outflow pathways detected by the segmentation algorithm were reconstructed into a 3-D representation of AHO. Overall, only <1% of images (5114 total B-scans) were ungradable. Automatic segmentation algorithm performed well with SC detection 98.3% of the time and <0.1% false positive detection compared to expert grader consensus. CC was detected 84.2% of the time with 1.4% false positive detection. 3-D representation of AHO pathways demonstrated variably thicker and thinner SC with some clear CC roots. Circumferential (360 deg), automated, and validated AHO detection of angle structures in the living human eye with reconstruction was possible.

The Relational Humor Inventory: Functions of Humor in Close Relationships.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

DeKoning, E.; Weiss, R. L.

2002-01-01

This study describes the development of a self-report measure of functional humor in relationships. People were asked to report on their own and their partner's use of humor in the marriage. The Relational Humor Inventory proved to be a useful instrument for tapping important positive and negative relationship behaviors. (Contains 30 references, 4…

Humor. Beginnings Workshop.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Elkind, David; Parr, Jerry; Duffy, Vincent; Strader, Bill; Stephens, Karen

2000-01-01

Presents five articles on humor in early child care: (1) "What Makes Young Children Laugh?" (David Elkind); (2) "Humor as a Tool in the Workplace" (Jerry Parr); (3) "Vincent's Vignettes" (Vincent Duffy); (4) "Family Humor" (Bill Strader); and (5) "Books to Tickle Funny Bones" (Karen Stephens). (SD)

Promising ion-sensitive in situ ocular nanoemulsion gels of terbinafine hydrochloride: design, in vitro characterization and in vivo estimation of the ocular irritation and drug pharmacokinetics in the aqueous humor of rabbits.

PubMed

Tayel, Saadia Ahmed; El-Nabarawi, Mohamed Ahmed; Tadros, Mina Ibrahim; Abd-Elsalam, Wessam Hamdy

2013-02-25

Terbinafine hydrochloride (T-HCl) is recommended for the management of fungal keratitis. To maintain effective aqueous humor concentrations, frequent instillation of T-HCl drops is necessary. This work aimed to develop alternative controlled-release in situ ocular drug-loaded nanoemulsion (NE) gels. Twelve pseudoternary-phase diagrams were constructed using oils (isopropyl myristate/Miglyol 812), surfactants (Tween 80/Cremophor EL), a co-surfactant (polyethylene glycol 400) and water. Eight drug-loaded (0.5%, w/v) NEs were evaluated for thermodynamic stability, morphology, droplet size and drug release in simulated tear fluid (pH 7.4). Following dispersion in gellan gum solution (0.2%, w/w), the in situ NE gels were characterized for transparency, rheological behavior, mucoadhesive force, drug release and histopathological assessment of ocular irritation. Drug pharmacokinetics of sterilized F31 [Miglyol 812, Cremophor EL: polyethylene glycol 400 (1:2) and water (5, 55 and 40%, w/w, respectively)] in situ NE gel and oily drug solution were evaluated in rabbit aqueous humor. The NEs were thermodynamically stable and have spherical droplets (<30 nm). The gels were transparent, pseudoplastic, mucoadhesive and showed more retarded zero-order drug release rates. F31 in situ NE gel showed the least ocular irritation potential and significantly (P<0.01) higher C(max), delayed T(max), prolonged mean residence time and increased bioavailability. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Self-Deprecating Humor Versus Other-Deprecating Humor in Health Messages

PubMed Central

LEE, JI YOUNG; SLATER, MICHAEL D.; TCHERNEV, JOHN

2016-01-01

Humor is sometimes employed in health messages. However, little is known about contingencies under which different types of humor may or may not be effective. This experiment crossed humorous vs. non-humorous and self- vs. other-deprecating messages about binge drinking, and tested how differences in personal investment in alcohol use moderates the effects of such messages on college binge drinkers. Results showed significant three-way interaction effects on subjective norms and behavioral intentions largely consistent with hypotheses. Assessment of significant differences in the interactions indicated that for binge drinkers who weren’t high in personal investment in alcohol use, other-deprecating humor tended to reduce their perceived subjective norms about the acceptability of binge drinking behavior and their behavioral intentions. The effect of the experimental manipulation on subjective norms among these binge drinkers was shown to mediate the effect on intentions to binge drink in the future. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. PMID:26020507

Stand Up Comics: Instructional Humor and Student Engagment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wortley, Amy; Dotson, Elizabeth

2016-01-01

This paper examines the use of instructional humor in higher education settings and makes connections between the levels of student achievement in academics and the influence of appropriate instructional humor. The work of prominent researchers such as Wanzer, Frymier, and Irwin (2010), and Segrist & Hupp (2015), who postulate that…

Aqueous levels of erythropoietin in acute retinal vein occlusion with macular edema

PubMed Central

Shin, Hyun Jin; Kim, Hyung Chan; Moon, Jun Woong

2014-01-01

AIM To investigate the aqueous erythropoietin (EPO) levels and associated factors in patients with acute retinal vein occlusion (RVO). METHODS The aqueous EPO level was measured in patients with macular edema (ME) secondary to acute branched retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) or central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Aqueous fluid from cataract patients served as the control. We also evaluated whether aqueous level of EPO was associated with factors such as serum EPO level, non-perfusion area, central macular thickness (CMT), and arterio-venous (AV) transit time RESULTS Twenty-seven RVO patients (16 BRVO, 11 CRVO) and 9 control subjects were enrolled in the study. The aqueous EPO level (mU/mL) was higher in RVO (68.2±54.3) than that in the control subjects (12.9±5.9). More specifically, the aqueous EPO level was higher in CRVO (118.9±52.1) than that in BRVO (33.3±10.8). However, no differences were found in serum EPO levels among three groups. CMT in RVO patients had a positive correlation with the aqueous EPO level (r=0.66). Also, in terms of non-perfusion area, the aqueous EPO levels were more elevated in the ischemic subgroup than in the non-ischemic subgroup in both BRVO and CRVO. CONCLUSION Aqueous EPO levels are elevated in patients with macular edema secondary to recent onset RVO. Patients with CRVO have higher EPO levels than those with BRVO. The aqueous EPO level in RVO has a positive correlation with CMT and is associated with non-perfusion area. These results suggest that the aqueous EPO level could be associated with retinal ischemia and may be involved in the pathogenesis of macular edema secondary to RVO. PMID:24967199

Effects of Classroom Humor Climate and Acceptance of Humor Messages on Adolescents' Expressions of Humor

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chiang, Yi-Chen; Lee, Chun-Yang; Wang, Hong-Huei

2016-01-01

Background: To adapt to dramatic changes from physical growth, physical development and the increasing demand of significant others, humor has been found to be an effective coping strategy. However, previous studies have found that adolescents start to express their humor styles with aggressive components which causes negative consequences, such…

Automated circumferential construction of first-order aqueous humor outflow pathways using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.

PubMed

Huang, Alex S; Belghith, Akram; Dastiridou, Anna; Chopra, Vikas; Zangwill, Linda M; Weinreb, Robert N

2017-06-01

The purpose was to create a three-dimensional (3-D) model of circumferential aqueous humor outflow (AHO) in a living human eye with an automated detection algorithm for Schlemm’s canal (SC) and first-order collector channels (CC) applied to spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Anterior segment SD-OCT scans from a subject were acquired circumferentially around the limbus. A Bayesian Ridge method was used to approximate the location of the SC on infrared confocal laser scanning ophthalmoscopic images with a cross multiplication tool developed to initiate SC/CC detection automated through a fuzzy hidden Markov Chain approach. Automatic segmentation of SC and initial CC’s was manually confirmed by two masked graders. Outflow pathways detected by the segmentation algorithm were reconstructed into a 3-D representation of AHO. Overall, only <1% of images (5114 total B-scans) were ungradable. Automatic segmentation algorithm performed well with SC detection 98.3% of the time and <0.1% false positive detection compared to expert grader consensus. CC was detected 84.2% of the time with 1.4% false positive detection. 3-D representation of AHO pathways demonstrated variably thicker and thinner SC with some clear CC roots. Circumferential (360 deg), automated, and validated AHO detection of angle structures in the living human eye with reconstruction was possible.

Oxidative stress markers in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.

PubMed

Ghanem, Asaad A; Arafa, Lamiaa F; El-Baz, Ayman

2010-04-01

To investigate the levels of antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in human eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and to correlate their concentrations with severity of glaucoma. A prospective cases control study. Thirty patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and twenty-five patients with senile cataracts of matched age and gender were included in the study prospectively. Aqueous humor samples were obtained by paracentesis at the time of elective surgery for glaucomatous and cataractous patients. Aqueous humor were analyzed for CAT, GPO, SOD, and MDA status. GPO, SOD, and MDA enzyme levels revealed a high significant increase in aqueous humor of POAG patients with respect to the comparative group of cataract patients (P < 0.001). No significant difference in the activity of CAT enzyme in aqueous humor of POAG and cataract patient (P = 0.201). Significant correlation was found between the MDA enzyme level and severe visual field loss (P < 0.001) in POAG patients. Increased levels of aqueous humor GPO, SOD, and MDA may be associated with POAG. In addition, they may be useful antioxidant enzyme levels in aqueous humor of POAG patients as a result of glaucoma disease and not a cause.

A Computational Model of Linguistic Humor in Puns.

PubMed

Kao, Justine T; Levy, Roger; Goodman, Noah D

2016-07-01

Humor plays an essential role in human interactions. Precisely what makes something funny, however, remains elusive. While research on natural language understanding has made significant advancements in recent years, there has been little direct integration of humor research with computational models of language understanding. In this paper, we propose two information-theoretic measures-ambiguity and distinctiveness-derived from a simple model of sentence processing. We test these measures on a set of puns and regular sentences and show that they correlate significantly with human judgments of funniness. Moreover, within a set of puns, the distinctiveness measure distinguishes exceptionally funny puns from mediocre ones. Our work is the first, to our knowledge, to integrate a computational model of general language understanding and humor theory to quantitatively predict humor at a fine-grained level. We present it as an example of a framework for applying models of language processing to understand higher level linguistic and cognitive phenomena. © 2015 The Authors. Cognitive Science published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Cognitive Science Society.

Does humor in radio advertising affect recognition of novel product brand names?

PubMed

Berg, E M; Lippman, L G

2001-04-01

The authors proposed that item selection during shopping is based on brand name recognition rather than recall. College students rated advertisements and news stories of a simulated radio program for level of amusement (orienting activity) before participating in a surprise recognition test. Humor level of the advertisements was varied systematically, and content was controlled. According to signal detection analysis, humor did not affect the strength of recognition memory for brand names (nonsense units). However, brand names and product types were significantly more likely to be associated when appearing in humorous advertisements than in nonhumorous advertisements. The results are compared with prior findings concerning humor and recall.

Evaluation of the humoral immune response of children with low level lead exposure

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Reigart, J.R.; Graber, C.D.

1976-07-01

Twelve lead-exposed children, with evidence of metabolic impairment, and seven non-lead exposed children were examined for evidence of impairment of their immunological response. There were no differences between the control group and the lead exposed group with reference to complement levels, immunoglobulins, or anamnestic response to the tetanus toxoid antigen. It remains to be demonstrated whether or not there is deficient response to primary immunization, whether other antigens are more affected by lead, or whether impairment of humoral immune response requires a more serious degree of lead intoxication.

Building Resilience through Humor.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berg, Debra Vande; Van Brockern, Steve

1995-01-01

Research on resilience suggests that a sense of humor helps to stress-proof children in conflict. Reports on a workshop for educators and youth workers convened to explore ways humor is being used to foster positive development and resilience with troubled youth. Describes applications of humor front-line professionals report as useful in their…

Trait humor and longevity: do comics have the last laugh?

PubMed

Rotton, J

1992-01-01

Four sets of biographical data were analyzed in order to test the hypothesis that the ability to generate humor is associated with longevity. Although steps were taken to ensure that tests had high levels of statistical power, analyses provided very little support for the idea that individuals with a well-developed sense of humor live longer than serious writers and other entertainers. In addition, a subsidiary analysis revealed that those in the business of entertaining others died at an earlier age than those in other lines of endeavor. These findings suggest that researchers should turn their attention from trait humor to the effects of humorous material.

Angiopoietin-like 7 Secretion Is Induced by Glaucoma Stimuli and Its Concentration Is Elevated in Glaucomatous Aqueous Humor

PubMed Central

Kuchtey, John; Källberg, Maria E.; Gelatt, Kirk N.; Rinkoski, Tommy; Komàromy, András M.; Kuchtey, Rachel W.

2010-01-01

Purpose To investigate the possibility that Angiopoietin-like 7 (ANGPTL7) protein is involved in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. Methods Primary human trabecular meshwork (TM) cells and corneoscleral explants were stimulated with either dexamethasone (DEX) or transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), and ANGPTL7 protein secreted into culture medium was determined by Western blot analysis. The effect of stable overexpression of ANGPTL7 in transfected immortalized TM cell lines on collagen expression was investigated by immunocytochemistry. Localization of ANGPTL7 protein in human eyes was determined by immunohistochemistry. The concentration of ANGPTL7 protein in aqueous humor (AH) from patients with glaucoma and control patients was compared by Western blot analysis. The beagle model of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) was used to correlate ANGPTL7 protein levels in canine AH with disease progression. Results TGFβ and DEX stimulated secretion of ANGPTL7 protein by TM cells and corneoscleral explants. Overexpression of ANGPTL7 by immortalized TM cell lines increased expression of type I collagen. Expression of ANGPTL7 protein was located in the corneal stroma, near the limbus, and throughout the sclera, with lower expression in the TM. In the lamina cribrosa, ANGPTL7 expression was associated with the cribriform plates. The concentration of ANGPTL7 protein was elevated in AH from patients with glaucoma and increased as disease progressed in POAG beagle dogs. Conclusions Induction of ANGPTL7 secretion by glaucoma stimuli and increased concentration of ANGPTL7 in glaucomatous AH suggest that ANGPTL7 is overexpressed in glaucoma. Since overexpression of ANGPTL7 increases collagen expression, a potential disease mechanism, ANGPTL7 could have a pathogenic role in glaucoma, and may serve as a potential therapeutic target. PMID:18421092

Mathematical modeling the radiation effects on humoral immunity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smirnova, O. A.

A mathematical model of humoral immune response in nonirradiated and irradiated mammals is developed. It is based on conventional theories and experimental facts in this field. The model is a system of nonlinear differential equations which describe the dynamics of concentrations of antibody and antigen molecules, immunocompetent B lymphocytes, and the rest blood lymphocytes, as well as the bone-marrow lymphocyte precursors. The interaction of antigen molecules with antibodies and with antibody-like receptors on immunocompetent cells is also incorporated. The model quantitatively reproduces the dynamics of the humoral immune response to the T-independent antigen (capsular antigen of plague microbe) in nonirradiated mammals (CBA mice). It describes the peculiarities of the humoral immune response in CBA mice exposed to acute radiation before or after introducing antigen. The model predicts an adaptation of humoral immune system to low dose rate chronic irradiation in the result of which the intensity of immune response relaxes to a new, lower than normal, stable level. The mechanisms of this phenomenon are revealed. The results obtained show that the developed model, after the appropriate identification, can be used to predict the effects of acute and low-level long-term irradiation on the system of humoral immunity in humans. Employment of the mathematical model identified in the proper way should be important in estimating the radiation risk for cosmonauts and astronauts on long space missions such as a voyage to Mars or a lunar colony.

Effect of Intravitreal Methotrexate and Rituximab on Interleukin-10 Levels in Aqueous Humor of Treated Eyes with Vitreoretinal Lymphoma

PubMed Central

Raja, Harish; Snyder, Melissa R.; Johnston, Patrick B.; O’Neill, Brian P.; Caraballo, Juline N.; Balsanek, Joseph G.; Peters, Brian E.; Decker, Paul A.; Pulido, Jose S.

2013-01-01

Intraocular cytokines are promising diagnostic biomarkers of vitreoretinal lymphoma. Here, we evaluate the utility of IL-10, IL-6 and IL-10/IL-6 for discriminating lymphoma from uveitis and report the effects of intraocular methotrexate and rituximab on aqueous cytokine levels in eyes with lymphoma. This is a retrospective case series including 10 patients with lymphoma and 7 patients with uveitis. Non-parametric Mann-Whitney analysis was performed to determine statistical significance of difference in interleukin levels between lymphoma and uveitis. Compared to eyes with uveitis, eyes with lymphoma had higher levels of IL-10 (U = 7.0; two-tailed p = 0.004) and IL-10/IL-6 (U = 6.0; two-tailed p = 0.003), whereas IL-6 levels were more elevated, although insignificant, in those patients with uveitis than in lymphoma (U = 15.0; two-tailed p = ns). Using a receiver operating characteristic analysis to identify threshold values diagnostic for lymphoma, optimal sensitivity and specificity improved to 80.0% and 100%, respectively, for IL-10>7.025 pg/ml and 90.0% and 100.0%, respectively, for IL-10/IL-6>0.02718. In patients in whom serial interleukin levels were available, regular intravitreal treatment with methotrexate and rituximab was associated with reduction in IL-10 levels over time. In conclusion, optimal IL-10 and IL-10/IL-6 threshold values are associated with a diagnostic sensitivity ≥80% and specificity of 100%. Therefore, these cytokines may serve as a useful adjunct in the diagnosis of lymphoma. While negative IL-10 and IL-10/IL-6 values do not exclude a diagnosis of lymphoma, elevated levels do appear to be consistent with lymphoma clinically. Moreover, elevated levels of IL-10 in the setting of a clinically quiet eye may point to impending disease recurrence. Lastly, once lymphoma is diagnosed, IL-10 levels can be monitored over time to assess disease activity and therapeutic response. PMID:23750271

Effect of intravitreal methotrexate and rituximab on interleukin-10 levels in aqueous humor of treated eyes with vitreoretinal lymphoma.

PubMed

Raja, Harish; Snyder, Melissa R; Johnston, Patrick B; O'Neill, Brian P; Caraballo, Juline N; Balsanek, Joseph G; Peters, Brian E; Decker, Paul A; Pulido, Jose S

2013-01-01

Intraocular cytokines are promising diagnostic biomarkers of vitreoretinal lymphoma. Here, we evaluate the utility of IL-10, IL-6 and IL-10/IL-6 for discriminating lymphoma from uveitis and report the effects of intraocular methotrexate and rituximab on aqueous cytokine levels in eyes with lymphoma. This is a retrospective case series including 10 patients with lymphoma and 7 patients with uveitis. Non-parametric Mann-Whitney analysis was performed to determine statistical significance of difference in interleukin levels between lymphoma and uveitis. Compared to eyes with uveitis, eyes with lymphoma had higher levels of IL-10 (U = 7.0; two-tailed p = 0.004) and IL-10/IL-6 (U = 6.0; two-tailed p = 0.003), whereas IL-6 levels were more elevated, although insignificant, in those patients with uveitis than in lymphoma (U = 15.0; two-tailed p = ns). Using a receiver operating characteristic analysis to identify threshold values diagnostic for lymphoma, optimal sensitivity and specificity improved to 80.0% and 100%, respectively, for IL-10>7.025 pg/ml and 90.0% and 100.0%, respectively, for IL-10/IL-6>0.02718. In patients in whom serial interleukin levels were available, regular intravitreal treatment with methotrexate and rituximab was associated with reduction in IL-10 levels over time. In conclusion, optimal IL-10 and IL-10/IL-6 threshold values are associated with a diagnostic sensitivity ≥80% and specificity of 100%. Therefore, these cytokines may serve as a useful adjunct in the diagnosis of lymphoma. While negative IL-10 and IL-10/IL-6 values do not exclude a diagnosis of lymphoma, elevated levels do appear to be consistent with lymphoma clinically. Moreover, elevated levels of IL-10 in the setting of a clinically quiet eye may point to impending disease recurrence. Lastly, once lymphoma is diagnosed, IL-10 levels can be monitored over time to assess disease activity and therapeutic response.

Humor, laughter, learning, and health! A brief review.

PubMed

Savage, Brandon M; Lujan, Heidi L; Thipparthi, Raghavendar R; DiCarlo, Stephen E

2017-09-01

Human emotions, such as anxiety, depression, fear, joy, and laughter, profoundly affect psychological and physiological processes. These emotions form a set of basic, evolved functions that are shared by all humans. Laughter is part of a universal language of basic emotions that all humans recognize. Health care providers and educators may utilize the power of laughter to improve health and enhance teaching and learning. This is an important consideration because teaching is not just about content: it is also about forming relationships and strengthening human connections. In this context, when used effectively, humor is documented to build relationships and enhance performance. Specifically, humor improves student performance by attracting and sustaining attention, reducing anxiety, enhancing participation, and increasing motivation. Moreover, humor stimulates multiple physiological systems that decrease levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol and epinephrine, and increase the activation of the mesolimbic dopaminergic reward system. To achieve these benefits, it is important to use humor that is relevant to the course content and not disparaging toward others. Self-effacing humor illustrates to students that the teacher is comfortable making mistakes and sharing these experiences with the classroom. In this brief review, we discuss the history and relationship between humor, laughing, learning, and health with an emphasis on the powerful, universal language of laughter. Copyright © 2017 the American Physiological Society.

Who Benefits From Humor-Based Positive Psychology Interventions? The Moderating Effects of Personality Traits and Sense of Humor

PubMed Central

Wellenzohn, Sara; Proyer, René T.; Ruch, Willibald

2018-01-01

The evidence for the effectiveness of humor-based positive psychology interventions (PPIs; i.e., interventions aimed at enhancing happiness and lowering depressive symptoms) is steadily increasing. However, little is known about who benefits most from them. We aim at narrowing this gap by examining whether personality traits and sense of humor moderate the long-term effects of humor-based interventions on happiness and depressive symptoms. We conducted two placebo-controlled online-intervention studies testing for moderation effects. In Study 1 (N = 104) we tested for moderation effects of basic personality traits (i.e., psychoticism, extraversion, and neuroticism) in the three funny things intervention, a humor-based PPI. In Study 2 (N = 632) we tested for moderation effects of the sense of humor in five different humor-based interventions. Happiness and depressive symptoms were assessed before and after the intervention, as well as after 1, 3, and 6 months. In Study 2, we assessed sense of humor before and 1 month after the intervention to investigate if changes in sense of humor go along with changes in happiness and depressive symptoms. We found moderating effects only for extraversion. Extraverts benefitted more from the three funny things intervention than introverts. For neuroticism and psychoticism no moderation effects were found. For sense of humor, no moderating effects were found for the effectiveness of the five humor-based interventions tested in Study 2. However, changes in sense of humor from pretest to the 1-month follow-up predicted changes in happiness and depressive symptoms. Taking a closer look, the playful attitude- and sense of humor-subscales predicted changes in happiness and depression for up to 6 months. Overall, moderating effects for personality (i.e., extraversion) were found, but none for sense of humor at baseline. However, increases in sense of humor during and after the intervention were associated with the interventions�

Who Benefits From Humor-Based Positive Psychology Interventions? The Moderating Effects of Personality Traits and Sense of Humor.

PubMed

Wellenzohn, Sara; Proyer, René T; Ruch, Willibald

2018-01-01

The evidence for the effectiveness of humor-based positive psychology interventions (PPIs; i.e., interventions aimed at enhancing happiness and lowering depressive symptoms) is steadily increasing. However, little is known about who benefits most from them. We aim at narrowing this gap by examining whether personality traits and sense of humor moderate the long-term effects of humor-based interventions on happiness and depressive symptoms. We conducted two placebo-controlled online-intervention studies testing for moderation effects. In Study 1 ( N = 104) we tested for moderation effects of basic personality traits (i.e., psychoticism, extraversion, and neuroticism) in the three funny things intervention, a humor-based PPI. In Study 2 ( N = 632) we tested for moderation effects of the sense of humor in five different humor-based interventions. Happiness and depressive symptoms were assessed before and after the intervention, as well as after 1, 3, and 6 months. In Study 2, we assessed sense of humor before and 1 month after the intervention to investigate if changes in sense of humor go along with changes in happiness and depressive symptoms. We found moderating effects only for extraversion. Extraverts benefitted more from the three funny things intervention than introverts. For neuroticism and psychoticism no moderation effects were found. For sense of humor, no moderating effects were found for the effectiveness of the five humor-based interventions tested in Study 2. However, changes in sense of humor from pretest to the 1-month follow-up predicted changes in happiness and depressive symptoms. Taking a closer look, the playful attitude- and sense of humor-subscales predicted changes in happiness and depression for up to 6 months. Overall, moderating effects for personality (i.e., extraversion) were found, but none for sense of humor at baseline. However, increases in sense of humor during and after the intervention were associated with the interventions

Hope, Laughter, and Humor in Residents and Staff at an Assisted Living Facility.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Westburg, Nancy G.

2003-01-01

Assesses and compares hope levels and laughter and humor experiences of 24 elderly residents and 21 staff at an assisted living facility. Residents and staff reported numerous benefits from humor and laughing, but differences arose between the two groups about the source and frequency of humor and laughter. Implications for mental health…

Investigating the Effect of Humor Communication Skills Training on Pro-Social and Anti-Social Humor Styles, Cognitive Learning, Self-Efficacy, Motivation, and Humor Use

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vela, Lori E.

2013-01-01

Humor is an important aspect of interpersonal interactions as it is linked to the development and maintenance of relationships (Merolla, 2006). The purpose of this dissertation was to test the effect of a humor communication skills training program on the ability to minimize anti-social humor (i.e., aggressive, self-defeating) and enhance…

Humor and Its Relationship to Needs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Breme, Frederick Jay

In this exploratory study of humor, it was hypothesized that responses to humorous material are related to each person's needs. Form B of the IPAT Humor Test of Personality and the Stern Activities Index were administered to 276 volunteer college students as measures of humor preference and needs, respectively. The results of the study suggest…

Neural correlates of humor detection and appreciation.

PubMed

Moran, Joseph M; Wig, Gagan S; Adams, Reginald B; Janata, Petr; Kelley, William M

2004-03-01

Humor is a uniquely human quality whose neural substrates remain enigmatic. The present report combined dynamic, real-life content and event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to dissociate humor detection ("getting the joke") from humor appreciation (the affective experience of mirth). During scanning, subjects viewed full-length episodes of the television sitcoms Seinfeld or The Simpsons. Brain activity time-locked to humor detection moments revealed increases in left inferior frontal and posterior temporal cortices, whereas brain activity time-locked to moments of humor appreciation revealed increases in bilateral regions of insular cortex and the amygdala. These findings provide evidence that humor depends critically upon extant neural systems important for resolving incongruities (humor detection) and for the expression of affect (humor appreciation).

The Relationship Between Humor Styles and Forgiveness

PubMed Central

Hampes, William

2016-01-01

Research has shown that a factor in a victim’s forgiveness of an offender is the victim’s ability to make more positive, or at least less negative, attributions of the offender’s behavior and that perspective-taking can be a factor in facilitating that process. Self-enhancing humor has been found to be positively correlated with perspective-taking empathy and aggressive humor found to be negatively correlated with perspective-taking empathy. Therefore it was predicted that self-enhancing humor would be positively correlated with forgiveness and aggressive humor negatively correlated with forgiveness. The Humor Styles Questionnaire, the Absence of Negative and Presence of Positive subscales of the Forgiveness Scale, and the Forgiveness Likelihood Scale were administered to 112 college undergraduates. Self-enhancing humor was significantly and positively correlated with all of the forgiveness measures, aggressive humor and self-defeating humor were significantly and negatively correlated with some of the forgiveness measures and affiliative humor was not significantly correlated with any of the forgiveness measures. The results were interpreted in terms of previous findings for humor styles, perspective-taking empathy, depression, self-esteem and anxiety. Future research involving the extent to which other personality variables, such as perspective-taking empathy, mediate the relationship between self-enhancing humor and forgiveness was suggested. PMID:27547252

Using Humor in Physical Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barney, David; Christenson, Robert

2013-01-01

Humor can be extremely beneficial in everyday life, whether giving or receiving it. It can be used to lighten the mood, give encouragement, or make corrections. Humor in physical education is no exception. Physical educators can use humor as a teaching tool and to create an environment for students to acquire the knowledge to practice a lifetime…

Psychometric Comparisons of Benevolent and Corrective Humor across 22 Countries: The Virtue Gap in Humor Goes International

PubMed Central

Heintz, Sonja; Ruch, Willibald; Platt, Tracey; Pang, Dandan; Carretero-Dios, Hugo; Dionigi, Alberto; Argüello Gutiérrez, Catalina; Brdar, Ingrid; Brzozowska, Dorota; Chen, Hsueh-Chih; Chłopicki, Władysław; Collins, Matthew; Ďurka, Róbert; Yahfoufi, Najwa Y. El; Quiroga-Garza, Angélica; Isler, Robert B.; Mendiburo-Seguel, Andrés; Ramis, TamilSelvan; Saglam, Betül; Shcherbakova, Olga V.; Singh, Kamlesh; Stokenberga, Ieva; Wong, Peter S. O.; Torres-Marín, Jorge

2018-01-01

Recently, two forms of virtue-related humor, benevolent and corrective, have been introduced. Benevolent humor treats human weaknesses and wrongdoings benevolently, while corrective humor aims at correcting and bettering them. Twelve marker items for benevolent and corrective humor (the BenCor) were developed, and it was demonstrated that they fill the gap between humor as temperament and virtue. The present study investigates responses to the BenCor from 25 samples in 22 countries (overall N = 7,226). The psychometric properties of the BenCor were found to be sufficient in most of the samples, including internal consistency, unidimensionality, and factorial validity. Importantly, benevolent and corrective humor were clearly established as two positively related, yet distinct dimensions of virtue-related humor. Metric measurement invariance was supported across the 25 samples, and scalar invariance was supported across six age groups (from 18 to 50+ years) and across gender. Comparisons of samples within and between four countries (Malaysia, Switzerland, Turkey, and the UK) showed that the item profiles were more similar within than between countries, though some evidence for regional differences was also found. This study thus supported, for the first time, the suitability of the 12 marker items of benevolent and corrective humor in different countries, enabling a cumulative cross-cultural research and eventually applications of humor aiming at the good. PMID:29479326

sCD44 overexpression increases intraocular pressure and aqueous outflow resistance

PubMed Central

Giovingo, Michael; Nolan, Michael; McCarty, Ryan; Pang, Iok-Hou; Clark, Abbot F.; Beverley, Rachel M.; Schwartz, Steven; Stamer, W. Daniel; Walker, Loyal; Grybauskas, Algis; Skuran, Kevin; Kuprys, Paulius V.; Yue, Beatrice Y.J.T.

2013-01-01

Purpose CD44 plays major roles in multiple physiologic processes. The ectodomain concentration of the CD44 receptor, soluble CD44 (sCD44), is significantly increased in the aqueous humor of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). The purpose of this study was to determine if adenoviral constructs of CD44 and isolated 32-kDa sCD44 change intraocular pressure (IOP) in vivo and aqueous outflow resistance in vitro. Methods Adenoviral constructs of human standard CD44 (Ad-CD44S), soluble CD44 (Ad-sCD44), and empty viral cDNA were injected into the vitreous of BALB/cJ mice, followed by serial IOP measurements. Overexpression of CD44S and sCD44 was verified in vitro by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blot analysis. Anterior segments of porcine eyes were perfused with the isolated sCD44. sCD44-treated human trabecular meshwork (TM) cells and microdissected porcine TM were examined by confocal microscopy and Optiprep density gradient with western blot analysis to determine changes in lipid raft components. Results Intravitreous injection of adenoviral constructs with either Ad-CD44S or Ad-sCD44 vectors caused prolonged ocular hypertension in mice. Eight days after vector injection, Ad-CD44S significantly elevated IOP to 28.3±1.2 mmHg (mean±SEM, n=8; p<0.001); Ad-sCD44 increased IOP to 18.5±2.6 mmHg (n=8; p<0.01), whereas the IOP of uninjected eyes was 12.7±0.2 mmHg (n=16). The IOP elevation lasted more than 50 days. Topical administration of a γ-secretase inhibitor normalized Ad-sCD44-induced elevated IOP. sCD44 levels were significantly elevated in the aqueous humor of Ad-CD44S and Ad-sCD44 eyes versus contralateral uninjected eyes (p<0.01). Anterior segment perfusion of isolated 32-kDa sCD44 significantly decreased aqueous outflow rates. Co-administration of isolated sCD44 and CD44 neutralizing antibody or of γ-secretase inhibitor significantly enhanced flow rates. sCD44-treated human TM cells displayed cross-linked actin network formation

Short-term improvement of erectile dysfunction by viewing humorous films in patients with atopic dermatitis.

PubMed

Kimata, Hajime

2008-09-01

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by eczema, pruritus and cutaneous hyperreactivity to allergic triggers. We and others have reported that psychogenic stress aggravates these symptoms, while viewing humorous films alleviates them. We have also found that many AD patients suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED). ED exhibits multifactorial etiologies, including psychogenic stress and reduction of serum testosterone levels. This study assessed the effects of viewing humorous films on ED in patients with AD. The effects of viewing humorous films on International Index Erectile Function (IIEF) domain (erectile function, orgasmic function, sexual desire, intercourse satisfaction, overall satisfaction) were studied. Subjects comprised 36 AD patients with ED and their healthy wives. Randomly assigned 18 patients and their healthy wives first viewed humorous films on three consecutive days (Days 1-3). After 2 weeks, they viewed control nonhumorous weather information films on three consecutive days (Days 1-3). Alternatively, other 18 patients and their wives first viewed control films on three consecutive days, and after 2 weeks they viewed humorous films on three consecutive days. Severity of ED and serum testosterone and estradiol levels were assessed 1 day before viewing (Day -1) and 1-4 days after viewing (Days 4-7). Viewing humorous films significantly improved the IIEF domain in association with increased serum testosterone levels and decreased serum estradiol levels on Day 4, while viewing control films failed to do so. However, this effect was short-term. After 4 days of viewing (Day 7), no improvement in ED or modulation of serum sex hormone levels was observed. Viewing humorous films improved ED in AD patients in association with increased serum testosterone levels and decreased serum estradiol levels. These results may be useful for the study and treatment of ED.

Oxidative/Nitrosative Stress and Protein Damages in Aqueous Humor of Hyperglycemic Rabbits: Effects of Two Oral Antidiabetics, Pioglitazone and Repaglinide

PubMed Central

Gumieniczek, Anna; Owczarek, Beata; Pawlikowska, Bernadeta

2012-01-01

The present study was undertaken to determine oxidative/nitrosative stress in aqueous humor of alloxan-induced hyperglycemic rabbits and to investigate the effects of two oral antidiabetic drugs, pioglitazone from peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonists and repaglinide from nonsulfonylurea KATP channel blockers. Ascorbic acid (AA), glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant status (TAS), lipid peroxidation products (LPO), total nitrites (NO2), advanced oxidized protein products (AOPP), and protein carbonyl groups (PCG) were determined using respective colorimetric and ELISA methods. In our hyperglycemic animals, AA decreased by 77%, GSH by 45%, and TAS by 66% as compared to control animals. Simultaneously, LPO increased by 78%, PCG by 60%, AOPP by 84%, and NO2 by 70%. In pioglitazone-treated animals, AA and TAS increased above control values while GSH and PCG were normalized. In turn, LPO was reduced by 54%, AOPP by 84%, and NO2 by 24%, in relation to hyperglycemic rabbits. With repaglinide, AA and TAS were normalized, GSH increased by 20%, while LPO decreased by 45%. Our results show that pioglitazone and repaglinide differ significantly in their ability to ameliorate the parameters like NO2, PCG, and AOPP. In this area, the multimodal action of pioglitazone as PPARγ agonist is probably essential. PMID:22474428

Humor in the Classroom: The Effects of Integrated Humor on Student Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bolkan, San; Griffin, Darrin J.; Goodboy, Alan K.

2018-01-01

This study was conducted to examine the impact of integrated humor on direct measures of students' ability to retain and transfer information from educational lessons. In two experiments, participants were randomly exposed to either a lesson with humorous examples or standard examples and were subsequently asked to take tests on the material. Data…

Anterior Segment Alterations and Comparative Aqueous Humor Proteomics in the Buphthalmic Rabbit (An American Ophthalmological Society Thesis)

PubMed Central

Edward, Deepak P.; Bouhenni, Rachida

2011-01-01

Purpose To use an integrated proteohistologic approach to gain insight into the anterior segment alterations in the buphthalmic rabbit. Methods Eyes from 2- and 5-year-old buphthalmic and normal rabbits (n=20) were studied histologically. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) of aqueous humor (AH) was used to determine differential protein expression between animal groups. Western blot and immunohistochemistry were performed on selected differentially expressed proteins identified by LC-MS/MS. Results The buphthalmic rabbits manifested a mild clinical phenotype with typical angle anomalies that appeared progressive by histology. Significantly thickened Descemet’s membrane (DM) and anterior lens capsule in all buphthalmic rabbits showed increased fibronectin and collagen-IV immunolabeling. LC-MS/MS applying stringent filtering criteria revealed significant differential expression of several AH proteins in these rabbits. The protein of interest in the 2-year-old group was histidine-rich glycoprotein, and those in the 5-year-old group included alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein, clusterin, apolipoprotein E, interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein, transthyretin, cochlin, gelsolin, haptoglobin, hemopexin, and beta-2 microglobulin. The proteomic data for selected proteins was validated by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. A wide range of functional groups were affected by the altered AH proteins. These included extracellular matrix modulation, regulation of apoptosis, oxidative stress, and protein transport. Conclusions Multiple anterior segment alterations were histologically identified in the buphthalmic rabbits that showed progressive changes with age. The differentially expressed AH proteins in these rabbits suggest a multifunctional role for AH in modulating pathologic changes in DM, anterior lens capsule, and the angular meshwork in these animals. PMID:22253484

Using humor in systematic desensitization to reduce fear.

PubMed

Ventis, W L; Higbee, G; Murdock, S A

2001-04-01

Effectiveness of systematic desensitization for fear reduction, using humorous hierarchy scenes without relaxation, was tested. Participants were 40 students highly fearful of spiders. Using a 24-item behavioral approach test with an American tarantula, participants were matched on fear level and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups: (a) systematic desensitization, (b) humor desensitization, and (c) untreated controls. Each participant was seen for 6 sessions, including pretest and posttest. Analyses of covariance of posttest scores revealed that the 2 treatment groups showed greater reduction in fear than the controls on 3 measures but did not differ from each other. Therefore, humor in systematic desensitization reduced fear as effectively as more traditional desensitization. This finding may have therapeutic applications; however, it may also be applicable in advertising to desensitize fear of a dangerous product, such as cigarettes.

Humor in Autism and Asperger Syndrome

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lyons, Viktoria; Fitzgerald, Michael

2004-01-01

Research has shown that individuals with autism and Asperger syndrome are impaired in humor appreciation, although anecdotal and parental reports provide some evidence to the contrary. This paper reviews the cognitive and affective processes involved in humor and recent neurological findings. It examines humor expression and understanding in…

Mathematical modeling the radiation effects on humoral immunity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smirnova, O.

One of the biological processes affecting the carcinogenesis is a response of humoral immune system to an antigen of malignant cells. Humoral immunity involves the production of protein molecules, antibodies, which can specifically bind to a certain antigen. This body system is radiosensitive. Therefore when simulating the radiation carcinogenesis, it is important to take into account the radiation effects on humoral immunity. To this end, a model of humoral immune response in irradiated mammals is developed. It is based on conventional theories and experimental facts. The model represents a system of nonlinear differential equations whose variables are the concentrations of antigen-sensitive immuno-competent cells carrying surface receptors and their bone-marrow precursor cells, as well as the concentrations of antibody-producing cells, antibodies, and an antigen. The dose of acute exposure and the dose rate of chronic exposure are the variable parameters in our approach. The model quantitatively reproduces the dynamics of the humoral immune response to the T-independent antigen (capsular antigen of Pasteurella pestis) in nonirradiated mammals (CBA mice). The model simulates the processes of the damage and recovery of the system of humoral immunity after acute exposure and predicts an adaptation of this system to low-level long-term chronic irradiation. These results give evidence that the developed model, after the appropriate identification, can be incorporated into a model of radiation carcinogenesis in humans. Together with a model of cellular immunity, such joined model will give capability to estimate the risk of radiation carcinogenesis for cosmonauts and astronauts on long space missions such as a voyage to Mars or a lunar colony.

Does Humor Explain Why Relationally Aggressive Adolescents Are Popular?

PubMed Central

Bowker, Julie C.; Etkin, Rebecca G.

2013-01-01

The association between relational aggression and popularity during early adolescence is well established. Yet, little is known about why, exactly, relationally aggressive young adolescents are able to achieve and maintain high popular status among peers. The present study investigated the mediating role of humor in the association between relational aggression and popularity during early adolescence. Also considered was whether the association between relational aggression and humor varies according to adolescents’ gender and their friends’ levels of relational aggression. Participants were 265 sixth-grade students (48% female; 41% racial/ethnic minority; Mage = 12.04 years) who completed peer nomination and friendship measures in their classrooms at two time points (Wave 1: February; Wave 2: May). The results indicated that Wave 1 relational aggression was related to Wave 1 and 2 popularity indirectly through Wave 1 humor, after accounting for the effects of Wave 1 physical aggression, ethnicity, and gender. Additional analyses showed that relational aggression and humor were related significantly only for boys and for young adolescents with highly relationally aggressive friends. The results support the need for further research on humor and aggression during early adolescence and other mechanisms by which relationally aggressive youth achieve high popular status. PMID:24136377

Sex differences in brain activation elicited by humor.

PubMed

Azim, Eiman; Mobbs, Dean; Jo, Booil; Menon, Vinod; Reiss, Allan L

2005-11-08

With recent investigation beginning to reveal the cortical and subcortical neuroanatomical correlates of humor appreciation, the present event-related functional MRI (fMRI) study was designed to elucidate sex-specific recruitment of these humor related networks. Twenty healthy subjects (10 females) underwent fMRI scanning while subjectively rating 70 verbal and nonverbal achromatic cartoons as funny or unfunny. Data were analyzed by comparing blood oxygenation-level-dependent signal activation during funny and unfunny stimuli. Males and females share an extensive humor-response strategy as indicated by recruitment of similar brain regions: both activate the temporal-occipital junction and temporal pole, structures implicated in semantic knowledge and juxtaposition, and the inferior frontal gyrus, likely to be involved in language processing. Females, however, activate the left prefrontal cortex more than males, suggesting a greater degree of executive processing and language-based decoding. Females also exhibit greater activation of mesolimbic regions, including the nucleus accumbens, implying greater reward network response and possibly less reward expectation. These results indicate sex-specific differences in neural response to humor with implications for sex-based disparities in the integration of cognition and emotion.

Increase in dermcidin-derived peptides in sweat of patients with atopic eczema caused by a humorous video.

