The impact of gruesome evidence on mock juror decision making : the role of evidence characteristics and emotional response

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of gruesome evidence on mock jurors? decisions in a simulated capital trial. The first experiment was designed as a replication and extension of Douglas, Lyon, and Ogloff (1997), who found that mock jurors who were presented with gruesome photographic evidence were nearly twice as likely to convict the defendant than participants who did not see the gruesome evidence. In Experiment 1, gruesome evidence was manipulated in two ways: photographic evidence (low gruesome, highly gruesome, or control photographs) and verbal testimony (low gruesome vs. highly gruesome). Neither photographic evidence nor testimony had an effect on mock jurors verdicts or sentence decisions. However, the manipulation check failed to indicate that participants perceived the evidence differently in terms of gruesomeness. Experiment 2 was designed to address whether inducing specific emotions in participants would produce similar biasing effects on their decisions as gruesome evidence. Previous research has eluded to emotional arousal as a potential mediator of the effects of gruesome evidence. Participants were induced to feel either angry or sad and were compared to participants who were given a neutral-emotion induction and viewed either low or highly gruesome photographs. The results indicated that neither emotion nor gruesome photographic evidence had an effect on participants? verdicts. However, participants? who viewed highly gruesome photographic evidence were more likely to decide on the death sentence than participants who viewed the low gruesome evidence. The results are discussed in light of the previous research on gruesome evidence and theories of emotion and decision making

Jurors’ Perception of Violence: A Framework for Inquiry

The impact that the perceived violence of a crime has on jury decision making has received much controversy lately. Violence may affect juries by how it is presented, as in the case of graphic evidence; its evidentiary purpose, as in establishing a history of violence in domestic abuse cases; and in sentencing, when the question of the heinousness of the crime is raised. Many judicial experts argue that evidence of violence may prejudice juries’ verdicts. There is also concern within the legal community that what constitutes a heinous crime cannot be objectively determined. Psychological research has only just begun to explore these issues. This paper reviews the current legal state of these issues, the arguments and questions that have been raised within the legal community, and the empirical research that has been conducted thus far. The paper concludes with directions for future research that would improve our understanding of how jurors’ perception of violence affects their decisions

A large-scale, near-sea level, silicic caldera-forming eruption in Efate? An alternative model for the 1 Ma Efate Pumice Formation, Vanuatu, SW-Pacific

No abstract availabl

Oxpentifylline versus placebo in the treatment of erythropoietin-resistant anaemia: a randomized controlled trial

Background: The main hypothesis of this study is that Oxpentifylline administration will effectively treat erythropoietin-or darbepoietin-resistant anaemia in chronic kidney disease patients

Clinical features of the pathogenic m.5540G>A mitochondrial transfer RNA tryptophan gene mutation

AbstractMitochondrial DNA disease is one of the most common groups of inherited neuromuscular disorders and frequently associated with marked phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity. We describe an adult patient who initially presented with childhood-onset ataxia without a family history and an unremarkable diagnostic muscle biopsy. Subsequent multi-system manifestations included basal ganglia calcification, proteinuria, cataract and retinitis pigmentosa, prompting a repeat muscle biopsy that showed features consistent with mitochondrial myopathy 13 years later. She had a stroke with restricted diffusion change in the basal ganglia and internal capsule at age 44 years. Molecular genetic testing identified a previously-reported pathogenic, heteroplasmic mutation in the mitochondrial-encoded transfer RNA tryptophan (MT-TW) gene which based on family studies was likely to have arisen de novo in our patient. Interestingly, we documented an increase in the mutant mtDNA heteroplasmy level in her second biopsy (72% compared to 56%), reflecting the progression of clinical disease

Mechanisms of Impaired Exercise Capacity in Short Duration Experimental Hyperthyroidism

