Just a game? Unjustified virtual violence produces guilt in empathetic players

Many avid gamers discount violent conduct in video games as morally insignificant as "it is just a game." However, recent debates among users, regarding video games featuring inappropriate forms of virtual violence, suggest a more complex truth. Two ex- periments (

A Comparative Study on Monomer Elution and Cytotoxicity of Different Adhesive Restoration Materials

This study evaluated monomer release and cytotoxicity of different adhesive restoration materials used for dental restorations. The extracts (1, 2, and 7days) of three types of adhesive dental restoration materials, [Quixfill (QF), Silorane Restorative (SR), and Ketac N 100 Restorative (KR)], and the adhesive resins, [XP Bond (XP), Silorane Primer (SP), Ketac N 100 Primer (KP), and Silorane Bond (SB)] were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). The cytotoxicity levels were determined at different time points (24, 48, and 72h) of cell culture using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. All adhesive resin materials showed monomer release at varying amounts with the highest release after 7days. The lowest amount of release was observed in QF and the highest with KP. Bis-Phenol A (BPA) was not detected in SP and KR that contain bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether dimethacrylate (bis-GMA). Decamethylpenthasiloxane (D5) was not eluted from SR. Except for SR and QF, all other adhesive restoration materials showed different degrees of toxicity along with different monomer release kinetics. The correlation between the monomer release and cytotoxicity of the materials indicated that the cytotoxicity of the materials increased with the monomer release (Spearman's rho correlation coefficient - r). The correlation after 48h was statistically significant (r=-0.342, p=0.017).Wo

Correlation between serum YKL-40 (Chitinase-3-like protein 1) level and proteinuria in renal transplant recipients

WOS: 000325214600001PubMed ID: 23792508Background: YKL-40 (chitinase-3-like protein 1) is a novel inflammation and endothelial dysfunction biomarker. Although YKL-40 is associated with albuminuria and predicts cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in a non-uremic population, it's status is not known in renal transplant recipients. The aim of this study was to investigate plausible links between serum YKL-40 and proteinuria. Material/Methods: A total of 110 renal transplant recipients were included in this study. The level of proteinuria was calculated from spot urine using the protein/creatinine ratio. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was calculated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula. Serum YKL-40 was determined by ELISA (R&D Systems, USA). Results: The mean patient age was 40.5 +/- 10 years. The mean YKL-40, GFR, and proteinuria levels were 66 +/- 46 ng/ml, 49 +/- 24 ml/min/1.73 m(2), and 0.77 +/- 1.15 g/day, respectively. Increases in the YKL-40 tertiles were correlated with increases in proteinuria and C-reactive protein and decreases in the GFR and serum albumin. An adjusted linear regression analysis demonstrated that the YKL-40 level (t=3.28, P=0.001), GFR (t=-3.00, P=0.003), and systolic blood pressure (t=2.51, P=0.01) were independently associated with proteinuria. Conclusions: This is the first study to show that increased serum YKL-40 levels are independently associated with proteinuria in renal transplant recipients. YKL-40 may be responsible for the pathogenesis of cardiovascular injury in this patient population

The Evidence of Occult Hypervolemia; Improvement of Cardiac Functions After Kidney Transplantation

WOS: 000318951100019PubMed ID: 23560874The term cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) has been used to define interactions between acute or chronic dysfunction of the heart or kidney. When primary chronic kidney disease contribute to cardiac dysfunction, it is classified as type 4 CRS. Cardiac dilatation, valve regurgitations, and left ventricular dysfunction are observed in end-stage renal failure patients with uremic cardiomyopathy. Because of perioperative risks in these patients, they may not be considered a candidate for kidney transplantation. However, uremic cardiomyopathy can be corrected when volume control is achieved by appropriate dose and duration of ultrafiltration. By presenting two cases with occult hypervolemia in uremic cardiomyopathy whose cardiac functions improved early after kidney transplantation, attention is drawn to the importance of kidney transplantation on cardiac function in such patients primarily and the importance of strict volume control on cardiac function in dialysis patients waiting for kidney transplantation

The Relationships between Serum sTWEAK, FGF-23 Levels, and Carotid Atherosclerosis in Renal Transplant Patients

WOS: 000313670000013PubMed ID: 23101788Background: Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of mortality after renal transplantation. Soluble tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (sTWEAK) and fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) are two novel molecules that have been associated with atherosclerosis in different populations. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the associations between sTWEAK, FGF-23, and carotid artery intima-media thickness (CA-IMT) in renal transplant patients. Methods: A total of 117 renal transplant patients were studied. CA-IMT was determined by B-mode Doppler ultrasonography. Serum sTWEAK and FGF-23 were measured by a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Mean age was 39.6 +/- 9.6 years and 51% of the patients were male. Mean sTWEAK level was 595 +/- 225 pg/mL (158-1140), FGF-23 level was 92 +/- 123 RU/mL (9.6-1006), and CA-IMT level was 0.62 +/- 0.11 mm (0.40-0.98). sTWEAK level was positively correlated with CA-IMT. There was no association between sTWEAK and FGF-23 levels. FGF-23 was also associated with CA-IMT. In adjusted models using linear regression analysis, only age and serum TWEAK levels were predictors for CA-IMT. Conclusion: There is a positive correlation between CA-IMT and sTWEAK, but not with FGF-23 levels in renal transplant patients.Loo and Hans Ostermans Foundation; Swedish research councilSwedish Research CouncilJuan Jesus Carrero acknowledges support from the Loo and Hans Ostermans Foundation and the Swedish research council. The others declare no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper