Chronic lung inflammation in aging mice

AbstractTo determine whether aging is associated with a pro-inflammatory shift in the lung, inflammation and inflammation-related gene expression in the lungs of 12-week-old and 24-month-old Balb/c mice were studied. cDNA microarray and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analyses showed that eight inflammation-related genes, including CD20, Burkitt lymphoma receptor 1, CXCR-3, provirus integration site for Moloney murine leukemia virus-2, CD72, IL-8RB, C-Fgr, and CD8β, were upregulated in the aged mice. Immunohistochemistry showed that the lungs of the aged mice contained increased numbers of CD4 cells, CD8 cells, B cells and macrophages. These results suggest that a pro-inflammatory shift occurs in the lungs of mice with aging

Oxidative stress increases Fas ligand expression in endothelial cells

BACKGROUND: Fas ligand (FasL) induces apoptosis in Fas-bearing target cells, such as leukocytes, and up-regulation of FasL expression on the endothelium may contribute to anti-inflammatory reactions that attenuate leukocyte extravasation during inflammation. Since oxidants generated during inflammation and cigarette smoking may modulate endothelial function, we examined the effect of H(2)O(2 )and cigarette smoke on endothelial FasL expression. METHODS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were exposed to nontoxic concentrations of H(2)O(2 )and cigarette smoke extracts (CSE). Membrane FasL expression was assessed by immunostaining with anti-FasL antibody followed by either monolayer-cell-based spectrofluorimetry or flow cytometry. Soluble FasL in culture supernatants was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. For the cytotoxic assay, HUVECs were exposed to H(2)O(2 )and co-cultured with neutrophils. Neutrophils were stained by a peroxidase/diaminobenzidine-based reaction, and apoptosis was evaluated on the basis of nuclear morphology after Giemsa staining. To analyze in vitro FasL expression in arteries, rat thoracic aortas were incubated with H(2)O(2), and paraffin-embedded sections were prepared for immunohistochemistry with anti-FasL antibody. RESULTS: Exposure of HUVECs to H(2)O(2 )dose-dependently increased their levels of both membrane and soluble forms of FasL expression. CSE exposure also caused increased levels of FasL expression, but the increase was partially inhibited by the addition of catalase. When co-cultured with neutrophils, HUVECs exposed to H(2)O(2 )significantly promoted neutrophil apoptosis. Rat thoracic aortas incubated with H(2)O(2 )exhibited increased FasL expression on their endothelium. CONCLUSION: Low levels of oxidative stress increase FasL expression on endothelial cells, thereby potentially reducing leukocyte extravasation and tissue damage

Scoping Review of the Literature on BEVI in Japanese Higher Education

This study provides a scoping review of the relevant literature on BEVI in Japanese higher education. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, 24 studies/reports were analyzed to identify current trends in the use of the BEVI instrument and research gaps. Finally, some future research recommendations are presented

BEVIとIDIの比較 : その基本的特徴と妥当性に関するエビデンス

The present paper compares the Beliefs, Events, and Values Inventory (BEVI) and the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) to explore similarities and differences in terms of basic characteristics and evidence related to their validity as a psychological measure. It was found that the two measures are largely similar in their basic characteristics but differ in the number of items included, how long it takes to complete them, and the nature of sample on which these measures were developed. There was a relatively good amount of validity evidence for both measures. The paper concluded that study abroad program administrators should choose, for program evaluation purposes, an appropriate measure that best fits the purpose or expected learning outcomes of their study abroad program

BEVIによるショート・ビジット型留学プログラムの効果分析 : 「グローバル人材」は育成できるのか？

Universities in Japan have been offering their students study abroad programs of all durations, often with the (explicit or implicit) purpose of developing so-called “global human resources” equipped with an international perspective, greater foreign language proficiency and leadership, and intercultural understanding. Recently, there has been an increasing number of Japanese universities that provide study abroad programs for a short duration (as little as one week) with a similar purpose. Despite this trend, there are some questions that remain to be answered, namely, (i) how can we measure in a reliable and valid way the outcomes related to “global human resources” (especially, non-language qualities such as intercultural understanding)?; and (ii) can we really expect our students to improve on the above qualities of “global human resources” through such brief overseas experiences? The present paper addresses these questions, discussing the data obtained from university students through the Beliefs, Events, and Values Inventory (BEVI), a promising, reliable and valid psychological measure that has been increasingly prominent in study abroad research. It was found that the BEVI instrument is a very useful date-analytic tool for study abroad administrators and researchers, and that it is possible for students to change in the above qualities through a short study abroad experience, although there are also considerable individual differences that must be taken into account in designing a study abroad program