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Humour
Selected AbstractsA Grasshopper Walks into a Bar: The Role of Humour in NormativityJOURNAL FOR THE THEORY OF SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR, Issue 3 2002Michael P. Wolf First page of article [source] The purpose and function of humour in health, health care and nursing: a narrative reviewJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 6 2008May McCreaddie Abstract Title.,The purpose and function of humour in health, health care and nursing: a narrative review Aim., This paper is a report of a review conducted to identify, critically analyse and synthesize the humour literature across a number of fields related to health, health care and nursing. Background., The humour,health hypothesis suggests that there is a positive link between humour and health. Humour has been a focus of much contention and deliberation for centuries, with three theories dominating the field: the superiority or tendentious theory, the incongruity theory and the relief theory. Data sources., A comprehensive literature search was carried out in January 2007 using a number of databases, keywords, manual recursive searching and journal alerts (January 1980,2007) cross-referenced with the bibliographic databases of the International Society of Humor Studies. An inclusion and exclusion criterion was identified. Review methods., A narrative review of evidence- and non-evidence-based papers was conducted, using a relevant methodological framework with additional scrutiny of secondary data sources in the latter. Humour theories, incorporating definition, process and impact constituted a significant part of the appraisal process. Results., A total of 1630 papers were identified, with 220 fully sourced and 88 included in the final review. There is a dearth of humour research within nursing yet, ironically, an abundance of non-evidence-based opinion citing prerequisites and exclusion zones. Examination of physician,patient interaction and the humour,health hypothesis demonstrates that use of humour by patients is both challenging and revealing, particularly with regard to self-deprecating humour. Conclusion., Nurses and nursing should adopt a circumspect and evidenced-based approach to humour use in their work. [source] From critical care to comfort care: the sustaining value of humourJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 8 2008Ruth Anne Kinsman Dean PhD Aims and objectives., To identify commonalities in the findings of two research studies on humour in diverse settings to illustrate the value of humour in team work and patient care, despite differing contexts. Background., Humour research in health care commonly identifies the value of humour for enabling communication, fostering relationships, easing tension and managing emotions. Other studies identify situations involving serious discussion, life-threatening circumstances and high anxiety as places where humour may not be appropriate. Our research demonstrates that humour is significant even where such circumstances are common place. Method., Clinical ethnography was the method for both studies. Each researcher conducted observational fieldwork in the cultural context of a healthcare setting, writing extensive fieldnotes after each period of observation. Additional data sources were informal conversations with patients and families and semi-structured interviews with members of the healthcare team. Data analysis involved line-by-line analysis of transcripts and fieldnotes with identification of codes and eventual collapse into categories and overarching themes. Results., Common themes from both studies included the value of humour for team work, emotion management and maintaining human connections. Humour served to enable co-operation, relieve tensions, develop emotional flexibility and to ,humanise' the healthcare experience for both caregivers and recipients of care. Conclusions., Humour is often considered trivial or unprofessional; this research verifies that it is neither. The value of humour resides, not in its capacity to alter physical reality, but in its capacity for affective or psychological change which enhances the humanity of an experience, for both care providers and recipients of care. Relevance to clinical practice., In the present era which emphasises technology, efficiency and outcomes, humour is crucial for promoting team relationships and for maintaining the human dimension of health care. Nurses should not be reluctant to use humour as a part of compassionate and personalised care, even in critical situations. [source] Self-care in adults with asthma: how they copeJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 4 2000Satu MÄkinen MScN ,,The purpose of this study was to find out how well adult asthma patients in Finland cope with self-care in three areas of asthma treatment. The areas of physical, psychological and social asthma treatment were examined. Associations between demographic background data and self-care were also studied. ,,Data (n = 130) for the study were collected using a questionnaire specially developed for this study. A deductive perspective was employed in data analysis. ,,Respondents showed fairly good competence in self-care in all three areas of asthma treatment. However, up to 30% of the asthma patients had pets and 16% were smokers. ,,Extra stress was reduced by exercise and positive thinking. Humour was also important in helping most of the respondents cope mentally. ,,Social support played a significant part in fighting the sense of powerlessness which is caused by asthma. ,,According to the results, women coped better than men in the social area of self-care. [source] The Cat and the Fiddle: Images of Musical Humour from the Middle Ages to Modern Times , By Jeremy BarlowTHE HISTORIAN, Issue 1 2009Tamara L. Hunt No abstract is available for this article. [source] Humour: crying out to be taken