F o r S t r o k Background and PurposeThe pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1) has a deleterious role in cerebral ischemia, which is attenuated by IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra). IL-1 induces peripheral inflammatory mediators, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), which are associated with worse prognosis after ischemic stroke. We investigated whether subcutaneous (SC) IL-1Ra reduces the peripheral inflammatory response in acute ischemic stroke. MethodsSCIL-STROKE was a single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial of SC IL-1Ra (100mg administered twice daily for three days) in patients presenting within 5h of ischemic stroke onset. Randomization was stratified for baseline NIHSS score and thrombolysis. Measurement of plasma IL-6 and other peripheral inflammatory markers was undertaken at five time points. The primary outcome was difference in concentration of log(IL-6) as area under the curve to Day 3. Secondary outcomes included exploratory effect of IL-1Ra on three month outcome with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). ResultsWe recruited 80 patients (mean age 72, median NIHSS 12) of whom 73% received intravenous thrombolysis with alteplase. IL-1Ra significantly reduced plasma and plasma C-reactive protein (p<0.001). IL-1Ra was well-tolerated with no safety concerns.Allocation to IL-1Ra was not associated with a favorable outcome on mRS: OR (95% CI) = 0.67 (0.29 to 1.52); p=0.34. Exploratory mediation analysis suggested that IL-1Ra improved clinical outcome by reducing inflammation, but there was a statistically significant, alternative mechanism countering this benefit. ConclusionsIL-1Ra reduced plasma inflammatory markers which are known to be associated with worse clinical outcome in ischemic stroke. SC IL-1Ra is safe and well-tolerated. Further 3

The literature is reviewed to define a sense of community in the workplace and to identify factors that may foster it. A model is developed and estimated with survey data from a culturally diverse sample of men and women performing lower-level jobs at a medium-sized manufacturing firm. Results of regression analyses are reported that correct for sample selection bias resulting from the lower response rates of minority workers. Findings suggest that well-designed jobs and supportive workplace relationships and policies are important in explaining workers' sense of community, defined as workers' perceptions of mutual commitment between employee and employer. Informal sources of support play a larger role in explaining men's sense of community, while formal sources of support are more important in explaining women's sense of community. Findings further suggest that African American workers, especially women, have a difficult time experiencing a sense of community at work.

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Supervision has evolved from managing and directing workers to supporting workers. Supervisors are key people that workers go to for assistance with personal problems. This article reviews the contributions of various theoretical models to our understanding of supervisor intervention with troubled workers and identifies factors that have been left unexplored in the research. From this analysis, I explain how social identity theory may provide a framework that overcomes many of the limitations of the existing knowledge in this area. Social identity theory has the potential to capture the more personal aspects of the helping process between supervisors and workers that go beyond workers' job performance and productivity, including supervisors' beliefs and attitudes, personal experiences, and social identification with the organization and the work group.