PubMed

Kimata, Hajime

2007-01-01

Dermcidin (DCD)-derived peptide is an antimicrobial peptide produced by the sweat glands. However, the levels of DCD-derived peptide in sweat were decreased in patients with atopic eczema (AE). The effect of viewing a humorous video on the levels of DCD-derived peptide was studied. Twenty patients with AE viewed an 87-min humorous video (Modern Times, featuring Charlie Chaplin). Just before and immediately after viewing, sweat was collected, and the levels of DCD-derived peptide and total protein in sweat were measured. Viewing a humorous video increased the levels of DCD-derived peptide without affecting the levels of total protein in sweat. Viewing a humorous video increased DCD-derived peptide in sweat of patients with AE, and thus, it may be helpful in the treatment of skin infection of AE.

[Positive aspects of old ages - humor of seniors].

PubMed

Mareš, Jiří

2015-01-01

This survey study has five parts. In the first part two conceptual approaches to humor are characterized. One considers "the comic" to be an umbrella concept, and humor is only one of its rather positive forms. The other comes out from the umbrella concept "humor", and distinguishes between various forms of humor including the negative ones. Three main theories of humor are presented: theory of superiority, theory of incongruity, and a relief theory. The second part introduces humor in the elderly and draws the attention to the fact that we know relatively little about humor in old age because most research has been carried out in children, adolescents or adults in productive age. The third part of the study describes the process of diagnostics of humor in the elderly. For example, within the qualitative methods, in-depth interviews with seniors or analyses of their diary entries are used. Within quantitative methods, questionnaires are used, and this study presents the survey of seven most frequent ones applied in the studies of humor in the elderly. In the context of mixed methods, understanding of humor in young and seniors, or understanding of humor in relatively healthy seniors and seniors after stroke are compared. The fourth part of the study presents the Gelkopfs model on relationship between humor, treatment and cure of patients. The fifth part of the study demonstrates the options how to use humor to improve the mental state of the elderly (by means of individual or group interventions).

Humorous Relations: Attentiveness, Pleasure and Risk

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mayo, Cris

2014-01-01

This article focuses on the structures of humor and joke telling that require particular kinds of attentiveness and particular relationships between speaker and audience, or more specifically, between classmates. First, I will analyze the pedagogical and relational preconditions that are necessary for humor to work. If humor is to work well, the…

Humoral immune responses of experimentally Eimeria ninakholyakimovae-infected goat kids.

PubMed

Matos, Lorena; Muñoz, María Del Carmen; Molina, José Manuel; Ferrer, Otilia; Rodríguez, Francisco; Pérez, Davinia; López, Adassa María; Martín, Sergio; Hermosilla, Carlos; Taubert, Anja; Ruiz, Antonio

2017-04-01

Although cellular immune reactions seem to be crucial for protective immune responses in Eimeria spp. infections, there are also evidences on an active involvement of the humoral counterpart. In the present study, we have analyzed the humoral response of goat kids subjected to primary and challenge infections with Eimeria ninakholyakimovae. Specific levels of IgG and IgM in serum samples and IgA in the ileal mucus were estimated. In infected kids, significantly increased levels of IgG were observed from 3 weeks post infection onwards in addition to an enhancement of specific IgM and secretory IgA levels. A wide range of peptides of sporulated oocyst antigen (SOA) was recognized by specific IgG as determined by immunoblotting. However, no correlations were found between immunoglobulin levels and OPG counts after challenge infection. Overall, these data indicate a significant specific humoral response of E. ninakohlyakimovae-infected goat kids that does not seem to convey immunoprotection. Further studies should be addressed to clarify if the lack of correlation might be associated to the type of antigen used for the immunoenzimatic assays, the age of the animals or other factors. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Humor as aggression: effects of motivation on hostility expressed in humor appreciation.

PubMed

Weinstein, Netta; Hodgins, Holley S; Ostvik-White, Elin

2011-06-01

In 4 studies, the authors examined the hypothesis that relative to primed autonomy motivation, primed control would increase enjoyment of hostile (compared with nonhostile) humor as assessed by self-reported enjoyment and aversiveness and by nonverbal behavior. Results confirmed the hypothesis. Furthermore, initial state hostility moderated the effect such that high-hostility participants who were primed with control motivation especially enjoyed hostile humor. The 2 final studies showed that the effect was mediated by implicit aggression such that the combination of high initial state hostility and control priming led to implicit aggression, which in turn resulted in hostile humor enjoyment. Results are interpreted in terms of the effects of autonomy versus control motivation on intrapersonal self-regulatory processes, which influence interpersonal functioning. 2011 APA, all rights reserved

Humor styles moderate borderline personality traits and suicide ideation.

PubMed

Meyer, Neil A; Helle, Ashley C; Tucker, Raymond P; Lengel, Gregory J; DeShong, Hilary L; Wingate, LaRicka R; Mullins-Sweatt, Stephanie N

2017-03-01

The way individuals use humor to interact interpersonally has been associated with general personality, depression, and suicidality. Certain humor styles may moderate the risk for suicide ideation (SI) in individuals who are high in specific risk factors (e.g., thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness). Previous research suggests a relationship between humor styles and borderline personality disorder (BPD) and an increased risk of suicidality and suicide completion in individuals with BPD. Participants (n =176) completed measures of BPD traits, SI, and humor styles. It was hypothesized that BPD traits would be positively correlated with negative humor styles and negatively correlated with positive humor styles, and that humor styles would significantly moderate BPD traits and SI. Results showed that BPD traits were negatively correlated with self-enhancing humor styles and positively correlated with self-defeating humor styles, but that they were not significantly correlated with affiliative or aggressive humor styles. Bootstrapping analyses demonstrated that the affiliative, self-enhancing, and self-defeating humor styles significantly moderated BPD traits and SI, while the aggressive humor style did not. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Grieving With Humor: A Correlational Study on Sense of Humor and Professional Grief in Palliative Care Nurses.

PubMed

Robalo Nunes, Inês; José, Helena; Capelas, Manuel Luís

The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between humor and professional grief. Findings confirm that these are not independent phenomena. Using humor as a coping mechanism emerged as a response to death-related work. Likewise, positive attitudes toward humor seem to alleviate the distress associated with end-of-life care.

Humor, Philosophy and Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morreall, John

2014-01-01

This article begins by examining the bad reputation humor traditionally had in philosophy and education. Two of the main charges against humor--that it is hostile and irresponsible--are linked to the Superiority Theory. That theory is critiqued and two other theories of laughter are presented--the Relief Theory and the Incongruity Theory. In the…

Cytokine and chemokine profiles of aqueous humor and serum in horses with uveitis measured using multiplex bead immunoassay analysis.

PubMed

Curto, Elizabeth; Messenger, Kristen M; Salmon, Jacklyn H; Gilger, Brian C

2016-12-01

To determine whether horses with clinically diagnosed Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU) and those with Leptospirosis infection have a specific cytokine profile in their aqueous humor (AH) and serum that differs from horses with uveitis secondary to other ocular inflammatory processes and from horses with normal eyes. Twenty-five client-owned horses with uveitis that were presented to the North Carolina State University Ophthalmology Service, and four University-owned horses without history or clinical signs of ocular disease. Samples of AH and serum were obtained from horses with ERU (n=13), acute or non-recurrent uveitis (UV; n=7), uveitis secondary to infectious keratitis (IK; n=5), and normal eyes (N; n=4). Cytokine levels in AH and serum were quantified using a multiplex bead immunoassay. Leptospiral antibody titers in serum and AH and PCR for Leptospiral DNA in AH were performed. In the AH of horses with ERU, increased levels of IL-1a, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12p70, FGF-2, G-CSF, and RANTES were measured compared to UV, IK and N eyes, but the differences were not significant. However, IL-10 was significantly higher in ERU eyes compared to IK and N (P=0.029; 0.013), and IP-10 in ERU eyes was significantly higher than in UV and N (P=0.004). Furthermore, MCP-1 was significantly higher in ERU than N (P=0.04). In the serum, increased levels of IL-1a, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12p70, fractalkine, and G-CSF were measured in horses with ERU, but the levels were not significantly higher than those observed in UV, IK, or N horses. However, serum IP-10 levels in horses with ERU were significantly higher than in UV and N horses (P=0.005) and MCP-1 levels were significantly higher in ERU than N (P=0.03). Horses with marked ocular inflammation had significantly higher serum levels of G-CSF, IL-1a, fractalkine, IL-13, IL-4, IL-17a, IL-12p70, IFN-γ, and MCP-1. Elevated IL-10 in AH was significantly associated with disease chronicity, both overall and in ERU eyes (P=0.049), and in

Thermally labile components of aqueous humor potently induce osteogenic potential in adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells

PubMed Central

Morgan, Joshua T.; Kwon, Heung Sun; Wood, Joshua A.; Borjesson, Dori L.; Tomarev, Stanislav I.; Murphy, Christopher J.; Russell, Paul

2015-01-01

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) hold promise for use in cell-based therapies. Their intrinsic anti-inflammatory properties are potentially useful for treatments of inflammatory conditions such as uveitis, while their ability to differentiate along multiple cell lineages suggests use in regenerating damaged or degenerated tissue. However, how ASCs will respond to the intraocular environment is poorly studied. We have recently reported that aqueous humor (AH), the fluid that nourishes the anterior segment of the eye, potently increases alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of ASCs, indicating osteogenic differentiation. Here, we expand on our previous findings to better define the nature of this response. To this end, we cultured ASCs in the presence of 0, 5, 10, and 20% AH and assayed them for ALP activity. We found ALP activity correlates with increasing AH concentrations from 5 to 20%, and that longer treatments result in increased ALP activity. By using serum free media and pretreating AH with dextran-coated charcoal, we found that serum and charcoal-adsorbable AH components augment but are not required for this response. Further, by heat-treating the AH, we established that thermally labile components are required for the osteogenic response. Finally, we showed myocilin, a protein present in AH, could induce ALP activity in ASCs. However, this was to a lesser extent than untreated 5% AH, and myocilin could only partially rescue the effect after heat treatment, documenting there were additional thermally labile constituents of AH involved in the osteogenic response. Our work adds to the understanding of the induction of ALP in ASCs following exposure to AH, providing important insight in how ASCs will be influenced by the ocular environment. In conclusion, increased osteogenic potential upon exposure to AH represents a potential challenge to developing ASC cell-based therapies directed at the eye. PMID:25720657

Transport across Schlemm's canal endothelium and the blood-aqueous barrier.

PubMed

Braakman, Sietse T; Moore, James E; Ethier, C Ross; Overby, Darryl R

2016-05-01

The majority of trabecular outflow likely crosses Schlemm's canal (SC) endothelium through micron-sized pores, and SC endothelium provides the only continuous cell layer between the anterior chamber and episcleral venous blood. SC endothelium must therefore be sufficiently porous to facilitate outflow, while also being sufficiently restrictive to preserve the blood-aqueous barrier and prevent blood and serum proteins from entering the eye. To understand how SC endothelium satisfies these apparently incompatible functions, we examined how the diameter and density of SC pores affects retrograde diffusion of serum proteins across SC endothelium, i.e. from SC lumen into the juxtacanalicular tissue (JCT). Opposing retrograde diffusion is anterograde bulk flow velocity of aqueous humor passing through pores, estimated to be approximately 5 mm/s. As a result of this relatively large through-pore velocity, a mass transport model predicts that upstream (JCT) concentrations of larger solutes such as albumin are less than 1% of the concentration in SC lumen. However, smaller solutes such as glucose are predicted to have nearly the same concentration in the JCT and SC. In the hypothetical case that, rather than micron-sized pores, SC formed 65 nm fenestrae, as commonly observed in other filtration-active endothelia, the predicted concentration of albumin in the JCT would increase to approximately 50% of that in SC. These results suggest that the size and density of SC pores may have developed to allow SC endothelium to maintain the blood-aqueous barrier while simultaneously facilitating aqueous humor outflow. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Humor in psychiatric healing.

PubMed

Saper, B

1988-01-01

The oft-quoted aphorism that "laughter is the best medicine" is examined. Specifically, three big drops in the shower of claims regarding the benefits of humor in treating physical and mental disorders are evaluated. First, studies of the effects of mirth and laughter on the physiology of the body reveal both good and bad news. The meager evidence of the salutary effects of positive emotions on the cardiovascular, respiratory, immune and neuroendocrine systems, though apparently supportable on more or less scientific, rational and subjective grounds, needs much better verification from more extensive, replicable, and empirical research. Second, despite numerous claims, in the context of behavioral or psychosomatic medicine, that a joyful, optimistic, or humorous attitude can render a salubrious effect, almost to the extent of preventing illness and curing physical disease, the jury is still out and issuing dire warnings regarding too ready acceptance of this largely anecdotal evidence. Much careful "clinical trial" research needs to be mounted to determine the conditions under which humor works best, if at all. The type of patient, the kind of humor, the type and severity of illness, the psychosocial contexts-all of these factors should be considered. Third, the infusion of humor into psychotherapy is great news for some therapists and awful news for others. A number of more balanced approaches point up the probability that when mirth is incorporated into therapy judiciously, appropriately, and meaningfully it can be of value.

Sense of Humor Preferred

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barden, Dennis M.

2007-01-01

Humor is a powerful tool. It can disarm an adversary. It can leaven the purposefully self-aggrandizing nature of a job interview. Perhaps most important, it can serve as a window to personality in the same way that a resume is a window to experience. In this article, the author emphasizes the value of having a sense of humor. He emphasizes that it…

The German Version of the Humor Styles Questionnaire: Psychometric Properties and Overlap With Other Styles of Humor

PubMed Central

Ruch, Willibald; Heintz, Sonja

2016-01-01

The Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ; Martin et al., 2003) is one of the most frequently used questionnaires in humor research and has been adapted to several languages. The HSQ measures four humor styles (affiliative, self-enhancing, aggressive, and self-defeating), which should be adaptive or potentially maladaptive to psychosocial well-being. The present study analyzes the internal consistency, factorial validity, and factorial invariance of the HSQ on the basis of several German-speaking samples combined (total N = 1,101). Separate analyses were conducted for gender (male/female), age groups (16–24, 25–35, >36 years old), and countries (Germany/Switzerland). Internal consistencies were good for the overall sample and the demographic subgroups (.80–.89), with lower values obtained for the aggressive scale (.66–.73). Principal components and confirmatory factor analyses mostly supported the four-factor structure of the HSQ. Weak factorial invariance was found across gender and age groups, while strong factorial invariance was supported across countries. Two subsamples also provided self-ratings on ten styles of humorous conduct (n = 344) and of eight comic styles (n = 285). The four HSQ scales showed small to large correlations to the styles of humorous conduct (-.54 to .65) and small to medium correlations to the comic styles (-.27 to .42). The HSQ shared on average 27.5–35.0% of the variance with the styles of humorous conduct and 13.0–15.0% of the variance with the comic styles. Thus–despite similar labels–these styles of humorous conduct and comic styles differed from the HSQ humor styles. PMID:27547259

Exploring the Relationship between Humor and Aesthetic Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gordon, Mordechai

2012-01-01

The connection between humor and aesthetic experience has already been recognized by several thinkers and aesthetic educators. For instance, humor theorist John Morreall writes that "humor is best understood as itself a kind of aesthetic experience, equal in value at least to any other kind of aesthetic experience." For Morreall, both humor and…

Ocular Pharmacokinetics of Fluocinolone Acetonide Following Iluvien Implantation in the Vitreous Humor of Rabbits

PubMed Central

Kane, Frances E.

2015-01-01

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the systemic and ocular pharmacokinetics (PK) of fluocinolone acetonide (FAc) following administration of Iluvien® intravitreal implants. Methods: The FAc intravitreal implant was administered to rabbits in 3 doses (0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 μg/day). The concentration of FAc was measured by a validated liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method in plasma and ocular tissues at various time points through month 24. Results: Following administration of the 0.2 μg/day implant, FAc levels peaked in most tissues at day 2 or 8, reached approximate steady state levels by month 3 and very gradually decreased over the duration of the study. The FAc level in the aqueous humor was not measurable at most time points in the rabbit. FAc was still present in most ocular tissues at 2 years. The 0.5 and 1.0 μg/day dose groups followed the same pattern through month 9. The elimination half lives in the tissues for which it was measurable were greater than 83 days. Exposure to FAc was highest in the choroid/retinal pigment epithelium for all doses, followed by lens and retina. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate sustained delivery of FAc from the Iluvien intravitreal implant in the ocular tissue of rabbits. Retina and lens FAc levels with the Iluvien implant were approximately 1/10 those reported with the Retisert® implant. FAc levels in the aqueous were not measureable with Iluvien where they were measured for 12 months with Retisert. PMID:25562126

Laughing It Up: Native American Humor as Spiritual Tradition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garrett, Michael Tlanusta; Garrett, J. T.; Torres-Rivera, Edil; Wilbur, Michael; Roberts-Wilbur, Janice

2005-01-01

Native American humor is explored through a brief discussion of the current literature regarding the use of humor in counseling and descriptions of various forms and communication styles of Native humor as spiritual tradition. Implications for multicultural awareness in the use of humor and possible use of Native humor in counseling with Native…

A threshold theory of the humor response.

PubMed

Epstein, Robert; Joker, Veronica R

2007-01-01

The humor response has long been considered mysterious, and it is given relatively little attention in modern experimental psychology, in spite of the fact that numerous studies suggest that it has substantial benefits for mood and health. Existing theories of humor fail to account for some of the most basic humor phenomena. On most occasions when a humor response occurs, certain verbal or visual stimuli (the "setup" stimuli, which function as an establishing operation) must precede a critical stimulus (such as a "punch line" or the final panel or critical feature of a cartoon), which then occasions a sudden "revelation" or "understanding"; this revelation is often accompanied by the humor response. We suggest that the setup stimuli increase the strength of the revelatory response to a point just below the threshold of awareness and that the critical stimulus, properly designed and timed, edges the revelatory response to a point just above threshold. We also suggest that it is this threshold phenomenon that produces most instances of the humor response. We discuss these issues in the context of some notable humor of Carl Rogers and B. F. Skinner.

Counseling through the Funny Bone: Humor in Guidance.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Meredith

This paper examines the role that humor may play in guidance counseling. After a brief review of the literature on the physiology of laughter and the therapeutic effects of humor, the paper draws on past research to discuss the developmental stages of humor from infancy to late adolescence and adulthood, citing examples of the kinds of humor that…

That's not funny! - But it should be: effects of humorous emotion regulation on emotional experience and memory.

PubMed

Kugler, Lisa; Kuhbandner, Christof

2015-01-01

Previous research has shown that humorous reappraisal can reduce elicited negative emotions, suggesting that humor may be a functional strategy to cope with emotionally negative situations. However, the effect of humorous reappraisal on later memory about the emotion-eliciting situation is currently unknown, although this is crucial for more adaptive responding in future situations. To address this issue, we examined the effects of humorous reappraisal on both emotional experience and memory, compared to non-humorous rational reappraisal and a non-reappraisal control condition. Replicating previous findings, humorous reappraisal reduced evoked negative valence and arousal levels very effectively, and the down-regulation of experienced negative emotions was even more pronounced after humorous compared to rational reappraisal. Regarding later memory for emotion-eliciting stimuli, both humorous and rational reappraisal reduced free recall, but recognition memory was unaffected, with memory strength being stronger after humorous than after rational reappraisal. These results indicate that humor seems to be indeed an optimal strategy to cope with negative situations because humor can help us to feel better when confronted with negative stimuli, but still allows us to retrieve stimulus information later when afforded to do so by the presence of appropriate contextual features.

The effects of humor on memory for non-sensical pictures.

PubMed

Takahashi, Masanobu; Inoue, Tomoyoshi

2009-09-01

Two experiments investigated the effects of humor on memory for non-sensical pictures. Each picture was given three labels that differed in the degree of humor: high, low, and no humor labels. In Experiment 1, the humor of the picture labels was manipulated between participants. Participants were shown 30 pictures for 10s each and were asked to rate the degree of humor of each picture. After the rating task, participants were asked to draw the pictures in an unexpected memory test. Performance in the memory test was best in the high humor label group, followed by the low and the no humor label groups. In Experiment 2, intention to learn (incidental versus intentional encoding tasks) as well as humor label was manipulated between the participants. In the incidental learning condition, the high humor group performed better than the low humor group, but in the intentional learning condition, there was no humor effect. The effects of humor on picture memory were discussed in terms of appraisal processing within a distinctiveness framework.

Strategically Funny: Romantic Motives Affect Humor Style in Relationship Initiation.

PubMed

DiDonato, Theresa E; Jakubiak, Brittany K

2016-08-01

Not all humor is the same, yet little is known about the appeal of specific humor styles in romantic initiation. The current experimental study addresses this gap by investigating how romantic motives (short-term or long-term) affect individuals' anticipated use of, and response to, positive humor and negative humor. Heterosexual participants (n = 224) imagined the pursuit of either a desired short-term or long-term relationship, indicated the extent to which they would produce positive and negative humor, and reported how their own interest would change in response to the imaginary target's use of positive or negative humor. Results revealed that individuals are strategic in their humor production as a function of relational motives. Individuals produced positive humor in both contexts but limited their use of negative humor when pursuing a long-term relationship. The target's positive humor increased individuals' attraction, especially women's, and although negative humor boosted attraction, it did not boost attraction more for short-term than long-term relationships. Findings extend a trait-indicator model of humor and their implications are discussed in light of other theoretical perspectives.

Can the use of humor in psychotherapy be taught?

PubMed

Valentine, Lisa; Gabbard, Glen O

2014-02-01

Despite an abundance of literature detailing the potential benefits of the use of humor in therapy, humor is rarely taught to psychiatric residents as a method of therapeutic intervention. This communication attempts to explain how current understanding of attachment theory and neuroscience may assist psychiatric faculty and supervisors in their teaching of humorous therapeutic interventions. This article reviews and synthesizes the extant literature on the use of humor, as well as recent work in neuroscience, attachment theory, and mentalization. Humor can be conceptualized as an instance of implicit relational knowing and may thus contribute significantly to the therapeutic action of psychotherapy as a subcategory of "moments of meeting" between therapist and patient. However, training residents to use humor in psychotherapy requires more individualized attention in supervision and classroom seminars. Factors such as individual proclivities for humorous repartee, mentalizing capacity, and an authentic interest in adding humor to the session may be necessary to incorporate spontaneous humor into one's technique. New findings from the areas of attachment theory, neuroscience, and right-hemisphere learning are providing potential opportunities for sophisticated teaching of the use of humor in psychotherapy.

Humor in the Workplace: A Communication Challenge.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vartabedian, Robert A.; Vartabedian, Laurel Klinger

This paper examines some of the various findings contained in the current literature on humor in the workplace. In recent years, the communicative role of humor in the workplace has received attention--particularly in management-related publications. Consequently, the paper explores the emergence of humor as a management tool and the advantages…

The Scoop on Good Humor.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pieper, Gail W.

1987-01-01

Recommends teaching about the uses of humor in technical writing classes by using computer user manuals. Suggests that humor has a place in technical communication, particularly in computer manuals, where new users' apprehension must be reduced, heavy technical points need clarification, and warnings and cautions should be reinforced. (SKC)

Linguistic Features of Humor in Academic Writing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Skalicky, Stephen; Berger, Cynthia M.; Crossley, Scott A.; McNamara, Danielle S.

2016-01-01

A corpus of 313 freshman college essays was analyzed in order to better understand the forms and functions of humor in academic writing. Human ratings of humor and wordplay were statistically aggregated using Factor Analysis to provide an overall "Humor" component score for each essay in the corpus. In addition, the essays were also…

Altered Sense of Humor in Dementia

PubMed Central

Clark, Camilla N.; Nicholas, Jennifer M.; Gordon, Elizabeth; Golden, Hannah L.; Cohen, Miriam H.; Woodward, Felix J.; Macpherson, Kirsty; Slattery, Catherine F.; Mummery, Catherine J.; Schott, Jonathan M.; Rohrer, Jonathan D.; Warren, Jason D.

2015-01-01

Sense of humor is potentially relevant to social functioning in dementias, but has been little studied in these diseases. We designed a semi-structured informant questionnaire to assess humor behavior and preferences in patients with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD; n = 15), semantic dementia (SD; n = 7), progressive nonfluent aphasia (PNFA; n = 10), and Alzheimer’s disease (AD; n = 16) versus healthy age-matched individuals (n = 21). Altered (including frankly inappropriate) humor responses were significantly more frequent in bvFTD and SD (all patients) than PNFA or AD (around 40% of patients). All patient groups liked satirical and absurdist comedy significantly less than did healthy controls. This pattern was reported premorbidly for satirical comedy in bvFTD, PNFA, and AD. Liking for slapstick comedy did not differ between groups. Altered sense of humor is particularly salient in bvFTD and SD, but also frequent in AD and PNFA. Humor may be a sensitive probe of social cognitive impairment in dementia, with diagnostic, biomarker and social implications. PMID:26444779

An Explanation of the Relationship between Instructor Humor and Student Learning: Instructional Humor Processing Theory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wanzer, Melissa B.; Frymier, Ann B.; Irwin, Jeffrey

2010-01-01

This paper proposes the Instructional Humor Processing Theory (IHPT), a theory that incorporates elements of incongruity-resolution theory, disposition theory, and the elaboration likelihood model (ELM) of persuasion. IHPT is proposed and offered as an explanation for why some types of instructor-generated humor result in increased student…

A Threshold Theory of the Humor Response

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Epstein, Robert; Joker, Veronica R.

2007-01-01

The humor response has long been considered mysterious, and it is given relatively little attention in modern experimental psychology, in spite of the fact that numerous studies suggest that it has substantial benefits for mood and health. Existing theories of humor fail to account for some of the most basic humor phenomena. On most occasions when…

Humor and laughter in patients with cerebellar degeneration.

PubMed

Frank, B; Propson, B; Göricke, S; Jacobi, H; Wild, B; Timmann, D

2012-06-01

Humor is a complex behavior which includes cognitive, affective and motor responses. Based on observations of affective changes in patients with cerebellar lesions, the cerebellum may support cerebral and brainstem areas involved in understanding and appreciation of humorous stimuli and expression of laughter. The aim of the present study was to examine if humor appreciation, perception of humorous stimuli, and the succeeding facial reaction differ between patients with cerebellar degeneration and healthy controls. Twenty-three adults with pure cerebellar degeneration were compared with 23 age-, gender-, and education-matched healthy control subjects. No significant difference in humor appreciation and perception of humorous stimuli could be found between groups using the 3 Witz-Dimensionen Test, a validated test asking for funniness and aversiveness of jokes and cartoons. Furthermore, while observing jokes, humorous cartoons, and video sketches, facial expressions of subjects were videotaped and afterwards analysed using the Facial Action Coding System. Using depression as a covariate, the number, and to a lesser degree, the duration of facial expressions during laughter were reduced in cerebellar patients compared to healthy controls. In sum, appreciation of humor appears to be largely preserved in patients with chronic cerebellar degeneration. Cerebellar circuits may contribute to the expression of laughter. Findings add to the literature that non-motor disorders in patients with chronic cerebellar disease are generally mild, but do not exclude that more marked disorders may show up in acute cerebellar disease and/or in more specific tests of humor appreciation.

Microbead-induced ocular hypertensive mouse model for screening and testing of aqueous production suppressants for glaucoma.

PubMed

Yang, Qiang; Cho, Kin-Sang; Chen, Huihui; Yu, Dekuang; Wang, Wan-Heng; Luo, Gang; Pang, Iok-Hou; Guo, Wenyi; Chen, Dong Feng

2012-06-20

To characterize the microbead-induced ocular hypertension (OHT) mouse model and investigate its potential use for preclinical screening and evaluation of ocular hypotensive agents, we tested the model's responses to major antiglaucoma drugs. Adult C57BL/6J mice were induced to develop OHT unilaterally by intracameral injection of microbeads. The effects of the most commonly used ocular hypotensive drugs, including timolol, brimonidine, brinzolamide, pilocarpine, and latanoprost, on IOP and glaucomatous neural damage were evaluated. Degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and optic nerve axons were quantitatively assessed using immunofluorescence labeling and histochemistry. Thickness of the ganglion cell complex (GCC) was also assessed with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). A microbead-induced OHT model promptly responded to drugs, such as timolol, brimonidine, and brinzolamide, that lower IOP through suppressing aqueous humor production and showed improved RGC and axon survival as compared to vehicle controls. Accordingly, SD-OCT detected significantly less reduction of GCC thickness in mice treated with all three aqueous production suppressants as compared to the vehicle contol-treated group. In contrast, drugs that increase aqueous outflow, such as pilocarpine and latanoprost, failed to decrease IOP in the microbead-induced OHT mice. Microbead-induced OHT mice carry dysfunctional aqueous outflow facility and therefore offer a unique model that allows selective screening of aqueous production suppressant antiglaucoma drugs or for studying the mechanisms regulating aqueous humor production. Our data set the stage for using GCC thickness assessed by SD-OCT as an imaging biomarker for noninvasive tracking of neuronal benefits of glaucoma therapy in this model.

Guidelines for developing and implementing humor in nursing classrooms.

PubMed

Ulloth, Joan Kay

2003-01-01

The three teachers in this study selected many types of humor to exemplify their points. To avoid predictability, they varied their humor presentation styles and frequency by using simple cartoons projected on a screen, jokes and stories, and songs and dance routines. All three teachers engaged in a continuous search for new material to further expand their repertoire. Careful not to overuse humor, they never lost sight of the learning objectives, but they added enough humor to sustain students' attention. The teachers gradually increased their use of classroom humor as they felt more comfortable with the content and setting. All of the students' and teachers' comments corroborate the conclusions reached by Bryant and Zillmann 1989), "It would appear that success in teaching with humor...depends on employing the right type of humor, under the proper conditions, at the right time, and with properly motivated and receptive students' (p. 74). Not all types of humor are appropriate for all teachers. However, for teachers who carefully invest time and effort into learning to teach with humor, the reward can be a successful and enjoyable experience for all involved.

A Pragmatic Study of Humor

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ibraheem, Sura Dhiaa; Abbas, Nawal Fadhil

2016-01-01

Linguistically speaking, the concept of humor, which seems to be vast for people, has specific dimensions by which it is generated including: puns, irony, sarcasm, wittiness, and contrastive utterances in relation to the speakers of those utterances. It is about how the extra linguistics elements dominate the situation and the delivery of humor.…

Differential effects of self-esteem and interpersonal competence on humor styles

PubMed Central

McCosker, Bernadette; Moran, Carmen C

2012-01-01

Background In contrast with an early implicit “facilitative hypothesis” of humor, a revised specificity hypothesis predicts that the benefits of humor depend on the specific style of humor used. Information on predictors of these humor styles in turn enhances the ability to predict the effect on well-being. Methods We examined the relationships between interpersonal competence, self-esteem, and different styles of humor, while also examining the contributions of age and gender. Participants (n = 201) aged 18–63 years completed the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory, the Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire, and the Humor Styles Questionnaire, and gave demographic information. Results High self-esteem was associated with higher use of affiliative, aggressive, and self-enhancing humor styles, but lower use of self-defeating humor. High interpersonal competence predicted greater use of affiliative humor, whereas low interpersonal competence predicted greater use of aggressive humor. Further analyses showed that initiation competence predicted affiliative humor (positively) but both initiation competence (positively) and conflict management competence (negatively) predicted aggressive humor. Conclusion The findings that both self-esteem and initiation competence contribute to use of aggressive humor add to knowledge of who is likely to use this potentially harmful humor style. We conclude that a readiness to initiate humorous interactions is not on its own a general and positive attribute contributing to “good” humor. PMID:23180973

[Biotoxic effects of aqueous humour-a unifying pathogenetic theory, based on certain hypothetic biotoxic factors in aqueus (author's transl)].

PubMed

Worst, J G

1975-09-01

A hypothesis is proposed attributing a number of biotoxic effects to aqueous humor (ABC equals Aqueous Biotoxic Complex). Under normal anatomical and physiological conditions aqueous humour is contained in the anterior and posterior chamber reservoir and the ABC effects remain silent because the boundaries of the aqueous humour reservoir are resistant to these biotoxic factors. These factors are biochemically undefined but fall in the category of collagenolysins and anti-vascular enzymes (Prostaglandins?). Outside the normal reservoir these biotoxic effects result in a specific pathology such as corneal edema, subconjunctival edema, lens fiber edema, macular edema, papilledema and chorioidal edema.

Some Humor in the Bible.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Woehlk, Heinz D.

The Bible contains a variety of literary genres including drama, tragedy, and epic poetry, and it is an excellent basis for character study. It also contains a certain amount of humor, which should not be overlooked by students of biblical literature. Examples of intentional humor include the second version of the creation, found in the second…

Humor Styles and Leadership Styles: Community College Presidents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carrica, Jennifer L.

2009-01-01

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between leadership styles (transformational, transactional, laissez-faire) and humor styles (affiliative, self-enhancing, aggressive, self-defeating) of community college presidents. Research has shown that humor and leadership styles are related and that humor may enhance interpersonal…

Does Humor Influence the Stigma of Mental Illnesses?

PubMed Central

Corrigan, Patrick W.; Powell, Karina J.; Fokuo, J. Konadu; Kosyluk, Kristin A.

2014-01-01

Public stigma is a barrier for people with mental illness. Humor may have the potential to decrease stigmatizing attitudes in the context of disclosure. Participants completed measures on stigmatizing attitudes and humor style and were then randomized to one of three conditions (self-disclosure comedy sketch, the same comedy sketch with no disclosure, and a control comedy sketch). After reviewing the comedy sketch, participants repeated the attitude measures and provided perceptions of the comic. Humor styles and perceptions significantly interacted with condition to reduce stigma. Perceptions of the self-disclosed comic were associated with reduced stigma. People exhibiting affiliative humor style (i.e., they enjoy making others laugh) were shown to have significantly greater stigma changes in the disclosed condition compared to the non-disclosed and control conditions. Affiliative humor endorsers also interacted with the non-disclosed condition suggesting that mental health comedy might generally reduce stigma in people who use humor to improve relationships. PMID:24727719

Adult Playfulness, Humor Styles, and Subjective Happiness.

PubMed

Yue, Xiao D; Leung, Chun-Lok; Hiranandani, Neelam A

2016-12-01

Playfulness has been referred to as a disposition that involves reframing a situation to amuse others and to make the situation more stimulating and enjoyable. It may serve to shift one's perspective when dealing with environmental threats. Despite all the benefits of playfulness towards psychological well-being, it remains a largely understudied subject in psychology, particularly in Chinese societies. Hence, this study examined the association between adult playfulness, humor styles, and subjective happiness among a sample of 166 university students in Hong Kong and 159 students in Guangzhou, who completed a self-administered questionnaire, including the Short Measure for Adult Playfulness, the Chinese Humor Styles Questionnaire, and the Subjective Happiness Scale. Results showed that adult playfulness was positively correlated with affiliative humor, self-enhancing humor, and subjective happiness in both Hong Kong and Guangzhou samples. By its implication, highly playful Chinese students preferred using affiliative and self-enhancing humor to amuse themselves and others. © The Author(s) 2016.

Getting the Joke: Insight during Humor Comprehension - Evidence from an fMRI Study.

PubMed

Tian, Fang; Hou, Yuling; Zhu, Wenfeng; Dietrich, Arne; Zhang, Qinglin; Yang, Wenjing; Chen, Qunlin; Sun, Jiangzhou; Jiang, Qiu; Cao, Guikang

2017-01-01

As a high-level cognitive activity, humor comprehension requires incongruity detection and incongruity resolution, which then elicits an insight moment. The purpose of the study was to explore the neural basis of humor comprehension, particularly the moment of insight, by using both characters and language-free cartoons in a functional magnetic resonance imaging study. The results showed that insight involving jokes elicited greater activation in language and semantic-related brain regions as well as a variety of additional regions, such as the superior frontal gyrus (SFG), the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), the middle temporal gyrus (MTG), the superior temporal gyrus (STG), the temporoparietal junctions (TPJ), the hippocampus and visual areas. These findings indicate that the MTG might play a role in incongruity detection, while the SFG, IFG and the TPJ might be involved in incongruity detection. The passive insight event elicited by jokes appears to be mediated by a limited number of brain areas. Our study showed that the brain regions associated with humor comprehension were not affected by the type of stimuli and that humor and insight shared common brain areas. These results indicate that one experiences a feeling of insight during humor comprehension, which contributes to the understanding of humor comprehension.

Humor, Laughter & Happiness in the Daily Lives of Recently Bereaved Spouses

PubMed Central

Lund, Dale A.; Utz, Rebecca; Caserta, Michael S.; de Vries, Brian

2008-01-01

The positive psychology movement has created more interest in examining the potential value of experiencing positive emotions (e.g. humor, laughter and happiness) during the course of bereavement. This study of 292 recently widowed (5-24 weeks) men (39%) and women (61%) age 50 and over examined both the perceived importance of and actual experience of having positive emotions in their daily lives and how they might impact bereavement adjustments. We found that most of the bereaved spouses rated humor and happiness as being very important in their daily lives and that they were also experiencing these emotions at higher levels than expected. Experiencing humor, laughter and happiness was strongly associated with favorable bereavement adjustments (lower grief and depression) regardless of the extent to which the bereaved person valued having these positive emotions. PMID:19227000

Do humorous preoperative teaching strategies work?

PubMed

Schrecengost, A

2001-11-01

Incorporating humor into preoperative teaching may improve patients' ability to recall pertinent instruction. This article describes a study in which an experimental, two-group, pretest/posttest design was used to determine whether there was a significant difference in the amount of knowledge patients recalled after receiving a teaching booklet either with (i.e., experimental) or without (i.e., control) humor. The sample included 50 patients undergoing open-heart surgery. Results indicate that there was no significant difference (F1, 48 = .07, P > .05) between the groups in the amount of knowledge gained related to postoperative pulmonary exercises. Both groups, however, had a statistically significant increase in the amount of knowledge gained from pretest to posttest (F1, 48 = 39.16, P < .05). Before humorous teaching strategies can be recommended for use in preoperative teaching, further research about the relationship between preoperative instruction, humor, and knowledge retention is necessary.

The Neural Correlates of Humor Creativity.

PubMed

Amir, Ori; Biederman, Irving

2016-01-01

Unlike passive humor appreciation, the neural correlates of real-time humor creation have been unexplored. As a case study for creativity, humor generation uniquely affords a reliable assessment of a creative product's quality with a clear and relatively rapid beginning and end, rendering it amenable to neuroimaging that has the potential for reflecting individual differences in expertise. Professional and amateur "improv" comedians and controls viewed New Yorker cartoon drawings while being scanned. For each drawing, they were instructed to generate either a humorous or a mundane caption. Greater comedic experience was associated with decreased activation in the striatum and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), but increased activation in temporal association regions (TMP). Less experienced comedians manifested greater activation of mPFC, reflecting their deliberate search through TMP association space. Professionals, by contrast, tend to reap the fruits of their spontaneous associations with reduced reliance on top-down guided search.

Humor and Anxiety: Effects on Class Test Performance.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Townsend, Michael A. R.; Mahoney, Peggy

1981-01-01

Measures of anxiety and achievement were obtained on a sample of undergraduate students. Highly anxious students had lower achievement on humorous tests. Students with low anxiety had higher achievement on humorous tests. Results indicate that humor is not a positive factor in reducing high anxiety associated with academic evaluations. (Author)

Humor in Context: Fire Service and Joking Culture

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moran, Larry; Roth, Gene

2013-01-01

Although theorizing about humor has occurred for several decades, scant research exists that examines humor in the broad context of human resource development. Humor exists in workplaces and it is historicized in the professional and organizational contexts of workers. This paper explores aspects of a joking culture within the specific work…

Humor in advertisements enhances product liking by mere association.

PubMed

Strick, Madelijn; van Baaren, Rick B; Holland, Rob W; van Knippenberg, Ad

2009-03-01

Humor in advertising is known to enhance product liking, but this attitude change is often considered nonpredictive of product choice. Previous research relied exclusively on explicit self-report measures to assess attitudes and purchase intentions. The present research shows that unobtrusive association of a product with humor can affect persuasion through implicit attitude change. Participants viewed humorous and nonhumorous cartoons in a mock-up magazine. One of two products was consistently presented in the vicinity of the humorous cartoons, whereas the other product was consistently presented in the vicinity of the nonhumorous cartoons. The results of an evaluative priming task showed enhanced evaluations of products paired with humor (Experiment 1, 2, and 3). Furthermore, these enhanced evaluations mediated the relation between association with humor and product choice (Experiment 2 and 3). Paradoxically, products paired with humor were also less recognized than the control products (Experiments 2 and 3). In summary, the present research demonstrates that mere association with humor enhances product evaluations and product choice in a way that is dissociated from the accessibility of the product in memory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved).

That’s not funny! – But it should be: effects of humorous emotion regulation on emotional experience and memory

PubMed Central

Kugler, Lisa; Kuhbandner, Christof

2015-01-01

Previous research has shown that humorous reappraisal can reduce elicited negative emotions, suggesting that humor may be a functional strategy to cope with emotionally negative situations. However, the effect of humorous reappraisal on later memory about the emotion-eliciting situation is currently unknown, although this is crucial for more adaptive responding in future situations. To address this issue, we examined the effects of humorous reappraisal on both emotional experience and memory, compared to non-humorous rational reappraisal and a non-reappraisal control condition. Replicating previous findings, humorous reappraisal reduced evoked negative valence and arousal levels very effectively, and the down-regulation of experienced negative emotions was even more pronounced after humorous compared to rational reappraisal. Regarding later memory for emotion-eliciting stimuli, both humorous and rational reappraisal reduced free recall, but recognition memory was unaffected, with memory strength being stronger after humorous than after rational reappraisal. These results indicate that humor seems to be indeed an optimal strategy to cope with negative situations because humor can help us to feel better when confronted with negative stimuli, but still allows us to retrieve stimulus information later when afforded to do so by the presence of appropriate contextual features. PMID:26379608

C4d-the witness of humoral rejection.

PubMed

de Gouveia, R H; Vitorino, E; Ramos, S; Rebocho, M J; Queirós E Melo, J; Martins, A P; Moura, M L C

2009-04-01

Acute antibody-mediated (humoral) rejection is a major cause of morbidity, graft loss, and mortality among heart transplant patients. Herein we have presented our experience using C4d to characterize humoral rejection. All nonformalin-fixed cardiac graft biopsies (protocol or emergency) received between May 2007 and May 2008 were examined by immunofluorescence for C4d. One hundred twelve endomyocardial biopsies from 25 transplanted patients included 20 males and 5 females of ages ranging from 3 to 71 years. The number of biopsies per subject varied from 1 to 11; the timespan between transplantation and the diagnostic biopsies ranged from days to 8 years. Thirteen biopsies showed acute humoral rejection (intramyocardial capillaries positive for C4d); 31, acute cellular rejection (grades 1R, 2R); 7, both humoral and cellular rejection; and 1, acute humoral rejection and allograft vasculopathy. Some of the positive biopsies belonged to the same person, and some to transplanted individuals with signs and symptoms suggestive of rejection, while others did not. The persistence of humoral rejection, despite the disappearance of a cellular component, correlated with slower clinicoechocardiographic improvement. C4d positivity is a morphologic sign of humoral rejection. It may hasten the appearance and/or worsening of allograft vasculopathy independent of patient age or posttransplantation time.

