Inflating and deflating the self: Sustaining motivational concerns through self-evaluation

The final publication is available at Elsevier via http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2013.11.008 © 2014. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/The ways in which individuals think and feel about themselves play a significant role in guiding behavior across many domains in life. The current studies investigate how individuals may shift the positivity of self-evaluations in order to sustain their chronic or momentary motivational concerns. Specifically, we propose that more positive self-evaluations support eagerness that sustains promotion-focused concerns with advancement, whereas less positive self-evaluations support vigilance that sustains prevention-focused concerns with safety. The current studies provide evidence that self-evaluation inflation is associated with promotion concerns whereas self-evaluation deflation is associated with prevention concerns, whether regulatory focus is situationally manipulated (Studies 1, 2b, and 3) or measured as a chronic individual difference (Study 2a). Following regulatory focus primes, individuals in a promotion focus showed relatively greater accessibility of positive versus negative self-knowledge compared to individuals in a prevention focus (Study 1). In an ongoing performance situation, participants in a promotion focus reported higher self-esteem than participants in a prevention focus (Studies 2a and 2b). Finally, individuals in a promotion focus persisted longer on an anagram task when given an opportunity to focus on their strengths versus weaknesses, which was not the case for individuals in a prevention focus (Study 3). Across studies, the predicted interactions were consistently obtained, although sometimes the effects were stronger for promotion or prevention motivation. We discuss implications for existing models of the motives underlying self-evaluation.National Institute of Mental Health [grant 39429] to E. Tory HigginsSocial Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Insight Grant to Abigail A. Schole

セイジンガタ アトピーセイ ヒフエン カンジャ ニオケル Quality Of Life ト ソーシャル サポート ニ ツイテ : シンシンショウ トシテノ アトピーセイ ヒフエン オ コウリョ シテ

A first purpose of this study was to compare QOL(Quality of life) of adult atopic dermatitis(AD) patients group with normal people group. A second purpose was to examine the relations of QOL and Social Support in each of AD group of high tendency to psychosomatic disorder(the high group) and AD group of low tendency(the low group). The sample was comprised of three groups. 45 people were diagnosed as AD and were going a hospital or a clinic (Clinical group A)， 33 people were college students and contracted a disease in AD( Clinical group B)，and 147 people were college students and did not contract a disease in AD(Normal group) As result，first，as for Clinical group A，the Mental side of QOL was deteriorated more significantly than other two group，and the Physical side of QOL was the highest. Generally，It is said the Physical side of QOL changes greatly by age.This study couldn't control the age of Clinical group A，so it was though that an error became big Second，" Instrumental support "and "general healthy feeling" had negative correlation in the low group. On the other hand，an equilateral correlation was examined on "emotional support" and the Physical side of QOL in the high group. It was suggested that "Instrumental Support" might become "Negative support" for AD patients that a tendency to psychosomatic disorder was low. And，that，In the high group， the vicious circle of "stress-scratch cycle" was cut off by social support .We need detailed investigation in the future

jaw osteonecrosis risk in hip fractures

Purpose : Antiresorptive agents, such as bisphosphonates, are useful for the prevention of the recurrence of hip fractures. However, their administration has a risk of antiresorptive agent-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (ARONJ), and risk factors include poor oral hygiene. It is difficult for an orthopedic surgeon to examine a patient’s oral condition thoroughly. This study evaluated the relationship between risk factors for ARONJ and intraoral findings in hip fracture patients. Materials and Methods : We evaluated 79 patients (average age of 82.2 years) with hip fracture surgery who underwent an oral assessment by dentists. The risk assessments of the intraoral findings were classified into four levels (levels 0-3), with levels 2 and 3 requiring dental treatment intervention. Data that could be extracted as risk factors of ARONJ were also examined. Results : Level 1 was found most frequently (54.4%), followed by level 0 (35.4%), level 2 (8.9%), level 3 (1.3%). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the number of risk factors for the two groups (dental treatment intervention required and unnecessary) and oral findings were 0.732. When the cut-off value was set to two risk factors, the specificity and sensitivity was 53.5% and 87.5%. Conclusions : For hip fracture patients with a more than 2 risk factors, dental visits are recommended to prevent ARONJ. This is a useful evaluation method that can be used to screen for ONJ from data obtained from other risk factors, even if it is difficult to evaluate the oral condition in hospitals where dentists are absent

PKR is required for P.gingivalis-induced NLRP3 expression in osteoblasts

The double-stranded RNA-dependent kinase (PKR), which is activated by double stranded RNA, induces inflammation by regulating NF-κB signaling. The NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome also modulates inflammation in response to infection. Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.gingivalis) is an oral bacterium which is implicated in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. We previously reported that PKR is a key modulator of bone metabolism and inflammation in the periodontal tissue. PKR was also reported to induce inflammation in response to microbes by regulating the NLRP3 inflammasome, suggesting that PKR could affect inflammation along with NLRP3 in periodontal diseases. In this study, we investigated the effects of PKR on NLRP3 expression and NF-κB activity in P. gingivalis infected osteoblasts. We first constructed a SNAP26b-tagged P.gingivalis (SNAP-P. g.) and traced its internalization into the cell. SNAP-P. g. increased the activity of PKR and NF-κB and also induced NLRP3 expression in osteoblasts. Inhibition of NF-κB attenuated SNAP-P. g.-induced NLRP3 expression. The knockdown of PKR using shRNA decreased both the activity of NF-κB and the expression of NLRP3 induced by SNAP-P.g.. We therefore concluded that in osteoblasts, P. gingivalis activated PKR, which in turn increased NLRP3 expression by activating NF-κB. Our results suggest that PKR modulates inflammation by regulating the expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome through the NF-κB pathway in periodontal diseases