seriously?ACTA NEUROPSYCHIATRICA, Issue 1 2009David Bell No abstract is available for this article. [source] Diadenosine tetraphosphate protects sympathetic terminals from 6-hydroxydopamine-induced degeneration in the eyeACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 2 2010C. H. V. Hoyle Abstract Aims:, To examine diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A) for its ability to protect the eye from neurodegeneration induced by subconjunctival application of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Methods:, Intraocular neurodegeneration of anterior structures was induced by subconjunctival injections of 6-OHDA. Animals were pre-treated with topical corneal applications of Ap4A or saline. Results:, 6-OHDA caused miosis, abnormal pupillary light reflexes, a precipitous drop in intraocular pressure and loss of VMAT2-labelled (vesicle monoamine transporter-2, a marker for sympathetic neurones) intraocular neurones. Pre-treatment with Ap4A prevented all of these changes from being induced by 6-OHDA, demonstrably preserving the sympathetic innervation of the ciliary processes. This neuroprotective action of Ap4A was not shared with the related compounds adenosine, ATP or diadenosine pentaphosphate. P2-receptor antagonists showed that the effects of Ap4A were mediated via a P2-receptor. Conclusion:, Ap4A is a natural component of tears and aqueous humour, and its neuroprotective effect indicates that one of its physiological roles is to maintain neurones within the eye. Ap4A can prevent the degeneration of intraocular nerves, and it is suggested that this compound may provide the basis for a therapeutic intervention aimed at preventing or ameliorating the development of glaucoma associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, subconjunctival application of 6-OHDA provides a useful model for studying diseases that cause ocular sympathetic dysautonomia. [source] Ocular penetration of intravenously administered enrofloxacin in the horseEQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 2 2008T. J. DIVERS Summary Reason for performing study: Information on antibiotic concentrations in the equine eye following systemic therapy is limited. Reports that Leptospira spp. are frequently present in the eyes of horses with recurrent uveitis, emphasises a need for studies on ocular concentrations of specific antibiotics. Hypotheses: 1) Enrofloxacin, administered i.v. at 7.5 mg/kg bwt q. 24 h, results in aqueous humour concentrations greater than the reported minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for Leptospira pomona. 2) Aqueous humour paracentesis sufficiently disrupts the blood-aqueous humour barrier (BAB) to cause an increase in aqueous humour protein and enrofloxacin concentrations. Methods: Aqueous humour enrofloxacin and total protein concentrations were determined in 6 healthy, mature horses after i.v. administration of enrofloxacin. Paracentesis was performed on the left eye on Days 3 and 4, one hour following enrofloxacin administration, to determine enrofloxacin concentrations in healthy eyes and in eyes with mechanical disruption of the BAB. Paracentesis was also performed on the right eye 23 h after enrofloxacin administration. Blood samples were collected from the horses at identical times to determine enrofloxacin aqueous humour:plasma ratios. Results: Mean ± s.d. enrofloxacin concentration in the aqueous humour one hour post administration on Day 3 was 0.32 ± 0.10 mg/l (range 0.18-0.47); and aqueous humour enrofloxacin, total protein and aqueous humour:plasma enrofloxacin ratios were higher on Day 4 than Day 3. Conclusions and potential relevance: Following disruption of the BAB, enrofloxacin concentrations were above the reported MIC for Leptospira pomona. [source] Social anxiety and anger regulationEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY, Issue 7 2004Hannelore Weber Based on the assumption that social anxiety is associated with less assertive behaviour and that effective anger regulation is influenced by social anxiety, two studies were conducted to examine the relationship between social anxiety and anger regulation. In Study 1, questionnaires measuring social anxiety, assertiveness, and six habitual anger-related responses were administered to 115 adults. Social anxiety had an independent effect on rumination and submission, whereas assertiveness was independently related to the use of humour and feedback. In Study 2 (N,=,136 adults) self- and observer ratings of anger-related behaviour were obtained after anger was experimentally induced. Social anxiety was related to self-ratings of submission and rumination. However, independent observer ratings based on videotapes revealed no significant influence of social anxiety on anger-related behaviour. Taken together, the results provide evidence that social anxiety is associated with the self-perception of less assertive behaviour and the tendency to evaluate one's behaviour more negatively. These results are consistent with prior studies showing that socially anxious persons tend to underestimate their social performance relative to the ratings of independent observers. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Humour styles, personality, and well-being among Lebanese university studentsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY, Issue 3 2004Shahe S. Kazarian This research examined the structure and correlates of the Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ) in Lebanese university students. Four humour factors were found, as in the original Canadian samples: Affiliative, Self-Enhancing, Aggressive, and Self-Defeating humour. Scale reliabilities were generally acceptable, and inter-correlations among the scales were low. Lebanese participants scored lower than Canadians on Affiliative and Self-Enhancing humour and lower than Belgians on Affiliative and Aggressive humour. As in Canadian and Belgian samples, males reported significantly more use of Aggressive and Self-Defeating humour than did females. Humour styles correlated differentially, and generally as predicted, with horizontal and vertical individualism and collectivism, attachment styles, perceived health, and psychological well-being. Overall, the findings support the cross-cultural stability of the HSQ as well as the differential relationship of these humour styles with culture-related personality traits and psychological well-being. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Humor Styles Questionnaire: personality and educational correlates in Belgian high school and college students,EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY, Issue 1 2002Vassilis Saroglou Studies often treat sense of humour as a unidimensional construct. Recently, however, four different humour styles have been hypothesized and validated by the Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ). In the present two studies, first, the HSQ received cross-cultural validation among French-speaking Belgian students (94 high school and 87 college students). Second, apart from some similarities (Extraversion, low need for closure), the four humour styles were found to be differently related to personality. Social and self-enhancing humour styles were positively related to Agreeableness, Openness, and self-esteem, whereas hostile humour was negatively related to Agreeableness and Conscientiousness. Self-defeating humour was negatively related to Emotional Stability, Conscientiousness, security in attachment, and self-esteem. Finally, students' humour styles were neither direct nor indirect predictors of school performance, but self-defeating and hostile humour styles were typical of students with low school motivation. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Inside the Locker Room: Male Homosociability in the Advertising IndustryGENDER, WORK & ORGANISATION, Issue 3 2009Michele Rene Gregory The use of the term homosociability by male employers and employees has been a key issue in the construction and maintenance of the gendered labour market, especially in senior-level jobs. Male homosociability encompasses the formal old boys' networks and informal clubs or meetings, as well as humour and banter, referred to metaphorically in this article as the locker room. This article examines the locker room and its resulting forms of socializing, socialization, communication and rituals found in the advertising industry. To gain a clearer understanding of how the locker room constructs workplace opportunities, this article draws upon qualitative research and analysis and examines major service occupations in the advertising industry and the executives who inhabit them. Studying the relationship between the locker room and the production process provides additional perspectives on service work in the corporate sector, occupations and gender inequality. [source] Development Section, April 2008GEOGRAPHY COMPASS (ELECTRONIC), Issue 3 2008Cheryl McEwan EDITORIAL It is a great privilege to serve as Editor for the Development section of Geography Compass. The journal is an exciting new venture in electronic publishing that aims to publish state-of-the-art peer-reviewed surveys of key contemporary issues in geographical scholarship. As the first Editor of this section, it is my responsibility to establish the key aims and innovations for this section of the journal. These include: publishing reviews of scholarship on topics of contemporary relevance that are accessible and useful to researchers, teachers, students and practitioners; developing the range of topics covered across the spectrum of development geography; helping to set agendas in development geography by identifying gaps in existing empirical and conceptual research; commissioning articles from both established and graduate/early career researchers who are working at the frontiers of development geography; and communicating the distinctiveness of Geography Compass. Part of this distinctiveness is in publishing articles that are both of scholarly excellence and accessible to a wide audience. The first volume of Geography Compass was published in 2007, covering a wide range of topics (e.g. migration, children, technology, grassroots women's organizations, civil society, biodiversity, tourism, inequality, agrarian change, participatory development, disability, spirituality) in a number of specific geographical areas (e.g. Africa/southern Africa, Caribbean, China, Peru). Forthcoming in 2008/2009 are articles on the Gambia, Latin America, the Philippines, Southeast Asia, Bangladesh and South Africa, focusing on topics such as food security, comparative post-socialism, foreign aid and fair trade. Building on these diverse and excellent articles, I plan to communicate the distinctiveness of Development in a number of ways. First, I encourage an ecumenical approach to the notion of ,development geography' and welcome contributions from scholars across a range of social science disciplines whose work would be useful to a geography audience. This is important, not least because both development and geography, in disciplinary terms, are largely European inventions. Many scholars in Latin America, Africa and Asia, for example, do not refer to themselves as either development specialists or geographers but are producing important research in areas of direct relevance to students and researchers of ,development geography'. As the first editions illustrate, I also seek to publish articles that reflect ,development' in its broadest sense, encompassing economic, (geo)political, social, cultural and environmental issues. 2008 will be an interesting year for development, with a number of important issues and events shaping discourse and policy. These include: the Beijing Olympics and increasing focus on China's role in international development; political change in a number of African countries (Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa); the US presidential elections and potential shifts in policy on climate change, trade and security; the impacts of the Bali roadmap on climate change in the current economic context; the increasing number of impoverished people in Asia (notably China and India), sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America (notably Brazil) that even the World Bank has acknowledged; the implications of the increasing role of philanthropic foundations (e.g. the Gates Foundation and those emerging in India and Russia) in international development. I hope to see some of these issues covered in this journal. Second, I am keen to break down the association between ,development' and parts of the world variously categorized as ,Third World', ,Global South' or ,Developing World' by publishing articles that cut across North and South, East and West. The intellectual and disciplinary practices within (Western) geography that separate those researching issues in the South and post-socialist contexts from those researching similar issues in advanced capitalist economies are, it seems, no longer sustainable or sensible. Moreover, while studies of transnational and ethical trade, neoliberalism, household economies and ,commodity chains', for example, incorporate a multitude of case studies from across the world, these tend to be understood through conceptual lenses that almost always have their theoretical antecedents in Western theorization. The notion of ,learning from' debates, policy and practice in other parts of the world is still relatively alien within the discipline. There are thus issues in how we research and teach ethically and responsibly in and about different parts of the world, and in which this journal might make a contribution. Third, and related, part of my responsibility is to ensure that Compass reflects the breadth of debate about ,development' by publishing articles written by a truly international range of scholars. This has proved to be a challenge to date, in part reflecting the newness of the journal and the difficulties posed by English language publication. However, an immediate aim is to publish the work and ideas of scholars based outside of Anglophone contexts, in the Global South and in post-socialist contexts, and to use international referees who are able to provide valuable commentaries on the articles. A longer-term aim is to also further internationalize the Editorial Board. Currently, one-third of the Editorial Board is non-UK and I plan to increase this to at least 50% in future. Fourth, I plan to ensure that the Development section takes full advantage of electronic publication and the opportunities this offers. Thus, while I am keen to retain a word limit in the interest of publishing accessible articles, the lack of constraint regarding page space enables authors to include a wide range of illustrative and other material that is impossible in print journals. I plan to encourage authors to make greater use of visual materials (maps, photographs/photo-essays, video, sound recordings, model simulations and datasets) alongside text as well as more innovative forms of presentation where this might be appropriate. Finally, in the coming year, I intend to work more closely with other Compass section Editors to realize the potential for fostering debate that cuts across subdisciplinary and even disciplinary boundaries. The journal publishes across the full spectrum of the discipline and there is thus scope for publishing articles and/or special issues on development-related topics that might best be approached through dialogue between the natural and social sciences. Such topics might include resources (e.g. water, oil, bio-fuels), hazard and risk (from environmental issues to human and state security), and sustainability and quality of life (planned for 2008). Part of the distinctiveness of Compass is that electronic-only publication ensures that articles are published in relatively quick time , in some cases less than 3 months from initial submission to publication. It thus provides an important outlet for researchers working in fast-changing contexts and for those, such as graduate and early-career researchers, who might require swift publication for career purposes. Of course, as Editor I am reliant on referees both engaging with Manuscript Central and providing reports on articles in a relatively short space of time to fully expedite the process. My experience so far has been generally very positive and I would like to thank the referees for working within the spirit of the journal. Editing a journal is, of course, a collaborative and shared endeavour. The Development Editorial Board has been central to the successful launch of Development by working so generously to highlight topics and potential authors and to review articles; I would like to take this opportunity to thank Tony Bebbington, Reg Cline-Cole, Sara Kindon, Claire Mercer, Giles Mohan, Warwick Murray, Richa Nagar, Rob Potter, Saraswati Raju, Jonathan Rigg, Jenny Robinson and Alison Stenning. The Editors-in-Chief , Mike Bradshaw and Basil Gomez , have provided invaluable advice while adding humour (and colour) to the editorial process. Colleagues at Wiley-Blackwell have provided superb support, in particular, Helen Ashton who is constantly on hand to provide advice and assistance. I look forward to working closely with these people again in the coming year, as well as with the authors and readers who are vital to ensuring that Geography Compass fulfils its remit. [source] An interaction between opticin and heparan sulfate may provide the molecular basis for vitreoretinal adhesionINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2004V. John Hindson Introduction Opticin is a member of the extracellular matrix small leucine-rich repeat (SLRP) proteoglycan/protein family, which was originally identified in the eye associated with