Elevated S100A8/A9 and S100A12 Serum Levels Reflect Intraocular Inflammation in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis-Associated Uveitis: Results From a Pilot Study.

PubMed

Walscheid, Karoline; Heiligenhaus, Arnd; Holzinger, Dirk; Roth, Johannes; Heinz, Carsten; Tappeiner, Christoph; Kasper, Maren; Foell, Dirk

2015-12-01

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis (JIAU) is the most common uveitis entity in childhood. As S100A8/A9 and S100A12 proteins are valuable biomarkers in childhood arthritis, we investigated the occurrence of these proteins in childhood uveitis. Serum samples from patients with JIAU (n = 79) or idiopathic anterior uveitis (IAU, n = 24), as well as from nonuveitic controls (n = 24), were collected. Furthermore, aqueous humor samples (JIAU n = 17, nonuveitic controls n = 16, IAU n = 12) were obtained. Samples were analyzed for S100A8/A9 and S100A12 protein levels by ELISA. Intergroup comparisons were performed, involving patient data, clinical data, and S100 levels. S100A8/A9 and S100A12 serum levels were elevated in IAU and JIAU patients as compared to nonuveitic controls (all P < 0.05). S100 serum levels in JIAU patients were higher in active arthritis (not significant; P = 0.289 for S100A8/A9 and P = 0.196 for S100A12) and active uveitis (P = 0.010 for S100A8/A9 and P = 0.026 for S100A12) than in controls. No significant differences in S100 levels were found in a subgroup analysis for sex, antinuclear antibody (ANA) status, disease duration, or presence of uveitis complications. In JIAU patients, S100 serum levels correlated with age and age at onset of uveitis. A longitudinal analysis in JIAU patients showed a correlation of serum S100A8/A9 and S100A12 levels with uveitis activity (both P = 0.03). S100A8/A9 levels in aqueous humor of patients with JIAU (P = 0.001) and IAU (P = 0.0002) were increased as compared to nonuveitic controls. Increased S100A8/A9 and S100A12 levels are found in the serum and aqueous humor of patients with autoimmune uveitis. Serum levels reflect activity of joint and eye disease.

The Neural Correlates of Humor Creativity

PubMed Central

Amir, Ori; Biederman, Irving

2016-01-01

Unlike passive humor appreciation, the neural correlates of real-time humor creation have been unexplored. As a case study for creativity, humor generation uniquely affords a reliable assessment of a creative product’s quality with a clear and relatively rapid beginning and end, rendering it amenable to neuroimaging that has the potential for reflecting individual differences in expertise. Professional and amateur “improv” comedians and controls viewed New Yorker cartoon drawings while being scanned. For each drawing, they were instructed to generate either a humorous or a mundane caption. Greater comedic experience was associated with decreased activation in the striatum and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), but increased activation in temporal association regions (TMP). Less experienced comedians manifested greater activation of mPFC, reflecting their deliberate search through TMP association space. Professionals, by contrast, tend to reap the fruits of their spontaneous associations with reduced reliance on top-down guided search. PMID:27932965

Short- and long-term effects on the ciliary body and the aqueous outflow pathways of high-intensity focused ultrasound cyclocoagulation.

PubMed

Aptel, Florent; Béglé, Aurélie; Razavi, Arash; Romano, Fabrice; Charrel, Thomas; Chapelon, Jean-Yves; Denis, Philippe; Lafon, Cyril

2014-09-01

Several physical methods can be used to coagulate the ciliary body and decrease intra-ocular pressure in patients with glaucoma. The study described here investigated the short- and long-term effects of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) cyclocoagulation on the aqueous humor production structures and outflow pathways. Thirty-four rabbit eyes were sonicated with a ring-shaped probe containing six miniaturized HIFU transducers. Light, scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy and corrosion casts were performed. In the affected regions, the epithelium of the ciliary processes was degenerated or necrotic and sloughed off. Examinations performed several months afterward revealed involution of the ciliary processes. Vascular corrosion cast revealed focal interruption of the ciliary body microvasculature. In most animals, a sustained fluid space was seen between the sclera, the ciliary body and the choroid, likely indicating an increase in the aqueous outflow by the uveoscleral pathway. These results suggest that HIFU cyclocoagulation has a dual effect on aqueous humor dynamics. Copyright © 2014 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Don't Smile before Christmas: The Role of Humor in Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wallinger, Linda Moody

1997-01-01

Humor can be a powerful, productive tool to help teachers succeed in the classroom. Humor cultivates spirit, alleviates stress, improves communication, and diffuses conflict. Reviews types of humor (satire, cheerfulness, eccentricity, and sarcasm), discusses humor's classroom uses and benefits, and shows how school leaders can introduce humor into…

Humor and Competence in School-aged Children.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Masten, Ann S.

1986-01-01

Measures humor appreciation (including mirth, subjective ratings, and response sets), comprehension, and production in children between the ages of 10 and 14. Relates humor to several areas of competence manifested at school. (HOD)

Cultures of (Un)happiness: Teaching, Schooling, and Light and Dark Humor

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bullough, Robert V., Jr.

2012-01-01

The author explores humor during a time of increasingly hostile accountability measures directed toward educators. Drawing on incongruity and other theories of humor, he explores both "light" and "dark" humor and some aspects of the educational potential and power of humor. Noting how humor is related to creativity and problem management, the…

Humorous Literature: A Doorway to Literacy.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fernandez, Melanie

Many theories have been developed to try to explain humor, among them, the social theory; psychoanalytic theories based on Freud; cognitive theories which identify stages corresponding to those of Piaget; and eclectic theories which combine elements of all the theories. The developmental stages of humor parallel the intellectual and emotional…

Humor drawings evoked temporal and spectral EEG processes

PubMed Central

Kuo, Hsien-Chu; Chuang, Shang-Wen

2017-01-01

Abstract The study aimed to explore the humor processing elicited through the manipulation of artistic drawings. Using the Comprehension–Elaboration Theory of humor as the main research background, the experiment manipulated the head portraits of celebrities based on the independent variables of facial deformation (large/small) and addition of affective features (positive/negative). A 64-channel electroencephalography was recorded in 30 participants while viewing the incongruous drawings of celebrities. The electroencephalography temporal and spectral responses were measured during the three stages of humor which included incongruity detection, incongruity comprehension and elaboration of humor. Analysis of event-related potentials indicated that for humorous vs non-humorous drawings, facial deformation and the addition of affective features significantly affected the degree of humor elicited, specifically: large > small deformation; negative > positive affective features. The N170, N270, N400, N600-800 and N900-1200 components showed significant differences, particularly in the right prefrontal and frontal regions. Analysis of event-related spectral perturbation showed significant differences in the theta band evoked in the anterior cingulate cortex, parietal region and posterior cingulate cortex; and in the alpha and beta bands in the motor areas. These regions are involved in emotional processing, memory retrieval, and laughter and feelings of amusement induced by elaboration of the situation. PMID:28402573

The cellular and humoral immunity assay in patients with complicated urolithiasis.

PubMed

Ceban, E; Banov, P; Galescu, A; Tanase, D

2017-01-01

Especially complicated, renal lithiasis contributes to the general inflammatory syndrome development that interferes with nonspecific, humoral and cellular immune system. The surgical treatment of nephrolithiasis is closely related to drug therapy of urinary infection, one of the reasons being the reduction of the immune status. The work is performed by evaluating the immunological status preoperatively in 58 patients with complicated lithiasis. The analysis of the status in these patients demonstrated that complicated urolithiasis results in significant changes in the immune system, these changes being expressed at the cellular and humoral level of immunity.

Burnout and Humor Usage among Community College Nursing Faculty Members.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Talbot, Laura A.

2000-01-01

Assesses the correlation of burnout among community college nursing faculty members and their use of humor to mediate academic stress related to burnout. Differences in burnout between high versus low humor usage respondents showed a higher sense of personal accomplishment with high humor usage. Of those with low humor usage, workload was related…

Exploratory Theoretical Tests of the Instructor Humor-Student Learning Link

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bolkan, San; Goodboy, Alan K.

2015-01-01

Instructors' use of humor is generally a positive influence on student outcomes. However, examinations of humor have found that specific types of messages may not impact, or may even reverse, its positive effect. Instructional humor processing theory (IHPT) has been used to explain how humor impacts student learning. The current study sought to…

Decoding Humor Experiences from Brain Activity of People Viewing Comedy Movies

PubMed Central

Sawahata, Yasuhito; Komine, Kazuteru; Morita, Toshiya; Hiruma, Nobuyuki

2013-01-01

Humans naturally have a sense of humor. Experiencing humor not only encourages social interactions, but also produces positive physiological effects on the human body, such as lowering blood pressure. Recent neuro-imaging studies have shown evidence for distinct mental state changes at work in people experiencing humor. However, the temporal characteristics of these changes remain elusive. In this paper, we objectively measured humor-related mental states from single-trial functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data obtained while subjects viewed comedy TV programs. Measured fMRI data were labeled on the basis of the lag before or after the viewer’s perception of humor (humor onset) determined by the viewer-reported humor experiences during the fMRI scans. We trained multiple binary classifiers, or decoders, to distinguish between fMRI data obtained at each lag from ones obtained during a neutral state in which subjects were not experiencing humor. As a result, in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the right temporal area, the decoders showed significant classification accuracies even at two seconds ahead of the humor onsets. Furthermore, given a time series of fMRI data obtained during movie viewing, we found that the decoders with significant performance were also able to predict the upcoming humor events on a volume-by-volume basis. Taking into account the hemodynamic delay, our results suggest that the upcoming humor events are encoded in specific brain areas up to about five seconds before the awareness of experiencing humor. Our results provide evidence that there exists a mental state lasting for a few seconds before actual humor perception, as if a viewer is expecting the future humorous events. PMID:24324656

Getting the Joke: Insight during Humor Comprehension – Evidence from an fMRI Study

PubMed Central

Tian, Fang; Hou, Yuling; Zhu, Wenfeng; Dietrich, Arne; Zhang, Qinglin; Yang, Wenjing; Chen, Qunlin; Sun, Jiangzhou; Jiang, Qiu; Cao, Guikang

2017-01-01

As a high-level cognitive activity, humor comprehension requires incongruity detection and incongruity resolution, which then elicits an insight moment. The purpose of the study was to explore the neural basis of humor comprehension, particularly the moment of insight, by using both characters and language-free cartoons in a functional magnetic resonance imaging study. The results showed that insight involving jokes elicited greater activation in language and semantic-related brain regions as well as a variety of additional regions, such as the superior frontal gyrus (SFG), the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), the middle temporal gyrus (MTG), the superior temporal gyrus (STG), the temporoparietal junctions (TPJ), the hippocampus and visual areas. These findings indicate that the MTG might play a role in incongruity detection, while the SFG, IFG and the TPJ might be involved in incongruity detection. The passive insight event elicited by jokes appears to be mediated by a limited number of brain areas. Our study showed that the brain regions associated with humor comprehension were not affected by the type of stimuli and that humor and insight shared common brain areas. These results indicate that one experiences a feeling of insight during humor comprehension, which contributes to the understanding of humor comprehension. PMID:29093693

Humor styles and personality: A meta-analysis of the relation between humor styles and the Big Five personality traits.

PubMed

Mendiburo-Seguel, Andrés; Páez, Darío; Martínez-Sánchez, Francisco

2015-06-01

This research summarizes the knowledge generated in social psychology and positive psychology about the relationship between humor styles, personality and wellbeing. Specifically, a meta-analysis was performed with the results of 15 studies on humor styles measured by the Humor Styles Questionnaire (Martin, Puhlik-Doris, Larsen, Gray & Weir, 2003) in correlation with the personality traits measured by the Big Five Personality model (measured with different scales). Following the steps presented by Rosenthal (1991) for meta-analysis in the case of correlational research, we calculated the total mean r as an indicator of effect size. Results show that affiliative humor has a strong and homogeneous relation to neuroticism and extraversion. The homogeneity and heterogeneity found between variables and possible explanations are discussed in the conclusion. © 2015 Scandinavian Psychological Associations and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Humor in Advertising: The Language Pun.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Seely, Jonathan

While it is fashionable to use the semantic pun in advertising (for example, the meaning extension in "dollars and sense"), a lot of this humor slips past the American reader; not only unintentional bloopers that get past the proofreader but also intentional puns that escape the audience. Advertising humor has other pitfalls as well--the…

A Contemporary Concept of the Blood-Aqueous Barrier

PubMed Central

Freddo, Thomas F.

2012-01-01

This review traces the evolution of the concept of the blood-aqueous barrier (BAB) during the past 20 years. The classical model simply stipulated that the tight junctions of the iris vasculature and ciliary epithelium excluded plasma proteins from the aqueous humor (AH). It failed to reconcile the presence of AH protein levels equal to 1% of that found in plasma. Moreover, models of barrier kinetics assumed that the processes of AH secretion and plasma protein entry were directly linked. Thus, elevations of AH protein levels could only be explained by a pathological breakdown of the BAB. Over the last 20 years it has been shown that the plasma proteins in normal AH by-pass the posterior chamber entirely. Instead, these proteins diffuse from the capillaries of ciliary body stroma, into the iris stroma and then into the anterior chamber. This creates a reservoir of plasma-proteins in the iris stroma that is not derived from the iris vessels. This reservoir is prevented from diffusing posteriorly by tight junctions in the posterior iris epithelium. The one-way valve created by the pupil resting on the anterior lens capsule, combined with the continuous, forward flow of AH through the pupil, prevents protein reflux into the posterior chamber. Importantly, in the new paradigm, secretion of AH and the entry of plasma proteins into AH, are semi-independent events. This opens the possibility that AH protein levels could increase in the absence of breakdown of the BAB. Clinical consequences of this new paradigm of the BAB are discussed. PMID:23128417

Use of Humorous Visuals To Enhance Computer-Based-Instruction.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Snetsinger, Wendy; Grabowski, Barbara

It was hypothesized that a visual strategy that incorporates a humorous theme and cartoons with humorous comments relevant to the content helps motivate students to focus on and retain computer-based instructional material. An experiment to assess this hypothesis was undertaken with 43 college students who received a humorous presentation on…

Differences in Aqueous Concentrations of Cytokines in Macular Edema Secondary to Branch and Central Retinal Vein Occlusion

PubMed Central

Feng, Jing; Zhao, Tong; Zhang, Yan; Ma, Yan; Jiang, Yanrong

2013-01-01

Purpose This study investigates the differential aqueous concentrations of interleukin 6, 8, 1β (IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, respectively), serum amyloid A (SAA), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in eyes with macular edema as a result of a branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) or central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Principal Findings Significantly higher concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, TGF-β, bFGF, SAA, and VEGF were found in the aqueous humor of CRVO and BRVO patients than in the aqueous humor of control patients. A significant correlation was observed between the concentration of bFGF and the inner central macular thickness (CMT) of BRVO patients (r = 0.688; P = 0.02). A significant correlation was observed between the concentration of SAA and both the full and outer CMT of the ischemic group (r = 0.545 and 0.683, respectively; P = 0.04 and 0.01, respectively). In the non-ischemic group, the level of IL-6 was significantly associated with inner CMT (r = 0.560; P = 0.03). The full and outer CMT was significantly reduced in CRVO patients when compared with BRVO patients (P = 0.02 and 0.02, respectively) after injection of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) at 4 weeks. Significance Serum amyloid A as a major protein involved in the acute and chronic stages of inflammation, and IL-6 and bFGF were significantly associated with the extent of macular edema in patients with RVO. Besides VEGF, other inflammatory cytokines and angiogenesic factors may be associated with RVO. This finding may have implications for the medical treatment of RVO. PMID:23861862

Relations of humor with perceptions of stress.

PubMed

Mauriello, Matthew; McConatha, Jasmin Tahmaseb

2007-12-01

Humor has cognitive, emotional, and behavioral components but may be conceptualized as a multidimensional personality trait, comprised of both negative and positive dimensions and styles. Sense of humor may influence other evaluations of life, including perception of stress. Analysis of responses from 51 community adults and 131 undergraduates in psychology, nonrepresentative, random samples, indicated that styles of humor were correlated with self-perception of perceived stress; the largest correlations account for less than 50% of the common variance. Results are discussed in terms of their theoretical links to coping literature, potential for therapeutic interventions, and areas for research.

System-Wide Associations between DNA-Methylation, Gene Expression, and Humoral Immune Response to Influenza Vaccination.

PubMed

Zimmermann, Michael T; Oberg, Ann L; Grill, Diane E; Ovsyannikova, Inna G; Haralambieva, Iana H; Kennedy, Richard B; Poland, Gregory A

2016-01-01

Failure to achieve a protected state after influenza vaccination is poorly understood but occurs commonly among aged populations experiencing greater immunosenescence. In order to better understand immune response in the elderly, we studied epigenetic and transcriptomic profiles and humoral immune response outcomes in 50-74 year old healthy participants. Associations between DNA methylation and gene expression reveal a system-wide regulation of immune-relevant functions, likely playing a role in regulating a participant's propensity to respond to vaccination. Our findings show that sites of methylation regulation associated with humoral response to vaccination impact known cellular differentiation signaling and antigen presentation pathways. We performed our analysis using per-site and regionally average methylation levels, in addition to continuous or dichotomized outcome measures. The genes and molecular functions implicated by each analysis were compared, highlighting different aspects of the biologic mechanisms of immune response affected by differential methylation. Both cis-acting (within the gene or promoter) and trans-acting (enhancers and transcription factor binding sites) sites show significant associations with measures of humoral immunity. Specifically, we identified a group of CpGs that, when coordinately hypo-methylated, are associated with lower humoral immune response, and methylated with higher response. Additionally, CpGs that individually predict humoral immune responses are enriched for polycomb-group and FOXP2 transcription factor binding sites. The most robust associations implicate differential methylation affecting gene expression levels of genes with known roles in immunity (e.g. HLA-B and HLA-DQB2) and immunosenescence. We believe our data and analysis strategy highlight new and interesting epigenetic trends affecting humoral response to vaccination against influenza; one of the most common and impactful viral pathogens.

Those Who Laugh Are Defenseless: How Humor Breaks Resistance to Influence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Strick, Madelijn; Holland, Rob W.; van Baaren, Rick B.; van Knippenberg, Ad

2012-01-01

Three experiments illustrate that humor in advertisements prevents the development of negative brand associations due to resistance. Previous research on humor in advertising suggested that humor can counter negative responses during ad processing, but less is known about the effect of humor on the development of negative brand associations in…

Truly Funny: Humor, Irony, and Satire as Moral Criticism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dadlez, E. M.

2011-01-01

The occasional role of humor as a vehicle for moral criticism is investigated. I begin by distinguishing between this particular role and the other kinds of ways in which humor and amusement might be regarded through a moral lens, consider historical approaches to humor that corroborate the kind of role for it on which my investigation focuses,…

Humors Effect on Short-term Memory in Healthy and Diabetic Older Adults.

PubMed

Bains, Gurinder Singh; Berk, Lee S; Lohman, Everett; Daher, Noha; Petrofsky, Jerrold; Schwab, Ernie; Deshpande, Pooja

2015-01-01

increased by 12.6%, 16.7%, and 8.3%, respectively (P = .321). For levels of salivary cortisol, the research team found significant and borderline decreases for the humor group between baseline and (1) post-RAVLT1 (P = .047), (2) postvideo (P = .046), and (3) post-RAVLT2 (P = .062). The diabetic group showed significant decreases between baseline and (1) post-RAVLT1 (P = .047), (2) postvideo (P = .025), and (3) post-RAVLT2 (P = .034). The study found no significant changes for the control group. The research findings supported potential clinical and rehabilitative benefits for humor that can be applied to whole-person wellness programs for older adults. The cognitive components-learning ability and delayed recall-become more challenging as individuals age and are essential to older adults for providing a high quality of life: mind, body, and spirit. Because older adults can experience age-related memory deficits, complementary, enjoyable, and beneficial humor therapies should be implemented for them.

Humor, Emotional Empathy, Creativity and Cognitive Dissonance.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Forsyth, G. Alfred; Altermatt, Ellen R.; Forsyth, Peggy D.

The devaluation of racial, ethnic, or religious groups, sometimes disguised as humor, is a major contributor to violence and aggression against these groups. In an effort to understand this process, five factors of humor: negative ethnic stereotype jokes, play-on-word jokes, academic/social referent cartoons, gender/establishment jokes, and gross…

Spontaneous Humor among Right Hemisphere Stroke Survivors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Heath, R.L.; Blonder, L.X.

2005-01-01

We analyzed spontaneous conversational humor production and response among 11 right hemisphere-damaged (RHD) patients, 10 left hemisphere-damaged (LHD) patients, 7 normal controls (NC), and their spouses. RHD patients and their spouses reported a statistically significant decline in the patients' orientation to humor post-stroke. Also, we found a…

Improving Performance through the Use of Humor.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Adair, Frank A.; Siegel, Laurence

Although the role of humor in relaxation and interpersonal relationships is well documented, its role in increasing performance in the classroom has not been systematically studied. To investigate the effect of appropriately timed humor on performance of a stressful task, 40 college students performed a mathematics test under one of four…

Humor: a pedagogical tool to promote learning.

PubMed

Chabeli, M

2008-09-01

It has become critical that learners are exposed to varied methods of teaching and assessment that will promote critical thinking of learners. Humor creates a relaxed atmosphere where learning can be enhanced and appreciated. When learners are relaxed, thinking becomes eminent. Authoritative and tense environment hinders thinking. This paper seeks to explore the perceptions of nurse teacher learners regarding the use of humor as a pedagogical tool to promote learning. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design was employed (Burns & Grove, 2001:61; Mouton, 1996:103). 130 naive sketches were collected from nurse teacher learners who volunteered to take part in the study (Giorgi in_Omery, 1983:52) Follow up interviews were conducted to verify the findings. A qualitative, open-coding method of content analysis was done Tesch (in Creswell, 1994:155). Measures to ensure trustworthiness of the study were taken in accordance with the protocol of (Lincoln & Guba, 1985:290-326). The findings of the study will assist the nurse educators to create a positive, affective, psychological and social learning environment through the use of humor in a positive manner. Nurse educators will appreciate the fact that integration of humor to the learning content will promote the learners' critical thinking and emotional intelligence. Negative humor has a negative impact on learning. Learner nurses who become critical thinkers will be able to be analytical and solve problems amicably in practice.

Laughter, Humor and Pain Perception in Children: A Pilot Study

PubMed Central

Hilber, Sherry Dunay; Mintzer, Lisa Libman; Castaneda, Marleen; Glover, Dorie; Zeltzer, Lonnie

2009-01-01

Although there are many clinical programs designed to bring humor into pediatric hospitals, there has been very little research with children or adolescents concerning the specific utility of humor for children undergoing stressful or painful procedures. Rx Laughter™, a non-profit organization interested in the use of humor for healing, collaborated with UCLA to collect preliminary data on a sample of 18 children aged 7–16 years. Participants watched humorous video-tapes before, during and after a standardized pain task that involved placing a hand in cold water. Pain appraisal (ratings of pain severity) and pain tolerance (submersion time) were recorded and examined in relation to humor indicators (number of laughs/smiles during each video and child ratings of how funny the video was). Whereas humor indicators were not significantly associated with pain appraisal or tolerance, the group demonstrated significantly greater pain tolerance while viewing funny videos than when viewing the videos immediately before or after the cold-water task. The results suggest that humorous distraction is useful to help children and adolescents tolerate painful procedures. Further study is indicated to explore the specific mechanism of this benefit. PMID:18955244

Serum and vitreous humor antibody titers in and isolation of Leptospira interrogans from horses with recurrent uveitis.

PubMed

Wollanke, B; Rohrbach, B W; Gerhards, H

2001-09-15

To measure antibody titers against Leptospira interrogans in serum and vitreous humor and determine the prevalence of L interrogans in vitreous humor of horses with recurrent uveitis. Cross-sectional study. 242 horses (270 eyes) with recurrent uveitis undergoing vitrectomy and 39 control horses (54 eyes) without any history or clinical signs of recurrent uveitis undergoing euthanasia or enucleation for unrelated reasons. Serum and vitreous humor were tested for antibodies against 13 serovars of L interrogans. Vitreous humor was submitted for leptospiral culture; isolates were typed to the serogroup level. Leptospira interrogans was isolated from vitreous humor from 120/229 (52%) horses (126/252 [50%] eyes) with recurrent uveitis but was not isolated from vitreous humor from 36 eyes of 21 control horses. Duration of recurrent uveitis was > or = 1 year for 45 of the 120 (38%) horses from which the organism was isolated. Geometric mean antibody titers against L interrogans in the vitreous humor and serum of horses with recurrent uveitis were 1:1,332 and 1:186, respectively. Only 91 of 120 (76%) horses from which the organism was isolated had a 4-fold or greater difference between serum and vitreous humor antibody titers. Results suggest that persistent ocular infection with L interrogans is common in horses with recurrent uveitis. A 4-fold increase in vitreous humor versus serum antibody titers may not be a sensitive test for the diagnosis of L interrogans-induced recurrent uveitis. We hypothesize that the immune component of recurrent uveitis can be directly induced and maintained by persistent infection of the eye with L interrogans.

"That Hurts!": Humor and Sadomasochism in "Lolita."

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bick, Ilsa J.

1994-01-01

States that humor is dependent on individual perspective, and that the subject matter of "Lolita" (1962), which concerns child abuse and molestation, is difficult to treat with humor. Argues that despite its subject, "Lolita" continues to be funny. Concludes that viewers know the subject matter is not funny, but while watching,…

Humoral immunity and autism spectrum disorders.

PubMed

Fluegge, Keith

2017-05-01

Abnormal immune activation, particularly of a humoral nature, has consistently been described in the etiopathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In this journal, Mead and Ashwood (2015) reviewed immune abnormalities in autism and linked them to severity of classic autistic symptoms. However, there remains a lack of clarity as to how environmental risk factors in ASD may contribute to such immunophenotypes. The evidence presented herein highlights these immune deficits of a humoral nature in ASD. Moreover, aligned with prior research showing a link between chronic air pollution and suppression of humoral immunity, the author of this commentary has proposed that environmental exposure to pervasive air pollutants, particularly nitrous oxide (N 2 O), may target several anti-inflammatory biomarkers, including alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) inhibition and stimulation of kappa opioid receptor (KOR) activity. Given that these physiological targets, in particular, may promote the oft-noted humoral immunophenotypes in ASD, including B cell survival and muted antibody responses, this correspondence supports an existing line of evidence that air pollution, and particularly exposure to environmental N 2 O, may be an important etiological risk factor in ASD. Copyright © 2017 European Federation of Immunological Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A contemporary concept of the blood-aqueous barrier.

PubMed

Freddo, Thomas F

2013-01-01

This review traces the evolution of the concept of the blood-aqueous barrier (BAB) during the past 20 years. The Classical model simply stipulated that the tight junctions of the iris vasculature and ciliary epithelium excluded plasma proteins from the aqueous humor (AH). It failed to reconcile the presence of AH protein levels equal to 1% of that found in plasma. Moreover, models of barrier kinetics assumed that the processes of AH secretion and plasma protein entry were directly linked. Thus, elevations of AH protein levels could only be explained by a pathological breakdown of the BAB. Over the last 20 years it has been shown that the plasma proteins in normal AH by-pass the posterior chamber entirely. Instead, these proteins diffuse from the capillaries of ciliary body stroma, into the iris stroma and then into the anterior chamber. This creates a reservoir of plasma-proteins in the iris stroma that is not derived from the iris vessels. This reservoir is prevented from diffusing posteriorly by tight junctions in the posterior iris epithelium. The one-way valve created by the pupil resting on the anterior lens capsule, combined with the continuous, forward flow of AH through the pupil, prevents protein reflux into the posterior chamber. Importantly, in the new paradigm, secretion of AH and the entry of plasma proteins into AH, are semi-independent events. This opens the possibility that AH protein levels could increase in the absence of breakdown of the BAB. Clinical consequences of this new paradigm of the BAB are discussed. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Successful ingredients in the SMILE study: resident, staff, and management factors influence the effects of humor therapy in residential aged care.

PubMed

Brodaty, Henry; Low, Lee-Fay; Liu, Zhixin; Fletcher, Jennifer; Roast, Joel; Goodenough, Belinda; Chenoweth, Lynn

2014-12-01

To test the hypothesis that individual and institutional-level factors influence the effects of a humor therapy intervention on aged care residents. Data were from the humor therapy group of the Sydney Multisite Intervention of LaughterBosses and ElderClowns, or SMILE, study, a single-blind cluster randomized controlled trial of humor therapy conducted over 12 weeks; assessments were performed at baseline, week 13, and week 26. One hundred eighty-nine individuals from 17 Sydney residential aged care facilities were randomly allocated to the humor therapy intervention. Professional performers called "ElderClowns" provided 9-12 weekly humor therapy 2-hour sessions, augmented by trained staff, called "LaughterBosses." Outcome measures were as follows: Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia, Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory, Neuropsychiatric Inventory, the withdrawal subscale of Multidimensional Observation Scale for Elderly Subjects, and proxy-rated quality of life in dementia population scale. Facility-level measures were as follows: support of the management for the intervention, commitment levels of LaughterBosses, Environmental Audit Tool scores, and facility level of care provided (high/low). Resident-level measures were engagement, functional ability, disease severity, and time-in-care. Multilevel path analyses simultaneously modeled resident engagement at the individual level (repeated measures) and the effects of management support and staff commitment to humor therapy at the cluster level. Models indicated flow-on effects, whereby management support had positive effects on LaughterBoss commitment, and LaughterBoss commitment increased resident engagement. Higher resident engagement was associated with reduced depression, agitation, and neuropsychiatric scores. Effectiveness of psychosocial programs in residential aged care can be enhanced by management support, staff commitment, and active resident engagement. Copyright © 2014 American Association for

Humor and laughter in persons with cognitive impairment and their caregivers.

PubMed

Liptak, Amy; Tate, Judith; Flatt, Jason; Oakley, Mary Ann; Lingler, Jennifer

2014-03-01

The purpose of this study was to describe humor and laughter in persons with cognitive impairment (PWCI) and caregivers who were recalling a shared experience in a focus group. Twenty participants attended an Art Engagement Activity at the Andy Warhol Art Museum, which included a guided tour and an art project. All PWCI had medically diagnosed cognitive disorders and all caregiver participants did not. Four focus groups were conducted and transcripts of audio-recorded sessions were transferred to a qualitative software program. Words, phrases, and episodes of humor and laughter were used to construct codes, which were refined during group analysis using constant comparison. Humor and laughter were present in all four focus groups. Emerging themes of humor included silliness, sarcasm, and commenting about hardships of dementia. Laughter was identified in segments with and without humor. Some PWCI were unable to follow social cues. Humor and laughter played a role in creating a safe social environment. PWCI were able to engage in humor during social interactions, yet some had difficulty recognizing social cues. Further study may reveal roles of humor and laughter in adaptation to cognitive decline and holistic interventions for improved quality of life.

The Use of Humor in Palliative Care: A Systematic Literature Review.

PubMed

Pinna, Miguel Ángel Cuervo; Mahtani-Chugani, Vinita; Sánchez Correas, Miguel Ángel; Sanz Rubiales, Alvaro

2018-01-01

Humor has its own place in the context of medicine. Nevertheless, its acceptance by terminal stage patients and health-care professionals has not been studied in depth and is not free from controversy. To understand the significance, appropriateness, and pertinence of the use of humor in palliative care and to analyze its applicability. A narrative systematic review was undertaken and included in PROSPERO. Online searches were carried out on PUBMED, PSYCINFO, EBSCO (CINHAL), EMBASE, SCIELO, SCOPUS, TESEO, WEB of SCIENCE, and COCHRANE between their launch date and December 31, 2015, complemented with manual searches with queries to experts. A total of 156 studies were identified, which were then filtered in pairs by means of an established hierarchy, selecting studies that discussed the use of humor specifically in palliative care from all perspectives and designs, and finally published in Spanish, English, French, or Portuguese. Critical reading of all the selected studies took place, with no exclusions due to quality evaluation. Thirty-four studies were included. Five main topics were identified: (1) definition of humor, (2) use and functions of humor in palliative care, (3) how to use humor, (4) when not to use humor, and (5) humor before and after the diagnosis of terminal illness. Humor plays an unquestionable role in palliative care, but its use needs training and appropriate use.

Colors, humors and evil eye: indigenous classification and treatment of childhood diarrhea in highland Guatemala.

PubMed

Burleigh, E; Dardano, C; Cruz, J R

1990-11-01

Focal group interviews on indigenous perceptions and reported management of childhood diarrhea were conducted in 1987-88 in Guatemala as a part of a prospective epidemiological field study of chronic diarrhea. Six cognitive schemata were identified, each with specific causes, a linked progression of concepts, symptoms, signs, and diagnostic characteristics. Nearly all were related to the humoral theory of disease, including the concept of evil eye. Diarrheal disease was conceptualized in the village as a set of processes which could be either "hot" or "cold" rather than as an unchanging single-symptom entity occupying only one spot on the humoral continuum. Clarification of the temporal relationship between concepts was found to be essential to the understanding of these indigenously-defined schemata. Stool color reflecting humoral theory was the primary concept used in household-level diagnosis. Reported behavior associated with these cognitive schemata (traditional treatments, pharmaceutical and dietary management) showed remarkable constancy, and adhered for the most part to the humoral concept of equilibrium. These included the use of oral rehydration solutions (ORS) and liquids. The applied importance of humoral theory to home-based use of ORS is discussed briefly as is the indigenous definition of dehydration.

Three Decades Investigating Humor and Laughter: An Interview With Professor Rod Martin.

PubMed

Martin, Rod; Kuiper, Nicholas A

2016-08-01

Since the start of the 21st century, the investigation of various psychological aspects of humor and laughter has become an increasingly prominent topic of research. This growth can be attributed, in no small part, to the pioneering and creative work on humor and laughter conducted by Professor Rod Martin. Dr. Martin's research interests in humor and laughter began in the early 1980s and continued throughout his 32 year long career as a professor of clinical psychology at the University of Western Ontario. During this time, Dr. Martin published numerous scholarly articles, chapters, and books on psychological aspects of humor and laughter. Professor Martin has just retired in July 2016, and in the present interview he recounts a number of research highlights of his illustrious career. Dr. Martin's earliest influential work, conducted while he was still in graduate school, stemmed from an individual difference perspective that focused on the beneficial effects of sense of humor on psychological well-being. This research focus remained evident in many of Professor Martin's subsequent investigations, but became increasingly refined as he developed several measures of different components of sense of humor, including both adaptive and maladaptive humor styles. In this interview, Dr. Martin describes the conceptualization, development and use of the Humor Styles Questionnaire, along with suggestions for future research and development. In doing so, he also discusses the three main components of humor (i.e., cognitive, emotional and interpersonal), as well as the distinctions and similarities between humor and laughter. Further highlights of this interview include Professor Martin's comments on such diverse issues as the genetic versus environmental loadings for sense of humor, the multifaceted nature of the construct of humor, and the possible limitations of teaching individuals to use humor in a beneficial manner to cope with stress and enhance their social and

Three Decades Investigating Humor and Laughter: An Interview With Professor Rod Martin

PubMed Central

Martin, Rod; Kuiper, Nicholas A.

2016-01-01

Since the start of the 21st century, the investigation of various psychological aspects of humor and laughter has become an increasingly prominent topic of research. This growth can be attributed, in no small part, to the pioneering and creative work on humor and laughter conducted by Professor Rod Martin. Dr. Martin’s research interests in humor and laughter began in the early 1980s and continued throughout his 32 year long career as a professor of clinical psychology at the University of Western Ontario. During this time, Dr. Martin published numerous scholarly articles, chapters, and books on psychological aspects of humor and laughter. Professor Martin has just retired in July 2016, and in the present interview he recounts a number of research highlights of his illustrious career. Dr. Martin’s earliest influential work, conducted while he was still in graduate school, stemmed from an individual difference perspective that focused on the beneficial effects of sense of humor on psychological well-being. This research focus remained evident in many of Professor Martin’s subsequent investigations, but became increasingly refined as he developed several measures of different components of sense of humor, including both adaptive and maladaptive humor styles. In this interview, Dr. Martin describes the conceptualization, development and use of the Humor Styles Questionnaire, along with suggestions for future research and development. In doing so, he also discusses the three main components of humor (i.e., cognitive, emotional and interpersonal), as well as the distinctions and similarities between humor and laughter. Further highlights of this interview include Professor Martin’s comments on such diverse issues as the genetic versus environmental loadings for sense of humor, the multifaceted nature of the construct of humor, and the possible limitations of teaching individuals to use humor in a beneficial manner to cope with stress and enhance their social and

Humor in Pedagogy: How Ha-Ha Can Lead to Aha!

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garner, R. L.

2006-01-01

Several studies have examined the pedagogical implications and cautions concerning the use of humor in teaching. Humor has been associated with a host of positive physiological and psychological effects. Researchers have identified that educators who use humor in their instruction are more positively rated by their peers and their students; others…

Humor and Satire in the English Classroom.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Donelson, Kenneth, Ed.

1973-01-01

According to the "Arizona English Bulletin" (AEB), not enough attention is given to humor or satire in high school English classes. AEB suggests that if the English class is a place for bringing reality into the curriculum, humor must become a part of the total English program. Featured in this issue are 25 essays on various aspects of…

American Learners' Comprehension of Russian Textual Humor

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shardakova, Maria

2016-01-01

Over the past decade, second language (L2) humor has attracted scholarly attention as both a means and a goal of L2 development. Much of this research, however, has focused on oral communication, whereas virtually no studies address humor as an aspect of reading comprehension. This exploratory study combines these two areas of inquiry, examining…

Development: Ages & Stages--The Importance of Humor

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Poole, Carla; Miller, Susan A.; Church, Ellen Booth

2005-01-01

This article discusses the importance of humor and how it helps to understand children's thinking from birth to 6 years. The article presents three sections describing how a young child's sense of humor reveals much about the way he thinks. The first section is entitled "Giggles!" written by Carla Poole. Intended for babies from birth to 2, Poole…

The Effect of Pictures and Humor on Memory for Verbal Material in Two Extreme Scholastic Aptitude Populations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sagaria, Sabato D.; Derks, Peter L.

In an effort to understand why pictures are used to supplement learning material, a study explored (1) the role of humor in recall, and (2) whether the effects of humor are independent of the individual's ability level. Subjects--students from either the high SAT (approximate average of 1200 points) population (HS), or the low SAT (approximate…

One-Day Use of Preoperative Topical Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Prevents Intraoperative Prostaglandin Level Elevation During Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery.

PubMed

Kiss, Huba J; Takacs, Agnes I; Kranitz, Kinga; Sandor, Gabor L; Toth, Gabor; Gilanyi, Beatrix; Nagy, Zoltan Z

2016-08-01

To determine if pretreatment with topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) prior to femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) prevents intraoperative prostaglandin level elevation as a potential risk factor of postoperative complications. Thirty-six patients with clinically significant cataract and without any concomitant general or ophthalmic disease were enrolled into the three age-matched groups of the study. The mean age of the patients was 62.3 ± 13.1 years. The first group of patients underwent traditional phacoemulsification (Control group), on the second group of patients FLACS was performed, and the third group of patients received topical 0.1% nepafenac pretreatment for 1one day prior to FLACS. Before the phacoemulsification part of the cataract surgery, approximately 110 µL of aqueous humor was collected in all groups. Total prostaglandin concentrations of the collected aqueous humor samples were evaluated by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). The mean of the total prostaglandin concentrations of the aqueous humor samples was 208.8 ± 140.5 pg/mL in patients in the control group, 1449.1 ± 1019.7 pg/mL in the FLACS group (p > 0.001), and 92.2 ± 51.7 pg/mL in the group pretreated with topical NSAID before the FLACS (p > 0.001 compared to FLACS; p > 0.01 compared to control), respectively. FLACS surgery increases intracameral prostaglandin concentration. However, using preoperative 1-day-long nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drops prior to FLACS, this intraoperative increase diminishes. Our study raises the possibility that NSAID pretreatment may be routinely administered before FLACS cataract surgeries to achieve a further decrease in the potential complications of increased total prostaglandin concentration during FLACS surgeries.

HUMOR STYLES, CREATIVE PERSONALITY TRAITS, AND CREATIVE THINKING IN A HONG KONG SAMPLE.

PubMed

Yue, Xiao Dong; Hui, Anna Na

2015-12-01

Humor is found to be an essential element of creative thinking in Western culture. In Eastern culture, however, the relationship between creativity and humor is ambivalent. This study examined the relationship among humor styles, creative personality traits, and creative thinking abilities. A sample of 118 Chinese undergraduates in Hong Kong was recruited to complete the Humor Styles Questionnaire, the three Creative Personality subscales of the Chinese Personality Assessment Inventory-2 (CPAI-2), and the Verbal Test of the Wallach-Kogan Creativity Tests. Results show that humor styles are uncorrelated with creative thinking abilities of flexibility, fluency, and originality, but affiliative humor and aggressive humor are correlated with creative personality traits of novelty and diversity. A hierarchical multiple regression shows that both humor styles and creative personality traits of novelty and diversity account for non-significant variance on creative thinking abilities. These findings largely support a hypothesized non-association between humor styles and creative measures. They also pose a sharp contrast to findings obtained in the West, in which humor styles are typically correlated with both creative thinking abilities and creative personality traits.

Stripping the boss: the powerful role of humor in the Egyptian Revolution 2011.

PubMed

Helmy, Mohamed M; Frerichs, Sabine

2013-12-01

The Egyptian Revolution 2011 has shaken the Arab world and stirred up Middle-East politics. Moreover, it caused a rush in political science and the neighboring disciplines, which had not predicted an event like this and now have troubles explaining it. While many things can be learned from the popular uprising, and from the limitations of previous scholarship, our focus will be on a moral resource, which has occasionally been noticed, but not sufficiently explored: the role of humor in keeping up the spirit of the Revolution. For 18 days, protestors persevered at Liberation Square in Central Cairo, the epicenter of resistance; at times a few dozens, at times hundreds of thousands. What they did was to fight the terror of the regime, which reached absurd peaks during those days, with humor-successfully. We offer a social-functionalist account of the uprising, which includes behavioral as well as cultural levels of analysis, and illuminates how humorous means helped to achieve deadly serious goals. By reconstructing how Egyptians laughed themselves into democracy, we outline a social psychology of resistance, which uses humor both as a sword and a shield.