Gingival bleeding and pocket depth among smokers and the related changes after short-term smoking cessation

Background: Smoking is associated with the deteriorating health of the gingiva and periodontium. The long-term beneficial effects of smoking cessation on oral health are well known. However, the effects of short-term smoking cessation on gingival bleeding and periodontal pocket depth are unknown. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of short-term smoking cessation on gingival bleeding and periodontal pocket depth. Methods: Dentate smokers with a mean age of 56.9 ± 14.4 years at an outpatient smoking cessation clinic participated in this study. A professional dentist checked the periodontal pocket depth and gingival bleeding. Patients visited the smoking cessation clinic on their first visit and 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks (three months). The gingival assessment was re-performed in those who succeeded in smoking cessation 3 months after the baseline. Results: The baseline data of 83 patients showed that an increase in pocket depth was associated with increasing age and the amount of smoking. A significant increase in gingival bleeding (p = .031) and increase in pocket depth (p = .046) were observed 3 months after the baseline in patients who successfully quit smoking (n = 14). Conclusion: Short-term smoking cessation increased periodontal pocket depth and gingival bleeding. These findings may reflect healing processes that occur in the healthy gingiva. Implications: Study findings will be useful to advise patients during smoking cessation programs. Dentists can inform patients that an initial increase in gingival bleeding and pocket depth could be associated with smoking cessation. Such advice will prevent patients from any apprehension that may cause them to recommence smoking

Vectors expressing efficient RNA decoys achieve the long-term suppression of specific microRNA activity in mammalian cells

Whereas the strong and stable suppression of specific microRNA activity would be essential for the functional analysis of these molecules, and also for the development of therapeutic applications, effective inhibitory methods to achieve this have not yet been fully established. In our current study, we tested various RNA decoys which were designed to efficiently expose indigestible complementary RNAs to a specific miRNA molecule. These inhibitory RNAs were at the same time designed to be expressed in lentiviral vectors and to be transported into the cytoplasm after transcription by RNA polymerase III. We report the optimal conditions that we have established for the design of such RNA decoys (we term these molecules TuD RNAs; tough decoy RNAs). We finally demonstrate that TuD RNAs induce specific and strong biological effects and also show that TuD RNAs achieve the efficient and long-term-suppression of specific miRNAs for over 1 month in mammalian cells

Associations of Nutrient Patterns with the Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome : Results from the Baseline Data of the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study

The association between nutrient patterns and metabolic syndrome (MetS) has not been examined in a Japanese population. A cross-sectional study was performed on 30,108 participants (aged 35–69 years) in the baseline survey of the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study. Dietary intake was assessed using a 46-item food frequency questionnaire. MetS was diagnosed according to the Joint Interim Statement Criteria of 2009, using body mass index instead of waist circumference. Factor analysis was applied to energy-adjusted intake of 21 nutrients, and three nutrient patterns were extracted: Factor 1 (fiber, potassium and vitamins pattern); Factor 2 (fats and fat-soluble vitamins pattern); and Factor 3 (saturated fatty acids, calcium and vitamin B2 pattern). In multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted for sex, age, and other potential confounders, Factor 1 scores were associated with a significantly reduced odds ratio (OR) of MetS and all five components. Factor 2 scores were associated with significantly increased prevalence of MetS, obesity, and high blood pressure. Factor 3 scores were significantly associated with lower OR of MetS, high blood pressure, high serum triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol levels. Analysis of nutrient patterns may be useful to assess the overall quality of diet and its association with MetS

Association between plasma levels of homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12, and dietary folate intake and hypertension in a cross-sectional study

There are few studies examining the association between homocysteine (Hcy) level and the risk of hypertension with consideration for folate and vitamin B12 as related to Hcy level. We simultaneously examined the associations of plasma levels of Hcy, folate, and vitamin B12, and dietary folate intake with the prevalence of hypertension. Participants included 1046 men and 1033 women (mean age ± standard deviation: 56.0 ± 8.9 years) in the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study. Dietary folate intake was estimated using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Hypertension was defined based on measured blood pressure and use of antihypertensive medication. A total of 734 participants (35.3%) had hypertension. Multivariate-adjusted odds ratios of hypertension for the highest quartile group of Hcy were 2.36 (95% CI 1.41–3.96) in men and 1.86 (95% CI 1.11–3.11) in women, as compared with the lowest group (P for trend = 0.014 and 0.005, respectively). Dietary folate intake was not correlated with hypertension in both men and women (P for trend = 0.099 and 0.703, respectively). Plasma vitamin B12 was positively associated with hypertension only in women (P for trend = 0.027). Plasma Hcy level was positively linked with hypertension after controlling for covariates, including folate and vitamin B12