Counterfactual thinking and regulatory focus: implications for action versus inaction and sufficiency versus necessity

Counterfactual thinking is associated with regulatory focus in a way that explains previous empirical incongruities, such as whether additive counterfactuals (mutations of inactions) occur more or less frequently than subtractive counterfactuals (mutations of actions). In Experiment 1, regulatory focus moderated this pattern, in that additive counterfactuals were activated by promotion failure, whereas subtractive counterfactuals were activated by prevention failure. In Experiment 2, additive counterfactuals evoked a promotion focus and expressed causal sufficiency, whereas subtractive counterfactuals evoked a prevention focus and expressed causal necessity. In Experiment 3, dejection activated additive counterfactuals, whereas agitation activated subtractive counterfactuals. These findings illuminate the interconnections among counterfactual thinking, motivation, and goals.

Counterfactual thinking and regulatory focus: implications for action versus inaction and sufficiency versus necessity

Counterfactual thinking is associated with regulatory focus in a way that explains previous empirical incongruities, such as whether additive counterfactuals (mutations of inactions) occur more or less frequently than subtractive counterfactuals (mutations of actions). In Experiment 1, regulatory focus moderated this pattern, in that additive counterfactuals were activated by promotion failure, whereas subtractive counterfactuals were activated by prevention failure. In Experiment 2, additive counterfactuals evoked a promotion focus and expressed causal sufficiency, whereas subtractive counterfactuals evoked a prevention focus and expressed causal necessity. In Experiment 3, dejection activated additive counterfactuals, whereas agitation activated subtractive counterfactuals. These findings illuminate the interconnections among counterfactual thinking, motivation, and goals.

Induction of metallothionein and heme oxygenase in rats after inhalation of endotoxin

Various stress proteins appear to play a role in injury and repair produced by inhaled pollutants. The present study examined the effect of inhaled endotoxin on the expression of the metallothionein and heme oxygenase genes. Rats were exposed to saline or endotoxin aerosols for 3 h and sacrificed up to 3 d following exposure. The significant induction of metallothionein mRNA in both the lung (fourfold increase) and liver (one-fold) were greatest at 3 h and returned to basal levels by 24 h after endotoxin exposure. Similarly, the increase in tissue metallothionein was greater in the lung. In situ hybridization in mice showed large increases in the relative abundance of metallothionein transcripts in epithelial cells of the conducting airways, in surrounding airway tissue, and in the nearby gas exchange region. While an endotoxin-induced significant increase in heme oxygenase mRNA followed a time course similar to that observed for metallo thionein, the relative magnitude was reversed for the lung and liver. Heme oxygenase mRNA was induced greater in the liver (twofold) than in the lung (60% above control). Our findings demonstrate that metallothionein and heme oxygenase are early response genes that are rapidly activated after inhalation of occupationally relevant concentrations of endotoxin.

Spontaneous cervical subcutaneous and mediastinal emphysema secondary to occult sigmoid diverticulitis

We present a case of spontaneous mediastinal and subcutaneous cervical emphysema due to perforation of an occult sigmoid diverticulitis. Mediastinal emphysema should alert the physician to the possibility of retroperitoneal gastrointestinal perforation, even in patients without signs of distinct peritoneal irritation.

Enhanced insulin-like growth factor molecules in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by activated alveolar macrophages (AM), alveolar epithelial cell proliferation and interstitial matrix, and immune complex deposition. Spontaneous release of competence and progression-type growth factors and their associated binding proteins may contribute to the pathologic features of IPF. To study the role of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) molecules in IPF we evaluated spontaneous release of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in bronchoalveolar lavage cells from control subjects and from patients with IPF. IGF-I levels were similar compared with those in control subjects. In contrast, IGFBP-3 was significantly increased in IPF. In situ hybridization of open lung biopsies showed IGF-I to be abundant in IPF lung tissue in alveolar macrophages, interstitial mesenchymal cells, and epithelial cells. Northern, Western ligand blotting, reverse transcription PCR, and radioimmunoassay suggested that immune complexes stimulate expression of IGFBP-3 in mononuclear phagocytes in a time- and dose-dependent manner bearing strong similarities to stimulation by LPS. These data are compatible with the hypothesis that IGFBP-3 increases the bioactivity of IGF-I derived from a variety of lung tissues contributing to the fibrosis and remodeling seen in IPF.

Aeromonas hydrophila lung abscess in a previously healthy man

We present a case of multilocular lung abscess caused by Aeromonas hydrophila, found in both sputum and bronchial washing. No aspiration or other significantly contributory medical conditions were found. We believe this to be the first report of lung abscess caused by this organism in a previously healthy individual.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis: bagassosis

Pneumoconiosis from inorganic dusts is very common worldwide and has been studied by many experts in Taiwan. However, pneumoconiosis due to organic dusts, i.e. hypersensitivity pneumonitis, seems rather uncommon in Taiwan, and to our best knowledge there has been no related report so far. In this study, we shall report five cases of bagassosis. These five patients all were men, ranging in age from 29 to 52 years. One of them worked at a sugarcane factory, and the remaining four all worked at the paper mills. The exposure history to organic dusts ranged from 2 days to 15 years. Their chief complaints were cough, dyspnea, and fever. The chest roentgenographic manifestations in our patients could mainly be subdivided into three patterns; i.e. reticulonodular infiltrates (three cases), reticular infiltrates (one case), and miliary nodular infiltrates (one case). These lesions were located diffusely with predilection for both lower lung fields. Three patients received bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), which revealed a predominantly lymphocytic population. Arterial blood gas determinations in room air showed hypoxemia in most of them, but none of them were hypercapnic. Pulmonary function testing typically showed a restrictive ventilatory pattern in all of our cases, and the most sensitive diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide (DLco) ranged from 43% to 78% of the normal value. All of our patients received corticosteroid therapy after establishment of the diagnosis and had rather satisfactory responses. In addition, we also present possible preventive measures in the field of industrial hygiene.