Humor and laughter in persons with cognitive impairment and their caregivers

PubMed Central

Liptak, Amy; Tate, Judith; Flatt, Jason; Oakley, Mary Ann; Lingler, Jennifer

2014-01-01

Purpose The purpose of this study was to describe humor and laughter in persons with cognitive impairment (PWCI) and caregivers who were recalling a shared experience in a focus group. Design Twenty participants attended an Art Engagement Activity at the Andy Warhol Art Museum, which included a guided tour and an art project. All PWCI had medically diagnosed cognitive disorders and all caregiver participants did not. Four focus groups were conducted and transcripts of audio-recorded sessions were transferred to a qualitative software program. Methods Words, phrases and episodes of humor and laughter were used to construct codes, which were refined during group analysis using constant comparison. Findings Humor and laughter were present in all four focus groups. Emerging themes of humor included silliness, sarcasm and commenting about hardships of dementia. Laughter was identified in segments with and without humor. Some PWCI were unable to follow social cues. Conclusions Humor and laughter played a role in creating a safe social environment. PWCI were able to engage in humor during social interactions, yet some had difficulty recognizing social cues. Further study may reveal roles of humor and laughter in adaptation to cognitive decline and holistic interventions for improved quality of life. PMID:23926217

Plasma zinc's alter ego is a low-molecular-weight humoral factor.

PubMed

Ou, Ou; Allen-Redpath, Keith; Urgast, Dagmar; Gordon, Margaret-Jane; Campbell, Gill; Feldmann, Jörg; Nixon, Graeme F; Mayer, Claus-Dieter; Kwun, In-Sook; Beattie, John H

2013-09-01

Mild dietary zinc deprivation in humans and rodents has little effect on blood plasma zinc levels, and yet cellular consequences of zinc depletion can be detected in vascular and other tissues. We proposed that a zinc-regulated humoral factor might mediate the effects of zinc deprivation. Using a novel approach, primary rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were treated with plasma from zinc-deficient (<1 mg Zn/kg) or zinc-adequate (35 mg Zn/kg, pair-fed) adult male rats, and zinc levels were manipulated to distinguish direct and indirect effects of plasma zinc. Gene expression changes were analyzed by microarray and qPCR, and incubation of VSMCs with blood plasma from zinc-deficient rats strongly changed the expression of >2500 genes, compared to incubation of cells with zinc-adequate rat plasma. We demonstrated that this effect was caused by a low-molecular-weight (∼2-kDa) zinc-regulated humoral factor but that changes in gene expression were mostly reversed by adding zinc back to zinc-deficient plasma. Strongly regulated genes were overrepresented in pathways associated with immune function and development. We conclude that zinc deficiency induces the production of a low-molecular-weight humoral factor whose influence on VSMC gene expression is blocked by plasma zinc. This factor is therefore under dual control by zinc.

Characterization of the effect of Cr(VI) on humoral innate immunity using Drosophila melanogaster.

PubMed

Pragya, P; Shukla, A K; Murthy, R C; Abdin, M Z; Kar Chowdhuri, D

2015-11-01

With the advancement of human race, different anthropogenic activities have heaped the environment with chemicals that can cause alteration in the immune system of exposed organism. As a first line of barrier, the evolutionary conserved innate immunity is crucial for the health of an organism. However, there is paucity of information regarding in vivo assessment of the effect of environmental chemicals on innate immunity. Therefore, we examined the effect of a widely used environmental chemical, Cr(VI), on humoral innate immune response using Drosophila melanogaster. The adverse effect of Cr(VI) on host humoral response was characterized by decreased gene expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in the exposed organism. Concurrently, a significantly decreased transcription of humoral pathway receptors (Toll and PGRP) and triglyceride level along with inhibition of antioxidant enzyme activities were observed in exposed organism. This in turn weakened the immune response of exposed organism that was manifested by their reduced resistance against bacterial infection. In addition, overexpression of the components of humoral immunity particularly Diptericin benefits Drosophila from Cr(VI)-induced humoral immune-suppressive effect. To our knowledge, this is the first report regarding negative impact of an environmental chemical on humoral innate immune response of Drosophila along with subsequent protection by AMPs, which may provide novel insight into host-chemical interactions. Also, our data validate the utility and sensitivity of Drosophila as a model that could be used for screening the possible risk of environmental chemicals on innate immunity with minimum ethical concern that can be further extrapolated to higher organisms. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Quillaja brasiliensis saponins induce robust humoral and cellular responses in a bovine viral diarrhea virus vaccine in mice.

PubMed

Cibulski, Samuel Paulo; Silveira, Fernando; Mourglia-Ettlin, Gustavo; Teixeira, Thais Fumaco; dos Santos, Helton Fernandes; Yendo, Anna Carolina; de Costa, Fernanda; Fett-Neto, Arthur Germano; Gosmann, Grace; Roehe, Paulo Michel

2016-04-01

A saponin fraction extracted from Quillaja brasiliensis leaves (QB-90) and a semi-purified aqueous extract (AE) were evaluated as adjuvants in a bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) vaccine in mice. Animals were immunized on days 0 and 14 with antigen plus either QB-90 or AE or an oil-adjuvanted vaccine. Two-weeks after boosting, antibodies were measured by ELISA; cellular immunity was evaluated by DTH, lymphoproliferation, cytokine release and single cell IFN-γ production. Serum anti-BVDV IgG, IgG1 and IgG2b were significantly increased in QB-90- and AE-adjuvanted vaccines. A robust DTH response, increased splenocyte proliferation, Th1-type cytokines and enhanced production of IFN-γ by CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes were detected in mice that received QB-90-adjuvanted vaccine. The AE-adjuvanted preparation stimulated humoral responses but not cellular immune responses. These findings reveal that QB-90 is capable of stimulating both cellular and humoral immune responses when used as adjuvant. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Feasibility of a Humor Training to Promote Humor and Decrease Stress in a Subclinical Sample: A Single-Arm Pilot Study

PubMed Central

Tagalidou, Nektaria; Loderer, Viola; Distlberger, Eva; Laireiter, Anton-Rupert

2018-01-01

The present study investigates the feasibility of a humor training for a subclinical sample suffering from increased stress, depressiveness, or anxiety. Based on diagnostic interviews, 35 people were invited to participate in a 7-week humor training. Evaluation measures were filled in prior training, after training, and at a 1-month follow-up including humor related outcomes (coping humor and cheerfulness) and mental health-related outcomes (perceived stress, depressiveness, anxiety, and well-being). Outcomes were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVAs. Within-group comparisons of intention-to-treat analysis showed main effects of time with large effect sizes on all outcomes. Post hoc tests showed medium to large effect sizes on all outcomes from pre to post and results remained stable until follow-up. Satisfaction with the training was high, attrition rate low (17.1%), and participants would highly recommend the training. Summarizing the results, the pilot study showed promising effects for people suffering from subclinical symptoms. All outcomes were positively influenced and showed stability over time. Humor trainings could be integrated more into mental health care as an innovative program to reduce stress whilst promoting also positive emotions. However, as this study was a single-arm pilot study, further research (including also randomized controlled trials) is still needed to evaluate the effects more profoundly. PMID:29740368

Immunomodulatory effects of aqueous extract of Tridax procumbens in experimental animals.

PubMed

Tiwari, Umesh; Rastogi, Bhawna; Singh, Paramjit; Saraf, Dinesh K; Vyas, Suresh P

2004-05-01

The immunomodulatory properties of ethanol insoluble fraction of aqueous extract of Tridax procumbens Linn. (TPEIF) have been investigated. After intraperitoneal administration of TPEIF in doses of 0.25 and 0.5 g/kg body weight (BW) a significant increase in phagocytic index, leukocyte count and spleenic antibody secreting cells was noticed. Stimulation of humoral immune response was further observed with elevation in heamagglutination antibody titer. Heightened delayed type hypersensitivity reaction suggested convincing evidence for activation of cellular immune system. Protective action of herbal medicine in case of anaphylactic shock was also studied. In addition, elicitation of specific antibody titer against tetanus toxoid (TT) challenge was measured in order to explore the possible use as adjuvant along with clinical vaccination program to reduce number of non-responders. The results suggest that TPEIF influences both humoral as well as cell mediated immune system vis-a-vis assists in genesis of improved antibody response against specific clinical antigen. Copyright 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Virtuous laughter: we should teach medical learners the art of humor.

PubMed

Oczkowski, Simon

2015-05-11

There is increasing recognition of the stress and burnout suffered by critical care workers. Physicians have a responsibility to teach learners the skills required not only to treat patients, but to cope with the demands of a stressful profession. Humor has been neglected as a strategy to help learners develop into virtuous and resilient physicians. Humor can be used to reduce stress, address fears, and to create effective health care teams. However, there are forms of humor which can be hurtful or discriminatory. In order to maximize the benefits of humor and to reduce its harms, we need to teach and model the effective and virtuous use of humor in the intensive care unit.

A Computational Model of Linguistic Humor in Puns

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kao, Justine T.; Levy, Roger; Goodman, Noah D.

2016-01-01

Humor plays an essential role in human interactions. Precisely what makes something funny, however, remains elusive. While research on natural language understanding has made significant advancements in recent years, there has been little direct integration of humor research with computational models of language understanding. In this paper, we…

Evidence of Dual Mechanisms of Glutathione Uptake in the Rodent Lens: A Novel Role for Vitreous Humor in Lens Glutathione Homeostasis

PubMed Central

Whitson, Jeremy A.; Sell, David R.; Goodman, Michael C.; Monnier, Vincent M.; Fan, Xingjun

2016-01-01

Purpose Lens glutathione synthesis knockout (LEGSKO) mouse lenses lack de novo glutathione (GSH) synthesis but still maintain >1 mM GSH. We sought to determine the source of this residual GSH and the mechanism by which it accumulates in the lens. Methods Levels of GSH, glutathione disulfide (GSSG), and GSH-related compounds were measured in vitro and in vivo using isotope standards and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis. Results Wild-type (WT) lenses could accumulate GSH from γ-glutamylcysteine and glycine or from intact GSH, but LEGSKO lenses could only accumulate GSH from intact GSH, indicating that LEGSKO lens GSH content is not due to synthesis by a salvage pathway. Uptake of GSH in cultured lenses occurred at the same rate for LEGSKO and WT lenses, could not be inhibited, and occurred primarily through cortical fiber cells. In contrast, uptake of GSH from aqueous humor could be competitively inhibited and showed an enhanced Km in LEGSKO lenses. Mouse vitreous had >1 mM GSH, whereas aqueous had <20 μM GSH. Testing physiologically relevant GSH concentrations for uptake in vivo, we found that both LEGSKO and WT lenses could obtain GSH from the vitreous but not from the aqueous. Vitreous rapidly accumulated GSH from the circulation, and depletion of circulating GSH reduced vitreous but not aqueous GSH. Conclusions The above data provide, for the first time, evidence for the existence of dual mechanisms of GSH uptake into the lens, one mechanism being a passive, high-flux transport through the vitreous exposed side of the lens versus an active, carrier-mediated uptake mechanism at the anterior of the lens. PMID:27472077

Pastoral Perspectives of Humor's Use in Ministry Contexts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Young, Jonathan W.

2012-01-01

Results from a qualitative component of a mixed-methods research design are reported regarding the use of humor in pastoral ministry. Thirteen Southern Baptist (SB) pastors were interviewed, from a total of 37 exemplars identified in the quantitative component of the study, regarding their perspectives toward humor in ministry. Results overall…

On Humorous Exchanges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Menair, Marion Suzanne

2011-01-01

In this dissertation I examine the patterns and uses of transgressive humor and sexual talk that male traders from Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) indulge in when at their leisure from trading. I investigate how cultural conceptualizations or ideologies are brought into the present moment through discursive interaction and how the cultural signs…

[Detection of leptospira by culture of vitreous humor and detection of antibodies against leptospira in vitreous humor and serum of 225 horses with equine recurrent uveitis].

PubMed

Dorrego-Keiter, Elisa; Tóth, József; Dikker, Lieke; Sielhorst, Jutta; Schusser, Gerald Fritz

2016-01-01

In the ongoing discussion regarding the aetiopathogenesis of equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) it was the aim of the present study to elucidate the relationship of leptospira infection and ERU. In a population of 225 horses leptospira were examined in vitreous humor by culture and leptospira antibody were detected in vitreous humor and serum samples. Preoperative serum samples were collected from 221/225 ERU patients of different age, gender and breed. Undiluted vitreous humor was aseptically taken from 198/225 patients that underwent pars plana vitrectomy at the beginning of surgery and from 27/225 patients' eyeball after enucleation: Serum and vitreous humor were tested for specific leptospiral antibodies by microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Furthermore, vitreous humor was examined by culture. 20 patients which were euthanized due to a live-threatening disease other than ERU served as a control group. A total of 127/221 (57.5%) horses had serum antibodies (≥ 1:100). Most frequently antibodies against L. interrogans serovar Grippotyphosa were detected (79/127), followed by L. interrogans serovar lcterohaemorrhagiae (34/127) and L. interrogans serovar Bratislava (29/127). Only 79/225 horses (35.1%) had leptospiral antibodies in vitreous humor, in which L. interrogans serovar Grippotyphosa (67/79) was identified most frequently followed by L. interrogans serovar Pomona (18/79) and L. interrogans serovar lcterohaemorrhagiae (8/79) which was identified as single or multiple reaction. Isolation of leptospira from vitreous humor was positive in 34/212 horses (16%). 10/20 control horses had a positive antibody titer against leptospira in serum and 2/20 horses in vitreous humor, whereas there was no leptospira detected in culture. The result of 84% negative cultures from vitreous humor of 212 ERU patients is decisive for the diagnosis and therapy of ERU.

Humor in the eye tracker: attention capture and distraction from context cues.

PubMed

Strick, Madelijn; Holland, Rob W; Van Baaren, Rick; Van Knippenberg, Ad

2010-01-01

The humor effect refers to a robust finding in memory research that humorous information is easily recalled, at the expense of recall of nonhumorous information that was encoded in close temporal proximity. Previous research suggests that memory retrieval processes underlie this effect. That is, free recall is biased toward humorous information, which interferes with the retrieval of nonhumorous information. The present research tested an additional explanation that has not been specifically addressed before: Humor receives enhanced attention during information encoding, which decreases attention for context information. Participants observed humorous, nonhumorous positive, and nonhumorous neutral texts paired with novel consumer brands, while their eye movements were recorded using eye-tracker technology. The results confirmed that humor receives prolonged attention relative to both positive and neutral nonhumorous information. This enhanced attention correlated with impaired brand recognition.

Humor as a Communication Strategy in Provider-Patient Communication in a Chronic Care Setting.

PubMed

Schöpf, Andrea C; Martin, Gillian S; Keating, Mary A

2017-02-01

Humor is a potential communication strategy to accomplish various and potentially conflicting consultation goals. We investigated humor use and its reception in diabetes consultations by analyzing how and why humor emerges and its impact on the interaction. We did this by using an interactional sociolinguistics approach. We recorded 50 consultations in an Irish diabetes setting. Analysis of the humor events drew on framework analysis and on concepts from Conversation Analysis and pragmatics. The study also comprised interviews using tape-assisted recall. We identified 10 humor functions and two umbrella functions. A key finding is that most humor is relationship-protecting humor initiated by patients, that is, they voice serious messages and deal with emotional issues through humor. Our findings imply that patients' and providers' awareness of indirect communication strategies needs to be increased. We also recommend that researchers employ varied methods to adequately capture the interactive nature of humor.

The Humor in Horror.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kies, Cosette

1995-01-01

Discussion of horror fiction for teenagers focuses on the element of humor. Topics include parodies, plots, the element of mystery, cover art, end-of-chapter cliffhangers, and formula books. An annotated list of 10 pertinent titles is included. (LRW)

Humor and Anxiety: Effects on Class Test Performance.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Townsend, Michael A. R.; Mahoney, Peggy

The roles of humor and anxiety in test performance were investigated. Measures of trait anxiety, state anxiety and achievement were obtained on a sample of undergraduate students; the A-Trait and A-State scales of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were used. Half of the students received additional humorous items in the achievement test. The…

The Views of Turkish Teachers on the Use of Humor in Secondary Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kilic, Yasin

2016-01-01

Humor is the type of expression and writing representing the humorous aspect of life by adorning with jokes and wit. The main objective of humor is to criticize, ironize, and correct the flaws and hideousness in life. Humor develops the sensitivity, the empathizing ability and social facts' multidimensional perception of individuals. Humor…

Humor theories and the physiological benefits of laughter.

PubMed

Wilkins, Julia; Eisenbraun, Amy Janel

2009-01-01

There are 3 main theories used to explain the functions of humor: (1) the relief theory, (2) the incongruity theory, and (3) the superiority theory. While these theories focus on the specific role that humor plays for people in situations such as dealing with misfortune, making sense of rule violations, and bonding with others, we propose that underlying each of these theories are the physiological benefits of laughter. We draw on findings from empirical studies on laughter to demonstrate that these physiological benefits occur regardless of the theory that is used to explain the humor function. Findings from these studies have important implications for nurse practitioners working in hospice settings, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, and hospitals.

Epstein-Barr Virus-Specific Humoral Immune Responses in Health and Disease.

PubMed

Middeldorp, Jaap M

2015-01-01

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is widely distributed in the world and associated with a still increasing number of acute, chronic, malignant and autoimmune disease syndromes. Humoral immune responses to EBV have been studied for diagnostic, pathogenic and protective (vaccine) purposes. These studies use a range of methodologies, from cell-based immunofluorescence testing to antibody-diversity analysis using immunoblot and epitope analysis using recombinant or synthetic peptide-scanning. First, the individual EBV antigen complexes (VCA , MA, EA(D), EA(R) and EBNA) are defined at cellular and molecular levels, providing a historic overview. The characteristic antibody responses to these complexes in health and disease are described, and differences are highlighted by clinical examples. Options for EBV vaccination are briefly addressed. For a selected number of immunodominant proteins, in particular EBNA1, the interaction with human antibodies is further detailed at the epitope level, revealing interesting insights for structure, function and immunological aspects, not considered previously. Humoral immune responses against EBV-encoded tumour antigens LMP1, LMP2 and BARF1 are addressed, which provide novel options for targeted immunotherapy. Finally, some considerations on EBV-linked autoimmune diseases are given, and mechanisms of antigen mimicry are briefly discussed. Further analysis of humoral immune responses against EBV in health and disease in carefully selected patient cohorts will open new options for understanding pathogenesis of individual EBV-linked diseases and developing targeted diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Humor in Children's Lives: A Guidebook for Practitioners.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Klein, Amelia J., Ed.

Designed as a resource and as a guide for professionals who work with children and their families, this book explores the cathartic effect of humor on children, and looks at humor as an infusion of energy that promotes healthy growth, development, and adjustment in children of all ages. The chapters are as follows: (1) "Introduction: A Global…

Humoral and Cellular Immunity Changed after Traumatic Brain Injury in Human Patients.

PubMed

Wang, Jia-Wei; Li, Jin-Ping; Song, Ying-Lun; Zhao, Qi-Huang

2017-01-01

Previous studies have suggested that there is a disproportionally higher risk of infection following traumatic brain injury (TBI). This predisposition to infection may be driven by a poorly understood, brain-specific response in the immune system after TBI. However, there is a lack of studies that have fully characterized TBI patients to understand the relationship between TBI and peripheral immune function. In the present study, markers for humoral immunity and cellular immunity were measured for up to 2 weeks in the peripheral blood of 37 patients with TBI in order to elucidate the time course and the type of the peripheral immune response following TBI. 12 relatively healthy individuals without TBI and other neurological diseases were enrolled into the control group. Our data indicated that TBI could induce significant changes in humoral immunity characterized by a decrease in IgG and IgM levels and an increase in the complements C3 and C4 levels in comparison with the control group. Moreover, compared with the control group, a significant reduction in peripheral blood CD3 + and CD3 + CD4 + lymphocyte counts occurred early (days 1-3) following the onset of trauma. These results provide evidence that TBI is associated with substantial changes in humoral immunity and cellular immunity, which may explain the high incidence of infection encountered in these patients. © 2017 by the Association of Clinical Scientists, Inc.

[The effect of humor in the workplace on mental/physical health and self-evaluation of job performance].

PubMed

Maruyama, Junichi; Fuji, Kei

2016-04-01

In this study we aimed to examine the contents of humor in the Japanese workplace and to understand the effects of humor on mental/physical health and self-evaluation of job performance. Japanese workers (N = 436) responded to questionnaires addressing workplace humor, feelings about workplace, workplace communication, mental/physical health, and perceived job performance. An exploratory factor analysis indicated that there are five types of workplace humor: norm-violating humor, experience-sharing humor workplace-enjoying humor, people-recalling humor, and outside-mocking humor. A covariance structural analysis showed that norm-violating humor and workplace-enjoying humor decreased mental and physical health by promoting both negative feelings in the workplace and self-disclosure about the negative side of work. Results also revealed that experience-sharing humor, people-recalling humor, and outside-mocking humor had a positive effect on the self-evaluation of job performance as well as mental and physical health, by promoting both positive feelings and mutual communication in the workplace. Results suggest that humor in the workplace has various influences on workers depending on the type of workplace humor.

Neural circuit of verbal humor comprehension in schizophrenia - an fMRI study.

PubMed

Adamczyk, Przemysław; Wyczesany, Miroslaw; Domagalik, Aleksandra; Daren, Artur; Cepuch, Kamil; Błądziński, Piotr; Cechnicki, Andrzej; Marek, Tadeusz

2017-01-01

Individuals with schizophrenia exhibit problems with understanding the figurative meaning of language. This study evaluates neural correlates of diminished humor comprehension observed in schizophrenia. The study included chronic schizophrenia (SCH) outpatients (n = 20), and sex, age and education level matched healthy controls (n = 20). The fMRI punchline based humor comprehension task consisted of 60 stories of which 20 had funny, 20 nonsensical and 20 neutral (not funny) punchlines. After the punchlines were presented, the participants were asked to indicate whether the story was comprehensible and how funny it was. Three contrasts were analyzed in both groups reflecting stages of humor processing: abstract vs neutral stories - incongruity detection; funny vs abstract - incongruity resolution and elaboration; and funny vs neutral - complete humor processing. Additionally, parametric modulation analysis was performed using both subjective ratings separately. Between-group comparisons revealed that the SCH subjects had attenuated activation in the right posterior superior temporal gyrus (BA 41) in case of irresolvable incongruity processing of nonsensical puns; in the left dorsomedial middle and superior frontal gyri (BA 8/9) in case of incongruity resolution and elaboration processing of funny puns; and in the interhemispheric dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (BA 24) in case of complete processing of funny puns. Additionally, during comprehensibility ratings the SCH group showed a suppressed activity in the left dorsomedial middle and superior frontal gyri (BA 8/9) and revealed weaker activation during funniness ratings in the left dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (BA 24). Interestingly, these differences in the SCH group were accompanied behaviorally by a protraction of time in both types of rating responses and by indicating funny punchlines less comprehensible. Summarizing, our results indicate neural substrates of humor comprehension processing

Humor in print health advertisements: enhanced attention, privileged recognition, and persuasiveness of preventive messages.

PubMed

Blanc, Nathalie; Brigaud, Emmanuelle

2014-01-01

This study tested the effect of humor in one particular type of print advertisement: the preventive health ads for three topics (alcohol, tobacco, obesity). Previous research using commercial ads demonstrated that individuals' attention is spontaneously attracted by humor, leading to a memory advantage for humorous information over nonhumorous information. Two experiments investigated whether the positive effect of humor can occur with preventive health ads. In Experiment 1, participants observed humorous and nonhumorous health ads while their viewing times were recorded. In Experiment 2, to compare humorous and nonhumorous ads, the memory of health messages was assessed through a recognition task and a convincing score was collected. The results confirmed that, compared to nonhumorous health ads, those using humor received prolonged attention, were judged more convincing, and their messages were better recognized. Overall, these findings suggest that humor can be of use in preventive health communication.

Similar Hydrodynamic and Morphological Changes in the Aqueous Humor Outflow Pathway after Washout and Y27632 Treatment in Monkey Eyes

PubMed Central

Lu, Zhaozeng; Zhang, Yuyan; Freddo, Thomas F.; Gong, Haiyan

2011-01-01

.46). Distribution of the tracer labeling appeared punctate along the IW of control eyes, while a more uniform pattern was observed after washout and Y27 treatment. PEFL in washout (83.4±2.1%) and Y27 treated eyes (82.5±1.6%) was 3.4-fold larger compared to controls (24.2±4.2%, P<0.001). The JCT appeared distended with loss of connections between JCT cells and between JCT cells and their extracelluar matrix in eyes with washout or after Y-27 treatment. PSL in the JCT was 2.3-fold larger in washout eyes (77.4±3.3%) and 2.2-fold larger in Y27 treated eyes (75.2±5.3%) versus controls (33.5±5.3%, p=0.001). Significant positive correlations were found between outflow facility and PEFL, facility and PSL and between PEFL and PSL. Our data demonstrated that similar hydrodynamic and morphological changes occurred in the aqueous humor outflow pathway of monkey eyes after induction of washout and Y27 treatment. Both Y27 and washout increase outflow facility by redistributing aqueous outflow through a larger area in the JCT. These hydrodynamic changes are likely driven by morphologic changes associated with a decrease in cell-cell and cell-matrix connections in the JCT. PMID:21669200

Multilingual Manipulation and Humor in "I Love Lucy"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kirschen, Bryan

2013-01-01

"I Love Lucy" is considered to have been one of the most humorous television programs in the United States as early as the 1950s. This paper explores the use of language by the protagonists, Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, in order to understand the source of the program's humor. Linguistic analysis of the Ricardos' speech is applied,…

Humor as a facilitative style in problem-based learning environments for nursing students.

PubMed

Chauvet, Seanna; Hofmeyer, Anne

2007-05-01

Although the nursing and education literature confirm that humor has a role to play in the learning experience, there is little evidence available about the impact and the challenges of using humor to facilitate group process and learning in problem-based learning environments for nursing students. In this paper, we explore humor as a style of communication in PBL environments using examples from the classroom. We then propose a range of strategies to build capacity in PBL tutors and to infuse humor into the PBL classroom such as: acceptance that fun and humor are components of the ground rules in the group; appropriate humor and boundaries; mutual story sharing; and creative activities to moderate stress and build coping strategies to thrive in clinical practice. It is timely for nurse academics and researchers to examine the contribution of humor as a facilitative communication style in the PBL environment. Findings could inform evidence-based teaching of nursing students and foster life-long learning and communication skills.

Humor in Advertisements Enhances Product Liking by Mere Association

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Strick, Madelijn; van Baaren, Rick B.; Holland, Rob W.; van Knippenberg, Ad

2009-01-01

Humor in advertising is known to enhance product liking, but this attitude change is often considered nonpredictive of product choice. Previous research relied exclusively on explicit self-report measures to assess attitudes and purchase intentions. The present research shows that unobtrusive association of a product with humor can affect…

Serial changes of humor comprehension for four-frame comic Manga: an fMRI study

PubMed Central

Osaka, Mariko; Yaoi, Ken; Minamoto, Takehiro; Osaka, Naoyuki

2014-01-01

Serial changes of humor comprehension evoked by a well organized four-frame comic Manga were investigated by fMRI in each step of humor comprehension. The neural substrates underlying the amusing effects in response to funny and mixed order manga were compared. In accordance with the time course of the four frames, fMRI activations changed serially. Beginning with the second frame (development scene), activation of the temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) was observed, followed by activations in the temporal and frontal areas during viewing of the third frame (turn scene). For the fourth frame (punch line), strong increased activations were confirmed in the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) and cerebellum. Interestingly, distinguishable activation differences in the cerebellum between funny and non-funny conditions were also found for the fourth frame. These findings suggest that humor comprehension evokes activation that initiates in the TPJ and expands to the MPFC and cerebellum at the convergence level. PMID:25059843

Serial changes of humor comprehension for four-frame comic Manga: an fMRI study.

PubMed

Osaka, Mariko; Yaoi, Ken; Minamoto, Takehiro; Osaka, Naoyuki

2014-07-25

Serial changes of humor comprehension evoked by a well organized four-frame comic Manga were investigated by fMRI in each step of humor comprehension. The neural substrates underlying the amusing effects in response to funny and mixed order manga were compared. In accordance with the time course of the four frames, fMRI activations changed serially. Beginning with the second frame (development scene), activation of the temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) was observed, followed by activations in the temporal and frontal areas during viewing of the third frame (turn scene). For the fourth frame (punch line), strong increased activations were confirmed in the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) and cerebellum. Interestingly, distinguishable activation differences in the cerebellum between funny and non-funny conditions were also found for the fourth frame. These findings suggest that humor comprehension evokes activation that initiates in the TPJ and expands to the MPFC and cerebellum at the convergence level.

The effect of humorous movies on inpatients with chronic schizophrenia.

PubMed

Gelkopf, Marc; Gonen, Bruria; Kurs, Rena; Melamed, Yuval; Bleich, Avi

2006-11-01

We assessed the impact of humorous movies on psychopathology, anxiety, depression, anger, social functioning, insight, and therapeutic alliance in schizophrenia inpatients. Twenty-nine psychiatric inpatients in open wards participated in the study. The study group viewed humorous and the control group viewed neutral movies daily for 3 months. Participants were assessed before and after viewing movies with the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale, Calgary Depression Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2, the Multinomah Community Ability Scale, the Insight and Treatment Attitude Questionnaire, and the Working Alliance Inventory. Reduced levels of psychopathology, anger, anxiety, and depression symptoms and an improvement in social competence were revealed in the study group. No changes were observed in treatment insight or working alliance. Video films are a practical and cost-efficient means of entertainment that seem to have a positive effect on patient morale, mood, and mental status.

Aqueous Angiography–Mediated Guidance of Trabecular Bypass Improves Angiographic Outflow in Human Enucleated Eyes

PubMed Central

Huang, Alex S.; Saraswathy, Sindhu; Dastiridou, Anna; Begian, Alan; Mohindroo, Chirayu; Tan, James C. H.; Francis, Brian A.; Hinton, David R.; Weinreb, Robert N.

2016-01-01

Purpose To assess the ability of trabecular micro-bypass stents to improve aqueous humor outflow (AHO) in regions initially devoid of AHO as assessed by aqueous angiography. Methods Enucleated human eyes (14 total from 7 males and 3 females [ages 52–84]) were obtained from an eye bank within 48 hours of death. Eyes were oriented by inferior oblique insertion, and aqueous angiography was performed with indocyanine green (ICG; 0.4%) or fluorescein (2.5%) at 10 mm Hg. With an angiographer, infrared and fluorescent images were acquired. Concurrent anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed, and fixable fluorescent dextrans were introduced into the eye for histologic analysis of angiographically positive and negative areas. Experimentally, some eyes (n = 11) first received ICG aqueous angiography to determine angiographic patterns. These eyes then underwent trabecular micro-bypass sham or stent placement in regions initially devoid of angiographic signal. This was followed by fluorescein aqueous angiography to query the effects. Results Aqueous angiography in human eyes yielded high-quality images with segmental patterns. Distally, angiographically positive but not negative areas demonstrated intrascleral lumens on OCT images. Aqueous angiography with fluorescent dextrans led to their trapping in AHO pathways. Trabecular bypass but not sham in regions initially devoid of ICG aqueous angiography led to increased aqueous angiography as assessed by fluorescein (P = 0.043). Conclusions Using sequential aqueous angiography in an enucleated human eye model system, regions initially without angiographic flow or signal could be recruited for AHO using a trabecular bypass stent. PMID:27588614

Infant humor perception from 3- to 6-months and attachment at one year.

PubMed

Mireault, Gina; Sparrow, John; Poutre, Merlin; Perdue, Brittany; Macke, Laura

2012-12-01

Infancy is a critical time for the development of secure attachment, which is facilitated by emotionally synchronous interactions with parents. Humor development, which includes shared laughter and joint attention to an event, emerges concurrently with attachment, but little is known regarding the relationship, if any, between humor development and attachment in the first year. Thirty 3-month-old infants were videoed at home each month until they were 6-months old while their parents attempted to amuse them. Frequency of infants' smiles and laughs served as a measure of "state humor", and the smiling/laughing subscale of the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised served as a measure of "trait humor". State and trait humor were not correlated. Lower trait humor as 6 months predicted higher attachment security on the Attachment Q-sort at 12-months (r=.46), suggesting that less good-humored infants elicit greater parental engagement, which works to the benefit of attachment, or vice versa. Future studies should examine the importance of smiling and laughter as they relate to other developmental phenomena in the first year. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Laughter, Humor, and Cancer: Delicate Moments and Poignant Interactional Circumstances.

PubMed

Beach, Wayne A; Prickett, Erin

2017-07-01

Conversation analysis is employed to examine transcribed excerpts drawn from a subsample of 75 naturally occurring and video recorded interviews between cancer patients and 30 doctors. Close examination is provided of how cancer patients initiate, and doctors respond, to laughter and humor during oncology interviews. Interactions demonstrate that communication about the disease "cancer" shares qualities similar to other medical areas (e.g., primary care): the tendency for patients to initiate laughter or humor to address troubling and challenging circumstances; and that during moments when patients address personal matters, doctors are not invited and do not reciprocate with shared laughter and humor. Prominent in talk about cancer are various precarious circumstances, awkward and delicate moments mirroring the lived experiences of cancer patients (e.g., when patients attempt to minimize fears, justify that they are well when threatened with sickness, claim normality in the midst of chronic conditions, and take stances that weight loss and gain are not problematic). These examples provide a compelling case that routine cancer care involves many poignant situations managed through laughter and humor. Implications are raised for how quality care might be improved through grounded understandings of laughter, humor, and cancer.

Role of Humor in the Persuasiveness of Entertainment Narratives on Unprotected Sexual Behavior.

PubMed

Futerfas, Michelle L; Nan, Xiaoli

2017-04-01

Past research involving the persuasive impact of entertainment narratives on health attitudes and behavior has largely been limited to dramatic narratives. The current research focuses on humorous narratives related to unprotected sex. We conducted an experiment (N = 161) in which female viewers were exposed to a humorous story line about unprotected sex, an identical story line with humor edited out, or a story line unrelated to unprotected sex. Our findings suggested that humor increased perceived severity of unintended pregnancy, while having no effect on counterarguing. Also, the presence of humor reduced behavioral intentions to engage in unprotected sex. Implications of the findings for safe sex communication are discussed.

Newspaper Humor: Tool for Critical Thinking and Reading Abilities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Whitmer, Jean E.

Intended as a supplementary resource for teachers, this paper focuses on using humor to develop students' critical thinking and reading abilities. The paper suggests many newspaper humor activities for predicting word meanings through context clues, including the meanings of words in isolation and in context, in headlines, and in the comics. Next,…

The impact of humorous media on attitudes toward persons with disabilities.

PubMed

Smedema, Susan Miller; Ebener, Deborah; Grist-Gordon, Virginia

2012-01-01

To examine the relationship between disability-related humor and attitudes toward persons with disabilities in business students (i.e. "future employers"). Students watched one of two films designed to reduce negative attitudes toward persons with disabilities (one humorous in tone and the other serious in tone) or no film at all, and completed a measure of attitudes toward persons with disabilities. Results indicated that, after controlling for previous contact with persons with disabilities, age, and gender, students who watched the humorous film reported significantly more positive attitudes toward persons with disabilities. Disability humor may be an effective means of positively influencing attitudes toward persons with disabilities in future employers. [ • The acceptance and integration of persons with disabilities into society continues to be limited by negative attitudes.• Previous research has shown that employers with positive attitudes toward persons with disabilities maybe more likely to hire a person with a disability than employers with negative attitudes.• In this study, students who watched a humorous film reported significantly more positive attitudes toward persons with disabilities than students who watched a serious film or no film at all.• Consequently, it may be beneficial to embed disability humor into job-placement strategies in order to improve attitudes and positively influence hiring decisions.

Is an Ideal Sense of Humor Gendered? A Cross-National Study.

PubMed

Tosun, Sümeyra; Faghihi, Nafiseh; Vaid, Jyotsna

2018-01-01

To explore lay conceptions of characteristics of an ideal sense of humor as embodied in a known individual, our study examined elicited written narratives by male and female participants from three different countries of origin: United States, Iran, and Turkey. As reported in an earlier previous study with United States-based participants (Crawford and Gressley, 1991), our study also found that the embodiment of an ideal sense of humor was predominantly a male figure. This effect was more pronounced for male than for female participants but did not differ by country. Relative mention of specific humor characteristics differed by participant gender and by country of origin. Whereas all groups mentioned creativity most often as a component of an ideal sense of humor, this attribute was mentioned significantly more often by Americans than by the other two groups; hostility/sarcasm was also mentioned significantly more often by Americans than Turkish participants who mentioned it more often than Iranian participants. Caring was mentioned significantly more often by Americans and Iranians than by Turkish participants. These findings show a shared pattern of humor characteristics by gender but group differences in the relative prominence given to specific humor characteristics. Further work is needed to corroborate the group differences observed and to pinpoint their source.

Multi-level Quantum Mechanics and Molecular Mechanics Study of Ring Opening Process of Guanine Damage by Hydroxyl Radical in Aqueous Solution.

PubMed

Liu, Peng; Wang, Qiong; Niu, Meixing; Wang, Dunyou

2017-08-10

Combining multi-level quantum mechanics theories and molecular mechanics with an explicit water model, we investigated the ring opening process of guanine damage by hydroxyl radical in aqueous solution. The detailed, atomic-level ring-opening mechanism along the reaction pathway was revealed in aqueous solution at the CCSD(T)/MM levels of theory. The potentials of mean force in aqueous solution were calculated at both the DFT/MM and CCSD(T)/MM levels of the theory. Our study found that the aqueous solution has a significant effect on this reaction in solution. In particular, by comparing the geometries of the stationary points between in gas phase and in aqueous solution, we found that the aqueous solution has a tremendous impact on the torsion angles much more than on the bond lengths and bending angles. Our calculated free-energy barrier height 31.6 kcal/mol at the CCSD(T)/MM level of theory agrees well with the one obtained based on gas-phase reaction profile and free energies of solvation. In addition, the reaction path in gas phase was also mapped using multi-level quantum mechanics theories, which shows a reaction barrier at 19.2 kcal/mol at the CCSD(T) level of theory, agreeing very well with a recent ab initio calculation result at 20.8 kcal/mol.

Is Laughing at the Expense of Victims and Offenders a Red Flag? Humor and Secondary Traumatic Stress.

PubMed

Craun, Sarah W; Bourke, Michael L

2015-01-01

Those who work with human trauma often use humor to handle job stressors. Research has demonstrated that lighthearted humor is related to lower secondary traumatic stress scores, while gallows humor has the inverse relationship. This work explores how three types of humor relate to secondary traumatic stress: (a) humor at the expense of victims, (b) humor at the expense of offenders, and (c) humor containing sexual innuendo. Internet crimes against children taskforce personnel completed questionnaires about secondary traumatic stress and coping techniques. Humor at the expense of victims was rarely used, but when it was, it was indicative of higher secondary traumatic stress. There were no relationships between secondary traumatic stress and the use of humor at the expense of offenders or humor containing sexual innuendo.

Contribution of anti-Hsp70.1 IgG antibody levels to the diagnostic certainty of clinically suspected ocular toxoplasmosis.

PubMed

Chumpitazi, Bernabé F F; Bouillet, Laurence; Fricker-Hidalgo, Hélène; Lacharme, Tiffany; Romanet, Jean-Paul; Massot, Christian; Chiquet, Christophe; Pelloux, Hervé

2010-11-01

Laboratory diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis, the major cause of posterior uveitis worldwide, can be improved. Heat shock protein (Hsp) 70 is involved in cellular infection by Toxoplasma gondii but also in the immune response to this parasite. The authors postulate that infected patients may exhibit serum IgG anti-Hsp70.1 antibodies and that determining the presence of these antibodies could improve the diagnosis of suspected ocular toxoplasmosis. This retrospective case-control study included 26 laboratory-confirmed cases of ocular toxoplasmosis (group A), 41 clinically suspected cases (group B), and 67 currently healthy blood donors who were chronically infected with T. gondii (group C). Laboratory and clinical data were analyzed according to the ocular presentation and Goldmann-Witmer's coefficient. Serum and aqueous humor were sampled at the time of uveitis. Serum anti-Hsp70.1 antibody levels were obtained by ELISA. The probability of ocular toxoplasmosis was estimated by a logistic regression analysis that combined data from serum IgG anti-Hsp70.1 and aqueous-humor IgG anti-T. gondii antibody levels. Serum IgG anti-Hsp70.1 antibody levels were significantly increased in groups A and B when compared to the levels in control group C (P ≤ 0.0034). These levels correlated with the retinal lesion size (r = 0.301; P < 0.0349). Logistic probability and anti-Hsp70.1 antibodies in sera confirmed that 10 of 23 cases in group B were true ocular toxoplasmosis. Anti-Hsp70 may play a role in the immunopathogenesis of ocular Toxoplasma infection. This study showed that the anti-Hsp70.1 antibody and the logistic probability test can confirm clinically suspected ocular toxoplasmosis.

Group Time: Taking a "Humor Break" at Group Time

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Church, Ellen Booth

2005-01-01

January is a perfect time to insert a strong dose of humor into group time gatherings. Oftentimes, children have tired of the predictable pattern of group meetings and need some change. Humor-filled group time activities can be the best secret remedy. Not only will children become more interested in the group time meetings (and therefore listen…

Effects of subclinical inflammation on C-reactive protein and haptoglobin levels as well as specific humoral immunity in dogs vaccinated against canine distemper and parvovirus.

PubMed

Romiszewski, Przemysław; Kostro, Krzysztof; Lisiecka, Urszula

2018-03-05

The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of subclinical inflammation on specific humoral immunity in dogs vaccinated with Nobivac® DHP based on serum levels of CRP and Hp. Dogs from the group I were administered Nobivac® DHP, the vaccine against distemper, infectious hepatitis and parvovirus whereas group II animals received subcutaneous turpentine oil to induce subclinical inflammation, followed by Nobivac® DHP after 24 h. Animals in group III received only turpentine oil in the way and amount identical to that as in group II. Nobivac DHP relatively poorly induced the immune inflammatory response showing good immunogenic properties, which was evidenced by only a double increase in mean CRP and Hp levels associated with antigenic stimulation in group I. In group II, serum neutralization (SN) and haemagglutination inhibition (HI) results were quite closely correlated with serum levels of CPR and Hp. Our findings suggest that the efficacy of vaccinations in dogs can be significantly affected by subclinical inflammations, which is indicated by a correlation between serum CRP and Hp levels versus antibody titres for canine distemper and parvovirus in both experimental groups of dogs (group I and II). The correlation of mean CRP and Hp values in dogs with subclinical inflammation and after vaccination with the kinetics of increasing antibody titres against distemper and parvovirus in group II dogs reflects the severity of inflammatory response and the extent of specific humoral immunity. Routine determinations of serum CRP and Hp levels as the indices of inflammation severity can be the essential biochemical markers for assessment of dogs' health in the period preceding specific immunoprophylaxis and efficacy of the vaccine.

