Three studies examined humor and adjustment to stressful events. In Study 1, patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (N = 22) reported on mental and physical adjustment, social interaction, and ...reappraisal of their illness. Dispositional humor was associated with reduced distress and fewer physical symptoms. Study 2 (N = 109) examined undergraduates’ reports of stressful events. Dispositional, self-enhancing, affiliative, and self-defeating humor showed direct effects on distress, which were mediated by social interaction and reappraisal. Moreover, dispositional and aggressive humor showed stress-buffering effects. Study 3 (N = 105) examined undergraduates’ adjustment to the September 11, 2001, attacks at 1 and 3 months postattack. At T1, affiliative humor showed a stress-buffering effect on distress. Social interaction mediated the relation of self-enhancing humor with reduced T1 distress, and mediated relations of aggressive and self-defeating humor with greater distress. Relations of T1 dispositional and self-defeating humor to changes in T2 distress were mediated by reappraisal.
Diclofenac instillation is useful in preventing intraoperative miosis and macular edema caused by postoperative inflammation in cataract surgery; however, optimum efficacy is not attained when the ...instilled diclofenac strongly binds to albumin in patients’ aqueous humor. Therefore, a method that inhibits diclofenac binding and increases the concentration of its free fraction is needed. We conducted a basic study regarding the effects of inhibitors on the binding of instilled diclofenac to albumin and endogenous substances in aqueous humor. Aqueous humor samples from 16 patients were pooled together for analysis. The free fraction of diclofenac was measured using ultrafiltration methods in various experiments with pooled and mimic aqueous humor. Free fraction of diclofenac, a site II drug, in pooled aqueous humor was 0.363 ± 0.013. The binding of diclofenac in the presence of phenylbutazone (PB), a site I inhibitor, was significantly inhibited (free fraction = 0.496 ± 0.013); however, no significant inhibition by ibuprofen, a site II inhibitor, (free fraction = 0.379 ± 0.004), was observed. The unexpected result was due to free fatty acids FFAs; palmitic acid (PA) and tryptophan (L-Trp). The inhibition of diclofenac binding by PB in the mimic aqueous humor containing these endogenous substances revealed significant binding inhibition in the presence of PA and L-Trp. Diclofenac is strongly rebound from site II to site I in the presence of FFAs and L-Trp in the aqueous humor because FFAs and L-Trp induce a conformational change in albumin. Therefore, PB significantly inhibits the binding of diclofenac to albumin.
Fools Crow (1986), by James Welch (Blackfeet/Gros Ventre), may seem an unlikely site of humor given that it is concerned with the tragic history of the Pikuni band of Montana Blackfeet in the ...nineteenth century. However, Welch foregrounds Native humor traditions central to the Blackfeet culture. This article analyzes the ways humor punctuates the narrative, taking the form of teasing sexual humor—familiar as adolescent discourse—and corrective humor that is intended to guide individuals to find their identities within the community. In highlighting Native belief systems that rely on mythical/mystical figures such as the trickster Raven, the novel is both a form of bildungsroman and an alternate history, which, although often tragic, never loses sight of the restorative aspect of humor in the quest for survival and a new future.
Humor is a ubiquitous human characteristic that is socially motivated at its core and has a broad range of significant positive effects on emotional well-being and interpersonal relationships. ...Simultaneously, however, impairments in humor abilities have often been described in close association with the occurrence and course of neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, social anxiety, or depression. In the past decade, research in the neuroimaging and psychiatric domain has substantially progressed to (i) characterize impaired humor as an element of psychopathology, and (ii) shed light on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the role of humor in neuropsychiatric diseases. However, (iii) targeted interventions using concepts of positive psychology have revealed first evidence that a systematic training and/or a potential reactivation of humor-related skills can improve rehabilitative outcome in neuropsychiatric patient groups. Here, we sought to integrate evidence from neuroscience, as well as from psychopathology and treatment research to shed more light on the role of humor in psychiatry. Based on these considerations, we provide directions for future research and application in mental health services, focusing on the question of how our scientific understanding of humor can provide the basis for psychological interventions that foster positive attitudes and well-being.
The human eye has a unique immune architecture and behavior. While the conjunctiva is known to have a well-defined lymphatic drainage system, the cornea, sclera, and uveal tissues were historically ...considered “alymphatic” and thought to be immune privileged. The very fact that the aqueous outflow channels carry a clear fluid (aqueous humor) along the outflow pathway makes it hard to ignore its lymphatic-like characteristics. The development of novel lymphatic lineage markers and expression of these markers in aqueous outflow channels and improved imaging capabilities has sparked a renewed interest in the study of ocular lymphatics. Ophthalmic lymphatic research has had a directional shift over the last decade, offering an exciting new physiological platform that needs further in-depth understanding. The evidence of a presence of distinct lymphatic channels in the human ciliary body is gaining significant traction. The uveolymphatic pathway is an alternative new route for aqueous outflow and adds a new dimension to pathophysiology and management of glaucoma. Developing novel animal models, markers, and non-invasive imaging tools to delineate the core anatomical structure and physiological functions may help pave some crucial pathways to understand disease pathophysiology and help develop novel targeted therapeutic approaches for glaucoma.
Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is the main risk factor for glaucoma. Exogenous nitric oxide (NO) decreases IOP by increasing outflow facility, but whether endogenous NO production contributes to ...the physiological regulation of outflow facility is unclear. Outflow facility was measured by pressure-controlled perfusion in ex vivo eyes from C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) or transgenic mice expressing human endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) fused to green fluorescent protein (GFP) superimposed on the endogenously expressed murine eNOS (eNOS-GFPtg). In WT mice, exogenous NO delivered by 100 μM S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) increased outflow facility by 62 ± 28% (SD) relative to control eyes perfused with the inactive SNAP analog N-acetyl-d-penicillamine (NAP; n = 5, P = 0.016). In contrast, in eyes from eNOS-GFPtg mice, SNAP had no effect on outflow facility relative to NAP (-9 ± 4%, P = 0.40). In WT mice, the nonselective NOS inhibitor N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME, 10 μM) decreased outflow facility by 36 ± 13% (n = 5 each, P = 0.012), but 100 μM l-NAME had no detectable effect on outflow facility (-16 ± 5%, P = 0.22). An eNOS-selective inhibitor (cavtratin, 50 μM) decreased outflow facility by 19 ± 12% in WT (P = 0.011) and 39 ± 25% in eNOS-GFPtg (P = 0.014) mice. In the conventional outflow pathway of eNOS-GFPtg mice, eNOS-GFP expression was localized to endothelial cells lining Schlemm's canal and the downstream vessels, with no apparent expression in the trabecular meshwork. These results suggest that endogenous NO production by eNOS within endothelial cells of Schlemm's canal or downstream vessels contributes to the physiological regulation of aqueous humor outflow facility in mice, representing a viable strategy to more successfully lower IOP in glaucoma.
Background: Patients receiving hemodialysis experience high levels of anxiety and stress. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effect of humor on anxiety in patients receiving hemodialysis. ...Methods: This open-label, randomized, controlled trial was conducted in 2018, on 63 patients receiving hemodialysis in Sabzevar, Iran. The participants were randomly assigned to an intervention and a control group using a permuted block randomization method. The intervention group participated in humor therapy sessions twice a week for 3 weeks. The control group received no intervention. Data were collected using Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) before and 3 weeks after the intervention. Data were analyzed using the independent samples and the paired t tests. Results: The mean age of the participants was 61.85 ± 7.93 and 54.61 ± 5.89 in the intervention and control groups, respectively (P = 0.217). The mean baseline and posttest trait anxiety (TA) scores were not significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.152 and 0.170, respectively). Also, the mean baseline scores of state anxiety (SA) in the intervention and the control groups were 48.45 ± 14.21 and 47.28 ± 15.12, respectively (P = 0.133). However, after the intervention, the mean score of SA decreased to 27.45 ± 16.65 in the intervention group (P < 0.001), but this score increased to 49.43 ± 15.42 in the control group (P = 0.227). Conclusion: Humor therapy was effective in reducing SA. Hence, nurses working in hemodialysis departments are advised to use humor therapy as an easy, low-cost, and effective complementary therapy to reduce patients' anxiety during a hemodialysis session.
Humor negro en el contexto de la muerte encefálica Baranowski, Carolina Andrea; Martínez, Bárbara
Anthropologica del Departamento de ciencias sociales,
06/2024, Letnik:
42, Številka:
52
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
En este artículo nos proponemos analizar cómo el personal de salud vinculado a la actividad de procuración de órganos y tejidos utiliza el humor negro durante su labor cotidiana. Aquí el objetivo es ...doble: por un lado, siguiendo estudios anteriores, nos interesa mostrar el rol del humor negro como modo de lidiar con la muerte. Por otro lado, sugerimos que, de forma paralela y complementaria, el humor negro en este contexto expone un sentido performático como forma de agencia que intenta modificar una realidad adversa. Este trabajo combina las herramientas metodológicas brindadas por la etnografía y la realización de entrevistas abiertas de sesiones múltiples. Los acontecimientos relevados durante el trabajo de campo y las entrevistas que asocian el humor y la muerte encefálica evidencian los usos, límites y modos en los que el humor negro opera en la labor cotidiana sanitaria de complejidad física y emocional.
When people high in prejudice censor prejudice in one setting, they can experience a prejudice rebound effect-subsequently responding with more prejudice than otherwise. Disparagement humor fosters ...the release rather than suppression of prejudice. Thus, two experiments tested the hypothesis that exposure to disparagement humor attenuates rebound effects. Participants suppressed prejudice by writing fewer anti-gay thoughts about same-sex adoption (Experiment 1) or by reporting greater support for same-sex civil rights (Experiment 2) when expecting to share their responses with others (non-prejudice norm condition) but not if others first exchanged anti-gay jokes (prejudice norm condition). High-prejudice participants then exhibited prejudice rebound in the non-prejudice norm condition only. They rated a gay man more stereotypically (Experiment 1) and allocated greater budget cuts to a gay student organization (Experiment 2) in the non-prejudice norm condition.
The aggressive humor of leaders affects the psychological state of employees, which can easily lead to employee inaction in the organization and may even prompt employees to engage in unethical ...behaviors. In the context, this study conducted a questionnaire survey of 316 Chinese adult employees to examine the mechanism underlying the relationship between leader aggressive humor and employee silence. Results demonstrated that leader aggressive humor is positively correlated with employee silence; psychological security plays a mediating role between leader aggressive humor and employee silence; coworker support positively moderates (buffers) the relationship between leader aggressive humor and psychological security, and coworker support plays a moderating role in the process of the indirect influence of leader aggressive humor on employee silence through psychological security. These findings expand the research of aggressive humor and employee silence, have important significance for reducing the occurrence of aggressive humor and building a harmonious organizational environment.
•Leader aggressive humor is positively correlated with employee silence.•Psychological security plays a mediating role between leader aggressive humor and employee silence.•Coworker support positively moderates (buffers) the relationship between leader aggressive humor and psychological security.
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