Objective-Dendritic cells (DCs) have recently been found in atherosclerosis-predisposed regions of arteries and have been proposed to be causal in atherosclerosis. The chemokine receptor CX 3 CR1 is associated with arterial injury and atherosclerosis. We sought to determine whether a link exists between arterial DC accumulation, CX 3 CR1, and atherosclerosis. Methods and Results-Mouse aortas were isolated and subjected to en face immunofluorescence analysis. We found that DCs were located predominantly in the intimal regions of arterial branch points and curvatures. Consistent with the increased accumulation of intimal DCs in aged and ApoE Ϫ/Ϫ aortas compared with young WT aortas (Pϭ0.004 and 0.05, respectively), the incidence of atherosclerosis was 88.9% for aged WT and 100% for ApoE Ϫ/Ϫ mice compared with 0% for young WT mice. CX 3 CR1 was expressed on intimal DCs and DC numbers were decreased in CX 3 CR1-deficient aortas of young, aged, and ApoE Ϫ/Ϫ mice (Pϭ0.0008, 0.013, and 0.0099). The reduced DC accumulation in CX 3 CR1-deficiency was also correlated with decreased atherosclerosis in these animals. Conclusions-The accumulation of intimal DC increases in aged and ApoEϪ/Ϫ aortas and correlates with the generation of atherosclerosis. CX 3 CR1-deficiency impairs the accumulation of DC in the aortic wall and markedly reduces the atherosclerotic burden. While macrophages uptake oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) through scavenger receptors 1 to perform the first line of host defense, antigen-specific T cells influx in atherosclerotic lesions to elicit an adaptive immune response. 2 Although macrophages are capable of presenting antigens to T cells, dendritic cells (DCs) are the only antigen-presenting cell capable of activating the naïve T cell, thereby playing a crucial role in triggering adaptive immunity.Recently, DCs have been identified in atherosclerotic plaques in patients with atherosclerosis 3,4 and in animal models of atherosclerosis. 5,6 DCs have been suggested to participate in the immune response in advanced atheroma by colocalizing with T cells. 4 Interestingly, DCs have also been detected in the arterial intima of healthy young children 7 and in normal wild-type mice, 8 giving rise to the intriguing possibility that preexisting DCs in the arterial wall contribute to the generation of atherosclerosis.Monocytes are major precursors of vascular macrophages and DCs, and the chemokine receptor CX 3 CR1 with its ligand CX 3 CL1 (fractalkine) is a key regulator of monocyte adhesion and migration. CX 3 CR1 is expressed on monocytes, 9 whereas CX 3 CL1 is a transmembrane chemokine on activated endothelium. 10 Membrane-tethered CX 3 CL1 mediates the rapid capture and firm adhesion of monocytes under physiological conditions. 11 CX 3 CL1 can also be shed by proteolysis to act as a potent chemoattractant. 12,13 Both human genetic studies and animal models have implicated an important role for CX 3 CR1 and CX 3 CL1 in atherosclerosis. In humans, a polymorphism of CX 3 CR1 coding for a dysfunctional rece...

The reliability and construct validity of the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (ANAM) mood scale (AMS) were examined using concurrent, well-validated measures of mood and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with a sample of 210 volunteer college students. The AMS was given in computerized format with multiple adjectives using a visual analog Likert scale yielding seven dimensions of mood including vigor, restlessness, depression, anger, fatigue, anxiety, and happiness. All seven mood dimensions of the AMS demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability and internal consistency. Also, the AMS anxiety dimension correlated strongly with the Spielberger's State Anxiety Inventory (r=0.67) and the AMS depression dimension correlated strongly with the Beck Depression Inventory-II (r=0.71). CFA revealed that the AMS 7-factor mood model fit the data well and significantly better than an alternative, theoretically plausible model. When concurrent measures of mood were incorporated in the CFA model, the AMS demonstrated both convergent and discriminant validity. The AMS 7-factor model explained 55.12% of the total variance in the items. It was concluded that the AMS provides a brief yet reasonably complete and valid assessment of mood.

Background: Technology is increasingly used to enhance pharmacy education. We sought to evaluate student learning and preparedness for community introductory pharmacy practice experiences (IPPEs) after implementation of “MyDispense” into experiential education. Methods: Both first-year pharmacy students and assigned community IPPE preceptors were eligible. Students were stratified based on previous community pharmacy experience (< or ≥ 50 h), then randomized to complete MyDispense exercises before IPPE (group A) or after 24–32 h of IPPE (group B). We evaluated preceptors’ assessment of student readiness using a 6-item Likert scale survey and students’ readiness and opinion of MyDispense using an anonymous 9-item survey. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize data. The Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare groups and a p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Of 177 eligible students, 155 were randomized and 56 completed study. Group A included 32 students; 56.3% had prior community practice experience. Group B included 24 students; 50% had prior community practice experience. Forty-eight preceptors were enrolled. Students who completed exercises before rotation received higher preceptor scores for patient counseling of self-care and of medications (p < 0.05 for both). Students self-assessed their counseling skills lower than all other skills; 30.4% and 42.9% of students felt mostly or always prepared to counsel for self-care and medications, respectively. Students found MyDispense straightforward, realistic, and appreciated the ability to practice in a safe, electronic, community pharmacy, patient-care environment. Conclusion: Simulation-based software, such as MyDispense, can enhance learner understanding of the prescription fill and counseling process in a community pharmacy practice setting.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among identification, embeddedness, and turnover intentions at the organizational and occupational levels. Design/methodology/approach-Over 1,100 members of the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations completed an on-line survey. The sample included Agents and staff who were officers, enlisted, and civilians. Findings Measures of fit, sacrifice, and links were positively related to organizational embeddedness. Organizational and occupational embeddedness were negatively related to turnover intentions. Organizational and occupational identification were negatively related to turnover intentions. Embeddedness fully mediated the relationship between identification and turnover intentions at the organizational level and partially mediated the relationship between identification and turnover intentions at the occupational level. Implications Turnover can be expensive in organizations where training costs are high. Understanding embeddedness may help practitioners reduce turnover costs. Combining models of embeddedness and identification can help researchers understand the mechanisms by which employees are rooted in organizations, and organizations are rooted in employees. Originality/value This paper is one of very few papers that have examined job embeddedness in law enforcement organizations, or occupational embeddedness in any organization. This is one of the first studies to examine the relationships among identification, embeddedness and turnover intentions. The paper demonstrated the value of adding identification to the job embeddedness model.