RESUMEN
Due to their inherent properties, biocidal products might pose a risk to human and animal health and the environment. In risk management, there exists uncertainty about private users' comprehension of and willingness-to-adhere to use instructions that mitigate these risks (e.g., limit frequency of use or application area). This study aimed at providing insights into the users' perspective by focusing on their attention, comprehension, and the attitudinal predictors of protection motivation. In the online study (N = 957 participants from Germany) were introduced to a hypothetical purchase scenario featuring an insect spray and a realistic set of use instructions. Next, the participants' attention for the use instruction was measured in self-report and by tracking the time spent on the page with the use instruction, while Likert scale-type questions measured the comprehensibility, protection motivation, and predictors. Participants reported higher protection motivation if they spent more time with the use instruction, perceived it as comprehensible, rated the threat to humans, animals, and the environment as more severe, perceived themselves as responsible (i.e., internal locus of control) and capable (i.e., self-efficacy) of adhering to the use instructions, perceived adherence to the use instructions as effective (i.e., response efficacy) and did not perceive biocidal products as inherently safe (i.e., neutral locus of control). These results offer valuable information for an improved regulation of biocidal products and better management of potential risks associated with their use. They also provide concepts for interventions to ensure users of biocidal products follow the instructions for a safe use and better protection of the environment.
Asunto(s)
Motivación , Alemania , Humanos , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Desinfectantes , Femenino , Masculino , AdultoRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment of depression, but its mechanism of action still remains unknown. Some studies emphasize that epileptic seizures result in cerebral production of cytokines, including the cytokine network in association with the pathophysiology of depression. We hypothesized that depressed patients would show a dysregulated profile of peripheral cytokines before and after ECT treatment. METHODS: Fifteen hospitalized subjects with major depressive disorder were recruited. Human cytokine array IV was used to determine the profile of cytokines in the serum during the course of ECT. Positive results of the cytokine assay were verified by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Depressive symptoms were evaluated before and after ECT series. RESULTS: The signal intensity of eotaxin-3 and interleukin (IL)-5 changed statistically significantly between the first ECT and 24 hours after the last ECT. Furthermore, there were significant correlations between the signal intensities of eotaxin-3, bone morphogenetic protein 6, IL-5, and transforming growth factor-ß and the severity of depression. The results of Cytoray assays were confirmed partly by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The changes of tumor necrosis factor ß in pre-post comparison of ECT and the correlation of the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Scale score with tumor necrosis factor ß, IL-5, and bone morphogenetic protein 6 expression could be verified. Only the relative signal intensity of IL-16 correlated significantly with the clinically as well as electroencephalographically measurable seizure duration. CONCLUSION: Electroconvulsive therapy treatment seems to change the expression of various cytokines in relation to changes of affective states such as mood. Therefore, cytokines might play a specific role within the treatment and pathogenesis of affective disorders.
Asunto(s)
Citocinas/sangre , Trastorno Depresivo Mayor/sangre , Trastorno Depresivo Mayor/terapia , Terapia Electroconvulsiva/efectos adversos , Adulto , Anciano , Anticuerpos/análisis , Quimiocina CCL11/metabolismo , Interpretación Estadística de Datos , Electroencefalografía , Femenino , Humanos , Interleucinas/sangre , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , ARN Mensajero/biosíntesis , ARN Mensajero/genética , Reacción en Cadena en Tiempo Real de la Polimerasa , Convulsiones/fisiopatología , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfa/metabolismoRESUMEN
The fungal community associated with the terrestrial photosynthetic orchid Gymnadenia conopsea was characterized through PCR-amplification directly from root extracted DNA and cloning of the PCR products. Six populations in two geographically distinct regions in Germany were investigated. New ITS-primers amplifying a wide taxonomic range including Basidiomycetes and Ascomycetes revealed a high taxonomic and ecological diversity of fungal associates, including typical orchid mycorrhizas of the Tulasnellaceae and Ceratobasidiaceae as well as several ectomycorrhizal taxa of the Pezizales. The wide spectrum of potential mycorrhizal partners may contribute to this orchid's ability to colonize different habitat types with their characteristic microbial communities. The fungal community of G. conopsea showed a clear spatial structure. With 43 % shared taxa the species composition of the two regions showed only little overlap. Regardless of regions, populations were highly variable concerning taxon richness, varying between 5 and 14 taxa per population. The spatial structure and the continuous presence of mycorrhizal taxa on the one hand and the low specificity towards certain fungal taxa on the other hand suggest that the fungal community associated with G. conopsea is determined by multiple factors. In this context, germination as well as pronounced morphological and genetic differentiation within G. conopsea deserve attention as potential factors affecting the composition of the fungal community.