Abstract To investigate the mechanism of reduced exercise tolerance in hyperthyroidism, we characterized cardiovascular function and determinants of skeletal muscle metabolism in 18 healthy subjects aged 26±1 yr (mean±SE) before and after 2 wk of daily ingestion of 100 pg of triiodothyronine (T3). Resting oxygen uptake, heart rate, and cardiac output increased and heart rate and cardiac output at the same submaximal exercise intensity were higher in the hyperthyroid state (P < 0.05). However, maximal oxygen uptake decreased after T3 administration (3.08±0.17 vs. 2.94±0.19 l/min; P < 0.001) despite increased heart rate and cardiac output at maximal exercise (P < 0.05). Plasma lactic acid concentration at an equivalent submaximal exercise intensity was elevated 25% (P < 0.01) and the arteriovenous oxygen difference at maximal effort was reduced (P < 0.05) in the hyperthyroid state. These effects were associated with a 21-37% decline in activities of oxidative (P < 0.001) and glycolytic (P < 0.05) enzymes in skeletal muscle and a 15% decrease in type 11A muscle fiber cross-sectional area (P < 0.05). Lean body mass was reduced (P < 0.001) and the rates of whole body leucine oxidation and protein breakdown were enhanced (P < 0.05). Thus, exercise tolerance is impaired in short duration hyperthyroidism because of decreased skeletal muscle mass and oxidative capacity related to accelerated protein catabolism but cardiac pump function is not reduced. (J. Clin

Targeted inhibition of interleukin-6 with CNTO 328 sensitizes pre-clinical models of multiple myeloma to dexamethasone-mediated cell death

Interleukin (IL)-6-mediated signaling attenuates the anti-myeloma activity of glucocorticoids (GCs). We therefore sought to evaluate whether CNTO 328, an anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibody in clinical development, could enhance the apoptotic activity of dexamethasone (dex) in pre-clinical models of myeloma. CNTO 328 potently increased the cytotoxicity of dex in IL-6-dependent and –independent human myeloma cell lines (HMCLs), including a bortezomib-resistant HMCL. Isobologram analysis revealed that the CNTO 328/dex combination was highly synergistic. Addition of bortezomib to CNTO 328/dex further enhanced the cytotoxicity of the combination. Experiments with pharmacologic inhibitors revealed a role for the p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in IL-6-mediated GC resistance. Although CNTO 328 alone induced minimal cell death, it potentiated dex-mediated apoptosis, as evidenced by increased activation of caspases-8, -9, and -3, Annexin-V staining, and DNA fragmentation. The ability of CNTO 328 to sensitize HMCLs to dex-mediated apoptosis was preserved in the presence of human bone marrow stromal cells. Importantly, the increased activity of the combination was also seen in plasma cells from patients with GC-resistant myeloma. Taken together, our data provide a strong rationale for the clinical development of the CNTO 328/dex regimen for patients with myeloma

Systemic and tumor level iron regulation in men with colorectal cancer: a case control study

BACKGROUND: Increased cellular iron exposure is associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. Hepcidin, a liver peptide hormone, acts as the primary regulator of systemic iron status by blocking iron release from enterocytes into plasma. Concentrations are decreased during low iron status and increased during inflammation. The role of hepcidin and the factors influencing its regulation in CRC remains largely unknown. This study explored systemic and tumor level iron regulation in men with CRC. METHODS: The participants were 20 CRC cases and 20 healthy control subjects. Colonic tissue (adenocarcinoma [cases] healthy mucosa [controls]) was subjected to quantitative PCR (hepcidin, iron transporters and IL-6) and Perls’ iron staining. Serum was analyzed using ELISA for hepcidin, iron status (sTfR) and inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6, TNF-α). Anthropometrics, dietary iron intake and medical history were obtained. RESULTS: Cases and controls were similar in demographics, medication use and dietary iron intake. Systemically, cases compared to controls had lower iron status (sTfR: 21.6 vs 11.8 nmol/L, p < 0.05) and higher marker of inflammation (CRP: 8.3 vs 3.4 μg/mL, p < 0.05). Serum hepcidin was mildly decreased in cases compared to controls; however, it was within the normal range for both groups. Within colonic tissue, 30% of cases (6/20) presented iron accumulation compared to 5% of controls (1/20) (χ(2) = 5.0; p < 0.05) and higher marker of inflammation (IL-6: 9.4-fold higher compared to controls, p < 0.05). Presence of adenocarcinoma iron accumulation was associated with higher serum hepcidin (iron accumulation group 80.8 vs iron absence group 22.0 ng/mL, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: While CRC subjects had serum hepcidin concentrations in the normal range, it was higher given their degree of iron restriction. Inappropriately elevated serum hepcidin may reduce duodenal iron absorption and further increase colonic adenocarcinoma iron exposure. Future clinical studies need to assess the appropriateness of dietary iron intake or iron supplementation in patients with CRC