the collagen fibrils of the vitreous humour. A putative heparin/heparan sulfate (HS) binding motif (RKERKRR) was identified at the N-terminus of human opticin, but this is absent in the bovine form. Furthermore, the strength of attachment between the vitreous and the retina was observed to be species-dependent and related to the presence or absence of this motif. We hypothesized that opticin cross-links the collagen fibrils of the vitreous to HS proteoglycans in the inner limiting lamina (a basement membrane on the inner surface of the retina), contributing towards vitreoretinal adhesion. Materials and methods Recombinant human and bovine opticin were expressed in 293-EBNA cells and purified to apparent homogeneity. Solid phase assays and surface plasmon resonance studies were used to characterize interactions between immobilized heparin/HS and opticin. Results Solid phase and BIAcore data revealed that human opticin binds heparin/HS and binds to heparin with a dissociation constant of approximately 20 nm. By contrast bovine opticin, which lacks the basic cluster, bound severalfold less tightly. Competition studies with heparin oligosaccharides indicated that the heparin/HS binding site is greater than 6 monosaccharides in length. Heparin, HS, chondroitin sulfate A (CS-A), dermatan sulfate and hyaluronan all competed with heparin for binding to human opticin but CS-C did not. Discussion Work to date suggests that the N-terminal sequence RKERKRR contributes significantly to the binding of opticin to heparin/HS. Vitreoretinal adhesion plays a key role in a number of eye diseases and inhibitors of the opticin,HS interaction could be of therapeutic value. [source] The purpose and function of humour in health, health care and nursing: a narrative reviewJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 6 2008May McCreaddie Abstract Title.,The purpose and function of humour in health, health care and nursing: a narrative review Aim., This paper is a report of a review conducted to identify, critically analyse and synthesize the humour literature across a number of fields related to health, health care and nursing. Background., The humour,health hypothesis suggests that there is a positive link between humour and health. Humour has been a focus of much contention and deliberation for centuries, with three theories dominating the field: the superiority or tendentious theory, the incongruity theory and the relief theory. Data sources., A comprehensive literature search was carried out in January 2007 using a number of databases, keywords, manual recursive searching and journal alerts (January 1980,2007) cross-referenced with the bibliographic databases of the International Society of Humor Studies. An inclusion and exclusion criterion was identified. Review methods., A narrative review of evidence- and non-evidence-based papers was conducted, using a relevant methodological framework with additional scrutiny of secondary data sources in the latter. Humour theories, incorporating definition, process and impact constituted a significant part of the appraisal process. Results., A total of 1630 papers were identified, with 220 fully sourced and 88 included in the final review. There is a dearth of humour research within nursing yet, ironically, an abundance of non-evidence-based opinion citing prerequisites and exclusion zones. Examination of physician,patient interaction and the humour,health hypothesis demonstrates that use of humour by patients is both challenging and revealing, particularly with regard to self-deprecating humour. Conclusion., Nurses and nursing should adopt a circumspect and evidenced-based approach to humour use in their work. [source] From critical care to comfort care: the sustaining value of humourJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 8 2008Ruth Anne Kinsman Dean PhD Aims and objectives., To identify commonalities in the findings of two research studies on humour in diverse settings to illustrate the value of humour in team work and patient care, despite differing contexts. Background., Humour research in health care commonly identifies the value of humour for enabling communication, fostering relationships, easing tension and managing emotions. Other studies identify situations involving serious discussion, life-threatening circumstances and high anxiety as places where humour may not be appropriate. Our research demonstrates that humour is significant even where such circumstances are common place. Method., Clinical ethnography was the method for both studies. Each researcher conducted observational fieldwork in the cultural context of a healthcare setting, writing extensive fieldnotes after each period of observation. Additional data sources were informal conversations with patients and families and semi-structured interviews with members of the healthcare team. Data analysis involved line-by-line analysis of transcripts and fieldnotes with identification of codes and eventual collapse into categories and overarching themes. Results., Common themes from both studies included the value of humour for team work, emotion management and maintaining human connections. Humour served to enable co-operation, relieve tensions, develop emotional flexibility and to ,humanise' the healthcare experience for both caregivers and recipients of care. Conclusions., Humour is often considered trivial or unprofessional; this research verifies that it is neither. The value of humour resides, not in its capacity to alter physical reality, but in its capacity for affective or psychological change which enhances the humanity of an experience, for both care providers and recipients of care. Relevance to clinical practice., In the present era which emphasises technology, efficiency and outcomes, humour is crucial for promoting team relationships and for maintaining the human dimension of health care. Nurses should not be reluctant to use humour as a part of