The Role of Inflammatory Mediators in the Development of Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders

Feeding intolerance and the development of ileus is a common complication affecting critically ill, surgical, and trauma patients, resulting in prolonged intensive care unit and hospital stays, increased infectious complications, a higher rate of hospital readmission, and higher medical care costs. Medical treatment for ileus is ineffective and many of the available prokinetic drugs have serious side effects that limit their use. Despite the large number of patients affected and the consequences of ileus, little progress has been made in identifying new drug targets for the treatment of ileus. Inflammatory mediators play a critical role in the development of ileus, but surprisingly little is known about the direct effects of inflammatory mediators on cells of the gastrointestinal tract, and many of the studies are conflicting. Understanding the effects of inflammatory cytokines/chemokines on the development of ileus will facilitate the early identification of patients who will develop ileus and the identification of new drug targets to treat ileus. Thus, herein, we review the published literature concerning the effects of inflammatory mediators on gastrointestinal motility

Chordal topologies for interconnection networks

The class of dense circulant graphs of degree four with optimal distance-related properties is analyzed in this paper. An algebraic study of this class is done. Two geometric characterizations are given, one in the plane and other in the space. Both characterizations facilitate the analysis of their topological properties and corroborate their suitability for implementing interconnection networks for distributed and parallel computers. Also a distance-hereditary non-disjoint decomposition of these graphs into rings is computed. Besides its practical consequences, this decomposition allows us the presentation of these optimal circulant graphs as a particular evolution of the traditional ring topology.Ramón Beivide, Carmen Martínez, Cruz Izu, Jaime Gutierrez, José-Ángel Gregorio and José Miguel-Alons

National character does not reflect mean personality trait levels in 49 cultures

Most people hold beliefs about psychological characteristics typical of members of their own and others' cultures. These perceptions of national character may be generalizations from personal experience, or stereotypes with or without a “ kernel of truth." We obtained national character ratings from 49 cultures and compared them to average personality scores of culture members as assessed by observer ratings and self-reports. National character ratings appeared to be reliable and valid measures, but they did not converge with assessed personality traits. Perceptions of national character thus appear to be unfounded stereotypes that may serve the function of maintaining a national identity