α-Linolenic acid in Papilio machaon larvae regurgitant induces a defensive response in Apiaceae

SummaryDihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DHLA), a precursor of monoenoic anti-aggregatory prostaglandins (PGE1, PGD2), was administered for 4 weeks in a daily dose of 1.0 g into 33 patients with atherosclerosis on a basis of a double-blind trial. Comparison of treatment and placebo groups revealed elevation of DHLA in red cell lipids in DHLA-treated subjects. No differences, however, between the two groups could be observed in platelet aggregability, thromboxane A2 generation by platelets, serum cholesterol, PGE1 and PGE2 levels, and in inhibitory activity of low-density lipoproteins against prostacyclin synthetizing system in arteries. The dietary supplementation used did not lead to distinct antithrombotic effects.

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Dihomo-γ-Linolenic Acid in Patients with Atherosclerosis: Effects on Platelet Aggregation, Plasma Lipids and Low-Density Lipoprotein-Induced Inhibition of Prostacyclin Generation

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1660163 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 54 (04) ◽

pp. 901-901

Author(s):

D P Mikhailidis ◽

M A Barradas ◽

P Dandona

Keyword(s):

Platelet Aggregation ◽

Linolenic Acid ◽

Plasma Lipids ◽

Low Density Lipoprotein ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

Low Density

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Empathy Does Not Amplify Vicarious Threat Learning

10.31234/osf.io/pfy4v ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Alexander Lane Williams ◽

Christopher C Conway

Keyword(s):

Individual Differences ◽

Skin Conductance ◽

Defensive Response ◽

Conditioned Stimuli ◽

Defensive Reaction ◽

Direct Exposure ◽

Conditioned Responses ◽

Clinically Significant ◽

Stimulus Materials ◽

Dispositional Empathy

Clinically significant fears and phobias can be acquired vicariously. Witnessing a demonstrator’s defensive reaction to potentially dangerous objects and situations can instill conditioned threat responses in the observer. The present study concentrates on individual differences in this social learning process. Specifically, we hypothesized that dispositional empathy modulates vicarious threat conditioning. We examined university students’ (N = 150) conditioned threat responding after they observed strangers undergo Pavlovian threat conditioning. There was evidence of a substantial conditioned defensive response (Cohen’s d = 0.66), as indexed by elevated skin conductance reactions during participants’ direct exposure to the vicariously conditioned stimuli. Contrary to expectations, indices of dispositional empathy were weakly related to the size of conditioned responses (median r = .04). Our results confirm that vicarious threat learning can be evaluated experimentally, but they do not support the hypothesis that empathy amplifies this process. The preregistration, stimulus materials, data, and analysis code for this study are available at https://osf.io/h6hm2.

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