Experimentally Manipulating Items Informs on the (Limited) Construct and Criterion Validity of the Humor Styles Questionnaire

PubMed Central

Ruch, Willibald; Heintz, Sonja

2017-01-01

How strongly does humor (i.e., the construct-relevant content) in the Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ; Martin et al., 2003) determine the responses to this measure (i.e., construct validity)? Also, how much does humor influence the relationships of the four HSQ scales, namely affiliative, self-enhancing, aggressive, and self-defeating, with personality traits and subjective well-being (i.e., criterion validity)? The present paper answers these two questions by experimentally manipulating the 32 items of the HSQ to only (or mostly) contain humor (i.e., construct-relevant content) or to substitute the humor content with non-humorous alternatives (i.e., only assessing construct-irrelevant context). Study 1 (N = 187) showed that the HSQ affiliative scale was mainly determined by humor, self-enhancing and aggressive were determined by both humor and non-humorous context, and self-defeating was primarily determined by the context. This suggests that humor is not the primary source of the variance in three of the HQS scales, thereby limiting their construct validity. Study 2 (N = 261) showed that the relationships of the HSQ scales to the Big Five personality traits and subjective well-being (positive affect, negative affect, and life satisfaction) were consistently reduced (personality) or vanished (subjective well-being) when the non-humorous contexts in the HSQ items were controlled for. For the HSQ self-defeating scale, the pattern of relationships to personality was also altered, supporting an positive rather than a negative view of the humor in this humor style. The present findings thus call for a reevaluation of the role that humor plays in the HSQ (construct validity) and in the relationships to personality and well-being (criterion validity). PMID:28473794

Friendship, Intimacy and Humor

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gordon, Mordechai

2014-01-01

A review of the literature in philosophy in the past 20 years indicates that relatively little has been written on the connection between friendship, intimacy and humor. This article is intended to begin to address the neglect of this topic among philosophers by focusing on some interesting aspects of the relationship between friendship, intimacy…

Ocular topotecan pharmacokinetics following topical administration to rabbits for diffused anterior retinoblastoma.

PubMed

Taich, Paula; Del Sole, Maria; Buontempo, Fabian; Williams, Gustavo; Winter, Ursula; Sgroi, Mariana; Chantada, Guillermo; Schaiquevich, Paula

2017-05-01

We characterized and compared the in-vivo absorption of topotecan into the aqueous humor after instillation of aqueous and ointment formulations. A lanolin/petrolatum ointment was used. New Zealand rabbits were instilled with topotecan solution (6 μg, group A), a single 10 μg dose of topotecan ointment (group B) or with five 10 μg doses of topotecan ointment (group C). Aqueous humor samples were collected at different times. Corneal samples were collected only for group A. Topotecan was quantified using HPLC, and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated. Acute corneal epithelial toxicity was assessed after multiple instillations of topotecan ointment. Total topotecan maximum aqueous humor concentration (C max ) was 16.1, 69.9 and 287 ng/ml in group A, B and C, respectively. A single dose of topotecan ointment increased threefold and sevenfold the aqueous humor C max , and exposure compared to the aqueous formulation. Aqueous humor concentrations from group C eyes were substantially above the cytotoxic concentration for retinoblastoma cells. No corneal toxicity was evident after ointment instillation. Topotecan penetrated into the aqueous humor of the rabbit eye after multiple doses of an ointment in concentrations pharmacologically active against retinoblastoma cells without eliciting acute toxicity. Topotecan ointment may translate to the clinical treatment of anterior segment disseminated retinoblastoma. © 2016 Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

Humoral responses to independent vaccinations are correlated in healthy boosted adults

PubMed Central

Garman, Lori; Vineyard, Amanda J.; Crowe, Sherry R.; Harley, John B.; Spooner, Christina E.; Collins, Limone C.; Nelson, Michael R.; Engler, Renata J.M.; James, Judith A.

2015-01-01

Background Roughly half of U.S. adults do not receive recommended booster vaccinations, but protective antibody levels are rarely measured in adults. Demographic factors, vaccination history, and responses to other vaccinations could help identify at-risk individuals. We sought to characterize rates of seroconversion and determine associations of humoral responses to multiple vaccinations in healthy adults. Methods Humoral responses toward measles, mumps, tetanus toxoid, pertussis, hepatitis B surface antigen, and anthrax protective antigen were measured by ELISA in post-immunization samples from 1,465 healthy U.S. military members. We examined the effects of demographic and clinical factors on immunization responses, as well as assessed correlations between vaccination responses. Results Subsets of boosted adults did not have seroprotective levels of antibodies toward measles (10.4%), mumps (9.4%), pertussis (4.7%), hepatitis B (8.6%) or protective antigen (14.4%) detected. Half-lives of antibody responses were generally long (>30 years). Measles and mumps antibody levels were correlated (r=0.31, p<0.001), but not associated with select demographic features or vaccination history. Measles and mumps antibody levels also correlated with tetanus antibody response (r=0.11, p<0.001). Conclusions Vaccination responses are predominantly robust and vaccine specific. However, a small but significant portion of the vaccinated adult population may not have quantitative seroprotective antibody to common vaccine-preventable infections. PMID:25140930

Humoral responses to independent vaccinations are correlated in healthy boosted adults.

PubMed

Garman, Lori; Vineyard, Amanda J; Crowe, Sherry R; Harley, John B; Spooner, Christina E; Collins, Limone C; Nelson, Michael R; Engler, Renata J M; James, Judith A

2014-09-29

Roughly half of U.S. adults do not receive recommended booster vaccinations, but protective antibody levels are rarely measured in adults. Demographic factors, vaccination history, and responses to other vaccinations could help identify at-risk individuals. We sought to characterize rates of seroconversion and determine associations of humoral responses to multiple vaccinations in healthy adults. Humoral responses toward measles, mumps, tetanus toxoid, pertussis, hepatitis B surface antigen, and anthrax protective antigen were measured by ELISA in post-immunization samples from 1465 healthy U.S. military members. We examined the effects of demographic and clinical factors on immunization responses, as well as assessed correlations between vaccination responses. Subsets of boosted adults did not have seroprotective levels of antibodies toward measles (10.4%), mumps (9.4%), pertussis (4.7%), hepatitis B (8.6%) or protective antigen (14.4%) detected. Half-lives of antibody responses were generally long (>30 years). Measles and mumps antibody levels were correlated (r=0.31, p<0.001), but not associated with select demographic features or vaccination history. Measles and mumps antibody levels also correlated with tetanus antibody response (r=0.11, p<0.001). Vaccination responses are predominantly robust and vaccine specific. However, a small but significant portion of the vaccinated adult population may not have quantitative seroprotective antibody to common vaccine-preventable infections. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

BILLBOARD EXPRESSING LOCAL HUMOR CONCERNING FLOOD DAMAGE TO WALNUT STREET ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

BILLBOARD EXPRESSING LOCAL HUMOR CONCERNING FLOOD DAMAGE TO WALNUT STREET BRIDGE, I-83 SOUTHBOUND, LOOKING WEST. BILLBOARD EXPRESSING LOCAL HUMOR CONCERNING FLOOD DAMAGE TO WALNUT STREET BRIDGE, I-83 SOUTHBOUND, LOOKING WEST. - Walnut Street Bridge, Spanning Susquehanna River at Walnut Street (State Route 3034), Harrisburg, Dauphin County, PA

Subversion or Socialization? Humor and Carnival in Morris Gleitzman's Texts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

James, Kathryn

2004-01-01

Like their counterparts elsewhere, Australian children favour humorous novels; comedic writers consistently dominate the preteen and early teen fiction market in Australia. Regardless of its popularity, however, in comparison to more serious writing, humorous literature has received little critical attention. Of the studies aimed at this area,…

Stimulus Characteristics Affect Humor Processing in Individuals with Asperger Syndrome

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Samson, Andrea C.; Hegenloh, Michael

2010-01-01

The present paper aims to investigate whether individuals with Asperger syndrome (AS) show global humor processing deficits or whether humor comprehension and appreciation depends on stimulus characteristics. Non-verbal visual puns, semantic and Theory of Mind cartoons were rated on comprehension, funniness and the punchlines were explained. AS…

The Relationship between Instructor Humor Orientation and Students' Report on Second Language Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ziyaeemehr, Ali; Kumar, Vijay

2014-01-01

Humor is an integral component of any language and therefore has an impact on the way languages are acquired/learned. Numerous studies have investigated the role of instructor humor in teaching/learning processes; however, there is little empirical research on the relationship between instructor humor and learning of a second language. This paper…

Humor adds the creative touch to CQI teams.

PubMed

Balzer, J W

1994-07-01

The health care industry is looking to continuous quality improvement as a process to both improve patient care and promote cost effectiveness. Interdisciplinary teams are learning to work together and to use data-driven problem solving. Humor adds a creative and welcome touch to the process that makes it easier and more fun to work in teams. The team leader or facilitator who uses humor along the journey sanctions the risk-taking behavior that accompanies creative solutions to tough problems.

Humor, laughter, and the cerebellum: insights from patients with acute cerebellar stroke.

PubMed

Frank, B; Andrzejewski, K; Göricke, S; Wondzinski, E; Siebler, M; Wild, B; Timmann, D

2013-12-01

Extent of cerebellar involvement in cognition and emotion is still a topic of ongoing research. In particular, the cerebellar role in humor processing and control of laughter is not well known. A hypermetric dysregulation of affective behavior has been assumed in cerebellar damage. Thus, we aimed at investigating humor comprehension and appreciation as well as the expression of laughter in 21 patients in the acute or subacute state after stroke restricted to the cerebellum, and in the same number of matched healthy control subjects. Patients with acute and subacute cerebellar damage showed preserved comprehension and appreciation of humor using a validated humor test evaluating comprehension, funniness and aversiveness of cartoons ("3WD Humor Test"). Additionally, there was no difference when compared to healthy controls in the number and intensity of facial reactions and laughter while observing jokes, humorous cartoons, or video sketches measured by the Facial Action Coding System. However, as depression scores were significantly increased in patients with cerebellar stroke, a concealing effect of accompanying depression cannot be excluded. Current findings add to descriptions in the literature that cognitive or affective disorders in patients with lesions restricted to the cerebellum, even in the acute state after damage, are frequently mild and might only be present in more sensitive or specific tests.

Increased Biodiversity in the Environment Improves the Humoral Response of Rats

PubMed Central

Pi, Cinthia; Allott, Emma H.; Ren, Daniel; Poulton, Susan; Lee, S. Y. Ryan; Perkins, Sarah; Everett, Mary Lou; Holzknecht, Zoie E.; Lin, Shu S.; Parker, William

2015-01-01

Previous studies have compared the immune systems of wild and of laboratory rodents in an effort to determine how laboratory rodents differ from their naturally occurring relatives. This comparison serves as an indicator of what sorts of changes might exist between modern humans living in Western culture compared to our hunter-gatherer ancestors. However, immunological experiments on wild-caught animals are difficult and potentially confounded by increased levels of stress in the captive animals. In this study, the humoral immune responses of laboratory rats in a traditional laboratory environment and in an environment with enriched biodiversity were examined following immunization with a panel of antigens. Biodiversity enrichment included colonization of the laboratory animals with helminths and co-housing the laboratory animals with wild-caught rats. Increased biodiversity did not apparently affect the IgE response to peanut antigens following immunization with those antigens. However, animals housed in the enriched biodiversity setting demonstrated an increased mean humoral response to T-independent and T-dependent antigens and increased levels of “natural” antibodies directed at a xenogeneic protein and at an autologous tissue extract that were not used as immunogens. PMID:25853852

Using the Pecha Kucha Speech to Analyze and Train Humor Skills

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Waisanen, Don

2018-01-01

Courses: Public speaking; communication courses requiring speeches. Objective: Students will learn how to apply humor principles to speeches through a slideshow method supportive of this goal, and to become more discerning about the possibilities and pitfalls of humorous communication.

Stress Management Strategies for Students: The Immediate Effects of Yoga, Humor, and Reading on Stress

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rizzolo, Denise; Zipp, Genevieve Pinto; Stiskal, Doreen; Simpkins, Susan

2009-01-01

Background: Health science programs can be demanding and difficult for many students, leading to high levels of stress. High levels of stress can have a negative effect on students and subsequently the practicing clinician. Research suggests that yoga, humor, and reading are simple, effective methods to help reduce stress. To date no research…

He Who Laughs First: The Importance of Humor to Young Children.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Krogh, Suzanne

1985-01-01

Reviews current theories of humor development, discusses the interaction of humor with other developmental areas (including cognitive development, personality development, creativity, and moral development), and suggests ways in which research can be applied in the early childhood classroom. (Author/DST)

Did You Hear the One about...? Humor in the Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Paterson, Jim

2006-01-01

Used properly, humor can be a valuable educational tool. It also helps middle school students cope with many of the personal issues that arise and focus on school, and helps teachers connect with their students. From silly costumes to movie music, this article describes how some teachers and administrators incorporate humor into their daily school…

The Use of Humor in Serious Mental Illness: A Review

PubMed Central

Gelkopf, Marc

2011-01-01

There is now a relatively good understanding of the broad range of direct and indirect effects of humor and laughter on perceptions, attitudes, judgments and emotions, which can potentially benefit the physical and psychological state. This article presents a review and discussion of the use of humor and laughter in treating people with serious mental illness, distinguishing between clinical papers on individual and group psychotherapy, and empirical research reports describing humor and laughter interventions. In spite of the exponential growth of the field over the last 30 years, I conclude that empirical studies are still lacking, the studies that do exist have major methodological shortcomings, and the field is in dire need of further investigation. PMID:19687190

Dissecting polyclonal vaccine-induced humoral immunity against HIV using Systems Serology

PubMed Central

Chung, Amy W.; Kumar, Manu P.; Arnold, Kelly B.; Yu, Wen Han; Schoen, Matthew K.; Dunphy, Laura J.; Suscovich, Todd J.; Frahm, Nicole; Linde, Caitlyn; Mahan, Alison E.; Hoffner, Michelle; Streeck, Hendrik; Ackerman, Margaret E.; McElrath, M. Juliana; Schuitemaker, Hanneke; Pau, Maria G.; Baden, Lindsey R.; Kim, Jerome H.; Michael, Nelson L.; Barouch, Dan H.; Lauffenburger, Douglas A.; Alter, Galit

2017-01-01

While antibody titers and neutralization are considered the gold standard for the selection of successful vaccines, these parameters are often inadequate predictors of protective immunity. As antibodies mediate an array of extra-neutralizing Fc-functions, when neutralization fails to predict protection, investigating Fc-mediated activity may help identify immunological correlates and mechanism(s) of humoral protection. Here, we used an integrative approach termed Systems Serology to analyze relationships among humoral responses elicited in four HIV vaccine-trials. Each vaccine regimen induced a unique humoral “Fc-fingerprint”. Moreover, analysis of case:control data from the first moderately protective HIV vaccine trial, RV144, pointed to mechanistic insights into immune complex composition that may underlie protective immunity to HIV. Thus, multi-dimensional relational comparisons of vaccine humoral fingerprints offer a unique approach for the evaluation and design of novel vaccines against pathogens for which correlates of protection remain elusive. PMID:26544943

Effects of Humor on Teacher Stress, Affect, and Job Satisfaction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shirley, Jacqueline Dena

2013-01-01

Teachers are at high risk for stress, negative emotion, and job dissatisfaction, which has been linked with health problems and early attrition. Humor has been found to relieve various forms of stress. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding humor effects on teacher stress and its related consequences. The purpose of this quantitative,…

Humoral immune response of the small-spotted catshark, Scyliorhinus canicula.

PubMed

Crouch, Kathryn; Smith, Lauren E; Williams, Rebecca; Cao, Wei; Lee, Mike; Jensen, Allan; Dooley, Helen

2013-05-01

Cartilaginous fishes are the oldest group in which an adaptive immune system based on immunoglobulin-superfamily members is found. This manuscript compares humoral immune function in small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) with that described for spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias), another member of the Squalomorphi superorder, and nurse shark, the model for humoral immunity in elasmobranchs and a member of the Galeomorphi superorder. Although small-spotted catshark and nurse shark are separated by over 200 million years we found that immunoglobulin isoforms are well conserved between the two species. However, the plasma protein profile of small-spotted catshark was most similar to that of spiny dogfish, with low levels of pentameric IgM, and IgNAR present as a multimer in plasma rather than a monomer. We show that an antigen-specific monomeric IgM response, with a profile similar to that described previously for nurse sharks, can be raised in small-spotted catshark. Lacking polyclonal or monoclonal antibody reagents for detecting catshark IgNAR we investigated phage-display and recombinant Fc-fusion protein expression as alternative methods to look for an antigen-specific response for this isotype. However, we could find no evidence of an antigen-specific IgNAR in the animals tested using either of these techniques. Thus, unlike nurse sharks where antigen-specific monomeric IgM and IgNAR appear together, it seems there may be a temporal or complete 'uncoupling' of these isotypes during a humoral response in the small-spotted catshark. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Permeability and diffusion in vitreous humor: implications for drug delivery.

PubMed

Xu, J; Heys, J J; Barocas, V H; Randolph, T W

2000-06-01

Previous experimental work suggests that convection may be important in determining the biodistribution of drugs implanted or injected in the vitreous humor. To develop accurate biodistribution models, the relative importance of diffusion and convection in intravitreal transport must be assessed. This requires knowledge of both the diffusivity of candidate drugs and the hydraulic conductivity of the vitreous humor. Hydraulic conductivity of cadaveric bovine vitreous humor was measured by confined compression tests at constant loads of 0.15 and 0.2 N and analyzed numerically using a two-phase model. Diffusion coefficient of acid orange 8, a model compound, in the same medium was measured in a custom-built diffusion cell. Acid orange 8 diffusivity within vitreous humor is about half that in free solution. When viscous effects are properly accounted for, the hydraulic conductivity of bovine vitreous humor is 8.4+/-4.5 x 10(-7) cm2/Pa x s. We predict that convection does not contribute significantly to transport in the mouse eye, particularly for low-molecular-weight compounds. For delivery to larger animals, such as humans we conclude that convection accounts for roughly 30% of the total intravitreal drug transport. This effect should be magnified for higher-molecular-weight compounds, which diffuse more slowly, and in glaucoma, which involves higher intraocular pressure and thus potentially faster convective flow. Thus, caution should be exercised in the extrapolation of small-animal-model biodistribution data to human scale.

Humoral and cellular immunity in chromium picolinate-supplemented lambs.

PubMed

Dallago, B S L; McManus, C M; Caldeira, D F; Campeche, A; Burtet, R T; Paim, T P; Gomes, E F; Branquinho, R P; Braz, S V; Louvandini, H

2013-08-01

The effects of oral supplementation of chromium picolinate (CrPic) on humoral and cellular immunity in sheep were investigated. Twenty-four male lambs divided into four treatments and received different dosages of CrPic: placebo (0), 0.250, 0.375, and 0.500 mg of chromium/animal/day during 84 days. The base ration was Panicum maximum cv Massai hay and concentrate. Blood samples were collected fortnightly for total and differential leukocyte counts. On days 28 and 56, the lambs were challenged with chicken ovalbumin I.M. Serum samples were collected on days 46 and 74 and subjected to an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure IgG anti-ovalbumin. The cell-mediated immune response was determined by a delay-type hypersensitivity test using phytohemagglutinin. CrPic did not significantly affect humoral immunity in lambs but there was a negative effect on cellular immunity (P < 0.05) as Cr supplementation increased. Therefore, the level of Cr supplementation for lambs must be better studied to address its effect on stressed animals or the possible toxic effects of Cr on the animal itself or its immune system.

Effect of aqueous and hydro-alcoholic extracts of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) seed on testosterone level and spermatogenesis in NMRI mice.

PubMed

Ahangarpour, Akram; Oroojan, Ali Akbar; Radan, Maryam

2014-01-01

One of the considerable uses of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) seed in traditional medicine has been to reduce semen, sperm and sexuality. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aqueous and hydro-alcoholic extracts of lettuce seed on testosterone level and spermatogenesis. In this experimental study 24 adult male NMRI mice weighing 20-25gr were purchased. Animals were randomly divided into 4 groups: controls, hydro-alcoholic (200 mg/kg) and aqueous extracts (50, 100mg/kg). The extracts were injected intraperitoneally once a day for 10 consecutive days. 2 weeks after the last injection, the mice were anaesthetized by ether and after laparatomy blood was collected from the heart to determine testosterone by ELISA assay kit. Then testis and cauda epididymis of all animals were removed for analyzing testis morphology and sperm count and viability. Testis weight in hydro-alcoholic and aqueous extracts 100 mg/kg (p=0.001) and aqueous extract 50 mg/kg (p=0.008) groups was increased. Sperm viability in hydro-alcoholic (p=0.001) and aqueous extracts 50 (p=0.026), 100 mg/kg (p=0.045) groups was decreased, Also the results showed a significant decrease in sperm count in hydro-alcoholic (p=0.035) and aqueous extracts 50 mg/kg (p=0.006) groups in comparison with control group. Also there was a significant increase in serum level of testosterone in aqueous extract 50 mg/kg group in comparison with control (p=0.002) hydro-alcoholic (p=0.001) and aqueous extracts 100 mg/kg (p=0.003) groups. Present results demonstrated that hydro-alcoholic and aqueous 50 mg/kg extracts of lettuce seed have antispermatogenic effects, also aqueous extract 50 mg/kg increased serum level of testosterone in mice. Therefore we can suggest that lettuce seed could be a potential contraceptive agent. This article extracted from M.Sc. student research project. (Ali Akbar Oroojan).

Effect of aqueous and hydro-alcoholic extracts of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) seed on testosterone level and spermatogenesis in NMRI mice

PubMed Central

Ahangarpour, Akram; Oroojan, Ali Akbar; Radan, Maryam

2014-01-01

Background: One of the considerable uses of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) seed in traditional medicine has been to reduce semen, sperm and sexuality. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aqueous and hydro-alcoholic extracts of lettuce seed on testosterone level and spermatogenesis. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study 24 adult male NMRI mice weighing 20-25gr were purchased. Animals were randomly divided into 4 groups: controls, hydro-alcoholic (200 mg/kg) and aqueous extracts (50, 100mg/kg). The extracts were injected intraperitoneally once a day for 10 consecutive days. 2 weeks after the last injection, the mice were anaesthetized by ether and after laparatomy blood was collected from the heart to determine testosterone by ELISA assay kit. Then testis and cauda epididymis of all animals were removed for analyzing testis morphology and sperm count and viability. Results: Testis weight in hydro-alcoholic and aqueous extracts 100 mg/kg (p=0.001) and aqueous extract 50 mg/kg (p=0.008) groups was increased. Sperm viability in hydro-alcoholic (p=0.001) and aqueous extracts 50 (p=0.026), 100 mg/kg (p=0.045) groups was decreased, Also the results showed a significant decrease in sperm count in hydro-alcoholic (p=0.035) and aqueous extracts 50 mg/kg (p=0.006) groups in comparison with control group. Also there was a significant increase in serum level of testosterone in aqueous extract 50 mg/kg group in comparison with control (p=0.002) hydro-alcoholic (p=0.001) and aqueous extracts 100 mg/kg (p=0.003) groups. Conclusion: Present results demonstrated that hydro-alcoholic and aqueous 50 mg/kg extracts of lettuce seed have antispermatogenic effects, also aqueous extract 50 mg/kg increased serum level of testosterone in mice. Therefore we can suggest that lettuce seed could be a potential contraceptive agent. This article extracted from M.Sc. student research project. (Ali Akbar Oroojan) PMID:24799863

The imperative of humor in the portfolio of communication strategies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alley, R. B.; White, J. W. C.

2017-12-01

Communicating geophysics often challenges scientists because the results often challenge the users of the information. We can bring good news, but far more often we are warning about impending disaster from hurricane or earthquake, landslide or sea-level rise. Much of our work is publicly funded, and thus carries the obligation to make the results useful, not just available. Our leading responsibility is to get the research right, because everything else rests on that foundation. But, beyond that, scholarship shows clearly that we must adopt multiple communication paths, with a wide range of spokespersons and techniques. Humor can ease a challenging situation, capture the attention of the unengaged, and make things easier for all involved, including the occasionally stressed scientists. The juxtaposition of a light touch with heavy science is often worthwhile for those willing to try it. Bungy jumping for science, or warning about tsunamis with Johnny Cash songs, may not be for everyone, but many geophysicists can come up with better, humorous ways to really connect, helping fulfill their obligation to the public.

Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Using Humor in Education but Were Afraid to Laugh.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kelly, William E.

The importance of laughter and humor to enhance education, and special education in particular, is addressed. A sense of humor is an attitude, and humor together with enthusiasm helps students enjoy the learning process. Humor can make students become more alert, and can have very positive influences on affect. A funny remark, a pleasant…

Learning to Laugh at Ourselves: Humor, Self-Transcendence, and the Cultivation of Moral Virtues

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gordon, Mordechai

2010-01-01

In this essay Mordechai Gordon begins to address the neglect of humor among philosophers of education by focusing on some interesting connections between humor, self-transcendence, and the development of moral virtues. More specifically, he explores the kind of humor that makes fun of oneself and how it can affect educational encounters. Gordon…

Humor in the Classroom: Stu's Seven Simple Steps to Success

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hellman, Stuart V.

2007-01-01

So you want to use humor in your classroom but think it will be inappropriate? After all, you might be thinking, you teach a very serious subject and do not want to turn your classroom into a three-ring circus. But even when teaching technical courses as systems analysis and computer programming, you can still use humor effectively in the…

Statistics? You Must Be Joking: The Application and Evaluation of Humor when Teaching Statistics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Neumann, David L.; Hood, Michelle; Neumann, Michelle M.

2009-01-01

Humor has been promoted as a teaching tool that enhances student engagement and learning. The present report traces the pathway from research to practice by reflecting upon various ways to incorporate humor into the face-to-face teaching of statistics. The use of humor in an introductory university statistics course was evaluated via interviews…

Humor and Comparatives in Ads for High- and Low-Involvement Products.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wu, Bob T. W.; And Others

1989-01-01

Investigates the effectiveness of humor in advertising, comparative advertising, and consumer involvement with the product. Finds that humorous ads are more eye catching but less impressive and less sufficient in information than nonhumorous ads. Finds the performance of comparative ads is generally negative and especially so in the high…

Role of bacteria in the pathogenesis of recurrent uveitis in horses from the southeastern United States.

PubMed

Gilger, Brian C; Salmon, Jacklyn H; Yi, Na Y; Barden, Curtis A; Chandler, Heather L; Wendt, Jennifer A; Colitz, Carmen M H

2008-10-01

To determine the role of intraocular bacteria in the pathogenesis of equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) in horses from the southeastern United States by evaluating affected eyes of horses with ERU for bacterial DNA and intraocular production of antibodies against Leptospira spp. Aqueous humor, vitreous humor, and serum samples of 24 clinically normal horses, 52 horses with ERU, and 17 horses with ocular inflammation not associated with ERU (ie, non-ERU inflammation). Ribosomal RNA quantitative PCR (real-time PCR) assay was used to detect bacterial DNA in aqueous humor and vitreous humor from clinically normal horses (n = 12) and horses with chronic (> 3-month) ERU (28). Aqueous humor and serum were also evaluated for anti-Leptospira antibody titers from clinically normal horses (n = 12), horses with non-ERU inflammation (17), and horses with confirmed chronic ERU (24). Bacterial DNA was not detected in aqueous humor or vitreous humor of horses with ERU or clinically normal horses. No significant difference was found in titers of anti-Leptospira antibodies in serum or aqueous humor among these 3 groups. Only 2 horses, 1 horse with ERU and 1 horse with non-ERU inflammation, had definitive intraocular production of antibodies against Leptospira organisms. In horses from the southeastern United States, Leptospira organisms may have helped initiate ERU in some, but the continued presence of the organisms did not play a direct role in the pathogenesis of this recurrent disease.

Laughing Matters: Infant Humor in the Context of Parental Affect

PubMed Central

Mireault, Gina C.; Crockenberg, Susan C.; Sparrow, John E.; Cousineau, Kassandra; Pettinato, Christine; Woodard, Kelly

2015-01-01

Smiling and laughing appear very early in the first year, but little is known about how infants come to appraise a stimulus as humorous. This short-term longitudinal study explored infant humor perception from 5- to 7-months as a function of parental affect during an absurd event. Using a within-subjects design, parents alternated smiling/laughing with emotional neutrality while acting absurdly toward their infants. Group comparisons showed that infants (N = 37) at all ages smiled at the event regardless of parental affect, but significantly longer at 5 and 6 months , and more often and sooner at 7 months when parents provided humor cues. Similarly, sequential analyses revealed that after gazing at the event, 7-month-olds were only more likely to smile at it when parents provided humor cues, and were comparatively more likely to look away when parents were neutral. Thus, starting at 5 months, parental affect influenced infants’ affect toward an absurd event, an effect that was magnified at 7 months. These results are discussed in the context of emotional contagion, regulation, and the emergence of social referencing. PMID:25897958

Laughing matters: Infant humor in the context of parental affect.

PubMed

Mireault, Gina C; Crockenberg, Susan C; Sparrow, John E; Cousineau, Kassandra; Pettinato, Christine; Woodard, Kelly

2015-08-01

Smiling and laughing appear very early during the first year of life, but little is known about how infants come to appraise a stimulus as humorous. This short-term longitudinal study explored infant humor perception from 5 to 7 months of age as a function of parental affect during an absurd event. Using a within-participants design, parents alternated smiling/laughing with emotional neutrality while acting absurdly toward their infants. Group comparisons showed that infants (N = 37) at all ages smiled at the event regardless of parental affect but did so significantly longer at 5 and 6 months, and more often and sooner at 7 months, when parents provided humor cues. Similarly, sequential analyses revealed that after gazing at the event, 7-month-olds were more likely to smile at it only when parents provided humor cues and were comparatively more likely to look away when parents were neutral. Thus, starting at 5 months of age, parental affect influenced infants' affect toward an absurd event, an effect that was magnified at 7 months. These results are discussed in the context of emotional contagion, regulation, and the emergence of social referencing. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The power of humor and play as nursing interventions for a child with cancer: a case report.

PubMed

Frankenfield, P K

1996-01-01

Many benefits of humor and play have been documented in the literature. The purpose of this Case Report was to assess the benefits of humor and play with a 5-year-old retinoblastoma patient in an ambulatory care setting. The use of humor in the forms of tickling, joke-telling, play on words, funny movies, silly stickers, and medical play was found to be helpful in decreasing the anxiety of a pediatric oncology patient during insertion of his Infusaport needle. This article reviews the benefits of humor and play and provides a brief discussion of the developmental aspects of humor and play theory. Implications for further nursing research in the area of humor interventions are also discussed. The promotion of appropriate humor and play use by all health care professionals is encouraged.

The Role of Humor in Learning Physics: a Study of Undergraduate Students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berge, Maria

2017-04-01

We all know that they do it, but what do students laugh about when learning science together? Although research has shown that students do use humor when they learn science, the role of humor in science education has received little attention. In this study, undergraduate students' laughter during collaborative work in physics has been investigated. In order to do this, a framework inspired by conversation analysis has been used. Empirical data was drawn from two video-recorded sessions in which first-year engineering students solved physics problems together. The analysis revealed that the students' use of humor was almost exclusively related to physics. Five themes identified summarize the role of humor in the group discussions: Something is obvious, Something is difficult, Something said might be wrong, Something is absurd, and Something said is not within informal norms.

Effects of Anti-Tobacco Advertisements Based on Risk-Taking Tendencies: Realistic Fear vs. Vulgar Humor.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Moon J.; Ferguson, Mary Ann

2002-01-01

Explores how college students with different risk-taking tendencies responded to different emotional appeals in anti-tobacco advertisements. Finds that rebellious participants who watched realistic fear advertisements reported higher levels of interest than those who watched the vulgar humor advertisements. Explains that impulsive participants…

A Review of Humor for Computer Games: Play, Laugh and More

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dormann, Claire; Biddle, Robert

2009-01-01

Computer games are now becoming ways to communicate, teach, and influence attitudes and behavior. In this article, we address the role of humor in computer games, especially in support of serious purposes. We begin with a review of the main theories of humor, including superiority, incongruity, and relief. These theories and their…

Humorous Videos and Idiom Achievement: Some Pedagogical Considerations for EFL Learners

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Neissari, Malihe; Ashraf, Hamid; Ghorbani, Mohammad Reza

2017-01-01

Employing a quasi-experimental design, this study examined the efficacy of humorous idiom video clips on the achievement of Iranian undergraduate students studying English as a Foreign Language (EFL). Forty humorous video clips from the English Idiom Series called "The Teacher" from the BBC website were used to teach 120 idioms to 61…

Non Castigat Ridendo Mores: evaluating the effectiveness of humor appeal in printed advertisements for HIV/AIDS prevention in Italy.

PubMed

Soscia, Isabella; Turrini, Alex; Tanzi, Emilio

2012-01-01

This article investigates the effects of different emotional appeals in HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns using printed advertisements. More specifically, it examines the effectiveness of humor appeal compared with shock and fear appeals. The authors experimentally test the level of attention drawn and the spontaneous recall arising when young Italian adults are shown different HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns. Findings show that humor appeals are less effective than fear and shock appeals, evidencing the failures in HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns in Italy, a country where the former communication strategy has been used in substantive ways. The results also indicate the higher effectiveness of fear appeals (over shock and humor) in printed HIV/AIDS advertising campaigns. The implications of these results for further studies and for improving the design, implementation, and evaluation of HIV/AIDS campaign efforts are also discussed.

Infant Humor Perception from 3- to 6-months and Attachment at One Year

PubMed Central

Mireault, Gina; Sparrow, John; Poutre, Merlin; Perdue, Brittany; Macke, Laura

2012-01-01

Infancy is a critical time for the development of secure attachment, which is facilitated by emotionally synchronous interactions with parents. Humor development, which includes shared laughter and joint attention to an event, emerges concurrently with attachment, but little is known regarding the relationship, if any, between humor development and attachment in the first year. Thirty 3-month-old infants were videoed at home each month until they were 6-months old while their parents attempted to amuse them. Frequency of infants’ smiles and laughs served as a measure of “state humor”, and the smiling/laughing subscale of the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised served as a measure of “trait humor”. State and trait humor were not correlated. Lower trait humor as 6 months predicted higher attachment security on the Attachment Q-sort at 12-months (r=. 46), suggesting that less good-humored infants elicit greater parental engagement, which works to the benefit of attachment, or vice versa. Future studies should examine the importance of smiling and laughter as they relate to other developmental phenomena in the first year. PMID:22982281

How does psychopathy relate to humor and laughter? Dispositions toward ridicule and being laughed at, the sense of humor, and psychopathic personality traits.

PubMed

Proyer, René T; Flisch, Rahel; Tschupp, Stefanie; Platt, Tracey; Ruch, Willibald

2012-01-01

This scoping study examines the relation of the sense of humor and three dispositions toward ridicule and being laughed at to psychopathic personality traits. Based on self-reports from 233 adults, psychopathic personality traits were robustly related to enjoying laughing at others, which most strongly related to a manipulative/impulsive lifestyle and callousness. Higher psychopathic traits correlated with bad mood and it existed independently from the ability of laughing at oneself. While overall psychopathic personality traits existed independently from the sense of humor, the facet of superficial charm yielded a robust positive relation. Higher joy in being laughed at also correlated with higher expressions in superficial charm and grandiosity while fearing to be laughed at went along with higher expressions in a manipulative life-style. Thus, the psychopathic personality trait could be well described in its relation to humor and laughter. Implications of the findings are highlighted and discussed with respect to the current literature. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Combined Active Humoral and Cellular Immunization Approaches for the Treatment of Synucleinopathies.

PubMed

Rockenstein, Edward; Ostroff, Gary; Dikengil, Fusun; Rus, Florentina; Mante, Michael; Florio, Jazmin; Adame, Anthony; Trinh, Ivy; Kim, Changyoun; Overk, Cassia; Masliah, Eliezer; Rissman, Robert A

2018-01-24

Dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson's disease, and Multiple System Atrophy are age-related neurodegenerative disorders characterized by progressive accumulation of α-synuclein (α-syn) and jointly termed synucleinopathies. Currently, no disease-modifying treatments are available for these disorders. Previous preclinical studies demonstrate that active and passive immunizations targeting α-syn partially ameliorate behavioral deficits and α-syn accumulation; however, it is unknown whether combining humoral and cellular immunization might act synergistically to reduce inflammation and improve microglial-mediated α-syn clearance. Since combined delivery of antigen plus rapamycin (RAP) in nanoparticles is known to induce antigen-specific regulatory T cells (Tregs), we adapted this approach to α-syn using the antigen-presenting cell-targeting glucan microparticle (GP) vaccine delivery system. PDGF-α-syn transgenic (tg) male and female mice were immunized with GP-alone, GP-α-syn (active humoral immunization), GP+RAP, or GP+RAP/α-syn (combined active humoral and Treg) and analyzed using neuropathological and biochemical markers. Active immunization resulted in higher serological total IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a anti-α-syn levels. Compared with mice immunized with GP-alone or GP-α-syn, mice vaccinated with GP+RAP or GP+RAP/α-syn displayed increased numbers of CD25-, FoxP3-, and CD4-positive cells in the CNS. GP-α-syn or GP+RAP/α-syn immunizations resulted in a 30-45% reduction in α-syn accumulation, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration. Mice immunized with GP+RAP/α-syn further rescued neurons and reduced neuroinflammation. Levels of TGF-β1 were increased with GP+RAP/α-syn immunization, while levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were reduced. We conclude that the observed effects of GP+RAP/α-syn immunization support the hypothesis that cellular immunization may enhance the effects of active immunotherapy for the treatment of synucleinopathies. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We

Laughing off the Stereotypes: Age and Aging in Seniors' Online Sex-Related Humor.

PubMed

Nimrod, Galit; Berdychevsky, Liza

2017-05-17

Focusing on sex, the most salient topic featured in ageist jokes, this study aims at exploring the extent to which seniors' own humor reflects common ageist stereotypes or rather echoes contemporary consumer society representations of seniors' sexuality. The study was based on a quantitative content analysis of 300 humorous sex-related messages posted during one full year by members of 14 leading online communities for seniors. Findings indicated that whereas the portrayal of older adults in humor typically relied on negative ageist stereotypes, their representation in seniors' online sex-related humor depended on the social identity of the butt of this humor. If it was an in-group member (oneself, another community member, or the community as a whole), the portrayal was rather positive, but when the butt belonged to the out-group (older adults in general), the depiction was far more ageist. Nonetheless, the representation of older butts of humor was generally more positive than that of the younger ones. These findings suggest that seniors tend to identify with current cultural representations of sexuality in later life and use sex-related humor as a personal means of resisting ageism. They apply two principal strategies: Distancing-reproducing certain ageist stereotypes by ascribing them to other older adults, but less so to their own group and even less than that to themselves-and equalizing older and younger individuals, even according the former an advantage regarding sexuality. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Entextualized Humor in the Formation of Scientist Identities among U.S. Undergraduates

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bucholtz, Mary; Skapoulli, Elena; Barnwell, Brendan; Lee, Jung-Eun Janie

2011-01-01

Studies of the socialization of novices into scientific cultures typically emphasize official knowledge-making activities. However, scientific socialization is also accomplished informally through humor. As entextualized humor, formulaic jokes enable U.S. undergraduate students in science to claim scientist identities both through a displayed…

Intrapersonal Perceptions of Shyness and Humor as Related to Interpersonal Perceptions of Social Distance and Humorousness.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sherman, Lawrence W.; Wolf, Amy

Although humor and laughter are most often based in fundamental social interactions, this element of communication has received little attention. To examine the socially facilitating effects of communication and social acceptance by analyzing children's intrapersonal perceptions of communication apprehension, or shyness, 169 children, aged 8 to 13…

Brain hemodynamic activity during viewing and re-viewing of comedy movies explained by experienced humor

PubMed Central

Jääskeläinen, Iiro P.; Pajula, Juha; Tohka, Jussi; Lee, Hsin-Ju; Kuo, Wen-Jui; Lin, Fa-Hsuan

2016-01-01

Humor is crucial in human social interactions. To study the underlying neural processes, three comedy clips were shown twice to 20 volunteers during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Inter-subject similarities in humor ratings, obtained immediately after fMRI, explained inter-subject correlation of hemodynamic activity in right frontal pole and in a number of other brain regions. General linear model analysis also indicated activity in right frontal pole, as well as in additional cortical areas and subcortically in striatum, explained by humorousness. The association of the right frontal pole with experienced humorousness is a novel finding, which might be related to humor unfolding over longer time scales in the movie clips. Specifically, frontal pole has been shown to exhibit longer temporal receptive windows than, e.g., sensory areas, which might have enabled processing of humor in the clips based on holding information and reinterpreting that in light of new information several (even tens of) seconds later. As another novel finding, medial and lateral prefrontal areas, frontal pole, posterior-inferior temporal areas, posterior parietal areas, posterior cingulate, striatal structures and amygdala showed reduced activity upon re-viewing of the clips, suggesting involvement in processing of humor related to novelty of the comedic events. PMID:27323928

Was That Levity or Livor Mortis? Crime Scene Investigators' Perspectives on Humor and Work

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vivona, Brian D.

2012-01-01

Humor is common and purposeful in most work settings. Although researchers have examined humor and joking behavior in various work settings, minimal research has been done on humor applications in the field of crime scene investigation. The crime scene investigator encounters death, trauma, and tragedy in a more intimate manner than any other…

The effectiveness of humor in persuasion: the case of business ethics training.

PubMed

Lyttle, J

2001-04-01

In this study, persuasion theory was used to develop the following predictions about use of humor in persuasive messages for business ethics training: (a) cartoon drawings will enhance persuasion by creating liking for the source, (b) ironic wisecracks will enhance persuasion by serving as a distraction from counterarguments, and (c) self-effacing humor will enhance persuasion by improving source credibility. Canadian business students (N = 148) participated in 1 of 4 versions of "The Ethics Challenge," a training exercise used by the Lockheed Martin Corporation. Three versions were modified by adding or removing cartoon drawings (of cartoon characters Dilbert and Dogbert) and humorous responses (Dogbert's wisecracks). Removing the cartoon drawings had little effect on persuasiveness. Removing ironic wisecracks had more effect, and interfering with the self-effacing combination of cartoons and wisecracks had the strongest effect. The results suggest that researchers should ground their predictions in existing theory and that practitioners should differentiate among humor types.

Germinal center texture entropy as possible indicator of humoral immune response: immunophysiology viewpoint.

PubMed

Pantic, Igor; Pantic, Senka

2012-10-01

In this article, we present the results indicating that spleen germinal center (GC) texture entropy determined by gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) method is related to humoral immune response. Spleen tissue was obtained from eight outbred male short-haired guinea pigs previously immunized by sheep red blood cells (SRBC). A total of 312 images from 39 germinal centers (156 GC light zone images and 156 GC dark zone images) were acquired and analyzed by GLCM method. Angular second moment, contrast, correlation, entropy, and inverse difference moment were calculated for each image. Humoral immune response to SRBC was measured using T cell-dependent antibody response (TDAR) assay. Statistically highly significant negative correlation was detected between light zone entropy and the number of TDAR plaque-forming cells (r (s) = -0.86, p < 0.01). The entropy decreased as the plaque-forming cells increased and vice versa. A statistically significant negative correlation was also detected between dark zone entropy values and the number of plaque-forming cells (r (s) = -0.69, p < 0.05). Germinal center texture entropy may be a powerful indicator of humoral immune response. This study is one of the first to point out the potential scientific value of GLCM image texture analysis in lymphoid tissue cytoarchitecture evaluation. Lymphoid tissue texture analysis could become an important and affordable addition to the conventional immunophysiology techniques.

