The Impact f Olfactory Cues on Attention: The Case of Reverse Stroop Interference

Ham and Koch (2019) found that an odorant could influence interference on a modified Stroop task. This study was conducted to examine the impact of olfactory cues on reverse Stroop interference. Across three experiments, participants completed a modified reverseStroop task in which they identified a word (strawberry, lime, lemon) in different color fonts (red, green, yellow). Although the words were fruit names instead of color names, each word had some degree of association with a particular color (e.g., lime and green). In Experiment 1, congruent and incongruent trials were presented without an odorant. No differences were found between congruent and incongruent trials (t(28) = .63, p \u3e .05; d = .12). Experiment 2 consisted of the same task; however, an orange odorant was added to the room. RTs were faster for congruent trials than incongruent trials (t(17) = 4.15, p \u3c .001; d = .98). Lavender odorant was used in Experiment 3 to test whether the RT differences in Experiment 2 were influenced by the presence of a related odorant or any odorant. No differences were found between conditions (t(27) = 1.89, p \u3e .05; d = .36). The results indicate that a task-related odorant can impact word identification in a modified Stroop task

The Impact of Olfactory Cues on Attention: The Case of Stroop Interference

This study explores the relationship between odor imagery, color associations, and visual attention through a Stroop-task based on common odor-color associations. This Stroop-task was designed using three fruits with odor-color associations: lime with green, strawberry with red, and lemon with yellow. Each possible word-color combination was lexically presented in the experimental trials. Three experiments were conducted that used the Stroop-task with different odors present. They suggest that odor imagery can affect visual attention, the inhibition of odor-color associations, and that odor imagery appears to be facilitated in the presence of a related odor

Healthcare choice: Discourses, perceptions, experiences and practices

Policy discourse shaped by neoliberal ideology, with its emphasis on marketisation and competition, has highlighted the importance of choice in the context of healthcare and health systems globally. Yet, evidence about how so-called consumers perceive and experience healthcare choice is in short supply and limited to specific healthcare systems, primarily in the Global North. This special issue aims to explore how choice is perceived and utilised in the context of different systems of healthcare throughout the world, where choice, at least in policy and organisational terms, has been embedded for some time. The articles are divided into those emphasising: embodiment and the meaning of choice; social processes associated with choice; the uncertainties, risks and trust involved in making choices; and issues of access and inequality associated with enacting choice. These sociological studies reveal complexities not always captured in policy discourse and suggest that the commodification of healthcare is particularly problematic

Characterisation of the androgen regulation of glycine N-methyltransferase in prostate cancer cells

The development and growth of prostate cancer is dependent on androgens; thus, the identification of androgen-regulated genes in prostate cancer cells is vital for defining the mechanisms of prostate cancer development and progression and developing new markers and targets for prostate cancer treatment. GlycineN-methyltransferase (GNMT) is aS-adenosylmethionine-dependent methyltransferase that has been recently identified as a novel androgen-regulated gene in prostate cancer cells. Although the importance of this protein in prostate cancer progression has been extensively addressed, little is known about the mechanism of its androgen regulation. Here, we show that GNMT expression is stimulated by androgen in androgen receptor (AR) expressing cells and that the stimulation occurs at the mRNA and protein levels. We have identified an androgen response element within the first exon of theGNMTgene and demonstrated that AR binds to this elementin vitroandin vivo. Together, these studies identify GNMT as a direct transcriptional target of the AR. As this is an evolutionarily conserved regulatory element, this highlights androgen regulation as an important feature of GNMT regulation.</jats:p

TGF-b2 induction regulates invasiveness of theileria-transformed leukocytes and disease susceptibility

Theileria parasites invade and transform bovine leukocytes causing either East Coast fever (T. parva), or tropical theileriosis (T. annulata). Susceptible animals usually die within weeks of infection, but indigenous infected cattle show markedly reduced pathology, suggesting that host genetic factors may cause disease susceptibility. Attenuated live vaccines are widely used to control tropical theileriosis and attenuation is associated with reduced invasiveness of infected macrophages in vitro. Disease pathogenesis is therefore linked to aggressive invasiveness, rather than uncontrolled proliferation of Theileria-infected leukocytes. We show that the invasive potential of Theileria-transformed leukocytes involves TGF-b signalling. Attenuated live vaccine lines express reduced TGF-b2 and their invasiveness can be rescued with exogenous TGF-b. Importantly, infected macrophages from disease susceptible Holstein-Friesian (HF) cows express more TGF-b2 and traverse Matrigel with great efficiency compared to those from disease-resistant Sahiwal cattle. Thus, TGF-b2 levels correlate with disease susceptibility. Using fluorescence and time-lapse video microscopy we show that Theileria-infected, disease-susceptible HF macrophages exhibit increased actin dynamics in their lamellipodia and podosomal adhesion structures and develop more membrane blebs. TGF-b2-associated invasiveness in HF macrophages has a transcription-independent element that relies on cytoskeleton remodelling via activation of Rho kinase (ROCK). We propose that a TGF-b autocrine loop confers an amoeboid-like motility on Theileria-infected leukocytes, which combines with MMP-dependent motility to drive invasiveness and virulence