compassionate and personalised care, even in critical situations. [source] Lower urinary tract symptoms: a hermeneutic phenomenological study into men's lived experienceJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 2 2005BSc (Hons), Mark Wareing MSc Aim., This was an investigation to discover the lived experience of men with lower urinary tract symptoms arising from benign prostatic hyperplasic. Design., A hermeneutic phenomenological study. Methods., Approval was granted by the local Applied and Qualitative Research Ethics Committee (AQREC) prior to the commencement of the study. Data were gathered via semi-structured interviews that were audio taped, and subsequently transcribed. Each transcripted interview was analysed by the investigator and a team of ,expert readers'. The team agreed on a total of 57 sub-themes divided into seven categories with unanimity, therefore obviating the need for participant validation. Findings., The major findings of the study suggest that men experience a broad and dramatic spectrum of phenomena while living with a benign prostate condition. This includes profound embarrassment, fear, revulsion as well as humour that require a range of methods and life adjustments to manage and contain their symptoms. Conclusions., The participant's narratives provide a thick, rich and meaningful insight into how men understand their bodies, and make sense of prostate disease; a significant men's health issue. Relevance to clinical practice., Several studies have already been published describing men's lived experience of prostate surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia. This research has captured men's lived experience of lower urinary tract symptoms ahead of surgical intervention. Men experience a broad scope of phenomena resulting from life with a benign prostate condition that encompasses fear and embarrassment and the development of coping mechanisms and changes in life style. Recent media awareness campaigns to raise public awareness of prostate disease as a men's health issue appear to be changing how men perceive their bodies, how they converse with one another, and their help seeking behaviour. [source] Acute retinal necrosis six years after herpes simplex encephalitis: An elusive immune deficit suggested by insufficient test sensitivityJOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 2 2004W. Preiser Abstract A patient presented with acute retinal necrosis of the left eye. Demonstration of herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNA in the aqueous humour confirmed the diagnosis. Negative results of HSV type-specific antibody tests based on gG antigens suggested a primary HSV infection. However, the patient had a past history of laboratory-confirmed herpes simplex encephalitis 6 years ago. Using antibody tests based on whole viral lysate antigens, he was seropositive from the onset, and immunoblot testing confirmed a lack of anti-gG reactivity. To be able to assess whether this might be related to the apparent inability of his immune system to suppress clinically symptomatic HSV infection, serial samples were tested by an HSV neutralisation test and a whole-blood flow cytometric assay to determine the frequency of HSV-specific CD4 lymphocytes. However, this did not yield evidence of obvious immunodeficiency; the patient reacted similarly to known positive controls by both assays. Although type-specific HSV serological tests based on gG are generally more specific than those based on whole viral lysate antigens, they have a somewhat lower sensitivity, as a certain percentage of HSV-infected individuals do not develop antibodies against gG, and others may suffer a secondary loss of anti-gG reactivity. Thus there is a risk of missing individual infected patients. Unless this potential problem is recognised, serious consequences might possibly result. We therefore urge virologists and clinicians to exercise great care if highly specific antibody assays based on recombinant proteins are employed. J. Med. Virol. 73:250,255, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Subunits of the epithelial sodium channel family are differentially expressed in the retina of mice with ocular hypertensionJOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2005Frank M. Dyka Abstract Glaucoma is a prevalent cause of blindness, resulting in the apoptotic death of retinal ganglion cells and optic nerve degeneration. The disease is often associated with elevated intraocular pressure, however, molecular mechanisms involved in ganglion cell death are poorly understood. To identify proteins contributing to this pathological process, we analysed the retinal gene expression of DBA/2J mice that develop an elevated intraocular pressure by the age of 6 months with subsequent ganglion cell loss. In this study, we identified subunits of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) family that are specifically expressed under elevated intraocular pressure. Using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction we observed a significant increase of ,-ENaC in the neuronal retina of DBA/2J mice when compared with control animals, while ,-ENaC and ,-ENaC were not detectable in this tissue. Specific immune sera to ENaC subunits showed up-regulation of ,-ENaC in synaptic and nuclear layers of the retina, and in the retinal pigment epithelium. Consistent with our polymerase chain reaction data, ,-ENaC was not detected by specific antibodies in the retina, while ,-ENaC was only present in the retinal pigment epithelium under ocular hypertension. Finally, the increase of ,-ENaC gene expression in the neuronal retina and the retinal pigment epithelium was not observed in other tissues of DBA/2J mice. Since the intraocular pressure is regulated by the transport of aqueous humour across epithelial structures of the eye that in turn is associated with ion flux, the specific up-regulation of ENaC proteins could serve as a protecting mechanism against elevated intraocular pressure. [source] Kisspeptin: A Novel Regulator of Reproductive FunctionJOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 8 2008W. S. Dhillo Young Neuroendocrinologists Prize Reviews Michael Harbuz Young Investigator Prize Lecture The UK and international neuroendocrine community was deeply shocked and saddened the unbelievably premature death of Michael Harbuz in Bristol in 2006. Mick was a superb friend and colleague, and played a huge part in the development and activities of the British Neuroendocrine Group/British Society for Neuroendocrinology (BSN), serving as both Membership Secretary and Treasurer between 1999 and 2004. Mick was a leader in the field of neuroendocrine,immune interactions, and brought a great deal of charisma, humour and ability to meetings and conferences. He was also a passionate and committed supporter of the progress of young researchers and of their participation in neuroendocrine events. He recognised that today's postgraduate students and postdoctoral research fellows are tomorrow's neuroendocrine researchers, be it in academia, the health services or industry. To recognise Mick's great commitment to and enthusiasm for postgraduate education both in the University of Bristol and in the BSN, we decided to honour and remember him by instituting the ,Michael Harbuz Young Investigator Prize Lecture' to be delivered annually. Dr Waljit Dhillo from Imperial College London was the inaugural recipient of this award, and presented his lecture at the Annual Meeting of the BSN in Nottingham in September 2007, upon which this review is based. Recent evidence demonstrates that the neuropeptide kisspeptin and its receptor, GPR54, have a fundamental role in initiating the onset of puberty and are important in regulating reproductive function. This review discusses the evidence available from animals and humans demonstrating that kisspeptin potently stimulates the release of gonadotrophins by stimulating the release of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone and that a lack of kisspeptin or GPR54 results in reproductive failure. [source] The use of female sexuality in Australian alcohol advertising: public policy implications of young adults' reactions to stereotypesJOURNAL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, Issue 1-2 2010Sandra C. Jones Coinciding with the rise of ,raunch culture', a new female stereotype has emerged in advertising , the ,lusty, busty exhibitionist' who exudes sexual power and confidence. Previous research has generally found that women react less positively to female sexual images in alcohol advertising than males, but different sexual stereotypes have not been explicitly examined. The present study utilizes different types of sexual appeals in three televised advertisements for alcohol brands and investigates the relationship between types of sexual imagery and attitude to the advertisement, stated reasons for (dis)liking the advertisement and purchase intention (PI) among 268 Australian university students. Surprisingly, an advertisement using the new stereotype was actually liked less overall by females than an advertisement using the traditional passive demeaning/sex object stereotype. Females liked all of the advertisements significantly less than males, although there was considerable variation in male attitudes towards an advertisement that was generally perceived to contain sexist or demeaning humour. The findings of our study raise two important cautions for the alcohol (advertising) industry and for public policy. First, advertisers and policy makers need to be aware that a substantial proportion of consumers are offended by such portrayals. Second, in a climate in which consumers and advocates are increasingly voicing concerns over the ineffectiveness of the self-regulatory system, policy makers need to consider the introduction of a regulatory framework. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Rear gunners and troubled privates: Wordplay in a dick joke competition1JOURNAL OF SOCIOLINGUISTICS, Issue 1 2007Mike Lloyd A humorous competition called ,The Adventures of Naked Man' ran in a Wellington (New Zealand) newspaper from 1999 to 2000. The competition's protagonist is the sole naked person in a drawn setting where, because of some convenient object or body position, his penis is obscured from sight. Entrants to the competition submitted a caption to go with the drawn setting, the point being to make humour. Without explicit instruction, most entrants constructed some form of dick joke, the interesting questions being, just how, and with what variations? These questions are pursued by drawing on the full corpus of Naked Man settings and captions. Basic principles of conversation analysis, including some early work of Sacks on punning, are used to analyse the nature and popularity of the Naked Man competition. The article also offers some more speculative comments to do with gender and the organisation of language about sexuality. [source] Doing Away with the Drab Age: Research Opportunities in Mid-Tudor Literature (1530,1580)LITERATURE COMPASS (ELECTRONIC), Issue 3 2010Mike Pincombe This article surveys recent developments in the study of mid-Tudor literature; some of the problems the area has traditionally faced and still faces; and the opportunities for new research it offers, especially that which exploits new technology. It traces the deleterious effect that C. S. Lewis' epithet ,Drab Age' has had upon the field, and how this has been compounded by institutional and market pressures in university education and academic publishing in the second half of the twentieth century. Nonetheless, interest in mid-16th century literature is being revived by historicist readings. The article maps out a number of areas ripe for future study, including life-writing, women's writing, miscellanies, anonymous writing, cheap/ephemeral