Connecting Interface Structure to Energy Level Alignment at Aqueous Semiconductor Interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hybertsen, Mark

Understanding structure-function relationships at aqueous semiconductor interfaces presents fundamental challenges, including the discovery of the key interface structure motifs themselves. Important examples include the alignment of electrochemical redox levels with the semiconductor band edges and the identification of catalytic active sites. We have developed a multistep approach, initially demonstrated for GaN, ZnO and their alloys, motivated by measured high efficiency for photocatalytic water oxidation. The interface structure is simulated using ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD). The calculated, average interface dipole is combined with the GW approach from many-body perturbation theory to calculate the energy level alignment between the semiconductor band edges and the centroid of the occupied 1b1 energy level of water and thus, the electrochemical levels. Cluster models are used to study reaction pathways. The emergent interface motif is the full (GaN) or partial (ZnO) dissociated interface water layer. Here I will focus on the aqueous interfaces to the stable TiO2 anatase (101) and rutile (110) facets. The AIMD calculations reveal interface water dissociation and reassociation processes through distinct pathways: one direct at the interface and the other via a spectator water molecule from the hydration layer. Comparisons between the two interfaces shows that the energy landscape for these pathways depends on the local hydrogen bonding patterns and the interplay with the interface template. Combined results from different initial conditions and AIMD temperatures demonstrate a partially dissociated interface water layer in both cases. Specifically for rutile, structure and the GW-based analysis of the interface energy level alignment agree with experiment. Finally, hole localization at different interface structure motifs will be discussed. Work performed in collaboration with J. Lyons, N. Kharche, M. Ertem and J. Muckerman, done in part at the CFN, which

Laughing in the Face of Fear (of Disease Detection): Using Humor to Promote Cancer Self-Examination Behavior.

PubMed

Nabi, Robin L

2016-07-01

This research examines the possible benefit of using humor to reduce anxiety associated with performing cancer self-examination behaviors. In Study 1, 187 undergraduates read a humorous public service announcement (PSA) script promoting either breast or testicular self-exams. Results suggest that perception of humor reduced anxiety about self-exams, which, in turn, related to more positive self-exam attitudes. Simultaneously, humor perception associated with greater message processing motivation, which, in turn, associated with more supportive self-exam attitudes. Self-exam attitudes also positively associated with self-exam intentions. These results were largely replicated in Study 2. Further, self-exam intentions predicted self-exam behavior 1 week later. However, consistent with past research, the humorous and serious messages did not generate differences in subsequent self-exam behavior, though the intention-behavior relationship was stronger and significant for those exposed to the humorous versus the serious messages. In light of these findings, and given that humor has the advantage of attracting and holding attention in real message environments, the use of carefully constructed humor appeals may be a viable message strategy to promote health detection behaviors.

Humor Ability Reveals Intelligence, Predicts Mating Success, and Is Higher in Males

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Greengross, Gil; Miller, Geoffrey

2011-01-01

A good sense of humor is sexually attractive, perhaps because it reveals intelligence, creativity, and other "good genes" or "good parent" traits. If so, intelligence should predict humor production ability, which in turn should predict mating success. In this study, 400 university students (200 men and 200 women) completed…

Bromfenac 0.09% bioavailability in aqueous humor, prophylactic effect on cystoid macular edema, and clinical signs of ocular inflammation after phacoemulsification in a Mexican population

PubMed Central

Palacio, Claudia; Fernández De Ortega, Lourdes; Bustos, Francisco R; Chávez, Eduardo; Oregon-Miranda, Aldo A; Mercado-Sesma, Arieh R

2016-01-01

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the aqueous humor bioavailability and clinical efficacy of bromfenac 0.09% vs nepafenac on the presence of cystoid macular edema (CME) after phacoemulsification. Material and methods A Phase II, double-blind, masked, active-controlled, multicenter, clinical trial of 139 subjects, randomized to either a bromfenac 0.09% ophthalmic solution (n=69) or nepafenac 0.1% (n=70). Subjects instilled a drop three times a day for a period of 30 days. Follow-up visits were on days 2, 7, 15, 30, and 60. Biomicroscopy, clinical ocular signs, and assessment of posterior segment were performed. The primary efficacy endpoints included the presence of CME evaluated by optical coherence tomography. Safety evaluation included intraocular pressure, transaminase enzymes, lissamine green, and fluorescein stain. Results The demographic and efficacy variables were similar between groups at baseline. The presence of pain, photophobia, conjunctival hyperemia, chemosis, cellularity, and corneal edema disappeared by day 30 in both groups. The central retinal thickness did not show significant changes after treatment when compared to baseline as follows: in the bromfenac group (247.2±32.9 vs 252.0±24.9 μm; P=0.958) and in nepafenac group (250.8±34 vs 264.0±34.1 μm; P=0.137), respectively. A statistically significant difference was observed between bromfenac and nepafenac group: (252.0±24.9 vs 264.0±34.1 μm; P=0.022), at day 30, respectively; even though there was no clinical relevance in the presentation of CME. There were no significant alterations in intraocular pressure, either lissamine green or fluorescein stains. The adverse events were not related to the interventions. Conclusion Bromfenac 0.09% ophthalmic solution showed similar clinical efficacy to reduce the presentation of CME after phacoemulsification compared to nepafenac 0.01%. PMID:26869758

Bromfenac 0.09% bioavailability in aqueous humor, prophylactic effect on cystoid macular edema, and clinical signs of ocular inflammation after phacoemulsification in a Mexican population.

PubMed

Palacio, Claudia; Fernández De Ortega, Lourdes; Bustos, Francisco R; Chávez, Eduardo; Oregon-Miranda, Aldo A; Mercado-Sesma, Arieh R

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the aqueous humor bioavailability and clinical efficacy of bromfenac 0.09% vs nepafenac on the presence of cystoid macular edema (CME) after phacoemulsification. A Phase II, double-blind, masked, active-controlled, multicenter, clinical trial of 139 subjects, randomized to either a bromfenac 0.09% ophthalmic solution (n=69) or nepafenac 0.1% (n=70). Subjects instilled a drop three times a day for a period of 30 days. Follow-up visits were on days 2, 7, 15, 30, and 60. Biomicroscopy, clinical ocular signs, and assessment of posterior segment were performed. The primary efficacy endpoints included the presence of CME evaluated by optical coherence tomography. Safety evaluation included intraocular pressure, transaminase enzymes, lissamine green, and fluorescein stain. The demographic and efficacy variables were similar between groups at baseline. The presence of pain, photophobia, conjunctival hyperemia, chemosis, cellularity, and corneal edema disappeared by day 30 in both groups. The central retinal thickness did not show significant changes after treatment when compared to baseline as follows: in the bromfenac group (247.2±32.9 vs 252.0±24.9 μm; P=0.958) and in nepafenac group (250.8±34 vs 264.0±34.1 μm; P=0.137), respectively. A statistically significant difference was observed between bromfenac and nepafenac group: (252.0±24.9 vs 264.0±34.1 μm; P=0.022), at day 30, respectively; even though there was no clinical relevance in the presentation of CME. There were no significant alterations in intraocular pressure, either lissamine green or fluorescein stains. The adverse events were not related to the interventions. Bromfenac 0.09% ophthalmic solution showed similar clinical efficacy to reduce the presentation of CME after phacoemulsification compared to nepafenac 0.01%.

The Use of Humor in a CBI Science Lesson To Enhance Retention.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Snetsinger, Wendy; Grabowski, Barbara

This research experiment studied the effect of humor versus non-humor on learning and retention of a computer-based instructional (CBI) lesson on tick identification. The experiment also surveyed the subjects' enjoyment of the lesson material, their personal experiences with ticks, and their concerns about ticks and tick-borne diseases.…

Developing Pre-Service English Language Teachers' Comprehension of Texts with Humorous Elements

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yangin Ersanli, Ceylan; Çakir, Abdulvahit

2017-01-01

Humour is a universal phenomenon and has been studied in many fields of research such as literature, linguistics, psychology, sociology and philosophy. Humour is often expressed through language and it is little wonder that failure to understand humorous language causes breakdowns in communication. What is humorous might be culturally defined, and…

It's in the way that you use it: attachment and the dyadic nature of humor during conflict negotiation in romantic couples.

PubMed

Winterheld, Heike A; Simpson, Jeffry A; Oriña, M Minda

2013-04-01

In a behavioral observation study with dating couples, we examined (a) how attachment orientations predict humor use and (b) how people respond to their partners' use of humor. Couples were videotaped while trying to resolve a relationship conflict. Each discussion was rated on several theoretically relevant dimensions. Highly avoidant individuals used more aggressive humor and less affiliative humor during their discussions, whereas highly anxious individuals used more self-defeating humor. Individuals also tailored their humor use to partners who were highly anxious and distressed. Aggressive humor was received more negatively by partners who sought more care. Affiliative humor was favorably received, especially when partners were more distressed, whereas self-defeating humor elicited negative responses from highly distressed partners. Both highly anxious and avoidant individuals reacted unfavorably when they were the recipients of the humor styles they used most often. The implications of these results for our understanding of relationships and humor are discussed.

Humoral immunity in heart failure.

PubMed

Sarkar, Amrita; Rafiq, Khadija

2018-05-17

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a class of diseases that involve disorders of heart and blood vessels, including: hypertension, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, which finally lead to heart failure (HF). There are several treatments available all over the world, but still CVD and heart failure became the number one problem causing death every year worldwide. Both experimental and clinical studies have shown a role for inflammation in the pathogenesis of heart failure. This seems related to an imbalance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Cardiac inflammation is major pathophysiological mechanism operating in the failing heart, regardless of HF aetiology. Disturbances of the cellular and humoral immune system are frequently observed in heart failure. This review describes how B-cells play specific role in the heart failure states. There is an urgent need to identify novel therapeutic targets and develop advanced therapeutic strategies to combat the syndrome of HF. Understanding and describing the elements of the humoral immunity function are essential, and may suggest potential new treatment strategies. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Laugh Away the Fat? Therapeutic Humor in the Control of Stress-induced Emotional Eating

PubMed Central

Bast, Elizabeth S.; Berry, Elliot M.

2014-01-01

This review explores the potential overlap between the fields of nutrition and therapeutic humor, together with the role of humor as a possible tool for aiding those in whom emotions, particularly negative ones, trigger eating as a means to improve mood. We review emotional eating, obesity, and the hypothesized mechanisms of emotional eating. We then review the field of therapeutic humor and its ability to de-stress individuals, possibly through endorphin and opioid systems, both of which are also involved in eating behavior. Finally, we present a novel hypothesis that people may be trained to use humor as a “food substitute” at best, or to blunt hunger stimuli, to achieve similar advantages, without the side effect of weight gain. PMID:24498514

Effect of general anesthetics on IOP in rats with experimental aqueous outflow obstruction.

PubMed

Jia, L; Cepurna, W O; Johnson, E C; Morrison, J C

2000-10-01

To determine the effect of several common general anesthetics on intraocular pressure (IOP) after experimental aqueous outflow obstruction in the rat. A single episcleral vein injection of hypertonic saline was used to sclerose aqueous humor outflow pathways and produce elevated IOP in Brown Norway rats. Animals were housed in either standard lighting or a constant low-level light environment. Awake IOPs were determined using a TonoPen (Mentor, Norwell, MA) immediately before induction of anesthesia by either isoflurane, ketamine, or a mixture of injectable anesthetics (xylazine, ketamine, and acepromazine). For each anesthetic, IOPs were measured immediately after adequate sedation (time 0) and at 5-minute intervals, up to 20 minutes. RESULTS; Awake IOPs ranged from 18 to 52 mm Hg. All anesthetics resulted in a statistically significant (P: < 0.01) reduction in measured IOP at every duration of anesthesia when compared with the corresponding awake IOP. With increasing duration of anesthesia, measured IOP decreased approximately linearly for both the anesthetic mixture and isoflurane. However, with ketamine, IOP declined to 48% +/- 11% (standard lighting) and 60% +/- 7% (constant light) of awake levels at 5 minutes of anesthesia, where it remained stable. In fellow eyes, the SD of the mean IOP in animals under anesthesia was always greater than the corresponding SD of the awake mean. Anesthesia's effects in normal eyes and eyes with elevated IOP were indistinguishable. All anesthetics resulted in rapid and substantial decreases in IOP in all eyes and increased the interanimal variability in IOPs. Measurement of IOP in awake animals provides the most accurate documentation of pressure histories for rat glaucoma model studies.

Positive regulation of humoral and innate immune responses induced by inactivated Avian Influenza Virus vaccine in broiler chickens.

PubMed

Abdallah, Fatma; Hassanin, Ola

2015-12-01

Avian Influenza (AI) vaccines are widely used for mammals and birds in a trial to eliminate the Avian Influenza virus (AIV) infection from the world. However and up till now the virus is still existed via modulation of its antigenic structure to evade the pressure of host immune responses. For a complete understanding of the immune responses following AI vaccination in chickens, the modulations of the chickens humoral immune responses and interferon-alpha signaling pathway, as a fundamental part of the innate immune responses, were investigated. In our study, we measured the humoral immune response using hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests. In addition, chicken interferon-alpha pathway components was measured at RNA levels using Quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) following one dose of inactivated H5N1 influenza vaccine at 14 days of age. In this study, the protective levels of humoral antibody responses were observed at 14, 21 and 28 days following immunization with inactivated (Re-1/H5N1) AI vaccine. In the chicken spleen cells, up regulation in the chicken interferon-alpha pathway components (MX1 & IRF7) was existed as early as 48 h post vaccination and remained until 28 days post vaccination at the endogenous state. However, after the recall with ex-vivo stimulation, the up regulation was more pronounced in the transcriptional factor (IRF7) compared to the antiviral gene (MX1) at 28 days post vaccination. So far, from our results it appears that the inactivated H5N1 vaccine can trigger the chicken interferon-alpha signaling pathway as well as it can elicit protective humoral antibody responses.

Toward a Theoretical Framework for the Study of Humor in Literature and the Other Arts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Farber, Jerry

2007-01-01

With a clearer understanding of the way humor works, individuals might be better able to give it the attention it deserves when they study and teach the arts. But where do they turn to find a theoretical framework for the study of humor--one that will help them clarify the role that humor plays in the arts and that will help them as well to…

Economics with a Sense of Humor.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Keenan, Diane

1985-01-01

In this humorous dialogue that can be read and acted out as a play in high school economics classes, Karl Marx, a spokesman for communism, and Adam Smith, the father of capitalism, debate (1) whether an economy should produce designer jeans and (2) who should own McDonald's restaurant. (RM)

"Last Professor Standing!": Powerpoint Enables All Faculty to Use Humor in Teaching

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berk, Ronald A.

2014-01-01

There are two major global educational trends that have changed the form and execution of humor in the classroom and in professional conferences: (1) the burgeoning instructional technology, especially PowerPoint, which can provide a vehicle for several forms of low risk humor anyone can present; and (2) the diversity of classroom demographics,…

The Role of Humor in Learning Physics: A Study of Undergraduate Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berge, Maria

2017-01-01

We all know that they do it, but what do students laugh "about" when learning science together? Although research has shown that students do use humor when they learn science, the role of humor in science education has received little attention. In this study, undergraduate students' laughter during collaborative work in physics has been…

The Attitudes of University Faculty toward Humor as a Pedagogical Tool: Can We Take a Joke?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Huss, John; Eastep, Shannon

2016-01-01

Faculty members in a College of Education responded to a mixed methods questionnaire regarding their attitudes toward the use of humor as a pedagogical tool. Quantitative data and coding of open response questions revealed that instructors overall considered humor to be an integral part of their teaching plan and that humor relaxes students,…

[Involvement of cellular immunity and humoral immunity in mixed allergy induced by trichloroethylene].

PubMed

Xu, Xinyun; Li, Xueyu; Liu, Yuefeng

2014-12-01

To investigate whether cellular immunity and humoral immunity are involved in trichlorethylene (TCE)-induced mixed allergy, then provide the scientific basis for the mechanism of this disease. Guinea pigs and rats were tested for this study by application of guinea pig maximization test (GPMT), the animals were randomly divided into negative control, positive control and TCE treatment groups. Animals of these groups were administrated with olive oil, 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), and TCE, respectively, by intradermal injection. After TCE administration, rat peripheral blood samples were collected by flow cytometry to detect lymphocytes CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺. Guinea pig peripheral blood samples were collected to detect the levels of IgG, IgA, IgM, C3, C4, and the spleens were taken out from guinea pigs after various treatment, mRNA expression of GATA3, T-bet, CTLA4 and Foxp3 in lymphocytes of guinea pig spleen was detected by real-time fluorescent PCR assay. Additionally, TCE allergic dermatitis patients were selected for the study, the peripheral blood samples were collected from the TCE patients group and control group, quantitative PCR was applied to detect mRNA expression of immune-related genes Foxp3, GATA3, CTLA4, T-bet. TCE induced obvious skin allergic reaction in guinea pigs, the sensitization rate was 83.3%, IgG levels in TCE group and positive control increased significantly. Additionally, mRNA expression levels of GATA3, T-bet, CTLA4 significantly elevated in TCE group and positive control, but Foxp3 mRNA levels decreased. The lymphocytes CD3⁺ ratio in TCE group and positive control of rats was higher than that in negative control, we found that there was no statistical difference of CD4⁺, CD8⁺, CD4⁺/CD8⁺ between TCE group and negative control of rats. The mRNA expression levels of Foxp3, GATA3, CTLA4 in TCE patients increased by 115%, 97%, 241%, respectively as compared with the control, T-bet levels decreased by 47%when compared with the

"I May Be Crackin', But Um Fackin": Racial Humor in "The Watsons Go To Birmingham--1963"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McNair, Jonda C.

2008-01-01

This article examines the utilization of racial humor in Christopher Paul Curtis' novel, "The Watsons Go To Birmingham--1963." The theoretical perspectives that inform the analysis include critical race theory and humor theory. The results of the analysis reveal that the use of humor in this book is influenced to a significant degree by race and…

Relationships between Humor Styles and Family Functioning in Parents of Children with Disabilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rieger, Alicja; McGrail, J. Patrick

2015-01-01

The humor styles and family functioning of parents of children with disabilities are understudied subjects. This study seeks to shed quantitative light on these areas. Seventy-two parents of children with disabilities completed the "Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales" (FACES IV) and the "Humor Styles…

Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Two Uveitis Models in Lewis Rats.

PubMed

Pepple, Kathryn L; Rotkis, Lauren; Wilson, Leslie; Sandt, Angela; Van Gelder, Russell N

2015-12-01

Inflammation generates changes in the protein constituents of the aqueous humor. Proteins that change in multiple models of uveitis may be good biomarkers of disease or targets for therapeutic intervention. The present study was conducted to identify differentially-expressed proteins in the inflamed aqueous humor. Two models of uveitis were induced in Lewis rats: experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) and primed mycobacterial uveitis (PMU). Differential gel electrophoresis was used to compare naïve and inflamed aqueous humor. Differentially-expressed proteins were separated by using 2-D gel electrophoresis and excised for identification with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF). Expression of select proteins was verified by Western blot analysis in both the aqueous and vitreous. The inflamed aqueous from both models demonstrated an increase in total protein concentration when compared to naïve aqueous. Calprotectin, a heterodimer of S100A8 and S100A9, was increased in the aqueous in both PMU and EAU. In the vitreous, S100A8 and S100A9 were preferentially elevated in PMU. Apolipoprotein E was elevated in the aqueous of both uveitis models but was preferentially elevated in EAU. Beta-B2-crystallin levels decreased in the aqueous and vitreous of EAU but not PMU. The proinflammatory molecules S100A8 and S100A9 were elevated in both models of uveitis but may play a more significant role in PMU than EAU. The neuroprotective protein β-B2-crystallin was found to decline in EAU. Therapies to modulate these proteins in vivo may be good targets in the treatment of ocular inflammation.

The Appreciation of Humor By Males and Females During Conditions of Crowding Experimentally Induced.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Prerost, Frank J.; Brewer, Robert E.

1980-01-01

Subjects rated the humor of jokes under conditions of high and low spatial density. Crowding was found to significantly diminish appreciation of three types of humor. Significant sex differences in reactivity to crowding were found. (Author/CS)

Humor as Camouflage of Televised Violence.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Potter, W. James; Warren, Ron

1998-01-01

Contributes to research on schema theory and media effects by examining how violence is portrayed in comedy programs. Finds a high rate of violence (especially verbal forms) on comedy programs; and the combination of humor, minor acts of violence, and program context tend to trivialize its presence. Suggests that viewers' schema for comedy uses…

Humor Climate of the Primary Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sahin, Ahmet

2018-01-01

The aim of this study is to determine the opinions primary school administrators and teachers on humor climates in primary schools. The study was modeled as a convergent parallel design, one of the mixed methods. The data gathered from 253 administrator questionnaires, and 651 teacher questionnaires was evaluated for the quantitative part of the…

Very Good Medicine: Indigenous Humor and Laughter

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mala, Cynthia Lindquist

2016-01-01

Humor is not only instinctive and a basic human need, but it also is very good medicine. Laughter boosts the immune system, lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, and is linked to healthy functioning organs. [This article was written with Mylo Redwater Smith.

T cell-derived Lymphotoxin is Essential for anti-HSV-1 Humoral Immune Response.

PubMed

Yang, Kaiting; Liang, Yong; Sun, Zhichen; Xue, Diyuan; Xu, Hairong; Zhu, Mingzhao; Fu, Yang-Xin; Peng, Hua

2018-05-09

B cell-derived lymphotoxin (LT) is required for the development of follicular dendritic cell clusters for the formation of primary and secondary lymphoid follicles, but the role of T cell-derived LT in antibody response has not been well demonstrated. We observed that lymphotoxin-β-receptor (LTβR) signaling is essential for optimal humoral immune response and protection against an acute HSV-1 infection. Blocking the LTβR pathway caused poor maintenance of germinal center B (GC-B) cells and follicular helper T (Tfh) cells. Using bone marrow chimeric mice and adoptive transplantation, we determined that T cell-derived LT played an indispensable role in the humoral immune response to HSV-1. Up-regulation of IFNγ by the LTβR-Ig blockade impairs the sustainability of Tfh-like cells, thus leading to an impaired humoral immune response. Our findings have identified a novel role of T cell-derived LT in the humoral immune response against HSV-1 infection. IMPORTANCE Immunocompromised people are susceptible for HSV-1 infection and lethal recurrence, which could be inhibited by anti-HSV-1 humoral immune response in the host. This study sought to explore the role of T cell-derived LT in the anti-HSV-1 humoral immune response using LT-LTβR signaling deficient mice and the LTβR-Ig blockade. The data indicate that the T cell-derived LT may play an essential role in sustaining Tfh-like cells and ensure Tfh-like cells' migration into primary or secondary follicles for further maturation. This study provides insights for vaccine development against infectious diseases. Copyright © 2018 American Society for Microbiology.

[Neuropsychology of humor: an introduction Part 1. Psychological data].

PubMed

Derouesné, Christian

2016-03-01

Humor is, from a psychological point of view, a complex process involving cognitive, affective, interspersonal and social elements in a interpersonal context. Its cognitive core is based on the perception of incongruity between two related inconsistent or contradictory mental representations. The total or partial resolution of incongruity in a playful frame is associated with a specific positive emotion, which characteristics and intensity are determined by the structure of the humoristic stimulus more than its content, and the personal and social contexts. Main theories of humor are reviewed as well as its development, its cognitive and affective correlates, and the influence of genre, age and personality.

An Anti-Interleukin-2 Receptor Drug Attenuates T- Helper 1 Lymphocytes-Mediated Inflammation in an Acute Model of Endotoxin-Induced Uveitis

PubMed Central

Navea, Amparo; Almansa, Inmaculada; Muriach, María; Bosch-Morell, Francisco

2014-01-01

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory efficacy of Daclizumab, an anti-interleukin-2 receptor drug, in an experimental uveitis model upon a subcutaneous injection of lipopolysaccharide into Lewis rats, a valuable model for ocular acute inflammatory processes. The integrity of the blood-aqueous barrier was assessed 24 h after endotoxin-induced uveitis by evaluating two parameters: cell count and protein concentration in aqueous humors. The histopathology of all the ocular structures (cornea, lens, sclera, choroid, retina, uvea, and anterior and posterior chambers) was also considered. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays of the aqueous humor samples were performed to quantify the levels of the different chemokine and cytokine proteins. Similarly, a biochemical analysis of oxidative stress-related markers was also assessed. The inflammation observed in the anterior chamber of the eyes when Daclizumab was administered with endotoxin was largely prevented since the aqueous humor protein concentration substantially lowered concomitantly with a significant reduction in the uveal and vitreous histopathological grading. Th1 lymphocytes-related cytokines, such as Interleukin-2 and Interferon-γ, also significantly reduced with related anti-oxidant systems recovery. Daclizumab treatment in endotoxin-induced uveitis reduced Th1 lymphocytes-related cytokines, such as Interleukin-2 and Interferon gamma, by about 60–70% and presented a preventive role in endotoxin-induced oxidative stress. This antioxidant protective effect of Daclizumab may be related to several of the observed Daclizumab effects in our study, including IL-6 cytokine regulatory properties and a substantial concomitant drop in INFγ. Concurrently, Daclizumab treatment triggered a significant reduction in both the uveal histopathological grading and protein concentration in aqueous humors, but not in cellular infiltration. PMID:24595020

"Everyone's a Comedian." No Really, They Are: Using Humor in the Online and Traditional Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Victoria D.; Wortley, Amy

2017-01-01

The effects of the incorporation of instructor humor in both the traditional and online classroom settings was examined. Students react to instructor humor in positive ways that demonstrate both increased engagement with the material and increased information recall following the use of instructor humor in lecture. Challenges of instructor and…

B Lymphocyte Stimulator Levels in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Higher Circulating Levels in African American Patients and Increased Production after Influenza Vaccination in Patients with Low Baseline Levels

PubMed Central

Ritterhouse, Lauren L.; Crowe, Sherry R.; Niewold, Timothy B.; Merrill, Joan T.; Roberts, Virginia C.; Dedeke, Amy B.; Neas, Barbara R.; Thompson, Linda F.; Guthridge, Joel M.; James, Judith A.

2011-01-01

Objective Examine the relationship between circulating B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) levels and humoral responses to influenza vaccination in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, as well as the effect of vaccination on BLyS levels. Clinical and serologic features of SLE that are associated with elevated BLyS levels will also be investigated. Methods Clinical history, disease activity measurements and blood specimens were collected from sixty SLE patients at baseline and after influenza vaccination. Sera were tested for BLyS levels, lupus-associated autoantibodies, serum IFN-α activity, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and humoral responses to influenza vaccination. Results Thirty percent of SLE patients had elevated BLyS levels, with African American patients having higher BLyS levels than European American patients (p=0.006). Baseline BLyS levels in patients were not correlated with humoral responses to influenza vaccination (p=0.863), and BLyS levels increased post-vaccination only in the subset of patients in the lowest quartile of BLyS levels (p=0.0003). Elevated BLyS levels were associated with increased disease activity as measured by SLEDAI, PGA, and SLAM in European Americans (p=0.035, p=0.016, p=0.018, respectively), but not in African Americans. Elevated BLyS levels were also associated with anti-nRNP (p=0.0003) and decreased 25(OH)D (p=0.018). Serum IFN-α activity was a significant predictor of elevated BLyS in a multivariate analysis (p=0.002). Conclusion African American SLE patients have higher BLyS levels regardless of disease activity. Humoral response to influenza vaccination is not correlated with baseline BLyS levels in SLE patients and only those patients with low baseline BLyS levels demonstrate an increased BLyS response after vaccination. PMID:22127709

Humorous Materials to Enhance Active Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miller, J. L.; Wilson, K.; Miller, J.; Enomoto, K.

2017-01-01

The use of humour in teaching and learning can be contentious, with some authors suggesting that the efficacy of humorous materials is mediated by the culture of the student. Nevertheless, humour represents a potential vehicle for the introduction of active learning in a classroom setting, as judicious use of humour may lead to a more relaxed…

Effects of sodium fluoride on blood cellular and humoral immunity in mice.

PubMed

Guo, Hongrui; Kuang, Ping; Luo, Qin; Cui, Hengmin; Deng, Huidan; Liu, Huan; Lu, Yujiao; Fang, Jing; Zuo, Zhicai; Deng, Junliang; Li, Yinglun; Wang, Xun; Zhao, Ling

2017-10-17

Exposure to high fluorine can cause toxicity in human and animals. Currently, there are no systematic studies on effects of high fluorine on blood cellular immunity and humoral immunity in mice. We evaluated the alterations of blood cellular immunity and humoral immunity in mice by using flow cytometry and ELISA. In the cellular immunity, we found that sodium fluoride (NaF) in excess of 12 mg/Kg resulted in a significant decrease in the percentages of CD3 + , CD3 + CD4 + , CD3 + CD8 + T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. Meanwhile, serum T helper type 1 (Th1) cytokines including interleukin (IL)-2, interferon (IFN)-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and Th2 cytokines including IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and Th17 cytokine (IL-17A) contents were decreased. In the humoral immunity, NaF reduced the peripheral blood percentages of CD19 + B lymphocytes and serum immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM). The above results show that NaF can reduce blood cellular and humoral immune function in mice, providing an excellent animal model for clinical studies on immunotoxicity-related fluorosis.

Relations of Dispositions toward Ridicule and Histrionic Self-Presentation with Quantitative and Qualitative Humor Creation Abilities.

PubMed

Renner, Karl-Heinz; Manthey, Leonie

2018-01-01

Previous research has shown that humor and self-presentation are linked in several ways. With regard to individual differences, it turned out that gelotophilia (the joy of being laughed at) and katagelasticism (the joy of laughing at others) are substantially associated with the histrionic self-presentation style that is characterized by performing explicit As-If-behaviors (e.g., irony, parodying others) in everyday interactions. By contrast, gelotophobia (the fear of being laughed at) shows a negative correlation with histrionic self-presentation. In order to further contribute to the nomological network, we have explored whether the three dispositions toward ridicule and laughter as well as histrionic self-presentation are related to humor creation abilities. In doing so, we have assessed the four constructs in a study with 337 participants that also completed the Cartoon Punch line Production Test (CPPT, Köhler and Ruch, 1993, unpublished). In the CPPT, subjects were asked to generate as many funny punch lines as possible for six caption-removed cartoons. The created punch lines were then analyzed with regard to quantitative (e.g., number of punch lines) and qualitative (e.g., wittiness of the punch lines and overall wittiness of the person as evaluated by three independent raters) humor creation abilities. Results show that both gelotophilia and histrionic self-presentation were positively correlated with quantitative and qualitative humor creation abilities. By contrast, gelotophobia showed slightly negative and katagelasticism no associations with the assessed humor creation abilities. These findings especially apply to the subgroup of participants that created punch lines for each of the six cartoons and partly replicate and extend the results of a previous study by Ruch et al. (2009). Altogether, the results of our study show that individual differences in humor-related traits are associated with the quantity and quality of humorous punch lines. It is

Relations of Dispositions toward Ridicule and Histrionic Self-Presentation with Quantitative and Qualitative Humor Creation Abilities

PubMed Central

Renner, Karl-Heinz; Manthey, Leonie

2018-01-01

Previous research has shown that humor and self-presentation are linked in several ways. With regard to individual differences, it turned out that gelotophilia (the joy of being laughed at) and katagelasticism (the joy of laughing at others) are substantially associated with the histrionic self-presentation style that is characterized by performing explicit As-If-behaviors (e.g., irony, parodying others) in everyday interactions. By contrast, gelotophobia (the fear of being laughed at) shows a negative correlation with histrionic self-presentation. In order to further contribute to the nomological network, we have explored whether the three dispositions toward ridicule and laughter as well as histrionic self-presentation are related to humor creation abilities. In doing so, we have assessed the four constructs in a study with 337 participants that also completed the Cartoon Punch line Production Test (CPPT, Köhler and Ruch, 1993, unpublished). In the CPPT, subjects were asked to generate as many funny punch lines as possible for six caption-removed cartoons. The created punch lines were then analyzed with regard to quantitative (e.g., number of punch lines) and qualitative (e.g., wittiness of the punch lines and overall wittiness of the person as evaluated by three independent raters) humor creation abilities. Results show that both gelotophilia and histrionic self-presentation were positively correlated with quantitative and qualitative humor creation abilities. By contrast, gelotophobia showed slightly negative and katagelasticism no associations with the assessed humor creation abilities. These findings especially apply to the subgroup of participants that created punch lines for each of the six cartoons and partly replicate and extend the results of a previous study by Ruch et al. (2009). Altogether, the results of our study show that individual differences in humor-related traits are associated with the quantity and quality of humorous punch lines. It is

Emotion and the humors: scoring and classifying major characters from Shakespeare's comedies on the basis of their language.

PubMed

Whissell, Cynthia

2010-06-01

The theory of humors, which was the prevalent theory of affect in Shakespeare's day, was used to explain both states (moods, emotions) and traits (personalities). This article reports humoral scores appropriate to the major characters of Shakespeare's comedies. The Dictionary of Affect in Language was used to score all words (N = 180,243) spoken by 105 major characters in 13 comedies in terms of their emotional undertones. These were translated into humoral scores. Translation was possible because emotional undertones, humor, and personality (e.g., Eysenck's model) are defined by various axes in the same two-dimensional space. Humoral scores differed for different types of characters, e.g., Shakespeare's lovers used more Sanguine language and his clowns more Melancholy language than other characters. A study of Kate and Petruchio from The Taming of the Shrew demonstrated state-like changes in humor for characters as the play unfolded.

Humor-A Rehabilitative Tool in the Post-Intensive Care of Young Adults With Acquired Brain Injury.

PubMed

O'Reilly, Kate

The aim of the study was to describe how paid carers use humor in providing compassionate post-intensive rehabilitation care to young adults with acquired brain injury (ABI) who are unable to perform or direct their own care. This is a qualitative study underpinned by symbolic interactionism. Paid carers in a residential aged care facility were interviewed. Interview data were analyzed using grounded theory methods of coding, comparative analysis, memoing, and theoretical sampling. With young adult's assent, paid carers appropriately used humor, at times even crude humor, as a rehabilitative tool to activate and elicit responses from young people with ABI who could not perform or direct their own care. The use of humor while caring for this population demonstrated that compassion still exists within nursing; however, it may not always be reverent. Humor may be an effective way to provide compassionate care and can be used as a rehabilitative tool to elicit responses from young people with ABI who have no means of verbal communication.

Non-invasive glucose monitor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lambert, James L. (Inventor); Borchert, Mark S. (Inventor)

2001-01-01

A non-invasive method for determining blood level of an analyte of interest, such as glucose, comprises: generating an excitation laser beam (e.g., at a wavelength of 700 to 900 nanometers); focusing the excitation laser beam into the anterior chamber of an eye of the subject so that aqueous humor in the anterior chamber is illuminated; detecting (preferably confocally detecting) a Raman spectrum from the illuminated aqueous humor; and then determining the blood glucose level (or the level of another analyte of interest) for the subject from the Raman spectrum. Preferably, the detecting step is followed by the step of subtracting a confounding fluorescence spectrum from the Raman spectrum to produce a difference spectrum; and determining the blood level of the analyte of interest for the subject from that difference spectrum, preferably using linear or nonlinear multivariate analysis such as partial least squares analysis. Apparatus for carrying out the foregoing method is also disclosed.

Exposure to Sexist Humor and Rape Proclivity: The Moderator Effect of Aversiveness Ratings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Romero-Sanchez, Monica; Duran, Mercedes; Carretero-Dios, Hugo; Megias, Jesus L.; Moya, Miguel

2010-01-01

The aim of this study is to explore the effect of exposure to sexist humor about women on men's self-reported rape proclivity. Earlier studies have shown that exposure to this type of humor increases rape proclivity and that funniness responses to jokes are a key element to consider. However, the role of aversiveness responses has not been…

The Anals of History: Unintentional Humor from Freshman Compositions.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hansen, Kristine

1983-01-01

Presents examples of unintentional humor from college freshman composition courses. Suggests that by pointing out miscommunications, teachers can persuade students to use standard English more effectively. (MM)

Contractile markers distinguish structures of the mouse aqueous drainage tract

PubMed Central

Ko, MinHee K.

2013-01-01

Purpose Structures of the aqueous humor drainage tract are contractile, although the tract is not entirely composed of muscle. We characterized the mouse aqueous drainage tract by immunolabeling contractile markers and determined whether profiling these markers within the tract distinguished its key structures of the trabecular meshwork (TM) and ciliary muscle (CM). Methods Enucleated eyes from pigmented C57BL/6 (n=8 mice) and albino BALB/c (n=6 mice) mice were processed for cryo- and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sectioning. Immunofluorescence labeling was performed for the following: (a) filamentous actin (using fluorescence-conjugated phalloidin), representing a global contractile marker; (b) α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), caldesmon, and calponin, representing classic smooth muscle epitopes; and (c) nonmuscle myosin heavy chain, representing a nonmuscle contractile protein. Tissue labeling was identified by confocal microscopy and analyzed quantitatively. Hematoxylin and eosin staining provided structural orientation. Results A small portion of the TM faced the anterior chamber; the rest extended posteriorly alongside Schlemm’s canal (SC) within the inner sclera. Within the drainage tract, filamentous actin labeling was positive in TM and CM. α-SMA and caldesmon labeling was seen primarily along the CM, which extended from the anterior chamber angle to its posterior termination beyond the SC near the retina. Low intensity, patchy α-SMA and caldesmon labeling was seen in the TM. Myosin heavy chain immunoreactivity was primarily found in the TM and calponin was primarily observed in the CM. C57BL/6 and BALB/c comparison showed that pigment obscured fluorescence in the ciliary body. Conclusions Our strategy of profiling contractile markers distinguished mouse aqueous drainage tract structures that were otherwise indistinguishable by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The mouse TM was seen as an intervening structure between SC, a part of the conventional

Sex differences during humor appreciation in child-sibling pairs.

PubMed

Vrticka, Pascal; Neely, Michelle; Walter Shelly, Elizabeth; Black, Jessica M; Reiss, Allan L

2013-01-01

The developmental origin of sex differences in adult brain function is poorly understood. Elucidating neural mechanisms underlying comparable cognitive functionality in both children and adults is required to address this gap. Humor appreciation represents a particularly relevant target for such developmental research because explanatory theories apply across the life span, and underlying neurocircuitry shows sex differences in adults. As a positive mood state, humor is also of interest due to sex differences in rates of depression, a disorder afflicting twice as many women as men. In this study, we employed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate brain responses to funny versus positive (and neutral) video clips in 22 children, ages 6-13 years, including eight sibling-pairs. Our data revealed increased activity to funny clips in bilateral temporo-occipital cortex, midbrain, and amygdala in girls. Conversely, we found heightened activation to positive clips in bilateral inferior parietal lobule, fusiform gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, amygdala, and ventromedial prefrontal cortex in boys. Many of these effects persisted when looking at sibling-pairs only. We interpret such findings as reflecting the presence of early sex divergence in reward saliency or expectation and stimulus relevance attribution. These findings are discussed in the context of evolutionary and developmental theories of humor function.

SEX DIFFERENCES DURING HUMOR APPRECIATION IN CHILD SIBLING-PAIRS

PubMed Central

Vrticka, Pascal; Neely, Michelle; Walter, Elizabeth; Black, Jessica M.; Reiss, Allan L.

2013-01-01

The developmental origin of sex differences in adult brain function is poorly understood. Elucidating neural mechanisms underlying comparable cognitive functionality in both children and adults is required to address this gap. Humor appreciation represents a particularly relevant target for such developmental research because explanatory theories apply across the life span and underlying neurocircuitry shows sex differences in adults. As a positive mood state, humor is also of interest due to sex differences in rates of depression, a disorder afflicting twice as many women as men. In this study, we employed fMRI to investigate brain responses to funny versus positive (and neutral) video clips in 22 children ages 6 to 13 years, including 8 sibling pairs. Our data revealed increased activity to funny clips in bilateral temporo-occipital cortex, midbrain, and amygdala in girls. Conversely, we found heightened activation to positive clips in bilateral inferior parietal lobule, fusiform gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, amygdala, and ventromedial prefrontal cortex in boys. Many of these effects persisted when looking at sibling-pairs only. We interpret such findings as reflecting the presence of early sex divergence in reward saliency / expectation and stimulus relevance attribution. These findings are discussed in the context of evolutionary and developmental theories of humor function. PMID:23672302

Aqueous outflow - a continuum from trabecular meshwork to episcleral veins

PubMed Central

Carreon, Teresia; van der Merwe, Elizabeth; Fellman, Ronald L.; Johnstone, Murray; Bhattacharya, Sanjoy K.

2016-01-01

In glaucoma, lowered intraocular pressure (IOP) confers neuroprotection. Elevated IOP characterizes glaucoma and arises from impaired aqueous humor (AH) outflow. Increased resistance in the trabecular meshwork (TM), a filter-like structure essential to regulate AH outflow, may result in the impaired outflow. Flow through the 360° circumference of TM structures may be non-uniform, divided into high and low flow regions, termed as segmental. After flowing through the TM, AH enters Schlemm’s canal (SC), which expresses both blood and lymphatic markers; AH then passes into collector channel entrances (CCE) along the SC external well. From the CCE, AH enters a deep scleral plexus (DSP) of vessels that typically run parallel to SC. From the DSP, intrascleral collector vessels run radially to the scleral surface to connect with AH containing vessels called aqueous veins to discharge AH to blood-containing episcleral veins. However, the molecular mechanisms that maintain homeostatic properties of endothelial cells along the pathways are not well understood. How these molecular events change during aging and in glaucoma pathology remain unresolved. In this review, we propose mechanistic possibilities to explain the continuum of AH outflow control, which originates at the TM and extends through collector channels to the episcleral veins. PMID:28028002

Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Two Uveitis Models in Lewis Rats

PubMed Central

Pepple, Kathryn L.; Rotkis, Lauren; Wilson, Leslie; Sandt, Angela; Van Gelder, Russell N.

2015-01-01

Purpose Inflammation generates changes in the protein constituents of the aqueous humor. Proteins that change in multiple models of uveitis may be good biomarkers of disease or targets for therapeutic intervention. The present study was conducted to identify differentially-expressed proteins in the inflamed aqueous humor. Methods Two models of uveitis were induced in Lewis rats: experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) and primed mycobacterial uveitis (PMU). Differential gel electrophoresis was used to compare naïve and inflamed aqueous humor. Differentially-expressed proteins were separated by using 2-D gel electrophoresis and excised for identification with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization–time of flight (MALDI-TOF). Expression of select proteins was verified by Western blot analysis in both the aqueous and vitreous. Results The inflamed aqueous from both models demonstrated an increase in total protein concentration when compared to naïve aqueous. Calprotectin, a heterodimer of S100A8 and S100A9, was increased in the aqueous in both PMU and EAU. In the vitreous, S100A8 and S100A9 were preferentially elevated in PMU. Apolipoprotein E was elevated in the aqueous of both uveitis models but was preferentially elevated in EAU. Beta-B2–crystallin levels decreased in the aqueous and vitreous of EAU but not PMU. Conclusions The proinflammatory molecules S100A8 and S100A9 were elevated in both models of uveitis but may play a more significant role in PMU than EAU. The neuroprotective protein β-B2–crystallin was found to decline in EAU. Therapies to modulate these proteins in vivo may be good targets in the treatment of ocular inflammation. PMID:26747776

Comic Relief: Engaging Students through Humor Writing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goebel, Bruce A.

2009-01-01

In this time of high-stakes tests and school accountability, English classrooms have been pushed to become increasingly serious places. Combining NCLB pressures with desires to use literature to do important cultural work--such as fighting ethnic, gender, and social-class discrimination--virtually bans humor from the classroom. This is unfortunate…

Evasion and Interactions of the Humoral Innate Immune Response in Pathogen Invasion, Autoimmune Disease, and Cancer

PubMed Central

Rettig, Trisha A.; Harbin, Julie N.; Harrington, Adelaide; Dohmen, Leonie; Fleming, Sherry D.

2015-01-01

The humoral innate immune system is composed of three major branches, complement, coagulation, and natural antibodies. To persist in the host, pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and cancers must evade parts of the innate humoral immune system. Disruptions in the humoral innate immune system also play a role in the development of autoimmune diseases. This review will examine how gram positive bacteria, viruses, cancer, and the autoimmune conditions Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Anti-phospholipid syndrome, interact with these immune system components. Through examining evasion techniques it becomes clear that interplay between these three systems exists. By exploring the interplay and the evasion/disruption of the humoral innate immune system, we can develop a better understanding of pathogenic infections, cancer, and autoimmune disease development. PMID:26145788

[Contents of vitreous humor of dead body with different postmortem intervals].

PubMed

Tao, Tao; Xu, Jing; Luo, Tong-Xing; Liao, Zhi-Gang; Pan, Hong-Fu

2006-11-01

To establish regression correlations between postmortem interval (PMI) and contents of human vitreous humor of dead bodies for forensic purposes. The human vitreous humor were taken from 126 dead bodies between 0.5 to 216 hours after death, and 11 chemical elements were detected by the OLYMPUS AU400 auto-biochemistry instrument. (1) The glucose, natrium and chlorine in human vitreous humor decreased, while the urea, creatinine, uric acid, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and micro-protein increased after death. The change of glucose, potassium and phosphorus were well correlated with the PMI (r = 0.824, 0.967, 0.880). But the uric acid and micro-protein did not have a good correlation with the PMI(r = 0.350, 0.153). (2) The stepwise regression analysis established the following equations for the PMI (Y): Y = -35. 15+6.05X, R2 = 0.957 (X = potassium); Y = -27.83+ 5.49X(1) - 1.35X(2), R2 = 0.960 (X(1) = potassium, X(2) = glucose); Y = -6.37+3.93X(1) -2.29X(2) + 5.36X(3), R2 = 0.966 (X(1) = potassium, X(2) = glucose, X(3) = phosphorus). (1) Eleven chemical components in human vitreous humor change after death, among which postassium has the best linear correlation with the PMI within 72 hours after death. (2) The accuracy of the estimation of PMI could be improved by establishing a multi-variable equation through stepwise regression.

Humor in High School and the Role of Teacher Leaders in School Public Relations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kosiczky, Bonnie; Mullen, Carol A.

2013-01-01

How can public schools improve public relations strategies, particularly in communications between teachers and students? The purposes of this study were to investigate teacher leaders' perceptions of the use of humor in the high school classroom and discover how humor might bridge instruction to student learning and strengthen teacher-student…

The Roles of Politeness and Humor in the Asymmetry of Affect in Verbal Irony

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Matthews, Jacqueline K.; Hancock, Jeffrey T.; Dunham, Phillip J.

2006-01-01

Four experiments were conducted to assess the roles of politeness and humor in the asymmetry of affect observed in verbal irony production. In Experiments 1 and 2, participants rated different replies (ironic, literal, or "no response") made to hypothetical scenarios for their politeness and humor, respectively. Participants in Experiment 3 were…

First-principles approach to calculating energy level alignment at aqueous semiconductor interfaces.

PubMed

Kharche, Neerav; Muckerman, James T; Hybertsen, Mark S

2014-10-24

A first-principles approach is demonstrated for calculating the relationship between an aqueous semiconductor interface structure and energy level alignment. The physical interface structure is sampled using density functional theory based molecular dynamics, yielding the interface electrostatic dipole. The  GW approach from many-body perturbation theory is used to place the electronic band edge energies of the semiconductor relative to the occupied 1b1 energy level in water. The application to the specific cases of nonpolar (101¯0) facets of GaN and ZnO reveals a significant role for the structural motifs at the interface, including the degree of interface water dissociation and the dynamical fluctuations in the interface Zn-O and O-H bond orientations. These effects contribute up to 0.5 eV.

First-principles approach to calculating energy level alignment at aqueous semiconductor interfaces

DOE PAGES

Kharche, Neerav; Muckerman, James T.; Hybertsen, Mark S.

2014-10-21

A first-principles approach is demonstrated for calculating the relationship between an aqueous semiconductor interface structure and energy level alignment. The physical interface structure is sampled using density functional theory based molecular dynamics, yielding the interface electrostatic dipole. The GW approach from many-body perturbation theory is used to place the electronic band edge energies of the semiconductor relative to the occupied 1 b₁ energy level in water. The application to the specific cases of nonpolar (101¯0 ) facets of GaN and ZnO reveals a significant role for the structural motifs at the interface, including the degree of interface water dissociation andmore » the dynamical fluctuations in the interface Zn-O and O-H bond orientations. As a result, these effects contribute up to 0.5 eV.« less

It's no laughing matter: An exploratory study of the use of ironic versus sarcastic humor in health-related advertising messages.

PubMed

Iles, Irina Alexandra; Nan, Xiaoli

2017-01-01

We examined the persuasive effects of ironic and sarcastic versus no humor appeals in health messages and the potential differential effects of ironic versus sarcastic humor. Findings of a controlled experiment (N = 303) suggested that sarcastic messages, as compared to no humor messages, resulted in less negative affect, more counterarguing, and decreased perceived argument strength. Ironic messages led to more counterarguing than no humor messages. Significant differences in counterarguing, perceived argument strength, and attitudes toward the risky behavior were detected between the two humor types. Counterarguing mediated the indirect effect of message type on attitudes toward the risky behavior.

Mark Twain and American Humor [Lesson Plan].

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

2000

In this three-part lesson, students examine structure and characterization in the short story and consider the significance of humor through a study of Mark Twain's "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County." In Part I, through skits and storytelling, students first examine the structure of Twain's story and the role he creates…

To Laugh is to Know: A Discussion of the Cognitive Element in Children's Humor.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Byers, Libby

The development of children's humor is described, focusing on the cognitive aspect of what is funny and how this relates to children's intellectual growth. Cognitive elements that facilitate children's humor are identified as: (1) the ability to grasp incongruities, (2) the presence of an intellectual challenge, (3) timing, (4) novelty, and (5) a…

Humoral immune responses to Pneumocystis jirovecii antigens in HIV-infected and uninfected young children with pneumocystis pneumonia.

PubMed

Djawe, Kpandja; Daly, Kieran R; Levin, Linda; Zar, Heather J; Walzer, Peter D

2013-01-01

Humoral immune responses in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and uninfected children with Pneumocystis pneumonia (PcP) are poorly understood. Consecutive children hospitalized with acute pneumonia, tachypnea, and hypoxia in South Africa were investigated for PcP, which was diagnosed by real-time polymerase chain reaction on lower respiratory tract specimens. Serum antibody responses to recombinant fragments of the carboxyl terminus of Pneumocystis jirovecii major surface glycoprotein (MsgC) were analyzed. 149 children were enrolled of whom 96 (64%) were HIV-infected. PcP occurred in 69 (72%) of HIV-infected and 14 (26%) of HIV-uninfected children. HIV-infected children with PcP had significantly decreased IgG antibodies to MsgC compared to HIV-infected patients without PcP, but had similar IgM antibodies. In contrast, HIV-uninfected children with PcP showed no change in IgG antibodies to MsgC, but had significantly increased IgM antibodies compared to HIV-uninfected children without PCP. Age was an independent predictor of high IgG antibodies, whereas PcP was a predictor of low IgG antibodies and high IgM antibodies. IgG and IgM antibody levels to the most closely related MsgC fragments were predictors of survival from PcP. Young HIV-infected children with PcP have significantly impaired humoral immune responses to MsgC, whereas HIV-uninfected children with PcP can develop active humoral immune responses. The children also exhibit a complex relationship between specific host factors and antibody levels to MsgC fragments that may be related to survival from PcP.

Mirth and Murder: Crime Scene Investigation as a Work Context for Examining Humor Applications

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roth, Gene L.; Vivona, Brian

2010-01-01

Within work settings, humor is used by workers for a wide variety of purposes. This study examines humor applications of a specific type of worker in a unique work context: crime scene investigation. Crime scene investigators examine death and its details. Members of crime scene units observe death much more frequently than other police officers…

Spanish Teachers' Sense of Humor and Student Performance on the National Spanish Exams

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Swanson, Peter B.

2013-01-01

Research suggests that second/foreign language teachers' sense of humor is directly related to many outcomes for teachers and their students. This research investigates the relationship between the perceived sense of humor of in-service Spanish teachers' (n?=?102) and their students' (n?=?5,419) score on the National Spanish Exams…

Polymorphisms in HLA-DPB1 Are Associated With Differences in Rubella Virus–Specific Humoral Immunity After Vaccination

PubMed Central

Lambert, Nathaniel D.; Haralambieva, Iana H.; Kennedy, Richard B.; Ovsyannikova, Inna G.; Pankratz, Vernon Shane; Poland, Gregory A.

2015-01-01

Vaccination with live attenuated rubella virus induces a strong immune response in most individuals. However, small numbers of subjects never reach or maintain protective antibody levels, and there is a high degree of variability in immune response. We have previously described genetic polymorphisms in HLA and other candidate genes that are associated with interindividual differences in humoral immunity to rubella virus. To expand our previous work, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to discover single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with rubella virus–specific neutralizing antibodies. We identified rs2064479 in the HLA-DPB1 genetic region as being significantly associated with humoral immune response variations after rubella vaccination (P = 8.62 × 10−8). All other significant SNPs in this GWAS were located near the HLA-DPB1 gene (P ≤ 1 × 10−7). These findings demonstrate that polymorphisms in HLA-DPB1 are strongly associated with interindividual differences in neutralizing antibody levels to rubella vaccination and represent a validation of our previous HLA work. PMID:25293367

The evolution of humor from male aggression.

PubMed

Shuster, Sam

2012-01-01

The response to seeing a man riding a unicycle was reported to be consistently related to the viewer's sex and stage of physical development. To see if this observation was universal, observations of responses were collected from 23 male and 9 female unicyclists aged 15-69 years, with 2-40 years cycling experience across four continents. With two exceptions among men, the findings were the same as those originally reported: children showed interest and curiosity, young girls showed little interest, while adult women showed a kindly, concerned, praising response. By contrast, boys showed physical aggression, which became more verbal, merging in the later teens to the snide, aggressive, stereotyped humorous response shown by adult males, which became less frequent in elderly men. The universality of the response across different individuals, environments, and dates of observation suggests an endogenous mechanism, and the association with masculine development relates this to androgen. The theoretical consequences are discussed. It is concluded that humor develops from aggression in males and is evolutionarily related to sexual selection.

A New Optical Scheme for a Polarimetric-Based Glucose Sensor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ansari, Rafat R.; Boeckle, Stefan; Rovati, Luigi; Salzman, Jack A. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

We describe a new optical scheme to perform polarimetric measurements to detect glucose concentration in the aqueous humor of a model eye. The ultimate aim is to apply this technique in designing a new instrument for measuring glucose levels in diabetic patients routinely, frequently, and non-invasively. The scheme exploits the Brewsterreflection of circularly polarized light off of the lens of the eye. Theoretically, this backreflected linearly polarized light on its way to the detector is expected to rotate its state of polarization due to the presence of glucose molecules in the aqueous humor of patients. An experimental laboratory setup based on this scheme was designed and tested by measuring a range of known concentration of glucose solutions dissolved in water.

The Use of Humor by Primary School Administrators and Its Organizational Effect on Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sahin, Ahmet

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study is to determine the aim of primary school administrators' use of humor and the organizational effects of their use of humor according to the opinions of the school administrators and teachers. The study was modelled as a multiple holistic case study. The study group consists of 9 administrators and 12 teachers working in…

Prosodic Markers of Saliency in Humorous Narratives

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pickering, Lucy; Corduas, Marcella; Eisterhold, Jodi; Seifried, Brenna; Eggleston, Alyson; Attardo, Salvatore

2009-01-01

Much of what we think we know about the performance of humor relies on our intuitions about prosody (e.g., "it's all about timing"); however, this has never been empirically tested. Thus, the central question addressed in this article is whether speakers mark punch lines in jokes prosodically and, if so, how. To answer this question,…

Vitreous humor thermodynamics during phacoemulsification.

PubMed

Salcedo-Villanueva, Guillermo; Kon-Jara, Veronica; Harasawa, Mariana; Cervantes-Coste, Guadalupe; Ochoa-Contreras, Daniel; Morales-Cantón, Virgilio; Guerrero-Naranjo, José Luis; Quiroz-Mercado, Hugo; Landers, Maurice B

2015-08-01

The purpose of this study is to determine baseline vitreous humor temperature during a combined phacoemulsification and pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) procedure; to determine what is the temperature variation during phacoemulsification; and to compare vitreous temperature to sublingual temperature. The methods used are prospective, interventional and comparative study. Patients with a diagnosis of cataract and vitreous hemorrhage, programed for a combined procedure of phacoemulsification and PPV, were included. Patients were excluded if posterior capsular rupture existed during the anterior segment procedure. A thermoprobe was inserted through a PPV trocar. Measurement of the vitreous temperature was obtained at baseline and throughout phacoemulsification, at the end of every surgical step, and every 5 min. Sublingual temperature was measured with the same probe at the end of the surgery. Room temperature was registered. Seventeen eyes of 17 patients were included. Mean sublingual temperature was 36.5 °C (standard deviation [σ] 0.26 °C). Mean total vitreous temperature was 31.47 °C (σ 2.1 °C). Mean baseline vitreous temperature was 33.04 °C (σ 0.99 °C). Comparison of sublingual temperature with baseline vitreous temperature resulted in a significant difference (t test P < 0.000. 95 % confidence interval 2.93-3.98). Temperature measured by surgical step and surgical time presented a significant decrease in temperature from baseline (Kruskal-Wallis P < 0.000, P = 0.003, respectively). Vitreous humor is significantly hypothermic when compared to sublingual temperature. Vitreous temperature decreases significantly during phacoemulsification.

Effects of blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) extract on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in vitro and in vivo.

PubMed

Jin, Xue-Hai; Ohgami, Kazuhiro; Shiratori, Kenji; Suzuki, Yukari; Koyama, Yoshikazu; Yoshida, Kazuhiko; Ilieva, Iliyana; Tanaka, Tsuneo; Onoe, Kazunori; Ohno, Shigeaki

2006-05-01

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of blue honeysuckle extract (BHE), which contains high level of phenolic compounds, on endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU). Male Lewis rats were randomly divided into 5 groups with 14 rats in each (eight rats for collection of aqueous humor, six rats for histologic examination). EIU was induced by a footpad injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). 1, 10, or 100 mg of BHE was injected intravenously immediately after LPS injection. The aqueous humor was collected at 24 h after LPS injection, the number of infiltrating cells, protein concentration, nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and prostaglandin (PG)-E2 levels in the aqueous humor were determined. Some eyes were enucleated for histologic examination and immunohistochemical analysis. Immunohistochemical staining with a monoclonal antibody against activated nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB was performed to evaluate the effect of BHE on NF-kappaB activation. To further clarify the anti-inflammatory effect, RAW264.7 cells (a mouse macrophage cell line) were stimulated with LPS in the presence or absence of BHE and its major phenolics, cyanidin 3-glucoside (C3G), cyanidin 3-rutinoside (C3R), chlorogenic acid (CA). Expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were analyzed by Western blot method. BHE treatment significantly reduced the inflammatory cell infiltration, the protein concentration, the levels of NO, TNF-alpha and PGE2 in the aqueous humor and improved histologic status of the ocular tissue. The number of activated NF-kappaB-positive cells was lower in the iris-ciliary body treated with BHE at 3 h after LPS injection. BHE significantly suppressed the production of NO, PGE2 and TNF-alpha in the culture medium as well as the expression of iNOS and COX-2 by LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells in a dose-dependent fashion. C3G, C3R and CA showed no or weak inhibitory effects on the level of inflammatory mediators and the

To Resolve or Not To Resolve, that Is the Question: The Dual-Path Model of Incongruity Resolution and Absurd Verbal Humor by fMRI

PubMed Central

Dai, Ru H.; Chen, Hsueh-Chih; Chan, Yu C.; Wu, Ching-Lin; Li, Ping; Cho, Shu L.; Hu, Jon-Fan

2017-01-01

It is well accepted that the humor comprehension processing involves incongruity detection and resolution and then induces a feeling of amusement. However, this three-stage model of humor processing does not apply to absurd humor (so-called nonsense humor). Absurd humor contains an unresolvable incongruity but can still induce a feeling of mirth. In this study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to identify the neural mechanisms of absurd humor. Specifically, we aimed to investigate the neural substrates associated with the complete resolution of incongruity resolution humor and partial resolution of absurd humor. Based on the fMRI data, we propose a dual-path model of incongruity resolution and absurd verbal humor. According to this model, the detection and resolution for the incongruity of incongruity resolution humor activate brain regions involved in the temporo-parietal lobe (TPJ) implicated in the integration of multiple information and precuneus, likely to be involved in the ability of perspective taking. The appreciation of incongruity resolution humor activates regions the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), implicated in autobiographic or event memory retrieval, and parahippocampal gyrus (PHG), implying the funny feeling. By contrast, the partial resolution of absurd humor elicits greater activation in the fusiform gyrus which have been implicated in word processing, inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) for the process of incongruity resolution and superior temporal gyrus (STG) for the pragmatic awareness. PMID:28484402

Investigation of pH and temperature on optical rotatory dispersion for noninvasive glucose monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baba, Justin S.; Meledeo, Adam; Cameron, B. D.; Cote, Gerard L.

2001-06-01

The widespread occurrence of diabetes mellitus and the severity of its associated complications necessitate the development of non-invasive blood glucose measurement devices in an attempt to improve treatment regimens and curb the complications associated with this disease. One method showing promise in this endeavor utilizes optical polarimetry to monitor blood glucose levels indirectly by measuring glucose rotation of polarized light, which is a direct indication of glucose concentration, in the aqueous humor of the eye. The presence of other optically active (chiral) components in the aqueous humor of the eye have the potential to confound the glucose measurement of optical rotation when using a single wavelength polarimeter. Thus, this has led to the recent investigation of multispectral polarimetric systems which have the potential to enable the removal of confounder contributions to the net observed optical rotation, therefore, increasing glucose specificity and reducing glucose prediction errors. Such polarimetric systems take advantage of the uniqueness in the rotation of polarized light, as a function of wavelength, by the chiral molecule of interest. This is commonly referred to as the optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) spectra of the chiral molecule. ORD characterization of the chiral molecules within the aqueous humor is necessary for determining the optimum number of wavelengths needed to reduce glucose prediction errors; however, this information is often only given at the sodium-D line (589 nm) in the literature. This report describes the system we designed and built to measure ORD spectra for glucose and for albumin, the main optical confounder within the aqueous humor, as well as our investigation of the effects of temperature and pH on these ORD spectra.

CHANGES IN HUMORAL IMMUNITY OCCURRING DURING THE EARLY STAGES OF EXPERIMENTAL PNEUMOCOCCUS INFECTION

PubMed Central

Terrell, Edward E.

1930-01-01

A study was made of the changes in humoral immunity occurring during the early phases of experimental pneumococcus infection in the dog and cat. The methods devised by Robertson and Sia were employed to demonstrate the presence of anti-pneumococcus properties in the serum of animals naturally resistant to this micro-organism. It was found that with a generalized and overwhelming infection accompanied by early blood invasion, there was a prompt and rapid decrease in the concentration of natural humoral immune bodies which frequently disappeared entirely by the time of death. This same early diminution of humoral immune substances, opsonins, agglutinins, and pneumococcidal-promoting bodies was observed in animals that survived a moderately severe generalized infection but the concentration of immune bodies rose again with the onset of recovery. The decrease in concentration of humoral immune substances during a severe generalized infection appeared to be due to the combination of "S" substance with the normal immune bodies. When the pneumococcus infection was more localized as in the case of true lobar pneumonia a quite different sequence of events was observed to occur. Several animals, in which extensive lobar pneumonia was produced, showed the presence in quantity of humoral immune bodies in the blood throughout the course of an infection terminating fatally. These findings suggest that after the inception of pneumococcus infection in the dog and cat the chief function of natural anti-pneurnococcus substances in the blood is to limit or prevent blood invasion. When pneumococcic infection is localized these circulating antibodies appear to have little effect either in preventing the spread of the process or determining the outcome of the disease. PMID:19869701

Trivalent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) VLP vaccine covering HPV type 58 can elicit high level of humoral immunity but also induce immune interference among component types.

PubMed

Zhang, Ting; Xu, Yufei; Qiao, Liang; Wang, Youchun; Wu, Xueling; Fan, Dongsheng; Peng, Qinglin; Xu, Xuemei

2010-04-26

Both Human Papillomavirus (HPV) type 16/18 bivalent vaccine and type 16/18/6/11 quadrivalent vaccine have been proved to be safe and effective, and licensed for public use. However, these two vaccines do not quite match the distribution of HPV types in China, Southeast Asia and Latin America, where HPV 58 is highly prevalent. Here we produced three types of virus-like particles (VLPs) in baculovirus expression system, formulated a trivalent vaccine containing HPV 16, 18, and 58 L1 VLPs and examined its in vitro neutralizing titers. This vaccine could induce high level and long-term humoral immunity against the component types. But immune interference was observed when comparing type specific neutralizing antibody levels induced by trivalent vaccine to those by corresponding monovalent vaccines. This kind of interference would become more obvious when formulating more types of VLPs into multivalent vaccines, but could be greatly overcome by decreasing the antigen dosage and adding a proper adjuvant. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Viewing a humorous film decreases IgE production by seminal B cells from patients with atopic eczema.

PubMed

Kimata, Hajime

2009-02-01

Sperms induced IgE production by seminal B cells from patients with atopic eczema via interaction of B cells with galectin-3 on sperms. We studied the effect of viewing a humorous film on IgE production by seminal B cells cultured with sperms. Twenty-four male patients with atopic eczema viewed a humorous film (Modern Times, featuring Charlie Chaplin). Just before and immediately after viewing, semen was collected, and seminal B cells and sperms were purified. Seminal B cells were cultured with sperms and IgE production was measured, while expression of galectin-3 on sperms was assessed. After viewing the humorous film, IgE production by B cells cultured with sperms was significantly decreased. Moreover, expression of galectin-3 on sperms was reduced. Viewing a humorous film reduced galectin-3 expression on sperms, which in turn decreased IgE production by seminal B cells cultured with sperms. These results indicate that viewing a humorous film may be helpful for the study and treatment of local IgE production and allergy in the reproductive tract.

Iris as a reflector for differential absorption low-coherence interferometry to measure glucose level in the anterior chamber

PubMed Central

Zhou, Yong; Zeng, Nan; Ji, Yanhong; Li, Yao; Dai, Xiangsong; Li, Peng; Duan, Lian; Ma, Hui; He, Yonghong

2011-01-01

We present a method of glucose concentration detection in the anterior chamber with a differential absorption optical low-coherent interferometry (LCI) technique. Back-reflected light from the iris, passing through the anterior chamber twice, was selectively obtained with the LCI technique. Two light sources, one centered within (1625 nm) and the other centered outside (1310 nm) of a glucose absorption band were used for differential absorption measurement. In the eye model and pig eye experiments, we obtained a resolution glucose level of 26.8 mg/dL and 69.6 mg/dL, respectively. This method has a potential application for noninvasive detection of glucose concentration in aqueous humor, which is related to the glucose concentration in blood. PMID:21280906

Humor in the Hands of Seasoned Montessorians

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Willard, Michelle

2006-01-01

As a teacher of 11-to 13-year-olds, the author sees that her role definitely requires a sense of humor. A charismatic personality and the ability to lighten things up go a long way toward an enjoyable relationship with this age group. For Michelle Willard, a certain amount of levity in dealing with typical developmental issues is the key to…

Age-Related Differences in Judgments of Inappropriate Behavior are Related to Humor Style Preferences

PubMed Central

Stanley, Jennifer Tehan; Lohani, Monika; Isaacowitz, Derek M.

2014-01-01

Identifying social gaffes is important for maintaining relationships. Older adults are less able than young to discriminate between socially appropriate and inappropriate behavior in video clips. One open question is how these social appropriateness ratings relate to potential age differences in the perception of what is actually funny or not. In the present study, young, middle-aged, and older adults were equally able to discriminate between appropriate and inappropriate social behavior in a diverse set of clips relevant to both age groups. However, young and middle-aged adults rated the gaffe clips as funnier than control clips and young adults smiled more during the inappropriate clips than the control clips. Older adults did not show this pattern, suggesting that they did not find the inappropriate clips funny. Additionally, young adults endorsed a more aggressive humor style than middle-aged and older adults and aggressive humor style endorsement mediated age differences in social appropriateness ratings. Results are discussed in terms of possible mechanisms such as cohort differences in humor and developmental prioritization of certain humor styles, as well as the importance of investigating age differences in both abilities and preferences. PMID:25244473

Humoral Immune Responses to Pneumocystis jirovecii Antigens in HIV-Infected and Uninfected Young Children with Pneumocystis Pneumonia

PubMed Central

Djawe, Kpandja; Daly, Kieran R.; Walzer, Peter D.

2013-01-01

Background Humoral immune responses in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and uninfected children with Pneumocystis pneumonia (PcP) are poorly understood. Methods Consecutive children hospitalized with acute pneumonia, tachypnea, and hypoxia in South Africa were investigated for PcP, which was diagnosed by real-time polymerase chain reaction on lower respiratory tract specimens. Serum antibody responses to recombinant fragments of the carboxyl terminus of Pneumocystis jirovecii major surface glycoprotein (MsgC) were analyzed. Results 149 children were enrolled of whom 96 (64%) were HIV-infected. PcP occurred in 69 (72%) of HIV-infected and 14 (26%) of HIV-uninfected children. HIV-infected children with PcP had significantly decreased IgG antibodies to MsgC compared to HIV-infected patients without PcP, but had similar IgM antibodies. In contrast, HIV-uninfected children with PcP showed no change in IgG antibodies to MsgC, but had significantly increased IgM antibodies compared to HIV-uninfected children without PCP. Age was an independent predictor of high IgG antibodies, whereas PcP was a predictor of low IgG antibodies and high IgM antibodies. IgG and IgM antibody levels to the most closely related MsgC fragments were predictors of survival from PcP. Conclusions Young HIV-infected children with PcP have significantly impaired humoral immune responses to MsgC, whereas HIV-uninfected children with PcP can develop active humoral immune responses. The children also exhibit a complex relationship between specific host factors and antibody levels to MsgC fragments that may be related to survival from PcP. PMID:24386119

Laughter and humor as complementary and alternative medicines for dementia patients.

PubMed

Takeda, Masatoshi; Hashimoto, Ryota; Kudo, Takashi; Okochi, Masayasu; Tagami, Shinji; Morihara, Takashi; Sadick, Golam; Tanaka, Toshihisa

2010-06-18

The number of dementia patients has increased worldwide, with an estimated 13.7 million dementia patients in the Asia Pacific region alone. This number is expected to increase to 64.6 million by the year 2050. As a result of advances in research, there several pharmacological therapies available for the treatment of dementia patients. However, current treatments do not suppress the disease process and cannot prevent dementia, and it will be some time before these goals are realized. In the meantime, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is an important aspect in the treatment of dementia patients to improve their quality of life throughout the long course of the disease. Considering the individuality of dementia patients, applicability of laughter and humor therapy is discussed. Even though there are many things that need to be elucidated regarding the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of laughter and humor, both may be good CAM for dementia patients if they are applied carefully and properly. In this debate article, the physiological basis and actual application of laughter and humor in the treatment of dementia patients are presented for discussion on the applicability to dementia patients.

Laughter and humor as complementary and alternative medicines for dementia patients

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background The number of dementia patients has increased worldwide, with an estimated 13.7 million dementia patients in the Asia Pacific region alone. This number is expected to increase to 64.6 million by the year 2050. Discussion As a result of advances in research, there several pharmacological therapies available for the treatment of dementia patients. However, current treatments do not suppress the disease process and cannot prevent dementia, and it will be some time before these goals are realized. In the meantime, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is an important aspect in the treatment of dementia patients to improve their quality of life throughout the long course of the disease. Considering the individuality of dementia patients, applicability of laughter and humor therapy is discussed. Even though there are many things that need to be elucidated regarding the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of laughter and humor, both may be good CAM for dementia patients if they are applied carefully and properly. Summary In this debate article, the physiological basis and actual application of laughter and humor in the treatment of dementia patients are presented for discussion on the applicability to dementia patients. PMID:20565815

What Role Does Humor in the Higher Education Classroom Play in Student-Perceived Instructor Effectiveness?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Halula, Stephen Paul

2013-01-01

Everyone has had college instructors who they thought were excellent and those who were not. In pondering what attributes might have made the difference between these groups, the idea of "humor" came to mind, setting the researcher on course to study the research question "What role does humor in the higher education classroom play…

Neural Correlates of Sex/Gender Differences in Humor Processing for Different Joke Types.

PubMed

Chan, Yu-Chen

2016-01-01

Humor operates through a variety of techniques, which first generate surprise and then amusement and laughter once the unexpected incongruity is resolved. As different types of jokes use different techniques, the corresponding humor processes also differ. The present study builds on the framework of the 'tri-component theory of humor,' which details the mechanisms involved in cognition (comprehension), affect (appreciation), and laughter (expression). This study seeks to identify differences among joke types and between sexes/genders in the neural mechanisms underlying humor processing. Three types of verbal jokes, bridging-inference jokes (BJs), exaggeration jokes (EJs), and ambiguity jokes (AJs), were used as stimuli. The findings revealed differences in brain activity for an interaction between sex/gender and joke type. For BJs, women displayed greater activation in the temporoparietal-mesocortical-motor network than men, demonstrating the importance of the temporoparietal junction (TPJ) presumably for 'theory of mind' processing, the orbitofrontal cortex for motivational functions and reward coding, and the supplementary motor area for laughter. Women also showed greater activation than men in the frontal-mesolimbic network associated with EJs, including the anterior (frontopolar) prefrontal cortex (aPFC, BA 10) for executive control processes, and the amygdala and midbrain for reward anticipation and salience processes. Conversely, AJs elicited greater activation in men than women in the frontal-paralimbic network, including the dorsal prefrontal cortex (dPFC) and parahippocampal gyrus. All joke types elicited greater activation in the aPFC of women than of men, whereas men showed greater activation than women in the dPFC. To confirm the findings related to sex/gender differences, random group analysis and within group variance analysis were also performed. These findings help further establish the mechanisms underlying the processing of different joke types

Neural Correlates of Sex/Gender Differences in Humor Processing for Different Joke Types

PubMed Central

Chan, Yu-Chen

2016-01-01

Humor operates through a variety of techniques, which first generate surprise and then amusement and laughter once the unexpected incongruity is resolved. As different types of jokes use different techniques, the corresponding humor processes also differ. The present study builds on the framework of the ‘tri-component theory of humor,’ which details the mechanisms involved in cognition (comprehension), affect (appreciation), and laughter (expression). This study seeks to identify differences among joke types and between sexes/genders in the neural mechanisms underlying humor processing. Three types of verbal jokes, bridging-inference jokes (BJs), exaggeration jokes (EJs), and ambiguity jokes (AJs), were used as stimuli. The findings revealed differences in brain activity for an interaction between sex/gender and joke type. For BJs, women displayed greater activation in the temporoparietal–mesocortical-motor network than men, demonstrating the importance of the temporoparietal junction (TPJ) presumably for ‘theory of mind’ processing, the orbitofrontal cortex for motivational functions and reward coding, and the supplementary motor area for laughter. Women also showed greater activation than men in the frontal-mesolimbic network associated with EJs, including the anterior (frontopolar) prefrontal cortex (aPFC, BA 10) for executive control processes, and the amygdala and midbrain for reward anticipation and salience processes. Conversely, AJs elicited greater activation in men than women in the frontal-paralimbic network, including the dorsal prefrontal cortex (dPFC) and parahippocampal gyrus. All joke types elicited greater activation in the aPFC of women than of men, whereas men showed greater activation than women in the dPFC. To confirm the findings related to sex/gender differences, random group analysis and within group variance analysis were also performed. These findings help further establish the mechanisms underlying the processing of different

Humoral and cellular immune responses after influenza vaccination in patients with postcancer fatigue

PubMed Central

Prinsen, Hetty; van Laarhoven, Hanneke WM; Pots, Jeanette M; Duiveman-de Boer, Tjitske; Mulder, Sasja F; van Herpen, Carla ML; Jacobs, Joannes FM; Leer, Jan Willem H; Bleijenberg, Gijs; Stelma, Foekje F; Torensma, Ruurd; de Vries, I Jolanda M

2015-01-01

The aim of this study was to compare humoral and cellular immune responses to influenza vaccination in cancer survivors with and without severe symptoms of fatigue. Severely fatigued (n = 15) and non-fatigued (n = 12) disease-free cancer survivors were vaccinated against seasonal influenza. Humoral immunity was evaluated at baseline and post-vaccination by a hemagglutination inhibition assay. Cellular immunity was evaluated at baseline and post-vaccination by lymphocyte proliferation and activation assays. Regulatory T cells were measured at baseline by flow cytometry and heat-shock protein 90 alpha levels by ELISA. Comparable humoral immune responses were observed in fatigued and non-fatigued patients, both pre- and post-vaccination. At baseline, fatigued patients showed a significantly diminished cellular proliferation upon virus stimulation with strain H3N2 (1414 ± 1201 counts), and a trend in a similar direction with strain H1N1 (3025 ± 2339 counts), compared to non-fatigued patients (3099 ± 2401 and 5877 ± 4604 counts, respectively). The percentage of regulatory T lymphocytes was significantly increased (4.4 ± 2.1% versus 2.4 ± 0.8%) and significantly lower amounts of interleukin 2 were detected prior to vaccination in fatigued compared to non-fatigued patients (36.3 ± 44.3 pg/ml vs. 94.0 ± 45.4 pg/ml with strain H3N2 and 28.4 ± 44.0 pg/ml versus 74.5 ± 56.1 pg/ml with strain H1N1). Pre-vaccination heat-shock protein 90 alpha concentrations, post-vaccination cellular proliferation, and post-vaccination cytokine concentrations did not differ between both groups. In conclusion, influenza vaccination is favorable for severely fatigued cancer survivors and should be recommended when indicated. However, compared to non-fatigued cancer survivors, fatigued cancer survivors showed several significant differences in immunological reactivity at baseline, which warrants further investigation. PMID:25996472

Maternal antibody transfer can lead to suppression of humoral immunity in developing zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata).

PubMed

Merrill, Loren; Grindstaff, Jennifer L

2014-01-01

Maternally transferred antibodies have been documented in a wide range of taxa and are thought to adaptively provide protection against parasites and pathogens while the offspring immune system is developing. In most birds, transfer occurs when females deposit immunoglobulin Y into the egg yolk, and it is proportional to the amount in the female's plasma. Maternal antibodies can provide short-term passive protection as well as specific and nonspecific immunological priming, but high levels of maternal antibody can result in suppression of the offspring's humoral immune response. We injected adult female zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) with one of two antigens (lipopolysaccharide [LPS] or keyhole limpet hemocyanin [KLH]) or a control and then injected offspring with LPS, KLH, or a control on days 5 and 28 posthatch to examine the impact of maternally transferred antibodies on the ontogeny of the offspring's humoral immune system. We found that offspring of females exposed to KLH had elevated levels of KLH-reactive antibody over the first 17-28 days posthatch but reduced KLH-specific antibody production between days 28 and 36. We also found that offspring exposed to either LPS or KLH exhibited reduced total antibody levels, compared to offspring that received a control injection. These results indicate that high levels of maternal antibodies or antigen exposure during development can have negative repercussions on short-term antibody production and may have long-term fitness repercussions for the offspring.

Maternal Antibody Transfer Can Lead to Suppression of Humoral Immunity in Developing Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia guttata)

PubMed Central

Merrill, Loren; Grindstaff, Jennifer L.

2015-01-01

Maternally transferred antibodies have been documented in a wide range of taxa and are thought to adaptively provide protection against parasites and pathogens while the offspring immune system is developing. In most birds, transfer occurs when females deposit immunoglobulin Y into the egg yolk, and it is proportional to the amount in the female’s plasma. Maternal antibodies can provide short-term passive protection as well as specific and nonspecific immunological priming, but high levels of maternal antibody can result in suppression of the offspring’s humoral immune response. We injected adult female zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) with one of two antigens (lipo-polysaccharide [LPS] or keyhole limpet hemocyanin [KLH]) or a control and then injected offspring with LPS, KLH, or a control on days 5 and 28 posthatch to examine the impact of maternally transferred antibodies on the ontogeny of the offspring’s humoral immune system. We found that offspring of females exposed to KLH had elevated levels of KLH-reactive antibody over the first 17–28 days posthatch but reduced KLH-specific antibody production between days 28 and 36. We also found that offspring exposed to either LPS or KLH exhibited reduced total antibody levels, compared to offspring that received a control injection. These results indicate that high levels of maternal antibodies or antigen exposure during development can have negative repercussions on short-term antibody production and may have long-term fitness repercussions for the offspring. PMID:25244385

The Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Ripasudil (K-115), a Rho Kinase (ROCK) Inhibitor, on Endotoxin-Induced Uveitis in Rats.

PubMed

Uchida, Takatoshi; Honjo, Megumi; Yamagishi, Reiko; Aihara, Makoto

2017-10-01

To investigate the anti-inflammatory properties of ripasudil, a Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, using endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) in rats. Endotoxin-induced uveitis was induced by footpad injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Ripasudil was administered intraperitoneally 1 hour before and after LPS injection. The aqueous humor was collected 24 hours after injection, and the infiltrating cells, protein concentration, and levels of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) were determined. Infiltrating cells in the iris ciliary body (ICB) and adherent leukocytes in retinal vessels were evaluated. The mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and MCP-1 in the retina and ICB were determined. A mouse macrophage cell line, RAW264.7, was stimulated with LPS in the presence or absence of ripasudil, and the expression of MCP-1 and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB was analyzed. Ripasudil significantly reduced infiltrating cells and protein exudation in the aqueous humor, as well as the number of infiltrating cells in the ICB and adherent leukocytes in retinal vessels in EIU. Additionally, the protein level of MCP-1 in the aqueous humor and mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, MCP-1, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in the ICB and retina were suppressed by ripasudil. The production of MCP-1 and nuclear translocation of NF-κB in RAW264.7 cells were also suppressed by ripasudil. The Rho/ROCK pathway plays a role in adhesion molecule expression and inflammatory cell infiltration in EIU, and ripasudil is a potent anti-inflammatory agent against ocular inflammatory diseases, including acute uveitis and possibly uveitic glaucoma.

Entertainment-education in the context of humor: effects on safer sex intentions and risk perceptions.

PubMed

Moyer-Gusé, Emily; Mahood, Chad; Brookes, Sarah

2011-12-01

Past research has examined the effects of entertainment narratives on story-related behaviors, but most has focused primarily on dramatic genres rather than comedy. The present study examines how the presence or absence of pregnancy-related humor influences viewers' counterarguing, perceived severity, and intentions to engage in unprotected sexual behavior. Results were consistent with expectations in that related humor reduced counterarguing while also trivializing the severity of the consequences of sexual behavior. When the pregnancy storyline was presented in its original humorous context, viewers reported greater intentions to engage in unprotected sex than when pregnancy was presented in a more serious tone. Model testing clarified this finding by revealing the underlying mechanisms. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed.

Carnauba wax nanoparticles enhance strong systemic and mucosal cellular and humoral immune responses to HIV-gp140 antigen

PubMed Central

Arias, Mauricio A.; Loxley, Andrew; Eatmon, Christy; Van Roey, Griet; Fairhurst, David; Mitchnick, Mark; Dash, Philip; Cole, Tom; Wegmann, Frank; Sattentau, Quentin; Shattock, Robin

2011-01-01

Induction of humoral responses to HIV at mucosal compartments without inflammation is important for vaccine design. We developed charged wax nanoparticles that efficiently adsorb protein antigens and are internalized by DC in the absence of inflammation. HIV-gp140-adsorbed nanoparticles induced stronger in vitro T-cell proliferation responses than antigen alone. Such responses were greatly enhanced when antigen was co-adsorbed with TLR ligands. Immunogenicity studies in mice showed that intradermal vaccination with HIV-gp140 antigen-adsorbed nanoparticles induced high levels of specific IgG. Importantly, intranasal immunization with HIV-gp140-adsorbed nanoparticles greatly enhanced serum and vaginal IgG and IgA responses. Our results show that HIV-gp140-carrying wax nanoparticles can induce strong cellular/humoral immune responses without inflammation and may be of potential use as effective mucosal adjuvants for HIV vaccine candidates. PMID:21145913

Humoral Immune Response After Intravitreal But Not After Subretinal AAV8 in Primates and Patients.