FOXO transcription factors directly activate bim gene expression and promote apoptosis in sympathetic neurons

Developing sympathetic neurons die by apoptosis when deprived of NGF. BIM, a BH3-only member of the BCL-2 family, is induced after NGF withdrawal in these cells and contributes to NGF withdrawal–induced death. Here, we have investigated the involvement of the Forkhead box, class O (FOXO) subfamily of Forkhead transcription factors in the regulation of BIM expression by NGF. We find that overexpression of FOXO transcription factors induces BIM expression and promotes death of sympathetic neurons in a BIM-dependent manner. In addition, we find that FKHRL1 (FOXO3a) directly activates the bim promoter via two conserved FOXO binding sites and that mutation of these sites abolishes bim promoter activation after NGF withdrawal. Finally, we show that FOXO activity contributes to the NGF deprivation–induced death of sympathetic neurons

Global analysis of gene expression in NGF-deprived sympathetic neurons identifies molecular pathways associated with cell death

Developing sympathetic neurons depend on nerve growth factor (NGF) for survival and die by apoptosis after NGF withdrawal. This process requires de novo gene expression but only a small number of genes induced by NGF deprivation have been identified so far, either by a candidate gene approach or in mRNA differential display experiments. This is partly because it is difficult to obtain large numbers of sympathetic neurons for in vitro studies. Here, we describe for the first time, how advances in gene microarray technology have allowed us to investigate the expression of all known genes in sympathetic neurons cultured in the presence and absence of NGF

Reducing Women’s Cancer Rates: Early Detection of Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer Through Self-Breast Exams (SADARI) and Pap Smears in Pinrang Regency, South Sulawesi

Breast and cervical cancer constitute the two most prevalent cancer types globally, with a disproportionately high mortality rate among women. While cervical cancer ranks eighth in terms of incidence, it remains a significant public health concern. A common challenge is the community’s delay in seeking healthcare attributed to a dearth of information, consequently leading to delayed treatment. The Pinrang Regency Health Department and the Family Empowerment and Welfare Team (TP-PKK) of South Sulawesi identified a high incidence of breast and cervical cancer among women in the Pinrang region. A primary obstacle to addressing this issue is the absence of public awareness regarding breast and cervical cancer, including early warning signs, symptoms, and associated risks. This problem is compounded by the district’s lack of an anatomical pathology specialist, hindering public education efforts and diagnostic capabilities. The objective of this activity was to enhance awareness of early detection for these two gynecological cancers in order to reduce mortality and morbidity rates associated with cancer. The method comprised an educational session on breast and cervical cancer, practicing SADARI, attended by 145 participants, followed by Pap smear tests for 45 volunteers. Program effectiveness was evaluated through pretest and posttest. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was conducted to compare pretest and posttest scores. The results revealed a highly significant increase in scores p = 0.000 (p<0.005), suggesting that the educational program was successful in improving participants’ knowledge. A significant proportion of participants (57.8%) reported undergoing a Pap smear for the first time, highlighting the need for enhanced awareness and knowledge-sharing efforts regarding early detection of cervical cancer. The Pinrang Regency Health Department and TP-PKK provided essential support and participation. The Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) funds this community service project. The project was executed under contract number 0031/UN.4.22/PM.01.01.2024

Leptin Expression in High-grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma: The Controversy of Leptin Paradox in Ovarian Cancer

Objectives : To analyse the characteristics and expression patterns of Leptin in high-grade serous epithelial ovarian carcinoma (HGSC), and to compare them with the overall serous ovarian carcinoma population. Methods : This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 77 paraffin-embedded tissue samples were collected from patients at the Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital over a period of 3 years. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using a polyclonal Leptin antibody. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. Results: Among HGSC patients, the majority (64.3%) were over 50 years old, and a significant portion (39.3%) were obese. Leptin showed strong cytoplasmic expression in 69.6% of HGSC tumor cells and in 100% of LGSC tumor cells (p-value = 0.004). There was no correlation between lymphovascular space invasion and leptin expression. Interestingly, leptin expression in overall serous ovarian carcinoma patients exhibited a protective effect against metastasis (p-value = 0.047), suggesting a leptin paradox exists in this type of cancer. However, this association was no longer significant when the analysis excluded the LGSC group (p-value = 0.193). Conclusion : This study suggest that leptin expression may not be a significant prognostic factor in HGSC. The appearance of the pseudo-leptin paradox phenomenon in several previous studies was confounded by sample populations with heterogeneous tumor morphology. Keywords: high-grade serous carcinoma, leptin paradox, immunohistochemistry, leptin, obesit