print, Inns of Court writing, translation, Tudor poetics, manuscripts, non-dramatic dialogue, paratext and anthologies of ,tragical tales'. It calls for an unprejudiced reassessment of the aesthetics of mid-Tudor literature and draws attention to its humour and generic hybridity. [source] How should trainees be taught to open a clinical interview?MEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 5 2005Alex Walter Aim, To characterise the opening of secondary care consultations. Method, We audio-taped 17 first consultations in medical clinics, transcribed them verbatim, and analysed verbal interactions from when the doctor called the patient into the consulting room to when she or he asked clarifying questions. Results, The interviews did not open with the sequence, reported by previous researchers, of ,doctor's soliciting question, patient's opening statement, interruption by the doctor'. Doctors (1) called the patient to the consultation; (2) greeted them; (3) introduced themselves; (4) made a transition to clinical talk; and (5) framed the consultation. They used a referral letter, the case notes, computer records and their prior knowledge of the patient to help frame the consultation, and did so informally and with humour. Conclusion, These 5 steps could help trainees create a context for active listening that is less prone to interruption. [source] PERSPECTIVES: A little humour relaxes the gallbladderTHE JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 17 2010Simon J. Gibbons No abstract is available for this article. [source] ED RUSCHA, HEIDEGGER, AND DEADPAN PHOTOGRAPHYART HISTORY, Issue 5 2009ARON VINEGAR The word most often used to describe Ed Ruscha's photographic books , and a good stretch of conceptual and post-conceptual photography in the wake of his practice , is ,deadpan'. The ambition of this essay is to see if this term has any purchase on what makes this photographic work so compelling. I pay particular attention to the vocabulary of indifference, fact, and facticity that is raised whenever Ruscha's books are under discussion. This vocabulary is also central to Martin Heidegger's philosophy, and plays a crucial role in his consideration of the way mood reveals and modulates our way of being in the world. I explore how these thoughts intersect with Stanley Cavell's intriguing account of the ,philosophical mood' of Buster Keaton's deadpan humour and vision of the world , marked by his peculiar openness and evenness of response to it , and what that might reveal about Ruscha's photography and its vision of the world. [source] Enhancing resilience in registered aged care nursesAUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL ON AGEING, Issue 2 2010Fiona Cameron Aim:, To identify the factors that impact the resilience of registered aged care nurses, that is their capacity to adapt to the physical, mental and emotional demands of working in aged care facilities. Method:, This study explored the lived experience of nine registered nurses working in residential aged care facilities on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, who were asked to reflect on the phenomenon of resilience in the workplace. Results:, This study found that clinical expertise, a sense of purpose in a holistic care environment, a positive attitude and work,life balance are important determinants of resilience in aged care nurses. Conclusions:, Resilience in nurses in residential aged care facilities is enhanced when they are able to maintain long-term, meaningful relationships with residents. Collegial support that provides opportunities to debrief and validate experiences as well as the use of humour to defuse stress promotes well-being and builds resilience in the workplace. [source] Laughing With The GurusBUSINESS STRATEGY REVIEW, Issue 3 2002David Greatbatch Management gurus are among the most influential public orators of the day. But mastery of age,old rhetorical devices, including the use of humour, is central to their effectiveness. [source] Mentalizing, mental illness and mirth: linking the psychology of theory of mind and humour in psychotic illness disordersACTA NEUROPSYCHIATRICA, Issue 1 2010David Bell No abstract is available for this article. [source] Increase of vascular endothelial growth factor and interleukin-6 in the aqueous humour of patients with macular oedema and central retinal vein occlusionACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 6 2010Hidetaka Noma Acta Ophthalmol. 2010: 88: 646,651 Abstract. Purpose:, This study aimed to investigate whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or interleukin-6 (IL-6) influence macular oedema in patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Methods:, Sixteen consecutive patients with unilateral CRVO and macular oedema were studied, along with eight age- and sex-matched patients without ischaemic ocular disease. Retinal ischaemia was evaluated from capillary non-perfusion on fluorescein angiography. Macular oedema was examined by optical coherence tomography. Aqueous humour (AH) samples were obtained during combined pars plana vitrectomy and cataract surgery, and were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results:, Aqueous levels of VEGF and IL-6 were significantly elevated in patients compared with controls (p = 0.0142 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Aqueous levels of both molecules were significantly higher in patients with ischaemia than in those without ischaemia (p = 0.0026 and p = 0.0487, respectively). Furthermore, AH levels of VEGF and IL-6 were correlated with the severity of macular oedema (, = 0.7265, p = 0.0049, , = 0.5324, and p = 0.0392, respectively). Conclusions:, Both VEGF and IL-6 were elevated in the AH of patients with macular oedema and ischaemic CRVO, suggesting that these molecules may be related to the increase in vascular permeability in such patients. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||