PubMed

Reichel, Felix F; Peters, Tobias; Wilhelm, Barbara; Biel, Martin; Ueffing, Marius; Wissinger, Bernd; Bartz-Schmidt, Karl U; Klein, Reinhild; Michalakis, Stylianos; Fischer, M Dominik

2018-04-01

To study longitudinal changes of anti-drug antibody (ADA) titers to recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 8 (rAAV8) capsid epitopes in nonhuman primates (NHP) and patients. Three groups of six NHP each received subretinal injections (high dose: 1 × 1012 vector genomes [vg], low dose: 1 × 1011 vg, or vehicle only). Four additional animals received intravitreal injections of the high dose (1 × 1012 vg). Three patients received 1 × 1010 vg as subretinal injections. ELISA quantified ADA levels at baseline and 1, 2, 3, 7, 28, and 90 days after surgery in NHP and at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery in patients. Two out of 22 animals lacked ADA titers at baseline and developed low ADA titers toward the end of the study. Titers in the low-dose group stayed constant, while two of six animals from the high-dose group developed titers that rose beyond the range of the assay. All animals from the intravitreal control group showed a rise in ADA titer by day 7 that peaked at day 28. Preliminary data from the clinical trial (NCT02610582) show no humoral immune response in patients following subretinal delivery of 1 × 1010 vg. No significant induction of ADA occurred in NHP when mimicking the clinical scenario of subretinal delivery with a clinical-grade rAAV8 and concomitant immunosuppression. Likewise, clinical data showed no humoral immune response in patients. In contrast, intravitreal delivery was associated with a substantial humoral immune response. Subretinal delivery might be superior to an intravitreal application regarding immunologic aspects.

Local and systemic humoral immune response in farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) under a natural amoebic gill disease outbreak.

PubMed

Marcos-López, Mar; Espinosa Ruiz, Cristóbal; Rodger, Hamish D; O'Connor, Ian; MacCarthy, Eugene; Esteban, M Ángeles

2017-07-01

Amoebic gill disease (AGD), caused by the protozoan parasite Neoparamoeba perurans, is one of the most significant infectious diseases for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) mariculture. The present study investigated the humoral immune response (both local in gill mucus and systemic in serum) of farmed Atlantic salmon naturally infected with N. perurans in commercial sea pens, at two different stages of the disease and after freshwater treatment. Parameters analysed included activity of immune related enzymes (i.e. lysozyme, peroxidase, protease, anti-protease, esterase, alkaline phosphatase), IgM levels, and the terminal carbohydrate profile in the gill mucus. Overall, greater variations between groups were noted in the immune parameters determined in gill mucus than the equivalent in the serum. In gill mucus, IgM levels and peroxidase, lysozyme, esterase and protease activities were decreased in fish showing longer exposure time to the infection and higher disease severity, then showed a sequential increase after treatment. Results obtained highlight the capacity of gills to elicit a local response to the infection, indicate an impaired immune response at the later stages of the disease, and show partial reestablishment of the host immune status after freshwater treatment. In addition to providing data on the humoral response to AGD, this study increases knowledge on gill mucosal humoral immunity, since some of the parameters were analysed for the first time in gill mucus. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The role of B cells and humoral immunity in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

PubMed

Chan, John; Mehta, Simren; Bharrhan, Sushma; Chen, Yong; Achkar, Jacqueline M; Casadevall, Arturo; Flynn, JoAnne

2014-12-01

Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains a major public health burden. It is generally thought that while B cell- and antibody-mediated immunity plays an important role in host defense against extracellular pathogens, the primary control of intracellular microbes derives from cellular immune mechanisms. Studies on the immune regulatory mechanisms during infection with M. tuberculosis, a facultative intracellular organism, has established the importance of cell-mediated immunity in host defense during tuberculous infection. Emerging evidence suggest a role for B cell and humoral immunity in the control of intracellular pathogens, including obligatory species, through interactions with the cell-mediated immune compartment. Recent studies have shown that B cells and antibodies can significantly impact on the development of immune responses to the tubercle bacillus. In this review, we present experimental evidence supporting the notion that the importance of humoral and cellular immunity in host defense may not be entirely determined by the niche of the pathogen. A comprehensive approach that examines both humoral and cellular immunity could lead to better understanding of the immune response to M. tuberculosis. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The role of B cells and humoral immunity in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

PubMed Central

Chan, John; Mehta, Simren; Bharrhan, Sushma; Chen, Yong; Achkar, Jacqueline M.; Casadevall, Arturo; Flynn, JoAnne

2014-01-01

Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains a major public health burden. It is generally thought that while B cell- and antibody-mediated immunity plays an important role in host defense against extracellular pathogens, the primary control of intracellular microbes derives from cellular immune mechanisms. Studies on the immune regulatory mechanisms during infection with M. tuberculosis, a facultative intracellular organism, has established the importance of cell-mediated immunity in host defense during tuberculous infection. Emerging evidence suggest a role for B cell and humoral immunity in the control of intracellular pathogens, including obligatory species, through interactions with the cell-mediated immune compartment. Recent studies have shown that B cells and antibodies can significantly impact on the development of immune responses to the tubercle bacillus. In this review, we present experimental evidence supporting the notion that the importance of humoral and cellular immunity in host defense may not be entirely determined by the niche of the pathogen. A comprehensive approach that examines both humoral and cellular immunity could lead to better understanding of the immune response to M. tuberculosis. PMID:25458990

Polymorphisms in HLA-DPB1 are associated with differences in rubella virus-specific humoral immunity after vaccination.

PubMed

Lambert, Nathaniel D; Haralambieva, Iana H; Kennedy, Richard B; Ovsyannikova, Inna G; Pankratz, Vernon Shane; Poland, Gregory A

2015-03-15

Vaccination with live attenuated rubella virus induces a strong immune response in most individuals. However, small numbers of subjects never reach or maintain protective antibody levels, and there is a high degree of variability in immune response. We have previously described genetic polymorphisms in HLA and other candidate genes that are associated with interindividual differences in humoral immunity to rubella virus. To expand our previous work, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to discover single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with rubella virus-specific neutralizing antibodies. We identified rs2064479 in the HLA-DPB1 genetic region as being significantly associated with humoral immune response variations after rubella vaccination (P = 8.62 × 10(-8)). All other significant SNPs in this GWAS were located near the HLA-DPB1 gene (P ≤ 1 × 10(-7)). These findings demonstrate that polymorphisms in HLA-DPB1 are strongly associated with interindividual differences in neutralizing antibody levels to rubella vaccination and represent a validation of our previous HLA work. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Energy Level Alignment at Aqueous GaN and ZnO Interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hybertsen, Mark S.; Kharche, Neerav; Muckerman, James T.

2014-03-01

Electronic energy level alignment at semiconductor-electrolyte interfaces is fundamental to electrochemical activity. Motivated in particular by the search for new materials that can be more efficient for photocatalysis, we develop a first principles method to calculate this alignment at aqueous interfaces and demonstrate it for the specific case of non-polar GaN and ZnO interfaces with water. In the first step, density functional theory (DFT) based molecular dynamics is used to sample the physical interface structure and to evaluate the electrostatic potential step at the interface. In the second step, the GW approach is used to evaluate the reference electronic energy level separately in the bulk semiconductor (valence band edge energy) and in bulk water (the 1b1 energy level), relative to the internal electrostatic energy reference. Use of the GW approach naturally corrects for errors inherent in the use of Kohn-Sham energy eigenvalues to approximate the electronic excitation energies in each material. With this predicted interface alignment, specific redox levels in water, with potentials known relative to the 1b1 level, can then be compared to the semiconductor band edge positions. Our results will be discussed in the context of experiments in which photoexcited GaN and ZnO drive the hydrogen evolution reaction. Research carried out at Brookhaven National Laboratory under Contract No. DE-AC02-98CH10886 with the U.S. Department of Energy.

First-Principles Approach to Energy Level Alignment at Aqueous Semiconductor Interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hybertsen, Mark

2015-03-01

We have developed a first principles method to calculate the energy level alignment between semiconductor band edges and reference energy levels at aqueous interfaces. This alignment is fundamental to understand the electrochemical characteristics of any semiconductor electrode in general and the potential for photocatalytic activity in particular. For example, in the search for new photo-catalytic materials, viable candidates must demonstrate both efficient absorption of the solar spectrum and an appropriate alignment of the band edge levels in the semiconductor to the redox levels for the target reactions. In our approach, the interface-specific contribution to the electrostatic step across the interface is evaluated using density functional theory (DFT) based molecular dynamics to sample the physical interface structure and the corresponding change in the electrostatic potential at the interface. The reference electronic levels in the semiconductor and in the water are calculated using the GW approach, which naturally corrects for errors inherent in the use of Kohn-Sham energy eigenvalues to approximate the electronic excitation energies in each material. Taken together, our calculations provide the alignment of the semiconductor valence band edge to the centroid of the highest occupied 1b1 level in water. The known relationship of the 1b1 level to the normal hydrogen electrode completes the connection to electrochemical levels. We discuss specific results for GaN, ZnO, and TiO2. The effect of interface structural motifs, such as different degrees of water dissociation, and of dynamical characteristics, will be presented together with available experimental data. Work supported by the US Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences under Contract No. DE-AC02-98CH10886.

Aqueous humour and ultraviolet radiation.

PubMed

Ringvold, A

1980-01-01

Studies on the ultraviolet ray absorption in the aqueous humour of rabbit, cat, monkey, guinea pig, and rat showed marked species differences. In the rabbit aqueous the ascorbic acid, the proteins, and some amino acids (tyrosine, phenylalanine, cystine, and tryptophane) are together responsible for the total absorption, and a very great part of it refers to the ascorbic acid content. Accordingly, species with significant amounts of ascorbic acid in the aqueous (monkey, rabbit, guinea pig) have a greater absorption capacity towards ultraviolet radiation than species (cat, rat) lacking this substance. This effect of the ascorbic acid may contribute in protecting the lens against the most biotoxic ultraviolet rays. It seems that the ascorbic acid concentration is highest in the aqueous of typical day animals and lowest in species being active in the dark, indicating a correlation between the aqueous' ascorbic acid level and the quantity of incident light on the eye. The possible significance of changed aqueous ultraviolet ray absorption in the pathogenesis of human cataract development is discussed.

Essential oil of clove (Eugenia caryophyllata) augments the humoral immune response but decreases cell mediated immunity.

PubMed

Halder, Sumita; Mehta, Ashish K; Mediratta, Pramod K; Sharma, Krishna K

2011-08-01

The present study was undertaken to explore the effect of the essential oil isolated from the buds of Eugenia caryophyllata on some immunological parameters. Humoral immunity was assessed by measuring the hemagglutination titre to sheep red blood cells and delayed type hypersensitivity was assessed by measuring foot pad thickness. Clove oil administration produced a significant increase in the primary as well as secondary humoral immune response. In addition, it also produced a significant decrease in foot pad thickness compared with the control group. Thus, these results suggest that clove oil can modulate the immune response by augmenting humoral immunity and decreasing cell mediated immunity. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Humor in Father-Daughter Immigration Narratives of Resistance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gallo, Sarah

2016-01-01

This article draws from an ethnography on Mexican immigrant fathers and their children to examine humor in immigration narratives as acts of resistance. The analysis focuses on the devices employed by a father and daughter during their everyday talk and co-narration of an incident with police officers. Findings illustrate how the form and content…

Resiliency and the Ability to Detect Cartoon Humor

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Killlon, Jessica B.; Torres, Aurora

2017-01-01

The Connor Davidson Resilience Scale was developed to measure resiliency, an individual's ability to positively adapt to stressful or adverse situations. Resilient individuals have close and secure relationships, have a strong sense of purpose, know when to turn to others for help, and find humor in situations. The focus of this study was on the…

Humoral immune response and TLR9 gene expression in Pacific red snapper (Lutjanus peru) experimentally exposed to Aeromonas veronii.

PubMed

Reyes-Becerril, Martha; Angulo, Carlos; Ascencio, Felipe

2015-02-01

Aquaculture production of Pacific red snapper Lutjanus peru is growing rapidly in Mexico, especially in Gulf of California. As it is a relatively new aquaculture species there are few reports evaluating its immune response to pathogens. The Gram-negative bacteria Aeromonas veronii is a heterogeneous organism that causes the disease known as motile aeromonad septicemia, which is responsible for serious economic loss in seabream culture due to bacterial infections. For the purpose of this study, juvenile Pacific red snapper specimens were intraperitoneally injected with low doses of A. veronii (1 × 10(6) CFU ml(-1)). Changes in humoral immune parameters (total protein, myeloperoxidase, lisozyme and antiprotease activities and IgM levels), as well as superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, and TLR9 gene expression were evaluated 24 and 48 h after injection. Overall, the results showed an enhanced in humoral immune parameters and SOD and CAT activities in fish infected with A. veronii compared with control group at 24 or 48 h. By real time PCR assays, the basal mRNA transcripts of TLR9 showed that were highly expressed in intestine and leucocytes compared to skin, head kidney, liver and gill. Then, the mRNA expression levels of TLR9 in head kidney, skin, liver and intestine were analyzed in non-infected and experimentally infected fish 24 and 48 h after injection. A. veronii up-regulated the expression of TLR9 at 24 or 48 h of exposure in all samples analyzed except in liver. Interestingly, intestine produced the greatest increase in transcript levels upon exposure (48 h) to A. veronii. Taken together, our results suggest that low doses of A. veronii infection inducing humoral immune system and TLR9 immune gene in Pacific red snapper that can be useful in the health control of this species. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Multiple intravitreal injections of ganciclovir for cytomegalovirus retinitis after stem-cell transplantation.

PubMed

Miao, Heng; Tao, Yong; Jiang, Yan-Rong; Li, Xiao-Xin

2013-07-01

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Although much effort has been put into dealing with CMV retinitis secondary to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the few reports which have been published have mainly focused on treatment of CMVR after HSCT. This clinical interventional retrospective study included 14 patients (eight men; mean age 23.89 ± 12.09; 23 eyes) who suffered from CMV retinitis after stem-cell transplantation, in order to evaluate the efficacy and safety of multiple intravitreal injections of ganciclovir (IVG) for patients with CMV retinitis. All patients received 4 injections of IVG of 1 mg at 1 week intervals, and were followed up weekly for at least 2 months with measurement of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and CMV levels in anterior aqueous humor with real-time polymerase chain reaction. Anterior aqueous humor was obtained before each injection. The levels of CMV in anterior aqueous humor showed significant decrease from (6.34 ± 15.78) × 10(5) copies/ml at baseline to (5.22 ± 12.15) × 10(3) copies/ml at 1 month (P < 0.001, Mann-Whitney U test). CMV couldn't be detected in 11 eyes (47.8 %) after two injections, and this rose to 18 eyes (78.3 %) at 1 month. The mean logMAR BCVA was 0.659 ± 0.572 at baseline and 0.680 ± 0.527 at 2 months, which suggested no significant improvement (P = 0.736, Mann-Whitney U test) during the procedure. All patients experienced improved vitreous opacity and diminished area of the lesion under funduscopy after 4 injections of IVG. No severe complications developed. Multiple IVG seemed to be beneficial for patients with CMV retinitis after stem-cell transplantation, in reducing CMV levels in aqueous humor. Further study to optimize the dose of ganciclovir is needed in order to achieve better treatment outcomes.

Exposure to Political Disparagement Humor and Its Impact on Trust in Politicians: How Long Does It Last?

PubMed

Mendiburo-Seguel, Andrés; Vargas, Salvador; Rubio, Andrés

2017-01-01

The experimental research that looks into the effects of political humor on an individual's attitudes toward politics and politicians does not evaluate its long-term effects. With this in mind, this study aims to determine the possible effects that being exposed to humor which belittles politicians may have on an ordinary citizen's trust in them, while at the same time it observes the possible effects that such exposure has on them and the time such effects last. Two hypotheses were tested. The first one was that humor involves less cognitive elaboration, which leads to a short-term impact on the perception of the individual. The second one was that the repetition of a message can augment the swing of such message. Also, a series of elements regarding disposition toward politicians and political affiliation were considered. Two experiments were designed. The first experiment, ( N = 94), considered three groups: one exposed to political disparagement humor; one control group exposed to disparagement humor against non-politician subjects; and a control group exposed to a non-humorous political video. Trust in politicians was evaluated first at baseline, then immediately after the experimental manipulation, and once again a week after the experimental manipulation had happened. In the second experiment ( N = 146), participants were randomly assigned to one experimental and two control groups. The trust in politicians of the three groups was estimated and they were sent political cartoons, non-political cartoons, and newspaper headlines regarding political topics twice a day for a week via WhatsApp. Trust in politicians among the three groups was assessed again after 1 week, and for a third time 1 week after that. As a result, it was observed that a one-off exposure to political disparagement humor affects trust in politicians negatively; however, the effect it attains is short-lived and can be explained through the political content of the item and not only humor

Exposure to Political Disparagement Humor and Its Impact on Trust in Politicians: How Long Does It Last?

PubMed Central

Mendiburo-Seguel, Andrés; Vargas, Salvador; Rubio, Andrés

2017-01-01

The experimental research that looks into the effects of political humor on an individual’s attitudes toward politics and politicians does not evaluate its long-term effects. With this in mind, this study aims to determine the possible effects that being exposed to humor which belittles politicians may have on an ordinary citizen’s trust in them, while at the same time it observes the possible effects that such exposure has on them and the time such effects last. Two hypotheses were tested. The first one was that humor involves less cognitive elaboration, which leads to a short-term impact on the perception of the individual. The second one was that the repetition of a message can augment the swing of such message. Also, a series of elements regarding disposition toward politicians and political affiliation were considered. Two experiments were designed. The first experiment, (N = 94), considered three groups: one exposed to political disparagement humor; one control group exposed to disparagement humor against non-politician subjects; and a control group exposed to a non-humorous political video. Trust in politicians was evaluated first at baseline, then immediately after the experimental manipulation, and once again a week after the experimental manipulation had happened. In the second experiment (N = 146), participants were randomly assigned to one experimental and two control groups. The trust in politicians of the three groups was estimated and they were sent political cartoons, non-political cartoons, and newspaper headlines regarding political topics twice a day for a week via WhatsApp. Trust in politicians among the three groups was assessed again after 1 week, and for a third time 1 week after that. As a result, it was observed that a one-off exposure to political disparagement humor affects trust in politicians negatively; however, the effect it attains is short-lived and can be explained through the political content of the item and not only humor

Mangifera indica L. extract (Vimang) and mangiferin modulate mouse humoral immune responses.

PubMed

García, D; Leiro, J; Delgado, R; Sanmartín, M L; Ubeira, F M

2003-12-01

The present study investigated the effects of orally administered Vimang (an aqueous extract of Mangifera indica) and mangiferin (the major polyphenol present in Vimang) on mouse antibody responses induced by inoculation with spores of microsporidian parasites. Inoculation induced specific antibody production with an exponential timecourse, peaking after about one month. Vimang significantly inhibited this antibody production from about three weeks post-inoculation, and most markedly by four weeks post-inoculation; by contrast, mangiferin had no significant effect. Determination of Ig isotypes showed that the IgM to IgG switch began about four weeks post-inoculation, with IgG2a predominating. Vimang significantly inhibited IgG production, but had no effect on IgM. Mangiferin did no affect either IgM or IgG2a, but significantly enhanced production of IgG1 and IgG2b. Neither Vimang nor mangiferin enhanced specific antibody secretion by splenic plasma cells from mice inoculated with microsporidian spores, whether administered in vivo before serum extraction or in vitro to the culture medium. Inoculation with spores induced splenomegaly, which was significantly reduced by Vimang and significantly enhanced by mangiferin. These results suggest that components of Mangifera indica extracts may be of potential value for modulating the humoral response in different immunopathological disorders. Copyright 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Carnauba wax nanoparticles enhance strong systemic and mucosal cellular and humoral immune responses to HIV-gp140 antigen.

PubMed

Arias, Mauricio A; Loxley, Andrew; Eatmon, Christy; Van Roey, Griet; Fairhurst, David; Mitchnick, Mark; Dash, Philip; Cole, Tom; Wegmann, Frank; Sattentau, Quentin; Shattock, Robin

2011-02-01

Induction of humoral responses to HIV at mucosal compartments without inflammation is important for vaccine design. We developed charged wax nanoparticles that efficiently adsorb protein antigens and are internalized by DC in the absence of inflammation. HIV-gp140-adsorbed nanoparticles induced stronger in vitro T-cell proliferation responses than antigen alone. Such responses were greatly enhanced when antigen was co-adsorbed with TLR ligands. Immunogenicity studies in mice showed that intradermal vaccination with HIV-gp140 antigen-adsorbed nanoparticles induced high levels of specific IgG. Importantly, intranasal immunization with HIV-gp140-adsorbed nanoparticles greatly enhanced serum and vaginal IgG and IgA responses. Our results show that HIV-gp140-carrying wax nanoparticles can induce strong cellular/humoral immune responses without inflammation and may be of potential use as effective mucosal adjuvants for HIV vaccine candidates. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Assessment and Comparison of Vitreous Humor as an Alternative Matrix for Forensic Toxicology Screening by GC-MS.

PubMed

Metushi, Imir G; Fitzgerald, Robert L; McIntyre, Iain M

2016-05-01

Alternative specimens have been occasionally considered as substitutes for whole blood for postmortem toxicology testing. We studied the applicability of vitreous humor, and evaluated whether it would be suitable to replace (or augment) whole blood for routine drug screening. Results showed that from 51 autopsy cases, we were able to identify an aggregate of 209 findings in whole blood compared with 169 in vitreous. The total number of compounds identified was 71 for whole blood and 60 for vitreous humor. Quantitative analysis showed that whole-blood concentrations of trazodone were several fold higher than vitreous humor concentrations (1.42 ± 0.57 vs. 0.15 ± 0.05 mg/L, respectively) and similar results were also obtained for diazepam (0.37 ± 0.06 vs. 0.13 ± 0.01, respectively). For other drugs such as oxycodone, hydrocodone and doxylamine, a trend suggesting higher concentrations in vitreous humor vs. whole blood was observed; however, this was not significant. Our results are consistent with the limited work of other investigators, and suggest that vitreous humor could be an appropriate matrix for drug screening in postmortem toxicology. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

The Relationship between Instructor Use of Different Types of Humor and Student Interest in Course Material

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Machlev, Moshe; Karlin, Nancy J.

2017-01-01

The goal of this study was to research the frequency of the use of diverse types of humor in the college classroom for a possible association with student interest in course material. This relationship was studied using quantitative methods. Participants answered questions about their interest in course material and the type of humor that their…

Prevalence of pathogenic yeasts and humoral antibodies to candida in diabetic patients.

PubMed Central

Odds, F C; Evans, E G; Taylor, M A; Wales, J K

1978-01-01

The prevalence of oral yeasts and humoral precipitating antibodies to candida was estimated in 204 unselected diabetic patients (172 outpatients and 32 inpatients). Yeasts, mainly Candida albicans, were isolated from the mouths of 41% of the outpatients and precipitins were found in 17.5% although none of the patients had clinically overt candidiasis. The extent of oral yeast colonisation and incidence of antibodies was not related to their antidiabetic treatment or to the duration of their diabetes. It was, however, related to the blood glucose and urine sugar levels at the time they were sampled, the highest incidence being among the diabetic inpatients with high blood glucose levels at the time of sampling and the lowest among outpatients with normal blood glucose levels at the time of sampling. There was no such correlation when diabetic control over the previous 12-month period was considered. PMID:711913

Species variation in biology and physiology of the ciliary epithelium: similarities and differences.

PubMed

Do, Chi Wai; Civan, Mortimer M

2009-04-01

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) is the only strategy documented to delay the appearance and retard the progression of vision loss. One major approach for lowering IOP is to slow the rate of aqueous humor formation by the ciliary epithelium. As discussed in the present review, the transport basis for this secretion is largely understood. However, several substantive issues are yet to be resolved, including the integrated regulation of secretion, the functional topography of the ciliary epithelium, and the degree and significance of species variation in aqueous humor inflow. This review discusses species differences in net secretion, particularly of Cl(-) and HCO(3)(-) secretion. Identifying animal models most accurately mimicking aqueous humor formation in the human will facilitate development of future novel initiatives to lower IOP.

Altruistic leadership and affiliative humor's role on service innovation: Lessons from Spanish public hospitals.

PubMed

Salas-Vallina, Andrés; Ferrer-Franco, Anna; Fernández Guerrero, Rafael

2018-05-17

Despite literature identifies aspects that might promote innovation, the relationship between the leadership style and nurses' innovative behavior still remains unclear, and little research has provided evidence of this. To help advance in knowledge of effects of leadership on nurses' innovative behavior, we researched the effect of altruistic leadership on nurses' innovative behavior. In addition, the mediating role of affiliative humor in the relationship between altruistic leadership and nurses' innovative behavior was examined. Questionnaire survey method was followed with a sample of 324 nurses working in public hospitals in Spain. We used structural equation models, to check the research hypotheses. This research reveals that affiliative humor partially mediates the relationship between altruistic leadership and nurses' innovative behavior. Thus, unselfish leaders are crucial to promoting innovative behaviors among nurses, and affiliative humor plays a fundamental role to explain how altruistic leaders enhance nurses' innovative behavior. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Q fever in pregnant goats: humoral and cellular immune responses

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Q fever is a zoonosis caused by the intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii. Both humoral and cellular immunity are important in the host defence against intracellular bacteria. Little is known about the immune response to C. burnetii infections in domestic ruminants even though these species are the major source of Q fever in humans. To investigate the goat’s immune response we inoculated groups of pregnant goats via inhalation with a Dutch outbreak isolate of C. burnetii. All animals were successfully infected. Phase 1 and Phase 2 IgM- and IgG-specific antibodies were measured. Cellular immune responses were investigated by interferon-gamma, enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot test (IFN-γ Elispot), lymphocyte proliferation test (LPT) and systemic cytokines. After two weeks post inoculation (wpi), a strong anti-C. burnetii Phase 2 IgM and IgG antibody response was observed while the increase in IgM anti-Phase 1 antibodies was less pronounced. IgG anti-Phase 1 antibodies started to rise at 6 wpi. Cellular immune responses were observed after parturition. Our results demonstrated humoral and cellular immune responses to C. burnetii infection in pregnant goats. Cell-mediated immune responses did not differ enough to distinguish between Coxiella-infected and non-infected pregnant animals, whereas a strong-phase specific antibody response is detected after 2 wpi. This humoral immune response may be useful in the early detection of C. burnetii-infected pregnant goats. PMID:23915213

[Microbiological and pharmacokinetic studies on flomoxef in ophthalmologic field].

PubMed

Ooishi, M; Sakaue, F; Oomomo, A; Tazawa, H

1989-05-01

Microbiological and pharmacokinetic studies were carried out on flomoxef (FMOX, 6315-S), a new oxacephem parenteral antibiotic, in the ophthalmologic field. The results obtained are summarized as follows. FMOX has a broad antimicrobial activity spectrum against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The MIC distribution against Staphylococcus aureus isolated from clinical cases was less than or equal to 0.20 - greater than or equal to 100 micrograms/ml with the peak value of 0.39 micrograms/ml. Concentrations of FMOX in aqueous humor and ocular tissues were determined after intravenous injection of 50 mg/kg to rabbits. FMOX showed a peak level of 2.2 micrograms/ml in the aqueous humor at 1/2 hour after administration with the ratio to serum level of 3.4%. Levels of FMOX in external and internal ocular tissues were 12.7 - 76.5 micrograms/g, less than 0.8 - 34.4 micrograms/g (ml) at 1/2 hour after administration, respectively. From these results, we concluded that FMOX may be expected to be a useful and valuable agent against infections in the ophthalmologic field.

Mother, melancholia, and humor in Erik H. Erikson's earliest writings.

PubMed

Capps, Donald

2008-09-01

Erik H. Erikson wrote three articles when he was in his late-twenties and an up-and-coming member of the psychoanalytic community in Vienna. At the time he wrote these articles, he was in a training psychoanalysis with Anna Freud, teaching at the Heitzing School in Vienna, and learning the Montessori method of teaching. These articles focus on the loss of primary narcissism and the development of the superego (or punitive conscience) in early childhood, especially through the child's conflict with maternal authority. They support the idea that melancholia, with its internalized rage against the mother, is the inevitable outcome of the loss of primary narcissism. I note, however, that the third of these articles makes a case for the restorative role of humor, especially when Freud's view that humor is a function of the superego is taken into account.

Humor as Safe House in the Foreign Language Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pomerantz, Anne; Bell, Nancy D.

2011-01-01

Analyses of second language (L2) classroom interaction often categorize joking and other humorous talk by students as disruptive, off-task behavior, thereby rendering it important only from a classroom management perspective. Studies of language play, however, have illustrated that such jocular talk not only allows students to construct a broader…

Using Humorous Sitcom Clips in Teaching Federal Income Taxes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cecil, H. Wayne

2014-01-01

This article shares the motivation, process, and outcomes of using humorous scenes from television comedies to teach the real world of tax practice. The article advances the literature by reviewing the use of video clips in a previously unexplored discipline, discussing the process of identifying and selecting appropriate clips, and introducing…

New optical scheme for a polarimetric-based glucose sensor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ansari, Rafat R.; Bockle, Stefan; Rovati, Luigi

2004-01-01

A new optical scheme to detect glucose concentration in the aqueous humor of the eye is presented. The ultimate aim is to apply this technique in designing a new instrument for, routinely and frequently, noninvasively monitoring blood glucose levels in diabetic patients without contact (no index matching) between the eye and the instrument. The optical scheme exploits the Brewster reflection of circularly polarized light off of the lens of the eye. Theoretically, this reflected linearly polarized light on its way to the detector is expected to rotate its state of polarization, owing to the presence of glucose molecules in the aqueous humor of a patient's eye. An experimental laboratory setup based on this scheme was designed and tested by measuring a range of known concentrations of glucose solutions dissolved in water. (c) 2004 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.

Humoral immune response to measles and varicella vaccination in former very low birth weight preterm infants.

PubMed

Ferreira, Carolina Schlindwein Mariano; Perin, Maria Cristina Abrão Aued; Moraes-Pinto, Maria Isabel de; Simão-Gurge, Raquel Maria; Goulart, Ana Lucia; Weckx, Lily Yin; Dos Santos, Amélia Miyashiro Nunes

Immune response to vaccination in infants born prematurely may be lower than in infants born at full-term. Some clinical factors might be associated with humoral immune response. The objectives of this study were to compare the immune response to measles and varicella vaccination in infants born prematurely with those born at full-term and to analyze factors associated with measles and varicella antibody levels. Prospective study including two groups of infants aged 12 months. One group of infants born prematurely with birth-weight <1500g and who were in follow-up at the outpatient clinic for preterm infants at the institution and other group of infants born at full-term. Infants with malformations, primary immunodeficiency diseases, born to HIV-positive mothers or who had received plasma or immunoglobulin transfusions five months before or three weeks after vaccination were excluded. Plasma antibodies were measured by ELISA and factors associated with antibody levels were assessed by linear regression. Sixty-five premature and 56 full-term infants were included. The percentage of immune individuals after vaccination against measles (100% vs. 100%) and varicella (92.5% vs. 93.2%) were similar in both groups, as well as the antibody levels against measles (2.393 vs. 2.412UI/mL; p=0.970) and varicella (0.551 vs. 0.399UI/mL; p=0.114). Use of antenatal corticosteroids decreased measles antibody levels whereas breastfeeding for more than six months increased varicella antibody levels. Humoral responses to measles and varicella were similar between infants born prematurely and full-term infants. Measles antibody levels were negatively associated with antenatal corticosteroid use; varicella antibodies were positively associated with prolonged breastfeeding. Copyright © 2017 Sociedade Brasileira de Infectologia. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.

Acoustic differences between humorous and sincere communicative intentions.

PubMed

Hoicka, Elena; Gattis, Merideth

2012-11-01

Previous studies indicate that the acoustic features of speech discriminate between positive and negative communicative intentions, such as approval and prohibition. Two studies investigated whether acoustic features of speech can discriminate between two positive communicative intentions: humour and sweet-sincerity, where sweet-sincerity involved being sincere in a positive, warm-hearted way. In Study 1, 22 mothers read a book containing humorous, sweet-sincere, and neutral-sincere images to their 19- to 24-month-olds. In Study 2, 41 mothers read a book containing humorous or sweet-sincere sentences and images to their 18- to 24-month-olds. Mothers used a higher mean F0 to communicate visual humour as compared to visual sincerity. Mothers used greater F0 mean, range, and standard deviation; greater intensity mean, range, and standard deviation; and a slower speech rate to communicate verbal humour as compared to verbal sweet-sincerity. Mothers used a rising linear contour to communicate verbal humour, but used no specific contour to express verbal sweet-sincerity. We conclude that speakers provide acoustic cues enabling listeners to distinguish between positive communicative intentions. ©2011 The British Psychological Society.

Shunts to divert aqueous humor to distant epithelialized cavities after keratoprosthesis surgery.

PubMed

Dohlman, Claes H; Grosskreutz, Cynthia L; Chen, Teresa C; Pasquale, Louis R; Rubin, Peter A D; Kim, Eva C; Durand, Marlene

2010-02-01

Glaucoma is a frequent and often severe problem in patients needing keratoprosthesis (KPro) surgery. Standard glaucoma shunts in these cases often develop a very dense capsule that obstructs flow and causes intraocular pressure elevation. Therefore, we developed shunts that deliver aqueous to distant epithelialized cavities where an obstructing capsule is less likely to form. In this retroactive study of such shunts, the risk of postoperative infection (especially endophthalmitis) has been assessed. Ahmed shunts were connected with a tube to the lacrimal sac or ethmoid sinuses. In subsequent designs the polypropylene plate was eliminated, the valve was enclosed and a distal tube added (New World Medical Inc, Rancho Cucamonga, CA). The latter shunts were connected to the maxillary sinus or lower lid fornix. Between 2001 and 2005 the devices were implanted in 34 patients with very severe ocular disease. (31 had KPro implanted). Thus, the distal tube was led to the lacrimal sac (2 cases), to the ethmoid sinuses (6), to the maxillary sinus (16 cases), and to the lower lid fornix (10 cases). The patients were followed for cumulatively 145 shunt years, with a mean follow-up of 4 years and 3 months. They were instructed to administer low-dose topical antibiotics indefinitely. Only 1 case of acute bacterial endophthalmitis occurred, thus an incidence of 0.7% per shunt year. A slow-growing Mycobacterium was cultured in a disintegrating eye and 1 bacterial maxillary sinusitis occurred, both in autoimmune diseases. Three valves became exposed and had to be removed (1 replaced). Four eyes developed hypotony, probably from valve failure. The shunt arrangement, which connects the anterior chamber to potentially microbe-populated cavities or to the lower lid fornix and its flora, might be suspected to allow rapid retrograde invasion of infective agents, resulting in endophthalmitis. In this series of KPro patients, however, the incidence of severe infection was very low, in fact

Immune response and histology of humoral rejection in kidney transplantation.

PubMed

González-Molina, Miguel; Ruiz-Esteban, Pedro; Caballero, Abelardo; Burgos, Dolores; Cabello, Mercedes; Leon, Miriam; Fuentes, Laura; Hernandez, Domingo

2016-01-01

The adaptive immune response forms the basis of allograft rejection. Its weapons are direct cellular cytotoxicity, identified from the beginning of organ transplantation, and/or antibodies, limited to hyperacute rejection by preformed antibodies and not as an allogenic response. This resulted in allogenic response being thought for decades to have just a cellular origin. But the experimental studies by Gorer demonstrating tissue damage in allografts due to antibodies secreted by B lymphocytes activated against polymorphic molecules were disregarded. The special coexistence of binding and unbinding between antibodies and antigens of the endothelial cell membranes has been the cause of the delay in demonstrating the humoral allogenic response. The endothelium, the target tissue of antibodies, has a high turnover, and antigen-antibody binding is non-covalent. If endothelial cells are attacked by the humoral response, immunoglobulins are rapidly removed from their surface by shedding and/or internalization, as well as degrading the components of the complement system by the action of MCP, DAF and CD59. Thus, the presence of complement proteins in the membrane of endothelial cells is transient. In fact, the acute form of antibody-mediated rejection was not demonstrated until C4d complement fragment deposition was identified, which is the only component that binds covalently to endothelial cells. This review examines the relationship between humoral immune response and the types of acute and chronic histological lesion shown on biopsy of the transplanted organ. Copyright © 2016 Sociedad Española de Nefrología. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

The Use of Humor and Storytelling with African American Men: Innovative Therapeutic Strategies for Success in Counseling

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vereen, Linwood G.; Hill, Nicole R.; Butler, S. Kent

2013-01-01

In recent years, the use of culturally appropriate humor as a tool for change within the parameters of counseling has grown within the literature. In comparison, the art of storytelling has had little attention within the literature as a tool for strategic change. This article outlines a framework for the use of humor and storytelling as…

Nanoparticle-based B-cell targeting vaccines: Tailoring of humoral immune responses by functionalization with different TLR-ligands.

PubMed

Zilker, Claudia; Kozlova, Diana; Sokolova, Viktoriya; Yan, Huimin; Epple, Matthias; Überla, Klaus; Temchura, Vladimir

2017-01-01

Induction of an appropriate type of humoral immune response during vaccination is essential for protection against viral and bacterial infections. We recently observed that biodegradable calcium phosphate (CaP) nanoparticles coated with proteins efficiently targeted and activated naïve antigen-specific B-cells in vitro. We now compared different administration routes for CaP-nanoparticles and demonstrated that intramuscular immunization with such CaP-nanoparticles induced stronger immune responses than immunization with monovalent antigen. Additional functionalization of the CaP-nanoparticles with TRL-ligands allowed modulating the IgG subtype response and the level of mucosal IgA antibodies. CpG-containing CaP-nanoparticles were as immunogenic as a virus-like particle vaccine. Functionalization of CaP-nanoparticles with T-helper cell epitopes or CpG also allowed overcoming lack of T-cell help. Thus, our results indicate that CaP-nanoparticle-based B-cell targeting vaccines functionalized with TLR-ligands can serve as a versatile platform for efficient induction and modulation of humoral immune responses in vivo. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Measurement of amino acid levels in the vitreous humor of rats after chronic intraocular pressure elevation or optic nerve transection.

PubMed

Levkovitch-Verbin, Hana; Martin, Keith R G; Quigley, Harry A; Baumrind, Lisa A; Pease, Mary Ellen; Valenta, Danielle

2002-10-01

To investigate whether the levels of free amino acids and protein in the vitreous of rat eyes are altered with chronic intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation or after optic nerve transection. The concentrations of 20 amino acids in the vitreous humor were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography in both eyes of 41 rats with unilateral IOP elevation induced by translimbal photocoagulation. Eyes were studied 1 day and 1, 2, 4, and 9 weeks after initial IOP elevation. The same amino acids were measured in 41 rats 1 day and 2, 4, and 9 weeks after unilateral transection of the orbital optic nerve. The intravitreal protein level was assayed in additional 22 rats with IOP elevation and 12 rats after nerve transection. Two masked observers evaluated the amount of optic nerve damage with a semiquantitative, light-microscopic technique. In rats with experimental glaucoma, amino acid concentrations were unchanged 1 day after treatment. At 1 week, 4 of 20 amino acids (aspartate, proline, alanine, and lysine) were higher than in control eyes ( < or = 0.01), but this difference was nonsignificant after Bonferroni correction for multiple simultaneous amino acid comparisons (none achieved < 0.0025). No amino acid was significantly different from control in the nerve transection groups (all > 0.05). Vitreous protein level was significantly higher in glaucomatous eyes than their paired controls at 1 day ( < 0.0001) and 1 week ( < 0.002). One day and 1 week after optic nerve transection, vitreal proteins were significantly elevated compared with control eyes from untreated animals ( < 0.0020 and < 0.0022, respectively), though not compared with their fellow eyes ( = 0.25 and 0.10). Chronic experimental glaucoma and transection of the optic nerve increase the amount of protein in the rat vitreous above control levels. In the vitreous of rats with experimental glaucoma, a number of free amino acids were transiently elevated to a modest degree, but no significant difference in

Humor as a Presentational Device in Broadcast Public Service Announcements.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Swanson, D. J.

On a daily basis, American television and radio audiences are subjected to a stream of broadcast Public Service Announcements (PSAs), each promoting "some kind of social or economic action deemed beneficial" (Stridsberg, 1977). Often, these announcements employ humor as a presentational device to help stimulate the behavioral change…

Norovirus P particle efficiently elicits innate, humoral and cellular immunity.

PubMed

Fang, Hao; Tan, Ming; Xia, Ming; Wang, Leyi; Jiang, Xi

2013-01-01

Norovirus (NoV) P domain complexes, the 24 mer P particles and the P dimers, induced effective humoral immunity, but their role in the cellular immune responses remained unclear. We reported here a study on cellular immune responses of the two P domain complexes in comparison with the virus-like particle (VLP) of a GII.4 NoV (VA387) in mice. The P domain complexes induced significant central memory CD4(+) T cell phenotypes (CD4(+) CD44(+) CD62L(+) CCR7(+)) and activated polyclonal CD4(+) T cells as shown by production of Interleukin (IL)-2, Interferon (IFN)-γ, and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α. Most importantly, VA387-specific CD4(+) T cell epitope induced a production of IFN-γ, indicating an antigen-specific CD4(+) T cell response in P domain complex-immunized mice. Furthermore, P domain complexes efficiently induced bone marrow-derived dendritic cell (BMDC) maturation, evidenced by up-regulation of co-stimulatory and MHC class II molecules, as well as production of IL-12 and IL-1β. Finally, P domain complex-induced mature dendritic cells (DCs) elicited proliferation of specific CD4(+) T cells targeting VA387 P domain. Overall, we conclude that the NoV P domain complexes are efficiently presented by DCs to elicit not only humoral but also cellular immune responses against NoVs. Since the P particle is highly effective for both humoral and cellular immune responses and easily produced in Escherichia coli (E. coli), it is a good choice of vaccine against NoVs and a vaccine platform against other diseases.

Assessment of humoral and cellular-mediated immune response in chickens treated with tilmicosin, florfenicol, or enrofloxacin at the time of Newcastle disease vaccination.

PubMed

Khalifeh, M S; Amawi, M M; Abu-Basha, E A; Yonis, I Bani

2009-10-01

The effect of tilmicosin, florfenicol, or enrofloxacin on humoral and cell-mediated immune response induced by Newcastle disease (ND) vaccination was evaluated in 20-wk-old specific-pathogen-free layer chickens. Humoral immunity was measured by detection of ND virus (NDV) antibody titer and anti-NDV IgG response using the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test and ELISA, respectively, whereas cell-mediated immunity was evaluated by measurement of chicken interferon gamma (ChIFN-gamma) produced in splenocytes cell culture stimulated with concanavalin A, inactivated NDV antigen, or live attenuated La Sota strain using ELISA. Florfenicol hampered the ND antibody production measured by both HI and ELISA. Tilmicosin and enrofloxacin reduced the production of ND antibody in the first 3 wk after the last ND vaccination measured by HI test, which suggests that these antibiotics exert their effect mainly on the IgM isotype. The ND-vaccinated, but not treated group, showed an increase in ChIFN-gamma production after NDV antigen-specific stimulation above the nonstimulated cell culture, whereas this effect was masked in all the antibiotic-treated groups due to the stronger ChIFN-gamma production background value reported in the nonstimulated cell culture. In conclusion, our results showed, for the first time, that tilmicosin, florfenicol, or enrofloxacin reduced the humoral immune response and had beneficial effects on the cell-mediated immune response. In addition, we demonstrated that the combination of both inactivated and attenuated ND vaccine gave a strong immune response at both the humoral and cellular level.