Sociodemographic, trait, and state predictors of empathy in psychology students

Empathy is gaining increased attention in health practitioners, especially in light of the reported declines in empathy over time. However, empathy as a construct and its interactions with associated variables are poorly understood. Methods: Undergraduate psychology students (N=380) completed a questionnaire assessing empathy, age, gender, autistic traits, Machiavellianism, grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, burnout, affective distress, and interoception. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses examined the factors that most strongly predicted variance in empathy scores. Mediational analyses explored the possible indirect role of affective symptoms (i.e. stress, anxiety, and depression) and interoceptive sensibility in mediating with the relationship between the high expression of the trait variables to low empathy levels. Results: Hierarchical multiple regression analyses predicted significant variance in global (40.4%), affective (40%), and cognitive (32.9%) empathy. A range of demographic (male gender), personality (high Machiavellianism and autistic traits), and state and body perception variables (high anxiety and low awareness of Autonomic Nervous System reactivity; ANS-R) predicted lower empathy, although personality constructs were generally the strongest predictors. Indirect mediational relationships were found to exist between high Machiavellian views to low global empathy, with high interoceptive sensibility as the mediator. Conclusions: Empathy was predicted by a combination of demographics (i.e. male gender), personality constructs (i.e. autistic and Machiavellianism), and state factors (i.e. high ANS-R,low anxiety), suggesting that it is likely determined by a combination of factors. Further, the results point to the potential importance of targeting aspects of the self that can be changed such as autonomic arousal and affective symptoms to assist adults in maximising their empathy levels. The results are likely to have implications for the training of psychology clinicians and other health professionals

Using a Novel Measure of Brain Structure to Investigate the Protective Effects of Physical Activity against Cognitive Decline

Dementia is a growing challenge to our society. Research suggests a number of modifiable factors are associated with the risk of developing this condition. One such modifiable factor is physical activity. Physical activity has been associated with both brain structure and cognition. Further evidence suggests an association between brain structure and cognition. While the majority of neuroimaging studies have used volumetric MRI measures to examine brain structure, an emerging alternative is to examine cortical sulcal characteristics. This study sought to determine how sulcal characteristics relate to physical activity and cognition. A final sample of 320 participants aged between 64 and 70 years were selected from an observational study of lifestyle factors including MRI and cognitive data. The results presented here indicate that physical activity predicts differences in sulcal structure. Width of the left superior frontal sulcus, negatively correlated with physical activity, was associated with improved processing speed and executive function. These findings are consistent with the literature showing that physical activity is beneficial in preventing against cognitive decline and provides important information about the usefulness of sulcal characteristics in the investigation of cerebral and cognitive health

Using sulcal and gyral measures of brain structure to investigate benefits of an active lifestyle

Background: Physical activity is associated with brain and cognitive health in ageing. Higher levels of physical activity are linked to larger cerebral volumes, lower rates of atrophy, better cognitive function and lesser risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Neuroimaging studies have traditionally focused on volumetric brain tissue 17 measures to test associations between factors of interest (e.g. physical activity) and brain structure. However, cortical sulci may provide additional information to these more standard measures. Method: Associations between physical activity, brain structure, and cognition were investigated in a large, community-based sample of cognitively healthy individuals (N = 317) using both sulcal and volumetric measures. Results: Physical activity was associated with narrower width of the Left Superior Frontal Sulcus and the Right Central Sulcus,while volumetric measures showed no association with physical activity. In addition, Left Superior Frontal Sulcal width was associated with processing speed and executive function. Discussion: These findings suggest sulcalmeasuresmay be a sensitive index of physical activity related to cerebral health and cognitive function in healthy older individuals. Further research is required to confirm these findings and to examine how sulcal measures may be most effectively used in neuroimaging

A bioluminescent microbial biosensor for in vitro pretreatment assessment of cytarabine efficacy in leukemia

BACKGROUND: The nucleoside analog cytarabine (Ara-C [cytosine arabinoside]) is the key agent for treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML); however, up to 30% of patients fail to respond to treatment. Screening of patient blood samples to determine drug response before commencement of treatment is needed. This project aimed to construct and evaluate a self-bioluminescent reporter strain of Escherichia coli for use as an Ara-C biosensor and to design an in vitro assay to predict Ara-C response in clinical samples. METHODS: Weused transposition mutagenesis to create a cytidine deaminase (cdd)-deficient mutant of E. coli MG1655 that responded to Ara-C. The strain was transformed with the luxCDABE operon and used as a whole-cell biosensor for development an 8-h assay to determine Ara-C uptake and phosphorylation by leukemic cells. RESULTS: Intracellular concentrations of 0.025 μmol/L phosphorylated Ara-C were detected by significantly increased light output (P < 0.05) from the bacterial biosensor. Results using AML cell lines with known response to Ara-C showed close correlation between the 8-h assay and a 3-day cytotoxicity test for Ara-C cell killing. In retrospective tests with 24 clinical samples of bone marrow or peripheral blood, the biosensor-based assay predicted leukemic cell response to Ara-C within 8 h. CONCLUSIONS: The biosensor-based assay may offer a predictor for evaluating the sensitivity of leukemic cells to Ara-C before patients undergo chemotherapy and allow customized treatment of drug-sensitive patients with reduced Ara-C dose levels. The 8-h assay monitors intracellular Ara-CTP (cytosine arabinoside triphosphate) levels and, if fully validated, may be suitable for use in clinical settings. © 2010 American Association for Clinical Chemistry

Impact of Baseline NetPVGRF/kg Ability Upon PAP of CMVJ’S During 12 Different Treatments

Abstracts available in the : Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercis

The immune cell landscape and response of Marek’s disease resistant and susceptible chickens infected with Marek’s disease virus

Abstract Genetically resistant or susceptible chickens to Marek’s disease (MD) have been widely used models to identify the molecular determinants of these phenotypes. However, these prior studies lacked the basic identification and understanding of immune cell types that could be translated toward improved MD control. To gain insights into specific immune cell types and their responses to Marek’s disease virus (MDV) infection, we used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) on splenic cells from MD resistant and susceptible birds. In total, 14,378 cells formed clusters that identified various immune cell types. Lymphocytes, specifically T cell subtypes, were the most abundant with significant proportional changes in some subtypes upon infection. The largest number of differentially expressed genes (DEG) response was seen in granulocytes, while macrophage DEGs differed in directionality by subtype and line. Among the most DEG in almost all immune cell types were granzyme and granulysin, both associated with cell-perforating processes. Protein interactive network analyses revealed multiple overlapping canonical pathways within both lymphoid and myeloid cell lineages. This initial estimation of the chicken immune cell type landscape and its accompanying response will greatly aid efforts in identifying specific cell types and improving our knowledge of host response to viral infection

The immune cell landscape and response of Marek’s disease resistant and susceptible chickens infected with Marek’s disease virus

Genetically resistant or susceptible chickens to Marek’s disease (MD) have been widely used models to identify the molecular determinants of these phenotypes. However, these prior studies lacked the basic identification and understanding of immune cell types that could be translated toward improved MD control. To gain insights into specific immune cell types and their responses to Marek’s disease virus (MDV) infection, we used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) on splenic cells from MD resistant and susceptible birds. Totally, 14,378 cells formed clusters that identified various immune cell types. Lymphocytes, specifically T cell subtypes, were the most abundant with significant proportional changes in some subtypes upon infection. The largest number of differentially expressed genes (DEG) response was seen in granulocytes, while macrophage DEGs differed in directionality by subtype and line. Among the most DEG in almost all immune cell types were granzyme and granulysin, both associated with cell-perforating processes. Protein interactive network analyses revealed multiple overlapping canonical pathways within both lymphoid and myeloid cell lineages. This initial estimation of the chicken immune cell type landscape and its accompanying response will greatly aid efforts in identifying specific cell types and improving our knowledge of host response to viral infection.This preprint is made available through Research Square at doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-1858513/v1.This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License

Investigation and verification of a bioluminescent biosensor for the quantitation of ara-CTP generation: A biomarker for cytosine arabinoside sensitivity in acute myeloid leukaemia

A novel whole cell bacterial biosensor, which emits light in response to the active metabolite of cytosine arabinoside (ara-C, cytarabine), ara-CTP, has been investigated and verified. The biosensor has been formulated as an ex vivo assay, designed for peripheral blood or bone marrow cells, which can produce a clinical result within a working day. The nucleoside analogue ara-C is a key agent for treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML); treatment decisions are made rapidly with AML, patients often receiving same-day commencement of chemotherapy. Currently no rapid predictive test is available to select appropriate therapy for patients prior to treatment. Experiments were designed to determine optimal assay conditions using leukaemic cell lines. We observed a significant increase (~15 fold) in bioluminescence signal compared to control after 8-h incubation of the biosensor with ara-C. This corresponded to a &gt;2-log increase in light output per bacterial cell. Interestingly, bioluminescence conferred a survival advantage to the bacteria following ara-C treatment. The assay is sensitive (lower limit of quantitation of 0.05. μM), selective, accurate (≤15% RE) and precise (≤15% coefficient of variation) over a linear concentration range of ara-CTP (0.05-0.5. μM), and detection is independent of reaction volume. Recovery of added standard was tested using ex vivo patient leukaemic cells (n=5). Stability studies on lyophilized bacterial biosensor were performed to ensure maintenance of performance over 12 months. The biosensor assay could be invaluable to the clinician, assisting with treatment selection, and potentially mitigating the risks of resistance and toxicity observed with this drug. © 2013 Elsevier B.V

Investigation and verification of a bioluminescent biosensor for the quantitation of ara-CTP generation: A biomarker for cytosine arabinoside sensitivity in acute myeloid leukaemia

A novel whole cell bacterial biosensor, which emits light in response to the active metabolite of cytosine arabinoside (ara-C, cytarabine), ara-CTP, has been investigated and verified. The biosensor has been formulated as an ex vivo assay, designed for peripheral blood or bone marrow cells, which can produce a clinical result within a working day. The nucleoside analogue ara-C is a key agent for treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML); treatment decisions are made rapidly with AML, patients often receiving same-day commencement of chemotherapy. Currently no rapid predictive test is available to select appropriate therapy for patients prior to treatment. Experiments were designed to determine optimal assay conditions using leukaemic cell lines. We observed a significant increase (~15 fold) in bioluminescence signal compared to control after 8-h incubation of the biosensor with ara-C. This corresponded to a >2-log increase in light output per bacterial cell. Interestingly, bioluminescence conferred a survival advantage to the bacteria following ara-C treatment. The assay is sensitive (lower limit of quantitation of 0.05. μM), selective, accurate (≤15% RE) and precise (≤15% coefficient of variation) over a linear concentration range of ara-CTP (0.05-0.5. μM), and detection is independent of reaction volume. Recovery of added standard was tested using ex vivo patient leukaemic cells (n=5). Stability studies on lyophilized bacterial biosensor were performed to ensure maintenance of performance over 12 months. The biosensor assay could be invaluable to the clinician, assisting with treatment selection, and potentially mitigating the risks of resistance and toxicity observed with this drug. © 2013 Elsevier B.V