Phase II Randomized, Double-Masked, Vehicle-Controlled Trial of Recombinant Human Nerve Growth Factor for Neurotrophic Keratitis

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of topical recombinant human nerve growth factor (rhNGF) for treating moderate-to-severe neurotrophic keratitis (NK), a rare degenerative corneal disease resulting from impaired corneal innervation. Design: Phase II multicenter, randomized, double-masked, vehicle-controlled trial. Participants: Patients with stage 2 (moderate) or stage 3 (severe) NK in 1 eye. Methods: The REPARO phase II study assessed safety and efficacy in 156 patients randomized 1:1:1 to rhNGF 10 \u3bcg/ml, 20 \u3bcg/ml, or vehicle. Treatment was administered 6 drops per day for 8 weeks. Patients then entered a 48- or 56-week follow-up period. Safety was assessed in all patients who received study treatment, whereas efficacy was by intention to treat. Main Outcome Measures: Corneal healing (defined as &lt;0.5-mm maximum diameter of fluorescein staining in the lesion area) was assessed by masked central readers at week 4 (primary efficacy end point) and week 8 (key secondary end point) of controlled treatment. Corneal healing was reassessed post hoc by masked central readers using a more conservative measure (0-mm staining in the lesion area and no other persistent staining). Results: At week 4 (primary end point), 19.6% of vehicle-treated patients achieved corneal healing (&lt;0.5-mm lesion staining) versus 54.9% receiving rhNGF 10 \u3bcg/ml (+35.3%; 97.06% confidence interval [CI], 15.88\u201354.71; P &lt; 0.001) and 58.0% receiving rhNGF 20 \u3bcg/ml (+38.4%; 97.06% CI, 18.96\u201357.83; P &lt; 0.001). At week 8 (key secondary end point), 43.1% of vehicle-treated patients achieved less than 0.5-mm lesion staining versus 74.5% receiving rhNGF 10 \u3bcg/ml (+31.4%; 97.06% CI, 11.25\u201351.49; P = 0.001) and 74.0% receiving rhNGF 20 \u3bcg/ml (+30.9%; 97.06% CI, 10.60\u201351.13; P = 0.002). Post hoc analysis of corneal healing by the more conservative measure (0-mm lesion staining and no other persistent staining) maintained statistically significant differences between rhNGF and vehicle at weeks 4 and 8. More than 96% of patients who healed after controlled rhNGF treatment remained recurrence free during follow-up. Treatment with rhNGF was well tolerated; adverse effects were mostly local, mild, and transient. Conclusions: Topical rhNGF is safe and more effective than vehicle in promoting healing of moderate-to-severe NK

Blockade of interleukin-6 signalling with siltuximab enhances melphalan cytotoxicity in preclinical models of multiple myeloma

Signalling through the interleukin (IL)-6 pathway induces proliferation and drug resistance of multiple myeloma cells. We therefore sought to determine whether the IL-6-neutralizing monoclonal antibody siltuximab, formerly CNTO 328, could enhance the activity of melphalan, and to examine some of the mechanisms underlying this interaction. Siltuximab increased the cytotoxicity of melphalan in KAS-6/1, INA-6, ANBL-6, and RPMI 8226 human myeloma cell lines (HMCLs) in an additive-to-synergistic manner, and sensitized resistant RPMI 8226.LR5 cells to melphalan. These anti-proliferative effects were accompanied by enhanced activation of drug-specific apoptosis in HMCLs grown in suspension, and in HMCLs co-cultured with a human-derived stromal cell line. Siltuximab with melphalan enhanced activation of caspase-8, caspase-9, and the downstream effector caspase-3 compared with either of the single agents. This increased induction of cell death occurred in association with enhanced Bak activation. Neutralization of IL-6 also suppressed signalling through the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt pathway, as evidenced by decreased phosphorylation of Akt, p70 S6 kinase and 4E-BP1. Importantly, the siltuximab/melphalan regimen demonstrated enhanced anti-proliferative effects against primary plasma cells derived from patients with myeloma, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, and amyloidosis. These studies provide a rationale for translation of siltuximab into the clinic in combination with melphalan-based therapies